External balance on goods and services in Malawi
Malawi: External balance on goods and services was -2.70 billion current US$ 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 US$.
Analysis
In 2025, external balance on goods and services in Malawi stood at -2.70 billion current US$. That is the lowest value across all 9 years on record.
That represents a change of down 23.5% on the previous year and down 51.4% over ten years.
Over the whole period, external balance on goods and services in Malawi peaked at -1.78 billion current US$ in 2017 and was at its lowest, -2.70 billion current US$, in 2025.
That places Malawi 139th out of 193 countries with data for 2025, putting it in the middle of the range.
External balance on goods and services in Malawi, year by year
| Year | current US$ | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 2017 | -1.78 billion current US$ | — |
| 2018 | -2.00 billion current US$ | +12.0% |
| 2019 | -2.01 billion current US$ | +0.7% |
| 2020 | -2.24 billion current US$ | +11.2% |
| 2021 | -2.37 billion current US$ | +6.0% |
| 2022 | -2.60 billion current US$ | +9.6% |
| 2023 | -2.67 billion current US$ | +2.5% |
| 2024 | -2.19 billion current US$ | -18.0% |
| 2025 | -2.70 billion current US$ | +23.5% |
Malawi compared with similar countries
- Malawi's -2.70 billion current US$ is below the median for low income countries, which is -1.17 billion current US$, 2.3× the median. (22 countries reporting)
- Malawi's -2.70 billion current US$ is below the median for Sub-Saharan Africa, which is -545.92 million current US$, 4.9× the median. (45 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2010s | -1.93 billion current US$ | -2.01 billion current US$ | -1.78 billion current US$ | 3 |
| 2020s | -2.46 billion current US$ | -2.70 billion current US$ | -2.19 billion current US$ | 6 |
Countries ranked near Malawi
- 136 Madagascar -2.27 billion current US$ compare
- 137 Montenegro -2.37 billion current US$ compare
- 138 North Macedonia -2.63 billion current US$ compare
- 140 Namibia -2.90 billion current US$ compare
- 141 Nicaragua -2.95 billion current US$ compare
- 142 Mozambique -3.20 billion current US$ compare
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$), annual growth rate -29.8 % change on previous year (2020)
Frequently asked questions
- What is external balance on goods and services in Malawi?
- External balance on goods and services in Malawi was -2.70 billion current US$ 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 -1.78 billion current US$ in 2017.
- What is the lowest external balance on goods and services recorded in Malawi?
- The lowest recorded value was -2.70 billion current US$ in 2025.
- How does Malawi rank for external balance on goods and services?
- Malawi ranks 139th 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 51.4%. 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 US$). 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 indicator is expressed in United States dollars.