COUNTRY PROFILE / MWI

MW

Malawi

Compare Malawi

Malawi is a World Bank reporting economy in Sub-Saharan Africa . Its reported capital is Lilongwe. Explore its demographic, economic and social trends using 15 available indicators.

Sub-Saharan Africa Low incomeLatest observations: 2022–2025

Latest country indicators

What changed?

A decade of change, measured from each indicator’s latest available year.

Population

+30%2015 → 2025

GDP per capita

+24.4%2015 → 2025

Internet adoption

+13.1 percentage points2014 → 2024

Life expectancy

+5.9 years2014 → 2024

Changes describe direction, not performance. Percentage-point differences apply to percentage indicators; currency changes use current US dollars.

THE LONG VIEW

Malawi, through the years

Explore each indicator. Select a time range or open the underlying data table.

Demographics

Demographics / people

Population in Malawi

22.2MLatest available · 2025
Malawi

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Population changed by +30% between 2015 and 2025.

View data table
Population·people· World Bank
YearMalawi
202522,216,120
202421,655,286
202321,104,482
202220,568,728
202120,047,258
202019,533,888
201919,025,752
201818,528,081
201718,039,715
201617,557,739
201517,085,587
201416,621,538
201316,161,816
201215,709,577
201115,265,022
201014,826,463
200914,395,788
200813,976,417
200713,576,343
200613,198,701
200512,840,031
200412,500,737
200312,181,574
200211,880,440
200111,593,058
200011,315,942
199911,047,804
199810,792,876
199710,562,035
199610,352,228
199510,150,117
199410,164,894
199310,284,024
199210,135,079
19919,844,227
19909,545,852
19899,176,220
19888,753,262
19878,293,174
19867,906,480
19857,620,508
19847,332,810
19837,051,709
19826,778,879
19816,516,454
19806,265,529
19796,028,749
19785,810,132
19775,614,983
19765,443,384
19755,287,367
19745,141,337
19735,003,938
19724,874,475
19714,751,434
19704,633,944
19694,521,184
19684,411,054
19674,303,012
19664,197,926
19654,096,157
19643,997,305
19633,900,506
19623,806,307
19613,715,534
19603,628,134

The total number of residents, based on the de facto definition of population and midyear estimates. Explore population across countries →

Demographics / %

Population growth in Malawi

2.6%Latest available · 2025
Malawi

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Population growth changed by -0.2 percentage points between 2015 and 2025.

View data table
Population growth·%· World Bank
YearMalawi
20252.56%
20242.58%
20232.57%
20222.57%
20212.59%
20202.64%
20192.65%
20182.67%
20172.71%
20162.73%
20152.75%
20142.8%
20132.84%
20122.87%
20112.92%
20102.95%
20092.96%
20082.9%
20072.82%
20062.76%
20052.68%
20042.59%
20032.5%
20022.45%
20012.42%
20002.4%
19992.33%
19982.16%
19972.01%
19961.97%
1995-0.15%
1994-1.17%
19931.46%
19922.91%
19913.08%
19903.95%
19894.72%
19885.4%
19874.78%
19863.68%
19853.85%
19843.91%
19833.95%
19823.95%
19813.93%
19803.85%
19793.69%
19783.42%
19773.1%
19762.91%
19752.8%
19742.71%
19732.62%
19722.56%
19712.5%
19702.46%
19692.47%
19682.48%
19672.47%
19662.45%
19652.44%
19642.45%
19632.44%
19622.41%
19612.38%

The annual exponential rate of growth in the midyear population, expressed as a percentage. Explore population growth across countries →

Demographics / %

Urban population in Malawi

17.6%Latest available · 2025
Malawi

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Urban population changed by +1.8 percentage points between 2015 and 2025.

View data table
Urban population·%· World Bank
YearMalawi
202517.59%
202417.27%
202316.97%
202216.71%
202116.49%
202016.3%
201916.14%
201816.02%
201715.96%
201615.9%
201515.83%
201415.77%
201315.7%
201215.63%
201115.55%
201015.48%
200915.4%
200815.32%
200715.25%
200615.18%
200515.1%
200415.03%
200314.96%
200214.87%
200114.78%
200014.68%
199914.56%
199814.42%
199714.23%
199613.96%
199513.64%
199413.27%
199312.87%
199212.45%
199112.03%
199011.62%
198911.25%
198810.91%
198710.62%
198610.37%
198510.14%
19849.93%
19839.73%
19829.54%
19819.34%
19809.13%
19798.92%
19788.68%
19778.42%
19768.11%
19757.76%
19747.36%
19736.95%
19726.53%
19716.12%
19705.73%
19695.38%
19685.08%
19674.84%
19664.69%
19654.57%
19644.45%
19634.34%
19624.24%
19614.14%
19604.04%

The share of the total population living in urban areas, as defined by national statistical offices. Explore urban population across countries →

Demographics / births per woman

Fertility rate in Malawi

3.6 birthsLatest available · 2024
Malawi

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Fertility rate changed by -1 births per woman between 2014 and 2024.

