Malawi: the distribution of income and wealth

In 2022 the top 10% of adults received 48.5% of pre-tax national income and the bottom 50% received 13.9%; the top 10% share is the 66th highest of 171 countries. The top 10% held 61.1% of net personal wealth and the bottom 50% held 4.3%; the top 10% wealth share is the 79th highest of 171.

Population, 202220.6 million9.5 million adults
Income per adult, mean · median$3,400median $1,800
Wealth per adult, mean · median$10,500median $3,600
Gini, income · wealth0.59 · 0.750 = equal, 1 = one adult has all

Amounts in US dollars at 2025 prices, converted at purchasing power parity. A mean far above the median signals a long upper tail.

Lorenz curves

The share of the total held by the lowest x% of adults. The further a Lorenz curve sags below the line of equality, the higher the Gini coefficient.

Lorenz curves of income and wealth, Malawi, 20220%0%25%25%50%50%75%75%100%100%Share of adults, lowest firstLine of equality● Income: Gini 0.59● Wealth: Gini 0.75Lorenz curves of income and wealth, Malawi, 20220%0%25%25%50%50%75%75%100%100%Share of adults, lowest firstLine of equality

Who holds what

Bottom 50%income
13.9%
Bottom 50%wealth
4.3%
Middle 40%income
37.6%
Middle 40%wealth
34.6%
Top 10%income
48.5%
Top 10%wealth
61.1%
Top 1%income
15.2%
Top 1%wealth
26.6%

Inverted Pareto coefficient at P99: 1.79 for income, 2.94 for wealth. The top 1% receive or hold on average that multiple of the threshold for entering the group.

