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Economy of Malawi vs Uganda compared: GDP & Debt

Updated on by Georank team

Malawi has a GDP of $11.3B compared to $53.9B for Uganda, ranking 151/197 and 89/197 by economy size, respectively.

Malawi has $9.91B in government debt (87.6% of GDP), compared to $27.8B (51.5% of GDP) in Uganda.

Malawi vs Uganda GDP by year

Malawi
Uganda
1x
Year GDP, current $
Malawi Uganda
2024 $11,316,411,329 $53,911,907,086
2023 $13,363,669,673 $48,768,955,863
2022 $12,429,059,928 $45,565,333,211
2021 $12,378,119,199 $40,529,788,749
2020 $11,769,313,598 $37,600,368,242
2019 $11,051,852,713 $35,353,061,003
2018 $9,879,220,354 $32,927,025,620
2017 $8,943,543,794 $30,744,473,841
2016 $7,909,868,618 $29,203,988,696
2015 $9,219,474,379 $32,387,183,730
2014 $8,801,326,169 $32,612,397,257
2013 $8,031,571,928 $28,915,786,517
2012 $8,773,203,178 $27,305,915,911
2011 $11,648,142,958 $27,871,725,241
2010 $10,128,323,011 $26,673,441,431
2009 $9,009,887,947 $25,127,805,567
2008 $7,743,617,352 $14,440,404,132
2007 $6,451,210,219 $11,902,564,495
2006 $5,818,279,739 $9,977,647,683
2005 $5,320,409,651 $9,239,221,763
2004 $5,058,726,350 $7,939,487,548
2003 $4,669,789,300 $6,606,884,275
2002 $5,087,328,438 $6,178,563,591
2001 $2,498,008,665 $5,840,503,869
2000 $2,537,307,580 $6,193,246,837
1999 $2,584,478,924 $5,998,563,258
1998 $2,547,609,590 $6,584,815,847
1997 $3,875,785,863 $6,269,333,313
1996 $3,319,573,750 $6,044,585,327
1995 $2,033,701,498 $5,755,818,842
1994 $1,719,864,761 $3,990,430,447
1993 $3,013,392,658 $3,220,439,044
1992 $2,618,837,835 $2,857,457,762
1991 $3,206,783,830 $3,321,729,160
1990 $2,737,087,862 $4,304,399,310
1989 $2,314,205,130 $5,276,480,799
1988 $2,008,189,508 $6,508,931,652
1987 $1,721,711,808 $6,269,522,042
1986 $1,722,586,299 $3,923,244,050
1985 $1,646,442,273 $3,519,695,444
1984 $1,758,028,656 $3,615,647,477
1983 $1,780,148,049 $2,240,333,333
1982 $1,717,379,495 $2,177,500,000
1981 $1,801,193,910 $1,337,300,000
1980 $1,801,156,775 $1,244,610,000
1979 - $2,139,025,000
1978 - $2,420,260,870
1977 - $2,936,470,588
1976 - $2,447,300,000
1975 - $2,359,555,556
1974 - $2,098,944,967
1973 - $1,701,829,789
1972 - $1,490,970,181
1971 - $1,417,191,656
1970 - $1,259,554,809
1969 - $1,168,556,629
1968 - $1,037,379,252
1967 - $967,240,655
1966 - $925,381,492
1965 - $884,502,310
1964 - $589,247,687
1963 - $516,315,231
1962 - $449,158,233
1961 - $441,667,335
1960 - $423,145,605

