Malawi in figures

Every measured figure this catalogue holds for Malawi, with the date each one was measured and the body that published it.

GDP

$14.9 bn

2025

from $2.5 bn in 2000

GDP per person

$672

2025

from $224 in 2000

Real growth

1.9%

2025

from 1.6% in 2000

Inflation

28.4%

2025

from 29.6% in 2000

Unemployment

5.1%

2025

from 5.0% in 2000

Government debt

78.4%of GDP

2025

from 101.5% in 2002

Sections

Economy

How large Malawi's economy is, how fast it grows and what it is made of

GDP, current US dollars

$14.9 bn2025

World Bank

Data

Year	GDP, current US dollars
2025	$14.9 bn
2024	$11.3 bn
2023	$13.4 bn
2022	$12.4 bn
2021	$12.4 bn
2020	$11.8 bn
2019	$11.1 bn
2018	$9.9 bn
2017	$8.9 bn
2016	$7.9 bn
2015	$9.2 bn
2014	$8.8 bn
2013	$8.0 bn
2012	$8.8 bn
2011	$11.6 bn
2010	$10.1 bn
2009	$9.0 bn
2008	$7.7 bn
2007	$6.5 bn
2006	$5.8 bn
2005	$5.3 bn
2004	$5.1 bn
2003	$4.7 bn
2002	$5.1 bn
2001	$2.5 bn
2000	$2.5 bn

Series World Bank NY.GDP.MKTP.CD

Real GDP growth

1.9%2025

World Bank · IMF World Economic Outlook

Data

Year	Growth
2031 (projection)	3.0%
2030 (projection)	3.0%
2029 (projection)	2.9%
2028 (projection)	2.7%
2027 (projection)	2.4%
2026 (projection)	2.2%
2025	1.9%
2024	1.7%
2023	1.9%
2022	0.9%
2021	4.6%
2020	0.8%
2019	5.7%
2018	4.3%
2017	4.0%
2016	2.5%
2015	2.8%
2014	5.6%
2013	5.4%
2012	1.9%
2011	4.9%
2010	6.9%
2009	8.3%
2008	7.6%
2007	9.6%
2006	4.7%
2005	3.3%
2004	5.4%
2003	5.7%
2002	1.7%
2001	−5.0%
2000	1.6%

Series World Bank NY.GDP.MKTP.KD.ZG · IMF World Economic Outlook NGDP_RPCH

GDP per person

$6722025

At market exchange ratesAt purchasing power parity

World Bank

Data

Year	GDP per person	At purchasing power
2025	$672	$1 899
2024	$522	$1 860
2023	$633	$1 832
2022	$604	$1 778
2021	$617	$1 688
2020	$603	$1 513
2019	$581	$1 450
2018	$533	$1 364
2017	$496	$1 380
2016	$451	$1 410
2015	$540	$1 403
2014	$530	$1 506
2013	$497	$1 558
2012	$558	$1 464
2011	$763	$1 516
2010	$683	$1 458
2009	$626	$1 388
2008	$554	$1 311
2007	$475	$1 231
2006	$441	$1 124
2005	$414	$1 071
2004	$405	$1 033
2003	$383	$979
2002	$428	$931
2001	$215	$924
2000	$224	$974

Series World Bank NY.GDP.PCAP.CD · World Bank NY.GDP.PCAP.PP.CD

Value added, share of GDP

Manufacturing has its own band and is left out of other industry. The remainder is taxes on products less subsidies, which the national accounts add to reach GDP.

