Military expenditure (current USD), per capita in Malawi
Malawi: Military expenditure (current USD), per capita was 5.43 current USD per person in 2024. ◆ Volatile
Military expenditure (current USD), per capita in Malawi, 1965–2024
Source: Statizoid (derived). Measured in current USD per person.
Analysis
In 2024, military expenditure (current usd), per capita in Malawi stood at 5.43 current USD per person.
Compared with earlier readings it is down 23.4% on the previous year and up 82.5% over ten years.
Over the whole period, military expenditure (current usd), per capita in Malawi peaked at 8.48 current USD per person in 1980 and was at its lowest, 0.4264 current USD per person, in 1968.
That places Malawi 157th out of 167 countries with data for 2024, putting it in the bottom quarter.
The series is highly variable year to year, so single readings are best treated with caution.
Military expenditure (current USD), per capita in Malawi, year by year
| Year | current USD per person | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1965 | 0.4324 current USD per person | — |
| 1966 | 0.4402 current USD per person | +1.8% |
| 1967 | 0.4958 current USD per person | +12.6% |
| 1968 | 0.4264 current USD per person | -14.0% |
| 1969 | 0.4333 current USD per person | +1.6% |
| 1970 | 0.4435 current USD per person | +2.3% |
| 1971 | 0.4933 current USD per person | +11.2% |
| 1972 | 0.5535 current USD per person | +12.2% |
| 1973 | 0.9416 current USD per person | +70.1% |
| 1974 | 1.03 current USD per person | +9.6% |
| 1975 | 1.77 current USD per person | +71.6% |
| 1976 | 1.69 current USD per person | -4.5% |
| 1977 | 2.43 current USD per person | +43.5% |
| 1978 | 4.4 current USD per person | +81.4% |
| 1979 | 7.14 current USD per person | +62.2% |
| 1980 | 8.48 current USD per person | +18.8% |
| 1981 | 5.91 current USD per person | -30.3% |
| 1982 | 3.98 current USD per person | -32.7% |
| 1983 | 3.15 current USD per person | -20.8% |
| 1984 | 2.57 current USD per person | -18.5% |
| 1985 | 2.6 current USD per person | +1.2% |
| 1986 | 3.13 current USD per person | +20.4% |
| 1987 | 2.61 current USD per person | -16.6% |
| 1988 | 2.3 current USD per person | -11.7% |
| 1989 | 2.48 current USD per person | +7.8% |
| 1990 | 2.55 current USD per person | +2.6% |
| 1991 | 2.41 current USD per person | -5.5% |
| 1992 | 2.49 current USD per person | +3.4% |
| 1993 | 2.5 current USD per person | +0.5% |
| 1994 | 1.68 current USD per person | -32.9% |
| 1995 | 1.09 current USD per person | -35.2% |
| 1996 | 1.95 current USD per person | +78.9% |
| 1997 | 2.5 current USD per person | +28.4% |
| 1998 | 1.34 current USD per person | -46.4% |
| 1999 | 1.3 current USD per person | -2.8% |
| 2000 | 1.04 current USD per person | -20.5% |
| 2001 | 1.09 current USD per person | +5.6% |
| 2002 | 1.25 current USD per person | +14.0% |
| 2003 | 1.08 current USD per person | -13.6% |
| 2004 | 1.76 current USD per person | +63.2% |
| 2005 | 2.98 current USD per person | +69.4% |
| 2006 | 2.36 current USD per person | -20.9% |
| 2007 | 2.47 current USD per person | +5.1% |
| 2008 | 3.18 current USD per person | +28.5% |
| 2009 | 4.08 current USD per person | +28.4% |
| 2010 | 3.37 current USD per person | -17.5% |
| 2011 | 3.46 current USD per person | +2.6% |
| 2012 | 2.94 current USD per person | -15.1% |
| 2013 | 3.89 current USD per person | +32.5% |
| 2014 | 2.98 current USD per person | -23.6% |
| 2015 | 2.39 current USD per person | -19.8% |
| 2016 | 2.04 current USD per person | -14.7% |
| 2017 | 2.63 current USD per person | +29.1% |
| 2018 | 3.15 current USD per person | +19.9% |
| 2019 | 4.48 current USD per person | +42.1% |
| 2020 | 5.06 current USD per person | +13.0% |
| 2021 | 4.62 current USD per person | -8.8% |
| 2022 | 5.71 current USD per person | +23.8% |
| 2023 | 7.09 current USD per person | +24.0% |
| 2024 | 5.43 current USD per person | -23.4% |
