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Economy of Bosnia and Herzegovina vs Malawi compared: GDP & Debt

Updated on by Georank team

Bosnia and Herzegovina has a GDP of $29.6B compared to $11.3B for Malawi, ranking 111/197 and 151/197 by economy size, respectively.

Bosnia and Herzegovina has $8.74B in government debt (29.5% of GDP), compared to $9.91B (87.6% of GDP) in Malawi.

Bosnia and Herzegovina vs Malawi GDP by year

Bosnia and Herzegovina
Malawi
1x
Year GDP, current $
Bosnia Malawi
2024 $29,613,572,023 $11,316,411,329
2023 $27,592,361,498 $13,363,669,673
2022 $24,534,663,636 $12,429,059,928
2021 $23,672,712,121 $12,378,119,199
2020 $20,226,038,370 $11,769,313,598
2019 $20,482,608,984 $11,051,852,713
2018 $20,484,058,033 $9,879,220,354
2017 $18,326,373,136 $8,943,543,794
2016 $17,116,926,554 $7,909,868,618
2015 $16,404,348,361 $9,219,474,379
2014 $18,558,734,107 $8,801,326,169
2013 $18,179,109,209 $8,031,571,928
2012 $17,226,735,996 $8,773,203,178
2011 $18,644,233,537 $11,648,142,958
2010 $17,176,315,804 $10,128,323,011
2009 $17,613,949,091 $9,009,887,947
2008 $19,112,796,623 $7,743,617,352
2007 $15,778,734,264 $6,451,210,219
2006 $12,864,841,906 $5,818,279,739
2005 $11,222,796,337 $5,320,409,651
2004 $10,156,541,221 $5,058,726,350
2003 $8,498,894,359 $4,669,789,300
2002 $6,728,220,983 $5,087,328,438
2001 $5,800,615,375 $2,498,008,665
2000 $5,567,772,769 $2,537,307,580
1999 $4,686,256,363 $2,584,478,924
1998 $4,116,774,301 $2,547,609,590
1997 $3,671,909,673 $3,875,785,863
1996 $2,786,045,322 $3,319,573,750
1995 $1,866,572,954 $2,033,701,498
1994 $1,255,802,469 $1,719,864,761
1993 $3,630,668,950 $3,013,392,658
1992 $4,735,044,707 $2,618,837,835
1991 $6,122,959,184 $3,206,783,830
1990 $7,753,478,261 $2,737,087,862
1989 - $2,314,205,130
1988 - $2,008,189,508
1987 - $1,721,711,808
1986 - $1,722,586,299
1985 - $1,646,442,273
1984 - $1,758,028,656
1983 - $1,780,148,049
1982 - $1,717,379,495
1981 - $1,801,193,910
1980 - $1,801,156,775

Data sources: World Bank | Economy & Growth (1980–2024, retrieved 2026-04-06).

GeoRank.org/economy/bosnia-and-herzegovina/malawi | CC BY

GDP per capita in Bosnia and Herzegovina vs Malawi by year

Bosnia and Herzegovina
GDP per capita

GDP per capita, PPP
Malawi
GDP per capita

GDP per capita, PPP
1x
Year Current $
Bosnia Malawi
GDP per capita GDP per capita, PPP GDP per capita GDP per capita, PPP
2024 $9,359 $25,043 $523 $1,858
2023 $8,663 $23,376 $633 $1,830
2022 $7,656 $21,651 $604 $1,778
2021 $7,295 $18,287 $617 $1,688
2020 $6,130 $16,370 $603 $1,513
2019 $6,122 $16,429 $581 $1,450
2018 $6,048 $14,859 $533 $1,364
2017 $5,345 $13,627 $496 $1,380
2016 $4,929 $12,899 $451 $1,410
2015 $4,662 $11,845 $540 $1,403
2014 $5,206 $11,168 $530 $1,506
2013 $5,035 $10,808 $497 $1,558
2012 $4,694 $10,121 $558 $1,464
2011 $4,983 $9,761 $763 $1,516
2010 $4,506 $9,086 $683 $1,458
2009 $4,540 $8,698 $626 $1,388
2008 $4,842 $8,587 $554 $1,311
2007 $3,931 $7,686 $475 $1,231
2006 $3,166 $6,869 $441 $1,124
2005 $2,740 $5,956 $414 $1,071
2004 $2,453 $5,407 $405 $1,033
2003 $2,034 $4,917 $383 $979
2002 $1,607 $4,665 $428 $931
2001 $1,388 $4,307 $215.5 $924
2000 $1,338 $4,148 $224.2 $974
1999 $1,135 $3,875 $233.9 $961
1998 $1,007 $3,524 $236 $941
1997 $914 $3,041 $367 $915
1996 $719 $2,269 $321 $884
1995 $502 $1,507 $200.4 $825
1994 $337 $1,269 $169.2 $692
1993 $930 $1,067 $293 $746
1992 $1,118 $982 $258.4 $674
1991 $1,373 $975 $326 $732
1990 $1,743 $1,043 $286.7 $672
1989 - - $252.2 -
1988 - - $229.4 -
1987 - - $207.6 -
1986 - - $217.9 -
1985 - - $216.1 -
1984 - - $239.7 -
1983 - - $252.4 -
1982 - - $253.3 -
1981 - - $276.4 -
1980 - - $287.5 -

Data sources: World Bank | Economy & Growth (1980–2024, retrieved 2026-04-06).

