Photo: Rockwurm derivative work: Jjtkk · CC BY-SA 3.0 · via Wikimedia Commons, shown in greyscale
Topic 11 of 18 · Country Index 2026
Malawi: Risk & Resilience
How exposed is a country to crisis, and how ready is it to cope?
Malawi is placed joint 160th of 193 countries on risk & resilience in the Country Index 2026, from 4 of its 4 key statistics. Readings behind it: World Risk Index 3.38 (2025); INFORM Risk Index 5.4 (2025).
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Risk & Resilience
joint160th
of 193 countries placed
Placed from 4 of 4 key statistics
- 3.38World Risk Index, 2025WorldRiskIndex score (0–100, where 100 is the most at risk)
- 5.4INFORM Risk Index, 2025INFORM Risk score (0–10, where 10 is the highest risk)
- 0.567Climate Vulnerability (ND-GAIN), 2024ND-GAIN Vulnerability (0–1, where 1 is the most vulnerable)
- 41.53Able to Raise Emergency Funds Within 30 Days, 2024Adults who could raise emergency funds within 30 days without great difficulty (% of population aged 15+)
01The evidence
The 4 key statistics that decide it
Only these place Malawi on risk & resilience — one vote each. Every value is the publisher’s own, read at the edition the Country Index 2026 used — or, for a survey-based key, each country’s latest reading; the grey ticks are every other country it was compared with, lowest on the left.
Key 1 of 4
World Risk Index
Institute for International Law of Peace and Armed Conflict (IFHV), Ruhr University Bochum
2025 edition · data for 2025 · CC BY 4.0
3.38
WorldRiskIndex score (0–100, where 100 is the most at risk)
Lower is better
Malawi: 3.38. Across the 193 countries in this edition, values run from 0.18 (Monaco) to 46.56 (Philippines); the world median is 4.17.
- World median
- 4.17
- Best in Eastern Africa
- 2.38 Zimbabwe
- Land neighbours
- Mozambique 34.39 · Tanzania 16.11 · Zambia 2.94
Key 2 of 4
INFORM Risk Index
European Commission Joint Research Centre, with the Inter-Agency Standing Committee
2026 edition · data for 2025 · CC BY 4.0 (via the European Commission's reuse policy)
5.4
INFORM Risk score (0–10, where 10 is the highest risk)
Lower is better
Malawi: 5.4. Across the 191 countries in this edition, values run from 0.7 (Singapore) to 8.5 (South Sudan); the world median is 3.7.
- World median
- 3.7
- Best in Eastern Africa
- 1.4 Seychelles
- Land neighbours
- Mozambique 7.1 · Tanzania 5.6 · Zambia 5.5
Key 3 of 4
Climate Vulnerability (ND-GAIN)
Notre Dame Global Adaptation Initiative (ND-GAIN), University of Notre Dame
2024 edition · data for 2024 · CC BY 3.0 Unported
0.567
ND-GAIN Vulnerability (0–1, where 1 is the most vulnerable)
Lower is better
Ranked 168th of 190 by Notre Dame Global Adaptation Initiative (ND-GAIN), University of Notre Dame
Malawi: 0.567. Across the 190 countries in this edition, values run from 0.263 (Norway) to 0.655 (Mauritania); the world median is 0.45.
- World median
- 0.45
- Best in Eastern Africa
- 0.428 Seychelles
- Land neighbours
- Mozambique 0.511 · Tanzania 0.505 · Zambia 0.492
Key 4 of 4
Able to Raise Emergency Funds Within 30 Days
World Bank Group
Latest reading per country, 2021–2024 · Malawi’s is from 2024 · CC BY 4.0
41.53
Adults who could raise emergency funds within 30 days without great difficulty (% of population aged 15+)
Higher is better
Malawi: 41.53. Across the 142 countries at their latest reading, values run from 16.49 (South Sudan) to 93.69 (Sweden); the world median is 53.85.
