GDP per capita (current LCU) (UNESCO Institute) in Malawi
Malawi: GDP per capita (current LCU) (UNESCO Institute) was 883,722 current LCU in 2024. ◆ Volatile
GDP per capita in Malawi, 1980–2024
Source: UNESCO Institute for Statistics. Measured in current LCU.
Analysis
Malawi recorded 883,722 current LCU for gdp per capita in 2024. That is the highest value across all 45 years on record.
That represents a change of up 26.4% on the previous year and up 292.8% over ten years.
Over the whole period, gdp per capita in Malawi peaked at 883,722 current LCU in 2024 and was at its lowest, 233.45 current LCU, in 1980.
Malawi ranks 50th of 211 countries on this measure, in the top quarter.
The series is highly variable year to year, so single readings are best treated with caution.
GDP per capita (current LCU) (UNESCO Institute) in Malawi, year by year
| Year | current LCU | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1980 | 233.45 current LCU | — |
| 1981 | 247.47 current LCU | +6.0% |
| 1982 | 267.4 current LCU | +8.1% |
| 1983 | 296.56 current LCU | +10.9% |
| 1984 | 338.86 current LCU | +14.3% |
| 1985 | 371.42 current LCU | +9.6% |
| 1986 | 405.47 current LCU | +9.2% |
| 1987 | 458.55 current LCU | +13.1% |
| 1988 | 587.62 current LCU | +28.1% |
| 1989 | 695.94 current LCU | +18.4% |
| 1990 | 782.45 current LCU | +12.4% |
| 1991 | 913.19 current LCU | +16.7% |
| 1992 | 931.06 current LCU | +2.0% |
| 1993 | 1,290 current LCU | +38.6% |
| 1994 | 1,478 current LCU | +14.6% |
| 1995 | 3,062 current LCU | +107.2% |
| 1996 | 4,909 current LCU | +60.3% |
| 1997 | 6,034 current LCU | +22.9% |
| 1998 | 7,335 current LCU | +21.5% |
| 1999 | 10,314 current LCU | +40.6% |
| 2000 | 13,351 current LCU | +29.4% |
| 2001 | 15,557 current LCU | +16.5% |
| 2002 | 32,837 current LCU | +111.1% |
| 2003 | 37,354 current LCU | +13.8% |
| 2004 | 44,071 current LCU | +18.0% |
| 2005 | 49,068 current LCU | +11.3% |
| 2006 | 59,958 current LCU | +22.2% |
| 2007 | 66,505 current LCU | +10.9% |
| 2008 | 77,856 current LCU | +17.1% |
| 2009 | 88,352 current LCU | +13.5% |
| 2010 | 102,801 current LCU | +16.4% |
| 2011 | 119,431 current LCU | +16.2% |
| 2012 | 139,116 current LCU | +16.5% |
| 2013 | 181,091 current LCU | +30.2% |
| 2014 | 224,988 current LCU | +24.2% |
| 2015 | 269,590 current LCU | +19.8% |
| 2016 | 323,466 current LCU | +20.0% |
| 2017 | 362,047 current LCU | +11.9% |
| 2018 | 390,482 current LCU | +7.9% |
| 2019 | 433,076 current LCU | +10.9% |
| 2020 | 451,596 current LCU | +4.3% |
| 2021 | 497,600 current LCU | +10.2% |
| 2022 | 573,476 current LCU | +15.2% |
| 2023 | 699,378 current LCU | +22.0% |
| 2024 | 883,722 current LCU | +26.4% |
Malawi compared with similar countries
- Malawi's 883,722 current LCU is above the median for low income countries, which is 591,280 current LCU, 1.5× the median. (24 countries reporting)
- Malawi's 883,722 current LCU is above the median for Sub-Saharan Africa, which is 591,280 current LCU, 1.5× the median. (48 countries reporting)
Biggest year-on-year movements
Years where GDP per capita (current LCU) (UNESCO Institute) in Malawi changed far more than this series normally does. A large move can be a real event or a change in how the figure was measured — the source note below says who published it.
| Year | Change | From | To |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2002 | +111.1% | 15,557 current LCU | 32,837 current LCU |
| 1995 | +107.2% | 1,478 current LCU | 3,062 current LCU |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1980s | 390.27 current LCU | 233.45 current LCU | 695.94 current LCU | 10 |
| 1990s | 3,705 current LCU | 782.45 current LCU | 10,314 current LCU | 10 |
| 2000s | 48,491 current LCU | 13,351 current LCU | 88,352 current LCU | 10 |
| 2010s | 254,609 current LCU | 102,801 current LCU | 433,076 current LCU | 10 |
| 2020s | 621,154 current LCU | 451,596 current LCU | 883,722 current LCU | 5 |
Countries ranked near Malawi
More population data for Malawi
- Population regions with projections, annual growth rate 0.4293 % change on previous year (2100)
- Urban and rural population 2050, annual growth rate 0.1183 % change on previous year (2050)
- Population long run with projections, annual growth rate 0.4293 % change on previous year (2100)
- Un population 2024 vs 2022, annual growth rate 0.3622 % change on previous year (2100)
- Africa's Development Dynamics (AfDD) Table 05 - Demographic estimates 37,159 Persons (2050)
- Africa's Development Dynamics (AfDD) Table 03 - Annual population 2.45 Percent per annum (2030)
- Projected population under age 5, annual growth rate -0.2289 % change on previous year (2100)
- Population growth rate 0.423 (2100)
- Population density 627.29 (2100)
- Projected population under age 5 3.85 million (2100)
Frequently asked questions
- What is gdp per capita in Malawi?
- Gdp per capita in Malawi was 883,722 current LCU in 2024, according to UNESCO Institute for Statistics.
- What is the highest gdp per capita recorded in Malawi?
- The highest recorded value was 883,722 current LCU in 2024.
- What is the lowest gdp per capita recorded in Malawi?
- The lowest recorded value was 233.45 current LCU in 1980.
- How does Malawi rank for gdp per capita?
- Malawi ranks 50th out of 211 countries with data for 2024.
- Is gdp per capita rising or falling in Malawi?
- Over the last ten years it is up 292.8%. The long-run trend across the full record is volatile.
- Where does this Malawi data come from?
- The figures come from UNESCO Institute for Statistics, published as part of GDP per capita (current LCU). Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
Download this data
CSV · JSON — 45 observations, free to reuse under CC BY-SA 3.0 IGO (UNESCO Institute for Statistics).
About this data
February 2026 Data Release