200046%19%30%

202549%14%30%

Services
Manufacturing
Other industry and construction
Agriculture, forestry, fishing
Taxes less subsidies

World Bank

Prices and work

What prices and jobs did

Inflation, consumer prices

28.4%2025

World Bank · IMF World Economic Outlook

Data

Year	Inflation
2031 (projection)	16.4%
2030 (projection)	17.6%
2029 (projection)	18.6%
2028 (projection)	20.9%
2027 (projection)	22.0%
2026 (projection)	24.4%
2025	28.4%
2024	32.2%
2023	28.8%
2022	20.9%
2021	9.3%
2020	8.6%
2019	9.4%
2018	12.4%
2017	11.5%
2016	21.7%
2015	21.9%
2014	23.8%
2013	27.3%
2012	21.3%
2011	7.6%
2010	7.4%
2009	8.4%
2008	8.7%
2007	8.0%
2006	14.0%
2005	15.4%
2004	11.4%
2003	9.6%
2002	14.7%
2001	22.7%
2000	29.6%

Series World Bank FP.CPI.TOTL.ZG · IMF World Economic Outlook PCPIPCH

Unemployment

5.1%2025

All agesAges 15 to 24

World Bank

Data

Year	Unemployment	Ages 15 to 24
2025	5.1%	7.0%
2024	5.0%	6.9%
2023	5.0%	6.8%
2022	5.0%	6.8%
2021	5.7%	7.6%
2020	5.7%	7.8%
2019	5.0%	6.8%
2018	5.0%	6.8%
2017	5.0%	6.9%
2016	5.0%	6.8%
2015	5.0%	6.8%
2014	5.0%	6.8%
2013	5.0%	6.8%
2012	5.0%	6.7%
2011	4.8%	6.6%
2010	4.8%	6.5%
2009	4.7%	6.5%
2008	4.8%	6.5%
2007	4.9%	6.6%
2006	5.0%	6.6%
2005	4.9%	6.6%
2004	5.0%	6.7%
2003	5.2%	6.8%
2002	5.3%	6.9%
2001	5.2%	6.9%
2000	5.0%	6.8%

Series World Bank SL.UEM.TOTL.ZS · World Bank SL.UEM.1524.ZS

Trade

How open the economy is

Exports and imports, share of GDP

10.7%2025

ExportsImports

World Bank

Data

Year	Exports of goods and services	Imports
2025	10.7%	28.8%
2024	11.3%	30.6%
2023	11.3%	31.2%
2022	11.3%	32.3%
2021	12.7%	31.9%
2020	11.0%	30.0%
2019	13.0%	31.2%
2018	11.7%	31.9%
2017	12.7%	32.6%

Series World Bank NE.EXP.GNFS.ZS · World Bank NE.IMP.GNFS.ZS

Current account balance, share of GDP

−18.8%2024

World Bank

Data

Year	Current account balance
2024	−18.8%
2023	−15.7%
2022	−18.3%
2021	−15.5%
2020	−13.9%
2019	−11.9%
2018	−17.3%
2017	−17.4%
2016	−12.7%
2015	−11.6%
2014	−12.8%
2013	−15.4%
2012	−8.5%
2011	−9.8%
2010	−9.6%
2009	−6.0%
2008	−8.9%
2007	−6.5%
2006	−5.3%
2005	−9.5%
2004	−7.5%
2003	−5.3%
2002	−3.9%
2001	−2.4%
2000	−2.9%

Series World Bank BN.CAB.XOKA.GD.ZS

Foreign direct investment, net inflows, share of GDP

2.3%2024

World Bank

Data

Year	Foreign direct investment, net inflows
2024	2.3%
2023	1.6%
2022	1.6%
2021	1.1%
2020	2.1%
2019	0.5%
2018	0.8%
2017	1.0%
2016	1.5%
2015	3.1%
2014	6.8%
2013	5.6%
2012	−0.1%
2011	7.0%
2010	1.0%
2009	0.6%
2008	2.5%
2007	1.9%
2006	0.6%
2005	2.6%
2004	2.1%
2003	1.4%
2002	0.1%
2001	0.8%
2000	1.0%

