Account Ownership Statistics in Malawi (2026)
50.4% of adults in Malawi had an account at a financial institution or mobile money provider in 2024, World Bank Global Findex data show. Up from 42.7% in 2021 to 50.4% in 2024 (+7.7 percentage points). Malawi ranks #24 of 36 economies in Sub-Saharan Africa on this measure, and #111 of 145 globally.
Key Statistics
- Latest value (2024)
- 50.4% (2024)
- Account Ownership in Malawi as of 2024, the most recent observation in World Bank Global Findex data.
- Change since 2021
- +7.7 pp (2024)
- Up from 42.7% in 2021 to 50.4% in 2024 (+7.7 percentage points).
- Earliest value in this dataset (2011)
- 16.5% (2011)
- Earliest observation in this dataset, which covers 1990 onward (the source series may begin earlier). Up from 16.5% in 2011 to 50.4% in 2024.
- Record high (2024)
- 50.4% (2024)
- The 2024 value is the highest in the available World Bank Global Findex series for Malawi.
- Rank in Sub-Saharan Africa
- #24 of 36 (2024)
- Malawi ranks 24 of 36 countries in Sub-Saharan Africa with data, based on each country's latest value.
- Global rank
- #111 of 145 (2024)
- Malawi ranks 111 of 145 countries with data globally.
- Sub-Saharan Africa average
- 54.2% (2024)
- Malawi (50.4%) is below the average of 54.2% across the 36 countries in Sub-Saharan Africa with data.
- Among women (2024)
- 46.3% (2024)
- Value for women in Malawi, same 2024 World Bank Global Findex data.
- Among men (2024)
- 54.8% (2024)
- Value for men in Malawi, same 2024 World Bank Global Findex data.
- Gender gap (women minus men)
- −8.6 pp (2024)
- In 2024, the figure was 46.3% for women and 54.8% for men — 8.6 percentage points lower among women.
- In rural areas (2024)
- 49% (2024)
- Value for rural residents of Malawi in 2024.
- Rural gap vs national
- −1.4 pp (2024)
- Rural residents (49%) are 1.4 percentage points below the national figure (50.4%).
- Among the poorest 40% (2024)
- 38.1% (2024)
- Value for adults in the poorest 40% of households in Malawi in 2024.
- Poorest-40% gap vs national
- −12.3 pp (2024)
- The poorest 40% (38.1%) are 12.3 percentage points below the national figure (50.4%).
- Internet use in Malawi (2024)
- 19% (2024)
- 19% of the population in Malawi used the internet in 2024 (World Bank); shown for context only.
- Population (2024)
- 21.7 million (2024)
- Malawi had a population of 21.7 million in 2024 (World Bank); shown for scale only.
Trend, 2011–2024
| Year | % of adults (age 15+) | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 2024 | 50.4% | +7.7 pp |
| 2021 | 42.7% | +9.0 pp |
| 2017 | 33.7% | +15.6 pp |
| 2014 | 18.1% | +1.6 pp |
| 2011 | 16.5% | — |
Frequently asked questions
What share of adults in Malawi had an account at a financial institution or mobile money provider?
50.4% of adults in Malawi had an account at a financial institution or mobile money provider in 2024, according to World Bank Global Findex data.
Where does Malawi rank globally on account ownership?
Malawi ranks 111 of 145 countries with data globally, based on the latest World Bank Global Findex value for each country.
Is there a gender gap in account ownership in Malawi?
Yes — in 2024 the figure was 46.3% for women and 54.8% for men, a gap of 8.6 percentage points in favor of men.
Source & methodology
Source: World Bank Global Findex, indicator
account.t.d, retrieved .
Figures are shown exactly as published in the source dataset; only the change column of the trend table is computed from adjacent published values.Read more on the methodology page. All figures are estimates and projections; this is not financial advice.
Last updated .