- World median
- 53.85
- Best in Eastern Africa
- 68.83 Mauritius
- Land neighbours
- Mozambique 43.17 · Tanzania 53.04 · Zambia 42.79
02Over time
Which way Malawi is moving
Each key’s published value, edition by edition, beside the world median. The Country Index 2026 is the first edition of the standing, so the standing itself has no history to chart yet.
World Risk Index
WorldRiskIndex score (0–100, where 100 is the most at risk) · lower is better
MalawiWorld median
Malawi rose from 3.32 in 2000 to 3.38 in 2025; the world median went from 4.55 to 4.17.
Every year’s figures
Year Malawi World median 2025 3.38 4.17 2024 3.38 4.17 2023 3.38 4.27 2022 3.38 4.08 2021 3.16 4.23 2020 3.31 4.12 2019 3.35 4.23 2018 3.29 4.14 2017 3.31 4.24 2016 3.33 4.23 2015 3.35 4.04 2014 3.14 4.07 2013 3.30 4.08 2012 3.24 4.07 2011 3.20 3.99 2010 2.96 3.86 2009 3.25 3.94 2008 2.95 4.11 2007 3.28 4.41 2006 2.83 4.51 2005 3.30 4.54 2004 3.30 4.42 2003 3.33 4.50 2002 3.35 4.65 2001 3.32 4.37 2000 3.32 4.55 INFORM Risk Index
INFORM Risk score (0–10, where 10 is the highest risk) · lower is better
MalawiWorld median
Malawi rose from 4.9 in 2016 to 5.4 in 2025; the world median went from 3.6 to 3.7.
Every year’s figures
Year Malawi World median 2025 5.4 3.7 2024 4.9 3.5 2023 4.9 3.6 2022 4.9 3.6 2021 4.9 3.6 2020 4.8 3.6 2019 4.9 3.6 2018 4.7 3.5 2017 4.9 3.5 2016 4.9 3.6 Climate Vulnerability (ND-GAIN)
ND-GAIN Vulnerability (0–1, where 1 is the most vulnerable) · lower is better
MalawiWorld median
Malawi fell from 0.624 in 2000 to 0.567 in 2024; the world median went from 0.476 to 0.45.
Every year’s figures
Year Malawi World median 2024 0.5666 0.449649 2023 0.5658 0.449167 2022 0.5674 0.447422 2021 0.5706 0.447831 2020 0.5765 0.447902 2019 0.5777 0.447883 2018 0.5757 0.449652 2017 0.5789 0.450532 2016 0.5843 0.451843 2015 0.5804 0.451496 2014 0.5836 0.451502 2013 0.5869 0.454946 2012 0.5874 0.454269 2011 0.5940 0.458012 2010 0.5976 0.460715 2009 0.5965 0.464712 2008 0.6006 0.463801 2007 0.6029 0.466738 2006 0.6079 0.468701 2005 0.6124 0.470646 2004 0.6172 0.472029 2003 0.6204 0.471635 2002 0.6267 0.472031 2001 0.6240 0.476366 2000 0.6241 0.475585
03In context
Malawi beside its neighbours
A position reads best beside the countries around it. Every position below is a place among all 193 countries on risk & resilience, never a place within the region.
Malawi and the countries it borders
Standing among all 193; the key columns are the publishers’ own values.
| Country | Standing | World Risk IndexWorldRiskIndex score (0–100, where 100 is the most at risk) | INFORM Risk IndexINFORM Risk score (0–10, where 10 is the highest risk) | Climate Vulnerability (ND-GAIN)ND-GAIN Vulnerability (0–1, where 1 is the most vulnerable) | Able to Raise Emergency Funds Within 30 DaysAdults who could raise emergency funds within 30 days without great difficulty (% of population aged 15+) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
 Zambia | 143rd | 2.94 | 5.5 | 0.492 | 42.79 |
| Malawi | =160th | 3.38 | 5.4 | 0.567 | 41.53 |
 Tanzania | 169th | 16.11 | 5.6 | 0.505 | 53.04 |
 Mozambique | 186th | 34.39 | 7.1 | 0.511 | 43.17 |
“—”: no published reading in that edition. What a standing is
Across Eastern Africa
Every country in the sub-region, by its place among all 193.
