Debt service (PPG and IMF only, % of exports of goods, services and) in Malawi
Malawi: Debt service (PPG and IMF only, % of exports of goods, services and) was 10.3% in 2024. ◆ Volatile
Debt service (PPG and IMF only, % of exports of goods, services and) in Malawi, 1978–2024
Source: International Debt Statistics, World Bank (WB).
Analysis
Malawi recorded 10.3% for debt service (ppg and imf only, % of exports of goods, services and) in 2024.
The figure is up 3.9% on the previous year and up 151.6% over ten years.
Over the whole period, debt service (ppg and imf only, % of exports of goods, services and) in Malawi peaked at 51.7% in 1986 and was at its lowest, 1.4%, in 2011.
That places Malawi 36th out of 118 countries with data for 2024, putting it in the middle of the range.
The series is highly variable year to year, so single readings are best treated with caution.
Debt service (PPG and IMF only, % of exports of goods, services and) in Malawi, year by year
| Year | Value | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1978 | 20.1% | — |
| 1979 | 17.8% | -11.6% |
| 1980 | 22.6% | +27.2% |
| 1981 | 31.7% | +40.0% |
| 1982 | 31.7% | -0.0% |
| 1983 | 26.5% | -16.4% |
| 1984 | 29.3% | +10.7% |
| 1985 | 38.0% | +29.6% |
| 1986 | 51.7% | +36.0% |
| 1987 | 35.5% | -31.4% |
| 1988 | 27.8% | -21.7% |
| 1989 | 29.0% | +4.6% |
| 1990 | 28.0% | -3.5% |
| 1991 | 24.1% | -14.0% |
| 1992 | 23.5% | -2.6% |
| 1993 | 22.2% | -5.5% |
| 1994 | 22.3% | +0.6% |
| 1995 | 24.4% | +9.2% |
| 1996 | 15.2% | -37.8% |
| 1997 | 13.9% | -8.4% |
| 1998 | 14.7% | +5.7% |
| 1999 | 13.8% | -6.0% |
| 2000 | 12.9% | -6.5% |
| 2001 | 9.3% | -27.7% |
| 2002 | 7.5% | -19.4% |
| 2003 | 6.6% | -11.8% |
| 2004 | 10.4% | +57.6% |
| 2005 | 12.4% | +19.0% |
| 2006 | 8.6% | -30.5% |
| 2007 | 3.6% | -58.0% |
| 2008 | 3.1% | -14.0% |
| 2009 | 2.8% | -9.4% |
| 2010 | 1.6% | -42.0% |
| 2011 | 1.4% | -16.0% |
| 2012 | 2.0% | +47.8% |
| 2013 | 3.1% | +53.4% |
| 2014 | 4.1% | +30.9% |
| 2015 | 5.6% | +35.9% |
| 2016 | 6.3% | +13.5% |
| 2017 | 6.4% | +1.4% |
| 2018 | 7.2% | +11.8% |
| 2019 | 6.5% | -9.3% |
| 2020 | 7.3% | +12.2% |
| 2021 | 6.9% | -5.1% |
| 2022 | 9.3% | +34.1% |
| 2023 | 9.9% | +6.9% |
| 2024 | 10.3% | +3.9% |
Malawi compared with similar countries
- Malawi's 10.3% is above the median for low income countries, which is 7.3%, 1.4× the median. (20 countries reporting)
- Malawi's 10.3% is above the median for Sub-Saharan Africa, which is 8.0%, 1.3× the median. (42 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1970s | 19.0% | 17.8% | 20.1% | 2 |
| 1980s | 32.4% | 22.6% | 51.7% | 10 |
| 1990s | 20.2% | 13.8% | 28.0% | 10 |
| 2000s | 7.7% | 2.8% | 12.9% | 10 |
| 2010s | 4.4% | 1.4% | 7.2% | 10 |
| 2020s | 8.7% | 6.9% | 10.3% | 5 |
Countries ranked near Malawi
- 33 Cape Verde 10.8% compare
- 34 Ukraine 10.5% compare
- 35 Bangladesh 10.5% compare
- 37 Saint Kitts and Nevis 10.1% compare
- 38 Ethiopia 10.1% compare
- 39 Saint Vincent and the Grenadines 10.0% compare
More external debt data for Malawi
- IFC, private nonguaranteed -200,000 NFL, US$ (2024)
- IFC, private nonguaranteed (NFL, US$), per capita -0.0092 NFL, US$ per person (2024)
- IFC, private nonguaranteed (NFL, US$), per unit of GDP -0 NFL, US$ per US$ of GDP (2024)
- IFC, private nonguaranteed (NFL, US$), per square kilometre -6.36 NFL, US$ per square kilometre (2023)
- Public and publicly guaranteed debt service 1.1% (2024)
- Net financial flows, IDA 197.50 million NFL, current US$ (2024)
- Net financial flows, IDA (NFL, current US$), per capita 9.12 NFL, current US$ per person (2024)
- Net financial flows, IDA (NFL, current US$), per unit of GDP 0.0175 NFL, current US$ per US$ of GDP (2024)
- Net financial flows, IBRD -30,000 NFL, current US$ (2006)
- Public and publicly guaranteed debt service 7.7% (2024)
Frequently asked questions
- What is debt service (ppg and imf only, % of exports of goods, services and) in Malawi?
- Debt service (ppg and imf only, % of exports of goods, services and) in Malawi was 10.3% in 2024, according to International Debt Statistics, World Bank (WB).
- What is the highest debt service (ppg and imf only, % of exports of goods, services and) recorded in Malawi?
- The highest recorded value was 51.7% in 1986.
- What is the lowest debt service (ppg and imf only, % of exports of goods, services and) recorded in Malawi?
- The lowest recorded value was 1.4% in 2011.
- How does Malawi rank for debt service (ppg and imf only, % of exports of goods, services and)?
- Malawi ranks 36th out of 118 countries with data for 2024.
- Is debt service (ppg and imf only, % of exports of goods, services and) rising or falling in Malawi?
- Over the last ten years it is up 151.6%. The long-run trend across the full record is volatile.
- Where does this Malawi data come from?
- The figures come from International Debt Statistics, World Bank (WB), published as part of Debt service (PPG and IMF only, % of exports of goods, services and primary income). Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
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About this data
Debt service, the sum of principal repayments and interest actually paid in currency, goods, or services, is expressed as a percentage of exports of goods and services--all transactions between residents of a country and the rest of the world involving a change of ownership from residents to nonresidents of general merchandise, net exports of goods under merchanting, nonmonetary gold, and services. This series differs from the standard debt to exports series in that it covers only long-term public and publicly guaranteed debt and repayments (repurchases and charges) to the IMF.