Malawi is a low-income country with a population of 21.7M people. The capital and largest city is Lilongwe, with 989K residents. Malawi shares land borders with Mozambique, Zambia and Tanzania.
Malawi ranks 151/197 by GDP ($11.3B) and 194/197 by GDP per capita ($523). The top export category is processed food, beverages & tobacco, while the top import is raw materials & minerals.
Main facts and rankings
Malawi
|
Rank | |
|---|---|---|
| Population |
22949294
|
61/197 |
| GDP |
$11.3B
2024 |
151/197 |
| GDP per capita |
$523
2024 |
194/197 |
| GDP per capita, PPP |
$1,858
2024 |
189/197 |
| Government debt |
$9.91B
2024 |
126/185 |
| Debt-to-GDP ratio |
87.6%
2024 |
35/185 |
| Government debt per person |
$458
2024 |
168/185 |
| Average annual personal income after taxes |
$3,031
2026 |
142/197 |
| Land area | 36,402 sq mi | 107/197 |
| Population density | 626 ppl/mi² | 48/197 |
| Fertility rate | 3.65 | 39/196 |
| Median age | 18.9 years | 181/196 |
| Life expectancy | 67.9 years | 152/197 |
Malawi trends dashboard: time-series charts
| Year | GDP |
|---|---|
| 2024 | $11,316,411,329 |
| 2023 | $13,363,669,673 |
| 2022 | $12,429,059,928 |
| 2021 | $12,378,119,199 |
| 2020 | $11,769,313,598 |
| 2019 | $11,051,852,713 |
| 2018 | $9,879,220,354 |
| 2017 | $8,943,543,794 |
| 2016 | $7,909,868,618 |
| 2015 | $9,219,474,379 |
| 2014 | $8,801,326,169 |
| 2013 | $8,031,571,928 |
| 2012 | $8,773,203,178 |
| 2011 | $11,648,142,958 |
| 2010 | $10,128,323,011 |
| 2009 | $9,009,887,947 |
| 2008 | $7,743,617,352 |
| 2007 | $6,451,210,219 |
| 2006 | $5,818,279,739 |
| 2005 | $5,320,409,651 |
| 2004 | $5,058,726,350 |
| 2003 | $4,669,789,300 |
| 2002 | $5,087,328,438 |
| 2001 | $2,498,008,665 |
| 2000 | $2,537,307,580 |
| 1999 | $2,584,478,924 |
| 1998 | $2,547,609,590 |
| 1997 | $3,875,785,863 |
| 1996 | $3,319,573,750 |
| 1995 | $2,033,701,498 |
| 1994 | $1,719,864,761 |
| 1993 | $3,013,392,658 |
| 1992 | $2,618,837,835 |
| 1991 | $3,206,783,830 |
| 1990 | $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/facts/malawi | CC BY 
| Year | GDP per capita |
|---|---|
| 2024 | $523 |
| 2023 | $633 |
| 2022 | $604 |
| 2021 | $617 |
| 2020 | $603 |
| 2019 | $581 |
| 2018 | $533 |
| 2017 | $496 |
| 2016 | $451 |
| 2015 | $540 |
| 2014 | $530 |
| 2013 | $497 |
| 2012 | $558 |
| 2011 | $763 |
| 2010 | $683 |
| 2009 | $626 |
| 2008 | $554 |
| 2007 | $475 |
| 2006 | $441 |
| 2005 | $414 |
| 2004 | $405 |
| 2003 | $383 |
| 2002 | $428 |
| 2001 | $215.5 |
| 2000 | $224.2 |
| 1999 | $233.9 |
| 1998 | $236 |
| 1997 | $367 |
| 1996 | $321 |
| 1995 | $200.4 |
| 1994 | $169.2 |
| 1993 | $293 |
| 1992 | $258.4 |
| 1991 | $326 |
| 1990 | $286.7 |
| 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/facts/malawi | CC BY
Malawi's life expectancy calculator
| Year | Life expectancy, years |
|---|---|
| 2026 | 67.9 |
| 2025 | 67.7 |
