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Economy of Malawi vs Malaysia compared: GDP & Debt

Updated on by Georank team

Malawi has a GDP of $11B compared to $422B for Malaysia, ranking 151/197 and 39/197 by economy size, respectively.

Malawi has $8.19B in government debt (73% of GDP), compared to $297B (70.1% of GDP) in Malaysia.

The chart below compares the two countries' GDP growth in both current (nominal) and constant dollars, accounting for inflation over time.

Malawi
GDP, current $

GDP, constant 2015 $
Malaysia
GDP, current $

GDP, constant 2015 $
Year GDP
Malawi Malaysia
Current $ Constant $ Current $ Constant $
1960 - $944,667,422 $1,916,229,477 $10,075,053,650
1961 - $1,016,836,214 $1,901,856,123 $10,840,555,622
1962 - $1,023,632,389 $2,001,489,602 $11,536,630,908
1963 - $1,009,392,859 $2,510,110,348 $12,383,281,584
1964 - $1,036,253,845 $2,674,423,922 $13,046,897,051
1965 - $1,177,355,282 $2,956,337,669 $14,049,533,277
1966 - $1,333,343,511 $3,143,517,944 $15,147,744,694
1967 - $1,430,431,584 $3,188,924,677 $15,732,015,397
1968 - $1,402,923,252 $3,330,371,551 $16,987,114,742
1969 - $1,485,448,247 $3,664,552,041 $17,817,535,563
1970 - $1,492,567,971 $3,864,145,667 $18,884,189,212
1971 - $1,734,641,057 $4,244,395,956 $20,779,153,503
1972 - $1,842,732,595 $5,043,347,250 $22,729,992,899
1973 - $1,885,127,636 $7,662,902,678 $25,389,647,919
1974 - $2,020,403,709 $9,496,204,302 $27,501,726,906
1975 - $2,143,382,123 $9,298,800,799 $27,722,034,465
1976 - $2,250,502,601 $11,050,234,599 $30,927,669,086
1977 - $2,361,183,025 $13,139,488,633 $33,325,509,326
1978 - $2,591,281,917 $16,358,079,862 $35,542,952,797
1979 - $2,705,198,654 $21,213,264,962 $38,865,898,972
1980 $1,801,156,775 $2,716,201,952 $24,488,224,677 $41,758,231,850
1981 $1,801,193,910 $2,572,511,629 $25,004,285,792 $44,657,131,817
1982 $1,717,379,495 $2,636,913,268 $26,804,493,635 $47,311,173,245
1983 $1,780,148,049 $2,734,972,403 $30,347,442,111 $50,269,176,995
1984 $1,758,028,656 $2,881,575,239 $33,942,897,422 $54,170,965,010
1985 $1,646,442,273 $3,013,291,524 $31,199,633,353 $53,615,577,054
1986 $1,722,586,299 $3,006,818,902 $27,734,111,400 $54,280,729,183
1987 $1,721,711,808 $3,055,686,904 $32,181,210,158 $57,098,947,793
1988 $2,008,189,508 $3,152,774,981 $35,272,109,220 $62,773,281,162
1989 $2,314,205,130 $3,195,170,016 $38,847,965,293 $68,460,289,887
1990 $2,737,087,862 $3,377,048,507 $44,024,585,240 $74,627,553,680
1991 $3,206,783,830 $3,671,872,669 $49,143,148,094 $81,751,102,498
1992 $2,618,837,835 $3,402,615,041 $59,167,550,163 $89,014,784,404
1993 $3,013,392,658 $3,732,391,067 $66,894,966,969 $97,822,746,879
1994 $1,719,864,761 $3,350,187,440 $74,478,356,958 $106,834,219,205
1995 $2,033,701,498 $3,910,634,176 $88,705,342,903 $117,335,045,631
1996 $3,319,573,750 $4,196,762,834 $100,855,393,910 $129,071,719,045
1997 $3,875,785,863 $4,355,921,669 $100,005,323,302 $138,523,307,833
1998 $2,547,609,590 $4,525,595,860 $72,167,498,981 $128,328,802,477
1999 $2,584,478,924 $4,663,277,074 $79,148,421,053 $136,205,126,471
2000 $2,537,307,580 $4,736,773,940 $93,789,736,842 $148,271,359,065
2001 $2,498,008,665 $4,501,121,160 $92,783,947,368 $149,038,923,296
2002 $5,087,328,438 $4,577,640,221 $100,845,526,316 $157,073,594,224
2003 $4,669,789,300 $4,838,823,865 $110,202,368,421 $166,165,798,104
2004 $5,058,726,350 $5,101,112,195 $124,749,473,684 $177,437,551,536
2005 $5,320,409,651 $5,267,853,576 $143,534,405,819 $186,898,768,709
2006 $5,818,279,739 $5,515,442,682 $162,692,258,307 $197,336,779,112
2007 $6,451,210,219 $6,044,925,173 $193,549,569,478 $209,766,600,384
2008 $7,743,617,352 $6,506,741,521 $230,811,614,370 $219,902,039,819
2009 $9,009,887,947 $7,048,630,103 $202,257,453,037 $216,573,759,299
2010 $10,128,323,011 $7,533,157,578 $255,017,638,456 $232,654,030,399
2011 $11,648,142,958 $7,904,743,382 $297,951,668,675 $244,970,531,974
2012 $8,773,203,178 $8,054,933,506 $314,443,047,642 $258,378,881,826
2013 $8,031,571,928 $8,490,733,601 $323,276,235,524 $270,506,469,604
2014 $8,801,326,169 $8,968,360,291 $338,066,095,097 $286,755,041,078
2015 $9,219,474,379 $9,219,474,379 $301,355,266,965 $301,355,266,965
2016 $7,909,868,618 $9,449,961,239 $301,256,033,870 $314,764,917,575
2017 $8,943,543,794 $9,827,959,688 $319,109,094,160 $333,061,328,477
2018 $9,879,231,592 $10,255,826,274 $358,788,845,713 $349,191,778,300
2019 $11,051,865,580 $10,842,133,934 $365,177,721,022 $364,602,265,936
2020 $11,769,313,598 $10,928,176,722 $337,456,163,961 $344,706,479,641
2021 $12,378,129,751 $11,426,314,940 $373,784,823,673 $356,134,704,342
2022 $12,429,060,151 $11,531,564,449 $407,605,841,348 $387,694,727,479
2023 $12,712,150,082 $11,749,794,461 $399,705,137,434 $401,479,163,711
2024 $11,008,925,323 $11,964,445,581 $421,972,102,254 $422,011,432,357

