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Economy of Colombia vs Malawi compared: GDP & Debt

Updated on by Georank team

Colombia has a GDP of $419B compared to $11.3B for Malawi, ranking 39/197 and 151/197 by economy size, respectively.

Colombia has $256B in government debt (61.2% of GDP), compared to $9.91B (87.6% of GDP) in Malawi.

Colombia vs Malawi GDP by year

Colombia
Malawi
1x
Year GDP, current $
Colombia Malawi
2024 $418,818,154,879 $11,316,411,329
2023 $366,291,836,138 $13,363,669,673
2022 $345,632,492,851 $12,429,059,928
2021 $318,524,633,225 $12,378,119,199
2020 $270,348,342,541 $11,769,313,598
2019 $323,031,701,193 $11,051,852,713
2018 $334,198,218,098 $9,879,220,354
2017 $311,866,875,157 $8,943,543,794
2016 $282,720,100,286 $7,909,868,618
2015 $293,492,370,193 $9,219,474,379
2014 $381,240,864,422 $8,801,326,169
2013 $382,093,697,078 $8,031,571,928
2012 $370,691,143,018 $8,773,203,178
2011 $334,966,134,805 $11,648,142,958
2010 $286,498,534,095 $10,128,323,011
2009 $232,468,663,110 $9,009,887,947
2008 $242,504,150,473 $7,743,617,352
2007 $206,229,540,926 $6,451,210,219
2006 $161,792,958,905 $5,818,279,739
2005 $145,600,529,606 $5,320,409,651
2004 $117,092,416,666 $5,058,726,350
2003 $94,644,969,157 $4,669,789,300
2002 $97,945,812,803 $5,087,328,438
2001 $98,200,641,203 $2,498,008,665
2000 $99,875,074,951 $2,537,307,580
1999 $86,186,158,685 $2,584,478,924
1998 $98,443,739,941 $2,547,609,590
1997 $106,659,508,271 $3,875,785,863
1996 $97,160,109,278 $3,319,573,750
1995 $92,507,279,383 $2,033,701,498
1994 $81,703,500,846 $1,719,864,761
1993 $66,446,804,803 $3,013,392,658
1992 $58,418,985,443 $2,618,837,835
1991 $49,175,565,911 $3,206,783,830
1990 $47,844,090,710 $2,737,087,862
1989 $39,540,080,200 $2,314,205,130
1988 $39,212,550,050 $2,008,189,508
1987 $36,373,307,085 $1,721,711,808
1986 $34,942,489,684 $1,722,586,299
1985 $34,894,411,352 $1,646,442,273
1984 $38,253,120,738 $1,758,028,656
1983 $38,729,822,782 $1,780,148,049
1982 $38,968,039,722 $1,717,379,495
1981 $36,388,366,869 $1,801,193,910
1980 $33,400,735,644 $1,801,156,775
1979 $27,940,411,250 -
1978 $23,263,511,958 -
1977 $19,470,960,619 -
1976 $15,341,403,660 -
1975 $13,098,633,902 -
1974 $12,370,029,584 -
1973 $10,315,760,000 -
1972 $8,671,358,733 -
1971 $7,820,380,971 -
1970 $7,198,360,460 -
1969 $6,450,175,214 -
1968 $5,960,212,869 -
1967 $5,825,170,438 -
1966 $5,428,518,519 -
1965 $5,760,761,905 -
1964 $5,973,366,667 -
1963 $4,836,166,667 -
1962 $4,955,543,963 -
1961 $4,540,447,761 -
1960 $4,031,152,977 -

Data sources: World Bank | Economy & Growth (1960–2024, retrieved 2026-04-06).