| 2024 | 67.6 |
| 2023 | 67.4 |
| 2022 | 66 |
| 2021 | 64.8 |
| 2020 | 65.2 |
| 2019 | 65 |
| 2018 | 64.5 |
| 2017 | 63.9 |
| 2016 | 63.2 |
| 2015 | 62.3 |
| 2014 | 61.7 |
| 2013 | 60.8 |
| 2012 | 59.9 |
| 2011 | 58.9 |
| 2010 | 57.8 |
| 2009 | 56.7 |
| 2008 | 55.7 |
| 2007 | 54.7 |
| 2006 | 53.7 |
| 2005 | 52.5 |
| 2004 | 51.1 |
| 2003 | 49.6 |
| 2002 | 48.2 |
| 2001 | 47.2 |
| 2000 | 46.2 |
| 1999 | 45.1 |
| 1998 | 44.3 |
| 1997 | 44.2 |
| 1996 | 44 |
| 1995 | 43.8 |
| 1994 | 43.8 |
| 1993 | 43.6 |
| 1992 | 43.6 |
| 1991 | 43.5 |
| 1990 | 43.6 |
| 1989 | 43.5 |
| 1988 | 43.6 |
| 1987 | 43.9 |
| 1986 | 44.3 |
| 1985 | 44.6 |
| 1984 | 44.8 |
| 1983 | 45 |
| 1982 | 44.8 |
| 1981 | 44.7 |
| 1980 | 44.3 |
| 1979 | 43.7 |
| 1978 | 43 |
| 1977 | 42 |
| 1976 | 41 |
| 1975 | 40.1 |
| 1974 | 39.2 |
| 1973 | 38.4 |
| 1972 | 37.6 |
| 1971 | 37.1 |
| 1970 | 36.6 |
| 1969 | 36.3 |
| 1968 | 36.1 |
| 1967 | 35.9 |
| 1966 | 35.8 |
| 1965 | 35.7 |
| 1964 | 35.7 |
| 1963 | 35.6 |
| 1962 | 35.4 |
| 1961 | 35.2 |
| 1960 | 35 |
| 1959 | 34.8 |
| 1958 | 34.4 |
| 1957 | 34.1 |
| 1956 | 33.8 |
| 1955 | 33.6 |
| 1954 | 33.3 |
| 1953 | 33.2 |
| 1952 | 33 |
| 1951 | 32.8 |
| 1950 | 32.7 |
Data sources: United Nations | World Population Prospects (1950–2026, retrieved 2026-03-10).
GeoRank.org/facts/malawi | CC BY
Malawi's population clock and projection
| Year | Population |
|---|---|
| 2024 | 21,655,286 |
| 2023 | 21,104,482 |
| 2022 | 20,568,728 |
| 2021 | 20,047,258 |
| 2020 | 19,533,888 |
| 2019 | 19,025,752 |
| 2018 | 18,528,081 |
| 2017 | 18,039,715 |
| 2016 | 17,557,739 |
| 2015 | 17,085,587 |
| 2014 | 16,621,538 |
| 2013 | 16,161,816 |
| 2012 | 15,709,577 |
| 2011 | 15,265,022 |
| 2010 | 14,826,463 |
| 2009 | 14,395,788 |
| 2008 | 13,976,417 |
| 2007 | 13,576,343 |
| 2006 | 13,198,701 |
| 2005 | 12,840,031 |
| 2004 | 12,500,737 |
| 2003 | 12,181,574 |
| 2002 | 11,880,440 |
| 2001 | 11,593,058 |
| 2000 | 11,315,942 |
| 1999 | 11,047,804 |
| 1998 | 10,792,876 |
| 1997 | 10,562,035 |
| 1996 | 10,352,228 |
| 1995 | 10,150,117 |
| 1994 | 10,164,894 |
| 1993 | 10,284,024 |
| 1992 | 10,135,079 |
| 1991 | 9,844,227 |
| 1990 | 9,545,852 |
| 1989 | 9,176,220 |
| 1988 | 8,753,262 |
| 1987 | 8,293,174 |
| 1986 | 7,906,480 |
| 1985 | 7,620,508 |
| 1984 | 7,332,810 |
| 1983 | 7,051,709 |
| 1982 | 6,778,879 |
| 1981 | 6,516,454 |
| 1980 | 6,265,529 |
| 1979 | 6,028,749 |
| 1978 | 5,810,132 |
| 1977 | 5,614,983 |
| 1976 | 5,443,384 |
| 1975 | 5,287,367 |
| 1974 | 5,141,337 |
| 1973 | 5,003,938 |
| 1972 | 4,874,475 |
| 1971 | 4,751,434 |
| 1970 | 4,633,944 |
| 1969 | 4,521,184 |
| 1968 | 4,411,054 |
| 1967 | 4,303,012 |
| 1966 | 4,197,926 |
| 1965 | 4,096,157 |
| 1964 | 3,997,305 |
| 1963 | 3,900,506 |
| 1962 | 3,806,307 |
| 1961 | 3,715,534 |
| 1960 | 3,628,134 |
Data sources: World Bank | Health (1960–2024, retrieved 2026-04-06).