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

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

GDP per capita in Malawi vs Uganda by year

Malawi
GDP per capita

GDP per capita, PPP
Uganda
GDP per capita

GDP per capita, PPP
1x
Year Current $
Malawi Uganda
GDP per capita GDP per capita, PPP GDP per capita GDP per capita, PPP
2024 $523 $1,858 $1,078 $3,273
2023 $633 $1,830 $1,002 $3,098
2022 $604 $1,778 $963 $2,919
2021 $617 $1,688 $883 $2,685
2020 $603 $1,513 $846 $2,532
2019 $581 $1,450 $822 $2,441
2018 $533 $1,364 $792 $2,312
2017 $496 $1,380 $765 $2,158
2016 $451 $1,410 $753 $2,165
2015 $540 $1,403 $863 $2,190
2014 $530 $1,506 $896 $2,134
2013 $497 $1,558 $818 $2,045
2012 $558 $1,464 $795 $2,032
2011 $763 $1,516 $836 $2,268
2010 $683 $1,458 $823 $2,092
2009 $626 $1,388 $799 $2,015
2008 $554 $1,311 $473 $1,931
2007 $475 $1,231 $401 $1,795
2006 $441 $1,124 $347 $1,660
2005 $414 $1,071 $330 $1,497
2004 $405 $1,033 $292.4 $1,405
2003 $383 $979 $250.7 $1,320
2002 $428 $931 $242 $1,255
2001 $215.5 $924 $236 $1,173
2000 $224.2 $974 $258.1 $1,124
1999 $233.9 $961 $257.9 $1,100
1998 $236 $941 $292.5 $1,037
1997 $367 $915 $286.8 $1,007
1996 $321 $884 $284.7 $969
1995 $200.4 $825 $278.5 $897
1994 $169.2 $692 $198.4 $809
1993 $293 $746 $165.6 $770
1992 $258.4 $674 $152.1 $719
1991 $326 $732 $183 $703
1990 $286.7 $672 $245 $666
1989 $252.2 - $310 -
1988 $229.4 - $395 -
1987 $207.6 - $393 -
1986 $217.9 - $253.6 -
1985 $216.1 - $234.3 -
1984 $239.7 - $247.5 -
1983 $252.4 - $157.5 -
1982 $253.3 - $157 -
1981 $276.4 - $98.6 -
1980 $287.5 - $93.8 -
1979 - - $164.5 -
1978 - - $190.7 -
1977 - - $237.6 -
1976 - - $203.3 -
1975 - - $201.2 -
1974 - - $183.7 -
1973 - - $152.7 -
1972 - - $137 -
1971 - - $133.5 -
1970 - - $122 -
1969 - - $116.7 -
1968 - - $106.9 -
1967 - - $102.8 -
1966 - - $101.4 -
1965 - - $100 -
1964 - - $68.6 -
1963 - - $62 -
1962 - - $55.5 -
1961 - - $56.2 -
1960 - - $55.4 -

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

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

Malawi's GDP per capita is $523, ranking 194/197, compared to $1,078 in Uganda, ranking 176/197. Adjusted for purchasing power (GDP per capita PPP), Malawi ranks 189th at $1,858, while Uganda ranks 176th at $3,273.

Economic indicators

Malawi Uganda
Gross domestic product
$11.3B
2024
$53.9B
2024
GDP rank
151/197
2024
89/197
2024
GDP growth
1.67%
2023-2024
6.06%
2023-2024
GDP per capita
$523
2024
$1,078
2024
GDP per capita rank
194/197
2024
176/197
2024
GDP per capita, PPP
$1,858
2024
$3,273
2024
GDP per capita PPP rank
189/197
2024
176/197
2024
Government debt
$9.91B
2024
$27.8B
2024
Debt-to-GDP ratio
87.6%
2024
51.5%
2024
Government debt per person
$458
2024
$555
2024
Government debt per person rank
168/185
2024
163/185
2024
Average annual personal income after taxes
$3,031
2026
$1,466
2026
Income share by richest 10%
31%
2019
34.5%
2019
Income share by poorest 10%
2.9%
2019
2.4%
2019
Government expenditure, % of GDP
29.5%
2024
18.7%
2024
Consumer prices inflation
32.2%
2023-2024
3.3%
2023-2024
Central bank interest rate
26%
2024
9.75%
2024
Unemployment rate
15.4%
2024
3.42%
2021
Population
22949294
53170946