GeoRank.org/economy/colombia/malawi | CC BY

GDP per capita in Colombia vs Malawi by year

Colombia
GDP per capita

GDP per capita, PPP
Malawi
GDP per capita

GDP per capita, PPP
1x
Year Current $
Colombia Malawi
GDP per capita GDP per capita, PPP GDP per capita GDP per capita, PPP
2024 $7,919 $22,349 $523 $1,858
2023 $7,001 $21,246 $633 $1,830
2022 $6,680 $20,854 $604 $1,778
2021 $6,223 $17,383 $617 $1,688
2020 $5,340 $15,519 $603 $1,513
2019 $6,473 $16,182 $581 $1,450
2018 $6,817 $15,239 $533 $1,364
2017 $6,480 $14,401 $496 $1,380
2016 $5,960 $14,027 $451 $1,410
2015 $6,249 $13,332 $540 $1,403
2014 $8,187 $13,355 $530 $1,506
2013 $8,279 $12,780 $497 $1,558
2012 $8,109 $12,093 $558 $1,464
2011 $7,401 $11,707 $763 $1,516
2010 $6,398 $10,841 $683 $1,458
2009 $5,251 $10,367 $626 $1,388
2008 $5,542 $10,307 $554 $1,311
2007 $4,770 $9,909 $475 $1,231
2006 $3,790 $9,154 $441 $1,124
2005 $3,456 $8,432 $414 $1,071
2004 $2,819 $7,909 $405 $1,033
2003 $2,312 $7,420 $383 $979
2002 $2,429 $7,109 $428 $931
2001 $2,473 $6,935 $215.5 $924
2000 $2,555 $6,776 $224.2 $974
1999 $2,241 $6,544 $233.9 $961
1998 $2,605 $6,854 $236 $941
1997 $2,873 $6,861 $367 $915
1996 $2,665 $6,639 $321 $884
1995 $2,584 $6,506 $200.4 $825
1994 $2,326 $6,174 $169.2 $692
1993 $1,929 $5,826 $293 $746
1992 $1,730 $5,509 $258.4 $674
1991 $1,486 $5,281 $326 $732
1990 $1,475 $5,109 $286.7 $672
1989 $1,244 - $252.2 -
1988 $1,260 - $229.4 -
1987 $1,193 - $207.6 -
1986 $1,169 - $217.9 -
1985 $1,192 - $216.1 -
1984 $1,336 - $239.7 -
1983 $1,384 - $252.4 -
1982 $1,425 - $253.3 -
1981 $1,362 - $276.4 -
1980 $1,280 - $287.5 -
1979 $1,095 - - -
1978 $932 - - -
1977 $798 - - -
1976 $643 - - -
1975 $561 - - -
1974 $542 - - -
1973 $462 - - -
1972 $397 - - -
1971 $367 - - -
1970 $346 - - -
1969 $318 - - -
1968 $302 - - -
1967 $303 - - -
1966 $290.3 - - -
1965 $317 - - -
1964 $339 - - -
1963 $282.6 - - -
1962 $298.5 - - -
1961 $282.1 - - -
1960 $258.3 - - -

Data sources: World Bank | Economy & Growth (1960–2024, retrieved 2026-04-06).

GeoRank.org/economy/colombia/malawi | CC BY

Colombia's GDP per capita is $7,919, ranking 94/197, compared to $523 in Malawi, ranking 194/197. Adjusted for purchasing power (GDP per capita PPP), Colombia ranks 87th at $22,349, while Malawi ranks 189th at $1,858.

Economic indicators

Colombia Malawi
Gross domestic product
$419B
2024
$11.3B
2024
GDP rank
39/197
2024
151/197
2024
GDP growth
1.6%
2023-2024
1.67%
2023-2024
GDP per capita
$7,919
2024
$523
2024
GDP per capita rank
94/197
2024
194/197
2024
GDP per capita, PPP
$22,349
2024
$1,858
2024
GDP per capita PPP rank
87/197
2024
189/197
2024
Government debt
$256B
2024
$9.91B
2024
Debt-to-GDP ratio
61.2%
2024
87.6%
2024
Government debt per person
$4,849
2024
$458
2024
Government debt per person rank
82/185
2024
168/185
2024
Average annual personal income after taxes
$5,722
2026
$3,031
2026
Market capitalization of domestic companies
$72.6B
2024
n/a
Number of billionaires
4
2025
n/a
Income share by richest 10%
42.7%
2023
31%
2019
Income share by poorest 10%
1.1%
2023
2.9%
2019
Government expenditure, % of GDP
34.6%
2024
29.5%
2024
Consumer prices inflation
6.61%
2023-2024
32.2%
2023-2024
Central bank interest rate
9.25%
2025
26%
2024
Unemployment rate
9.62%
2024
15.4%
2024
Population
54105437
22949294