GeoRank.org/facts/malawi | CC BY
Malawi's birth and fertility rates
| Year | Fertility rate |
|---|---|
| 2023 | 3.65 |
| 2022 | 3.72 |
| 2021 | 3.79 |
| 2020 | 3.88 |
| 2019 | 3.95 |
| 2018 | 4.02 |
| 2017 | 4.11 |
| 2016 | 4.22 |
| 2015 | 4.38 |
| 2014 | 4.57 |
| 2013 | 4.76 |
| 2012 | 4.9 |
| 2011 | 5.08 |
| 2010 | 5.26 |
| 2009 | 5.45 |
| 2008 | 5.61 |
| 2007 | 5.72 |
| 2006 | 5.8 |
| 2005 | 5.85 |
| 2004 | 5.86 |
| 2003 | 5.88 |
| 2002 | 5.9 |
| 2001 | 5.94 |
| 2000 | 6 |
| 1999 | 6.12 |
| 1998 | 6.21 |
| 1997 | 6.23 |
| 1996 | 6.29 |
| 1995 | 6.39 |
| 1994 | 6.49 |
| 1993 | 6.57 |
| 1992 | 6.63 |
| 1991 | 6.68 |
| 1990 | 6.74 |
| 1989 | 6.8 |
| 1988 | 6.88 |
| 1987 | 6.97 |
| 1986 | 7.07 |
| 1985 | 7.17 |
| 1984 | 7.27 |
| 1983 | 7.36 |
| 1982 | 7.45 |
| 1981 | 7.49 |
| 1980 | 7.52 |
| 1979 | 7.47 |
| 1978 | 7.43 |
| 1977 | 7.41 |
| 1976 | 7.39 |
| 1975 | 7.36 |
| 1974 | 7.34 |
| 1973 | 7.34 |
| 1972 | 7.33 |
| 1971 | 7.31 |
| 1970 | 7.3 |
| 1969 | 7.27 |
| 1968 | 7.26 |
| 1967 | 7.21 |
| 1966 | 7.17 |
| 1965 | 7.13 |
| 1964 | 7.11 |
| 1963 | 7.13 |
| 1962 | 7.1 |
| 1961 | 7.07 |
| 1960 | 7.04 |
Data sources: World Bank | Health (1960–2023, retrieved 2026-04-06).
GeoRank.org/facts/malawi | CC BY
| Year | Median age, years |
|---|---|
| 2024 | 18.9 |
| 2023 | 18.7 |
| 2022 | 18.4 |
| 2021 | 18.2 |
| 2020 | 18 |
| 2019 | 17.8 |
| 2018 | 17.6 |
| 2017 | 17.4 |
| 2016 | 17.2 |
| 2015 | 17.1 |
| 2014 | 17 |
| 2013 | 16.9 |
| 2012 | 16.8 |
| 2011 | 16.8 |
| 2010 | 16.7 |
| 2009 | 16.7 |
| 2008 | 16.8 |
| 2007 | 16.8 |
| 2006 | 16.8 |
| 2005 | 16.8 |
| 2004 | 16.8 |
| 2003 | 16.8 |
| 2002 | 16.8 |
| 2001 | 16.8 |
| 2000 | 16.8 |
| 1999 | 16.7 |
| 1998 | 16.8 |
| 1997 | 16.8 |
| 1996 | 16.8 |
| 1995 | 16.9 |
| 1994 | 16.9 |
| 1993 | 17 |
| 1992 | 17.1 |
| 1991 | 17.2 |
| 1990 | 17.3 |
| 1989 | 17.4 |
| 1988 | 17.5 |
| 1987 | 17.4 |
| 1986 | 17.3 |
| 1985 | 17.3 |
| 1984 | 17.3 |
| 1983 | 17.3 |
| 1982 | 17.3 |
| 1981 | 17.3 |
| 1980 | 17.3 |
| 1979 | 17.4 |
| 1978 | 17.4 |
| 1977 | 17.4 |
| 1976 | 17.5 |
| 1975 | 17.5 |
| 1974 | 17.6 |
| 1973 | 17.7 |
| 1972 | 17.8 |
| 1971 | 17.9 |
| 1970 | 18 |
| 1969 | 18.2 |
| 1968 | 18.3 |
| 1967 | 18.3 |
| 1966 | 18.3 |
| 1965 | 18.4 |
| 1964 | 18.3 |
| 1963 | 18.3 |
| 1962 | 18.3 |
| 1961 | 18.3 |
| 1960 | 18.2 |
Data sources: World Bank | Health (1960–2024, retrieved 2026-04-06).
GeoRank.org/facts/malawi | CC BY
Malawi vs. World: Interactive Maps
Use the buttons below to toggle between world maps that display different statistics comparing Malawi with other countries.
