Malawi
Leading cause: Heart Disease · 80% plant-based · 64.3 yr life expectancy · UHC 52/100
What People Eat
Cardiovascular and dietary profile drawn from WHO Global Health Estimates. Plant-based score reflects the share of whole plant foods (grains, legumes, vegetables, fruit, nuts) in the typical national diet.
Disease Burden
Leading cause of death: Heart Disease · 152 / 100k
Bars show each rate against the global range; the tick marks the world median.
Heart disease (152/100k) leads but stays low on a heavily plant-based maize-and-legume diet. HIV, infectious disease, and minimal health spending shape the 64-year life expectancy, not diet.
Healthcare System
Sources: WHO UHC Service Coverage Index (SDG 3.8.1) & WHO Global Health Expenditure Database. Latest available year.
What Could Improve
- HIV control, primary care, and nutrition security are the priority levers here.
- Preserve the protective maize-and-bean diet against processed-food creep.
Explore the evidence: Heart Disease
WHO Global Health Estimates · 2022 · age-standardized country data
→ 152 CVD deaths per 100k · 80% plant-based diet