Primary income payments (BoP, current US$) in Malawi
Malawi: Primary income payments (BoP, current US$) was 281.01 million BoP, current US$ in 2025. ◆ Volatile
Primary income payments in Malawi, 1978–2025
Source: Balance of Payments Statistics Yearbook and data files, International Monetary Fund (IMF). Measured in BoP, current US$.
Analysis
In 2025, primary income payments in Malawi stood at 281.01 million BoP, current US$.
That represents a change of up 28.2% on the previous year and up 25.9% over ten years.
Over the whole period, primary income payments in Malawi peaked at 395.57 million BoP, current US$ in 2022 and was at its lowest, 40.93 million BoP, current US$, in 1997.
That places Malawi 156th out of 200 countries with data for 2025, putting it in the bottom quarter.
The series is highly variable year to year, so single readings are best treated with caution.
Primary income payments (BoP, current US$) in Malawi, year by year
| Year | BoP, current US$ | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1978 | 49.42 million BoP, current US$ | — |
| 1979 | 127.19 million BoP, current US$ | +157.4% |
| 1980 | 151.34 million BoP, current US$ | +19.0% |
| 1981 | 131.46 million BoP, current US$ | -13.1% |
| 1982 | 92.94 million BoP, current US$ | -29.3% |
| 1983 | 101.64 million BoP, current US$ | +9.4% |
| 1984 | 116.32 million BoP, current US$ | +14.4% |
| 1985 | 118.90 million BoP, current US$ | +2.2% |
| 1986 | 114.88 million BoP, current US$ | -3.4% |
| 1987 | 92.68 million BoP, current US$ | -19.3% |
| 1988 | 108.30 million BoP, current US$ | +16.9% |
| 1989 | 99.18 million BoP, current US$ | -8.4% |
| 1990 | 88.94 million BoP, current US$ | -10.3% |
| 1991 | 92.93 million BoP, current US$ | +4.5% |
| 1992 | 83.40 million BoP, current US$ | -10.3% |
| 1993 | 70.86 million BoP, current US$ | -15.0% |
| 1994 | 47.20 million BoP, current US$ | -33.4% |
| 1995 | 47.98 million BoP, current US$ | +1.6% |
| 1996 | 44.83 million BoP, current US$ | -6.6% |
| 1997 | 40.93 million BoP, current US$ | -8.7% |
| 1998 | 48.12 million BoP, current US$ | +17.6% |
| 1999 | 50.53 million BoP, current US$ | +5.0% |
| 2000 | 50.53 million BoP, current US$ | -0.0% |
| 2001 | 42.58 million BoP, current US$ | -15.7% |
| 2002 | 44.52 million BoP, current US$ | +4.6% |
| 2003 | 90.98 million BoP, current US$ | +104.3% |
| 2004 | 102.40 million BoP, current US$ | +12.6% |
| 2005 | 80.62 million BoP, current US$ | -21.3% |
| 2006 | 80.26 million BoP, current US$ | -0.5% |
| 2007 | 80.74 million BoP, current US$ | +0.6% |
| 2008 | 149.78 million BoP, current US$ | +85.5% |
| 2009 | 122.53 million BoP, current US$ | -18.2% |
| 2010 | 192.27 million BoP, current US$ | +56.9% |
| 2011 | 379.32 million BoP, current US$ | +97.3% |
| 2012 | 44.74 million BoP, current US$ | -88.2% |
| 2013 | 268.50 million BoP, current US$ | +500.1% |
| 2014 | 302.81 million BoP, current US$ | +12.8% |
| 2015 | 223.21 million BoP, current US$ | -26.3% |
| 2016 | 99.26 million BoP, current US$ | -55.5% |
| 2017 | 216.15 million BoP, current US$ | +117.8% |
| 2018 | 338.76 million BoP, current US$ | +56.7% |
| 2019 | 290.20 million BoP, current US$ | -14.3% |
| 2020 | 352.33 million BoP, current US$ | +21.4% |
| 2021 | 392.41 million BoP, current US$ | +11.4% |
| 2022 | 395.57 million BoP, current US$ | +0.8% |
| 2023 | 226.02 million BoP, current US$ | -42.9% |
| 2024 | 219.26 million BoP, current US$ | -3.0% |
| 2025 | 281.01 million BoP, current US$ | +28.2% |
Malawi compared with similar countries
- Malawi's 281.01 million BoP, current US$ is below the median for low income countries, which is 380.87 million BoP, current US$, 74% of the median. (23 countries reporting)
- Malawi's 281.01 million BoP, current US$ is below the median for Sub-Saharan Africa, which is 533.30 million BoP, current US$, 53% of the median. (47 countries reporting)
Biggest year-on-year movements
Years where Primary income payments (BoP, current US$) in Malawi changed far more than this series normally does. A large move can be a real event or a change in how the figure was measured — the source note below says who published it.
| Year | Change | From | To |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2013 | +500.1% | 44.74 million BoP, current US$ | 268.50 million BoP, current US$ |
| 1979 | +157.4% | 49.42 million BoP, current US$ | 127.19 million BoP, current US$ |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1970s | 88.31 million BoP, current US$ | 49.42 million BoP, current US$ | 127.19 million BoP, current US$ | 2 |
| 1980s | 112.76 million BoP, current US$ | 92.68 million BoP, current US$ | 151.34 million BoP, current US$ | 10 |
| 1990s | 61.57 million BoP, current US$ | 40.93 million BoP, current US$ | 92.93 million BoP, current US$ | 10 |
| 2000s | 84.50 million BoP, current US$ | 42.58 million BoP, current US$ | 149.78 million BoP, current US$ | 10 |
| 2010s | 235.52 million BoP, current US$ | 44.74 million BoP, current US$ | 379.32 million BoP, current US$ | 10 |
| 2020s | 311.10 million BoP, current US$ | 219.26 million BoP, current US$ | 395.57 million BoP, current US$ | 6 |
Countries ranked near Malawi
- 153 Nepal 357.29 million BoP, current US$ compare
- 154 Barbados 326.20 million BoP, current US$ compare
- 155 Saint Lucia 290.12 million BoP, current US$ compare
- 157 Mauritania 271.99 million BoP, current US$ compare
- 158 Bermuda 256.32 million BoP, current US$ compare
- 159 Togo 241.07 million BoP, current US$ 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 primary income payments in Malawi?
- Primary income payments in Malawi was 281.01 million BoP, current US$ in 2025, according to Balance of Payments Statistics Yearbook and data files, International Monetary Fund (IMF).
- What is the highest primary income payments recorded in Malawi?
- The highest recorded value was 395.57 million BoP, current US$ in 2022.
- What is the lowest primary income payments recorded in Malawi?
- The lowest recorded value was 40.93 million BoP, current US$ in 1997.
- How does Malawi rank for primary income payments?
- Malawi ranks 156th out of 200 countries with data for 2025.
- Is primary income payments rising or falling in Malawi?
- Over the last ten years it is up 25.9%. 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 Primary income payments (BoP, current US$). Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
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About this data
Primary income payments refer to employee compensation paid to nonresident workers and investment income (payments on direct investment, portfolio investment, other investments).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.