Since 1980

Top 10% and bottom 50% shares of income and wealth, Malawi, 1980–20220%20%40%60%80%100%19801990200020102020Income, top 10%, 1980: 80%Income, top 10%, 1981: 80%Income, top 10%, 1982: 80%Income, top 10%, 1983: 80%Income, top 10%, 1984: 80%Income, top 10%, 1985: 80%Income, top 10%, 1986: 80%Income, top 10%, 1987: 80%Income, top 10%, 1988: 80%Income, top 10%, 1989: 80%Income, top 10%, 1990: 80%Income, top 10%, 1991: 80%Income, top 10%, 1992: 80%Income, top 10%, 1993: 80%Income, top 10%, 1994: 80%Income, top 10%, 1995: 80%Income, top 10%, 1996: 80%Income, top 10%, 1997: 80%Income, top 10%, 1998: 76%Income, top 10%, 1999: 72%Income, top 10%, 2000: 68%Income, top 10%, 2001: 64%Income, top 10%, 2002: 60%Income, top 10%, 2003: 56%Income, top 10%, 2004: 51%Income, top 10%, 2005: 52%Income, top 10%, 2006: 53%Income, top 10%, 2007: 53%Income, top 10%, 2008: 54%Income, top 10%, 2009: 55%Income, top 10%, 2010: 56%Income, top 10%, 2011: 56%Income, top 10%, 2012: 57%Income, top 10%, 2013: 57%Income, top 10%, 2014: 58%Income, top 10%, 2015: 58%Income, top 10%, 2016: 59%Income, top 10%, 2017: 55%Income, top 10%, 2018: 52%Income, top 10%, 2019: 48%Income, top 10%, 2020: 48%Income, top 10%, 2021: 48%Income, top 10%, 2022: 48%Wealth, top 10%, 1980: 73%Wealth, top 10%, 1981: 73%Wealth, top 10%, 1982: 73%Wealth, top 10%, 1983: 73%Wealth, top 10%, 1984: 73%Wealth, top 10%, 1985: 73%Wealth, top 10%, 1986: 73%Wealth, top 10%, 1987: 73%Wealth, top 10%, 1988: 73%Wealth, top 10%, 1989: 73%Wealth, top 10%, 1990: 73%Wealth, top 10%, 1991: 73%Wealth, top 10%, 1992: 73%Wealth, top 10%, 1993: 73%Wealth, top 10%, 1994: 73%Wealth, top 10%, 1995: 73%Wealth, top 10%, 1996: 73%Wealth, top 10%, 1997: 73%Wealth, top 10%, 1998: 73%Wealth, top 10%, 1999: 73%Wealth, top 10%, 2000: 73%Wealth, top 10%, 2001: 72%Wealth, top 10%, 2002: 72%Wealth, top 10%, 2003: 67%Wealth, top 10%, 2004: 64%Wealth, top 10%, 2005: 64%Wealth, top 10%, 2006: 65%Wealth, top 10%, 2007: 65%Wealth, top 10%, 2008: 66%Wealth, top 10%, 2009: 67%Wealth, top 10%, 2010: 67%Wealth, top 10%, 2011: 69%Wealth, top 10%, 2012: 70%Wealth, top 10%, 2013: 71%Wealth, top 10%, 2014: 71%Wealth, top 10%, 2015: 71%Wealth, top 10%, 2016: 71%Wealth, top 10%, 2017: 67%Wealth, top 10%, 2018: 64%Wealth, top 10%, 2019: 61%Wealth, top 10%, 2020: 61%Wealth, top 10%, 2021: 61%Wealth, top 10%, 2022: 61%Income, bottom 50%, 1980: 5%Income, bottom 50%, 1981: 5%Income, bottom 50%, 1982: 5%Income, bottom 50%, 1983: 5%Income, bottom 50%, 1984: 5%Income, bottom 50%, 1985: 5%Income, bottom 50%, 1986: 5%Income, bottom 50%, 1987: 5%Income, bottom 50%, 1988: 5%Income, bottom 50%, 1989: 5%Income, bottom 50%, 1990: 5%Income, bottom 50%, 1991: 5%Income, bottom 50%, 1992: 5%Income, bottom 50%, 1993: 5%Income, bottom 50%, 1994: 5%Income, bottom 50%, 1995: 5%Income, bottom 50%, 1996: 5%Income, bottom 50%, 1997: 5%Income, bottom 50%, 1998: 6%Income, bottom 50%, 1999: 7%Income, bottom 50%, 2000: 9%Income, bottom 50%, 2001: 10%Income, bottom 50%, 2002: 11%Income, bottom 50%, 2003: 12%Income, bottom 50%, 2004: 13%Income, bottom 50%, 2005: 13%Income, bottom 50%, 2006: 13%Income, bottom 50%, 2007: 12%Income, bottom 50%, 2008: 12%Income, bottom 50%, 2009: 11%Income, bottom 50%, 2010: 11%Income, bottom 50%, 2011: 11%Income, bottom 50%, 2012: 11%Income, bottom 50%, 2013: 11%Income, bottom 50%, 2014: 11%Income, bottom 50%, 2015: 11%Income, bottom 50%, 2016: 11%Income, bottom 50%, 2017: 12%Income, bottom 50%, 2018: 13%Income, bottom 50%, 2019: 14%Income, bottom 50%, 2020: 14%Income, bottom 50%, 2021: 14%Income, bottom 50%, 2022: 14%Wealth, bottom 50%, 1980: 2%Wealth, bottom 50%, 1981: 2%Wealth, bottom 50%, 1982: 2%Wealth, bottom 50%, 1983: 2%Wealth, bottom 50%, 1984: 2%Wealth, bottom 50%, 1985: 2%Wealth, bottom 50%, 1986: 2%Wealth, bottom 50%, 1987: 2%Wealth, bottom 50%, 1988: 2%Wealth, bottom 50%, 1989: 2%Wealth, bottom 50%, 1990: 2%Wealth, bottom 50%, 1991: 2%Wealth, bottom 50%, 1992: 2%Wealth, bottom 50%, 1993: 2%Wealth, bottom 50%, 1994: 2%Wealth, bottom 50%, 1995: 2%Wealth, bottom 50%, 1996: 2%Wealth, bottom 50%, 1997: 2%Wealth, bottom 50%, 1998: 2%Wealth, bottom 50%, 1999: 2%Wealth, bottom 50%, 2000: 2%Wealth, bottom 50%, 2001: 2%Wealth, bottom 50%, 2002: 2%Wealth, bottom 50%, 2003: 3%Wealth, bottom 50%, 2004: 4%Wealth, bottom 50%, 2005: 4%Wealth, bottom 50%, 2006: 4%Wealth, bottom 50%, 2007: 4%Wealth, bottom 50%, 2008: 3%Wealth, bottom 50%, 2009: 3%Wealth, bottom 50%, 2010: 3%Wealth, bottom 50%, 2011: 3%Wealth, bottom 50%, 2012: 2%Wealth, bottom 50%, 2013: 2%Wealth, bottom 50%, 2014: 2%Wealth, bottom 50%, 2015: 2%Wealth, bottom 50%, 2016: 2%Wealth, bottom 50%, 2017: 3%Wealth, bottom 50%, 2018: 4%Wealth, bottom 50%, 2019: 4%Wealth, bottom 50%, 2020: 4%Wealth, bottom 50%, 2021: 4%Wealth, bottom 50%, 2022: 4%Wealth top 10% 61%Income top 10% 48%Income bottom 50% 14%Wealth bottom 