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Malawi

MWISub-Saharan Africa Low incomeCapital: Lilongwe
Economy
Fiscal
People
Health
Education
Trade
Energy / Env
Tech
Governance
Equality
Infra
Labor
68/80 indicators · percentile vs world (IMF / WB / WHO)underover
GDP
$21
2027▲ 17.3%
Population
21.7M
2024▲ 2.6%
GDP per Capita
$823
2027▲ 14.0%
Life Expectancy
67.4 years
2023▲ 2.0%
Malawi in world space2000–2023
1k10k100k505560657075808590GDP per capita (USD, log)Life expectancy (years)20002023
192 countries · log scale on X world Malawi· trajectory line: 1980 → today
▶About Malawi

Malawi's GDP is $17.86B (2026), with a population of 21.7M, and GDP per capita of $721. Key indicators include real GDP growth of 2.7%, inflation at 24.1%, government debt at 78.3% of GDP, life expectancy of 67.4 years. Data sourced from the IMF World Economic Outlook and World Bank World Development Indicators.

Located in Sub-Saharan Africa, the economy is characterized as low income. The capital, Lilongwe, serves as the administrative hub. The GDP is projected to reach 17.855 billion in 2026, with a growth rate of 2.7%. GDP per capita is expected to be 721.417 in 2026. Inflation is anticipated to be 24.1% in 2026. Trade constitutes a significant portion of the economy, with trade/GDP ratio at 42.44% in 2023. Unemployment is projected to be 5.072% in 2025. The population is estimated to be 21,655,286 in 2024. Life expectancy stands at 67.353 years in 2023. The society faces challenges typical of low-income economies, including limited access to healthcare and education, though efforts are ongoing to improve these sectors.

▶Economy29 indicators · 2021–2027 · IMF / WB
IndicatorValueYearΔ YoYSrc
GDP (Current USD, Billions)$212027▲ 17.3%IMF
Real GDP Growth (%)3.1%2027▲ 14.8%IMF
GDP per Capita (USD)$8232027▲ 14.0%IMF
GDP, PPP (Billions Intl $)$462027▲ 4.8%IMF
GDP per Capita, PPP (Intl $)$1,8212027▲ 1.9%IMF
Share of World GDP, PPP (%)0.02%2027▲ 0.0%IMF
GNI (Current USD)$11.12B2024▼ 15.5%WB
GNI per Capita (USD)$5702024▼ 8.1%WB
GNI per Capita, PPP (USD)$1,8302024▲ 1.7%WB
Industry Value Added (% of GDP)17.1%2024▼ 11.5%WB
Services Value Added (% of GDP)44.2%2024▼ 2.0%WB
Agriculture Value Added (% of GDP)31.8%2024▲ 10.1%WB
Government Consumption (% of GDP)19.0%2023▼ 11.1%WB
Household Consumption (% of GDP)85.2%2023▲ 3.7%WB
Gross Capital Formation (% of GDP)14.5%2023▼ 9.1%WB
Gross Savings (% of GNI)-1.1%2023▲ 55.3%WB
GDP Deflator (%)24.7%2024▼ 14.9%WB
GDP per Person Employed (USD)$4,6132024▼ 1.8%WB
Manufacturing Value Added (% of GDP)11.0%2024▼ 14.3%WB
Medium/High-Tech Manufacturing (% of total)3.7%2022▼ 0.0%WB