Economic indicators

Malawi Malaysia
Gross domestic product
$11B
2024
$422B
2024
GDP rank
151/197
2024
39/197
2024
GDP growth
-13.4%
2023-2024
5.57%
2023-2024
GDP per capita
$508
2024
$11,867
2024
GDP per capita rank
195/197
2024
81/197
2024
GDP per capita, PPP
$1,859
2024
$38,729
2024
Government debt
$8.19B
2024
$297B
2024
Debt-to-GDP ratio
73%
2025
70.1%
2025
Government debt per person
$378
2024
$8,353
2024
Government debt per person rank
173/185
2024
63/185
2024
Average annual personal income after taxes
$2,610
2025
$9,650
2025
Market capitalization of domestic companies n/a
$449B
2024
Number of billionaires n/a
19
2025
Income share by richest 10%
31%
2019
30.9%
2021
Income share by poorest 10%
2.9%
2019
2.3%
2021
Government expenditure, % of GDP
28%
2025
23.1%
2025
Consumer prices inflation
28.2%
2024-2025
1.83%
2023-2024
Central bank interest rate
26%
2024
2.75%
2025
Unemployment rate
0.91%
2020
3.93%
2022
Population
22673513
36304998

GDP per capita in Malawi vs Malaysia

Malawi's GDP per capita is $508, ranking 195/197, compared to $11,867 in Malaysia, ranking 81/197. Adjusted for purchasing power (GDP per capita PPP), Malawi ranks 189th at $1,859, while Malaysia ranks 60th at $38,729.

