Total debt service in Malawi
Malawi: Total debt service was 10.6% in 2024. ◆ Volatile
Total debt service in Malawi, 1977–2024
Source: International Debt Statistics, World Bank (WB). Measured in % of exports of goods, services and primary income.
Analysis
Malawi recorded 10.6% for total debt service in 2024.
That represents a change of up 8.8% on the previous year and up 157.2% over ten years.
Over the whole period, total debt service in Malawi peaked at 53.7% in 1986 and was at its lowest, 1.4%, in 2011.
Malawi ranks 71st of 120 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.
Total debt service in Malawi, year by year
| Year | % of exports of goods, services and primary income | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1977 | 10.7% | — |
| 1978 | 20.1% | +87.1% |
| 1979 | 17.8% | -11.6% |
| 1980 | 27.8% | +56.2% |
| 1981 | 36.0% | +29.7% |
| 1982 | 35.0% | -2.8% |
| 1983 | 29.3% | -16.5% |
| 1984 | 31.1% | +6.2% |
| 1985 | 39.8% | +28.2% |
| 1986 | 53.7% | +34.8% |
| 1987 | 37.4% | -30.3% |
| 1988 | 30.9% | -17.5% |
| 1989 | 30.9% | +0.1% |
| 1990 | 29.3% | -5.2% |
| 1991 | 24.9% | -15.2% |
| 1992 | 24.9% | -0.0% |
| 1993 | 22.4% | -10.0% |
| 1994 | 22.5% | +0.5% |
| 1995 | 24.9% | +10.9% |
| 1996 | 15.9% | -36.2% |
| 1997 | 14.4% | -9.5% |
| 1998 | 14.9% | +3.3% |
| 1999 | 14.1% | -5.2% |
| 2000 | 13.5% | -4.2% |
| 2001 | 9.5% | -29.5% |
| 2002 | 7.7% | -19.0% |
| 2003 | 6.7% | -12.7% |
| 2004 | 10.5% | +56.4% |
| 2005 | 12.5% | +18.6% |
| 2006 | 8.9% | -29.0% |
| 2007 | 3.8% | -56.8% |
| 2008 | 3.1% | -18.5% |
| 2009 | 2.9% | -8.4% |
| 2010 | 1.7% | -41.0% |
| 2011 | 1.4% | -16.0% |
| 2012 | 2.1% | +45.3% |
| 2013 | 3.1% | +52.8% |
| 2014 | 4.1% | +30.6% |
| 2015 | 5.6% | +35.8% |
| 2016 | 6.4% | +14.5% |
| 2017 | 6.5% | +2.1% |
| 2018 | 7.2% | +11.0% |
| 2019 | 6.6% | -8.5% |
| 2020 | 7.4% | +12.5% |
| 2021 | 7.0% | -5.8% |
| 2022 | 9.1% | +30.3% |
| 2023 | 9.7% | +6.1% |
| 2024 | 10.6% | +8.8% |
Malawi compared with similar countries
- Malawi's 10.6% is above the median for low income countries, which is 9.3%, 1.1× the median. (22 countries reporting)
- Malawi's 10.6% is below the median for Sub-Saharan Africa, which is 11.8%, 89% of the median. (44 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1970s | 16.2% | 10.7% | 20.1% | 3 |
| 1980s | 35.2% | 27.8% | 53.7% | 10 |
| 1990s | 20.8% | 14.1% | 29.3% | 10 |
| 2000s | 7.9% | 2.9% | 13.5% | 10 |
| 2010s | 4.5% | 1.4% | 7.2% | 10 |
| 2020s | 8.8% | 7.0% | 10.6% | 5 |
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)
- 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 total debt service in Malawi?
- Total debt service in Malawi was 10.6% in 2024, according to International Debt Statistics, World Bank (WB).
- What is the highest total debt service recorded in Malawi?
- The highest recorded value was 53.7% in 1986.
- What is the lowest total debt service recorded in Malawi?
- The lowest recorded value was 1.4% in 2011.
- How does Malawi rank for total debt service?
- Malawi ranks 71st out of 120 countries with data for 2024.
- Is total debt service rising or falling in Malawi?
- Over the last ten years it is up 157.2%. The long-run trend across the full record is volatile.
- Where does this Malawi data come from?
- The figures come from International Debt Statistics, World Bank (WB), published as part of Total debt service (% of exports of goods, services and primary income). Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
Download this data
CSV · JSON — 48 observations, free to reuse under CC BY 4.0 (World Bank Open Data).
About this data
Total debt service to exports of goods, services and primary income. Total debt service is the sum of principal repayments and interest actually paid in currency, goods, or services on long-term debt, interest paid on short-term debt, and repayments (repurchases and charges) to the IMF.