Real gdp growth in Malawi
Malawi: Real gdp growth was 1.67 in 2024. ◆ Volatile
Real gdp growth in Malawi, 1980–2024
Source: Our World in Data.
Analysis
In 2024, real gdp growth in Malawi stood at 1.67.
Compared with earlier readings it is down 14.0% on the previous year and down 70.6% over ten years.
Over the whole period, real gdp growth in Malawi peaked at 13.83 in 1995 and was at its lowest, -10.31, in 1994.
Malawi ranks 154th of 196 countries on this measure, in the bottom quarter.
The series is highly variable year to year, so single readings are best treated with caution.
Real gdp growth in Malawi, year by year
| Year | Value | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1980 | 0.395 | — |
| 1981 | -5.25 | -1427.8% |
| 1982 | 2.52 | -148.0% |
| 1983 | 3.69 | +46.8% |
| 1984 | 5.37 | +45.5% |
| 1985 | 4.57 | -14.9% |
| 1986 | -0.215 | -104.7% |
| 1987 | 1.62 | -855.8% |
| 1988 | 3.18 | +95.5% |
| 1989 | 1.34 | -57.7% |
| 1990 | 5.69 | +323.2% |
| 1991 | 8.73 | +53.4% |
| 1992 | -7.33 | -184.0% |
| 1993 | 9.69 | -232.2% |
| 1994 | -10.31 | -206.4% |
| 1995 | 13.83 | -234.1% |
| 1996 | 9.98 | -27.8% |
| 1997 | 6.59 | -34.0% |
| 1998 | 1.06 | -83.9% |
| 1999 | 3.54 | +233.7% |
| 2000 | 0.775 | -78.1% |
| 2001 | -4.08 | -625.9% |
| 2002 | 1.76 | -143.2% |
| 2003 | 5.71 | +224.2% |
| 2004 | 5.42 | -5.0% |
| 2005 | 3.27 | -39.7% |
| 2006 | 4.7 | +43.8% |
| 2007 | 9.6 | +104.3% |
| 2008 | 7.64 | -20.4% |
| 2009 | 8.33 | +9.0% |
| 2010 | 6.87 | -17.5% |
| 2011 | 4.85 | -29.4% |
| 2012 | 1.89 | -61.1% |
| 2013 | 5.2 | +175.7% |
| 2014 | 5.7 | +9.6% |
| 2015 | 2.95 | -48.2% |
| 2016 | 2.27 | -23.1% |
| 2017 | 4 | +76.2% |
| 2018 | 4.39 | +9.8% |
| 2019 | 5.45 | +24.0% |
| 2020 | 1.01 | -81.4% |
| 2021 | 4.56 | +350.0% |
| 2022 | 0.921 | -79.8% |
| 2023 | 1.95 | +111.3% |
| 2024 | 1.67 | -14.0% |
Malawi compared with similar countries
- Malawi's 1.67 is below the median for low income countries, which is 4.56, 37% of the median. (24 countries reporting)
- Malawi's 1.67 is below the median for Sub-Saharan Africa, which is 4.52, 37% of the median. (48 countries reporting)
Biggest year-on-year movements
Years where Real gdp growth 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1981 | -1427.8% | 0.395 | -5.25 |
| 1987 | +855.8% | -0.215 | 1.62 |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1980s | 1.72 | -5.25 | 5.37 | 10 |
| 1990s | 4.15 | -10.31 | 13.83 | 10 |
| 2000s | 4.31 | -4.08 | 9.6 | 10 |
| 2010s | 4.36 | 1.89 | 6.87 | 10 |
| 2020s | 2.02 | 0.921 | 4.56 | 5 |
Countries ranked near Malawi
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 real gdp growth in Malawi?
- Real gdp growth in Malawi was 1.67 in 2024, according to Our World in Data.
- What is the highest real gdp growth recorded in Malawi?
- The highest recorded value was 13.83 in 1995.
- What is the lowest real gdp growth recorded in Malawi?
- The lowest recorded value was -10.31 in 1994.
- How does Malawi rank for real gdp growth?
- Malawi ranks 154th out of 196 countries with data for 2024.
- Is real gdp growth rising or falling in Malawi?
- Over the last ten years it is down 70.6%. The long-run trend across the full record is volatile.
- Where does this Malawi data come from?
- The figures come from Our World in Data, published as part of Real gdp growth. Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
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