Malawi
GDP per capita

GDP per capita, PPP
Malaysia
GDP per capita

GDP per capita, PPP
Year Current $
Malawi Malaysia
GDP per capita GDP per capita, PPP GDP per capita GDP per capita, PPP
1960 - - $240.8 -
1961 - - $232.9 -
1962 - - $238.8 -
1963 - - $291.8 -
1964 - - $303 -
1965 - - $326 -
1966 - - $339 -
1967 - - $335 -
1968 - - $342 -
1969 - - $368 -
1970 - - $380 -
1971 - - $407 -
1972 - - $472 -
1973 - - $701 -
1974 - - $848 -
1975 - - $811 -
1976 - - $940 -
1977 - - $1,092 -
1978 - - $1,327 -
1979 - - $1,680 -
1980 $287.5 - $1,886 -
1981 $276.4 - $1,866 -
1982 $253.3 - $1,938 -
1983 $252.4 - $2,124 -
1984 $239.7 - $2,300 -
1985 $216.1 - $2,046 -
1986 $217.9 - $1,760 -
1987 $207.6 - $1,977 -
1988 $229.4 - $2,100 -
1989 $252.2 - $2,244 -
1990 $286.7 $672 $2,469 $6,887
1991 $326 $732 $2,679 $7,583
1992 $258.4 $674 $3,141 $8,224
1993 $293 $746 $3,462 $9,018
1994 $169.2 $692 $3,758 $9,806
1995 $200.4 $825 $4,363 $10,720
1996 $321 $884 $4,837 $11,709
1997 $367 $915 $4,679 $12,469
1998 $236 $941 $3,294 $11,398
1999 $233.9 $961 $3,528 $11,980
2000 $224.2 $974 $4,084 $13,027
2001 $215.5 $924 $3,944 $13,072
2002 $428 $931 $4,184 $13,656
2003 $383 $979 $4,465 $14,387
2004 $405 $1,033 $4,939 $15,416
2005 $414 $1,071 $5,556 $16,371
2006 $441 $1,124 $6,158 $17,426
2007 $475 $1,231 $7,169 $18,617
2008 $554 $1,311 $8,372 $19,480
2009 $626 $1,388 $7,191 $18,923
2010 $683 $1,458 $8,899 $20,193
2011 $763 $1,516 $10,217 $21,324
2012 $558 $1,464 $10,601 $22,639
2013 $497 $1,558 $10,714 $23,161
2014 $530 $1,506 $11,013 $24,307
2015 $540 $1,403 $9,649 $24,526
2016 $451 $1,410 $9,477 $25,286
2017 $496 $1,380 $9,863 $26,416
2018 $533 $1,364 $10,902 $27,794
2019 $581 $1,450 $10,920 $28,934
2020 $603 $1,513 $9,958 $27,475
2021 $617 $1,688 $10,903 $29,823
2022 $604 $1,778 $11,748 $34,366
2023 $602 $1,830 $11,379 $36,417
2024 $508 $1,859 $11,867 $38,729

Spending and national debt comparison

In 2024, Malawi's government spending was $2.91B, accounting for 28% of its GDP, while Malaysia's spent $101B, or 23.1% of GDP.

Debt-to-GDP ratio is 73% in Malawi and 70.1% in Malaysia, ranking 52/185 and 55/185, respectively.

