Trade & investment · Sub-Saharan Africa · Low income
Malawi: trade and investment
Exports is 10.6% (2025), 175th of 184 in the world and 41st of 43 in Sub-Saharan Africa. Imports is 28.8% (2025), 138th of 184 in the world and 27th of 43 in Sub-Saharan Africa. Trade openness is 39.4% (2025), 163rd of 184 in the world and 35th of 43 in Sub-Saharan Africa.
13 indicators
Trade & investment: Malawi in detail
Latest reported value, world rank and rank within Sub-Saharan Africa; values around 2000, 2010, 2020; group and world columns are World Bank aggregates.
| Indicator | Latest | World rank | In region | ~2000 | ~2010 | ~2020 | 10-year change | Region | Income group | World | Since 2000 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| ExportsExports of goods and services, % of GDP | 10.6%2025 | 175/184 | 41/43 | · | · | 11.0% | — | 27.9% | 23.6% | 29.5% | |
| ImportsImports of goods and services, % of GDP | 28.8%2025 | 138/184 | 27/43 | · | · | 30.0% | — | 27.9% | 33.9% | 28.5% | |
| Trade opennessTrade, % of GDP | 39.4%2025 | 163/184 | 35/43 | · | · | 41.0% | — | 55.7% | 47.6% | 68.5% | |
| Current accountCurrent account balance, % of GDP | -14.0%2025 | 167/185 | 39/42 | -2.9% | -9.6% | -13.9% | −2.4 ppsince 2015 | — | — | — | |
| Merchandise exportsMerchandise exports, current US$ | $947m2025 | 157/206 | 38/48 | $379m | $1.1bn | $771m | −12%since 2015 | $487bn | $107bn | $26.4tn | |
| High-tech exportsHigh-technology exports, % of manufactured exports | 1.6%2024 | 137/170 | 24/39 | · | 2.0% | 2.8% | −2.5 ppsince 2014 | 6.0% | 2.1% | 24.7% | |
| Fuel exportsFuel exports, % of merchandise exports | 0.0%2025 | 153/172 | 32/39 | 0.2% | 0.2% | 0.2% | −0.1 ppsince 2015 | 40.9% | 8.2% | 9.5% | |
| Food exportsFood exports, % of merchandise exports | 93.3%2025 | 5/172 | 2/39 | 89.2% | 77.8% | 91.9% | +12.2 ppsince 2015 | 14.6% | 38.0% | 9.0% | |
| Average tariffApplied tariff rate, weighted mean, all products | 6.0%2021 | 71/184 | 34/45 | 12.4% | 6.4% | 6.2% | −0.1 ppsince 2011 | — | — | — | |
| FDI inflowsForeign direct investment, net inflows, % of GDP | 3.6%2025 | 60/197 | 17/46 | 1.0% | 1.0% | 2.1% | +0.4 ppsince 2015 | 2.1% | 3.7% | 1.4% | |
| RemittancesPersonal remittances received, % of GDP | 2.0%2025 | 97/178 | 25/41 | 0.0% | 0.2% | 2.0% | +1.6 ppsince 2015 | 3.1% | 3.4% | 0.8% | |
| Tourist arrivalsInternational tourist arrivals | 871,0002018 | 105/196 | 12/42 | 228,000 | 746,000 | 871,0002018 | +17%since 2008 | 56.0m | 17.4m | 2.4bn | |
| Tourism receiptsInternational tourism receipts, current US$ | $35.0m2020 | 161/177 | 32/40 | $29.0m | $45.0m | $35.0m | −22%since 2010 | $34.9bn | $11.8bn | $1.9tn |
Source: World Bank, World Development Indicators (CC BY 4.0)“·” — no value reported within two years of that date. World rank counts countries with a recent value.
neighbours
Malawi and its neighbours
Countries sharing a land border with Malawi. Latest values since 2005; the highest in each row is marked.
| Indicator | Malawi | Tanzania | Mozambique | Zambia |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Exports | 10.6%2025 | 19.0%2025 | 41.4%2025 | 35.0%2024 |
| Imports | 28.8%2025 | 20.0%2025 | 55.7%2025 | 27.6%2024 |
| Trade openness | 39.4%2025 | 39.0%2025 | 97.1%2025 | 62.5%2024 |
| Current account | -14.0%2025 | -3.0%2024 | -14.2%2025 | -5.5%2025 |
| Merchandise exports | $947m2025 | $10.0bn2025 | $8.1bn2025 | $13.3bn2025 |
| High-tech exports | 1.6%2024 | 3.0%2024 | 3.6%2024 | 1.5%2024 |
| Fuel exports | 0.0%2025 | 1.3%2025 | 54.2%2025 | 2.7%2024 |
| Food exports | 93.3%2025 | 31.0%2025 | 12.4%2025 | 8.7%2024 |
| Average tariff | 6.0%2021 | 8.6%2022 | 4.2%2021 | 4.1%2022 |