Placed either side on risk & resilience
The countries immediately above and below Malawi in the topic’s list.
04Context, no vote
Where Malawi is ahead of the world, and behind
22 more statistics filed under risk & resilience, published in full and deliberately given no vote in the standing. Select a row for the publisher, the rank and the links.
Ahead of the world median3
Statistics on which Malawi does better than the middle country measured.
Water StressFAO · 2023 · world median 104.1110▼ Worsened since 2013
Malawi: 4.11 · world median 10 · Freshwater withdrawal as a share of available resources (%). Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO), 2023 edition, data for 2023.
Published values in that edition run from 0.03 to 3,851; lower is better.
Position 127th of 177 · derived, 1st = worst.
Baseline Water Stress (Aqueduct)WRI · 2019 · world median 1.6630.7531.663No earlier reading
Malawi: 0.753 · world median 1.663 · Baseline water stress score (0–5). World Resources Institute (WRI), 2023 edition, data for 2019.
Published values in that edition run from 0 to 5; lower is better.
Days Above 35°CECMWF · 2025 · world median 3.482.753.48▲ Improved since 2015
Malawi: 2.75 · world median 3.48 · Days a year with a maximum temperature above 35°C, averaged over the country’s land. World Bank Group (Climate Change Knowledge Portal), from Copernicus ERA5 (ECMWF), 2025 edition, data for 2025.
Published values in that edition run from 0 to 222.89; lower is better.
Behind the world median13
Statistics on which Malawi does worse than the middle country measured.
INFORM Severity IndexACAPS · 2025 · world median 3.13.23.1▼ Worsened since 2020
Malawi: 3.2 · world median 3.1 · INFORM Severity (1–5, most severe crisis). ACAPS, 2025 edition, data for 2025.
Published values in that edition run from 1.3 to 4.7; lower is better.
Position 38th of 81 · derived, 1st = worst.
Drought Risk (Aqueduct)WRI · 2019 · world median 2.6232.7182.623No earlier reading
Malawi: 2.718 · world median 2.623 · Drought risk score (0–5). World Resources Institute (WRI), 2023 edition, data for 2019.
Published values in that edition run from 0.553 to 4.081; lower is better.
Ranked 66th of 138 by WRI (1st = worst).
Political Stability and Absence of ViolenceWorld Bank Group · 2025 · world median 0.171-0.1640.171▼ Worsened since 2015
Malawi: -0.164 · world median 0.171 · Political Stability estimate (−2.5 to 2.5). World Bank Group, 2025 edition, data for 2025.
Published values in that edition run from -2.506 to 1.563; higher is better.
Position 132nd of 211 · derived.
Firms Whose Assets Were Damaged by Extreme WeatherWorld Bank Group · 2026 · world median 9.48511.729.485No earlier reading
Malawi: 11.72 · world median 9.485 · Firms whose physical assets were damaged by extreme weather (%). World Bank Group, 2026 edition, data for 2026.
Published values in that edition run from 0 to 59.21; lower is better.
Position 61st of 163 · derived, 1st = worst.
Per Capita Food Supply VariabilityFAO · 2024 · world median 293529▼ Worsened since 2014
Malawi: 35 · world median 29 · Year-to-year variability of the food supply (kcal per person per day). Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO), 2024 edition, data for 2024.
Published values in that edition run from 4 to 227; lower is better.
Global Report on Food CrisesFSIN · 2024 · world median 222822▲ Improved since 2016
Malawi: 28 · world median 22 · In IPC Phase 3+ (% of analysed population). Food Security Information Network (FSIN), 2025 edition, data for 2024.
Published values in that edition run from 3 to 56; lower is better.
Position 14th of 44 · derived, 1st = worst.
