Foreign direct investment (FDI) inflows (millions of United States) in Malawi
Malawi: Foreign direct investment (FDI) inflows (millions of United States) was 220.39 million current US$ in 2024. ◆ Volatile
Foreign direct investment (FDI) inflows in Malawi, 1990–2024
Source: United Nations Statistics Division, SDG Global Database. Measured in million current US$.
Analysis
Malawi recorded 220.39 million current US$ for foreign direct investment (fdi) inflows in 2024.
That represents a change of up 3.0% on the previous year and down 63.2% over ten years.
Over the whole period, foreign direct investment (fdi) inflows in Malawi peaked at 812.69 million current US$ in 2011 and was at its lowest, -28.7 million current US$, in 1991.
That places Malawi 154th out of 224 countries with data for 2024, putting it in the middle of the range.
The series is highly variable year to year, so single readings are best treated with caution.
Foreign direct investment (FDI) inflows (millions of United States) in Malawi, year by year
| Year | million current US$ | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1990 | 23.3 million current US$ | — |
| 1991 | -28.7 million current US$ | -223.2% |
| 1992 | -7.1 million current US$ | -75.3% |
| 1993 | 8 million current US$ | -212.7% |
| 1994 | 24.99 million current US$ | +212.4% |
| 1995 | 5.64 million current US$ | -77.4% |
| 1996 | 15.77 million current US$ | +179.4% |
| 1997 | 14.9 million current US$ | -5.5% |
| 1998 | 12.1 million current US$ | -18.8% |
| 1999 | 58.5 million current US$ | +383.5% |
| 2000 | 39.63 million current US$ | -32.3% |
| 2001 | 39.37 million current US$ | -0.7% |
| 2002 | 38.72 million current US$ | -1.7% |
| 2003 | 13.26 million current US$ | -65.7% |
| 2004 | 58.95 million current US$ | +344.5% |
| 2005 | 99.14 million current US$ | +68.2% |
| 2006 | 35.56 million current US$ | -64.1% |
| 2007 | 124.35 million current US$ | +249.7% |
| 2008 | 195.42 million current US$ | +57.2% |
| 2009 | 49.13 million current US$ | -74.9% |
| 2010 | 97.01 million current US$ | +97.5% |
| 2011 | 812.69 million current US$ | +737.7% |
| 2012 | -8.89 million current US$ | -101.1% |
| 2013 | 445.52 million current US$ | -5113.7% |
| 2014 | 598.74 million current US$ | +34.4% |
| 2015 | 408.46 million current US$ | -31.8% |
| 2016 | 115.7 million current US$ | -71.7% |
| 2017 | 90.2 million current US$ | -22.0% |
| 2018 | 77.01 million current US$ | -14.6% |
| 2019 | 55.23 million current US$ | -28.3% |
| 2020 | 252.18 million current US$ | +356.6% |
| 2021 | 129.5 million current US$ | -48.6% |
| 2022 | 198.73 million current US$ | +53.5% |
| 2023 | 213.96 million current US$ | +7.7% |
| 2024 | 220.39 million current US$ | +3.0% |
Malawi compared with similar countries
- Malawi's 220.39 million current US$ is below the median for low income countries, which is 274 million current US$, 80% of the median. (23 countries reporting)
- Malawi's 220.39 million current US$ is below the median for Sub-Saharan Africa, which is 596.7 million current US$, 37% of the median. (45 countries reporting)
Biggest year-on-year movements
Years where Foreign direct investment (FDI) inflows (millions of United States) in Malawi changed far more than this series normally does. A large move can be a real event or a change in how the figure was measured — the source note below says who published it.
| Year | Change | From | To |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2013 | +5113.7% | -8.89 million current US$ | 445.52 million current US$ |
| 2011 | +737.7% | 97.01 million current US$ | 812.69 million current US$ |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1990s | 12.74 million current US$ | -28.7 million current US$ | 58.5 million current US$ | 10 |
| 2000s | 69.35 million current US$ | 13.26 million current US$ | 195.42 million current US$ | 10 |
| 2010s | 269.17 million current US$ | -8.89 million current US$ | 812.69 million current US$ | 10 |
| 2020s | 202.95 million current US$ | 129.5 million current US$ | 252.18 million current US$ | 5 |
Countries ranked near Malawi
More economy & growth data for Malawi
- Real gdp growth, annual growth rate -14.03 % change on previous year (2024)
- 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)
- SDRs holdings, US dollar, annual growth rate -12.14 % change on previous year (2025)
- SDRs holdings, US dollar, per unit of GDP 0 units per US$ of GDP (2025)
- SDRs holdings, US dollar, per capita 0.0151 units per person (2025)
- SDRs holdings, SDR, annual growth rate -16.34 % change on previous year (2025)
- SDRs holdings, SDR, per unit of GDP 0 units per US$ of GDP (2025)
- SDRs holdings, SDR, per capita 0.0111 units per person (2025)
- IMF holdings of currency, US dollar, annual growth rate 5.01 % change on previous year (2025)
Frequently asked questions
- What is foreign direct investment (fdi) inflows in Malawi?
- Foreign direct investment (fdi) inflows in Malawi was 220.39 million current US$ in 2024, according to United Nations Statistics Division, SDG Global Database.
- What is the highest foreign direct investment (fdi) inflows recorded in Malawi?
- The highest recorded value was 812.69 million current US$ in 2011.
- What is the lowest foreign direct investment (fdi) inflows recorded in Malawi?
- The lowest recorded value was -28.7 million current US$ in 1991.
- How does Malawi rank for foreign direct investment (fdi) inflows?
- Malawi ranks 154th out of 224 countries with data for 2024.
- Is foreign direct investment (fdi) inflows rising or falling in Malawi?
- Over the last ten years it is down 63.2%. The long-run trend across the full record is volatile.
- Where does this Malawi data come from?
- The figures come from United Nations Statistics Division, SDG Global Database, published as part of Foreign direct investment (FDI) inflows (millions of United States dollars). Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
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