Imports of goods and services (BoP, current US$) in Malawi
Malawi: Imports of goods and services (BoP, current US$) was 4.51 billion BoP, current US$ in 2025. ◆ Volatile
Imports of goods and services in Malawi, 1977–2025
Source: Balance of Payments Statistics Yearbook and data files, International Monetary Fund (IMF). Measured in BoP, current US$.
Analysis
In 2025, imports of goods and services in Malawi stood at 4.51 billion BoP, current US$. That is the highest value across all 49 years on record.
Compared with earlier readings it is up 14.5% on the previous year and up 79.5% over ten years.
Over the whole period, imports of goods and services in Malawi peaked at 4.51 billion BoP, current US$ in 2025 and was at its lowest, 284.62 million BoP, current US$, in 1986.
Malawi ranks 149th of 200 countries on this measure, in the middle of the range.
The series is highly variable year to year, so single readings are best treated with caution.
Imports of goods and services (BoP, current US$) in Malawi, year by year
| Year | BoP, current US$ | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1977 | 300.47 million BoP, current US$ | — |
| 1978 | 383.29 million BoP, current US$ | +27.6% |
| 1979 | 450.74 million BoP, current US$ | +17.6% |
| 1980 | 486.52 million BoP, current US$ | +7.9% |
| 1981 | 391.04 million BoP, current US$ | -19.6% |
| 1982 | 336.99 million BoP, current US$ | -13.8% |
| 1983 | 343.98 million BoP, current US$ | +2.1% |
| 1984 | 303.67 million BoP, current US$ | -11.7% |
| 1985 | 319.94 million BoP, current US$ | +5.4% |
| 1986 | 284.62 million BoP, current US$ | -11.0% |
| 1987 | 321.22 million BoP, current US$ | +12.9% |
| 1988 | 450.90 million BoP, current US$ | +40.4% |
| 1989 | 436.05 million BoP, current US$ | -3.3% |
| 1990 | 548.72 million BoP, current US$ | +25.8% |
| 1991 | 772.30 million BoP, current US$ | +40.7% |
| 1992 | 753.79 million BoP, current US$ | -2.4% |
| 1993 | 600.30 million BoP, current US$ | -20.4% |
| 1994 | 630.86 million BoP, current US$ | +5.1% |
| 1995 | 660.19 million BoP, current US$ | +4.6% |
| 1996 | 773.29 million BoP, current US$ | +17.1% |
| 1997 | 917.86 million BoP, current US$ | +18.7% |
| 1998 | 662.14 million BoP, current US$ | -27.9% |
| 1999 | 759.73 million BoP, current US$ | +14.7% |
| 2000 | 629.09 million BoP, current US$ | -17.2% |
| 2001 | 643.62 million BoP, current US$ | +2.3% |
| 2002 | 795.13 million BoP, current US$ | +23.5% |
| 2003 | 912.16 million BoP, current US$ | +14.7% |
| 2004 | 1.06 billion BoP, current US$ | +15.8% |
| 2005 | 1.31 billion BoP, current US$ | +24.0% |
| 2006 | 1.32 billion BoP, current US$ | +0.8% |
| 2007 | 1.54 billion BoP, current US$ | +16.5% |
| 2008 | 2.01 billion BoP, current US$ | +30.5% |
| 2009 | 2.24 billion BoP, current US$ | +11.5% |
| 2010 | 2.64 billion BoP, current US$ | +18.1% |
| 2011 | 2.88 billion BoP, current US$ | +9.1% |
| 2012 | 2.55 billion BoP, current US$ | -11.4% |
| 2013 | 2.96 billion BoP, current US$ | +15.8% |
| 2014 | 3.01 billion BoP, current US$ | +1.9% |
| 2015 | 2.51 billion BoP, current US$ | -16.6% |
| 2016 | 2.41 billion BoP, current US$ | -4.3% |
| 2017 | 2.85 billion BoP, current US$ | +18.4% |
| 2018 | 2.99 billion BoP, current US$ | +5.1% |
| 2019 | 3.27 billion BoP, current US$ | +9.1% |
| 2020 | 3.37 billion BoP, current US$ | +3.3% |
| 2021 | 3.77 billion BoP, current US$ | +11.7% |
| 2022 | 3.83 billion BoP, current US$ | +1.6% |
| 2023 | 4.03 billion BoP, current US$ | +5.1% |
| 2024 | 3.94 billion BoP, current US$ | -2.2% |
| 2025 | 4.51 billion BoP, current US$ | +14.5% |
Malawi compared with similar countries
- Malawi's 4.51 billion BoP, current US$ is below the median for low income countries, which is 5.97 billion BoP, current US$, 76% of the median. (23 countries reporting)
- Malawi's 4.51 billion BoP, current US$ is below the median for Sub-Saharan Africa, which is 6.19 billion BoP, current US$, 73% of the median. (47 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1970s | 378.17 million BoP, current US$ | 300.47 million BoP, current US$ | 450.74 million BoP, current US$ | 3 |
| 1980s | 367.49 million BoP, current US$ | 284.62 million BoP, current US$ | 486.52 million BoP, current US$ | 10 |
| 1990s | 707.92 million BoP, current US$ | 548.72 million BoP, current US$ | 917.86 million BoP, current US$ | 10 |
| 2000s | 1.24 billion BoP, current US$ | 629.09 million BoP, current US$ | 2.24 billion BoP, current US$ | 10 |
| 2010s | 2.81 billion BoP, current US$ | 2.41 billion BoP, current US$ | 3.27 billion BoP, current US$ | 10 |
| 2020s | 3.91 billion BoP, current US$ | 3.37 billion BoP, current US$ | 4.51 billion BoP, current US$ | 6 |
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)
- 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)
- IMF holdings of currency, US dollar, per unit of GDP 0.0125 units per US$ of GDP (2025)
Frequently asked questions
- What is imports of goods and services in Malawi?
- Imports of goods and services in Malawi was 4.51 billion BoP, current US$ in 2025, according to Balance of Payments Statistics Yearbook and data files, International Monetary Fund (IMF).
- What is the highest imports of goods and services recorded in Malawi?
- The highest recorded value was 4.51 billion BoP, current US$ in 2025.
- What is the lowest imports of goods and services recorded in Malawi?
- The lowest recorded value was 284.62 million BoP, current US$ in 1986.
- How does Malawi rank for imports of goods and services?
- Malawi ranks 149th out of 200 countries with data for 2025.
- Is imports of goods and services rising or falling in Malawi?
- Over the last ten years it is up 79.5%. The long-run trend across the full record is volatile.
- Where does this Malawi data come from?
- The figures come from Balance of Payments Statistics Yearbook and data files, International Monetary Fund (IMF), published as part of Imports of goods and services (BoP, current US$). Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
Download this data
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About this data
Imports of goods includes change in the economic ownership of goods from non-residents to residents of the compiling economy, irrespective of physical movement of goods across national borders. Imports of services includes services provided by non-residents to residents. This indicator is expressed in current prices, meaning no adjustment has been made to account for price changes over time. This indicator is expressed in United States dollars.