Spending and national debt comparison by year

Colombia
Spending

Debt
Malawi
Spending

Debt
1x
Year % of GDP
Colombia Malawi
Government spending Government debt Government spending Government debt
2024 34.6% 61.2% 29.5% 87.6%
2023 35.1% 55.5% 25.5% 86.7%
2022 34.1% 61.3% 26.7% 75.7%
2021 34.5% 64.4% 23.7% 66.5%
2020 33.7% 65.3% 22.7% 53.9%
2019 32.9% 51% 19.3% 41.2%
2018 34.7% 51.8% 19.4% 40.8%
2017 29.3% 49.4% 21% 40%
2016 30% 49.9% 19.7% 37.1%
2015 31.3% 50.4% 19.5% 35.5%
2014 31.3% 43.3% 18.3% 33.5%
2013 30% 37.6% 20.7% 35.3%
2012 29.1% 34% 18.8% 28.6%
2011 30.2% 35.8% 17% 20%
2010 30.4% 36.5% 19.6% 19.3%
2009 30.9% 35.4% 20.2% 23.5%
2008 28.4% 32.4% 20.6% 23.5%
2007 28.2% 32.7% 20.7% 18.9%
2006 28.4% 36% 17.8% 17.9%
2005 25.9% 38.5% 17.4% 70.9%
2004 26.6% 41.5% 17.2% 74.7%
2003 28% 45% 15.4% 84.7%
2002 28.1% 47.5% 13.8% 101.5%
2001 27.5% 41.1% - -
2000 26.6% 38% - -
1999 28.2% 34% - -
1998 26.3% 27.4% - -
1997 26.2% 25.3% - -
1996 25.1% 23.3% - -
1995 22.2% 13.8% - -
1994 20.6% 12.5% - -
1993 20% 14.2% - -
1992 18.4% 16.1% - -
1991 17.7% 14.5% - -
1990 17.4% 16.7% - -
1989 10.3% 17.3% - -
1988 10.3% 17.9% - -
1987 9.7% 18.9% - -
1986 9.8% 20.2% - -
1985 10.5% 19.3% - -
1984 10.3% 15.5% - -
1983 10.2% 10.8% - -
1982 10.6% 8.8% - -
1981 9.9% 8.5% - -
1980 9.6% 8% - -
1979 8.6% 7.7% - -
1978 8.1% 7.6% - -
1977 7.7% 9.2% - -
1976 8% 12.2% - -
1975 9.4% 14.6% - -
1974 8.8% 15.9% - -
1973 9.4% 16.3% - -
1972 10.3% 16.9% - -
1971 10.3% 16.2% - -
1970 10% 16.7% - -
1969 9.2% 17% - -
1968 8.9% 16.2% - -
1967 8.2% 15.8% - -
1966 8% 15.3% - -
1965 7% 15.2% - -
1964 8.1% 13.1% - -
1963 8.6% 13.9% - -
1962 7.8% 14.8% - -
1961 8.6% 8.7% - -
1960 6.7% 7.2% - -

Data sources: International Monetary Fund (IMF) | Fiscal Monitor (1990–2024, retrieved 2026-02-20); International Monetary Fund (IMF) | Public Finances in Modern History (1960–1995, retrieved 2026-02-20).

GeoRank.org/economy/colombia/malawi | CC BY

In 2024, Colombia's government spending was $145B, accounting for 34.6% of its GDP, while Malawi spent $3.34B, or 29.5% of GDP.

Debt-to-GDP ratio is 61.2% in Colombia and 87.6% in Malawi, ranking 75/185 and 35/185, respectively.