Children's Climate Risk IndexUNICEF · 2020 · world median 56.75No earlier reading
Malawi: 6.7 · world median 5 · Children's Climate Risk Index (0–10, higher is more risk). UNICEF, 2021 edition, data for 2020.
Published values in that edition run from 1 to 8.7; lower is better.
Ranked 40th of 163 by UNICEF (1st = worst).
Renewable Internal Freshwater Resources per CapitaFAO · 2022 · world median 2,528784.692,528▼ Worsened since 2012
Malawi: 784.69 · world median 2,528 · Renewable internal freshwater (cubic metres per person). Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO), 2022 edition, data for 2022.
Published values in that edition run from 0 to 445,023; higher is better.
Position 140th of 181 · derived.
Climate Readiness (ND-GAIN)Notre Dame Global Adaptation Initiative (ND-GAIN), University of Notre Dame · 2024 · world median 0.3870.2810.387▲ Improved since 2014
Malawi: 0.281 · world median 0.387 · ND-GAIN Readiness (0–1, where 1 is the most ready). Notre Dame Global Adaptation Initiative (ND-GAIN), University of Notre Dame, 2024 edition, data for 2024.
Published values in that edition run from 0.137 to 0.749; higher is better.
Ranked 157th of 192 by Notre Dame Global Adaptation Initiative (ND-GAIN), University of Notre Dame.
World Risk Poll Resilience IndexLloyd's Register Foundation · 2023 · world median 534553No earlier reading
Malawi: 45 · world median 53 · Resilience Index, 0–100 (higher = more reported capacity to cope with a shock; the mean of individual, household, community and societal sub-indices). Lloyd's Register Foundation, 2024 edition, data for 2023.
Published values in that edition run from 29 to 74; higher is better.
Riverine Flood Risk (Aqueduct)WRI · 2019 · world median 2.4034.0472.403No earlier reading
Malawi: 4.047 · world median 2.403 · Riverine flood risk score (0–5). World Resources Institute (WRI), 2023 edition, data for 2019.
Published values in that edition run from 0 to 5; lower is better.
Ranked 25th of 163 by WRI (1st = worst).
ND-GAIN Country IndexNotre Dame Global Adaptation Initiative (ND-GAIN), University of Notre Dame · 2024 · world median 47.4435.7347.44▲ Improved since 2014
Malawi: 35.73 · world median 47.44 · ND-GAIN Index (0–100, where 100 is best placed to adapt). Notre Dame Global Adaptation Initiative (ND-GAIN), University of Notre Dame, 2024 edition, data for 2024.
Published values in that edition run from 26.42 to 71.85; higher is better.
Ranked 168th of 190 by Notre Dame Global Adaptation Initiative (ND-GAIN), University of Notre Dame.
Adults Who Experienced a Natural Disaster or Severe WeatherWorld Bank Group · 2024 · world median 20.4661.0320.46No earlier reading
Malawi: 61.03 · world median 20.46 · Adults who experienced a natural disaster or severe weather in the past three years (% of population aged 15+). World Bank Group, 2024 edition, data for 2024.
Published values in that edition run from 2.738 to 77.54; lower is better.
Position 6th of 98 · derived, 1st = worst.
No better end6
These describe the shape of a country — more is not better or worse, only different — so they are never ahead or behind.
Asylum-Seekers by Country of AsylumUNHCR, the UN Refugee Agency · 2025 · world median 1,83625,2511,836Moved since 2015
Malawi: 25,251 · world median 1,836 · Asylum-seekers awaiting a decision, end of year (people). UNHCR, the UN Refugee Agency, 2025 edition, data for 2025.
Published values in that edition run from 0 to 3,718,945.
Burned AreaGWIS · 2025 · world median 13,824385,31213,824No real change since 2015
Malawi: 385,312 · world median 13,824 · Burned area (hectares). European Commission Joint Research Centre — Global Wildfire Information System (GWIS), 2025 edition, data for 2025.
