Merchandise trade as a proportion of GDP (%) in Malawi
Malawi: Merchandise trade as a proportion of GDP (%) was 37.2% in 2024. ▬ Flat
Latest (2024)
37.2%
Change on year
up 21.1%
World rank
166th
of 220 countries
All-time high
50.3%
in 2013
All-time low
20.0%
in 2022
Years of data
25
2000–2024
Merchandise trade as a proportion of GDP in Malawi, 2000–2024
Source: United Nations Statistics Division, SDG Global Database. Measured in %.
Analysis
Malawi recorded 37.2% for merchandise trade as a proportion of gdp in 2024.
That represents a change of up 21.1% on the previous year and down 21.5% over ten years.
Over the whole period, merchandise trade as a proportion of gdp in Malawi peaked at 50.3% in 2013 and was at its lowest, 20.0%, in 2022.
Malawi ranks 166th of 220 countries on this measure, in the bottom quarter.
Merchandise trade as a proportion of GDP (%) in Malawi, year by year
| Year | % | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 2000 | 35.9% | — |
| 2001 | 39.8% | +10.9% |
| 2002 | 21.9% | -45.1% |
| 2003 | 28.4% | +29.9% |
| 2004 | 28.0% | -1.6% |
| 2005 | 31.7% | +13.6% |
| 2006 | 34.0% | +7.1% |
| 2007 | 35.0% | +2.9% |
| 2008 | 37.6% | +7.4% |
| 2009 | 36.6% | -2.8% |
| 2010 | 32.3% | -11.6% |
| 2011 | 33.1% | +2.5% |
| 2012 | 44.8% | +35.2% |
| 2013 | 50.3% | +12.2% |
| 2014 | 47.4% | -5.7% |
| 2015 | 36.2% | -23.5% |
| 2016 | 41.4% | +14.3% |
| 2017 | 37.9% | -8.5% |
| 2018 | 35.7% | -5.9% |
| 2019 | 34.3% | -3.8% |
| 2020 | 29.3% | -14.6% |
| 2021 | 33.0% | +12.5% |
| 2022 | 20.0% | -39.3% |
| 2023 | 30.7% | +53.7% |
| 2024 | 37.2% | +21.1% |
Malawi compared with similar countries
- Malawi's 37.2% is below the median for low income countries, which is 38.8%, 96% of the median. (23 countries reporting)
- Malawi's 37.2% is below the median for Sub-Saharan Africa, which is 43.1%, 86% of the median. (45 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2000s | 32.9% | 21.9% | 39.8% | 10 |
| 2010s | 39.3% | 32.3% | 50.3% | 10 |
| 2020s | 30.0% | 20.0% | 37.2% | 5 |
Countries ranked near Malawi
- 163 Aruba 38.6% compare
- 164 Iran (Islamic Republic of) 38.3% compare
- 165 Nigeria 37.5% compare
- 167 Myanmar 37.0% compare
- 168 Australia 36.3% compare
- 169 United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland 36.0% compare
- 169 United Kingdom 36.0% compare
More economy & growth data for Malawi
- Real gdp growth, annual growth rate -14.03 % change on previous year (2024)
- 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)
Frequently asked questions
- What is merchandise trade as a proportion of gdp in Malawi?
- Merchandise trade as a proportion of gdp in Malawi was 37.2% in 2024, according to United Nations Statistics Division, SDG Global Database.
- What is the highest merchandise trade as a proportion of gdp recorded in Malawi?
- The highest recorded value was 50.3% in 2013.
- What is the lowest merchandise trade as a proportion of gdp recorded in Malawi?
- The lowest recorded value was 20.0% in 2022.
- How does Malawi rank for merchandise trade as a proportion of gdp?
- Malawi ranks 166th out of 220 countries with data for 2024.
- Is merchandise trade as a proportion of gdp rising or falling in Malawi?
- Over the last ten years it is down 21.5%. The long-run trend across the full record is flat.
- Where does this Malawi data come from?
- The figures come from United Nations Statistics Division, SDG Global Database, published as part of Merchandise trade as a proportion of GDP (%). Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
Download this data
CSV · JSON — 25 observations, free to reuse under UN SDG Global Database (open, attribution requested).