Water Use Efficiency in Malawi
Malawi: Water Use Efficiency was 5.93 in 2023. ◆ Volatile
Water Use Efficiency in Malawi, 2000–2023
Source: United Nations Statistics Division, SDG Global Database.
Analysis
In 2023, water use efficiency in Malawi stood at 5.93. That is the highest value across all 24 years on record.
That represents a change of up 4.2% on the previous year and up 76.5% over ten years.
Over the whole period, water use efficiency in Malawi peaked at 5.93 in 2023 and was at its lowest, 1.37, in 2002.
Malawi ranks 143rd of 183 countries on this measure, in the bottom quarter.
The series is highly variable year to year, so single readings are best treated with caution.
Water Use Efficiency in Malawi, year by year
| Year | Value | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 2000 | 1.51 | — |
| 2001 | 1.39 | -7.9% |
| 2002 | 1.37 | -1.4% |
| 2003 | 1.46 | +6.6% |
| 2004 | 1.49 | +2.1% |
| 2005 | 1.55 | +4.0% |
| 2006 | 1.71 | +10.3% |
| 2007 | 1.98 | +15.8% |
| 2008 | 2.14 | +8.1% |
| 2009 | 2.31 | +7.9% |
| 2010 | 2.5 | +8.2% |
| 2011 | 2.78 | +11.2% |
| 2012 | 3 | +7.9% |
| 2013 | 3.36 | +12.0% |
| 2014 | 3.77 | +12.2% |
| 2015 | 4.2 | +11.4% |
| 2016 | 4.63 | +10.2% |
| 2017 | 5.17 | +11.7% |
| 2018 | 5.47 | +5.8% |
| 2019 | 5.71 | +4.4% |
| 2020 | 5.64 | -1.2% |
| 2021 | 5.79 | +2.7% |
| 2022 | 5.69 | -1.7% |
| 2023 | 5.93 | +4.2% |
Malawi compared with similar countries
- Malawi's 5.93 is below the median for low income countries, which is 6.5, 91% of the median. (23 countries reporting)
- Malawi's 5.93 is below the median for Sub-Saharan Africa, which is 14.88, 40% of the median. (44 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2000s | 1.69 | 1.37 | 2.31 | 10 |
| 2010s | 4.06 | 2.5 | 5.71 | 10 |
| 2020s | 5.76 | 5.64 | 5.93 | 4 |
Countries ranked near Malawi
More environment data for Malawi
- Historical exposure to drought — Land soil moisture anomaly -0.9153 Percentage change (2025)
- Historical exposure to drought — Cropland soil moisture anomaly -0.8098 Percentage change (2025)
- Standard Deviation, annual growth rate 0 % change on previous year (2025)
- Standard Deviation 0.254 °C (2025)
- Temperature change 1.07 °C (2025)
- Wood-based panels — Production, annual growth rate 0 % change on previous year (2024)
- Total greenhouse gas emissions excluding LULUCF (Mt CO2e), annual 3.65 % change on previous year (2024)
- Total greenhouse gas emissions excluding LULUCF (Mt CO2e), per unit 0 Mt CO2e per US$ of GDP (2024)
- Total greenhouse gas emissions excluding LULUCF (Mt CO2e), per capita 0 Mt CO2e per person (2024)
- Methane (CH4) emissions from Agriculture (Mt CO2e), annual growth rate 5.3 % change on previous year (2024)
Frequently asked questions
- What is water use efficiency in Malawi?
- Water use efficiency in Malawi was 5.93 in 2023, according to United Nations Statistics Division, SDG Global Database.
- What is the highest water use efficiency recorded in Malawi?
- The highest recorded value was 5.93 in 2023.
- What is the lowest water use efficiency recorded in Malawi?
- The lowest recorded value was 1.37 in 2002.
- How does Malawi rank for water use efficiency?
- Malawi ranks 143rd out of 183 countries with data for 2023.
- Is water use efficiency rising or falling in Malawi?
- Over the last ten years it is up 76.5%. The long-run trend across the full record is volatile.
- Where does this Malawi data come from?
- The figures come from United Nations Statistics Division, SDG Global Database, published as part of Water Use Efficiency (United States dollars per cubic meter). Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
Download this data
CSV · JSON — 24 observations, free to reuse under UN SDG Global Database (open, attribution requested).