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Fertility rate·births per woman· World Bank
YearMalawi
20243.59 births
20233.65 births
20223.72 births
20213.79 births
20203.88 births
20193.95 births
20184.02 births
20174.11 births
20164.22 births
20154.38 births
20144.57 births
20134.76 births
20124.9 births
20115.08 births
20105.26 births
20095.45 births
20085.61 births
20075.72 births
20065.8 births
20055.85 births
20045.86 births
20035.88 births
20025.9 births
20015.94 births
20006 births
19996.12 births
19986.21 births
19976.23 births
19966.29 births
19956.39 births
19946.49 births
19936.57 births
19926.63 births
19916.68 births
19906.74 births
19896.8 births
19886.88 births
19876.97 births
19867.07 births
19857.17 births
19847.27 births
19837.36 births
19827.45 births
19817.49 births
19807.52 births
19797.47 births
19787.43 births
19777.41 births
19767.39 births
19757.36 births
19747.34 births
19737.34 births
19727.33 births
19717.31 births
19707.3 births
19697.27 births
19687.26 births
19677.21 births
19667.17 births
19657.13 births
19647.11 births
19637.13 births
19627.1 births
19617.07 births
19607.04 births

The number of children a woman would have if she experienced current age-specific fertility rates throughout her childbearing years. Explore fertility rate across countries →

Economy

Economy / USD

GDP in Malawi

$14.9BLatest available · 2025
Malawi

Interactive chart loading…

GDP changed by +61.8% between 2015 and 2025.

View data table
GDP·USD· World Bank
YearMalawi
2025$14,918,276,698.3
2024$11,311,971,400.39
2023$13,363,669,672.94
2022$12,429,059,928.1
2021$12,378,119,199.08
2020$11,769,313,597.85
2019$11,051,852,712.61
2018$9,879,220,354.29
2017$8,943,543,793.58
2016$7,909,868,618.46
2015$9,219,474,379.32
2014$8,801,326,169.15
2013$8,031,571,927.62
2012$8,773,203,178.17
2011$11,648,142,958.37
2010$10,128,323,010.6
2009$9,009,887,946.82
2008$7,743,617,352.21
2007$6,451,210,219.12
2006$5,818,279,739.14
2005$5,320,409,651.48
2004$5,058,726,350.49
2003$4,669,789,300.36
2002$5,087,328,437.87
2001$2,498,008,664.67
2000$2,537,307,580.33
1999$2,584,478,924.06
1998$2,547,609,590.07
1997$3,875,785,863.38
1996$3,319,573,749.61
1995$2,033,701,497.97
1994$1,719,864,761.31
1993$3,013,392,658
1992$2,618,837,835.03
1991$3,206,783,830.42
1990$2,737,087,861.62
1989$2,314,205,129.58
1988$2,008,189,508.38
1987$1,721,711,808.48
1986$1,722,586,299.41
1985$1,646,442,272.89
1984$1,758,028,656.13
1983$1,780,148,049.44
1982$1,717,379,494.63
1981$1,801,193,909.52
1980$1,801,156,774.57

Gross domestic product measures the value of goods and services produced in an economy, in current US dollars. Explore gdp across countries →

Economy / USD

GDP per capita in Malawi

$671.5Latest available · 2025
Malawi

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GDP per capita changed by +24.4% between 2015 and 2025.

