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News release

Most Malawians see country as going in the wrong direction, say they’re ready to vote in 2025, Afrobarometer survey shows

6 Dec 2024 Malawi
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News release
Key findings
  • Three-fourths (76%) of Malawians say the country is going in the wrong direction (Figure 1).
  • Clear majorities of Malawians say the government is doing “fairly well” or “very well” in providing water and sanitation services (66%), supplying electricity (60%), addressing educational needs (59%), and preventing or resolving violent conflict (57%) (Figure 2). o But fewer than one-fourth are satisfied with the government’s efforts to keep prices stable (12%), narrow the gap between rich and poor (17%), improve living standards of the poor (23%), and manage the economy (21%).
  • An overwhelming majority (84%) of citizens say they “will definitely vote” in the 2025 general elections, while only 6% “will definitely not vote” (Figure 3).
  • If elections were held at the time of the survey, a larger share of Malawians would vote for the DPP (43%) than the MCP (29%), but one in seven (14%) are undecided or unwilling to share their voting intentions (Figure 4).

The vast majority of Malawians think the country is going in the wrong direction, according to  a new Afrobarometer survey. 

The survey finds that most Malawians say they will “definitely” vote in the 2025 general  elections. At the time of the survey (August 2024), Malawians were more likely to indicate a  readiness to vote for the DPP than for the MCP, although many respondents did not indicate  their voting intention. 

Citizens bemoan the government’s performance in managing the economy, keeping prices  stable, creating jobs, and narrowing gaps between rich and poor. However, majorities approve of the government’s efforts to provide water and sanitation, reliable electricity, and adequate education.