Spending and national debt comparison by year

Malawi
Spending

Debt
Uganda
Spending

Debt
1x
Year % of GDP
Malawi Uganda
Government spending Government debt Government spending Government debt
2024 29.5% 87.6% 18.7% 51.5%
2023 25.5% 86.7% 19.3% 50.5%
2022 26.7% 75.7% 19.5% 50.2%
2021 23.7% 66.5% 22% 50.3%
2020 22.7% 53.9% 21.4% 46.3%
2019 19.3% 41.2% 18.3% 37.5%
2018 19.4% 40.8% 16.2% 34.9%
2017 21% 40% 16.3% 33.6%
2016 19.7% 37.1% 15.2% 31.3%
2015 19.5% 35.5% 14.9% 28%
2014 18.3% 33.5% 13.6% 24.8%
2013 20.7% 35.3% 13.3% 22.1%
2012 18.8% 28.6% 13.1% 19.5%
2011 17% 20% 13.2% 18%
2010 19.6% 19.3% 15.4% 18.4%
2009 20.2% 23.5% 11.8% 14.8%
2008 20.6% 23.5% 12.9% 15.7%
2007 20.7% 18.9% 13.2% 17%
2006 17.8% 17.9% 13.7% 27.8%
2005 17.4% 70.9% 14.5% 42.6%
2004 17.2% 74.7% 15.6% 49%
2003 15.4% 84.7% 16.5% 55.1%
2002 13.8% 101.5% 16.8% 54.7%
2001 - - 16.2% 51.4%
2000 - - 15.2% 48.5%
1999 - - 14.7% 47.7%
1998 - - 14% 45.1%
1997 - - 13.9% 44.2%

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

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

In 2024, Malawi's government spending was $3.34B, accounting for 29.5% of its GDP, while Uganda spent $10.1B, or 18.7% of GDP.

Debt-to-GDP ratio is 87.6% in Malawi and 51.5% in Uganda, ranking 35/185 and 103/185, respectively.

Government deficit by year

Deficit/surplus
Malawi

Uganda
1x
Year Deficit/surplus, % of GDP
Malawi Uganda
2024 -11% -3.99%
2023 -7.84% -4.87%
2022 -9.32% -5.45%
2021 -8.34% -7.76%
2020 -8.03% -7.76%
2019 -4.55% -4.82%
2018 -4.35% -3.02%
2017 -5.15% -3.83%
2016 -4.9% -2.64%
2015 -4.17% -2.59%
2014 -3.08% -2.74%
2013 -3.73% -3.19%
2012 -1.45% -2.39%
2011 -2.85% -2.04%
2010 0.63% -4.64%
2009 -2.97% -1.61%
2008 -2.92% -1.99%
2007 -2.56% -0.82%
2006 -0.05% -0.64%
2005 -1.63% -0.17%
2004 -2.61% 0.34%
2003 -2.6% -0.97%
2002 -4.47% -2.07%
2001 - -0.99%
2000 - -0.62%
1999 - -1.24%
1998 - -0.7%
1997 - -0.83%

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

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

In 2024, Malawi's government deficit, the difference between spending and revenue, was $1.24B, equivalent to 11% of GDP. This compares to Uganda's deficit of $2.15B, or 3.99% of GDP.

Over the past 23 years, Malawi recorded a fiscal deficit in 22 of those years, while Uganda ran a deficit in 22 years. On average, Malawi posted an annual deficit equal to 4.26% of GDP, compared to deficit of 3.03% of GDP for Uganda.

Inflation comparison by year

Inflation
Malawi

Uganda
1x
Year Consumer prices inflation
Malawi Uganda
2024 32.2% 3.3%
2023 28.8% 5.4%
2022 20.8% 7.2%
2021 9.3% 2.2%
2020 8.6% 2.8%
2019 9.4% 2.1%
2018 9.2% 2.5%
2017 11.5% 5.6%
2016 21.7% 5.2%
2015 21.9% 3.7%
2014 23.8% 4.3%
2013 28.3% 5.5%
2012 21.3% 14%
2011 7.6% 18.7%
2010 7.4% 4%
2009 8.4% 13%
2008 8.7% 12%
2007 7.9% 6.1%
2006 13.9% 7.2%
2005 15.5% 8.6%
2004 11.4% 3.7%
2003 9.6% 8.7%
2002 14.7% -0.3%
2001 22.7% 1.9%
2000 29.6% 3.4%
1999 44.8% 5.8%
1998 29.8% 5.8%
1997 9.1% 7.7%

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

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

Over the past 28 years, Malawi has recorded an average annual inflation rate of 17.4%, compared with 6.08% in Uganda. In 2024, inflation was 32.2% in Malawi and 3.3% in Uganda.