Series World Bank BX.KLT.DINV.WD.GD.ZS

Public finances

What the state owes and borrows

General government gross debt, share of GDP

78.4%2025

IMF World Economic Outlook

Data

Year	General government gross debt
2031 (projection)	68.2%
2030 (projection)	67.7%
2029 (projection)	68.8%
2028 (projection)	70.2%
2027 (projection)	72.6%
2026 (projection)	74.5%
2025	78.4%
2024	87.6%
2023	86.7%
2022	75.7%
2021	66.5%
2020	53.9%
2019	41.2%
2018	40.8%
2017	40.0%
2016	37.1%
2015	35.5%
2014	33.5%
2013	35.3%
2012	28.6%
2011	20.0%
2010	19.3%
2009	23.5%
2008	23.5%
2007	18.9%
2006	17.9%
2005	70.9%
2004	74.7%
2003	84.7%
2002	101.5%

Series IMF World Economic Outlook GGXWDG_NGDP

Government net lending or borrowing, share of GDP

−11.5%2025

Below zero the government borrowed.

IMF World Economic Outlook

Data

Year	General government net lending or borrowing
2031 (projection)	−11.3%
2030 (projection)	−11.5%
2029 (projection)	−11.5%
2028 (projection)	−11.4%
2027 (projection)	−12.0%
2026 (projection)	−10.5%
2025	−11.5%
2024	−11.0%
2023	−7.8%
2022	−9.3%
2021	−8.3%
2020	−8.0%
2019	−4.5%
2018	−4.3%
2017	−5.2%
2016	−4.9%
2015	−4.2%
2014	−3.1%
2013	−3.7%
2012	−1.5%
2011	−2.8%
2010	0.6%
2009	−3.0%
2008	−2.9%
2007	−2.6%
2006	0.0%
2005	−1.6%
2004	−2.6%
2003	−2.6%
2002	−4.5%

Series IMF World Economic Outlook GGXCNL_NGDP

Tax revenue, share of GDP

15.6%2024

World Bank

Data

Year	Tax revenue
2024	15.6%
2023	14.2%
2022	13.5%
2021	11.6%
2020	12.1%
2019	12.0%
2018	12.2%
2017	12.2%
2016	10.6%
2015	10.5%
2014	10.9%
2013	9.7%
2012	9.3%
2011	10.6%
2010	10.6%
2009	9.9%

Series World Bank GC.TAX.TOTL.GD.ZS

People

Who lives in Malawi

Population

22.22 m2025

The axis does not start at zero, so the change looks larger than it is.

World Bank

Data

Year	Population
2025	22.22 m
2024	21.66 m
2023	21.10 m
2022	20.57 m
2021	20.05 m
2020	19.53 m
2019	19.03 m
2018	18.53 m
2017	18.04 m
2016	17.56 m
2015	17.09 m
2014	16.62 m
2013	16.16 m
2012	15.71 m
2011	15.27 m
2010	14.83 m
2009	14.40 m
2008	13.98 m
2007	13.58 m
2006	13.20 m
2005	12.84 m
2004	12.50 m
2003	12.18 m
2002	11.88 m
2001	11.59 m
2000	11.32 m

Series World Bank SP.POP.TOTL

Age structure, share of the population

World Bank

Data

Year	Aged 0 to 14	15 to 64	65 and over
2025	40.1%	57.3%	2.6%
2024	40.7%	56.7%	2.6%
2023	41.3%	56.1%	2.6%
2022	41.9%	55.5%	2.6%
2021	42.5%	54.8%	2.6%
2020	43.1%	54.2%	2.7%
2019	43.7%	53.6%	2.8%
2018	44.2%	53.0%	2.8%
2017	44.6%	52.5%	2.9%
2016	45.1%	52.0%	3.0%
2015	45.4%	51.5%	3.1%
2014	45.7%	51.1%	3.2%
2013	46.0%	50.8%	3.3%
2012	46.1%	50.5%	3.4%
2011	46.2%	50.3%	3.5%
2010	46.2%	50.2%	3.6%
2009	46.2%	50.0%	3.7%
2008	46.1%	50.0%	3.9%
2007	46.1%	49.9%	4.0%
2006	46.0%	50.0%	4.0%
2005	46.0%	50.0%	3.9%
2004	46.0%	50.1%	3.9%
2003	46.1%	50.2%	3.7%
2002	46.1%	50.3%	3.6%
2001	46.1%	50.4%	3.5%
2000	46.2%	50.5%	3.3%

