Gross domestic product (GDP) in Malawi
Malawi: Gross domestic product (GDP) was 36.88 billion international-$ in 2021 prices in 2023. ◆ Volatile
Latest (2023)
36.88 billion international-$ in 2021 prices
Change on year
up 1.8%
World rank
134th
of 184 countries
All-time high
36.88 billion international-$ in 2021 prices
in 2023
All-time low
2.66 billion international-$ in 2021 prices
in 1954
Years of data
70
1954–2023
Gross domestic product (GDP) in Malawi, 1954–2023
Source: Feenstra et al. – Penn World Table (2025) – with major processing by Our World in Data. Measured in international-$ in 2021 prices.
Analysis
In 2023, gross domestic product (gdp) in Malawi stood at 36.88 billion international-$ in 2021 prices. That is the highest value across all 70 years on record.
That represents a change of up 1.8% on the previous year and up 54.7% over ten years.
Over the whole period, gross domestic product (gdp) in Malawi peaked at 36.88 billion international-$ in 2021 prices in 2023 and was at its lowest, 2.66 billion international-$ in 2021 prices, in 1954.
Malawi ranks 134th of 184 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.
Gross domestic product (GDP) in Malawi, year by year
| Year | international-$ in 2021 prices | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1954 | 2.66 billion international-$ in 2021 prices | — |
| 1955 | 2.83 billion international-$ in 2021 prices | +6.4% |
| 1956 | 3.03 billion international-$ in 2021 prices | +7.2% |
| 1957 | 3.27 billion international-$ in 2021 prices | +8.1% |
| 1958 | 3.33 billion international-$ in 2021 prices | +1.8% |
| 1959 | 3.25 billion international-$ in 2021 prices | -2.6% |
| 1960 | 3.53 billion international-$ in 2021 prices | +8.7% |
| 1961 | 3.62 billion international-$ in 2021 prices | +2.4% |
| 1962 | 3.70 billion international-$ in 2021 prices | +2.2% |
| 1963 | 3.77 billion international-$ in 2021 prices | +1.8% |
| 1964 | 3.75 billion international-$ in 2021 prices | -0.4% |
| 1965 | 4.35 billion international-$ in 2021 prices | +15.8% |
| 1966 | 5.02 billion international-$ in 2021 prices | +15.5% |
| 1967 | 5.18 billion international-$ in 2021 prices | +3.1% |
| 1968 | 5.30 billion international-$ in 2021 prices | +2.3% |
| 1969 | 5.69 billion international-$ in 2021 prices | +7.4% |
| 1970 | 5.88 billion international-$ in 2021 prices | +3.4% |
| 1971 | 6.69 billion international-$ in 2021 prices | +13.8% |
| 1972 | 7.35 billion international-$ in 2021 prices | +9.8% |
| 1973 | 7.20 billion international-$ in 2021 prices | -2.0% |
| 1974 | 7.68 billion international-$ in 2021 prices | +6.6% |
| 1975 | 8.05 billion international-$ in 2021 prices | +4.8% |
| 1976 | 8.11 billion international-$ in 2021 prices | +0.8% |
| 1977 | 8.17 billion international-$ in 2021 prices | +0.8% |
| 1978 | 8.49 billion international-$ in 2021 prices | +3.9% |
| 1979 | 8.38 billion international-$ in 2021 prices | -1.3% |
| 1980 | 8.62 billion international-$ in 2021 prices | +2.8% |
| 1981 | 8.96 billion international-$ in 2021 prices | +3.9% |
| 1982 | 9.41 billion international-$ in 2021 prices | +5.1% |
| 1983 | 10.16 billion international-$ in 2021 prices | +7.9% |
| 1984 | 10.89 billion international-$ in 2021 prices | +7.2% |
| 1985 | 12.22 billion international-$ in 2021 prices | +12.2% |
| 1986 | 11.44 billion international-$ in 2021 prices | -6.4% |
| 1987 | 10.92 billion international-$ in 2021 prices | -4.6% |
| 1988 | 10.47 billion international-$ in 2021 prices | -4.1% |
| 1989 | 11.31 billion international-$ in 2021 prices | +8.0% |
| 1990 | 10.87 billion international-$ in 2021 prices | -3.9% |
| 1991 | 11.62 billion international-$ in 2021 prices | +6.9% |
| 1992 | 10.28 billion international-$ in 2021 prices | -11.5% |
| 1993 | 11.03 billion international-$ in 2021 prices | +7.3% |
| 1994 | 12.87 billion international-$ in 2021 prices | +16.6% |
| 1995 | 12.34 billion international-$ in 2021 prices | -4.1% |
| 1996 | 11.90 billion international-$ in 2021 prices | -3.6% |
| 1997 | 13.12 billion international-$ in 2021 prices | +10.3% |
| 1998 | 11.22 billion international-$ in 2021 prices | -14.5% |
| 1999 | 11.66 billion international-$ in 2021 prices | +4.0% |
| 2000 | 11.54 billion international-$ in 2021 prices | -1.1% |
| 2001 | 10.61 billion international-$ in 2021 prices | -8.0% |
| 2002 | 12.87 billion international-$ in 2021 prices | +21.3% |
| 2003 | 13.31 billion international-$ in 2021 prices | +3.4% |
| 2004 | 15.33 billion international-$ in 2021 prices | +15.1% |
| 2005 | 16.41 billion international-$ in 2021 prices | +7.0% |
| 2006 | 17.22 billion international-$ in 2021 prices | +5.0% |
