FX reserves
$594.5M · 2020
↓ $21.6M since 2014
Malawi
On this page
Overview
-
Population
22.2M
people · 2025
-
GDP
$14.9B
current US$ · 2025
-
Inflation stale
21.10%
headline, % y/y · Jun 2026
-
Policy rate
24.00%
% · effective 1 Mar 2026
-
Official exchange rate
not yet covered
-
Retail remittance rate retail
2,266.47
MWK per US$1 · 7 Oct 2026, 06:10 UTC
Coverage: 38 of 40 annual indicators reported, latest years 2018–2026. Gaps read “not available” (source has no figure) or “not yet covered” (not yet collected), never zero.
Currencies & Rates
Official and market exchange rates, policy rates, government yields, bank rates, reserves and stock indices.
Exchange rates
| Series | Rate | As of | Source |
|---|---|---|---|
| Official rate | not yet covered | ||
| Retail remittance rate retail | 2,266.47 | 7 Oct 2026, 06:10 UTC | Remitly |
| Market premium% by which the market rate exceeds the official rate | not yet covered — needs both an official and a market rate | ||
Policy rate
| Instrument | Rate | Effective | Source |
|---|---|---|---|
| Policy rate% per year · Reserve Bank of Malawi | 24.00% | 1 Mar 2026 | Reserve Bank of Malawi |
Checked 5 Oct 2026, 09:30 UTC
Government securities yields
% yield at the latest auction for each tenor. Tenors up to 364 days are Treasury bills; longer tenors are bonds. yield Source: RBM
91-day
12.00%26 Aug 2026
182-day
15.00%26 Aug 2026
364-day
16.00%26 Aug 2026
Steep — 364-day above 91-day.
Annual indicators
| Indicator | Latest | Year | Change | Source | Data |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| FX reserves Current US$, total reserves including gold includes gold | $594.5M | 2020 | ↓ $21.6M since 2014 | World Bank | CSV Rank Compare |
| Lending rate % per year, average bank lending rate | 37.1% | 2024 | ↓ 7.2 pts since 2014 | World Bank | CSV Rank Compare |
Not available for Malawi: Deposit rate.
Show trend charts (2)
Lending rate
37.1% · 2024
↓ 7.2 pts since 2014
Economy & Prices
Output, growth, inflation, jobs, investment, the structure of the economy and minimum wages.
Inflation % change from a year earlier
| Series | Year on year | Period | Source |
|---|---|---|---|
| Headline consumer prices stale | 21.10% | Jun 2026 | National statistics office |
Checked 12 Sep 2026, 19:49 UTC
Annual indicators
| Indicator | Latest | Year | Change | Source | Data |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| GDP Current US$ | $14.9B | 2025 | ↑ $6.1B since 2014 | World Bank | CSV Rank Compare |
| GDP growth % change, real (inflation-adjusted) | 1.9% | 2025 | ↓ 3.7 pts since 2014 | World Bank | CSV Rank Compare |
| GDP per capita (PPP) Current international $ per person, PPP | $1,899 | 2025 | ↑ $393.74 since 2014 | World Bank | CSV Rank Compare |
| GDP per capita growth % change per person, real | -0.7% | 2025 | ↓ 3.4 pts since 2014 | World Bank | CSV Rank Compare |
| Unemployment % of labour force ILO modeled estimate — national definitions differ | 5.1% | 2025 | ↑ 0.1 pts since 2014 | World Bank | CSV Rank Compare |
| Agriculture share of GDP Agriculture value added, % of GDP | 30% | 2025 | ↑ 6.2 pts since 2014 | World Bank | CSV Rank Compare |
| Manufacturing share of GDP Manufacturing value added, % of GDP | 11% | 2024 | ↓ 0.3 pts since 2017 | World Bank | CSV Rank Compare |
| Services share of GDP Services value added, % of GDP | 48.7% | 2025 | ↓ 4 pts since 2014 | World Bank | CSV Rank Compare |
Not available for Malawi: Investment rate.
Show trend charts (8)
GDP
$14.9B · 2025
↑ $6.1B since 2014
GDP growth
1.9% · 2025
↓ 3.7 pts since 2014
GDP per capita (PPP)
$1,899 · 2025
↑ $393.74 since 2014
GDP per capita growth
-0.7% · 2025
↓ 3.4 pts since 2014
Unemployment
5.1% · 2025
↑ 0.1 pts since 2014
Agriculture share of GDP
30% · 2025
↑ 6.2 pts since 2014
Manufacturing share of GDP
11% · 2024
↓ 0.3 pts since 2017
Services share of GDP
48.7% · 2025
↓ 4 pts since 2014
Public Finance & Debt
Government revenue, budget balance, public and external debt, debt service and sovereign credit ratings.