GeoRank.org/economy/bosnia-and-herzegovina/malawi | CC BY

Bosnia and Herzegovina's GDP per capita is $9,359, ranking 87/197, compared to $523 in Malawi, ranking 194/197. Adjusted for purchasing power (GDP per capita PPP), Bosnia and Herzegovina ranks 83rd at $25,043, while Malawi ranks 189th at $1,858.

Economic indicators

Bosnia Malawi
Gross domestic product
$29.6B
2024
$11.3B
2024
GDP rank
111/197
2024
151/197
2024
GDP growth
2.97%
2023-2024
1.67%
2023-2024
GDP per capita
$9,359
2024
$523
2024
GDP per capita rank
87/197
2024
194/197
2024
GDP per capita, PPP
$25,043
2024
$1,858
2024
GDP per capita PPP rank
83/197
2024
189/197
2024
Government debt
$8.74B
2024
$9.91B
2024
Debt-to-GDP ratio
29.5%
2024
87.6%
2024
Government debt per person
$2,763
2024
$458
2024
Government debt per person rank
107/185
2024
168/185
2024
Average annual personal income after taxes
$8,501
2026
$3,031
2026
Income share by richest 10%
25.1%
2011
31%
2019
Income share by poorest 10%
2.9%
2011
2.9%
2019
Government expenditure, % of GDP
43.3%
2024
29.5%
2024
Consumer prices inflation
1.7%
2023-2024
32.2%
2023-2024
Central bank interest rate n/a
26%
2024
Unemployment rate
10.7%
2024
15.4%
2024
Population
3116111
22949294

Spending and national debt comparison by year

Bosnia and Herzegovina
Spending

Debt
Malawi
Spending

Debt
1x
Year % of GDP
Bosnia Malawi
Government spending Government debt Government spending Government debt
2024 43.3% 29.5% 29.5% 87.6%
2023 41.7% 29% 25.5% 86.7%
2022 39.4% 31.2% 26.7% 75.7%
2021 40.6% 35.8% 23.7% 66.5%
2020 45.4% 37.2% 22.7% 53.9%
2019 39.9% 32.8% 19.3% 41.2%
2018 40.4% 34.5% 19.4% 40.8%
2017 40% 38.6% 21% 40%
2016 41.5% 44.9% 19.7% 37.1%
2015 42.7% 46.4% 19.5% 35.5%
2014 46.2% 47.1% 18.3% 33.5%
2013 44.5% 43.8% 20.7% 35.3%
2012 46.9% 43.6% 18.8% 28.6%
2011 46.4% 40.9% 17% 20%
2010 48.7% 42.2% 19.6% 19.3%
2009 49% 36.4% 20.2% 23.5%
2008 48.4% 30.3% 20.6% 23.5%
2007 45.2% 18.2% 20.7% 18.9%
2006 44.2% 20.6% 17.8% 17.9%
2005 44.5% 24.9% 17.4% 70.9%
2004 45.6% 25.5% 17.2% 74.7%
2003 47.3% 27.6% 15.4% 84.7%
2002 47.4% 31.1% 13.8% 101.5%
2001 50.2% 35.1% - -
2000 56.2% 34.6% - -
1999 57.5% 56% - -
1998 54.4% 54.4% - -

Data sources: International Monetary Fund (IMF) | Fiscal Monitor (1998–2024, retrieved 2026-02-20).

GeoRank.org/economy/bosnia-and-herzegovina/malawi | CC BY

In 2024, Bosnia and Herzegovina's government spending was $12.8B, accounting for 43.3% of its GDP, while Malawi spent $3.34B, or 29.5% of GDP.

Debt-to-GDP ratio is 29.5% in Bosnia and Herzegovina and 87.6% in Malawi, ranking 159/185 and 35/185, respectively.