Series World Bank SP.POP.0014.TO.ZS · World Bank SP.POP.1564.TO.ZS · World Bank SP.POP.65UP.TO.ZS

Births per woman

3.592024

World Bank

Data

Year	Births per woman
2024	3.59
2023	3.65
2022	3.72
2021	3.79
2020	3.88
2019	3.95
2018	4.02
2017	4.11
2016	4.22
2015	4.38
2014	4.57
2013	4.76
2012	4.90
2011	5.08
2010	5.26
2009	5.45
2008	5.61
2007	5.72
2006	5.80
2005	5.85
2004	5.86
2003	5.88
2002	5.90
2001	5.94
2000	6.00

Series World Bank SP.DYN.TFRT.IN

Life expectancy at birth

67.6 years2024

World Bank

Data

Year	Life expectancy at birth
2024	67.6 years
2023	67.3 years
2022	66.0 years
2021	64.8 years
2020	65.2 years
2019	65.0 years
2018	64.5 years
2017	63.9 years
2016	63.2 years
2015	62.3 years
2014	61.6 years
2013	60.8 years
2012	59.9 years
2011	58.9 years
2010	57.8 years
2009	56.7 years
2008	55.7 years
2007	54.7 years
2006	53.6 years
2005	52.5 years
2004	51.1 years
2003	49.6 years
2002	48.2 years
2001	47.2 years
2000	46.2 years

Series World Bank SP.DYN.LE00.IN

Net migration

−5 6282025

People arriving less people leaving, each year. The largest net inflow in the series was 3 505 people, in 2016.

World Bank

Data

Year	Net migration
2025	−5 628
2024	−1 507
2023	−5 811
2022	−5 231
2021	−2 666
2020	−2 655
2019	−1 837
2018	−3 267
2017	982
2016	3 505
2015	−6 471
2014	−10 317
2013	−12 934
2012	−13 561
2011	−12 170
2010	−9 327
2009	−8 590
2008	−9 264
2007	−22 680
2006	−29 450
2005	−31 462
2004	−32 221
2003	−31 729
2002	−30 013
2001	−28 933
2000	−28 098

Series World Bank SM.POP.NETM

Living standards

Health, schooling, the internet and inequality

Health spending, share of GDP

6.5%2023

World Bank

Data

Year	Health spending
2023	6.5%
2022	6.6%
2021	7.5%
2020	7.0%
2019	6.4%
2018	6.9%
2017	7.6%
2016	7.7%
2015	6.6%
2014	6.9%
2013	8.2%
2012	6.0%
2011	5.3%
2010	5.1%
2009	5.9%
2008	6.1%
2007	5.4%
2006	4.9%
2005	4.3%
2004	4.1%
2003	3.3%
2002	2.7%
2001	2.1%
2000	2.4%

Series World Bank SH.XPD.CHEX.GD.ZS

Public spending on education, share of GDP

2.8%2022

World Bank

Data

Year	Public spending on education
2022	2.8%
2018	3.3%
2017	2.8%
2016	3.3%
2015	3.9%
2014	3.3%
2013	3.7%
2012	2.5%
2011	2.9%
2010	2.4%
2003	2.2%
2001	3.1%
2000	3.6%

Series World Bank SE.XPD.TOTL.GD.ZS

Using the internet

19.0%2024

World Bank

Data

Year	Using the internet
2024	19.0%
2023	18.0%
2022	16.9%
2021	15.3%
2020	13.9%
2019	11.1%
2018	8.8%
2017	7.0%
2016	6.3%
2015	6.0%
2014	5.8%
2013	5.0%
2012	4.3%
2011	3.3%
2010	2.3%
2009	1.1%
2008	0.7%
2007	1.0%
2006	0.4%
2005	0.4%
2004	0.3%
2003	0.3%
2002	0.2%
2001	0.2%
2000	0.1%

