Trade as a share of GDP in Malawi

Malawi: Trade as a share of GDP was 39.4% in 2025. ▼ Falling

Latest (2025)
39.4%
Change on year
down 6.0%
World rank
170th
of 191 countries
All-time high
45.3%
in 2017
All-time low
39.4%
in 2025
Years of data
9
2017–2025

Trade as a share of GDP in Malawi, 2017–2025

010203040502017202120252017: 45.3 % of GDP2018: 43.6 % of GDP2019: 44.2 % of GDP2020: 41 % of GDP2021: 44.6 % of GDP2022: 43.6 % of GDP2023: 42.4 % of GDP2024: 41.9 % of GDP2025: 39.4 % of GDP

Source: National statistical organizations and central banks, OECD national accounts, and World Bank staff estimates (2026) – processed by Our World in Data. Measured in % of GDP.

Analysis

The most recent figure for trade as a share of gdp in Malawi is 39.4%, measured in 2025. That is the lowest value across all 9 years on record.

Compared with earlier readings it is down 6.0% on the previous year and down 13.0% over ten years.

Over the whole period, trade as a share of gdp in Malawi peaked at 45.3% in 2017 and was at its lowest, 39.4%, in 2025.

Malawi ranks 170th of 191 countries on this measure, in the bottom quarter.

Averages by decade

DecadeAverage LowestHighest Years
2010s 44.4% 43.6% 45.3% 3
2020s 42.2% 39.4% 44.6% 6

Countries ranked near Malawi

  1. 167 Comoros 40.9% compare
  2. 168 Guinea-Bissau 40.9% compare
  3. 169 New Caledonia 40.4% compare
  4. 171 Algeria 39.0% compare
  5. 172 Tanzania 39.0% compare
  6. 173 China 38.0% compare

See the full ranking of 191 places →

More economy & growth data for Malawi

All data for Malawi →

Frequently asked questions

What is trade as a share of gdp in Malawi?
Trade as a share of gdp in Malawi was 39.4% in 2025, according to National statistical organizations and central banks, OECD national accounts, and World Bank staff estimates (2026) – processed by Our World in Data.
What is the highest trade as a share of gdp recorded in Malawi?
The highest recorded value was 45.3% in 2017.
What is the lowest trade as a share of gdp recorded in Malawi?
The lowest recorded value was 39.4% in 2025.
How does Malawi rank for trade as a share of gdp?
Malawi ranks 170th out of 191 countries with data for 2025.
Is trade as a share of gdp rising or falling in Malawi?
Over the last ten years it is down 13.0%. The long-run trend across the full record is falling.
Where does this Malawi data come from?
The figures come from National statistical organizations and central banks, OECD national accounts, and World Bank staff estimates (2026) – processed by Our World in Data, published as part of Trade as a share of GDP. Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.

Download this data

CSV · JSON — 9 observations, free to reuse under CC BY 4.0 (Our World in Data).

About this data

Indicator
Trade as a share of GDP
Unit
% of GDP
Source
National statistical organizations and central banks, OECD national accounts, and World Bank staff estimates (2026) – processed by Our World in Data
Licence
CC BY 4.0 (Our World in Data)
Coverage
191 places, 9,006 data points, 1960–2025
Last refreshed

Trade in goods and services as a share of GDP, shown as a percentage.