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Demographic and health data for Malawi is set to become more accessible and actionable with the launch of the 2024 Malawi Demographic and Health Survey (MDHS) Main Report, officially released on 3 February 2026 at the Bingu International Convention Centre (BICC) in Lilongwe. The report was launched by the Minister of Finance, Economic Planning and Decentralisation, Honourable Joseph Mwanamveka, MP, in the presence of senior government officials, Members of Parliament, development partners, researchers, civil society organisations, and the media.
In his remarks, the Minister emphasised that the MDHS is a critical national resource that provides reliable and internationally comparable evidence on fertility, maternal and child health, nutrition, adolescent health, disease burden, and access to essential services. He noted that the data will guide macroeconomic planning, sector budgeting, and policy prioritisation at a time of constrained public resources. The Minister highlighted that Malawi Vision 2063 places human capital development at the centre of national progress and reaffirmed government commitment to using MDHS findings to inform policy reforms, district development plans, and medium-term expenditure frameworks. He also confirmed government support for the next DHS planned for 2027, as well as the 2028 Population and Housing Census.
Speaking at the launch, the African Institute for Development Policy (AFIDEP)’s Executive Director Dr Eliya Zulu warned that declining development assistance poses a serious risk to national data systems and called for stronger domestic financing and institutionalisation of critical surveys and health surveillance platforms. He highlighted Malawi’s rapidly growing population, projected to reach 37 million by 2050, as both a development challenge and an opportunity. Sustained fertility decline, reduced teenage pregnancies, and increased investments in health, education, skills, and economic empowerment, he said, will be essential for the country to harness the demographic dividend envisioned in Malawi Vision 2063.
Dr Zulu commended the National Statistical Office for its leadership in coordinating partners and delivering the survey. He noted that the DHS Programme has been one of the most trusted sources of demographic and health data for more than four decades, supporting evidence-informed decision-making in Malawi and other developing countries. Dr Zulu disclosed that following the global defunding of the DHS Programme last year—shortly after the release of Malawi’s preliminary results—there were concerns that the final report might not be completed. AFIDEP however, mobilised additional resources, with support from the Children’s Investment Fund Foundation (CIFF), to ensure the analysis, validation, and dissemination of the MDHS were concluded.
The launch of the 2024 MDHS Main Report reinforces AFIDEP’s strategic role in strengthening national data systems and advancing evidence-informed decision-making. By mobilising resources, supporting analysis, and promoting sustainable financing for data, AFIDEP aims to ensure Malawi has reliable evidence to guide policy, planning, and investments in human capital which directly advances its mission to translate research into impactful development outcomes.