Malawi
Government spending

Government debt
Malaysia
Government spending

Government debt
Year % of GDP
Malawi Malaysia
Government spending Government debt Government spending Government debt
1990 - - 30.5% 74.1%
1991 - - 27.4% 67.3%
1992 - - 28.2% 59.1%
1993 - - 24.6% 51.1%
1994 - - 23.3% 43.7%
1995 - - 22.6% 38.2%
1996 - - 22.4% 32.8%
1997 - - 21.2% 29.6%
1998 - - 23.1% 33.6%
1999 - - 24.6% 34.4%
2000 - - 25.6% 32.5%
2001 - - 28.2% 38.1%
2002 13.8% 101.5% 27.1% 39.5%
2003 15.4% 84.7% 28.1% 41.4%
2004 17.2% 74.7% 25.9% 42%
2005 17.4% 70.9% 24.5% 40.8%
2006 17.8% 17.9% 25.6% 39.7%
2007 20.7% 18.9% 25.9% 39.3%
2008 20.6% 23.5% 26.9% 39.4%
2009 20.2% 23.5% 30.9% 50.4%
2010 19.6% 19.3% 26.6% 51.2%
2011 17% 20% 27.1% 51.9%
2012 18.8% 28.6% 28.5% 53.8%
2013 20.7% 35.3% 27.8% 55.7%
2014 18.3% 33.5% 26% 55.4%
2015 19.5% 35.5% 24.7% 57%
2016 19.7% 37.1% 22.9% 55.8%
2017 21% 40% 22% 54.4%
2018 19.4% 40.8% 22.8% 55.6%
2019 19.3% 41.2% 23.6% 57.1%
2020 22.7% 53.9% 25% 67.7%
2021 23.7% 66.5% 24.5% 69.2%
2022 26.7% 75.5% 24.7% 65.5%
2023 25.5% 86.1% 24.9% 69.7%
2024 26.4% 74.4% 23.9% 70.4%
2025 28% 73% 23.1% 70.1%

Government deficit by year

In 2024, Malawi's government deficit, the difference between spending and revenue, was -$891M, equivalent to -8.1% of GDP. This compares to Malaysia's deficit of -$16.7B, or -3.95% of GDP.

Over the past 23 years, Malawi recorded a fiscal deficit in 22 of those years, while Malaysia ran a deficit in 23 years. On average, Malawi posted an annual deficit equal to -4.13% of GDP, compared to deficit of -3.56% of GDP for Malaysia.

Deficit/surplus
Malawi

Malaysia
Year Deficit/surplus, % of GDP
Malawi Malaysia
1990 - 0.15%
1991 - 1.6%
1992 - 1.81%
1993 - 3.44%
1994 - 5.45%
1995 - 3.1%
1996 - 3.27%
1997 - 4.84%
1998 - -0.63%
1999 - -3%
2000 - -6.05%
2001 - -4.36%
2002 -4.47% -3.96%
2003 -2.6% -4.6%
2004 -2.61% -3.35%
2005 -1.63% -2.83%
2006 -0.05% -2.6%
2007 -2.56% -2.57%
2008 -2.92% -3.4%
2009 -2.97% -5.88%
2010 0.63% -4.32%
2011 -2.85% -3.57%
2012 -1.45% -3.1%
2013 -3.73% -3.48%
2014 -3.08% -2.63%
2015 -4.17% -2.55%
2016 -4.9% -2.6%
2017 -5.15% -2.41%
2018 -4.35% -2.64%
2019 -4.55% -2.01%
2020 -8.03% -4.9%
2021 -8.34% -6.03%
2022 -9.32% -4.56%
2023 -7.84% -3.97%
2024 -8.1% -3.95%
2025 -8.94% -3.36%

Inflation comparison by year

Over the past 29 years, Malawi has recorded an average annual inflation rate of 18.1%, compared with 2.29% in Malaysia. In 2024, inflation was 28.2% in Malawi and 1.83% in Malaysia.

Inflation
Malawi

Malaysia
Year Inflation
Malawi Malaysia Malawi Malaysia
1996 37.7% 3.49%
1997 9.1% 2.66%
1998 29.8% 5.27%
1999 44.8% 2.74%
2000 29.6% 1.53%
2001 22.7% 1.42%
2002 14.7% 1.81%
2003 9.6% 1.09%
2004 11.4% 1.42%
2005 15.5% 2.98%
2006 13.9% 3.61%
2007 7.9% 2.03%
2008 8.7% 5.44%
2009 8.4% 0.58%
2010 7.4% 1.62%
2011 7.6% 3.17%
2012 21.3% 1.66%
2013 28.3% 2.11%
2014 23.8% 3.14%
2015 21.9% 2.1%
2016 21.7% 2.09%
2017 11.5% 3.87%
2018 9.2% 0.88%
2019 9.4% 0.66%
2020 8.6% -1.14%
2021 9.3% 2.48%
2022 20.8% 3.38%
2023 28.8% 2.49%
2024 32.2% 1.83%
2025 28.2% -

