2025 country profile

How democratic is
Malawi?

Malawi scores 65.4 out of 100 and ranks 59 of 179 in our independent 2025 democracy measure. Its lowest-scoring test is political equality. Explore the evidence and history below.

Democracys.org beta estimate, derived from V-Dem v16. A measure of political institutions and conditions—not a percentage of democracy or a judgment of people.

Printable country brief Compare this country

DEMOCRACYS SCORE

65.4out of 100Substantial but incomplete

2025 rank59 of 179

10-year change+1.4

25-year change+6.6

Source-bound range59.3–72.1

Weakest areaEquality

The source-bound range is an uncertainty guide, not a confidence interval for this combined score. How to read the range →

SCORE HISTORY

Malawi, 1975–2025

The shaded area is a plain-language uncertainty guide. Treat small score differences cautiously.

About uncertainty

BEYOND THE NUMBERS

What changed on the ground?

A documented development to help interpret the institutions behind the score.

2025 context · Freedom House assessment

Credible elections led to a peaceful transfer

Competitive presidential and parliamentary elections were followed by a peaceful change in executive power, with the main opposition party also winning the largest parliamentary seat share. The key institutional test was whether electoral defeat could translate into an orderly handover, rather than resistance by incumbents.

Read the country report · Freedom in the World 2026

AI-assisted source summary · not independently expert-reviewed

What this context does—and does not—explain

This is a selected development, not a complete political history. Its date may differ from the selected comparison period. It is not evidence that one event caused a particular number of points, and it may describe progress even when this index declines.

The scores use V-Dem. The narrative summarizes a separate assessment by Freedom House, whose definitions and coverage differ. Neither organization endorses this website. The summary is AI-assisted, source-linked, and has not received independent country-expert review. Source checked October 5, 2026.

Why democracy measures can disagree →

UNDERSTAND THE CHANGE

What drove the score?

2015–2025 · the measured story

The score for Malawi rose 1.4 points, from 64.0 to 65.4 between 2015 and 2025. 4 of the five areas improved while 1 worsened, so the headline combines competing movements. Public reasoning contributed the largest upward push in the score calculation.

Read the political context ↓

Largest influence on the calculation

Public reasoning

The evidence rates public justification, consultation, and engagement with opposing arguments more favorably.

Area score: 78.1 → 83.6
Approx. contribution to overall change: +1.0 points

Moving in the other direction

Political equality

The evidence rates the distribution of political influence, rights, and access across social groups less favorably.

Area score: 52.7 → 49.2
Approx. contribution to overall change: −0.8 points

These contributions explain the calculation—not the causes. The five area scores combine several indicators; they do not identify which individual law, election, or event changed.

When did the biggest shifts appear?

The largest year-to-year movements within this period. These are changes in annual estimates, not precise dates of political events.

2019–2020+5.5 points
The overall score rose from 60.6 to 66.1. Public reasoning supplied the largest upward contribution to that year’s calculated change.
2021–2022−1.9 points
The overall score fell from 68.0 to 66.1. Participation supplied the largest downward contribution to that year’s calculated change.
2022–2023−2.0 points
The overall score fell from 66.1 to 64.1. Elections supplied the largest downward contribution to that year’s calculated change.

Highest published score in this window: 68.0 in 2021. Small differences may fall within the source’s uncertainty.

See all five areas and how contributions are calculated

Changes in inputs versus contributions to the overall score
Area	2015	2025	Input change	Approx. contribution
Public reasoning	78.1	83.6	+5.5	+1.0
Political equality	52.7	49.2	−3.5	−0.8
Participation	57.5	60.5	+3.0	+0.6
Elections	54.0	55.7	+1.7	+0.4
Rights and checks	80.2	81.6	+1.4	+0.3

We change the five inputs from their starting to ending values in every possible order, then average each area’s effect on the formula. This distributes the formula’s interactions (a Shapley allocation). It is a mathematical attribution, not a causal estimate.

Inputs and published scores are rounded, so contributions are approximate and may not add exactly to the displayed total. No significance test is implied. Read the full scoring method →

BENEATH THE SCORE

Five dimensions of democracy

The headline score cannot show where a political system is strong or constrained. These five tests can. Each has equal weight in the beta standard.

Free and fair elections

Can people choose their leaders through broad voting rights, honest elections, free political groups, and open public debate?

