Total debt service in Malawi
Malawi: Total debt service was 1.2% in 2023. ◆ Volatile
Latest (2023)
1.2%
Change on year
up 6.4%
World rank
106th
of 119 countries
All-time high
8.5%
in 1986
All-time low
0.2%
in 2011
Years of data
44
1980–2023
Total debt service in Malawi, 1980–2023
Source: UNESCO Institute for Statistics. Measured in % of GNI.
Analysis
In 2023, total debt service in Malawi stood at 1.2%.
The figure is up 6.4% on the previous year and up 118.9% over ten years.
Over the whole period, total debt service in Malawi peaked at 8.5% in 1986 and was at its lowest, 0.2%, in 2011.
That places Malawi 106th out of 119 countries with data for 2023, putting it in the bottom quarter.
The series is highly variable year to year, so single readings are best treated with caution.
Total debt service in Malawi, year by year
| Year | % of GNI | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1980 | 4.9% | — |
| 1981 | 6.4% | +30.9% |
| 1982 | 5.5% | -13.6% |
| 1983 | 4.5% | -17.3% |
| 1984 | 6.0% | +33.0% |
| 1985 | 6.7% | +10.7% |
| 1986 | 8.5% | +26.8% |
| 1987 | 6.7% | -20.7% |
| 1988 | 5.3% | -21.9% |
| 1989 | 4.1% | -21.2% |
| 1990 | 4.8% | +17.1% |
| 1991 | 4.0% | -16.5% |
| 1992 | 4.1% | +2.0% |
| 1993 | 2.6% | -37.1% |
| 1994 | 4.6% | +78.3% |
| 1995 | 5.8% | +25.4% |
| 1996 | 2.7% | -54.1% |
| 1997 | 2.2% | -17.6% |
| 1998 | 3.4% | +57.1% |
| 1999 | 2.9% | -16.5% |
| 2000 | 2.5% | -12.4% |
| 2001 | 1.9% | -26.0% |
| 2002 | 0.7% | -60.8% |
| 2003 | 0.9% | +23.9% |
| 2004 | 1.2% | +33.1% |
| 2005 | 1.4% | +19.5% |
| 2006 | 1.2% | -15.6% |
| 2007 | 0.5% | -57.0% |
| 2008 | 0.4% | -20.8% |
| 2009 | 0.4% | +3.8% |
| 2010 | 0.2% | -52.1% |
| 2011 | 0.2% | -4.3% |
| 2012 | 0.3% | +67.4% |
| 2013 | 0.6% | +69.1% |
| 2014 | 0.8% | +40.1% |
| 2015 | 0.8% | +0.1% |
| 2016 | 1.0% | +22.4% |
| 2017 | 0.8% | -14.8% |
| 2018 | 0.9% | +8.0% |
| 2019 | 0.9% | +3.3% |
| 2020 | 0.9% | -4.8% |
| 2021 | 0.9% | +5.5% |
| 2022 | 1.1% | +25.6% |
| 2023 | 1.2% | +6.4% |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1980s | 5.9% | 4.1% | 8.5% | 10 |
| 1990s | 3.7% | 2.2% | 5.8% | 10 |
| 2000s | 1.1% | 0.4% | 2.5% | 10 |
| 2010s | 0.6% | 0.2% | 1.0% | 10 |
| 2020s | 1.0% | 0.9% | 1.2% | 4 |
Countries ranked near Malawi
More population data for Malawi
- 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)
- Population growth rate by level of development 0.423 (2100)
- Africa's Development Dynamics (AfDD) Table 05 - Demographic estimates 2.45 % change on previous year (2030)
- Fertility and wanted fertility, annual growth rate -1.59 % change on previous year (2024)
- Refugee population by country or territory of asylum, gaps filled 35,510 (2024)
Frequently asked questions
- What is total debt service in Malawi?
- Total debt service in Malawi was 1.2% in 2023, according to UNESCO Institute for Statistics.
- What is the highest total debt service recorded in Malawi?
- The highest recorded value was 8.5% in 1986.
- What is the lowest total debt service recorded in Malawi?
- The lowest recorded value was 0.2% in 2011.
- How does Malawi rank for total debt service?
- Malawi ranks 106th out of 119 countries with data for 2023.
- Is total debt service rising or falling in Malawi?
- Over the last ten years it is up 118.9%. 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 Total debt service (% of GNI). Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
Download this data
CSV · JSON — 44 observations, free to reuse under CC BY-SA 3.0 IGO (UNESCO Institute for Statistics).
About this data
February 2026 Data Release