External debt stocks in Malawi
Malawi: External debt stocks was 35.2% in 2024. ◆ Volatile
External debt stocks in Malawi, 1980–2024
Source: International Debt Statistics, World Bank (WB). Measured in % of GNI.
Analysis
In 2024, external debt stocks in Malawi stood at 35.2%.
Compared with earlier readings it is up 20.8% on the previous year and up 83.4% over ten years.
Over the whole period, external debt stocks in Malawi peaked at 117.5% in 1994 and was at its lowest, 10.2%, in 2010.
Malawi ranks 81st of 121 countries on this measure, in the middle of the range.
The series is highly variable year to year, so single readings are best treated with caution.
External debt stocks in Malawi, year by year
| Year | % of GNI | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1980 | 46.1% | — |
| 1981 | 45.6% | -1.0% |
| 1982 | 50.4% | +10.4% |
| 1983 | 50.1% | -0.4% |
| 1984 | 50.1% | -0.2% |
| 1985 | 62.0% | +23.9% |
| 1986 | 67.2% | +8.4% |
| 1987 | 79.4% | +18.2% |
| 1988 | 67.7% | -14.8% |
| 1989 | 60.9% | -10.0% |
| 1990 | 56.9% | -6.6% |
| 1991 | 51.9% | -8.8% |
| 1992 | 65.3% | +25.7% |
| 1993 | 60.6% | -7.1% |
| 1994 | 117.5% | +93.9% |
| 1995 | 110.1% | -6.3% |
| 1996 | 69.6% | -36.7% |
| 1997 | 57.4% | -17.5% |
| 1998 | 97.1% | +69.1% |
| 1999 | 107.7% | +10.9% |
| 2000 | 107.8% | +0.1% |
| 2001 | 105.0% | -2.6% |
| 2002 | 57.5% | -45.2% |
| 2003 | 67.2% | +16.9% |
| 2004 | 68.7% | +2.2% |
| 2005 | 60.5% | -11.9% |
| 2006 | 15.1% | -75.1% |
| 2007 | 13.5% | -10.3% |
| 2008 | 12.9% | -4.7% |
| 2009 | 12.8% | -0.8% |
| 2010 | 10.2% | -20.3% |
| 2011 | 10.5% | +3.3% |
| 2012 | 15.4% | +46.5% |
| 2013 | 19.9% | +28.8% |
| 2014 | 19.2% | -3.2% |
| 2015 | 19.1% | -0.4% |
| 2016 | 23.4% | +22.4% |
| 2017 | 24.8% | +5.6% |
| 2018 | 23.7% | -4.2% |
| 2019 | 22.5% | -5.1% |
| 2020 | 25.9% | +15.0% |
| 2021 | 26.6% | +2.9% |
| 2022 | 27.7% | +4.1% |
| 2023 | 29.2% | +5.3% |
| 2024 | 35.2% | +20.8% |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1980s | 57.9% | 45.6% | 79.4% | 10 |
| 1990s | 79.4% | 51.9% | 117.5% | 10 |
| 2000s | 52.1% | 12.8% | 107.8% | 10 |
| 2010s | 18.9% | 10.2% | 24.8% | 10 |
| 2020s | 28.9% | 25.9% | 35.2% | 5 |
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)
- Services, value added (current US$), annual growth rate 45.12 % change on previous year (2025)
- Services, value added (current US$), per unit of GDP 0.4866 current US$ per US$ of GDP (2025)
- Services, value added (current US$), per capita 326.79 current US$ per person (2025)
- Services, value added (current LCU), annual growth rate 46.16 % change on previous year (2025)
- Services, value added (current LCU), per unit of GDP 852.01 current LCU per US$ of GDP (2025)
- Services, value added (current LCU), per capita 572,135 current LCU per person (2025)
- Services, value added (constant 2015 US$), annual growth rate 2.15 % change on previous year (2025)
- Services, value added (constant 2015 US$), per unit of GDP 0.4481 constant 2015 US$ per US$ of GDP (2025)
Frequently asked questions
- What is external debt stocks in Malawi?
- External debt stocks in Malawi was 35.2% in 2024, according to International Debt Statistics, World Bank (WB).
- What is the highest external debt stocks recorded in Malawi?
- The highest recorded value was 117.5% in 1994.
- What is the lowest external debt stocks recorded in Malawi?
- The lowest recorded value was 10.2% in 2010.
- How does Malawi rank for external debt stocks?
- Malawi ranks 81st out of 121 countries with data for 2024.
- Is external debt stocks rising or falling in Malawi?
- Over the last ten years it is up 83.4%. The long-run trend across the full record is volatile.
- Where does this Malawi data come from?
- The figures come from International Debt Statistics, World Bank (WB), published as part of External debt stocks (% of GNI). Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
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About this data
Total external debt stocks to gross national income. Total external debt is debt owed to nonresidents repayable in currency, goods, or services. Total external debt is the sum of public, publicly guaranteed, and private nonguaranteed long-term debt, use of IMF credit, and short-term debt. Short-term debt includes all debt having an original maturity of one year or less and interest in arrears on long-term debt. GNI (formerly GNP) is the sum of value added by all resident producers plus any product taxes (less subsidies) not included in the valuation of output plus net receipts of primary income (compensation of employees and property income) from abroad.