Sovereign credit ratings
No published sovereign rating recorded
Annual indicators
| Indicator | Latest | Year | Change | Source | Data |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Government revenue / GDP General government revenue, % of GDP 2026 is an IMF projection (forecast) for the year in progress when fetched, not a reported outturn. | 18.6% | 2026 | ↑ 3.4 pts since 2014 | IMF DataMapper | CSV Rank Compare |
| Budget balance / GDP General government net lending/borrowing, % of GDP Latest 1–2 years are IMF estimates | -10.5% | 2026 | ↓ 7.4 pts since 2014 | IMF World Economic Outlook Oct 2025 | CSV Rank Compare |
| Debt to GDP General government gross debt, % of GDP Latest 1–2 years are IMF estimates | 74.5% | 2026 | ↑ 40.9 pts since 2014 | IMF World Economic Outlook Oct 2025 | CSV Rank Compare |
| Gross debt (national currency) General government gross debt, local currency Latest 1–2 years are IMF estimates | MWK 24.1T | 2026 | ↑ MWK 22.8T since 2014 | IMF World Economic Outlook Oct 2025 | CSV |
| External debt Total external debt stocks, current US$ | $3.7B | 2024 | ↑ $2.1B since 2014 | World Bank | CSV Rank Compare |
| Debt service / exports Total debt service, % of exports and primary income | 10.6% | 2024 | ↑ 6.5 pts since 2014 | World Bank | CSV Rank Compare |
Show trend charts (6)
Government revenue / GDP
18.6% · 2026
↑ 3.4 pts since 2014
Budget balance / GDP
-10.5% · 2026
↓ 7.4 pts since 2014
Debt to GDP
74.5% · 2026
↑ 40.9 pts since 2014
Gross debt (national currency)
MWK 24.1T · 2026
↑ MWK 22.8T since 2014
External debt
$3.7B · 2024
↑ $2.1B since 2014
Debt service / exports
10.6% · 2024
↑ 6.5 pts since 2014
Trade & Resources
Exports, imports, trade partners and products, investment and remittance flows, oil and commodities.
Trade profile
| Flow | Latest | Change |
|---|---|---|
| Exports | $1.5B · 2024 | ↓ $114.2M since 2014 |
| Imports | $3.9B · 2024 | ↑ $902M since 2014 |
| Balance derived | −$2.4B · 2024 | ↓ $1B since 2014 |
Show trade trend charts (3)
Exports
$1.5B · 2024
↓ $114.2M since 2014
Imports
$3.9B · 2024
↑ $902M since 2014
Balance
−$2.4B · 2024
↓ $1B since 2014
Top exports · 2024
Products
Show all 10 products
Partners
Show all 10 partners
Top imports · 2024
Products
Show all 10 products
Partners
Show all 10 partners
2025 filings are still arriving — this page updates as each country reports
Annual indicators
| Indicator | Latest | Year | Change | Source | Data |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Exports of goods and services Goods and services, current US$ | $1.5B | 2024 | ↓ $114.2M since 2014 | World Bank | CSV Rank Compare |
| Exports per capita derived Current US$ per person (derived) | $70.55 | 2024 | ↓ $28.24 since 2014 | Derived from World Bank series on this page | CSV Rank Compare |
| Current account / GDP Current-account balance, % of GDP Latest 1–2 years are IMF estimates | -15.4% | 2026 | ↓ 8.4 pts since 2014 | IMF World Economic Outlook Oct 2025 | CSV Rank Compare |
| FDI inflows Foreign direct investment, net inflows, current US$ | $258M | 2024 | ↓ $340.1M since 2014 | World Bank | CSV Rank Compare |
| Remittances Personal remittances received, current US$ | $186.8M | 2024 | ↑ $148.3M since 2014 | World Bank | CSV Rank Compare |
| Terms of trade Net barter terms of trade, index (2015 = 100) | 96.30 | 2024 | ↓ 0.30 since 2014 | World Bank | CSV Rank Compare |
| Tourist arrivals International tourist arrivals per year | 871,000 | 2018 | ↑ 52,000 since 2014 | World Bank | CSV Rank Compare |
Show trend charts (7)
Exports of goods and services
$1.5B · 2024
↓ $114.2M since 2014
Exports per capita
$70.55 · 2024
↓ $28.24 since 2014
Current account / GDP
-15.4% · 2026
↓ 8.4 pts since 2014
FDI inflows
$258M · 2024
↓ $340.1M since 2014
Remittances
$186.8M · 2024
↑ $148.3M since 2014
Terms of trade
96.30 · 2024
↓ 0.30 since 2014
Tourist arrivals
871,000 · 2018
↑ 52,000 since 2014
People & Society
Population, health, education, poverty and inequality, access to services and democracy.
