Government expense — all countries

Government expense — Malawi

Government expense in Malawi in 2022 — 20.17%. Ranked 82 in the world out of 111. Since 2009, the indicator has risen by 4.49 pp.

2022 20.17% +2.99 pp vs 2021
World rank 82of 111
Period maximum 20.17%2022
Period minimum 11.87%2012

Trend over time

2009–2022 · % of GDP

Government expense — Malawi, 2009–20221012.51517.52022.5200920112013201520172019202120222009: 15.69%2010: 12.7%2011: 12.53%2012: 11.87%2013: 12.99%2014: 14.07%2015: 12.91%2016: 12.33%2017: 13.24%2018: 14.92%2019: 14.74%2020: 16.49%2021: 17.19%2022: 20.17%
Change over the period: +4.49 pp Annual average: 0.35 pp

Comparison, 2022

How the value compares with the world and the groups this territory belongs to: Malawi

Malawi 20.17%
World 28.49%
Government expense — Malawi, by year Malawi All countries CSV XLSX
Year % Change, pp
2022 20.17 +2.99 pp
2021 17.19 +0.69 pp
2020 16.49 +1.75 pp
2019 14.74 −0.18 pp
2018 14.92 +1.68 pp
2017 13.24 +0.92 pp
2016 12.33 −0.58 pp
2015 12.91 −1.16 pp
2014 14.07 +1.07 pp
2013 12.99 +1.12 pp
2012 11.87 −0.65 pp
2011 12.53 −0.17 pp
2010 12.7 −2.99 pp
2009 15.69

Eastern Africa, 2022

The same indicator for neighboring countries — with links to their pages

About the indicator

Central government expense as a percent of GDP: compensation of public employees, purchases of goods and services, interest on debt, subsidies, grants and social benefits. The indicator is broader than government consumption from the national accounts, because it includes transfers — pensions and benefits — which the accounts record as household income. The quantity is closely tied to the level of income: in advanced countries it is usually twice as high as in the poorest ones.

Important: Central government only. In federations the spending of regions is not included here, so comparing unitary and federal states by this indicator calls for a caveat.

Source: World Development Indicators (World Bank), license CC BY 4.0.