Foreign direct investment, net inflows in Malawi
Malawi: Foreign direct investment, net inflows was 2.3% in 2024. ◆ Volatile
Foreign direct investment, net inflows in Malawi, 1980–2024
Source: International Financial Statistics and Balance of Payments databases, International Monetary Fund (IMF). Measured in % of GDP.
Analysis
The most recent figure for foreign direct investment, net inflows in Malawi is 2.3%, measured in 2024.
The figure is up 42.4% on the previous year and down 66.4% over ten years.
Over the whole period, foreign direct investment, net inflows in Malawi peaked at 7.0% in 2011 and was at its lowest, -0.9%, in 1991.
Malawi ranks 91st of 200 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.
Foreign direct investment, net inflows in Malawi, year by year
| Year | % of GDP | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1980 | 0.5% | — |
| 1981 | 0.1% | -88.2% |
| 1982 | 0.3% | +463.4% |
| 1983 | 0.1% | -58.9% |
| 1984 | 1.6% | +982.1% |
| 1985 | 0.0% | -98.0% |
| 1986 | -0.2% | -634.9% |
| 1987 | 0.0% | -103.1% |
| 1988 | 0.9% | +16412.7% |
| 1989 | 0.4% | -53.8% |
| 1990 | 0.9% | +112.1% |
| 1991 | -0.9% | -205.1% |
| 1992 | -0.3% | -69.7% |
| 1993 | 0.3% | -197.9% |
| 1994 | 1.5% | +447.4% |
| 1995 | 0.3% | -80.9% |
| 1996 | 0.5% | +71.5% |
| 1997 | 0.4% | -19.4% |
| 1998 | 0.5% | +23.8% |
| 1999 | 2.3% | +376.6% |
| 2000 | 1.0% | -54.8% |
| 2001 | 0.8% | -24.6% |
| 2002 | 0.1% | -85.0% |
| 2003 | 1.4% | +1116.6% |
| 2004 | 2.1% | +51.1% |
| 2005 | 2.6% | +23.2% |
| 2006 | 0.6% | -76.7% |
| 2007 | 1.9% | +215.5% |
| 2008 | 2.5% | +30.9% |
| 2009 | 0.5% | -78.4% |
| 2010 | 1.0% | +75.7% |
| 2011 | 7.0% | +628.5% |
| 2012 | -0.1% | -101.5% |
| 2013 | 5.6% | -5648.6% |
| 2014 | 6.8% | +20.9% |
| 2015 | 3.1% | -54.1% |
| 2016 | 1.5% | -53.1% |
| 2017 | 1.0% | -31.1% |
| 2018 | 0.8% | -22.7% |
| 2019 | 0.5% | -35.9% |
| 2020 | 2.1% | +328.8% |
| 2021 | 1.0% | -51.2% |
| 2022 | 1.6% | +52.8% |
| 2023 | 1.6% | +0.1% |
| 2024 | 2.3% | +42.4% |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1980s | 0.4% | -0.2% | 1.6% | 10 |
| 1990s | 0.5% | -0.9% | 2.3% | 10 |
| 2000s | 1.4% | 0.1% | 2.6% | 10 |
| 2010s | 2.7% | -0.1% | 7.0% | 10 |
| 2020s | 1.7% | 1.0% | 2.3% | 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)
- External balance on goods and services (current US$), annual growth -23.48 % change on previous year (2025)
- External balance on goods and services (current LCU), annual growth -24.37 % change on previous year (2025)
- Agriculture, forestry, and fishing, value added (current LCU), annual 25.49 % change on previous year (2025)
- Agriculture, forestry, and fishing, value added (current LCU), per 525.79 current LCU per US$ of GDP (2025)
- Agriculture, forestry, and fishing, value added (current LCU), per 353,070 current LCU per person (2025)
- Agriculture, forestry, and fishing, value added (constant 2015 US$) 1.2 % change on previous year (2025)
- Agriculture, forestry, and fishing, value added (constant 2015 US$) 0.1704 constant 2015 US$ per US$ of GDP (2025)
- Agriculture, forestry, and fishing, value added (constant 2015 US$) 114.45 constant 2015 US$ per person (2025)
Frequently asked questions
- What is foreign direct investment, net inflows in Malawi?
- Foreign direct investment, net inflows in Malawi was 2.3% in 2024, according to International Financial Statistics and Balance of Payments databases, International Monetary Fund (IMF).
- What is the highest foreign direct investment, net inflows recorded in Malawi?
- The highest recorded value was 7.0% in 2011.
- What is the lowest foreign direct investment, net inflows recorded in Malawi?
- The lowest recorded value was -0.9% in 1991.
- How does Malawi rank for foreign direct investment, net inflows?
- Malawi ranks 91st out of 200 countries with data for 2024.
- Is foreign direct investment, net inflows rising or falling in Malawi?
- Over the last ten years it is down 66.4%. The long-run trend across the full record is volatile.
- Where does this Malawi data come from?
- The figures come from International Financial Statistics and Balance of Payments databases, International Monetary Fund (IMF), published as part of Foreign direct investment, net inflows (% of GDP). Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
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About this data
Foreign direct investment is the net inflows of investment to acquire a lasting management interest (10 percent or more of voting stock) in an enterprise operating in an economy other than that of the investor. It is the sum of equity capital, reinvestment of earnings, other long-term capital, and short-term capital as shown in the balance of payments. This series shows net inflows (new investment inflows less disinvestment) in the reporting economy from foreign investors, and is divided by GDP.