| 2007 | 20.86 billion international-$ in 2021 prices | +21.1% |
| 2008 | 24.42 billion international-$ in 2021 prices | +17.1% |
| 2009 | 18.53 billion international-$ in 2021 prices | -24.1% |
| 2010 | 18.54 billion international-$ in 2021 prices | +0.1% |
| 2011 | 20.64 billion international-$ in 2021 prices | +11.3% |
| 2012 | 20.30 billion international-$ in 2021 prices | -1.7% |
| 2013 | 23.84 billion international-$ in 2021 prices | +17.4% |
| 2014 | 23.19 billion international-$ in 2021 prices | -2.7% |
| 2015 | 24.98 billion international-$ in 2021 prices | +7.7% |
| 2016 | 25.14 billion international-$ in 2021 prices | +0.6% |
| 2017 | 26.91 billion international-$ in 2021 prices | +7.0% |
| 2018 | 27.39 billion international-$ in 2021 prices | +1.8% |
| 2019 | 30.18 billion international-$ in 2021 prices | +10.2% |
| 2020 | 32.33 billion international-$ in 2021 prices | +7.1% |
| 2021 | 36.56 billion international-$ in 2021 prices | +13.1% |
| 2022 | 36.24 billion international-$ in 2021 prices | -0.9% |
| 2023 | 36.88 billion international-$ in 2021 prices | +1.8% |
Malawi compared with similar countries
- Malawi's 36.88 billion international-$ in 2021 prices is below the median for low income countries, which is 42.81 billion international-$ in 2021 prices, 86% of the median. (22 countries reporting)
- Malawi's 36.88 billion international-$ in 2021 prices is below the median for Sub-Saharan Africa, which is 45.59 billion international-$ in 2021 prices, 81% of the median. (47 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1950s | 3.06 billion international-$ in 2021 prices | 2.66 billion international-$ in 2021 prices | 3.33 billion international-$ in 2021 prices | 6 |
| 1960s | 4.39 billion international-$ in 2021 prices | 3.53 billion international-$ in 2021 prices | 5.69 billion international-$ in 2021 prices | 10 |
| 1970s | 7.60 billion international-$ in 2021 prices | 5.88 billion international-$ in 2021 prices | 8.49 billion international-$ in 2021 prices | 10 |
| 1980s | 10.44 billion international-$ in 2021 prices | 8.62 billion international-$ in 2021 prices | 12.22 billion international-$ in 2021 prices | 10 |
| 1990s | 11.69 billion international-$ in 2021 prices | 10.28 billion international-$ in 2021 prices | 13.12 billion international-$ in 2021 prices | 10 |
| 2000s | 16.11 billion international-$ in 2021 prices | 10.61 billion international-$ in 2021 prices | 24.42 billion international-$ in 2021 prices | 10 |
| 2010s | 24.11 billion international-$ in 2021 prices | 18.54 billion international-$ in 2021 prices | 30.18 billion international-$ in 2021 prices | 10 |
| 2020s | 35.50 billion international-$ in 2021 prices | 32.33 billion international-$ in 2021 prices | 36.88 billion international-$ in 2021 prices | 4 |
Countries ranked near Malawi
- 131 Brunei 38.62 billion international-$ in 2021 prices compare
- 132 Congo 38.48 billion international-$ in 2021 prices compare
- 133 Palestine 37.13 billion international-$ in 2021 prices compare
- 135 Guyana 35.93 billion international-$ in 2021 prices compare
- 136 Equatorial Guinea 35.90 billion international-$ in 2021 prices compare
- 137 Mauritius 35.38 billion international-$ in 2021 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$), annual growth rate -29.8 % change on previous year (2020)
Frequently asked questions
- What is gross domestic product (gdp) in Malawi?
- Gross domestic product (gdp) in Malawi was 36.88 billion international-$ in 2021 prices in 2023, according to Feenstra et al. – Penn World Table (2025) – with major processing by Our World in Data.
- What is the highest gross domestic product (gdp) recorded in Malawi?
- The highest recorded value was 36.88 billion international-$ in 2021 prices in 2023.
- What is the lowest gross domestic product (gdp) recorded in Malawi?
- The lowest recorded value was 2.66 billion international-$ in 2021 prices in 1954.
- How does Malawi rank for gross domestic product (gdp)?
- Malawi ranks 134th out of 184 countries with data for 2023.
- Is gross domestic product (gdp) rising or falling in Malawi?
- Over the last ten years it is up 54.7%. The long-run trend across the full record is volatile.
- Where does this Malawi data come from?
- The figures come from Feenstra et al. – Penn World Table (2025) – with major processing by Our World in Data, published as part of Gross domestic product (GDP). Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
Download this data
CSV · JSON — 70 observations, free to reuse under CC BY 4.0 (Our World in Data).
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.