Imports of goods and services, Percent of GDP (Balance of Payments) in Malawi

Malawi: Imports of goods and services, Percent of GDP (Balance of Payments) was 23.7 in 2027. ▲ Rising

Latest (2027)
23.7
Change on year
down 11.2%
World rank
37th
of 45 countries
All-time high
33.66
in 2024
All-time low
14.78
in 2000
Years of data
28
2000–2027

Imports of goods and services, Percent of GDP (Balance of Payments) in Malawi, 2000–2027

01020302000201320272000: 14.82001: 15.42002: 20.22003: 20.52004: 22.12005: 24.82006: 262007: 23.52008: 27.92009: 22.52010: 24.82011: 19.92012: 27.22013: 302014: 28.22015: 28.32016: 31.52017: 30.82018: 27.32019: 27.62020: 28.52021: 302022: 30.62023: 29.72024: 33.72025: 292026: 26.72027: 23.7

Source: International Monetary Fund.

Analysis

The most recent figure for imports of goods and services, percent of gdp (balance of payments) in Malawi is 23.7, measured in 2027.

Compared with earlier readings it is down 11.2% on the previous year and down 23.1% over ten years.

Over the whole period, imports of goods and services, percent of gdp (balance of payments) in Malawi peaked at 33.66 in 2024 and was at its lowest, 14.78, in 2000.

That places Malawi 37th out of 45 countries with data for 2027, putting it in the bottom quarter.

The long-run direction has been consistently rising across the 28 years of available data.

Imports of goods and services, Percent of GDP (Balance of Payments) in Malawi, year by year

Annual values for Imports of goods and services, Percent of GDP (Balance of Payments and International Investment Position Manual, Sixth Edition (BPM6)) in Malawi, 2000 to 2027.
Year Value Change
2000 14.78
2001 15.4 +4.2%
2002 20.16 +30.9%
2003 20.55 +1.9%
2004 22.13 +7.7%
2005 24.8 +12.0%
2006 26 +4.9%
2007 23.53 -9.5%
2008 27.92 +18.6%
2009 22.48 -19.5%
2010 24.76 +10.1%
2011 19.89 -19.6%
2012 27.18 +36.6%
2013 30.04 +10.5%
2014 28.22 -6.1%
2015 28.28 +0.2%
2016 31.54 +11.5%
2017 30.81 -2.3%
2018 27.31 -11.4%
2019 27.59 +1.0%
2020 28.47 +3.2%
2021 30.03 +5.5%
2022 30.57 +1.8%
2023 29.74 -2.7%
2024 33.66 +13.2%
2025 29.05 -13.7%
2026 26.69 -8.1%
2027 23.7 -11.2%

Malawi compared with similar countries

  • Malawi's 23.7 is below the median for Sub-Saharan Africa, which is 31.7, 75% of the median. (45 countries reporting)
  • Malawi's 23.7 is below the median for low income countries, which is 31.7, 75% of the median. (19 countries reporting)

Averages by decade

DecadeAverage LowestHighest Years
2000s 21.78 14.78 27.92 10
2010s 27.56 19.89 31.54 10
2020s 28.99 23.7 33.66 8

Countries ranked near Malawi

  1. 34 Niger 24.22 compare
  2. 35 Guinea-Bissau 24.09 compare
  3. 36 Cote d'Ivoire 24.02 compare
  4. 38 Ethiopia 23.36 compare
  5. 39 Kenya 21.22 compare
  6. 40 Tanzania 20.72 compare

See the full ranking of 64 places →

More trade data for Malawi

All data for Malawi →

Frequently asked questions

What is imports of goods and services, percent of gdp (balance of payments) in Malawi?
Imports of goods and services, percent of gdp (balance of payments) in Malawi was 23.7 in 2027, according to International Monetary Fund.
What is the highest imports of goods and services, percent of gdp (balance of payments) recorded in Malawi?
The highest recorded value was 33.66 in 2024.
What is the lowest imports of goods and services, percent of gdp (balance of payments) recorded in Malawi?
The lowest recorded value was 14.78 in 2000.
How does Malawi rank for imports of goods and services, percent of gdp (balance of payments)?
Malawi ranks 37th out of 45 countries with data for 2027.
Is imports of goods and services, percent of gdp (balance of payments) rising or falling in Malawi?
Over the last ten years it is down 23.1%. The long-run trend across the full record is rising.
Where does this Malawi data come from?
The figures come from International Monetary Fund, published as part of Imports of goods and services, Percent of GDP (Balance of Payments and International Investment Position Manual, Sixth Edition (BPM6)). Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.

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Imports of goods and services, Percent of GDP (Balance of Payments) in Malawi. Statizoid, drawing on International Monetary Fund. Retrieved 18 September 2026, from https://trade.statizoid.com/stat/imports-of-goods-and-services-percent-of-gdp-balance-of-payments-and-international/malawi/

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About this data

Indicator
Imports of goods and services, Percent of GDP (Balance of Payments and International Investment Position Manual, Sixth Edition (BPM6))
Source
International Monetary Fund
Licence
IMF Terms and Conditions (attribution required)
Coverage
64 places, 1,763 data points, 2000–2027
Last refreshed

Sub-Saharan Africa Regional Economic Outlook (REO) provides information on recent economic developments and prospects for countries in sub-Saharan Africa. Data for the REO for sub-Saharan Africa are prepared in conjunction with the semi-annual World Economic Outlook (WEO) exercises, spring and fall.