50% 4%Top 10% and bottom 50% shares of income and wealth, Malawi, 1980–20220%20%40%60%80%100%19801990200020102020Income, top 10%, 1980: 80%Income, top 10%, 1981: 80%Income, top 10%, 1982: 80%Income, top 10%, 1983: 80%Income, top 10%, 1984: 80%Income, top 10%, 1985: 80%Income, top 10%, 1986: 80%Income, top 10%, 1987: 80%Income, top 10%, 1988: 80%Income, top 10%, 1989: 80%Income, top 10%, 1990: 80%Income, top 10%, 1991: 80%Income, top 10%, 1992: 80%Income, top 10%, 1993: 80%Income, top 10%, 1994: 80%Income, top 10%, 1995: 80%Income, top 10%, 1996: 80%Income, top 10%, 1997: 80%Income, top 10%, 1998: 76%Income, top 10%, 1999: 72%Income, top 10%, 2000: 68%Income, top 10%, 2001: 64%Income, top 10%, 2002: 60%Income, top 10%, 2003: 56%Income, top 10%, 2004: 51%Income, top 10%, 2005: 52%Income, top 10%, 2006: 53%Income, top 10%, 2007: 53%Income, top 10%, 2008: 54%Income, top 10%, 2009: 55%Income, top 10%, 2010: 56%Income, top 10%, 2011: 56%Income, top 10%, 2012: 57%Income, top 10%, 2013: 57%Income, top 10%, 2014: 58%Income, top 10%, 2015: 58%Income, top 10%, 2016: 59%Income, top 10%, 2017: 55%Income, top 10%, 2018: 52%Income, top 10%, 2019: 48%Income, top 10%, 2020: 48%Income, top 10%, 2021: 48%Income, top 10%, 2022: 48%Wealth, top 10%, 1980: 73%Wealth, top 10%, 1981: 73%Wealth, top 10%, 1982: 73%Wealth, top 10%, 1983: 73%Wealth, top 10%, 1984: 73%Wealth, top 10%, 1985: 73%Wealth, top 10%, 1986: 73%Wealth, top 10%, 1987: 73%Wealth, top 10%, 1988: 73%Wealth, top 10%, 1989: 73%Wealth, top 10%, 1990: 73%Wealth, top 10%, 1991: 73%Wealth, top 10%, 1992: 73%Wealth, top 10%, 1993: 73%Wealth, top 10%, 1994: 73%Wealth, top 10%, 1995: 73%Wealth, top 10%, 1996: 73%Wealth, top 10%, 1997: 73%Wealth, top 10%, 1998: 73%Wealth, top 10%, 1999: 73%Wealth, top 10%, 2000: 73%Wealth, top 10%, 2001: 72%Wealth, top 10%, 2002: 72%Wealth, top 10%, 2003: 67%Wealth, top 10%, 2004: 64%Wealth, top 10%, 2005: 64%Wealth, top 10%, 2006: 65%Wealth, top 10%, 2007: 65%Wealth, top 10%, 2008: 66%Wealth, top 10%, 2009: 67%Wealth, top 10%, 2010: 67%Wealth, top 10%, 2011: 69%Wealth, top 10%, 2012: 70%Wealth, top 10%, 2013: 71%Wealth, top 10%, 2014: 71%Wealth, top 10%, 2015: 71%Wealth, top 10%, 2016: 71%Wealth, top 10%, 2017: 67%Wealth, top 10%, 2018: 64%Wealth, top 10%, 2019: 61%Wealth, top 10%, 2020: 61%Wealth, top 10%, 2021: 61%Wealth, top 10%, 2022: 61%Income, bottom 50%, 1980: 5%Income, bottom 50%, 1981: 5%Income, bottom 50%, 1982: 5%Income, bottom 50%, 1983: 5%Income, bottom 50%, 1984: 5%Income, bottom 50%, 1985: 5%Income, bottom 50%, 1986: 5%Income, bottom 50%, 1987: 5%Income, bottom 50%, 1988: 5%Income, bottom 50%, 1989: 5%Income, bottom 50%, 1990: 5%Income, bottom 50%, 1991: 5%Income, bottom 50%, 1992: 5%Income, bottom 50%, 1993: 5%Income, bottom 50%, 1994: 5%Income, bottom 50%, 1995: 5%Income, bottom 50%, 1996: 5%Income, bottom 50%, 1997: 5%Income, bottom 50%, 1998: 6%Income, bottom 50%, 1999: 7%Income, bottom 50%, 2000: 9%Income, bottom 50%, 2001: 10%Income, bottom 50%, 2002: 11%Income, bottom 50%, 2003: 12%Income, bottom 50%, 2004: 13%Income, bottom 50%, 2005: 13%Income, bottom 50%, 2006: 13%Income, bottom 50%, 2007: 12%Income, bottom 50%, 2008: 12%Income, bottom 50%, 2009: 11%Income, bottom 50%, 2010: 11%Income, bottom 50%, 2011: 11%Income, bottom 50%, 2012: 11%Income, bottom 50%, 2013: 11%Income, bottom 50%, 2014: 11%Income, bottom 50%, 2015: 11%Income, bottom 50%, 2016: 11%Income, bottom 50%, 2017: 12%Income, bottom 50%, 2018: 13%Income, bottom 50%, 2019: 14%Income, bottom 50%, 2020: 14%Income, bottom 50%, 2021: 14%Income, bottom 50%, 2022: 14%Wealth, bottom 50%, 1980: 2%Wealth, bottom 50%, 1981: 2%Wealth, bottom 50%, 1982: 2%Wealth, bottom 50%, 1983: 2%Wealth, bottom 50%, 1984: 2%Wealth, bottom 50%, 1985: 2%Wealth, bottom 50%, 1986: 2%Wealth, bottom 50%, 1987: 2%Wealth, bottom 50%, 1988: 2%Wealth, bottom 50%, 1989: 2%Wealth, bottom 50%, 1990: 2%Wealth, bottom 50%, 1991: 2%Wealth, bottom 50%, 1992: 2%Wealth, bottom 50%, 1993: 2%Wealth, bottom 50%, 1994: 2%Wealth, bottom 50%, 1995: 2%Wealth, bottom 50%, 1996: 2%Wealth, bottom 50%, 1997: 2%Wealth, bottom 50%, 1998: 2%Wealth, bottom 50%, 1999: 2%Wealth, bottom 50%, 2000: 2%Wealth, bottom 50%, 2001: 2%Wealth, bottom 50%, 2002: 2%Wealth, bottom 50%, 2003: 3%Wealth, bottom 50%, 2004: 4%Wealth, bottom 50%, 2005: 4%Wealth, bottom 50%, 2006: 4%Wealth, bottom 50%, 2007: 4%Wealth, bottom 50%, 2008: 3%Wealth, bottom 50%, 2009: 3%Wealth, bottom 50%, 2010: 3%Wealth, bottom 50%, 2011: 3%Wealth, bottom 50%, 2012: 2%Wealth, bottom 50%, 2013: 2%Wealth, bottom 50%, 2014: 2%Wealth, bottom 50%, 2015: 2%Wealth, bottom 50%, 2016: 2%Wealth, bottom 50%, 2017: 3%Wealth, bottom 50%, 2018: 4%Wealth, bottom 50%, 2019: 4%Wealth, bottom 50%, 2020: 4%Wealth, bottom 50%, 2021: 4%Wealth, bottom 50%, 2022: 4%Wealth top 10% 61%Income top 10% 48%Income bottom 50% 14%Wealth bottom 50% 4%

