Commercial service imports in Malawi
Malawi: Commercial service imports was 867.24 million current US$ in 2024. ◆ Volatile
Latest (2024)
867.24 million current US$
Change on year
down 11.0%
World rank
159th
of 200 countries
All-time high
974.53 million current US$
in 2023
All-time low
117.51 million current US$
in 1977
Years of data
48
1977–2024
Commercial service imports in Malawi, 1977–2024
Source: Balance of Payments Statistics Yearbook and data files, International Monetary Fund (IMF). Measured in current US$.
Analysis
Malawi recorded 867.24 million current US$ for commercial service imports in 2024.
That represents a change of down 11.0% on the previous year and up 253.2% over ten years.
Over the whole period, commercial service imports in Malawi peaked at 974.53 million current US$ in 2023 and was at its lowest, 117.51 million current US$, in 1977.
Malawi ranks 159th of 200 countries on this measure, in the bottom quarter.
The series is highly variable year to year, so single readings are best treated with caution.
Commercial service imports in Malawi, year by year
| Year | current US$ | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1977 | 117.51 million current US$ | — |
| 1978 | 119.35 million current US$ | +1.6% |
| 1979 | 133.19 million current US$ | +11.6% |
| 1980 | 178.55 million current US$ | +34.1% |
| 1981 | 146.77 million current US$ | -17.8% |
| 1982 | 122.97 million current US$ | -16.2% |
| 1983 | 127.77 million current US$ | +3.9% |
| 1984 | 141.65 million current US$ | +10.9% |
| 1985 | 143.27 million current US$ | +1.1% |
| 1986 | 130.52 million current US$ | -8.9% |
| 1987 | 143.61 million current US$ | +10.0% |
| 1988 | 197.87 million current US$ | +37.8% |
| 1989 | 231.27 million current US$ | +16.9% |
| 1990 | 268.43 million current US$ | +16.1% |
| 1991 | 356.47 million current US$ | +32.8% |
| 1992 | 338.83 million current US$ | -4.9% |
| 1993 | 260.06 million current US$ | -23.2% |
| 1994 | 147.72 million current US$ | -43.2% |
| 1995 | 151.42 million current US$ | +2.5% |
| 1996 | 185.75 million current US$ | +22.7% |
| 1997 | 219.20 million current US$ | +18.0% |
| 1998 | 161.55 million current US$ | -26.3% |
| 1999 | 184.72 million current US$ | +14.3% |
| 2000 | 167.12 million current US$ | -9.5% |
| 2001 | 171.41 million current US$ | +2.6% |
| 2002 | 221.89 million current US$ | +29.5% |
| 2003 | 135.52 million current US$ | -38.9% |
| 2004 | 135.15 million current US$ | -0.3% |
| 2005 | 140.35 million current US$ | +3.8% |
| 2006 | 141.91 million current US$ | +1.1% |
| 2007 | 140.61 million current US$ | -0.9% |
| 2008 | 162.36 million current US$ | +15.5% |
| 2009 | 198.43 million current US$ | +22.2% |
| 2010 | 204.62 million current US$ | +3.1% |
| 2011 | 224.70 million current US$ | +9.8% |
| 2012 | 202.64 million current US$ | -9.8% |
| 2013 | 220.47 million current US$ | +8.8% |
| 2014 | 245.56 million current US$ | +11.4% |
| 2015 | 266.33 million current US$ | +8.5% |
| 2016 | 226.07 million current US$ | -15.1% |
| 2017 | 339.53 million current US$ | +50.2% |
| 2018 | 370.85 million current US$ | +9.2% |
| 2019 | 442.28 million current US$ | +19.3% |
| 2020 | 570.83 million current US$ | +29.1% |
| 2021 | 576.18 million current US$ | +0.9% |
| 2022 | 934.13 million current US$ | +62.1% |
| 2023 | 974.53 million current US$ | +4.3% |
| 2024 | 867.24 million current US$ | -11.0% |
Malawi compared with similar countries
- Malawi's 867.24 million current US$ is below the median for low income countries, which is 1.04 billion current US$, 83% of the median. (23 countries reporting)
- Malawi's 867.24 million current US$ is below the median for Sub-Saharan Africa, which is 1.39 billion current US$, 63% of the median. (47 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1970s | 123.35 million current US$ | 117.51 million current US$ | 133.19 million current US$ | 3 |
| 1980s | 156.42 million current US$ | 122.97 million current US$ | 231.27 million current US$ | 10 |
| 1990s | 227.41 million current US$ | 147.72 million current US$ | 356.47 million current US$ | 10 |
| 2000s | 161.47 million current US$ | 135.15 million current US$ | 221.89 million current US$ | 10 |
| 2010s | 274.31 million current US$ | 202.64 million current US$ | 442.28 million current US$ | 10 |
| 2020s | 784.58 million current US$ | 570.83 million current US$ | 974.53 million current US$ | 5 |
Countries ranked near Malawi
- 156 Seychelles 947.50 million current US$ compare
- 157 Curacao 922.75 million current US$ compare
- 158 San Marino 894.03 million current US$ compare
- 160 Djibouti 694.21 million current US$ compare
- 161 Saint Lucia 671.73 million current US$ compare
- 162 Barbados 670.92 million current US$ compare
More private sector data for Malawi
- Merchandise trade 30.9% (2025)
- Food imports 11.8% (2024)
- Manufactures imports 68.1% (2024)
- Merchandise imports 3.66 billion current US$ (2025)
- Food exports 90.2% (2024)
- Manufactures exports 8.0% (2024)
- Merchandise exports 947.00 million current US$ (2025)
- Merchandise exports (current US$), per capita 42.63 current US$ per person (2025)
- Merchandise exports (current US$), per unit of GDP 0.0635 current US$ per US$ of GDP (2025)
- Merchandise exports (current US$), annual growth rate -1.15 % change on previous year (2025)
Frequently asked questions
- What is commercial service imports in Malawi?
- Commercial service imports in Malawi was 867.24 million current US$ in 2024, according to Balance of Payments Statistics Yearbook and data files, International Monetary Fund (IMF).
- What is the highest commercial service imports recorded in Malawi?
- The highest recorded value was 974.53 million current US$ in 2023.
- What is the lowest commercial service imports recorded in Malawi?
- The lowest recorded value was 117.51 million current US$ in 1977.
- How does Malawi rank for commercial service imports?
- Malawi ranks 159th out of 200 countries with data for 2024.
- Is commercial service imports rising or falling in Malawi?
- Over the last ten years it is up 253.2%. The long-run trend across the full record is volatile.
- Where does this Malawi data come from?
- The figures come from Balance of Payments Statistics Yearbook and data files, International Monetary Fund (IMF), published as part of Commercial service imports (current US$). Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
Download this data
CSV · JSON — 48 observations, free to reuse under CC BY 4.0 (World Bank Open Data).
About this data
Commercial service imports are total service imports minus imports of government services not included elsewhere. Imports of services are services provided by non-residents to residents. This indicator is expressed in current prices, meaning no adjustment has been made to account for price changes over time. This indicator is expressed in United States dollars.