Gross domestic product (GDP) in Malawi
Malawi: Gross domestic product (GDP) was 26.47 billion international-$ in 2011 prices in 2022. ◆ Volatile
Latest (2022)
26.47 billion international-$ in 2011 prices
Change on year
up 0.8%
World rank
134th
of 166 countries
All-time high
26.47 billion international-$ in 2011 prices
in 2022
All-time low
1.45 billion international-$ in 2011 prices
in 1950
Years of data
73
1950–2022
Gross domestic product (GDP) in Malawi, 1950–2022
Source: Bolt and van Zanden – Maddison Project Database 2023 – with major processing by Our World in Data. Measured in international-$ in 2011 prices.
Analysis
Malawi recorded 26.47 billion international-$ in 2011 prices for gross domestic product (gdp) in 2022. That is the highest value across all 73 years on record.
The figure is up 0.8% on the previous year and up 42.6% over ten years.
Over the whole period, gross domestic product (gdp) in Malawi peaked at 26.47 billion international-$ in 2011 prices in 2022 and was at its lowest, 1.45 billion international-$ in 2011 prices, in 1950.
That places Malawi 134th out of 166 countries with data for 2022, putting it in the bottom quarter.
The series is highly variable year to year, so single readings are best treated with caution.
Gross domestic product (GDP) in Malawi, year by year
| Year | international-$ in 2011 prices | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1950 | 1.45 billion international-$ in 2011 prices | — |
| 1951 | 1.52 billion international-$ in 2011 prices | +4.3% |
| 1952 | 1.58 billion international-$ in 2011 prices | +3.9% |
| 1953 | 1.64 billion international-$ in 2011 prices | +4.3% |
| 1954 | 1.71 billion international-$ in 2011 prices | +4.3% |
| 1955 | 1.74 billion international-$ in 2011 prices | +1.6% |
| 1956 | 1.89 billion international-$ in 2011 prices | +8.4% |
| 1957 | 1.96 billion international-$ in 2011 prices | +4.1% |
| 1958 | 2.04 billion international-$ in 2011 prices | +3.6% |
| 1959 | 2.11 billion international-$ in 2011 prices | +3.6% |
| 1960 | 2.17 billion international-$ in 2011 prices | +2.7% |
| 1961 | 2.27 billion international-$ in 2011 prices | +5.0% |
| 1962 | 2.27 billion international-$ in 2011 prices | -0.1% |
| 1963 | 2.23 billion international-$ in 2011 prices | -1.7% |
| 1964 | 2.18 billion international-$ in 2011 prices | -2.2% |
| 1965 | 2.48 billion international-$ in 2011 prices | +13.5% |
| 1966 | 2.73 billion international-$ in 2011 prices | +10.3% |
| 1967 | 3.01 billion international-$ in 2011 prices | +10.2% |
| 1968 | 2.98 billion international-$ in 2011 prices | -1.1% |
| 1969 | 3.17 billion international-$ in 2011 prices | +6.5% |
| 1970 | 3.21 billion international-$ in 2011 prices | +1.3% |
| 1971 | 3.68 billion international-$ in 2011 prices | +14.4% |
| 1972 | 4.05 billion international-$ in 2011 prices | +10.2% |
| 1973 | 4.39 billion international-$ in 2011 prices | +8.4% |
| 1974 | 4.71 billion international-$ in 2011 prices | +7.2% |
| 1975 | 4.97 billion international-$ in 2011 prices | +5.5% |
| 1976 | 5.21 billion international-$ in 2011 prices | +4.9% |
| 1977 | 5.48 billion international-$ in 2011 prices | +5.2% |
| 1978 | 5.97 billion international-$ in 2011 prices | +8.9% |
| 1979 | 6.25 billion international-$ in 2011 prices | +4.7% |
| 1980 | 6.28 billion international-$ in 2011 prices | +0.6% |
| 1981 | 5.97 billion international-$ in 2011 prices | -4.9% |
| 1982 | 6.03 billion international-$ in 2011 prices | +0.9% |
| 1983 | 6.28 billion international-$ in 2011 prices | +4.3% |
| 1984 | 6.57 billion international-$ in 2011 prices | +4.6% |
| 1985 | 7.08 billion international-$ in 2011 prices | +7.8% |
| 1986 | 7.12 billion international-$ in 2011 prices | +0.6% |
| 1987 | 7.28 billion international-$ in 2011 prices | +2.3% |
| 1988 | 7.48 billion international-$ in 2011 prices | +2.7% |
| 1989 | 7.85 billion international-$ in 2011 prices | +4.9% |
| 1990 | 8.21 billion international-$ in 2011 prices | +4.6% |
| 1991 | 8.90 billion international-$ in 2011 prices | +8.4% |
| 1992 | 8.23 billion international-$ in 2011 prices | -7.6% |
| 1993 | 9.00 billion international-$ in 2011 prices | +9.5% |
| 1994 | 8.06 billion international-$ in 2011 prices | -10.5% |
| 1995 | 9.16 billion international-$ in 2011 prices | +13.6% |
| 1996 | 10.06 billion international-$ in 2011 prices | +9.9% |
| 1997 | 10.72 billion international-$ in 2011 prices | +6.5% |
| 1998 | 10.82 billion international-$ in 2011 prices | +1.0% |
| 1999 | 11.19 billion international-$ in 2011 prices | +3.4% |
| 2000 | 11.27 billion international-$ in 2011 prices | +0.7% |
| 2001 | 10.81 billion international-$ in 2011 prices | -4.1% |
| 2002 | 10.98 billion international-$ in 2011 prices | +1.6% |
| 2003 | 11.58 billion international-$ in 2011 prices | +5.4% |