Malawi compared with similar countries
- Malawi's 5.43 current USD per person is below the median for low income countries, which is 12.34 current USD per person, 44% of the median. (25 countries reporting)
- Malawi's 5.43 current USD per person is below the median for Sub-Saharan Africa, which is 18.42 current USD per person, 29% of the median. (46 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1960s | 0.4456 current USD per person | 0.4264 current USD per person | 0.4958 current USD per person | 5 |
| 1970s | 2.09 current USD per person | 0.4435 current USD per person | 7.14 current USD per person | 10 |
| 1980s | 3.72 current USD per person | 2.3 current USD per person | 8.48 current USD per person | 10 |
| 1990s | 1.98 current USD per person | 1.09 current USD per person | 2.55 current USD per person | 10 |
| 2000s | 2.13 current USD per person | 1.04 current USD per person | 4.08 current USD per person | 10 |
| 2010s | 3.13 current USD per person | 2.04 current USD per person | 4.48 current USD per person | 10 |
| 2020s | 5.58 current USD per person | 4.62 current USD per person | 7.09 current USD per person | 5 |
Countries ranked near Malawi
More public sector data for Malawi
- Democracy, annual growth rate 0 % change on previous year (2025)
- Chief executive of the government is elected, annual growth rate 0 % change on previous year (2025)
- Universal right to vote in practice, annual growth rate 0 % change on previous year (2025)
- Elected parliament, annual growth rate 0 % change on previous year (2025)
- Universal right to vote, annual growth rate 0 % change on previous year (2025)
- Men's universal right to vote, annual growth rate 0 % change on previous year (2025)
- Democracy 6 (2025)
- Chief executive of the government is elected 1 (2025)
- Elected parliament 1 (2025)
- Men's universal right to vote 1 (2025)
Frequently asked questions
- What is military expenditure (current usd), per capita in Malawi?
- Military expenditure (current usd), per capita in Malawi was 5.43 current USD per person in 2024, according to Statizoid (derived).
- What is the highest military expenditure (current usd), per capita recorded in Malawi?
- The highest recorded value was 8.48 current USD per person in 1980.
- What is the lowest military expenditure (current usd), per capita recorded in Malawi?
- The lowest recorded value was 0.4264 current USD per person in 1968.
- How does Malawi rank for military expenditure (current usd), per capita?
- Malawi ranks 157th out of 167 countries with data for 2024.
- Is military expenditure (current usd), per capita rising or falling in Malawi?
- Over the last ten years it is up 82.5%. The long-run trend across the full record is volatile.
- Where does this Malawi data come from?
- The figures come from Statizoid (derived), published as part of Military expenditure (current USD), per capita. Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
Download this data
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How this figure is calculated
Military expenditure (current USD) divided by Population, total, matched on country and year. Neither publisher issues this ratio as a series; it is computed here from both.
Military expenditure (current USD) ÷ Population, total
Computed from
- Military expenditure SIPRI Military Expenditure Database, Stockholm International Peace Research Institute (SIPRI)
- Population, total World Population Prospects, United Nations (UN)
Statizoid computes this series; the underlying measurements belong to the publishers named above. The arithmetic is applied to every country and year where both inputs report, and nothing is estimated unless the page says so.
About this data
Military expenditure (current USD) divided by Population, total, matched on country and year. Neither publisher issues this ratio as a series; it is computed here from both.