Adjusted Net National Income per Capita (USD)$5632021▲ 1.1%WB
External Balance on Goods & Services (% of GDP)-19.9%2023▲ 4.7%WB
Coal Rents (% of GDP)0.02%2021▲ 96.4%WB
Mineral Rents (% of GDP)0.01%2021▲ 87.0%WB
Oil Rents (% of GDP)0.00%2021—WB
Natural Gas Rents (% of GDP)0.00%2021—WB
Total Natural Resources Rents (% of GDP)4.2%2021▲ 3.0%WB
Forest Rents (% of GDP)4.20%2021—WB
Industry Value Added (Current USD)$1.93B2024▼ 25.1%WB
▶Fiscal & Monetary22 indicators · 2020–2027 · IMF / WB
IndicatorValueYearΔ YoYSrc
Inflation, Consumer Prices (%)21.7%2027▼ 10.0%IMF
Govt Gross Debt (% of GDP)77.5%2027▼ 1.0%IMF
Fiscal Balance (% of GDP)-13.2%2027▼ 3.1%IMF
Current Account Balance (% of GDP)-14.2%2027▲ 13.4%IMF
Total Investment (% of GDP)11.1%2026▼ 1.8%IMF
Gross National Savings (% of GDP)-5.3%2026▲ 24.7%IMF
Inflation, CPI (%, World Bank)32.2%2024▲ 11.8%WB
Real Interest Rate (%)9.9%2024▲ 183.6%WB
Lending Interest Rate (%)37.1%2024▲ 10.5%WB
Government Debt (% of GDP)55.6%2022—WB
Government Revenue (% of GDP)14.1%2022▲ 15.0%WB
Government Expenditure (% of GDP)20.2%2022▲ 17.4%WB
Tax Revenue (% of GDP)13.5%2022▲ 16.5%WB
Taxes on Goods & Services (% of revenue)32.7%2022▼ 11.9%WB
Taxes on International Trade (% of revenue)7.5%2022▲ 13.4%WB
Taxes on Income, Profits & Capital Gains (% of rev)35.8%2022▼ 6.9%WB
Net Investment in Nonfinancial Assets (% of GDP)8.2%2022▲ 130.2%WB
Total Reserves incl. Gold (USD)$594.5M2020—WB
Total Reserves (months of imports)1.92020—WB
Official Exchange Rate (per USD)1,161.092023▲ 22.3%WB
PPP Conversion Factor489.022024▲ 21.7%WB
Broad Money (% of GDP)23.7%2023▲ 0.5%WB
▶Trade15 indicators · 2023–2024 · WB
IndicatorValueYearΔ YoYSrc
Trade (% of GDP)42.4%2023▼ 2.7%WB
Exports of Goods & Services (% of GDP)11.2%2023▼ 0.9%WB
Imports of Goods & Services (% of GDP)31.2%2023▼ 3.4%WB
Exports of Goods & Services (USD)$1.50B2023▲ 6.6%WB
Imports of Goods & Services (USD)$4.17B2023▲ 3.9%WB
Merchandise Exports (USD)$947.0M2024▼ 2.0%WB
Merchandise Imports (USD)$3.26B2024▲ 3.9%WB
FDI Inflows (% of GDP)6.0%2024▲ 5.9%WB
FDI Outflows (% of GDP)0.5%2024▼ 7.9%WB
FDI Net Inflows (USD)$681.3M2024▼ 10.3%WB
Personal Remittances Received (USD)$186.8M2024▲ 3.3%WB
Personal Remittances Received (% of GDP)1.7%2024▲ 22.0%WB
High-Tech Exports (% of manufactured)1.6%2024▼ 69.0%WB
Current Account Balance (% of GDP)-18.8%2024▼ 19.3%WB
Current Account Balance (USD)$-2.13B2024▼ 1.0%WB
▶External Debt7 indicators · 2023–2024 · WB
IndicatorValueYearΔ YoYSrc
External Debt (% of GNI)35.2%2024▲ 20.8%WB
External Debt Stocks (USD)$3.74B2024▲ 3.9%WB
Total Debt Service (% of GNI)1.5%2024▲ 28.7%WB
Present Value of External Debt (USD)$2.10B2024—WB
Use of IMF Credit (USD)$664.5M2024▼ 7.0%WB
