Gross external debt, Percent of GDP (Balance of Payments) … BPM6 in Malawi
Malawi: Gross external debt, Percent of GDP (Balance of Payments) … BPM6 was 22.1 in 2027. ◆ Volatile
Gross external debt, Percent of GDP (Balance of Payments and) in Malawi, 2000–2027
Source: International Monetary Fund.
Analysis
The most recent figure for gross external debt, percent of gdp (balance of payments and) in Malawi is 22.1, measured in 2027.
Compared with earlier readings it is down 13.4% on the previous year and down 2.2% over ten years.
Over the whole period, gross external debt, percent of gdp (balance of payments and) in Malawi peaked at 66.76 in 2003 and was at its lowest, 8.08, in 2011.
That places Malawi 32nd out of 45 countries with data for 2027, putting it in the middle of the range.
The series is highly variable year to year, so single readings are best treated with caution.
Gross external debt, Percent of GDP (Balance of Payments) … BPM6 in Malawi, year by year
| Year | Value | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 2000 | 62.83 | — |
| 2001 | 65.48 | +4.2% |
| 2002 | 55.86 | -14.7% |
| 2003 | 66.76 | +19.5% |
| 2004 | 64.45 | -3.5% |
| 2005 | 57.39 | -11.0% |
| 2006 | 9.38 | -83.6% |
| 2007 | 9.22 | -1.7% |
| 2008 | 9.46 | +2.6% |
| 2009 | 9.92 | +4.9% |
| 2010 | 8.84 | -11.0% |
| 2011 | 8.08 | -8.6% |
| 2012 | 14.25 | +76.4% |
| 2013 | 18.67 | +31.0% |
| 2014 | 18.08 | -3.2% |
| 2015 | 17.88 | -1.1% |
| 2016 | 22.23 | +24.4% |
| 2017 | 22.6 | +1.6% |
| 2018 | 21.82 | -3.4% |
| 2019 | 23.86 | +9.4% |
| 2020 | 30.86 | +29.3% |
| 2021 | 37.4 | +21.2% |
| 2022 | 31.97 | -14.5% |
| 2023 | 31.69 | -0.9% |
| 2024 | 37.19 | +17.4% |
| 2025 | 30.19 | -18.8% |
| 2026 | 25.52 | -15.5% |
| 2027 | 22.1 | -13.4% |
Malawi compared with similar countries
- Malawi's 22.1 is below the median for Sub-Saharan Africa, which is 26.53, 83% of the median. (45 countries reporting)
- Malawi's 22.1 is below the median for low income countries, which is 24.57, 90% of the median. (19 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2000s | 41.07 | 9.22 | 66.76 | 10 |
| 2010s | 17.63 | 8.08 | 23.86 | 10 |
| 2020s | 30.86 | 22.1 | 37.4 | 8 |
Countries ranked near Malawi
- 29 Cameroon 23.99 compare
- 30 Sierra Leone 23.19 compare
- 31 Central African Republic 23.03 compare
- 33 Guinea 22.06 compare
- 34 Uganda 21.93 compare
- 35 South Africa 19.64 compare
More external debt data for Malawi
- Net financial flows, IBRD -30,000 NFL, current US$ (2006)
- 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)
- 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, IDA (NFL, current US$), per square kilometre 2,317 NFL, current US$ per square kilometre (2023)
- Use of IMF credit 651.96 million DOD, current US$ (2025)
- External debt stocks, public and publicly guaranteed (PPG) 3.32 billion DOD, current US$ (2025)
- External debt stocks, long-term 3.32 billion DOD, current US$ (2025)
Frequently asked questions
- What is gross external debt, percent of gdp (balance of payments and) in Malawi?
- Gross external debt, percent of gdp (balance of payments and) in Malawi was 22.1 in 2027, according to International Monetary Fund.
- What is the highest gross external debt, percent of gdp (balance of payments and) recorded in Malawi?
- The highest recorded value was 66.76 in 2003.
- What is the lowest gross external debt, percent of gdp (balance of payments and) recorded in Malawi?
- The lowest recorded value was 8.08 in 2011.
- How does Malawi rank for gross external debt, percent of gdp (balance of payments and)?
- Malawi ranks 32nd out of 45 countries with data for 2027.
- Is gross external debt, percent of gdp (balance of payments and) rising or falling in Malawi?
- Over the last ten years it is down 2.2%. The long-run trend across the full record is volatile.
- Where does this Malawi data come from?
- The figures come from International Monetary Fund, published as part of Gross external debt, Percent of GDP (Balance of Payments and International Investment Position Manual, Sixth Edition (BPM6)). Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
Download this data
CSV · JSON — 28 observations, free to reuse under IMF Terms and Conditions (attribution required).
About this data
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.