Malawi

Economic overview and key indicators for Malawi, from the World Bank and the IMF, with downloadable data.

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Economic overview

At a glance

Region: Southern Africa
Income group: Low income
Capital: Lilongwe
Population: 22.2m (2025)
GDP: $14.9bn (2025)
GDP per person: $672 (2025)
Real growth: 1.9% (2025)
Inflation: 28.4% (2025)

Indicator profile

This profile uses international data. Tell us if you need deeper coverage of Malawi.

GDP and growth

GDP $14.9bn US$ · 2025 World Bank WDI · NY.GDP.MKTP.CD

GDP growth 1.9% % · 2025 World Bank WDI · NY.GDP.MKTP.KD.ZG

GDP per capita $672 US$ · 2025 World Bank WDI · NY.GDP.PCAP.CD

Inflation

Inflation (consumer prices) 28.4% % · 2025 World Bank WDI · FP.CPI.TOTL.ZG

Exchange rates

Official exchange rate (per US$) 1,161.09 LCU per US$ · 2023 World Bank WDI · PA.NUS.FCRF

Interest rates

Lending interest rate 37.1% % · 2024 World Bank WDI · FR.INR.LEND

Real interest rate 10.0% % · 2024 World Bank WDI · FR.INR.RINR

Government revenue and expenditure

Government revenue — % of GDP · not available IMF World Economic Outlook · GGR_NGDP

Government expenditure — % of GDP · not available IMF World Economic Outlook · GGX_NGDP

Tax revenue (central government) 15.6% % of GDP · 2024 World Bank WDI · GC.TAX.TOTL.GD.ZS

Public debt

Government gross debt 78.0% % of GDP · 2026 IMF World Economic Outlook · GGXWDG_NGDP

External debt stocks $3.7bn US$ · 2024 World Bank WDI · DT.DOD.DECT.CD

External trade

Exports of goods and services $1.6bn US$ · 2025 World Bank WDI · NE.EXP.GNFS.CD

Imports of goods and services $4.3bn US$ · 2025 World Bank WDI · NE.IMP.GNFS.CD

Trade (exports plus imports) 39.4% % of GDP · 2025 World Bank WDI · NE.TRD.GNFS.ZS

Total reserves (incl. gold) $594.5m US$ · 2020 World Bank WDI · FI.RES.TOTL.CD

Investment

Foreign direct investment, net inflows 3.6% % of GDP · 2025 World Bank WDI · BX.KLT.DINV.WD.GD.ZS

Labour market

Unemployment (ILO estimate) 5.1% % · 2025 World Bank WDI · SL.UEM.TOTL.ZS

Labour force participation 62.6% % of population 15+ · 2025 World Bank WDI · SL.TLF.CACT.ZS

Population 22.2m people · 2025 World Bank WDI · SP.POP.TOTL

Urban population 17.6% % of total · 2025 World Bank WDI · SP.URB.TOTL.IN.ZS

Industries

Agriculture 30.0% % of GDP · 2025 World Bank WDI · NV.AGR.TOTL.ZS

Industry 14.3% % of GDP · 2025 World Bank WDI · NV.IND.TOTL.ZS

Services 48.7% % of GDP · 2025 World Bank WDI · NV.SRV.TOTL.ZS

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Sources: World Bank World Development Indicators and IMF World Economic Outlook, refreshed weekly. International figures can differ from national releases and lag them by a year or more. Methodology.