Food imports in Malawi
Malawi: Food imports was 240.96 million current US$ in 2009. ◆ Volatile
Food imports in Malawi, 1985–2009
Source: World Bank country economists. Measured in current US$.
Analysis
Malawi recorded 240.96 million current US$ for food imports in 2009. That is the highest value across all 25 years on record.
That represents a change of up 6.2% on the previous year and up 96.7% over ten years.
Over the whole period, food imports in Malawi peaked at 240.96 million current US$ in 2009 and was at its lowest, 1.99 million current US$, in 1986.
Malawi ranks 23rd of 47 countries on this measure, in the middle of the range.
The series is highly variable year to year, so single readings are best treated with caution.
Food imports in Malawi, year by year
| Year | current US$ | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1985 | 2.13 million current US$ | — |
| 1986 | 1.99 million current US$ | -6.5% |
| 1987 | 2.04 million current US$ | +2.2% |
| 1988 | 3.07 million current US$ | +50.7% |
| 1989 | 4.40 million current US$ | +43.5% |
| 1990 | 104.98 million current US$ | +2284.2% |
| 1991 | 131.70 million current US$ | +25.5% |
| 1992 | 152.45 million current US$ | +15.8% |
| 1993 | 134.26 million current US$ | -11.9% |
| 1994 | 114.67 million current US$ | -14.6% |
| 1995 | 101.46 million current US$ | -11.5% |
| 1996 | 133.49 million current US$ | +31.6% |
| 1997 | 167.63 million current US$ | +25.6% |
| 1998 | 123.95 million current US$ | -26.1% |
| 1999 | 122.50 million current US$ | -1.2% |
| 2000 | 98.52 million current US$ | -19.6% |
| 2001 | 100.84 million current US$ | +2.4% |
| 2002 | 149.26 million current US$ | +48.0% |
| 2003 | 147.45 million current US$ | -1.2% |
| 2004 | 173.36 million current US$ | +17.6% |
| 2005 | 228.87 million current US$ | +32.0% |
| 2006 | 234.16 million current US$ | +2.3% |
| 2007 | 230.83 million current US$ | -1.4% |
| 2008 | 226.80 million current US$ | -1.7% |
| 2009 | 240.96 million current US$ | +6.2% |
Malawi compared with similar countries
- Malawi's 240.96 million current US$ is above the median for low income countries, which is 174.60 million current US$, 1.4× the median. (16 countries reporting)
- Malawi's 240.96 million current US$ is above the median for Sub-Saharan Africa, which is 212.26 million current US$, 1.1× the median. (42 countries reporting)
Biggest year-on-year movements
Years where Food imports in Malawi changed far more than this series normally does. A large move can be a real event or a change in how the figure was measured — the source note below says who published it.
| Year | Change | From | To |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1990 | +2284.2% | 4.40 million current US$ | 104.98 million current US$ |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1980s | 2.73 million current US$ | 1.99 million current US$ | 4.40 million current US$ | 5 |
| 1990s | 128.71 million current US$ | 101.46 million current US$ | 167.63 million current US$ | 10 |
| 2000s | 183.11 million current US$ | 98.52 million current US$ | 240.96 million current US$ | 10 |
Countries ranked near Malawi
More trade data for Malawi
- Commodity Net Export Price Index, Individual Commodities Weighted by 116.66 (2025)
- Commodity Net Export Price Index, Individual Commodities Weighted by 100.91 (2025)
- Commodity Export Price Index, Individual Commodites Weighted by Ratio 99.6 (2025)
- Commodity Export Price Index, Individual Commodites Weighted by Ratio 87.67 (2025)
- Commodity Import Price Index, Individual Commodites Weighted by Ratio 98.71 (2025)
- Commodity Import Price Index, Individual Commodites Weighted by Ratio 65.94 (2025)
- Imports of low carbon technology products, Percent of GDP 0.7726 (2024)
- Imports of low carbon technology products, US dollar (World), per 4.21 units per person (2024)
- Imports of low carbon technology products, US dollar (World), per 0.0081 units per US$ of GDP (2024)
- Exports of low carbon technology products, US dollar (World), gaps 2.39 million (2024)
Frequently asked questions
- What is food imports in Malawi?
- Food imports in Malawi was 240.96 million current US$ in 2009, according to World Bank country economists.
- What is the highest food imports recorded in Malawi?
- The highest recorded value was 240.96 million current US$ in 2009.
- What is the lowest food imports recorded in Malawi?
- The lowest recorded value was 1.99 million current US$ in 1986.
- How does Malawi rank for food imports?
- Malawi ranks 23rd out of 47 countries with data for 2009.
- Is food imports rising or falling in Malawi?
- Over the last ten years it is up 96.7%. The long-run trend across the full record is volatile.
- Where does this Malawi data come from?
- The figures come from World Bank country economists, published as part of Food imports (current US$). Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
Download this data
CSV · JSON — 25 observations, free to reuse under CC BY 4.0 (World Bank Open Data).
About this data
Food imports, cif (includes freight and insurance costs) in current US dollars.