Partner risk indices

Country Risk Index

58.5

Political Risk Index

48.5

Short-Term Economic Risk Index

66

Long-Term Economic Risk Index

59.4

Operational Risk Index

64.4

Source: Partner Research Partner, as of 8 Nov 2026. 0-100, higher means higher risk.

Key indicators

Market overview

• Malawi is in Southern Africa and is classified by the World Bank as Low income. (World Bank)
• Population: 22.2 million (2025). (World Bank WDI)
• GDP: US$15.1bn in 2025 (estimate). (IMF WEO)

Economic conditions

• Real GDP growth: 2.5% in 2025 (estimate); the IMF projects 2.6% for 2026. (IMF WEO)
• Average consumer price inflation: 28.4% in 2025 (estimate); projected 21.9% for 2026. (IMF WEO)
• General government gross debt: 96.6% of GDP in 2025 (estimate). (IMF WEO)
• Current account balance: -13.8% of GDP in 2025 (estimate). (IMF WEO)
• Government net lending/borrowing: -10.2% of GDP in 2025 (estimate). (IMF WEO)
• Official exchange rate averaged 1,161.09 local currency units per US dollar in 2023, against 805.9 in 2021: 44.1% more units per dollar (the currency weakened against the dollar). (World Bank WDI)

Key risks

• Partner risk indices (0-100, higher = higher risk), as of 8 Nov 2026: Country Risk Index 58.5 (rank 29 of 53 in Africa, 1 = lowest risk); Political Risk Index 48.5 (rank 18 of 53 in Africa, 1 = lowest risk); Short-Term Economic Risk Index 66 (rank 49 of 53 in Africa, 1 = lowest risk); Long-Term Economic Risk Index 59.4 (rank 35 of 53 in Africa, 1 = lowest risk); Operational Risk Index 64.4 (rank 25 of 53 in Africa, 1 = lowest risk). (Partner Research Partner)
• Highest-scoring Partner risk component: logistics risk (70.8, operational). (Partner Research Partner)
• World Bank governance scores (2025, 0-100, higher is better): control of corruption 35; government effectiveness 4; political stability and absence of violence 63; rule of law 56; regulatory quality 45. (World Bank WGI)
• External debt stocks: 27.4% of GNI (2025). (World Bank WDI)
• Unemployment (modelled ILO estimate): 5.1% of labour force (2025). (World Bank WDI)

Investment considerations

• Foreign direct investment, net inflows: 3.6% of GDP (2025). (World Bank WDI)
• Domestic credit to the private sector: 7.9% of GDP (2024). (World Bank WDI)
• Bank lending interest rate: 37.1% (2024). (World Bank WDI)
• Trade (exports plus imports): 39.4% of GDP (2025). (World Bank WDI)
• The Meridian holds 286 published records tagged to Malawi. (The Meridian)

Sector snapshot

• Energy and power: access to electricity 15.6% of population (2024); renewable share of final energy consumption 62.9% (2022). (World Bank WDI)
• Mining and minerals: mineral rents 0% of GDP (2021); ores and metals exports 0.6% of merchandise exports (2025). (World Bank WDI)
• Financial services: foreign direct investment, net inflows 3.6% of GDP (2025); bank lending interest rate 37.1% (2024). (World Bank WDI)
• Technology, media and telecoms: internet users 19% of population (2024); mobile subscriptions 69.3 per 100 people (2024). (World Bank WDI)
• Agriculture: agriculture, forestry and fishing, value added 30% of GDP (2025); employment in agriculture 65% of employment (2025). (World Bank WDI)
• Manufacturing and industry: manufacturing, value added 11% of GDP (2024); industry (including construction), value added 14.3% of GDP (2025). (World Bank WDI)
• Infrastructure and real estate: urban population 17.6% of population (2025); access to electricity 15.6% of population (2024). (World Bank WDI)

Data limitations and sources

• Older data, shown with its period and not described as current: Official exchange rate (period average) (Latest published value is for 2023); Renewable share of final energy consumption (Latest published value is for 2022); Oil rents (Latest published value is for 2021); Mineral rents (Latest published value is for 2021).
• IMF figures for the most recent year are IMF estimates and later years are projections. World Bank series typically lag by one to two years. Headlines come from automated news monitoring and are not verified by The Meridian.
• Sources last checked 15 Nov 2026.

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