55.7

Rights and checks on power

Are basic freedoms protected, laws applied fairly, courts independent, and leaders prevented from abusing power?

81.6

Public participation

Can people shape public life through civic groups, direct voting, and meaningful local and regional government?

60.5

Public reasoning

Do leaders explain decisions, consult the public, answer opposing arguments, and consider the common good?

83.6

Political equality

Do different social groups have equal rights, access, resources, and a real chance to influence political power?

49.2

HOW TO READ THIS PROFILE

Two kinds of evidence.
One clearer picture.

The score breakdown identifies which parts of the measure changed most. The country report adds documented political context. Together they help explain the institutions at stake—but they do not prove that a specific event produced a specific number of points.

Why this score differs from other democracy indices →

What a declining score can—and cannot—tell us about democratic backsliding

A recent improvement can coexist with a long-term decline. Always compare the dates, check the linked source, and consider developments the selected narrative does not cover.

ANNUAL DATA

Malawi score table

Download Malawi CSV

Year	Score	Source-bound range	Elections	Rights & checks	Participation	Reasoning	Equality
2025	65.4	59.3–72.1	55.7	81.6	60.5	83.6	49.2
2024	64.8	58.1–71.6	56.3	82.7	59.4	77.8	50.6
2023	64.1	57.5–71.4	57.1	83.4	59.0	76.1	48.0
2022	66.1	60.1–73.1	61.1	83.4	57.5	80.4	51.3
2021	68.0	62.5–74.9	60.3	86.9	61.6	81.7	52.5
2020	66.1	59.8–72.5	53.4	84.8	61.6	83.2	51.2
2019	60.6	54.0–68.0	48.0	82.7	58.5	70.3	47.3
2018	62.3	55.7–69.5	52.8	82.0	57.7	72.8	49.2
2017	63.6	57.3–71.0	54.6	82.0	59.4	70.7	53.6
2016	63.4	57.9–71.7	53.8	79.8	57.4	75.6	52.8
2015	64.0	57.2–70.7	54.0	80.2	57.5	78.1	52.7
2014	63.7	57.8–71.1	54.7	77.5	57.5	77.0	53.9
2013	60.6	54.7–67.7	56.0	75.9	42.4	78.4	54.1
2012	59.7	53.5–67.1	53.6	76.3	40.9	78.1	54.1
2011	57.6	51.3–64.9	52.1	75.5	40.4	70.9	53.0
2010	57.5	51.0–64.4	51.4	75.3	40.9	70.2	53.0
2009	59.2	53.1–65.8	50.0	76.3	40.8	80.9	53.0
2008	58.3	52.2–64.4	44.3	77.2	41.0	81.7	53.3
2007	57.8	51.4–64.0	44.2	76.9	40.3	80.1	53.3
2006	58.0	52.3–64.6	43.9	77.4	40.8	80.2	53.2
2005	57.8	52.0–64.5	44.3	77.0	40.2	80.2	53.2
2004	56.9	50.8–64.1	45.9	77.0	38.9	73.1	54.6
2003	58.8	51.5–66.2	47.8	76.7	51.8	64.0	56.0
2002	59.2	52.0–66.7	47.8	76.7	51.8	66.0	56.0
2001	59.1	51.9–66.7	47.8	76.2	51.8	66.0	56.0