| Indicator | Latest | Year | Change | Source | Data |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Population People, total | 22.2M | 2025 | ↑ 5.6M since 2014 | World Bank | CSV Rank Compare |
| Median age Years | 17.6 years | 2023 | ↑ 1.7 years since 2014 | UN WPP 2024, via Our World in Data | CSV |
| Life expectancy Years at birth | 67.6 years | 2024 | ↑ 5.9 years since 2014 | World Bank | CSV Rank Compare |
| Child mortality Under-5 deaths per 1,000 live births | 48.8 per 1,000 | 2024 | ↓ 11.2 since 2014 | World Bank | CSV Rank Compare |
| Health expenditure Current health spending, % of GDP | 6.5% | 2023 | ↓ 0.4 pts since 2014 | World Bank | CSV Rank Compare |
| Physicians Per 1,000 people | 0.1 per 1,000 | 2022 | ↑ 0 since 2016 | World Bank | CSV Rank Compare |
| Adult literacy % of people aged 15 and over | 70.2% | 2020 | ↓ 2.7 pts since 2017 | World Bank | CSV Rank Compare |
| Tertiary enrollment Gross enrolment ratio, % | 2.7% | 2022 | ↑ 1.9 pts since 2014 | World Bank | CSV Rank Compare |
| Poverty ($3/day) % of people below $3.00 a day (2021 PPP) | 75.4% | 2019 | ↑ 3.7 pts since 2016 | World Bank | CSV Rank Compare |
| National poverty line % of people below the national poverty line | 50.7% | 2019 | ↓ 0.8 pts since 2016 | World Bank | CSV |
| Gini index Income inequality, 0 (equal) to 100 | 38.50 | 2019 | ↓ 6.20 since 2016 | World Bank | CSV Rank Compare |
| Electricity access % of population | 15.6% | 2024 | ↑ 3.7 pts since 2014 | World Bank | CSV Rank Compare |
| Internet users % of population using the internet | 19% | 2024 | ↑ 13.1 pts since 2014 | World Bank | CSV Rank Compare |
| Account ownership % of people aged 15+ with an account Findex · every 3–4 years | 50.4% | 2024 | ↑ 32.3 pts since 2014 | World Bank | CSV Rank Compare |
| Electoral democracy V-Dem electoral democracy index, 0 to 1 | 0.56 | 2025 | ↑ 0.01 since 2014 | V-Dem Institute | CSV Rank Compare |
Show trend charts (15)
Population
22.2M · 2025
↑ 5.6M since 2014
Median age
17.6 years · 2023
↑ 1.7 years since 2014
Life expectancy
67.6 years · 2024
↑ 5.9 years since 2014
Child mortality
48.8 per 1,000 · 2024
↓ 11.2 since 2014
Health expenditure
6.5% · 2023
↓ 0.4 pts since 2014
Physicians
0.1 per 1,000 · 2022
↑ 0 since 2016
Adult literacy
70.2% · 2020
↓ 2.7 pts since 2017
Tertiary enrollment
2.7% · 2022
↑ 1.9 pts since 2014
Poverty ($3/day)
75.4% · 2019
↑ 3.7 pts since 2016
National poverty line
50.7% · 2019
↓ 0.8 pts since 2016
Gini index
38.50 · 2019
↓ 6.20 since 2016
Electricity access
15.6% · 2024
↑ 3.7 pts since 2014
Internet users
19% · 2024
↑ 13.1 pts since 2014
Account ownership
50.4% · 2024
↑ 32.3 pts since 2014
Electoral democracy
0.56 · 2025
↑ 0.01 since 2014
Downloads
Each indicator row above has its own CSV link. Every file starts with its source, source URL and page link. All downloads
- FX history (official, market, premium) (CSV)
- Official exchange rate, annual (CSV)
- Headline inflation, monthly (CSV)
- GDP (CSV)
- Debt to GDP (CSV)
- Population (CSV)