Share of electricity production by source in Malawi
Malawi: Share of electricity production by source was 19.9% in 2021. ◆ Volatile
Share of electricity production by source in Malawi, 2000–2021
Source: IEA Energy Statistics Data Browser, IEA, via World Bank (2026) – processed by Our World in Data. Measured in % of total.
Analysis
Malawi recorded 19.9% for share of electricity production by source in 2021.
Compared with earlier readings it is down 3.7% on the previous year and up 1,442.8% over ten years.
Over the whole period, share of electricity production by source in Malawi peaked at 20.7% in 2019 and was at its lowest, 0.9%, in 2015.
Malawi ranks 173rd of 208 countries on this measure, in the bottom quarter.
The series is highly variable year to year, so single readings are best treated with caution.
Share of electricity production by source in Malawi, year by year
| Year | % of total | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 2000 | 6.8% | — |
| 2001 | 6.8% | -0.3% |
| 2002 | 6.7% | -0.8% |
| 2003 | 2.4% | -64.1% |
| 2004 | 5.5% | +128.0% |
| 2005 | 5.5% | -0.7% |
| 2006 | 5.4% | -0.2% |
| 2007 | 5.4% | -0.2% |
| 2008 | 0.9% | -83.4% |
| 2009 | 1.1% | +21.1% |
| 2010 | 1.1% | -2.9% |
| 2011 | 1.3% | +22.0% |
| 2012 | 1.3% | -0.1% |
| 2013 | 1.2% | -7.9% |
| 2014 | 1.2% | -3.2% |
| 2015 | 0.9% | -22.1% |
| 2016 | 3.2% | +255.0% |
| 2017 | 15.5% | +387.3% |
| 2018 | 19.8% | +28.0% |
| 2019 | 20.7% | +4.5% |
| 2020 | 20.7% | -0.1% |
| 2021 | 19.9% | -3.7% |
Malawi compared with similar countries
- Malawi's 19.9% is below the median for low income countries, which is 42.6%, 47% of the median. (25 countries reporting)
- Malawi's 19.9% is below the median for Sub-Saharan Africa, which is 67.1%, 30% of the median. (48 countries reporting)
Biggest year-on-year movements
Years where Share of electricity production by source in Malawi changed far more than this series normally does. A large move can be a real event or a change in how the figure was measured — the source note below says who published it.
| Year | Change | From | To |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2017 | +387.3% | 3.2% | 15.5% |
| 2016 | +255.0% | 0.9% | 3.2% |
| 2004 | +128.0% | 2.4% | 5.5% |
| 2008 | -83.4% | 5.4% | 0.9% |
| 2003 | -64.1% | 6.7% | 2.4% |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2000s | 4.7% | 0.9% | 6.8% | 10 |
| 2010s | 6.6% | 0.9% | 20.7% | 10 |
| 2020s | 20.3% | 19.9% | 20.7% | 2 |
Countries ranked near Malawi
- 170 El Salvador 22.1% compare
- 171 Afghanistan 21.8% compare
- 172 Venezuela 21.6% compare
- 174 Canada 19.7% compare
- 175 Mozambique 16.3% compare
- 176 Slovakia 14.6% compare
More energy & mining data for Malawi
- Fossil fuel consumption by fuel, per unit of GDP 0 terawatt-hours per US$ of GDP (2024)
- Primary energy use, annual growth rate 7.18 % change on previous year (2024)
- Coal consumption, per capita 0 terawatt-hours per person (2024)
- Coal consumption, per unit of GDP 0 terawatt-hours per US$ of GDP (2024)
- Primary energy use, per unit of GDP 0 terawatt-hours per US$ of GDP (2024)
- Primary energy use, per capita 0 terawatt-hours per person (2024)
- Coal production, per capita 0 terawatt-hours per person (2024)
- Coal production, per unit of GDP 0 terawatt-hours per US$ of GDP (2024)
- Fossil fuel consumption by fuel, per capita 0 terawatt-hours per person (2024)
- Fuel imports 16.5% (2024)
Frequently asked questions
- What is share of electricity production by source in Malawi?
- Share of electricity production by source in Malawi was 19.9% in 2021, according to IEA Energy Statistics Data Browser, IEA, via World Bank (2026) – processed by Our World in Data.
- What is the highest share of electricity production by source recorded in Malawi?
- The highest recorded value was 20.7% in 2019.
- What is the lowest share of electricity production by source recorded in Malawi?
- The lowest recorded value was 0.9% in 2015.
- How does Malawi rank for share of electricity production by source?
- Malawi ranks 173rd out of 208 countries with data for 2021.
- Is share of electricity production by source rising or falling in Malawi?
- Over the last ten years it is up 1,442.8%. The long-run trend across the full record is volatile.
- Where does this Malawi data come from?
- The figures come from IEA Energy Statistics Data Browser, IEA, via World Bank (2026) – processed by Our World in Data, published as part of Share of electricity production by source. Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
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