Skip to main content
Official name:
Republic of Malawi
Region:

    General Information
    Region    Eastern Africa
    Population (000, 2020)   19 130
    Pop. density (per km2, 2020)   202.9
    Capital city    Lilongwe
    Capital city pop. (000, 2020)   1 074.7b
    UN membership date    01-Dec-64
    Surface area (km2)   118 484a
    Sex ratio (m per 100 f)   97.3
    National currency    Malawi Kwacha (MWK)
    Exchange rate (per US$)   733.7c
    Economic indicators
    2010 2015 2020
    GDP: Gross domestic product (million current US$)6 9606 4317 196c
    GDP growth rate (annual %, const. 2015 prices)6.93.34c
    GDP per capita (current US$)478.7384.1396.6c
    Economy: Agricultured (% of Gross Value Added)31.932.431c
    Economy: Industryd,e (% of Gross Value Added)16.416.415.9c
    Economy: Services and other activityd,f,g (% of GVA)51.250.953.6c
    Employment in agricultureh (% of employed)48.145.643.2
    Employment in industryh (% of employed)14.21413.8
    Employment in servicesh (% employed)37.740.443
    Unemploymenth (% of labour force)5.95.85.7
    Labour force participation rateh (female/male pop. %)73.3 / 82.172.6 / 82.272.6 / 81.3
    CPI: Consumer Price Indexh (2010=100)100251383c
    Agricultural production index (2004-2006=100)156152146i
    International trade: exports (million current US$)1 0661 080819h,b
    International trade: imports (million current US$)2 1732 312360h,b
    International trade: balance (million current US$)- 1 107- 1 232459h,b
    Balance of payments, current account (million US$)-969-930- 1 427c
    Social indicators
    2010 2015 2020
    Population growth ratej (average annual %)2.82.82.7
    Urban population (% of total population)15.516.317.2b
    Urban population growth ratej (average annual %)3.73.9...
    Fertility rate, totalj (live births per woman)5.74.94.2
    Life expectancy at birthj (females/males, years)54.0 / 48.762.5 / 56.666.6 / 60.3
    Population age distribution (0-14/60+ years old, %)46.4 / 4.245.1 / 4.043.0 / 4.1
    International migrant stockk (000/% of total pop.)217.7 / 1.5232.8 / 1.4247.7 / 1.3b
    Refugees and others of concern to UNHCR (000)15.2l22.639.3b
    Infant mortality ratej (per 1 000 live births)68.452.641.3
    Health: Current expenditure (% of GDP)7.29.39.6a
    Health: Physicians (per 1 000 pop.)~0.0m...~0.0c
    Education: Government expenditure (% of GDP)3.55.64h,a
    Education: Primary gross enrol. ratio (f/m per 100 pop.)140.2 / 137.3147.9 / 144.9143.1 / 141.8c
    Education: Secondary gross enrol. ratio (f/m per 100 pop.)31.9 / 36.138.9 / 42.6h39.9 / 40.6c
    Education: Tertiary gross enrol. ratio (f/m per 100 pop.)0.5 / 0.90.6 / 1.0n... / ...
    Intentional homicide rate (per 100 000 pop.)3.61.8o...
    Seats held by women in national parliaments (%)20.816.722.9p
    Environment and infrastructure indicators
    2010 2015 2020
    Individuals using the Internet (per 100 inhabitants)2.35.3h13.8h,a
    Threatened species (number)158171130
    Forested area (% of land area)34.333.4h33.4h,a
    Energy production, primary (Petajoules)646868a
    Energy supply per capita (Gigajoules)555a
    Tourist/visitor arrivals at national bordersq (000)746805871c
    Important sites for terrestrial biodiversity protected (%)73.773.773.7b
    Net Official Development Assist. received (% of GNI)14.8416.9318.1c
Data provided by UNdata