Malawi vs Zambia: how the neighbours compare
| Indicator | Malawi | Zambia | Ranks |
|---|---|---|---|
| Population | |||
| Population | 22.2m2025 | 21.9m2025 | 60 · 61 |
| Area | 118,484 km²2024 | 752,612 km²2024 | 101 · 38 |
| Density | 229.72024 | 28.72024 | 61 · 175 |
| Urban share | 17.6%2025 | 45.9%2025 | 214 · 159 |
| Fertility | 3.592024 | 4.042024 | 41 · 25 |
| Aged 65+ | 2.6%2025 | 2.0%2025 | 207 · 215 |
| Economy | |||
| GDP | $14.9bn2025 | $28.9bn2025 | 148 · 117 |
| GDP per capita | $6722025 | $1,3182025 | 205 · 188 |
| GDP per capita, PPP | $1,8992025 | $4,3792025 | 195 · 173 |
| GDP growth | 1.9%2025 | 3.8%2025 | 148 · 86 |
| Agriculture share | 30.0%2025 | 4.1%2025 | 12 · 113 |
| Industry share | 14.3%2025 | 35.3%2025 | 165 · 31 |
| Services share | 48.7%2025 | 57.0%2025 | 154 · 107 |
| Prices & public finance | |||
| Inflation | 28.4%2025 | 13.9%2025 | 9 · 16 |
| Tax revenue | 15.6%2024 | 18.8%2024 | 77 · 53 |
| Military spending | 1.15%2025 | 1.26%2025 | 106 · 102 |
| Trade & investment | |||
| Exports | 10.6%2025 | 35.0%2024 | 175 · 98 |
| FDI inflows | 3.6%2025 | 4.5%2025 | 60 · 46 |
| Labour | |||
| Unemployment | 5.1%2025 | 5.9%2025 | 99 · 80 |
| Aid, poverty & equality | |||
| Women in parliament | 21.4%2025 | 15.0%2025 | 117 · 148 |
| Education | |||
| Tertiary enrolment | 2.7%2022 | — | 171 · — |
| Education spending | 2.7%2022 | 4.1%2023 | 153 · 98 |
| Health | |||
| Life expectancy | 67.6 yrs2024 | 66.5 yrs2024 | 171 · 181 |
| Infant mortality | 38.02024 | 34.62024 | 29 · 35 |
| Health spending | 6.5%2023 | 6.0%2023 | 96 · 105 |
| Physicians | 0.052022 | 0.322022 | 178 · 138 |
| Digital & energy access | |||
| Internet users | 19.0%2024 | 17.1%2024 | 178 · 181 |
| Fixed broadband | 0.12024 | 0.82024 | 196 · 173 |
| Electricity access | 15.6%2024 | 53.6%2024 | 213 · 197 |
| Environment | |||
| CO₂ per person | 0.22 t2024 | 0.54 t2024 | 179 · 159 |
| Renewable energy | 62.9%2022 | 83.0%2021 | 33 · 11 |
| Forest cover | 22.0%2024 | 60.5%2024 | 127 · 31 |
Higher value in each row is highlighted; it is not always the better one (think inflation or emissions). Ranks are world positions.
GDP per capita
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Life expectancy
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Population
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Internet users
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Source: World Bank, World Development Indicators (CC BY 4.0)
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