2000	58.8	51.7–66.4	47.8	74.6	51.8	66.0	56.0
1999	57.5	51.1–65.1	51.2	74.6	38.2	75.1	53.1
1998	59.1	52.4–66.6	56.7	74.6	38.9	75.6	54.0
1997	59.1	52.4–66.6	56.7	74.6	38.9	75.6	54.0
1996	59.1	52.2–66.4	56.7	74.6	38.9	75.6	54.0
1995	58.9	52.2–66.4	56.6	73.5	38.9	75.6	54.0
1994	47.6	39.5–55.3	46.3	56.6	26.9	70.6	43.5
1993	29.8	23.2–35.9	25.2	26.7	18.1	41.4	41.0
1992	22.1	16.0–26.9	18.8	23.4	14.6	18.9	37.6
1991	19.7	14.0–24.3	16.7	22.4	14.6	11.5	37.5
1990	19.6	14.1–24.5	16.7	22.2	14.6	11.5	37.5
1989	19.6	14.1–24.5	16.7	22.2	14.6	11.5	37.5
1988	19.6	14.1–24.5	16.7	22.2	14.6	11.5	37.5
1987	19.6	14.1–24.4	16.7	22.2	14.6	11.5	37.5
1986	19.6	14.1–24.4	16.7	22.2	14.6	11.5	37.5
1985	19.6	14.1–24.4	16.7	22.2	14.6	11.5	37.5
1984	19.6	14.1–24.4	16.7	22.2	14.6	11.5	37.5
1983	19.7	14.1–24.4	16.8	22.2	14.6	11.5	37.5
1982	19.7	14.1–24.5	16.8	22.2	14.6	11.5	37.5
1981	19.7	14.1–24.5	16.8	22.2	14.6	11.5	37.5
1980	19.7	14.1–24.5	16.8	22.2	14.6	11.5	37.5
1979	19.7	14.1–24.5	16.8	22.2	14.6	11.5	37.5
1978	19.6	14.0–24.4	16.5	22.2	14.6	11.5	37.5
1977	19.6	14.0–24.3	16.3	22.2	14.6	11.5	37.5
1976	20.0	14.4–24.8	18.2	22.2	14.6	11.5	37.5
1975	20.5	14.9–25.6	21.1	22.2	14.6	11.5	37.5
1974	20.5	14.8–25.4	21.1	22.2	14.6	11.5	37.5
1973	20.5	14.9–25.5	21.1	22.1	14.6	11.5	37.5
1972	20.5	14.9–25.5	21.1	22.1	14.6	11.5	37.5
1971	20.5	14.9–25.5	21.1	22.1	14.6	11.5	37.5
1970	21.4	15.5–26.5	21.1	22.9	14.6	14.3	37.5
1969	21.4	15.5–26.5	21.1	22.9	14.6	14.3	37.5
1968	21.2	15.3–26.2	21.1	22.0	14.6	14.3	37.5
1967	21.2	15.3–26.2	21.1	22.0	14.6	14.3	37.5
1966	21.2	15.3–26.2	21.2	22.0	14.6	14.3	37.5
1965	26.4	19.6–32.6	23.6	23.8	29.8	19.1	37.5
1964	30.6	23.5–37.4	27.3	32.1	30.0	29.6	34.4
1963	23.0	16.3–28.6	23.7	28.0	27.3	24.7	13.2
1962	20.4	13.8–25.2	17.7	26.6	27.3	19.1	13.2
1961	17.6	11.4–22.3	11.7	18.9	27.3	18.9	13.2
1960	8.1	4.1–11.3	4.0	16.2	11.9	5.0	6.3
1959	7.2	3.5–9.9	1.7	16.2	11.3	5.0	6.2
1958	6.9	3.3–9.6	1.3	16.2	10.8	5.0	6.2
1957	6.9	3.3–9.6	1.3	16.2	10.8	5.0	6.2
1956	6.9	3.3–9.6	1.3	16.2	10.8	5.0	6.2
1955	6.9	3.3–9.6	1.3	16.2	10.8	5.0	6.2
1954	6.8	3.2–9.5	1.2	16.1	10.8	5.0	6.2
1953	6.9	3.2–9.5	1.3	16.1	10.8	5.0	6.2
1952	7.2	3.2–9.9	1.3	16.1	10.8	6.6	6.2
1951	7.2	3.2–9.9	1.3	16.1	10.8	6.6	6.2
1950	7.2	3.2–9.9	1.3	16.1	10.8	6.6	6.2
1949	7.2	3.2–9.8	1.3	15.9	10.8	6.6	6.2
1948	6.8	3.1–9.3	1.3	15.9	10.8	4.6	6.2
1947	6.8	3.1–9.3	1.3	15.9	10.8	4.6	6.2
1946	6.8	3.1–9.3	1.3	15.9	10.8	4.6	6.2
1945	6.8	3.1–9.3	1.3	15.9	10.8	4.6	6.2
1944	6.7	3.2–9.4	1.2	15.9	10.8	4.6	6.2
1943	6.0	2.9–8.4	1.0	15.8	10.8	4.6	3.4
