Total debt service (% of GDP) in Malawi
Malawi: Total debt service (% of GDP) was 0.4% in 2011. ◆ Volatile
Total debt service in Malawi, 1970–2011
Source: World Bank, Global Development Finance. Measured in % of GDP.
Analysis
The most recent figure for total debt service in Malawi is 0.4%, measured in 2011.
Compared with earlier readings it is down 2.2% on the previous year and down 85.7% over ten years.
Over the whole period, total debt service in Malawi peaked at 12.3% in 1986 and was at its lowest, 0.0%, in 1970.
That places Malawi 44th out of 50 countries with data for 2011, putting it in the bottom quarter.
The series is highly variable year to year, so single readings are best treated with caution.
Total debt service (% of GDP) in Malawi, year by year
| Year | % of GDP | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1970 | 0.0% | — |
| 1971 | 2.2% | — |
| 1972 | 2.3% | +7.5% |
| 1973 | 3.1% | +31.0% |
| 1974 | 2.7% | -10.8% |
| 1975 | 2.9% | +5.0% |
| 1976 | 2.7% | -4.5% |
| 1977 | 2.8% | +3.9% |
| 1978 | 4.5% | +57.5% |
| 1979 | 4.3% | -2.9% |
| 1980 | 7.1% | +62.6% |
| 1981 | 9.2% | +30.9% |
| 1982 | 8.0% | -13.6% |
| 1983 | 6.6% | -17.3% |
| 1984 | 8.8% | +32.9% |
| 1985 | 9.7% | +10.7% |
| 1986 | 12.3% | +26.8% |
| 1987 | 9.8% | -20.7% |
| 1988 | 7.6% | -21.9% |
| 1989 | 6.0% | -21.2% |
| 1990 | 7.1% | +17.1% |
| 1991 | 5.8% | -17.2% |
| 1992 | 6.0% | +2.8% |
| 1993 | 3.8% | -37.1% |
| 1994 | 6.7% | +77.9% |
| 1995 | 8.4% | +25.6% |
| 1996 | 3.9% | -54.1% |
| 1997 | 3.2% | -17.6% |
| 1998 | 4.9% | +54.8% |
| 1999 | 4.2% | -16.1% |
| 2000 | 3.6% | -12.2% |
| 2001 | 2.7% | -26.4% |
| 2002 | 1.4% | -48.4% |
| 2003 | 1.7% | +25.0% |
| 2004 | 2.3% | +33.2% |
| 2005 | 2.8% | +20.0% |
| 2006 | 2.3% | -18.3% |
| 2007 | 0.9% | -59.1% |
| 2008 | 0.7% | -18.9% |
| 2009 | 0.8% | +2.3% |
| 2010 | 0.4% | -48.7% |
| 2011 | 0.4% | -2.2% |
Malawi compared with similar countries
- Malawi's 0.4% is below the median for low income countries, which is 0.6%, 64% of the median. (20 countries reporting)
- Malawi's 0.4% is below the median for Sub-Saharan Africa, which is 0.8%, 46% of the median. (45 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1970s | 2.8% | 0.0% | 4.5% | 10 |
| 1980s | 8.5% | 6.0% | 12.3% | 10 |
| 1990s | 5.4% | 3.2% | 8.4% | 10 |
| 2000s | 1.9% | 0.7% | 3.6% | 10 |
| 2010s | 0.4% | 0.4% | 0.4% | 2 |
Countries ranked near Malawi
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 total debt service in Malawi?
- Total debt service in Malawi was 0.4% in 2011, according to World Bank, Global Development Finance.
- What is the highest total debt service recorded in Malawi?
- The highest recorded value was 12.3% in 1986.
- What is the lowest total debt service recorded in Malawi?
- The lowest recorded value was 0.0% in 1970.
- How does Malawi rank for total debt service?
- Malawi ranks 44th out of 50 countries with data for 2011.
- Is total debt service rising or falling in Malawi?
- Over the last ten years it is down 85.7%. The long-run trend across the full record is volatile.
- Where does this Malawi data come from?
- The figures come from World Bank, Global Development Finance, published as part of Total debt service (% of GDP). Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
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About this data
Total debt service is the sum of principal repayments and interest actually paid in currency, goods, or services on long-term debt, interest paid on short-term debt, and repayments (repurchases and charges) to the IMF.