Flat stretches are years in which WID carries an estimate forward or back unchanged rather than measuring it again.

Show the numbers
Top 10% share by year, Malawi
YearIncome, top 10%Wealth, top 10%
198080.3%73.0%
198580.3%73.0%
199080.3%73.0%
199580.3%73.0%
200068.0%72.9%
200552.1%64.1%
201055.6%67.5%
201558.0%71.0%
202048.5%61.1%
202248.5%61.1%

How reliable these figures are

The data-quality rating is WID's own. Source: World Inequality Database, bulk release of 15 October 2026, adults aged 20 and over, income and wealth split equally between spouses.

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Terms used on this page

Pre-tax national income
All income from work and from capital, before taxes and before government transfers other than pensions and unemployment insurance, per adult, with income split equally between spouses. It adds up to national income.
Net personal wealth
The market value of everything adults own, such as housing, financial assets and business assets, minus their debts, per adult, with wealth split equally between spouses.
Top 10% share
The share of the total received or held by the 10% of adults with the most. Its counterpart, the bottom 50% share, is the share of the half with the least.
Lorenz curve
The share of the total held by the bottom x% of units, for every x. If everyone held the same, it would follow the diagonal line of equality; the further it sags below, the more concentrated the total.
Gini coefficient
Twice the area between the line of equality and the Lorenz curve. 0 when everyone holds the same, 1 when one unit holds everything. Values can exceed 1 when some hold negative amounts.
Inverted Pareto coefficient
The average value of everyone above a percentile, divided by that percentile. A value of 2 at P99 means the top 1% hold on average twice the amount it takes to enter the top 1%. The higher it is, the heavier the tail. In a Pareto distribution it is the same at every percentile.
Data-quality rating
The World Inequality Database's own score, 0 to 5, for how much of a country's series rests on direct sources (tax records, surveys) and how much is imputed from other countries or from aggregates. A low score means the figure is mostly an estimate.