The preliminary results for the 2018 Population and housing census reveal an annual intercensal growth rate of 2.9% and an overall population growth of 35%. ‘This growth rate is typical of a country with high fertility rate and suggestive of rapid population growth’ says UNFPA. The results also show about 51% of Malawi’s population below 18 years. Further details also show that slightly more than half of the population are females (51%) and almost 84% of population live in rural communities.
51% of Malawi’s population below 18 years
The Government through the National Statistical Office, NSO conducted the 2018 Population and Housing Census, PHC from 3rd to 23rd September under the theme: Be Counted-Leave No One Behind.
The Population and Housing Census is a total process of collecting, compiling, evaluating, analyzing, publishing and disseminating demographic, economic, and social data and information of all persons and their living quarters in a country at a particular time. The NSO conducts censuses in order to generate current and most reliable data for development planning, policy formulation, service delivery and monitoring and evaluation of various development programmes in the country.
The final full report of the census is scheduled to be released in April 2019. This shall be followed by series of analytical reports covering various themes. The preliminary report can be downloaded on the resources page
The 2018 PHC was supported by various partners including The United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA), United Nations Family/Malawi, United Kingdom International Development (UKAid), the United States Agency for International Development (USAID), the Government of Norway, the Irish Government, the German Government, Deutsche Gesellschatt fur Internationale Zusammernabeit (GIZ) and the Standard Bank.
-Henry Chimbali-