Published values in that edition run from 0 to 50,562,035.
Refugee Population by Country of AsylumUNHCR, the UN Refugee Agency · 2025 · world median 12,26935,24112,269No real change since 2015
Malawi: 35,241 · world median 12,269 · Refugees under UNHCR's mandate hosted, end of year (people). UNHCR, the UN Refugee Agency, 2025 edition, data for 2025.
Published values in that edition run from 0 to 2,655,191.
Refugees by Country of OriginUNHCR, the UN Refugee Agency · 2025 · world median 1,2725511,272No real change since 2015
Malawi: 551 · world median 1,272 · Refugees under UNHCR's mandate from this country, end of year (people). UNHCR, the UN Refugee Agency, 2025 edition, data for 2025.
Published values in that edition run from 0 to 5,224,131.
Temperature Change on LandFAO · 2025 · world median 1.4741.0671.474Moved since 2015
Malawi: 1.067 · world median 1.474 · Change in mean land-surface temperature against the country's own 1951–1980 average, °C. Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO), 2025 edition, data for 2025.
Published values in that edition run from 0.34 to 3.294.
Population Living Below 5 m ElevationCenter for International Earth Science Information Network (CIESIN), Columbia University · 2015 · world median 2.95402.954No real change since 1990
Malawi: 0 · world median 2.954 · Population living below 5 m elevation (% of total population). Center for International Earth Science Information Network (CIESIN), Columbia University, 2015 edition, data for 2015.
Published values in that edition run from 0 to 78.48.
No current reading for Malawi
Internally Displaced People of Concern to UNHCR and Stateless Persons by Country of Residence. Listed rather than hidden, so the page can be checked against it.
“Position · derived” is this site’s ordering of the published values, 1st = best unless the row says otherwise; the publisher ranks no country on it. Rank, position and standing
05Country Index 2026
Risk & Resilience among Malawi’s 15 topics
Risk & Resilience is Malawi’s 12th best-placed topic of 15. Strongest first, each marker at its share of that topic’s field.
- Environment & Sustainabilityjoint 22nd of 1864/4 keys
- Energy58th of 1653/3 keys
- Peace & Securityjoint 72nd of 1774/4 keys
- Democracy & Civil Liberties88th of 1984/4 keys
- Governance & Institutionsjoint 118th of 1944/4 keys
- Food & Agriculturejoint 124th of 1844/4 keys
- Gender & Equalityjoint 125th of 1834/4 keys
- Education & Knowledge141st of 1982/4 keys
- Digital & Technology146th of 1984/4 keys
- Work & Labourjoint 140th of 1824/4 keys
- Development & Human Capital159th of 1963/3 keys
- Risk & Resiliencejoint 160th of 1934/4 keys
- Health & Wellbeing182nd of 2004/4 keys
- Economy & Innovation161st of 1764/4 keys
- Poverty & Inequality150th of 1593/3 keys
No standing on Mobility & Trade: too few of those topics’ key statistics are published for this country.
06The top of the list
Who leads on risk & resilience
The three countries placed highest of 193, and the leaders Malawi can most readily be measured against.
1
LiechtensteinWestern Europe
1st of 193 · 2 of 4 keys
Photo: Guido Radig,Inkey · CC BY 3.0, greyscale
2
LuxembourgWestern Europe
2nd of 193 · 3 of 4 keys
Photo: Michal Osmenda from Brussels, Belgium · CC BY-SA 2.0, greyscale
3
DenmarkNorthern Europe
3rd of 193 · 4 of 4 keys
Photo: User:Aconcagua · CC BY-SA 3.0, greyscale
Placed highest nearby
Highest in Africa
Seychelles=27th3/4 keysThis page
Malawi=160th4/4 keys
Positions out of 193 placed on the topic. A country needs readings on enough keys to be placed, and the top of the list is often held on fewer of them.
07Questions
Malawi on risk & resilience: questions answered
Every answer is built from the numbers on this page, so none can say something the page does not.
