

Malawi vs Zambia
Malawi comes out ahead of Zambia on 217 of 448 statistics where one end is better, to 212 with 19 ties. Malawi leads on Politics & Government, Travel and Culture and 2 more categories. Zambia leads on Manufacturing & Mining, Tech & Business and Environment and 5 more categories.
At a glance
Headline statistics, each ranked among all countries.
| Statistic | Malawi | Zambia |
|---|---|---|
| Population | 22,785,535 62nd of 235 | 22,521,915 63rd of 235 |
| Life Expectancy at Birth (Years)Health Indicators by Country (World Bank) | 67.6 169th of 215 | 66.5 179th of 215 |
| GDP per Person at PPP (International $)Economic Indicators by Country (World Bank) | $1,899 180th of 184 | $4,379 159th of 184 |
| Unemployment Rate (%)Economic Indicators by Country (World Bank) | 5.07% 89th of 181 | 5.92% 108th of 181 |
| Access to Electricity (% of People)Development Indicators by Country (World Bank) | 15.6% 212th of 214 | 53.6% 196th of 214 |
| Infant Deaths per 1,000 BirthsHealth Indicators by Country (World Bank) | 38.0 167th of 195 | 34.6 tied 161st of 195 |
| GDP per Person (US$)Economic Indicators by Country (World Bank) | $672 180th of 185 | $1,318 164th of 185 |
By category
Average percentile on each category's widely ranked statistics.
- Manufacturing & MiningZambia · 3 statistics
- Tech & BusinessZambia · 8 statistics
- EnvironmentZambia · 45 statistics
- EducationZambia · 8 statistics
- Politics & GovernmentMalawi · 40 statistics
- TravelMalawi · 10 statistics
- CultureMalawi · 61 statistics
- PopulationZambia · 18 statistics
- Crime & SafetyZambia · 42 statistics
- Infrastructure & EnergyZambia · 36 statistics
- HealthMalawi · 203 statistics
- EconomicsMalawi · 69 statistics
- LawZambia · 6 statistics
Biggest differences
The 30 statistics where their rankings differ most, among rankings of at least 118 countries.
| Statistic | Malawi | Zambia |
|---|---|---|
| Mortality (Deaths) - MaleCancer Rates by Country | 320,641 181st of 183 | 527 31st of 183 |
| Vacc. Rate ROTACVaccination Rates by Country | 89.0% tied 35th of 124 | 58.0% 111th of 124 |
| Debt as % of GNICountries Without Debt | 17.1% 45th of 206 | 77.5% 158th of 206 |
| Unemployment Rate - ILOUnemployment by Country | 0.9% tied 5th of 155 | 6% tied 88th of 155 |
| International and Peace and Security Rank GCI v1.6Good Country Index by Country | 100th 98th of 171 | 6th 6th of 171 |
| Vacc. Rate BCGVaccination Rates by Country | 99.0% tied 1st of 153 | 90.0% tied 95th of 153 |
| GDP Growth WBGDP Growth by Country | 1.9% tied 128th of 190 | 5.4% tied 33rd of 190 |
| Share of National Income Held by the Richest 1%Share of Income Of the Richest One Percent by Country | 15.0% tied 94th of 171 | 23.2% 12th of 171 |
| Forest AreaTrees by Country | 22.4% 127th of 209 | 59.5% 28th of 209 |
| Forest Cover PercentageForest Cover by Country | 22.4% 126th of 207 | 59.5% 28th of 207 |
| Planet and Climate Rank GCI v1.6Good Country Index by Country | 64th 64th of 171 | 145th 142nd of 171 |
| Change in Colon Cancer Rates 1990-2017Colon Cancer Rate by Country | 22.3% 100th of 191 | -7% 13th of 191 |
| Prostate Cancer Age-Standardized RateProstate Cancer Rates by Country | 28.0 per 100k 65th of 185 | 65.4 per 100k 145th of 185 |
| Est. Diabetes PrevalenceDiabetes Rates by Country | 5.7% 42nd of 211 | 10.3% tied 131st of 211 |