Net ODA Received (% of GNI)13.2%2023▲ 15.6%WB
Net ODA Received (USD)$1.73B2023▲ 26.3%WB
▶Finance7 indicators · 2023–2025 · WB
IndicatorValueYearΔ YoYSrc
Domestic Credit to Private Sector (% of GDP)7.7%2023▼ 10.4%WB
Bank Capital to Assets Ratio (%)8.2%2023▼ 8.5%WB
Bank Nonperforming Loans (%)5.1%2023▼ 7.7%WB
Account Ownership at Financial Institution (%)50.4%2024▲ 17.9%WB
Account Ownership, Female (%)46.3%2024▲ 21.4%WB
Account Ownership, Male (%)54.8%2024▲ 14.8%WB
Firms Using Banks to Finance Investment (%)47.7%2025—WB
▶Business Environment1 indicator · 2025 · WB
IndicatorValueYearΔ YoYSrc
Time to Get Electricity (days)312025—WB
▶Private Sector6 indicators · 2025 · WB
IndicatorValueYearΔ YoYSrc
Firms Expected to Pay Bribes (%)15.9%2025—WB
Firms with Female Top Manager (%)17.9%2025—WB
Firms with Female Participation in Ownership (%)13.5%2025—WB
Firms Offering Training (%)42.3%2025—WB
Average Firm Age (years)16 years2025—WB
Firms Using Computers (%)58.0%2025—WB
▶People23 indicators · 2023–2025 · WB
IndicatorValueYearΔ YoYSrc
Population21.7M2024▲ 2.6%WB
Population Growth (%)2.6%2024▲ 0.2%WB
Population Density (per km²)2242023▲ 2.6%WB
Surface Area (sq km)118,4802023▲ 0.0%WB
Land Area (sq km)94,2802023▲ 0.0%WB
Urban Population (%)17.3%2024▲ 1.7%WB
Urban Population (total)3.7M2024▲ 4.4%WB
Rural Population (%)82.7%2024▼ 0.4%WB
Life Expectancy at Birth67.4 years2023▲ 2.0%WB
Life Expectancy, Male64.1 years2023▲ 2.2%WB
Life Expectancy, Female70.6 years2023▲ 1.7%WB
Fertility Rate (births per woman)3.62023▼ 1.9%WB
Birth Rate (per 1,000)31.42023▼ 1.1%WB
Death Rate (per 1,000)5.42023▼ 7.6%WB
Net Migration-5,6282025▼ 273.5%WB
Population Ages 0–14 (%)40.7%2024▼ 1.5%WB
Population Ages 15–64 (%)56.7%2024▲ 1.1%WB
Population Ages 65+ (%)2.6%2024▼ 0.2%WB
Age Dependency Ratio (%)76.3%2024▼ 2.5%WB
Old-Age Dependency Ratio (%)4.6%2024▼ 1.3%WB
Youth Dependency Ratio (%)71.8%2024▼ 2.5%WB
Mortality Rate, Adult Male (per 1,000)275.42023▼ 10.8%WB
Mortality Rate, Adult Female (per 1,000)164.52023▼ 11.6%WB
▶Labor20 indicators · 2024–2025 · WB
IndicatorValueYearΔ YoYSrc
Total Labor Force8.3M2025▲ 3.0%WB
Labor Force Participation (%)62.6%2025▼ 0.6%WB
Female Labor Force Participation (%)58.2%2025▼ 0.6%WB
Male Labor Force Participation (%)67.3%2025▼ 0.5%WB
Unemployment (%)5.1%2025▲ 0.4%WB
Female Unemployment (%)6.0%2025▲ 0.2%WB
Male Unemployment (%)4.2%2025▲ 0.8%WB
Youth Unemployment (%)6.9%2025▲ 0.8%WB
Employment in Agriculture (%)65.0%2025▼ 0.4%WB
Employment in Industry (%)7.3%2025▲ 0.2%WB
Employment in Services (%)27.7%2025▲ 0.9%WB
Self-Employed (%)49.6%2024▼ 27.4%WB
Vulnerable Employment (%)59.9%2025▼ 0.1%WB