How does Malawi rank on risk & resilience?
Malawi is placed joint 160th of 193 countries on Risk & Resilience in the Country Index 2026, from 4 of its 4 key statistics (World Risk Index, INFORM Risk Index, Climate Vulnerability (ND-GAIN) and Able to Raise Emergency Funds Within 30 Days). The position is this site’s ordering of published statistics, not a rank any publisher printed.
What is the latest World Risk Index figure for Malawi?
3.38 in 2025 (worldRiskIndex score (0–100, where 100 is the most at risk)), according to Institute for International Law of Peace and Armed Conflict (IFHV), Ruhr University Bochum. The world median in the same edition was 4.17.
What is the latest INFORM Risk Index figure for Malawi?
5.4 in 2025 (iNFORM Risk score (0–10, where 10 is the highest risk)), according to European Commission Joint Research Centre, with the Inter-Agency Standing Committee. The world median in the same edition was 3.7.
How does Malawi compare with Tanzania on risk & resilience?
Tanzania is placed 169th of 193, and Malawi joint 160th. World Risk Index: Tanzania 16.11, Malawi 3.38; INFORM Risk Index: Tanzania 5.6, Malawi 5.4; Climate Vulnerability (ND-GAIN): Tanzania 0.505, Malawi 0.567; Able to Raise Emergency Funds Within 30 Days: Tanzania 53.04, Malawi 41.53.
How have Malawi’s risk & resilience figures changed?
World Risk Index rose from 3.32 in 2000 to 3.38 in 2025; INFORM Risk Index rose from 4.9 in 2016 to 5.4 in 2025; Climate Vulnerability (ND-GAIN) fell from 0.624 in 2000 to 0.567 in 2024.
Which risk & resilience statistics are missing for Malawi?
No current reading is published for Malawi on Internally Displaced People of Concern to UNHCR and Stateless Persons by Country of Residence. They are listed rather than hidden, so the evidence on the page can be checked against it.
08Method
Method, sources and how to cite
What this topic does not measure
This topic does not forecast when a disaster will strike, and it does not measure financial or economic risk. Water stress is measured under Environment & Sustainability. Displacement caused by disasters and the severity of crises already under way are published here as context.
How the Risk & Resilience standing is decided
A standing is this site’s ordering, named with its edition — never a publisher’s rank. 4 key statistics vote, one vote each; every country’s published value becomes a place within that key’s own field, the places are averaged, and the average is never published. A country needs 2 of the 4 keys to be placed.
The risk & resilience method, step by stepHow every standing on this site is built
The key statistics and their licences
- World Risk Index — Institute for International Law of Peace and Armed Conflict (IFHV), Ruhr University Bochum, CC BY 4.0
- INFORM Risk Index — European Commission Joint Research Centre, with the Inter-Agency Standing Committee, CC BY 4.0 (via the European Commission's reuse policy)
- Climate Vulnerability (ND-GAIN) — Notre Dame Global Adaptation Initiative (ND-GAIN), University of Notre Dame, CC BY 3.0 Unported
- Able to Raise Emergency Funds Within 30 Days — World Bank Group, CC BY 4.0
The other 22 statistics on this page come from 12 publishers, each named beside its numbers, with every edition and licence on the datasets pages.
The standing itself is part of the Country Index 2026, published under CC BY-SA 4.0.
Photographs
Malawi’s banner and the countries placed highest, from their profiles: Wikimedia Commons, shown in greyscale, each used under the licence named.
- Malawi (banner) — Rockwurm derivative work: Jjtkk, CC BY-SA 3.0
- Liechtenstein — Guido Radig,Inkey, CC BY 3.0
- Luxembourg — Michal Osmenda from Brussels, Belgium, CC BY-SA 2.0
- Denmark — User:Aconcagua, CC BY-SA 3.0
Cite this page
Nations Inquiry (2026). Malawi: Risk & Resilience — standing and statistics, Country Index 2026. https://nationsinquiry.com/countries/malawi/risk