Military expenditure (current USD), per square kilometre in Malawi
Malawi: Military expenditure (current USD), per square kilometre was 1,587 current USD per square kilometre in 2023. ◆ Volatile
Latest (2023)
1,587 current USD per square kilometre
Change on year
up 27.3%
World rank
121st
of 166 countries
All-time high
1,587 current USD per square kilometre
in 2023
All-time low
18.78 current USD per square kilometre
in 1965
Years of data
59
1965–2023
Military expenditure (current USD), per square kilometre in Malawi, 1965–2023
Source: Statizoid (derived). Measured in current USD per square kilometre.
Analysis
Malawi recorded 1,587 current USD per square kilometre for military expenditure (current usd), per square kilometre in 2023. That is the highest value across all 59 years on record.
Compared with earlier readings it is up 27.3% on the previous year and up 137.7% over ten years.
Over the whole period, military expenditure (current usd), per square kilometre in Malawi peaked at 1,587 current USD per square kilometre in 2023 and was at its lowest, 18.78 current USD per square kilometre, in 1965.
That places Malawi 121st out of 166 countries with data for 2023, putting it in the middle of the range.
The series is highly variable year to year, so single readings are best treated with caution.
Military expenditure (current USD), per square kilometre in Malawi, year by year
| Year | current USD per square kilometre | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1965 | 18.78 current USD per square kilometre | — |
| 1966 | 19.6 current USD per square kilometre | +4.3% |
| 1967 | 22.63 current USD per square kilometre | +15.4% |
| 1968 | 19.95 current USD per square kilometre | -11.8% |
| 1969 | 20.78 current USD per square kilometre | +4.1% |
| 1970 | 21.8 current USD per square kilometre | +4.9% |
| 1971 | 24.86 current USD per square kilometre | +14.1% |
| 1972 | 28.62 current USD per square kilometre | +15.1% |
| 1973 | 49.97 current USD per square kilometre | +74.6% |
| 1974 | 56.27 current USD per square kilometre | +12.6% |
| 1975 | 99.3 current USD per square kilometre | +76.5% |
| 1976 | 97.64 current USD per square kilometre | -1.7% |
| 1977 | 144.52 current USD per square kilometre | +48.0% |
| 1978 | 271.22 current USD per square kilometre | +87.7% |
| 1979 | 456.4 current USD per square kilometre | +68.3% |
| 1980 | 563.58 current USD per square kilometre | +23.5% |
| 1981 | 408.43 current USD per square kilometre | -27.5% |
| 1982 | 286.14 current USD per square kilometre | -29.9% |
| 1983 | 235.65 current USD per square kilometre | -17.6% |
| 1984 | 199.83 current USD per square kilometre | -15.2% |
| 1985 | 210.13 current USD per square kilometre | +5.2% |
| 1986 | 262.45 current USD per square kilometre | +24.9% |
| 1987 | 229.57 current USD per square kilometre | -12.5% |
| 1988 | 213.91 current USD per square kilometre | -6.8% |
| 1989 | 241.63 current USD per square kilometre | +13.0% |
| 1990 | 257.87 current USD per square kilometre | +6.7% |
| 1991 | 251.42 current USD per square kilometre | -2.5% |
| 1992 | 267.69 current USD per square kilometre | +6.5% |
| 1993 | 272.89 current USD per square kilometre | +1.9% |
| 1994 | 180.96 current USD per square kilometre | -33.7% |
| 1995 | 117.18 current USD per square kilometre | -35.2% |
| 1996 | 213.75 current USD per square kilometre | +82.4% |
| 1997 | 280.1 current USD per square kilometre | +31.0% |
| 1998 | 153.52 current USD per square kilometre | -45.2% |
| 1999 | 152.77 current USD per square kilometre | -0.5% |
| 2000 | 124.39 current USD per square kilometre | -18.6% |
| 2001 | 134.51 current USD per square kilometre | +8.1% |
| 2002 | 157.14 current USD per square kilometre | +16.8% |
| 2003 | 139.15 current USD per square kilometre | -11.5% |
| 2004 | 232.98 current USD per square kilometre | +67.4% |
| 2005 | 405.32 current USD per square kilometre | +74.0% |
| 2006 | 329.77 current USD per square kilometre | -18.6% |
| 2007 | 356.38 current USD per square kilometre | +8.1% |
| 2008 | 471.62 current USD per square kilometre | +32.3% |
| 2009 | 623.65 current USD per square kilometre | +32.2% |
| 2010 | 530.17 current USD per square kilometre | -15.0% |
| 2011 | 560.09 current USD per square kilometre | +5.6% |
