Context
The chart above shows the evolution of street network disconnectedness of the most connected and most disconnected cities in Malawi, for both new street additions (left) and the aggregate street network (right).
Malawi in context: Street-network sprawl of new development
The level of street-network sprawl in new development in Malawi rose steadily. To get a sense of how street development has changed in Malawi, we can consider three of its most populous regions: Lilongwe, Blantyre and Mzimba. Disconnectivity in the most populous cities in Malawi follow the same country trend.
How do development practices in Malawi fare in comparison to others in the world? Most recently in 2006-2020, street construction in Malawi was the 78th-most disconnected out of the 179 countries in the world. Its position in the ranks since 1975 has risen; relative to other countries in the world, street construction in Malawi has become more disconnected. Malawi ranked 97th in 1975, 50th in 1976-1990, 67th in 1991-2005 and 78th in 2006-2020.
The largest city in Malawi is Blantyre, with a population of 779200 people. Taking into account the entire (i.e. aggregate) street network in Blantyre as of 2020, the overall level of street-network sprawl is 4.74, which is sprawly. The level of street-network sprawl in new development in Blantyre rose steadily.
Malawi in context: Aggregate street-network sprawl
As of 2020, the city with the most disconnected street network in Malawi is Blantyre with an SNDi of 4.74, which is sprawly. Conversely, the most connected city is Mzuzu with an SNDi of 2.52, which is relatively well-connected. See these two cities’ trends in the above graph, or dive deeper into each: Mzuzu, Blantyre.
The level of street-network sprawl in the aggregate network in Malawi rose steadily. To get a sense of how the aggregate street network has changed in Malawi, we can consider three of its most populous regions: Lilongwe, Blantyre and Mzimba. Disconnectivity in the most populous cities in Malawi follow the same country trend.
To date, Malawi is the 81st-most disconnected out of the 179 countries in the world. Its position in the ranks since 1975 has risen; relative to other countries in the world, the street network in Malawi has become more disconnected. Malawi ranked 97th in 1975, 86th in 1976-1990, 82nd in 1991-2005 and 81st in 2006-2020.
The largest city in Malawi is Blantyre, with a population of 779200 people. Taking into account the entire (i.e. aggregate) street network in Blantyre as of 2020, the overall level of street-network sprawl is 4.74, which is sprawly. The level of street-network sprawl in the aggregate network in Blantyre rose steadily.