Wage & Salaried Workers (% of total)38.7%2025▲ 0.2%WB
Part-Time Employment (%)64.7%2024▼ 15.0%WB
Employers (% of total employment)1.4%2025▲ 0.1%WB
Labor Force, Female (% of total)48.4%2025▼ 0.1%WB
Employment to Population Ratio (%)59.4%2025▼ 0.6%WB
Self-Employed (% of total)61.3%2025▼ 0.1%WB
NEET Youth (% not in education/employment)39.4%2024▲ 103.1%WB
▶Education20 indicators · 2013–2024 · WB
IndicatorValueYearΔ YoYSrc
Education Spending (% of GDP)2.7%2022—WB
Education Spending (% of govt expenditure)16.0%2024▲ 0.0%WB
Adult Literacy Rate (%)70.2%2020—WB
Female Literacy Rate (%)62.7%2020—WB
Male Literacy Rate (%)78.6%2020—WB
Youth Literacy Rate (%)80.7%2020—WB
Primary School Enrollment (%)139.0%2024▲ 2.2%WB
Secondary School Enrollment (%)36.6%2023▲ 3.2%WB
Tertiary School Enrollment (%)2.7%2022▲ 12.9%WB
Primary Completion Rate (%)70.1%2024▲ 2.6%WB
Lower Secondary Completion Rate (%)24.4%2024▲ 9.5%WB
Out-of-School Children, Primary70,7582022▼ 6.1%WB
Primary School Teachers87,8342024▲ 2.8%WB
Secondary School Teachers14,5282019—WB
Pupil-Teacher Ratio, Primary592018—WB
Pupil-Teacher Ratio, Secondary722018—WB
Expenditure per Student, Primary (% of GDP/cap)43.9%2016—WB
Pupil-Teacher Ratio (Primary)54.12013—WB
Education Spending, Secondary (% of govt)28.8%2016—WB
Education Spending, Tertiary (% of govt)23.1%2016—WB
▶Health41 indicators · 2019–2024 · WHO
IndicatorValueYearΔ YoYSrc
Health Spending (% of GDP)6.5%2023▼ 1.4%WHO
Health Spending per Capita (USD)$412023▲ 3.1%WHO
Government Health Spending (% of GDP)0.8%2023▼ 4.5%WHO
Out-of-Pocket Health Spending (% of total)12.0%2023▼ 4.6%WHO
Physicians (per 1,000 people)0.12022▲ 10.2%WHO
Nurses & Midwives (per 1,000)0.52022▼ 26.9%WHO
Infant Mortality (per 1,000 live births)38.32023▼ 4.0%WHO
Neonatal Mortality (per 1,000)18.82023▼ 2.6%WHO
Maternal Mortality (per 100,000)2252023▼ 5.9%WHO
Under-5 Mortality, Female (per 1,000)342023▼ 4.0%WHO
Under-5 Mortality, Male (per 1,000)42.62023▼ 3.8%WHO
Cause of Death, Communicable (%)49.6%2019—WHO
Cause of Death, Non-Communicable (%)40.2%2019—WHO
Cause of Death, Injury (%)10.2%2019—WHO
Measles Immunization (% of children)89.0%2024▲ 2.3%WHO
DPT Immunization (% of children)91.0%2024▲ 0.0%WHO
HIV Incidence (per 1,000)0.582024▼ 10.8%WHO
Tuberculosis Incidence (per 100,000)1132024▼ 5.0%WHO
Stunting, Children Under 5 (%)35.5%2020—WHO
Overweight, Children Under 5 (%)4.4%2020—WHO
Smoking Prevalence, Males (%)16.4%2022▼ 3.0%WHO
Smoking Prevalence, Females (%)3.0%2022▼ 6.3%WHO
Suicide Mortality Rate (per 100,000)7.62021▲ 7.1%WHO
Alcohol Consumption (liters per capita)3.62020—WHO
Maternal Deaths1,4902023▼ 4.5%WHO
Tuberculosis Incidence (per 100K)1132024▼ 5.0%WHO