View data table
GDP per capita·USD· World Bank
YearMalawi
2025$671.51
2024$522.37
2023$633.21
2022$604.27
2021$617.45
2020$602.51
2019$580.89
2018$533.2
2017$495.77
2016$450.51
2015$539.61
2014$529.51
2013$496.95
2012$558.46
2011$763.06
2010$683.12
2009$625.87
2008$554.05
2007$475.18
2006$440.82
2005$414.36
2004$404.67
2003$383.35
2002$428.21
2001$215.47
2000$224.22
1999$233.94
1998$236.05
1997$366.95
1996$320.66
1995$200.36
1994$169.2
1993$293.02
1992$258.39
1991$325.75
1990$286.73
1989$252.2
1988$229.42
1987$207.61
1986$217.87
1985$216.05
1984$239.75
1983$252.44
1982$253.34
1981$276.41
1980$287.47

Gross domestic product divided by the midyear population, expressed in current US dollars. Explore gdp per capita across countries →

Economy / %

GDP growth in Malawi

1.9%Latest available · 2025
Malawi

Interactive chart loading…

GDP growth changed by -0.9 percentage points between 2015 and 2025.

View data table
GDP growth·%· World Bank
YearMalawi
20251.89%
20241.67%
20231.95%
20220.92%
20214.56%
20200.79%
20195.72%
20184.35%
20174%
20162.5%
20152.8%
20145.63%
20135.41%
20121.9%
20114.93%
20106.87%
20098.33%
20087.64%
20079.6%
20064.7%
20053.27%
20045.42%
20035.71%
20021.7%
2001-4.97%
20001.58%
19993.04%
19983.9%
19973.79%
19967.32%
199516.73%
1994-10.24%
19939.69%
1992-7.33%
19918.73%
19905.69%
19891.34%
19883.18%
19871.63%
1986-0.21%
19854.57%
19845.36%
19833.72%
19822.5%
1981-5.29%
19800.41%
19794.4%
19789.75%
19774.92%
19765%
19756.09%
19747.18%
19732.3%
19726.23%
197116.22%
19700.48%
19695.88%
1968-1.92%
19677.28%
196613.25%
196513.62%
19642.66%
1963-1.39%
19620.67%
19617.64%

Annual percentage growth of GDP at market prices based on constant local currency. Explore gdp growth across countries →

Economy / %

Inflation in Malawi

28.4%Latest available · 2025
Malawi

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Inflation changed by +6.5 percentage points between 2015 and 2025.

View data table
Inflation·%· World Bank
YearMalawi
202528.37%
202432.18%
202328.79%
202220.95%
20219.33%
20208.63%
20199.37%
201812.42%
201711.54%
201621.71%
201521.87%
201423.79%
201327.28%
201221.27%
20117.62%
20107.41%
20098.42%
20088.71%
20077.95%
200613.97%
200515.41%
200411.43%
20039.58%
200214.74%
200122.7%
200029.58%
199944.8%
199829.75%
19979.14%
199637.6%
199583.33%
199434.65%
199322.77%
199223.75%
199112.62%
199011.82%
198912.45%
198833.91%
198725.16%
198614.05%
198510.52%
198420.03%
198313.5%
19829.82%
198111.81%

The annual percentage change in the cost of a basket of goods and services for the average consumer. Explore inflation across countries →

Economy / %

Unemployment in Malawi

5.1%Latest available · 2025
Malawi

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Unemployment changed by +0.1 percentage points between 2015 and 2025.

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Unemployment·%· World Bank
YearMalawi
20255.07%
20245.05%
20235.01%
20225.02%
20215.65%
20205.72%
20194.96%
20185.02%
20175.05%
20165.01%
20154.95%
20144.97%
20134.98%
20124.95%
20114.83%
20104.78%
20094.73%
20084.8%
20074.88%
20064.95%
20054.94%
20044.96%
20035.17%
20025.25%
20015.22%
20005.05%
19995%
19984.92%
19974.69%
19964.94%
19954.9%
19945.37%
19934.99%
19925.06%
19914.9%

The share of the labor force without work but available for and seeking employment, using modeled ILO estimates. Explore unemployment across countries →

Health

Health / years

Life expectancy in Malawi

67.6 yearsLatest available · 2024
Malawi

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Life expectancy changed by +5.9 years between 2014 and 2024.