Top exports between countries

Malawi
Export category Export value
Processed food, beverages & tobacco $958K
Metals $700K
Raw materials & minerals $44K
Chemicals & pharma $41K
Precious metals & jewellery $33K
Raw agricultural goods $30K
Machinery & equipment $25K
Textiles & consumer goods $21K
Animal & marine products $5K
Wood & paper products $1K
Uganda
Export category Export value
Chemicals & pharma $4.71M
Animal & marine products $1.4M
Processed food, beverages & tobacco $1.08M
Raw materials & minerals $395K
Metals $131K
Textiles & consumer goods $75K
Miscellaneous $53K
Machinery & equipment $50K
Wood & paper products $13K

Balance of trade

Malawi Uganda
Current account balance
-$2.13B
2024
-$4.29B
2024
Current account balance ranking
145/190
2024
164/190
2024
Current account balance, % of GDP
-18.8%
2024
-7.96%
2024
Goods imports
$3.02B
2024
$11.7B
2024
Goods exports
$1.02B
2024
$8.67B
2024
Service imports
$895M
2024
$4.38B
2024
Service exports
$508M
2024
$2.39B
2024
Imports of goods and services, % of GDP
31.2%
2023
25.9%
2024
Exports of goods and services, % of GDP
11.2%
2023
16.8%
2024

Economic freedom indices

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

Malawi Uganda
Economic freedom 50.7 52.4
Economic freedom ranking 159/197 149/197
Property rights 49.5 42.2
Government integrity 35 25.1
Judicial effectiveness 51.8 29.4
Tax burden 77 73.4
Government spending 77.8 89
Fiscal health 4.7 58.3
Business freedom 34.1 50.2
Labor freedom 55.2 55.9
Monetary freedom 55.1 77.1
Trade freedom 68.6 58
Investment freedom 50 30
Financial freedom 50 40

Economic freedom comparison by year

Malawi
Uganda
1x
Year Economic freedom index
Malawi Uganda
2026 50.7 52.4
2025 50.9 51.3
2024 52.1 50.7
2023 52.8 51.4
2022 53 54.2
2021 53 58.6
2020 52.8 59.5
2019 51.4 59.7
2018 52 62
2017 52.2 60.9
2016 51.8 59.3
2015 54.8 59.7
2014 55.4 59.9
2013 55.3 61.1
2012 56.4 61.9
2011 55.8 61.7
2010 54.1 62.2
2009 53.7 63.5
2008 52.7 63.8
2007 52.9 63.1
2006 55.4 63.9
2005 53.6 62.9
2004 53.6 64.1
2003 53.2 60.1
2002 56.9 61
2001 56.2 60.4
2000 57.4 58.2
1999 54 64.8
1998 54.1 64.7
1997 53.4 66.6
1996 56.2 66.2
1995 54.7 62.9

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

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

The Economic Freedom Index for Malawi is 50.7, ranking 159/197, compared to 52.4 for Uganda, ranking 149/197. The chart above displays a comparison of annual changes in economic freedom indexes.

Other economic metrics

Malawi Uganda
Services, % of GDP
44.2%
2024
43.1%
2024
Industry, % of GDP
17.1%
2024
24.9%
2024
Agriculture, forestry, and fishing, % of GDP
31.8%
2024
24.6%
2024
GNI, Atlas method
$12.3B
2024
$50.9B
2024
GNI per capita, PPP
$1,830
2024
$3,190
2024
Total reserves including gold
$594M
2020
$3.36B
2018
Total reserves ranking
154/177
2020
114/177
2018
Net foreign direct investment
-$202M
2024
-$3.26B
2024
Net inflows of foreign direct investment
$681M
2024
$3.26B
2024
Net outflows of foreign direct investment
$56.4M
2024
$400K
2024
Servicing debt to the IMF, % of GNI
1.47%
2024
2.96%
2024
Poverty at national poverty lines
50.7%
2019
20.3%
2019
Gross capital formation, % of GDP
14.5%
2023
22.4%
2024

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/malawi/uganda | CC BY

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Data sources:

  1. World Bank | Economy & Growth (1960–2024, retrieved 2026-04-06)
  2. International Monetary Fund (IMF) | Fiscal Monitor (1997–2024, 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 (2022–2024, 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.