Imports of goods and services in Malawi
Malawi: Imports of goods and services was 28.8% in 2025. ▼ Falling
Imports of goods and services in Malawi, 2017–2025
Source: Country official statistics, National Statistical Offices (NSOs). Measured in % of GDP.
Analysis
Malawi recorded 28.8% for imports of goods and services in 2025. That is the lowest value across all 9 years on record.
That represents a change of down 6.1% on the previous year and down 11.9% over ten years.
Over the whole period, imports of goods and services in Malawi peaked at 32.6% in 2017 and was at its lowest, 28.8%, in 2025.
Malawi ranks 147th of 193 countries on this measure, in the bottom quarter.
Imports of goods and services in Malawi, year by year
| Year | % of GDP | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 2017 | 32.6% | — |
| 2018 | 31.9% | -2.2% |
| 2019 | 31.2% | -2.2% |
| 2020 | 30.0% | -3.8% |
| 2021 | 31.9% | +6.2% |
| 2022 | 32.3% | +1.2% |
| 2023 | 31.2% | -3.4% |
| 2024 | 30.6% | -1.8% |
| 2025 | 28.8% | -6.1% |
Malawi compared with similar countries
- Malawi's 28.8% is below the median for low income countries, which is 29.1%, 99% of the median. (22 countries reporting)
- Malawi's 28.8% is below the median for Sub-Saharan Africa, which is 30.0%, 96% of the median. (45 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2010s | 31.9% | 31.2% | 32.6% | 3 |
| 2020s | 30.8% | 28.8% | 32.3% | 6 |
Countries ranked near Malawi
- 144 Eritrea 29.2%
- 145 South Sudan 28.9%
- 146 Uganda 28.8% compare
- 148 New Caledonia 28.7% compare
- 149 Syrian Arab Republic 28.7% compare
- 150 Equatorial Guinea 28.4% 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 imports of goods and services in Malawi?
- Imports of goods and services in Malawi was 28.8% in 2025, according to Country official statistics, National Statistical Offices (NSOs).
- What is the highest imports of goods and services recorded in Malawi?
- The highest recorded value was 32.6% in 2017.
- What is the lowest imports of goods and services recorded in Malawi?
- The lowest recorded value was 28.8% in 2025.
- How does Malawi rank for imports of goods and services?
- Malawi ranks 147th out of 193 countries with data for 2025.
- Is imports of goods and services rising or falling in Malawi?
- Over the last ten years it is down 11.9%. The long-run trend across the full record is falling.
- Where does this Malawi data come from?
- The figures come from Country official statistics, National Statistical Offices (NSOs), published as part of Imports of goods and services (% of GDP). Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
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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 as a percentage of Gross Domestic Product (GDP) which is the total income earned through the production of goods and services in an economic territory during an accounting period.