People Living with HIV990,0002024▼ 1.0%WHO
Malaria Deaths (estimated)7,5012024▲ 1.7%WHO
Malaria Incidence (per 1K at risk)294.52024▲ 1.2%WHO
DTP3 Immunization Coverage (%)91%2024▲ 0.0%WHO
Measles Immunization Coverage (%)89%2024▲ 2.3%WHO
Hepatitis B Immunization Coverage (%)91%2024▲ 0.0%WHO
Physicians (total)12024▲ 1.2%WHO
Nursing & Midwifery Personnel62024▲ 7.8%WHO
Dentists (total)11,8892024▲ 10.5%WHO
Pharmacists (total)6372024▲ 18.0%WHO
Child Wasting (<5 years, %)2.6%2020—WHO
Child Underweight (<5 years, %)12.8%2020—WHO
Universal Health Coverage Index522023▼ 1.9%WHO
Road Traffic Death Rate (per 100K)4,0232021—WHO
Health Expenditure per Capita (WHO, USD)$412023▲ 3.1%WHO
▶Energy & Environment13 indicators · 2020–2024 · WB / WHO
IndicatorValueYearΔ YoYSrc
CO₂ Emissions (tonnes per capita)0.22024▼ 0.7%WB
CO₂ Emissions (total kilotonnes)52024▲ 1.9%WB
Renewable Electricity Output (%)80.1%2021▲ 1.0%WB
Renewable Energy Consumption (%)62.9%2022▼ 11.5%WB
Access to Electricity (%)15.6%2023▲ 11.4%WB
Access to Clean Fuels for Cooking (%)1.5%2023▼ 6.3%WB
PM2.5 Air Pollution (µg/m³)23.72020—WB
Forest Area (%)22.4%2023▼ 1.9%WB
Forest Area (sq km)21,1572023▼ 1.9%WB
Arable Land (%)42.4%2023▲ 0.0%WB
Terrestrial Protected Areas (%)23.1%2024▲ 0.9%WB
Access to Basic Drinking Water (%)73.1%2024▲ 1.1%WHO
Access to Basic Sanitation (%)49.2%2024▼ 0.0%WHO
▶Agriculture11 indicators · 2022–2023 · WB
IndicatorValueYearΔ YoYSrc
Agricultural Land (%)64.2%2023▲ 0.0%WB
Cereal Yield (kg per hectare)1,8572023▼ 4.5%WB
Food Production Index (2014–2016=100)146.12022▲ 2.2%WB
Crop Production Index (2014–2016=100)135.52022▲ 1.1%WB
Livestock Production Index (2014–2016=100)190.12022▲ 8.3%WB
Land Under Cereal Production (hectares)2.0M2023▼ 1.2%WB
Total Fisheries Production (metric tonnes)212,8182023▲ 13.9%WB
Fertilizer Consumption (kg per hectare)87.42023▲ 268.4%WB
Prevalence of Undernourishment (%)21.4%2023▲ 3.4%WB
Annual Freshwater Withdrawals (% of internal)8.4%2022▲ 0.0%WB
Cereal Production (metric tons)3.8M2023▼ 5.7%WB
▶Technology8 indicators · 2022–2024 · WB
IndicatorValueYearΔ YoYSrc
Internet Users (%)18.0%2023▲ 5.5%WB
Mobile Subscriptions (per 100 people)612023▲ 2.4%WB
Fixed Broadband Subscriptions (per 100)0.12023▲ 9.9%WB
Secure Internet Servers (per million)32.52024▲ 17.3%WB
Scientific Journal Articles3622022▼ 2.7%WB
High-Technology Exports (USD)$1.2M2024▼ 69.9%WB
ICT Service Exports (% of service exports)31.7%2024▼ 1.5%WB
ICT Service Exports (USD)$161.1M2024▲ 7.6%WB
▶Infrastructure7 indicators · 2007–2023 · WB
IndicatorValueYearΔ YoYSrc
Air Transport, Passengers Carried3,5072023▼ 2.4%WB
Air Transport, Freight (million ton-km)02021▲ 500.0%WB