Government deficit by year

Deficit/surplus
Colombia

Malawi
1x
Year Deficit/surplus, % of GDP
Colombia Malawi
2024 -6.25% -11%
2023 -2.92% -7.84%
2022 -6.34% -9.32%
2021 -7.26% -8.34%
2020 -7.12% -8.03%
2019 -3.48% -4.55%
2018 -4.67% -4.35%
2017 -2.5% -5.15%
2016 -2.27% -4.9%
2015 -3.52% -4.17%
2014 -1.74% -3.08%
2013 -1.02% -3.73%
2012 0.15% -1.45%
2011 -1.99% -2.85%
2010 -3.3% 0.63%
2009 -2.67% -2.97%
2008 0.04% -2.92%
2007 -0.82% -2.56%
2006 -0.99% -0.05%
2005 -0.02% -1.63%
2004 -1.31% -2.61%
2003 -2.7% -2.6%
2002 -3.45% -4.47%
2001 -2.71% -
2000 -2.94% -
1999 -5.37% -
1998 -3.86% -
1997 -3.23% -
1996 -2.49% -
1995 -1% -
1994 -0.14% -
1993 -0.24% -
1992 -0.07% -
1991 0.35% -
1990 -0.41% -
1989 -1.4% -
1988 -1.3% -
1987 -0.4% -
1986 -1.4% -
1985 -2.4% -
1984 -3.3% -
1983 -3.1% -
1982 -3.6% -
1981 -2.8% -
1980 -2.2% -
1979 -0.7% -
1978 0.3% -
1977 0.5% -
1976 0.6% -
1975 -0.5% -
1974 -1.2% -
1973 -1.1% -
1972 -1.7% -
1971 -1% -
1970 -0.7% -
1969 -0.5% -
1968 0% -
1967 -0.2% -
1966 0.1% -
1965 -0.6% -
1964 -1.1% -
1963 -1.7% -
1962 -1.6% -
1961 -1.5% -
1960 1.2% -
1959 2% -
1958 1.7% -
1957 1.4% -
1956 -0.2% -
1955 0.7% -
1954 1.3% -
1953 1.3% -
1952 1.6% -
1951 2.1% -
1950 0.9% -
1949 0.5% -
1948 -0.1% -
1947 0.2% -
1946 -0.5% -
1945 0.1% -
1944 -0.2% -
1943 -0.7% -
1942 -1.5% -
1941 0% -
1940 -1.5% -
1939 0.8% -
1938 0.5% -
1937 1.4% -
1936 1.1% -
1935 1.3% -
1934 0.2% -
1933 -0.4% -
1932 -0.8% -
1931 -0.2% -
1930 0.3% -
1929 0.4% -
1928 -0.4% -
1927 -0.6% -
1926 0% -
1925 1% -
1924 0.5% -
1923 0.3% -
1922 -0.7% -
1921 -1.6% -
1920 0.4% -
1919 -0.8% -
1918 -2.1% -
1917 -0.5% -
1916 0.2% -
1915 -0.2% -
1914 -0.5% -
1913 0.5% -
1912 -0.3% -
1911 -0.1% -
1910 -0.3% -
1909 -3.3% -
1908 -2.7% -
1907 -2.7% -
1906 0.2% -
1905 -0.9% -

Data sources: International Monetary Fund (IMF) | Public Finances in Modern History (1905–1989, retrieved 2026-02-20); International Monetary Fund (IMF) | Fiscal Monitor (1990–2024, retrieved 2026-02-20).

GeoRank.org/economy/colombia/malawi | CC BY

In 2024, Colombia's government deficit, the difference between spending and revenue, was $26.2B, equivalent to 6.25% of GDP. This compares to Malawi's deficit of $1.24B, or 11% of GDP.

Over the past 23 years, Colombia recorded a fiscal deficit in 21 of those years, while Malawi ran a deficit in 22 years. On average, Colombia posted an annual deficit equal to 2.88% of GDP, compared to deficit of 4.26% of GDP for Malawi.

Inflation comparison by year

Inflation
Colombia

Malawi
1x
Year Consumer prices inflation
Colombia Malawi
2024 6.61% 32.2%
2023 11.7% 28.8%
2022 10.2% 20.8%
2021 3.5% 9.3%
2020 2.53% 8.6%
2019 3.52% 9.4%
2018 3.24% 9.2%
2017 4.31% 11.5%
2016 7.51% 21.7%
2015 4.99% 21.9%
2014 2.9% 23.8%
2013 2.02% 28.3%
2012 3.17% 21.3%
2011 3.42% 7.6%
2010 2.27% 7.4%
2009 4.2% 8.4%
2008 7% 8.7%
2007 5.54% 7.9%
2006 4.29% 13.9%
2005 5.05% 15.5%
2004 5.9% 11.4%
2003 7.13% 9.6%
2002 6.35% 14.7%
2001 7.97% 22.7%
2000 9.23% 29.6%
1999 10.9% 44.8%
1998 18.7% 29.8%
1997 18.5% 9.1%

Data sources: International Monetary Fund (IMF) | World Economic Outlook (1997–2024, retrieved 2026-02-20); World Bank | Economy & Growth (1997–2024, retrieved 2026-04-06).

