Malawi: Humanitarian Snapshot (as of October 2025)

Food Insecurity
The Government of Malawi declared a state of disaster on 25 October in response to worsening food insecurity driven by prolonged dry spells, high commodity prices, and broader macroeconomic pressures. The declaration covers 11 districts —mainly districts where 25 per cent or more of the population is classified in IPC Phase 3 or above (Crisis or above). However, an updated declaration, released on 13 November, covers all the 28 districts.

The October 2025 Integrated Food Security Phase Classification (IPC) analysis indicates that more than 4 million people—about 22 per cent of the analyzed population—are facing Crisis (IPC Phase 3) or worse levels of acute food insecurity, including around 8,000 people in Emergency (IPC Phase 4). This reflects a deterioration from the May to September 2025 period, when 2.9 million people (16 per cent) were in Crisis. While humanitarian partners are complementing government efforts to address urgent needs, significant gaps remain in food assistance.

Malnutrition rates
Malnutrition remains a critical concern. According to UNICEF, by September, more than 40,300 children under five had been admitted and treated for Severe Acute Malnutrition (SAM), a 20 per cent increase compared to the same period last year. Cases of Moderate Acute Malnutrition (MAM) also rose sharply, by 69 per cent. In August, eight districts — Salima, Nkhotakota, Kasungu, Mchinji, Lilongwe, Chikwawa, Mangochi, and Ntcheu — were flagged for severe wasting admissions significantly exceeding projected caseload. This increase began before the lean season, indicating a worsening trend and underscoring that malnutrition is driven not only by insufficient food quantity but also by poor dietary quality—with only 24 per cent of children aged 6–23 months receiving the minimum number of food groups daily (MDHS 2024).

Market prices & macroeconomic situation

Malawi’s maize prices remain relatively high due to limited supplies, with only a 5.4 per cent increase in maize production compared to last year, still below the five-year average. Annual food inflation also remains the second highest in the Southern Africa region.

2025/2026 Climate outlook
With the onset of the rainy season in most parts of southern Africa, rainfall between October and December is expected to be normal to above normal in most areas of Malawi, particularly in the southern region. This trend is projected to persist into the January to March period, with normal to above-normal rainfall expected across the country. While the above-average rains may lead to flooding and disease outbreaks, they also present an opportunity to support livelihoods and boost agricultural production.