| Rate of Stabbing DeathsStabbing Deaths by Country | 0.05 per 100k tied 57th of 202 | 0.25 per 100k tied 143rd of 202 |
| Purchasing Power ParityPurchasing Power Parity by Country | $619 LCU/INT 19th of 182 | $8 LCU/INT 90th of 182 |
| Workforce Participation RateWorkforce Participation by Country | 66.731 41st of 181 | 59.303 111th of 181 |
| % Risk of Prostate Cancer at 74Prostate Cancer Rates by Country | 3.2% tied 62nd of 185 | 7.3% tied 133rd of 185 |
| Drought Risk Score (Statista)Droughts by Country | 3.44 tied 134th of 157 | 2.32 tied 71st of 157 |
| WJP RoLI Fundamental Rights ScoreWorld Justice Project (WJP) Rule of Law Index | 0.57 tied 62nd of 142 | 0.4 119th of 142 |
| Renewable Internal Freshwater Per CapitaFresh water by Country | 805 m³ 139th of 181 | 4,091 m³ 70th of 181 |
| Prosperity and Equality Rank GCI v1.6Good Country Index by Country | 82nd 81st of 171 | 148th 145th of 171 |
| Climate ChangeGreenest (Most Eco-Friendly) Countries | 17.7 176th of 179 | 39.4 tied 109th of 179 |
| Patent Grants (Abroad) 1980-2022Inventions by Country | 4 tied 178th of 192 | 199 110th of 192 |
| % Annual Forest Area Change 1990-2020Deforestation Rates by Country | -36.0% 169th of 175 | -5.48% 105th of 175 |
| Colon Cancer RateColon Cancer Rate by Country | 6.1 cases per 100k People 3rd of 192 | 12.2 cases per 100k People tied 71st of 192 |
| Unintentional Gun Deaths as % of All DeathsGun Deaths by Country | 0.06% tied 111th of 159 | 0.02% tied 46th of 159 |
| Education 2005 to 2016Most Dangerous Countries for Women | 2.9 tied 135th of 158 | 8.1 tied 86th of 158 |
| % of Population Given at Least 1 Dose COVID Vacc.COVID Vaccines by Country | 28.0% tied 178th of 200 | 64.0% tied 108th of 200 |
| Monthly Cost Of Living (Living Cost)Cost of Living by Country | $544 tied 20th of 196 | $927 86th of 196 |
Quick answers
- Which is better, Malawi or Zambia?
- Malawi comes out ahead of Zambia on 217 of 448 statistics where one end is better, to 212 with 19 ties. Malawi leads on Politics & Government, Travel and Culture and 2 more categories. Zambia leads on Manufacturing & Mining, Tech & Business and Environment and 5 more categories. Statistics where neither end is better, and totals that mostly track population, are not counted.
- Which has more people, Malawi or Zambia?
- Malawi has a population of 22,785,535 (62nd of 235 countries) and Zambia has 22,521,915 (63rd of 235).
- How do Malawi and Zambia compare on Life Expectancy at Birth (Years)?
- Life Expectancy at Birth (Years): Malawi 67.6 (169th of 215), Zambia 66.5 (179th of 215) among countries. Malawi ranks better.
- How do Malawi and Zambia compare on GDP per Person at PPP (International $)?
- GDP per Person at PPP (International $): Malawi $1,899 (180th of 184), Zambia $4,379 (159th of 184) among countries. Zambia ranks better.
- Where does Malawi beat Zambia most clearly?
- Malawi ranks far ahead on Vacc. Rate ROTAC (Vaccination Rates by Country): 89.0% vs 58.0%; Debt as % of GNI (Countries Without Debt): 17.1% vs 77.5%; Unemployment Rate - ILO (Unemployment by Country): 0.9% vs 6%.
- Where does Zambia beat Malawi most clearly?
- Zambia ranks far ahead on Mortality (Deaths) - Male (Cancer Rates by Country): 527 vs 320,641; International and Peace and Security Rank GCI v1.6 (Good Country Index by Country): 6th vs 100th; GDP Growth WB (GDP Growth by Country): 5.4% vs 1.9%.
More matchups
Other comparisons with Malawi or Zambia.