| 2012 | 489.56 current USD per square kilometre | -12.6% |
| 2013 | 667.43 current USD per square kilometre | +36.3% |
| 2014 | 524.55 current USD per square kilometre | -21.4% |
| 2015 | 432.68 current USD per square kilometre | -17.5% |
| 2016 | 379.17 current USD per square kilometre | -12.4% |
| 2017 | 502.93 current USD per square kilometre | +32.6% |
| 2018 | 619.11 current USD per square kilometre | +23.1% |
| 2019 | 903.5 current USD per square kilometre | +45.9% |
| 2020 | 1,049 current USD per square kilometre | +16.1% |
| 2021 | 981.87 current USD per square kilometre | -6.4% |
| 2022 | 1,247 current USD per square kilometre | +27.0% |
| 2023 | 1,587 current USD per square kilometre | +27.3% |
Malawi compared with similar countries
- Malawi's 1,587 current USD per square kilometre is above the median for low income countries, which is 899.45 current USD per square kilometre, 1.8× the median. (25 countries reporting)
- Malawi's 1,587 current USD per square kilometre is above the median for Sub-Saharan Africa, which is 1,251 current USD per square kilometre, 1.3× the median. (46 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1960s | 20.35 current USD per square kilometre | 18.78 current USD per square kilometre | 22.63 current USD per square kilometre | 5 |
| 1970s | 125.06 current USD per square kilometre | 21.8 current USD per square kilometre | 456.4 current USD per square kilometre | 10 |
| 1980s | 285.13 current USD per square kilometre | 199.83 current USD per square kilometre | 563.58 current USD per square kilometre | 10 |
| 1990s | 214.82 current USD per square kilometre | 117.18 current USD per square kilometre | 280.1 current USD per square kilometre | 10 |
| 2000s | 297.49 current USD per square kilometre | 124.39 current USD per square kilometre | 623.65 current USD per square kilometre | 10 |
| 2010s | 560.92 current USD per square kilometre | 379.17 current USD per square kilometre | 903.5 current USD per square kilometre | 10 |
| 2020s | 1,216 current USD per square kilometre | 981.87 current USD per square kilometre | 1,587 current USD per square kilometre | 4 |
Countries ranked near Malawi
- 118 Eritrea 1,798 current USD per square kilometre compare
- 119 Argentina 1,784 current USD per square kilometre compare
- 120 South Sudan 1,703 current USD per square kilometre compare
- 122 Djibouti 1,565 current USD per square kilometre compare
- 123 Gambia 1,379 current USD per square kilometre compare
- 124 Belize 1,340 current USD per square kilometre compare
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 square kilometre in Malawi?
- Military expenditure (current usd), per square kilometre in Malawi was 1,587 current USD per square kilometre in 2023, according to Statizoid (derived).
- What is the highest military expenditure (current usd), per square kilometre recorded in Malawi?
- The highest recorded value was 1,587 current USD per square kilometre in 2023.
- What is the lowest military expenditure (current usd), per square kilometre recorded in Malawi?
- The lowest recorded value was 18.78 current USD per square kilometre in 1965.
- How does Malawi rank for military expenditure (current usd), per square kilometre?
- Malawi ranks 121st out of 166 countries with data for 2023.
- Is military expenditure (current usd), per square kilometre rising or falling in Malawi?
- Over the last ten years it is up 137.7%. 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 square kilometre. Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
Download this data
CSV · JSON — 59 observations, free to reuse under Derived by Statizoid from the sources named on the page.
How this figure is calculated
Military expenditure (current USD) divided by Land area (sq. km), matched on country and year. Neither publisher issues this ratio as a series; it is computed here from both.
Military expenditure (current USD) ÷ Land area (sq. km)
Computed from
- Military expenditure SIPRI Military Expenditure Database, Stockholm International Peace Research Institute (SIPRI)
- Land area FAOSTAT, Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO)
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 Land area (sq. km), matched on country and year. Neither publisher issues this ratio as a series; it is computed here from both.