| 2004 | 12.18 billion international-$ in 2011 prices | +5.1% |
| 2005 | 12.54 billion international-$ in 2011 prices | +2.9% |
| 2006 | 13.08 billion international-$ in 2011 prices | +4.3% |
| 2007 | 14.28 billion international-$ in 2011 prices | +9.2% |
| 2008 | 15.29 billion international-$ in 2011 prices | +7.1% |
| 2009 | 16.49 billion international-$ in 2011 prices | +7.8% |
| 2010 | 17.50 billion international-$ in 2011 prices | +6.1% |
| 2011 | 18.22 billion international-$ in 2011 prices | +4.1% |
| 2012 | 18.56 billion international-$ in 2011 prices | +1.9% |
| 2013 | 19.53 billion international-$ in 2011 prices | +5.2% |
| 2014 | 20.64 billion international-$ in 2011 prices | +5.7% |
| 2015 | 21.25 billion international-$ in 2011 prices | +2.9% |
| 2016 | 21.73 billion international-$ in 2011 prices | +2.3% |
| 2017 | 22.60 billion international-$ in 2011 prices | +4.0% |
| 2018 | 23.60 billion international-$ in 2011 prices | +4.4% |
| 2019 | 24.88 billion international-$ in 2011 prices | +5.4% |
| 2020 | 25.11 billion international-$ in 2011 prices | +0.9% |
| 2021 | 26.26 billion international-$ in 2011 prices | +4.6% |
| 2022 | 26.47 billion international-$ in 2011 prices | +0.8% |
Malawi compared with similar countries
- Malawi's 26.47 billion international-$ in 2011 prices is below the median for low income countries, which is 30.55 billion international-$ in 2011 prices, 87% of the median. (21 countries reporting)
- Malawi's 26.47 billion international-$ in 2011 prices is below the median for Sub-Saharan Africa, which is 26.73 billion international-$ in 2011 prices, 99% of the median. (44 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1950s | 1.76 billion international-$ in 2011 prices | 1.45 billion international-$ in 2011 prices | 2.11 billion international-$ in 2011 prices | 10 |
| 1960s | 2.55 billion international-$ in 2011 prices | 2.17 billion international-$ in 2011 prices | 3.17 billion international-$ in 2011 prices | 10 |
| 1970s | 4.79 billion international-$ in 2011 prices | 3.21 billion international-$ in 2011 prices | 6.25 billion international-$ in 2011 prices | 10 |
| 1980s | 6.80 billion international-$ in 2011 prices | 5.97 billion international-$ in 2011 prices | 7.85 billion international-$ in 2011 prices | 10 |
| 1990s | 9.44 billion international-$ in 2011 prices | 8.06 billion international-$ in 2011 prices | 11.19 billion international-$ in 2011 prices | 10 |
| 2000s | 12.85 billion international-$ in 2011 prices | 10.81 billion international-$ in 2011 prices | 16.49 billion international-$ in 2011 prices | 10 |
| 2010s | 20.85 billion international-$ in 2011 prices | 17.50 billion international-$ in 2011 prices | 24.88 billion international-$ in 2011 prices | 10 |
| 2020s | 25.94 billion international-$ in 2011 prices | 25.11 billion international-$ in 2011 prices | 26.47 billion international-$ in 2011 prices | 3 |
Countries ranked near Malawi
- 131 North Macedonia 28.77 billion international-$ in 2011 prices compare
- 132 Rwanda 28.47 billion international-$ in 2011 prices compare
- 133 Mauritius 26.99 billion international-$ in 2011 prices compare
- 135 Zimbabwe 25.90 billion international-$ in 2011 prices compare
- 136 Niger 24.78 billion international-$ in 2011 prices compare
- 137 Chad 24.12 billion international-$ in 2011 prices 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$), annual growth rate -29.8 % change on previous year (2020)
Frequently asked questions
- What is gross domestic product (gdp) in Malawi?
- Gross domestic product (gdp) in Malawi was 26.47 billion international-$ in 2011 prices in 2022, according to Bolt and van Zanden – Maddison Project Database 2023 – with major processing by Our World in Data.
- What is the highest gross domestic product (gdp) recorded in Malawi?
- The highest recorded value was 26.47 billion international-$ in 2011 prices in 2022.
- What is the lowest gross domestic product (gdp) recorded in Malawi?
- The lowest recorded value was 1.45 billion international-$ in 2011 prices in 1950.
- How does Malawi rank for gross domestic product (gdp)?
- Malawi ranks 134th out of 166 countries with data for 2022.
- Is gross domestic product (gdp) rising or falling in Malawi?
- Over the last ten years it is up 42.6%. The long-run trend across the full record is volatile.
- Where does this Malawi data come from?
- The figures come from Bolt and van Zanden – Maddison Project Database 2023 – with major processing by Our World in Data, published as part of Gross domestic product (GDP). Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
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About this data
Total economic output of a country or region per year. This data is adjusted for inflation and differences in living costs between countries.