View data table
Life expectancy·years· World Bank
YearMalawi
202467.56 years
202367.35 years
202266.04 years
202164.78 years
202065.22 years
201965 years
201864.46 years
201763.91 years
201663.16 years
201562.32 years
201461.65 years
201360.82 years
201259.87 years
201158.86 years
201057.79 years
200956.71 years
200855.72 years
200754.69 years
200653.65 years
200552.47 years
200451.07 years
200349.6 years
200248.18 years
200147.21 years
200046.17 years
199945.06 years
199844.3 years
199744.2 years
199644.01 years
199543.8 years
199443.8 years
199343.65 years
199243.64 years
199143.54 years
199043.58 years
198943.52 years
198843.57 years
198743.9 years
198644.3 years
198544.57 years
198444.81 years
198344.97 years
198244.84 years
198144.72 years
198044.33 years
197943.7 years
197843 years
197741.98 years
197641.02 years
197540.08 years
197439.2 years
197338.36 years
197237.61 years
197137.1 years
197036.64 years
196936.3 years
196836.09 years
196735.94 years
196635.83 years
196535.74 years
196435.68 years
196335.64 years
196235.45 years
196135.23 years
196034.99 years

The years a newborn would live if prevailing patterns of mortality at birth remained the same throughout life. Explore life expectancy across countries →

Health / %

Health expenditure in Malawi

6.5%Latest available · 2023
Malawi

Interactive chart loading…

Health expenditure changed by -1.7 percentage points between 2013 and 2023.

View data table
Health expenditure·%· World Bank
YearMalawi
20236.53%
20226.63%
20217.52%
20207.04%
20196.37%
20186.88%
20177.58%
20167.73%
20156.63%
20146.9%
20138.22%
20126.02%
20115.32%
20105.14%
20095.87%
20086.11%
20075.44%
20064.91%
20054.3%
20044.07%
20033.32%
20022.7%
20012.06%
20002.35%

Current health expenditure as a share of GDP, including public and private spending on healthcare goods and services. Explore health expenditure across countries →

Technology

Technology / %

Internet adoption in Malawi

19%Latest available · 2024
Malawi

Interactive chart loading…

Internet adoption changed by +13.1 percentage points between 2014 and 2024.

View data table
Internet adoption·%· World Bank
YearMalawi
202418.96%
202317.99%
202216.85%
202115.3%
202013.9%
201911.06%
20188.8%
20177%
20166.3%
20156%
20145.83%
20135.05%
20124.35%
20113.33%
20102.26%
20091.07%
20080.7%
20070.97%
20060.43%
20050.38%
20040.35%
20030.28%
20020.22%
20010.16%
20000.13%
19990.09%
19980.02%
19970%
19900%

The percentage of individuals who have used the Internet from any location in the last three months. Explore internet adoption across countries →

Environment

Environment / %

Renewable energy in Malawi

62.9%Latest available · 2022
Malawi

Interactive chart loading…

Renewable energy changed by -17.3 percentage points between 2012 and 2022.

View data table
Renewable energy·%· World Bank
YearMalawi
202262.9%
202171.1%
202071.5%
201970.9%
201873.2%
201776.9%
201678.9%
201581%
201482.8%
201379.8%
201280.2%
201180.2%
201081.2%
200980%
200880.4%
200782.2%
200682.8%
200583.2%
200482.4%
200382.8%
200283.3%
200183.1%
200082.6%
199981%
199881.9%
199781.2%
199681.4%
199581.7%
199482%
199381.3%
199282.7%
199182.6%
199084%

Renewable energy consumption as a share of total final energy consumption. Explore renewable energy across countries →

Environment / %

Access to electricity in Malawi

15.6%Latest available · 2024
Malawi

Interactive chart loading…

Access to electricity changed by +3.7 percentage points between 2014 and 2024.

View data table
Access to electricity·%· World Bank
YearMalawi
202415.6%
202315.6%
202214%
202114.2%
202011.5%
201911.2%
201818%
201712.7%
201611%
201510.8%
201411.9%
20139%
20127.4%
20117.6%
20108.7%
20098.3%
20087.8%
20077.4%
20063.7%
20056.6%
20046.9%
20036.2%
20025.6%
20015.2%
20004.8%
19994.27%
19983.83%
19973.38%
19962.93%
19952.47%
19942.01%
19931.55%
19923.2%

The percentage of the population with access to electricity, based on household surveys and other sources. Explore access to electricity across countries →

Trade

Trade / %

Trade in Malawi

39.4%Latest available · 2025
Malawi

Interactive chart loading…

Missing observations are shown as gaps, never as zero.

View data table
Trade·%· World Bank
YearMalawi
202539.4%
202441.9%
202342.44%
202243.62%
202144.6%
202041.03%
201944.2%
201843.58%
201745.3%

The sum of exports and imports of goods and services, measured as a share of gross domestic product. Explore trade across countries →

Source: World Bank · World Development IndicatorsRetrieved 2026-09-23

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