1942	6.0	2.9–8.4	1.0	15.8	10.8	4.6	3.4
1941	6.0	2.9–8.4	1.0	15.8	10.8	4.6	3.4
1940	6.0	2.9–8.4	1.0	15.8	10.8	4.6	3.4
1939	6.0	2.9–8.4	1.0	15.8	10.8	4.6	3.4
1938	6.0	2.9–8.4	1.0	15.8	10.8	4.6	3.4
1937	6.0	2.9–8.4	1.0	15.8	10.8	4.6	3.4
1936	6.0	2.9–8.4	1.0	15.8	10.8	4.6	3.4
1935	6.0	2.9–8.4	1.0	15.8	10.8	4.6	3.4
1934	6.0	2.9–8.4	1.0	15.8	10.8	4.6	3.4
1933	6.0	2.9–8.4	1.0	15.8	10.8	4.6	3.4
1932	6.0	2.9–8.4	1.0	15.8	10.8	4.6	3.4
1931	6.0	2.9–8.4	1.0	15.8	10.8	4.6	3.4
1930	6.0	2.9–8.4	1.0	15.8	10.8	4.6	3.4
1929	6.0	2.9–8.4	1.0	15.8	10.8	4.6	3.4
1928	6.0	2.9–8.4	1.0	15.8	10.8	4.6	3.4
1927	6.0	2.9–8.4	1.0	15.8	10.8	4.6	3.4
1926	6.0	2.9–8.4	1.0	15.8	10.8	4.6	3.4
1925	6.0	2.9–8.4	1.0	15.8	10.8	4.6	3.4
1924	6.0	2.9–8.4	1.0	15.8	10.8	4.6	3.4
1923	6.0	2.9–8.4	1.0	15.8	10.8	4.6	3.4
1922	6.0	2.9–8.4	1.0	15.8	10.8	4.6	3.4
1921	6.0	2.9–8.4	1.0	15.8	10.8	4.6	3.4
1920	6.0	2.9–8.4	1.0	15.8	10.8	4.6	3.4
1919	6.0	2.9–8.4	1.0	15.8	10.8	4.6	3.4
1918	6.0	2.9–8.4	1.0	15.8	10.8	4.6	3.4
1917	6.0	2.9–8.4	1.0	15.8	10.8	4.6	3.4
1916	6.0	2.9–8.4	1.0	15.8	10.8	4.6	3.4
1915	6.0	2.9–8.4	1.0	15.7	10.8	4.6	3.4
1914	6.0	2.9–8.5	1.0	15.7	10.8	4.6	3.4
1913	6.0	2.9–8.5	1.0	15.7	10.8	4.6	3.4
1912	6.0	2.9–8.5	1.0	15.7	10.8	4.6	3.4
1911	6.0	2.9–8.4	1.0	15.7	10.8	4.6	3.4
1910	6.0	2.9–8.4	1.0	15.7	10.8	4.6	3.4
1909	6.0	2.9–8.4	1.0	15.7	10.8	4.6	3.4
1908	6.0	2.9–8.4	1.0	15.7	10.8	4.6	3.4
1907	6.0	2.9–8.4	1.0	15.7	10.8	4.6	3.4
1906	5.4	2.4–7.7	1.0	11.7	10.8	4.6	3.4
1905	5.4	2.4–7.7	1.0	11.7	10.8	4.6	3.4
1904	5.4	2.4–7.7	1.0	11.7	10.8	4.6	3.4
1903	5.4	2.4–7.7	1.0	11.7	10.8	4.6	3.4
1902	5.4	2.4–7.7	1.0	11.7	10.8	4.6	3.4
1901	5.4	2.4–7.7	1.0	11.7	10.8	4.6	3.4
1900	5.4	2.4–7.7	1.0	11.7	10.8	4.6	3.4

CITE THIS PROFILE

Source and attribution

Democracys.org (2026), “Malawi Democracy Score, 1900–2025,” Democracys Standard v1.0 beta; derived from Coppedge et al. (2026), V-Dem Country-Year Dataset v16.

Open source DOI

NEARBY IN THE 2025 RANKING

#57United States66.1 #58Timor-Leste65.6 #60Colombia65.3 #61Dominican Republic65.3

All rankings

How democratic isMalawi?

Malawi, 1975–2025

Credible elections led to a peaceful transfer

Public reasoning

Political equality

When did the biggest shifts appear?

Five dimensions of democracy

Free and fair elections

Rights and checks on power

Public participation

Public reasoning

Political equality

Two kinds of evidence.One clearer picture.

Malawi score table

Source and attribution

How democratic is
Malawi?

Two kinds of evidence.
One clearer picture.