Top exports between countries

Malawi
Export category Export value
Raw agricultural goods $1.42M
Processed food, beverages & tobacco $230K
Machinery & equipment $55K
Animal & marine products $23K
Metals $1K
Malaysia
Export category Export value
Wood & paper products $3.59M
Chemicals & pharma $665K
Raw materials & minerals $468K
Processed food, beverages & tobacco $308K
Textiles & consumer goods $250K
Animal & marine products $82K
Metals $55K
Machinery & equipment $23K
Miscellaneous $13K
Precious metals & jewellery $1K

Balance of trade

Malawi Malaysia
Current account balance
-$2.28B
2023
$7.15B
2024
Current account balance ranking
144/189
2023
25/189
2024
Current account balance, % of GDP
-17.9%
2023
+1.69%
2024
Goods imports
$3B
2023
$223B
2024
Goods exports
$1.05B
2023
$248B
2024
Service imports
$998M
2023
$56.4B
2024
Service exports
$475M
2023
$53.4B
2024
Imports of goods and services, % of GDP n/a
66%
2024
Exports of goods and services, % of GDP
14%
2025
71.4%
2024

Economic freedom indices

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

Malawi Malaysia
Economic freedom 50.9 67.1
Economic freedom ranking 160/197 50/197
Property rights 49.4 66.3
Government integrity 34.4 51.1
Judicial effectiveness 52.3 66.2
Tax burden 77.1 83.9
Government spending 79.4 82.1
Fiscal health 3.3 48.1
Business freedom 31.3 76.6
Labor freedom 56 58.1
Monetary freedom 58.3 79.6
Trade freedom 68.8 83.4
Investment freedom 50 60
Financial freedom 50 50

Economic freedom by year comparison

The Economic Freedom Index for Malawi is 50.9, ranking 160/197, compared to 67.1 for Malaysia, ranking 50/197. The chart below displays a comparison of annual changes in economic freedom indexes.

Malawi
Malaysia
Year Economic freedom index
Malawi Malaysia
1995 54.7 71.9
1996 56.2 69.9
1997 53.4 66.8
1998 54.1 68.2
1999 54 68.9
2000 57.4 66
2001 56.2 60.2
2002 56.9 60.1
2003 53.2 61.1
2004 53.6 59.9
2005 53.6 61.9
2006 55.4 61.6
2007 52.9 63.8
2008 52.7 63.9
2009 53.7 64.6
2010 54.1 64.8
2011 55.8 66.3
2012 56.4 66.4
2013 55.3 66.1
2014 55.4 69.6
2015 54.8 70.8
2016 51.8 71.5
2017 52.2 73.8
2018 52 74.5
2019 51.4 74
2020 52.8 74.7
2021 53 74.4
2022 53 68.1
2023 52.8 67.3
2024 52.1 65.7
2025 50.9 67.1

More economic indicators

Malawi Malaysia
Services, % of GDP
44.9%
2024
53.6%
2024
Industry, % of GDP
16%
2024
37.1%
2024
Agriculture, forestry, and fishing, % of GDP
32.4%
2024
8.16%
2024
GNI, Atlas method
$11.8B
2024
$415B
2024
GNI per capita, PPP
$1,790
2024
$37,500
2024
Total reserves including gold
$594M
2020
$116B
2024
Total reserves ranking
154/177
2020
24/177
2024
Net foreign direct investment
-$134M
2023
-$2.55B
2024
Net inflows of foreign direct investment
$220M
2024
$15.6B
2024
Net outflows of foreign direct investment
$48.3M
2024
$13B
2024
Servicing debt to the IMF, % of GNI
1.22%
2023
n/a
Poverty at national poverty lines
50.7%
2019
5.8%
2023
Gross capital formation, % of GDP
n/a
21.9%
2024

GDP per capita map

GDP per capita

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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.