Malawi poverty rises by 600 000 amid food price surge
World Bank report shows 10.5 million Malawians cannot meet basic needs as food poverty climbs to 24 percent.
Nearly 600 000 Malawians have fallen into poverty, bringing the total unable to meet basic needs to 10.5 million in 2025, according to the World Bank. This increase, from 9.9 million in 2020, is driven by rising food prices, climate shocks, and persistent inflation. The proportion of people living in food poverty also rose to 24 percent from 20.5 percent during the same period.
The World Bank's October 2026 Poverty and Equity Brief attributes the worsening poverty to the 2024 El Niño-induced drought and successive cyclones, which disrupted agriculture. An average inflation rate of 28.4 percent in 2025 squeezed purchasing power, with the impact most severe in rural areas where 86 percent of households rely on farming.
The Gini index for inequality rose from 37.9 to 39.9, indicating a widening gap. Centre for Social Concern economic governance officer Agnes Nyirongo urged policymakers to strengthen measures protecting purchasing power and improving food security, noting that food inflation erodes the income of the poor.
Why it mattersMalawians are struggling to afford basic necessities and food due to rising prices and climate impacts.