External balance on goods and services in Malawi
Malawi: External balance on goods and services was -4.73 trillion current LCU in 2025. ▼ Falling
External balance on goods and services in Malawi, 2017–2025
Source: Country official statistics, National Statistical Organizations and/or Central Banks. Measured in current LCU.
Analysis
The most recent figure for external balance on goods and services in Malawi is -4.73 trillion current LCU, measured in 2025. That is the lowest value across all 9 years on record.
Compared with earlier readings it is down 24.4% on the previous year and down 262.9% over ten years.
Over the whole period, external balance on goods and services in Malawi peaked at -1.30 trillion current LCU in 2017 and was at its lowest, -4.73 trillion current LCU, in 2025.
That places Malawi 179th out of 193 countries with data for 2025, putting it in the bottom quarter.
External balance on goods and services in Malawi, year by year
| Year | current LCU | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 2017 | -1.30 trillion current LCU | — |
| 2018 | -1.46 trillion current LCU | +12.3% |
| 2019 | -1.50 trillion current LCU | +2.5% |
| 2020 | -1.68 trillion current LCU | +11.8% |
| 2021 | -1.91 trillion current LCU | +14.0% |
| 2022 | -2.47 trillion current LCU | +29.1% |
| 2023 | -3.10 trillion current LCU | +25.4% |
| 2024 | -3.80 trillion current LCU | +22.8% |
| 2025 | -4.73 trillion current LCU | +24.4% |
Malawi compared with similar countries
- Malawi's -4.73 trillion current LCU is below the median for low income countries, which is -480.38 billion current LCU, 9.8× the median. (22 countries reporting)
- Malawi's -4.73 trillion current LCU is below the median for Sub-Saharan Africa, which is -68.31 billion current LCU, 69.2× the median. (45 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2010s | -1.42 trillion current LCU | -1.50 trillion current LCU | -1.30 trillion current LCU | 3 |
| 2020s | -2.95 trillion current LCU | -4.73 trillion current LCU | -1.68 trillion current LCU | 6 |
Countries ranked near Malawi
More economy & growth data for Malawi
- Africa's Development Dynamics (AfDD) Table 04 - Annual real GDP 2.07 Percent per annum (2029)
- Africa's Development Dynamics (AfDD) Table 02 - Annual real GDP 4.6 Percent per annum (2029)
- Foreign direct investment, net outflows (BoP, current US$), gaps 56.42 million BoP, current US$ (2024)
- Foreign direct investment, net outflows (BoP, current US$), per unit 0.005 BoP, current US$ per US$ of GDP (2024)
- Foreign direct investment, net outflows (BoP, current US$), per capita 2.61 BoP, current US$ per person (2024)
- Foreign direct investment, net inflows (BoP, current US$), gaps filled 257.97 million BoP, current US$ (2024)
- Foreign direct investment, net inflows (BoP, current US$), annual 20.57 % change on previous year (2024)
- Foreign direct investment, net inflows (BoP, current US$), per unit 0.0228 BoP, current US$ per US$ of GDP (2024)
- Foreign direct investment, net inflows (BoP, current US$), per capita 11.91 BoP, current US$ per person (2024)
- Total reserves (includes gold, current US$), annual growth rate -29.8 % change on previous year (2020)
Frequently asked questions
- What is external balance on goods and services in Malawi?
- External balance on goods and services in Malawi was -4.73 trillion current LCU in 2025, according to Country official statistics, National Statistical Organizations and/or Central Banks.
- What is the highest external balance on goods and services recorded in Malawi?
- The highest recorded value was -1.30 trillion current LCU in 2017.
- What is the lowest external balance on goods and services recorded in Malawi?
- The lowest recorded value was -4.73 trillion current LCU in 2025.
- How does Malawi rank for external balance on goods and services?
- Malawi ranks 179th out of 193 countries with data for 2025.
- Is external balance on goods and services rising or falling in Malawi?
- Over the last ten years it is down 262.9%. The long-run trend across the full record is falling.
- Where does this Malawi data come from?
- The figures come from Country official statistics, National Statistical Organizations and/or Central Banks, published as part of External balance on goods and services (current LCU). Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
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About this data
The balance of international trade in goods and services is the difference between the exports and imports of goods and services. This indicator is expressed in current prices, meaning no adjustment has been made to account for price changes over time. This series is expressed in local currency units.