Malawi
- Capital
- Lilongwe
- Region
- Sub-Saharan Africa
- Income group
- Low income
- Population
- 22.2 million (2025)
At a glance
- Prices in Malawi rose 28.4% in 2025, faster than in most countries.
- Malawi's economy grew 1.9% in 2025, slower than most economies.
- Output per person in Malawi was US$672 in 2025, lower than in most countries.
- 5.1% of Malawi's labour force had no job in 2025, close to the middle of the range worldwide.
- Malawi's central government owed 61.8% of GDP in 2023, close to the middle of the range worldwide.
- Malawi had 22.2 million people in 2025: about 0.3% of everyone on Earth, the 60th largest population of 217 countries and territories.
- Malawi had a current account deficit of 14.0% of GDP in 2025, lower than in most countries.
Inflation
2025Consumer prices, change over the year (yearly average)
Since 2000
Show the numbers
| Year | Malawi | World median |
|---|---|---|
| 2025 | 28.4% | 3.0% |
| 2024 | 32.2% | 3.0% |
| 2023 | 28.8% | 5.7% |
| 2022 | 21.0% | 8.0% |
| 2021 | 9.3% | 3.5% |
| 2020 | 8.6% | 1.9% |
| 2019 | 9.4% | 2.2% |
| 2018 | 12.4% | 2.5% |
| 2017 | 11.5% | 2.3% |
| 2016 | 21.7% | 1.6% |
Economic growth
2025Real GDP, change over the year
Since 2000
Show the numbers
| Year | Malawi | World median |
|---|---|---|
| 2025 | 1.9% | 3.4% |
| 2024 | 1.7% | 3.4% |
| 2023 | 2.0% | 3.2% |
| 2022 | 0.9% | 4.3% |
| 2021 | 4.6% | 5.1% |
| 2020 | 0.8% | −3.8% |
| 2019 | 5.7% | 2.8% |
| 2018 | 4.4% | 3.2% |
| 2017 | 4.0% | 3.3% |
| 2016 | 2.5% | 3.1% |
GDP per person
2025GDP divided by population, in US dollars at current prices
Since 2000
Show the numbers
| Year | Malawi | World median |
|---|---|---|
| 2025 | US$672 | US$7,882 |
| 2024 | US$522 | US$7,853 |
| 2023 | US$633 | US$7,862 |
| 2022 | US$604 | US$7,656 |
| 2021 | US$617 | US$7,269 |
| 2020 | US$603 | US$6,433 |
| 2019 | US$581 | US$7,037 |
| 2018 | US$533 | US$6,978 |
| 2017 | US$496 | US$6,548 |
| 2016 | US$451 | US$5,982 |
Unemployment
2025Share of the labour force without a job (ILO modelled estimate)
Since 2000
Show the numbers
| Year | Malawi | World median |
|---|---|---|
| 2025 | 5.1% | 5.1% |
| 2024 | 5.1% | 5.1% |
| 2023 | 5.0% | 5.2% |
| 2022 | 5.0% | 5.3% |
| 2021 | 5.7% | 6.0% |
| 2020 | 5.7% | 6.4% |
| 2019 | 5.0% | 5.4% |
| 2018 | 5.0% | 5.4% |
| 2017 | 5.1% | 5.6% |
| 2016 | 5.0% | 5.9% |
Government debt
2023Central government debt, % of GDP
Since 2009
Show the numbers
| Year | Malawi | World median |
|---|---|---|
| 2023 | 61.8% | 60.7% |
| 2022 | 55.6% | 55.6% |
| 2019 | 44.8% | 49.2% |
| 2018 | 41.7% | 47.3% |
| 2017 | 34.3% | 51.2% |
| 2016 | 37.9% | 50.2% |
| 2015 | 27.3% | 49.4% |
| 2014 | 27.9% | 46.8% |
| 2013 | 24.9% | 45.6% |
| 2012 | 28.5% | 41.8% |
Population
2025Everyone living in the country, mid-year
Since 2000
Show the numbers
| Year | Malawi |
|---|---|
| 2025 | 22.2 million |
| 2024 | 21.7 million |
| 2023 | 21.1 million |
| 2022 | 20.6 million |
| 2021 | 20.0 million |
| 2020 | 19.5 million |
| 2019 | 19.0 million |
| 2018 | 18.5 million |
| 2017 | 18.0 million |
| 2016 | 17.6 million |
Current account balance, % of GDP
Since 2000
Show the numbers
| Year | Malawi | World median |
|---|---|---|
| 2025 | −14.0% | −0.8% |
| 2024 | −15.1% | −1.3% |
| 2023 | −12.3% | −1.2% |
| 2022 | −17.0% | −3.0% |
| 2021 | −14.1% | −2.4% |
| 2020 | −13.9% | −1.7% |
| 2019 | −12.0% | −2.1% |
| 2018 | −17.3% | −2.9% |
| 2017 | −17.4% | −2.1% |
| 2016 | −12.7% | −2.8% |
About these figures
All numbers are yearly. The world median is the middle value of all countries with a figure for the same year: half of them are above it and half below. Sparklines show Malawi since 2000 or since its first figure.
Source: World Bank, World Development Indicators (CC BY 4.0), updated 2026-10-08. Original sources: Inflation: International Monetary Fund, International Financial Statistics; Economic growth: national statistical offices and central banks, OECD national accounts, and World Bank staff estimates; GDP per person: national statistical offices and central banks, OECD national accounts, and World Bank staff estimates; Unemployment: International Labour Organization, ILO modelled estimates (ILOSTAT); Government debt: International Monetary Fund, Government Finance Statistics; Population: United Nations Population Division (World Population Prospects) and national statistical offices; Current account balance: International Monetary Fund, Balance of Payments Statistics, with World Bank and OECD data. Yearly figures; recent years are often revised. All sources and terms.