Merchandise imports from low- and middle-income economies in South in Malawi
Malawi: Merchandise imports from low- and middle-income economies in South was 7.4% in 2023. ◆ Volatile
Merchandise imports from low- and middle-income economies in South in Malawi, 1964–2023
Source: Staff estimates, World Bank (WB). Measured in % of total merchandise imports.
Analysis
In 2023, merchandise imports from low- and middle-income economies in south in Malawi stood at 7.4%.
That represents a change of up 20.3% on the previous year and down 9.5% over ten years.
Over the whole period, merchandise imports from low- and middle-income economies in south in Malawi peaked at 17.6% in 2012 and was at its lowest, 0.5%, in 1988.
Malawi ranks 30th of 205 countries on this measure, in the top quarter.
The series is highly variable year to year, so single readings are best treated with caution.
Merchandise imports from low- and middle-income economies in South in Malawi, year by year
| Year | % of total merchandise imports | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1964 | 2.8% | — |
| 1965 | 2.6% | -7.3% |
| 1966 | 1.8% | -30.2% |
| 1967 | 1.9% | +7.8% |
| 1968 | 1.4% | -28.9% |
| 1969 | 2.6% | +85.8% |
| 1970 | 2.8% | +9.5% |
| 1971 | 2.6% | -8.8% |
| 1972 | 2.9% | +12.5% |
| 1973 | 3.0% | +2.1% |
| 1974 | 2.4% | -19.2% |
| 1975 | 2.7% | +11.9% |
| 1976 | 1.2% | -55.3% |
| 1977 | 1.7% | +46.1% |
| 1978 | 1.6% | -6.4% |
| 1979 | 1.8% | +8.9% |
| 1980 | 1.3% | -28.3% |
| 1981 | 1.4% | +11.9% |
| 1982 | 1.9% | +29.7% |
| 1983 | 1.7% | -10.5% |
| 1984 | 0.9% | -46.2% |
| 1985 | 1.2% | +32.0% |
| 1986 | 0.8% | -29.6% |
| 1988 | 0.5% | -41.4% |
| 1989 | 1.0% | +114.3% |
| 1990 | 0.9% | -16.8% |
| 1991 | 1.2% | +34.3% |
| 1992 | 1.6% | +34.7% |
| 1993 | 2.6% | +68.4% |
| 1994 | 3.1% | +18.2% |
| 1995 | 4.0% | +27.5% |
| 1996 | 3.1% | -22.9% |
| 1997 | 3.0% | -0.8% |
| 1998 | 2.7% | -12.2% |
| 1999 | 4.1% | +53.5% |
| 2000 | 5.5% | +34.3% |
| 2001 | 6.0% | +8.0% |
| 2002 | 4.1% | -30.5% |
| 2003 | 5.0% | +21.8% |
| 2004 | 6.4% | +27.4% |
| 2005 | 4.8% | -25.9% |
| 2006 | 4.2% | -12.1% |
| 2007 | 5.3% | +27.3% |
| 2008 | 5.8% | +8.5% |
| 2009 | 5.3% | -9.0% |
| 2010 | 7.6% | +44.0% |
| 2011 | 11.9% | +56.8% |
| 2012 | 17.6% | +48.2% |
| 2013 | 8.2% | -53.5% |
| 2014 | 12.2% | +49.2% |
| 2015 | 10.8% | -11.7% |
| 2016 | 9.3% | -13.5% |
| 2017 | 8.3% | -11.5% |
| 2018 | 9.1% | +9.6% |
| 2019 | 8.4% | -7.6% |
| 2020 | 9.2% | +10.1% |
| 2021 | 8.0% | -13.3% |
| 2022 | 6.2% | -22.8% |
| 2023 | 7.4% | +20.3% |
Malawi compared with similar countries
- Malawi's 7.4% is above the median for low income countries, which is 7.4%, 1.0× the median. (25 countries reporting)
- Malawi's 7.4% is above the median for Sub-Saharan Africa, which is 7.0%, 1.1× the median. (48 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1960s | 2.2% | 1.4% | 2.8% | 6 |
| 1970s | 2.3% | 1.2% | 3.0% | 10 |
| 1980s | 1.2% | 0.5% | 1.9% | 9 |
| 1990s | 2.6% | 0.9% | 4.1% | 10 |
| 2000s | 5.2% | 4.1% | 6.4% | 10 |
| 2010s | 10.3% | 7.6% | 17.6% | 10 |
| 2020s | 7.7% | 6.2% | 9.2% | 4 |
Countries ranked near Malawi
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 merchandise imports from low- and middle-income economies in south in Malawi?
- Merchandise imports from low- and middle-income economies in south in Malawi was 7.4% in 2023, according to Staff estimates, World Bank (WB).
- What is the highest merchandise imports from low- and middle-income economies in south recorded in Malawi?
- The highest recorded value was 17.6% in 2012.
- What is the lowest merchandise imports from low- and middle-income economies in south recorded in Malawi?
- The lowest recorded value was 0.5% in 1988.
- How does Malawi rank for merchandise imports from low- and middle-income economies in south?
- Malawi ranks 30th out of 205 countries with data for 2023.
- Is merchandise imports from low- and middle-income economies in south rising or falling in Malawi?
- Over the last ten years it is down 9.5%. The long-run trend across the full record is volatile.
- Where does this Malawi data come from?
- The figures come from Staff estimates, World Bank (WB), published as part of Merchandise imports from low- and middle-income economies in South Asia (% of total merchandise imports). Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
Download this data
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About this data
Merchandise imports from low- and middle-income economies in South Asia are the sum of merchandise imports by the reporting economy from low- and middle-income economies in the South Asia region according to the World Bank classification of economies. Data are expressed as a percentage of total merchandise imports by the economy. Data are computed only if at least half of the economies in the partner country group had non-missing data.