Malawi vs Zimbabwe
Malawi vs Zimbabwe: Safe drinking water
Safe drinking water in 2022: 17.8% in Malawi and 26.5% in Zimbabwe, by WHO/UNICEF estimates. In 2022 the value was higher in Zimbabwe, by 8.8 percentage points, or 1.49 times that in Malawi.
% of people · WHO/UNICEF
What the numbers say
- Zimbabwe has been higher in every year both have figures for since 2000.
- In 2022, Malawi ranked 126 and Zimbabwe ranked 120 of 135 countries, counting from the highest.
- The world as a whole: 72.9% in 2022.
Every year
% of people · WHO/UNICEF
| Year | Malawi | Zimbabwe | World |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2022 | 17.8 | 26.5 | 72.9 |
| 2021 | 17.1 | 26.5 | 72.5 |
| 2020 | 16.5 | 26.6 | 72.3 |
| 2019 | 15.9 | 26.7 | 71.7 |
| 2018 | 15.3 | 26.8 | 71 |
| 2017 | 14.7 | 26.9 | 70.4 |
| 2016 | 14.1 | 27.1 | 69.7 |
| 2015 | 13.6 | 27.3 | 69.1 |
| 2014 | 13.1 | 27.4 | 68.4 |
| 2013 | 12.5 | 27.6 | 67.7 |
| 2012 | 12 | 27.8 | 67.1 |
| 2011 | 11.5 | 28 | 66.4 |
| 2010 | 11.1 | 28.2 | 65.9 |
| 2009 | 10.6 | 28.4 | 65.4 |
| 2008 | 10.2 | 28.6 | 64.9 |
| 2007 | 9.7 | 28.8 | 64.6 |
| 2006 | 9.3 | 29 | 64 |
| 2005 | 8.9 | 29.2 | 63.7 |
| 2004 | 8.5 | 29.4 | 63 |
| 2003 | 8.1 | 29.5 | 62.4 |
| 2002 | 7.7 | 29.5 | 61.8 |
| 2001 | 7.3 | 29.3 | 61.1 |
| 2000 | 6.9 | 29.2 | 60.8 |
Each country on its own
Good to know
- The share of people whose drinking water comes from an improved source at home, there when needed and free of contamination.
- Source: WHO/UNICEF Joint Monitoring Programme, via Our World in Data.
- Ranks count the 135 countries with a value in 2022, highest first.
- The faint line is the world as a whole, as the same source counts it.
How the layers work, where their data comes from and what they can’t tell you: Countries through time
Malawi vs Zimbabwe
Health
- Life expectancyMalawi: 67.4 years in 2023Zimbabwe: 62.8 years in 2023
- Child mortalityMalawi: 4.9 per 100 live births in 2024Zimbabwe: 6.5 per 100 live births in 2024
- Infant mortalityMalawi: 29.6 per 1,000 live births in 2023Zimbabwe: 33.2 per 1,000 live births in 2023
- DepressionMalawi: 3.45% in 2017Zimbabwe: 3.19% in 2017
- Suicide rateMalawi: 12.1 per 100,000 people in 2017Zimbabwe: 26.4 per 100,000 people in 2017
People
- PopulationMalawi: 21.1 million people in 2023Zimbabwe: 16.3 million people in 2023
- Population growthMalawi: 2.57% a year in 2023Zimbabwe: 1.68% a year in 2023
- Fertility rateMalawi: 3.65 births per woman in 2023Zimbabwe: 3.72 births per woman in 2023
- Urban populationMalawi: 17.6% in 2025Zimbabwe: 40.5% in 2025
- Median ageMalawi: 17.6 years in 2023Zimbabwe: 17.8 years in 2023
- People aged 65 and overMalawi: 2.6% in 2023Zimbabwe: 3.6% in 2023
- Net migration rateMalawi: -0.3 per 1,000 people in 2023Zimbabwe: -6 per 1,000 people in 2023
Economy
Education
Politics
Conflict
Military
- Military spendingMalawi: 1.15% of GDP in 2025Zimbabwe: 0.56% of GDP in 2025
- Military spending in US dollarsMalawi: $128M in 2025Zimbabwe: $134M in 2025
- Military spending per personMalawi: $7 in 2025Zimbabwe: $10 in 2025
- Military share of state spendingMalawi: 3.8% of government spending in 2025Zimbabwe: 5.3% of government spending in 2005
- Armed forces personnelMalawi: 15,000 people in 2020Zimbabwe: 51,000 people in 2020
- National powerMalawi: 0.07% of world capability in 2022Zimbabwe: 0.08% of world capability in 2022
- Armed forces, share of workersMalawi: 0.2% of the labour force in 2020Zimbabwe: 0.88% of the labour force in 2020
- Arms importsMalawi: 2 million TIV in 2024Zimbabwe: 20 million TIV in 2023
- Arms exportsMalawi: 1 million TIV in 2000Zimbabwe: 4 million TIV in 2001