GeoRank.org/economy/colombia/malawi | CC BY

Over the past 28 years, Colombia has recorded an average annual inflation rate of 6.52%, compared with 17.4% in Malawi. In 2024, inflation was 6.61% in Colombia and 32.2% in Malawi.

Top exports between countries

Colombia
Export category Export value
Textiles & consumer goods $455K
Malawi
Export category Export value
Processed food, beverages & tobacco $122K
Precious metals & jewellery $1K

Balance of trade

Colombia Malawi
Current account balance
-$6.88B
2024
-$2.13B
2024
Current account balance ranking
172/190
2024
145/190
2024
Current account balance, % of GDP
-1.64%
2024
-18.8%
2024
Goods imports
$60.2B
2024
$3.02B
2024
Goods exports
$51.1B
2024
$1.02B
2024
Service imports
$18.5B
2024
$895M
2024
Service exports
$18.1B
2024
$508M
2024
Imports of goods and services, % of GDP
20.9%
2024
31.2%
2023
Exports of goods and services, % of GDP
16.1%
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.

Colombia Malawi
Economic freedom 59.8 50.7
Economic freedom ranking 101/197 159/197
Property rights 43.1 49.5
Government integrity 41.6 35
Judicial effectiveness 57.4 51.8
Tax burden 68.6 77
Government spending 64 77.8
Fiscal health 49.8 4.7
Business freedom 71.2 34.1
Labor freedom 59.1 55.2
Monetary freedom 71.9 55.1
Trade freedom 71.4 68.6
Investment freedom 60 50
Financial freedom 60 50

Economic freedom comparison by year

Colombia
Malawi
1x
Year Economic freedom index
Colombia Malawi
2026 59.8 50.7
2025 59.8 50.9
2024 59.2 52.1
2023 63.1 52.8
2022 65.1 53
2021 68.1 53
2020 69.2 52.8
2019 67.3 51.4
2018 68.9 52
2017 69.7 52.2
2016 70.8 51.8
2015 71.7 54.8
2014 70.7 55.4
2013 69.6 55.3
2012 68 56.4
2011 68 55.8
2010 65.5 54.1
2009 62.3 53.7
2008 62.2 52.7
2007 59.9 52.9
2006 60.4 55.4
2005 59.6 53.6
2004 61.2 53.6
2003 64.2 53.2
2002 64.2 56.9
2001 65.6 56.2
2000 63.3 57.4
1999 65.3 54
1998 65.5 54.1
1997 66.4 53.4
1996 64.3 56.2
1995 64.5 54.7

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

GeoRank.org/economy/colombia/malawi | CC BY

The Economic Freedom Index for Colombia is 59.8, ranking 101/197, 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

Colombia Malawi
Services, % of GDP
58.1%
2024
44.2%
2024
Industry, % of GDP
23.1%
2024
17.1%
2024
Agriculture, forestry, and fishing, % of GDP
9.28%
2024
31.8%
2024
GNI, Atlas method
$372B
2024
$12.3B
2024
GNI per capita, PPP
$21,890
2024
$1,830
2024
Total reserves including gold
$61.9B
2024
$594M
2020
Total reserves ranking
38/177
2024
154/177
2020
Net foreign direct investment
-$9.17B
2024
-$202M
2024
Net inflows of foreign direct investment
$13.7B
2024
$681M
2024
Net outflows of foreign direct investment
$4.51B
2024
$56.4M
2024
Servicing debt to the IMF, % of GNI
8.25%
2024
1.47%
2024
Poverty at national poverty lines
31.8%
2024
50.7%
2019
Gross capital formation, % of GDP
16.8%
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/colombia/malawi | CC BY

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Data sources:

  1. World Bank | Economy & Growth (1960–2024, retrieved 2026-04-06)
  2. International Monetary Fund (IMF) | Public Finances in Modern History (1905–1995, retrieved 2026-02-20)
  3. International Monetary Fund (IMF) | Fiscal Monitor (1990–2024, retrieved 2026-02-20)
  4. The Heritage Foundation | Economic Freedom Index (1995–2026, retrieved 2026-03-09)
  5. U.S. Census Bureau (1985–2024, retrieved 2026-02-08)
  6. TradeMap (2021–2023, retrieved 2026-02-08)
  7. United Nations | World Population Prospects (2026, retrieved 2026-03-10)
  8. 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.