Malawi: National Statistics
Finance
|
Malawi
|
Rank | |
|---|---|---|
| GNI, Atlas method |
$12.3B
2024 |
147/194 |
| Government expenditure, % of GDP |
29.5%
2024 |
99/195 |
| Education expenditure, % of GDP |
2.75%
2022 |
153/193 |
| Military expenditure, % of GDP |
1.02%
2024 |
115/163 |
| Armed forces personnel |
15,000
2020 |
118/174 |
| Deficit/surplus, % of GDP |
-11%
2024 |
180/188 |
| Unemployment rate |
15.4%
2024 |
16/196 |
| Services, % of GDP |
44.2%
2024 |
161/191 |
| Industry, % of GDP |
17.1%
2024 |
151/194 |
| Economic freedom index |
50.7
2026 |
159/197 |
| Income share by richest 10% |
31%
2019 |
48/169 |
| Income share by poorest 10% |
2.9%
2019 |
74/169 |
| Total reserves including gold |
$594M
2020 |
154/177 |
| Personal remittances received |
$187M
2024 |
143/191 |
| International tourist arrivals |
871,000
2018 |
101/188 |
| International tourism as share of exports |
2.68%
2020 |
126/184 |
| Banked people share |
50.4%
2024 |
113/158 |
Energy
|
Malawi
|
Rank | |
|---|---|---|
| Carbon dioxide (CO2) emissions |
4.79 megatons
2024 |
136/187 |
| CO2 emissions per capita |
0.22 tons
2024 |
169/187 |
| Renewable energy use share |
62.9%
2022 |
33/193 |
| Renewable electricity output share |
80.1%
2021 |
29/192 |
| Hydroelectric share |
72.5%
2021 |
21/192 |
| Nuclear share |
0%
2021 |
120/192 |
| Electricity access |
15.6%
2023 |
192/195 |
Society
|
Malawi
|
Rank | |
|---|---|---|
| % of world population |
0.27%
2024 |
62/197 |
| Annual migration change |
-5,628
2025 |
118/196 |
| Urban population |
17.3%
2024 |
193/195 |
| Male:Female ratio |
48.8:51.2
2024 |
N/A |
| Average male height |
5.44 ft
2025 |
175/190 |
| Average female height |
5.12 ft
2025 |
165/190 |
| Quality of life index |
31.3
2026 |
151/197 |
| Corruption Perceptions Index |
34
2025 |
127/197 |
| Higher education index |
26
2026 |
138/183 |
| Homicides per 100K people |
1.79
2012 |
124/197 |
| Road traffic mortality per 100K people |
33.4
2019 |
13/197 |
| Visa free countries |
78
2025 |
123/195 |
| Adult literacy rate |
68.1%
2022 |
170/196 |
| English speaking |
3.88%
2023 |
156/197 |
| People using the Internet |
18%
2023 |
185/195 |
Health
|
Malawi
|
Rank | |
|---|---|---|
| Government health expenditure per capita |
$41.3
2023 |
177/192 |
| Out-of-pocket health expenditure per capita |
$4.95
2023 |
188/192 |
| Life expectancy |
67.9 years
2026 |
152/197 |
| Foreign aid share of health expenditure |
65.5%
2023 |
1/181 |
| Physicians per 1,000 people |
0.05
2022 |
190/193 |
| Age at first childbirth |
19.1 years
2025 |
133/137 |
| Maternal mortality per 100K births |
225
2023 |
36/193 |
| Mortality rate before reaching 5 years of age |
38.3
2023 |
50/192 |
| Obesity rate |
7.87%
2022 |
170/189 |
| Diabetes prevalence |
5.7%
2024 |
157/195 |
| Air quality index |
34
2026 |
132/197 |
| Tobacco use prevalence |
9.7%
2022 |
134/164 |
| Pure alcohol consumption per capita |
3.61 liters
2020 |
109/186 |
Territory
|
Malawi
|
Rank | |
|---|---|---|
| % of world land |
0.06%
2026 |
107/197 |
| Land area per capita |
1,681 sq mi
2024 |
148/197 |
| Agricultural land area |
23,359 sq mi
2026 |
82/194 |
| Forest area |
8,169 sq mi
2026 |
106/196 |
| Roads length |
9,601 mi
2015 |
107/176 |
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Data sources:
- World Bank | Health (1960–2025, retrieved 2026-04-06)
- United Nations | World Population Prospects (1950–2026, retrieved 2026-03-10)
- U.S. Census Bureau (1960–2025, retrieved 2026-02-08)
- Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) (2000–2025, retrieved 2026-02-20)
- International Monetary Fund (IMF) | Fiscal Monitor (2024, retrieved 2026-02-20)
- LivingCost (2026, retrieved 2025-10-14)
- Wikidata (2018, retrieved 2026-02-08)
- World Obesity Federation (2022, retrieved 2026-02-08)
- Passport Index (2025, retrieved 2026-02-08)
- Transparency International (2025, retrieved 2026-02-10)
- The Heritage Foundation | Economic Freedom Index (2026, retrieved 2026-03-09)
- EduRank (2026, retrieved 2025-10-13)
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