Contact Contacts
Merchandise trade (% of GDP) — all countries

Merchandise trade (% of GDP) — Malawi

Merchandise trade (% of GDP) in Malawi in 2025 — 30.89%. Ranked 163 in the world out of 189. Since 1980, the indicator has fallen by 9.86 pp.

2025 30.89% −6.89 pp vs 2024
World rank 163of 189
Period maximum 50.25%2013
Period minimum 20%2022

Trend over time

1980–2025 · % of GDP

Merchandise trade (% of GDP) — Malawi, 1980–2025203040506019801985199019952000200520102015202020251980: 40.75%1981: 35.64%1982: 31.62%1983: 30.33%1984: 33.28%1985: 32.43%1986: 29.49%1987: 33.22%1988: 34.56%1989: 33.27%1990: 36.24%1991: 36.55%1992: 43.19%1993: 28.74%1994: 48.78%1995: 43.27%1996: 33.29%1997: 34.01%1998: 37.13%1999: 43.57%2000: 35.9%2001: 39.83%2002: 21.88%2003: 28.42%2004: 27.95%2005: 31.75%2006: 34.01%2007: 35.02%2008: 37.62%2009: 36.56%2010: 32.33%2011: 33.15%2012: 44.81%2013: 50.25%2014: 47.39%2015: 36.25%2016: 41.42%2017: 37.9%2018: 35.67%2019: 34.3%2020: 29.31%2021: 32.98%2022: 20%2023: 30.73%2024: 37.77%2025: 30.89%
Change over the period: −9.86 pp Annual average: -0.22 pp

Comparison, 2025

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

Malawi 30.89%
World 43.89%
Sub-Saharan Africa 44.53%
Eastern Africa computed 37.9%
Low-income countries computed 39.9%
Merchandise trade (% of GDP) — Malawi, by year Malawi All countries CSV XLSX
Year % Change, pp
2025 30.89 −6.89 pp
2024 37.77 +7.04 pp
2023 30.73 +10.73 pp
2022 20 −12.98 pp
2021 32.98 +3.67 pp
2020 29.31 −5 pp
2019 34.3 −1.37 pp
2018 35.67 −2.23 pp
2017 37.9 −3.51 pp
2016 41.42 +5.17 pp
2015 36.25 −11.14 pp
2014 47.39 −2.86 pp
2013 50.25 +5.44 pp
2012 44.81 +11.66 pp
2011 33.15 +0.82 pp
2010 32.33 −4.23 pp
2009 36.56 −1.06 pp
2008 37.62 +2.6 pp
2007 35.02 +1 pp
2006 34.01 +2.27 pp
2005 31.75 +3.79 pp
2004 27.95 −0.46 pp
2003 28.42 +6.54 pp
2002 21.88 −17.95 pp
2001 39.83 +3.93 pp
2000 35.9 −7.66 pp
1999 43.57 +6.43 pp
1998 37.13 +3.13 pp
1997 34.01 +0.72 pp
1996 33.29 −9.98 pp
1995 43.27 −5.51 pp
1994 48.78 +20.04 pp
1993 28.74 −14.45 pp
1992 43.19 +6.64 pp
1991 36.55 +0.3 pp
1990 36.24 +2.97 pp
1989 33.27 −1.29 pp
1988 34.56 +1.34 pp
1987 33.22 +3.73 pp
1986 29.49 −2.94 pp
1985 32.43 −0.84 pp
1984 33.28 +2.94 pp
1983 30.33 −1.28 pp
1982 31.62 −4.03 pp
1981 35.64 −5.11 pp
1980 40.75 —

Eastern Africa, 2025

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

DJ Djibouti 267.14 ZM Zambia 91.71 SC Seychelles 86.72 MZ Mozambique 77.49 MU Mauritius 57.42 UG Uganda 49.85 RW Rwanda 45.93 BI Burundi 45.17 SO Somalia 40.25 MG Madagascar 39.44 ZW Zimbabwe 38.7 SS South Sudan 37.16 MW Malawi 30.89 ER Eritrea 29.36 TZ Tanzania 27.47 ET Ethiopia 24.21 KM Comoros 23.09 KE Kenya 22.23
Full table for all countries

About the indicator

The sum of exports and imports of goods as a percent of GDP. It differs from trade openness in that services are not counted here, and the difference between the two indicators is exactly what shows the weight of services in a country's foreign trade. The highest values come not from large exporters but from transshipment economies — Singapore, Hong Kong, Luxembourg — where goods are brought in to be sent out again, and both flows are counted in full.

Important: Goods only. The value can exceed 100% of GDP: exports and imports are counted at the full value of the goods while GDP is counted as value added, so in transshipment economies the values run to several hundred percent.

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

Other indicators for Malawi

Trade Trade openness

Exports plus imports as a percent of GDP — total foreign trade turnover.

Malawi by year Trade Merchandise exports

Exports of goods only, without services — WTO data.

Malawi by year Trade Merchandise imports

Imports of goods only, without services — WTO data.

Malawi by year Trade Trade balance

The difference between exports and imports of goods and services. A minus means imports are larger.

Malawi by year
All indicators for Malawi