Malawi 2015-16

Trends: The TFR has declined markedly in Malawi
over time. Between 1992 and 2015-16, the TFR has
declined by 2.3 children (TFR of 6.7 in 1992 versus
4.4 children in 2015-16). The TFR among women in
rural areas has declined from 6.9 children in 1992 to
4.7 children in 2015-16. The corresponding decline
among women in urban areas was from 5.5 children
in 1992 to 3 children in 2015-16 (Figure 5.1). In all
MDHS surveys, the fertility rate peaks at age 20-24,
after which it declines steadily (Figure 5.2).
6.7
5.5
Figure 5.1 Trends in fertility by
residence
TFR for the 3 years before each survey
6.9 6.7
6.3
4.5
6.4
6.1
Rural
6.0
4.7
5.7
Total
4.2 4.4
4.0
Urban
3.0
1992 2000 2004 2010 2015-16
Figure 5.2 Trends in age-specific fertility
Births per 1,000 women
MDHS 1992
MDHS 2000
MDHS 2004
MDHS 2010
MDHS 2015-16
15-19 20-24 25-29 30-34 35-39 40-44 45-49
Age group
350
300
250
200
150
100
50
0
Patterns by background characteristics
• The TFR ranges from a low of 4.2 children per
woman in the Northern region to a high of 4.6
children per woman in the Southern region
(Table 5.2).
• The number of children per woman declines
with a woman’s education level. A woman with
no education has an average 5.5 children
compared with 2.3 children for a woman with
more than secondary education.
Lowest Second Middle Fourth Highest
• Women in the lowest wealth quintile have an
Poorest
Wealthiest
average 2.8 more children than women in the
highest wealth quintile (TFR of 5.7 versus 2.9 children) (Figure 5.3).
5.2 CHILDREN EVER BORN AND LIVING
Figure 5.3 Fertility by household wealth
The 2015-16 MDHS collected data on the number of children ever born to women age 15-49 and those still
living. On average, women age 45-49 give birth to 6.3 children over their lives. Of these, 5.2 have survived
to the time of the survey. Currently married women age 45-49 had an average 6.4 children, and of these,
5.3 were alive at the time of the survey (Table 5.4).
5.7
TFR for the 3 years before the survey
5.2
4.6
4.1
2.9
70 • Fertility