Government deficit by year

Deficit/surplus
Bosnia and Herzegovina

Malawi
1x
Year Deficit/surplus, % of GDP
Bosnia Malawi
2024 -1.88% -11%
2023 -1.67% -7.84%
2022 0.15% -9.32%
2021 -0.18% -8.34%
2020 -4.5% -8.03%
2019 1.37% -4.55%
2018 1.63% -4.35%
2017 1.79% -5.15%
2016 0.34% -4.9%
2015 -0.19% -4.17%
2014 -2.87% -3.08%
2013 -1.28% -3.73%
2012 -2.68% -1.45%
2011 -2.73% -2.85%
2010 -4.06% 0.63%
2009 -5.34% -2.97%
2008 -3.82% -2.92%
2007 0.17% -2.56%
2006 2.08% -0.05%
2005 0.74% -1.63%
2004 -0.18% -2.61%
2003 -0.44% -2.6%
2002 -2.99% -4.47%
2001 -3.44% -
2000 -4.63% -
1999 -2.78% -
1998 -0.98% -

Data sources: International Monetary Fund (IMF) | Fiscal Monitor (1998–2024, retrieved 2026-02-20).

GeoRank.org/economy/bosnia-and-herzegovina/malawi | CC BY

In 2024, Bosnia and Herzegovina's government deficit, the difference between spending and revenue, was $557M, equivalent to 1.88% of GDP. This compares to Malawi's deficit of $1.24B, or 11% of GDP.

Over the past 23 years, Bosnia and Herzegovina recorded a fiscal deficit in 15 of those years, while Malawi ran a deficit in 22 years. On average, Bosnia and Herzegovina posted an annual deficit equal to 1.15% of GDP, compared to deficit of 4.26% of GDP for Malawi.

Inflation comparison by year

Inflation
Bosnia and Herzegovina

Malawi
1x
Year Consumer prices inflation
Bosnia Malawi
2024 1.7% 32.2%
2023 6.1% 28.8%
2022 14% 20.8%
2021 2% 9.3%
2020 -1.1% 8.6%
2019 0.6% 9.4%
2018 1.4% 9.2%
2017 0.8% 11.5%
2016 -1.6% 21.7%
2015 -1% 21.9%
2014 -0.9% 23.8%
2013 -0.1% 28.3%
2012 2.1% 21.3%
2011 4% 7.6%
2010 2.1% 7.4%
2009 -0.4% 8.4%
2008 7.4% 8.7%
2007 1.5% 7.9%
2006 6.1% 13.9%
2005 3.6% 15.5%
2004 0.3% 11.4%
2003 0.5% 9.6%
2002 0.3% 14.7%
2001 3.2% 22.7%
2000 5% 29.6%
1999 2.8% 44.8%
1998 -0.3% 29.8%
1997 5.7% 9.1%

Data sources: International Monetary Fund (IMF) | World Economic Outlook (1997–2024, retrieved 2026-02-20).

GeoRank.org/economy/bosnia-and-herzegovina/malawi | CC BY

Over the past 28 years, Bosnia and Herzegovina has recorded an average annual inflation rate of 2.35%, compared with 17.4% in Malawi. In 2024, inflation was 1.7% in Bosnia and Herzegovina and 32.2% in Malawi.

Top exports between countries

Bosnia
Export category Export value
Machinery & equipment $5K
Malawi
Export category Export value
Textiles & consumer goods $15K
Machinery & equipment $2K
Wood & paper products $2K
Metals $1K
Precious metals & jewellery $1K

Balance of trade

Bosnia Malawi
Current account balance
-$1.03B
2024
-$2.13B
2024
Current account balance ranking
123/190
2024
145/190
2024
Current account balance, % of GDP
-3.47%
2024
-18.8%
2024
Goods imports
$14.8B
2024
$3.02B
2024
Goods exports
$8.36B
2024
$1.02B
2024
Service imports
$1.27B
2024
$895M
2024
Service exports
$3.74B
2024
$508M
2024
Imports of goods and services, % of GDP
54.3%
2024
31.2%
2023
Exports of goods and services, % of GDP
40.9%
2024
11.2%
2023

Economic freedom indices

The indices of economic freedom below are issued by the Heritage Foundation. Higher scores indicate stronger economic health.

Bosnia Malawi
Economic freedom 63.1 50.7
Economic freedom ranking 83/197 159/197
Property rights 46.9 49.5
Government integrity 36.8 35
Judicial effectiveness 36.1 51.8
Tax burden 93.9 77
Government spending 48.4 77.8
Fiscal health 96.2 4.7
Business freedom 65.1 34.1
Labor freedom 62.7 55.2
Monetary freedom 77.5 55.1
Trade freedom 69 68.6
Investment freedom 65 50
Financial freedom 60 50

Economic freedom comparison by year

Bosnia and Herzegovina
Malawi
1x
Year Economic freedom index
Bosnia Malawi
2026 63.1 50.7
2025 63.5 50.9
2024 62 52.1
2023 62.9 52.8
2022 63.4 53
2021 62.9 53
2020 62.6 52.8
2019 61.9 51.4
2018 61.4 52
2017 60.2 52.2
2016 58.6 51.8
2015 59 54.8
2014 58.4 55.4
2013 57.3 55.3
2012 57.3 56.4
2011 57.5 55.8
2010 56.2 54.1
2009 53.1 53.7
2008 53.9 52.7
2007 54.4 52.9
2006 55.6 55.4
2005 48.8 53.6
2004 44.7 53.6
2003 40.6 53.2
2002 37.4 56.9
2001 36.6 56.2
2000 45.1 57.4
1999 29.4 54
1998 29.4 54.1
1997 - 53.4
1996 - 56.2
1995 - 54.7

Data sources: The Heritage Foundation | Economic Freedom Index (1995–2026, retrieved 2026-03-09).

