In 2022, Malawi consumed just 89 kWh of electricity per person, compared with a global average of 3,794 kWh—roughly one forty-third of the global level. Its electricity supply was overwhelmingly low-carbon: clean generation totaled about 1.8 TWh, including 1.7 TWh from hydropower. Low-carbon generation per person was equivalent to about 96% of electricity consumption, leaving only a small remainder outside that category; the supplied figures do not identify the exact fossil-fuel contribution. Such limited electricity availability can constrain healthcare, education, irrigation and business development, while holding back electrification and emerging digital services.

Is Electricity Growing in Malawi?

Malawi’s latest figures show a disappointing retreat from its previous per-person electricity records, rather than sustained growth. Electricity consumption fell from a record 131 kWh per person in 2014 to 89 kWh in 2022—a decline of 42 kWh, or almost a third. Low-carbon generation similarly dropped from 123 to 85 kWh per person, down 38 kWh, also almost a third. These comparisons do not establish whether total national generation declined, but they clearly show that electricity availability per person has fallen well below its earlier peak. Reversing this trend is important for development and growing electricity demand.

Suggestions

Malawi should expand solar generation alongside its existing hydropower, supported by stronger grids, storage and wider electricity connections. South Africa offers a particularly relevant regional example, generating about 20 TWh from solar and 12 TWh each from wind and nuclear in the supplied comparison. Malawi could learn from its experience across all three clean technologies, while assessing wind resources locally. Other useful examples include India, with about 205 TWh of solar generation, and Pakistan, with 41 TWh of solar and 22 TWh of nuclear generation. Malawi should also consider nuclear electricity within long-term planning and regional cooperation, drawing lessons from these established programs. The aim should be a substantial increase in reliable low-carbon electricity, not simply maintaining today’s very low consumption levels.

History

Malawi’s low-carbon electricity history has been dominated by incremental hydropower growth, interrupted by setbacks. During the 1990s, hydro generation increased by about 0.1 TWh in each of 1992, 1997 and 1998. Biofuels added 0.1 TWh in 2000, while hydro recorded further 0.1 TWh gains in 2002, 2004, 2005 and 2008, interspersed with several years of no change. Growth strengthened in 2010, when hydro added 0.3 TWh, followed by 0.1 TWh increases in 2011, 2012 and 2014. Generation then suffered concerning hydro declines of 0.1 TWh in 2017 and 0.4 TWh in 2018, before recovering by 0.3 TWh in 2019. Solar recorded no change in 2018. This uneven history underscores the importance of accelerating and broadening clean electricity growth.

Electricity Imports and Exports

Balance of Trade