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Malawi

Diet and nutrition profile based on FAO Food Balance Sheets (1961–2023).

2,618 kcal/day
65.7 g protein/day
46.3 g fat/day
158 of 200
Malawi provides an average of 2,618 kcal per person per day (2023), with 65.7g of protein and 46.3g of fat. Since 1961, calorie supply has increased by 30% (from 2,012 to 2,618 kcal). Globally, Malawi ranks #158 out of 200 countries by calorie supply.

Food Supply Trend

Daily food supply per capita in Malawi compared to the world average.

Diet Composition (2023)

Where the calories come from — food group breakdown by kcal/capita/day.

Macronutrient Trends

Protein and fat supply over time in Malawi.

Food Supply Treemap

Area-proportional view of Malawi's food supply — larger blocks mean more calories from that food group.

What's Different?

How Malawi's food supply differs from the world average — bars show excess (right) or deficit (left) in calories.

vs. EAT-Lancet Reference Diet

How Malawi's food supply compares to the EAT-Lancet Planetary Health Diet — the scientifically-derived dietary pattern for human and planetary health.

⚠️ Approximate comparison. FAO food supply data measures availability (not intake) and uses different food group definitions than the EAT-Lancet framework. Bars show directional patterns, not precise gaps.

Explore the full Planetary Health Diet →

Similar Countries

Countries with a similar calorie supply.

🔗 Malawi in the Mortality Explorer

Explore Malawi's mortality data — life expectancy, causes of death, and risk factors — in our companion tool.

Frequently Asked Questions

How many calories per day does Malawi produce?

Malawi's food supply provides approximately 2,618 kcal per person per day as of 2023, according to FAO Food Balance Sheets. This measures food availability, not actual individual consumption — household-level waste typically reduces actual intake by 20–30%.

How has Malawi's diet changed over time?

Between 1961 and 2023, Malawi's total calorie supply changed from 2,012 to 2,618 kcal/capita/day (an increase of 30%). Protein supply went from 60.4g to 65.7g per day. Fat supply changed from 39.8g to 46.3g per day.

Where does Malawi rank globally?

Malawi ranks #158 out of 200 countries by calorie supply per capita. The world average is approximately 3,016 kcal/capita/day.

How does Malawi's diet differ from the world average?

The butterfly chart above shows the difference in food supply composition between Malawi and the global average. Bars extending to the right indicate food groups where Malawi consumes more than the world average, while bars extending left show deficits. These differences reflect agricultural production, cultural food traditions, income levels, and trade patterns.

What are dietary risk factors?

Dietary risk factors are eating patterns linked to chronic disease and premature death, as modeled by the Global Burden of Disease (GBD) study. The five major dietary risks are: high sodium intake, low fruit intake, low vegetable intake, low whole grain intake, and low nut and seed intake. These are population-level statistical estimates — not direct counts of individual deaths.