Economy of Malawi
The economy of Malawi is $7.522 billion by gross domestic product as of 2019, and is predominantly agricultural, with about 80% of the population living in rural areas. The landlocked country in south central Africa ranks among the world's least developed countries. In 2017, agriculture accounted for about one-third of GDP and about 80% of export revenue. The economy depends on substantial inflows of economic assistance from the IMF, the World Bank, and individual donor nations. The government faces strong challenges: to spur exports, to improve educational and health facilities, to face up to environmental problems of deforestation and erosion, and to deal with the problem of HIV/AIDS in Africa. Malawi is a least developed country according to United Nations.
Lilongwe, the financial centre of Malawi | |
Currency | Malawian kwacha (MWK) |
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1 July - 30 June | |
Trade organisations | AU, AfCFTA (signed), WTO, SADC, COMESA |
Country group |
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Statistics | |
GDP |
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GDP rank |
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GDP growth |
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GDP per capita |
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GDP per capita rank |
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GDP by sector | agriculture 29.4%, industry 15.8%, services 56.1% (2016 est.) |
8.4% (2020 est.) | |
Population below poverty line |
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44.7 medium (2016) | |
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Labour force |
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Labour force by occupation | agriculture: 76.9%, industry: 4.1%, services: 19% (2013 est.) |
External | |
Exports | $1.443 billion (2017 est.) |
Export goods | tobacco (55%), dried legumes (8.8%), sugar (6.7%), tea (5.7%), cotton (2%), peanuts, coffee, soy (2015 est.) |
Main export partners | 2017: |
Imports | $2.388 billion (2017 est.) |
Import goods | food, petroleum products, semi-manufactures, consumer goods, transportation equipment |
Main import partners | 2017: |
FDI stock | $129.5 million (2014) |
Gross external debt | $1.861 billion (2017 est.) |
Public finances | |
Government debt | 50.8% of GDP (2013 est.) |
Revenues | $1.347 billion (2013 est.) |
Expenses | $1.4 billion (2013 est.) |
Economic aid | $1.174 million (2012) |
$364.2 million (31 December 2013 est.) | |