GeoRank.org/economy/bosnia-and-herzegovina/malawi | CC BY

The Economic Freedom Index for Bosnia and Herzegovina is 63.1, ranking 83/197, compared to 50.7 for Malawi, ranking 159/197. The chart above displays a comparison of annual changes in economic freedom indexes.

Other economic metrics

Bosnia Malawi
Services, % of GDP
56.6%
2024
44.2%
2024
Industry, % of GDP
22.4%
2024
17.1%
2024
Agriculture, forestry, and fishing, % of GDP
4.53%
2024
31.8%
2024
GNI, Atlas method
$27.8B
2024
$12.3B
2024
GNI per capita, PPP
$24,990
2024
$1,830
2024
Total reserves including gold
$9.42B
2024
$594M
2020
Total reserves ranking
79/177
2024
154/177
2020
Net foreign direct investment
-$885M
2024
-$202M
2024
Net inflows of foreign direct investment
$1B
2024
$681M
2024
Net outflows of foreign direct investment
$119M
2024
$56.4M
2024
Servicing debt to the IMF, % of GNI
4.93%
2024
1.47%
2024
Poverty at national poverty lines
16.9%
2015
50.7%
2019
Gross capital formation, % of GDP
27.5%
2024
14.5%
2023

GDP per capita map

1x

Data sources: World Bank | Economy & Growth (1985–2024, retrieved 2026-04-06); U.S. Census Bureau (1985–2024, retrieved 2026-02-08).

GeoRank.org/economy/bosnia-and-herzegovina/malawi | CC BY

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Data sources:

  1. World Bank | Economy & Growth (1980–2024, retrieved 2026-04-06)
  2. International Monetary Fund (IMF) | Fiscal Monitor (1998–2024, retrieved 2026-02-20)
  3. The Heritage Foundation | Economic Freedom Index (1995–2026, retrieved 2026-03-09)
  4. U.S. Census Bureau (1985–2024, retrieved 2026-02-08)
  5. TradeMap (2022, retrieved 2026-02-08)
  6. United Nations | World Population Prospects (2026, retrieved 2026-03-10)
  7. LivingCost (2026, retrieved 2025-10-14)

Creative Commons Attribution (CC BY) — you’re free to copy, share, remix, adapt, and use even commercially as long as you give appropriate credit and clearly indicate if you made changes. Other sources may be subject to different license terms.

The current account balance is the sum of net trade in goods and services, net earnings from cross-border investments, and net transfer payments. It reflects a country's economic transactions with the rest of the world and is a fundamental component of the balance of payments. A surplus indicates that a country exports more than it imports, while a deficit shows the opposite.

Gross National Income (GNI) measures a country's total income. It encompasses income earned by residents, businesses, and foreign sources, defined as employee compensation and investment profits. GNI adds product taxes not included elsewhere and subtracts subsidies. It accounts for income from residents working abroad but excludes earnings from foreigners within the country.

A negative value for Net Foreign Direct Investment indicates a country is a net receiver of investments, as foreign inflows exceed outflows after Balance of Payments adjustments. A positive value indicates a net provider, with outflows exceeding inflows. Inflows are credits (increasing foreign claims on domestic assets), while outflows are debits (increasing domestic assets abroad).

Foreign direct investment (FDI, net inflows) shows how much capital foreign investors bring into a country after accounting for any funds that flow back in the opposite direction. It represents the net value of overseas companies establishing, expanding, or financing businesses in the reporting country. A positive number means more capital entered the country than was withdrawn, while a negative number means foreign investors pulled out more than they invested.

Foreign direct investment (FDI, net outflows) shows how much capital residents of a country invest abroad after accounting for any funds that flow back in the opposite direction. It represents the net value of domestic companies establishing, expanding, or financing businesses in other countries. A positive number means more capital was invested abroad than withdrawn, while a negative number means residents pulled back more than they invested.

Principal and interest payments to the IMF in currency, goods, or services on long-term debt expressed as a share of GNI.

Formerly gross domestic investment, gross capital formation measures the share of a country’s economic output invested in fixed assets, including buildings, machinery, and infrastructure. It indicates how much of the economy is devoted to building productive capacity.