Series World Bank IT.NET.USER.ZS

Gini coefficient

38.52019

World Bank

Data

Year	Gini coefficient
2019	38.5
2016	44.7
2010	45.5
2004	39.9

Series World Bank SI.POV.GINI

Living in towns and cities

17.6%2025

World Bank

Data

Year	Living in towns and cities
2025	17.6%
2024	17.3%
2023	17.0%
2022	16.7%
2021	16.5%
2020	16.3%
2019	16.1%
2018	16.0%
2017	16.0%
2016	15.9%
2015	15.8%
2014	15.8%
2013	15.7%
2012	15.6%
2011	15.6%
2010	15.5%
2009	15.4%
2008	15.3%
2007	15.3%
2006	15.2%
2005	15.1%
2004	15.0%
2003	15.0%
2002	14.9%
2001	14.8%
2000	14.7%

Series World Bank SP.URB.TOTL.IN.ZS

Energy and environment

Energy, emissions and forest

Electricity from renewable sources

80.1%2021

World Bank

Data

Year	Electricity from renewable sources
2021	80.1%
2020	79.3%
2019	79.3%
2018	80.2%
2017	84.5%
2016	96.8%
2015	99.1%
2014	98.8%
2013	98.8%
2012	98.7%
2011	98.7%
2010	98.9%
2009	98.9%
2008	99.1%
2007	94.6%
2006	94.6%
2005	94.5%
2004	94.5%
2003	97.6%
2002	93.3%
2001	93.2%
2000	93.2%

Series World Bank EG.ELC.RNEW.ZS

Renewable share of final energy use

62.9%2022

World Bank

Data

Year	Renewable share of final energy use
2022	62.9%
2021	71.1%
2020	71.5%
2019	70.9%
2018	73.2%
2017	76.9%
2016	78.9%
2015	81.0%
2014	82.8%
2013	79.8%
2012	80.2%
2011	80.2%
2010	81.2%
2009	80.0%
2008	80.4%
2007	82.2%
2006	82.8%
2005	83.2%
2004	82.4%
2003	82.8%
2002	83.3%
2001	83.1%
2000	82.6%

Series World Bank EG.FEC.RNEW.ZS

CO2 emissions per person

0.2 t2024

World Bank

Data

Year	CO2 emissions per person
2024	0.2 t
2023	0.2 t
2022	0.3 t
2021	0.3 t
2020	0.3 t
2019	0.3 t
2018	0.3 t
2017	0.3 t
2016	0.3 t
2015	0.3 t
2014	0.3 t
2013	0.3 t
2012	0.4 t
2011	0.4 t
2010	0.3 t
2009	0.3 t
2008	0.3 t
2007	0.3 t
2006	0.3 t
2005	0.3 t
2004	0.3 t
2003	0.3 t
2002	0.3 t
2001	0.3 t
2000	0.3 t

Series World Bank EN.GHG.CO2.PC.CE.AR5

Forest cover

22.4%2023

World Bank

Data

Year	Forest cover
2023	22.4%
2022	22.9%
2021	23.3%
2020	23.8%
2019	24.2%
2018	24.7%
2017	25.1%
2016	25.6%
2015	26.0%
2014	26.4%
2013	26.9%
2012	27.3%
2011	27.8%
2010	28.2%
2009	28.7%
2008	29.1%
2007	29.6%
2006	30.0%
2005	30.5%
2004	30.9%
2003	31.4%
2002	31.8%
2001	32.2%
2000	32.7%

Series World Bank AG.LND.FRST.ZS

Codes

Malawi's codes and memberships

The state

Status: Sovereign state
State since: 1964
Official languages: Chewa, English, Tumbuka
United Nations: Member

Identifiers

MWISO alpha-2

MWIISO alpha-3

454ISO numeric

Calling code: +265
Internet domain: .mw
Time zone: UTC+02:00

Memberships

1995WTOWorld Trade Organization

Also a member, joining year not on record

Record generated 2026-08-31, series 2026-09-27 · Q1020 · World Bank data · Africa