Rail Lines (total km)7972007—WB
Railways, Goods (million ton-km)332007—WB
Logistics Performance Index (1–5)2.592018—WB
Electricity from Oil (%)19.9%2021▼ 3.7%WB
Electricity from Nuclear (%)0.0%2021—WB
▶Gender8 indicators · 2018–2025 · WB
IndicatorValueYearΔ YoYSrc
Women in Parliament (%)20.7%2024▲ 0.0%WB
Female Labor Force Participation, 15+ (%)44.8%2024▼ 29.2%WB
Female Wage & Salaried Workers (%)32.6%2025▲ 0.3%WB
Girls Out-of-School Rate (%)130.1%2018—WB
Adolescent Fertility Rate (per 1,000)113.62023▼ 1.3%WB
Gender Parity Index, Primary130.572018—WB
Gender Parity Index, Secondary0.832019—WB
Gender Parity in Primary Education1.032019—WB
▶Governance10 indicators · 2023 · WB
IndicatorValueYearΔ YoYSrc
Control of Corruption-0.62023▲ 1.0%WB
Government Effectiveness-0.862023▼ 0.7%WB
Political Stability-0.242023▼ 49.1%WB
Regulatory Quality-0.772023▼ 4.4%WB
Rule of Law-0.162023▲ 29.9%WB
Voice & Accountability0.082023▲ 21.7%WB
Control of Corruption (percentile rank)29.7%2023▼ 3.1%WB
Government Effectiveness (percentile rank)19.8%2023▲ 0.0%WB
Rule of Law (percentile rank)46.2%2023▲ 4.3%WB
Political Stability (percentile rank)37.9%2023▼ 10.7%WB
▶Military5 indicators · 2020–2024 · WB
IndicatorValueYearΔ YoYSrc
Military Spending (% of GDP)1.0%2024▼ 12.0%WB
Military Expenditure (USD)$117.6M2024▼ 21.4%WB
Armed Forces Personnel15,0002020—WB
Armed Forces (% of labor force)0.2%2020—WB
Military Spending (% of govt expenditure)3.5%2024▼ 14.9%WB
▶Social Protection7 indicators · 2010–2020 · WB
IndicatorValueYearΔ YoYSrc
Social Insurance Coverage (%)1.2%2019——
Social Assistance Coverage (%)37.7%2019——
Social Protection Coverage (%)38.3%2019——
Human Capital Index (0–1)0.412020—WB
Human Capital Index, Female0.382010—WB
Human Capital Index, Male0.352010—WB
Learning-Adjusted Years of School5.5 years2020—WB
▶Tourism5 indicators · 2018–2020 · WB
IndicatorValueYearΔ YoYSrc
International Tourism, Arrivals871,0002018—WB
Tourism Receipts (USD)$35.0M2020—WB
Tourism Expenditures (USD)$119.0M2020—WB
Tourism Receipts (% of total exports)2.7%2020—WB
International Tourism, Transport Services (USD)$5.0M2020—WB
▶Urban Development8 indicators · 2022–2025 · WB / WHO
IndicatorValueYearΔ YoYSrc
Urban Population Growth (%)4.3%2024▲ 4.2%WB
Population in Largest City1.4M2025▲ 4.5%WB
Population in Largest City (% of urban)35.6%2025▼ 0.0%WB
Population in Agglomerations >1M (% of total)6.3%2025▲ 1.9%WB
Population in Slums (% of urban)38.0%2022▼ 23.7%WB
Rural Population Growth (%)2.2%2024▼ 1.6%WB
Access to Safely Managed Drinking Water (%)18.2%2024▲ 1.4%WHO
Access to Safely Managed Sanitation (%)46.2%2024▼ 0.0%WHO

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