Military expenditure (% of GDP) in Malawi
Malawi: Military expenditure (% of GDP) was 1.1% in 2025. ◆ Volatile
Latest (2025)
1.1%
Change on year
up 8.3%
World rank
116th
of 167 countries
All-time high
4.1%
in 1979
All-time low
0.3%
in 2000
Years of data
61
1965–2025
Military expenditure in Malawi, 1965–2025
Source: SIPRI Military Expenditure Database, Stockholm International Peace Research Institute (SIPRI). Measured in % of GDP.
Analysis
The most recent figure for military expenditure in Malawi is 1.1%, measured in 2025.
The figure is up 8.3% on the previous year and up 154.1% over ten years.
Over the whole period, military expenditure in Malawi peaked at 4.1% in 1979 and was at its lowest, 0.3%, in 2000.
Malawi ranks 116th of 167 countries on this measure, in the middle of the range.
The series is highly variable year to year, so single readings are best treated with caution.
Military expenditure (% of GDP) in Malawi, year by year
| Year | % of GDP | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1965 | 0.7% | — |
| 1966 | 0.6% | -8.0% |
| 1967 | 0.7% | +11.0% |
| 1968 | 0.7% | -3.0% |
| 1969 | 0.7% | -3.9% |
| 1970 | 0.6% | -4.0% |
| 1971 | 0.6% | -9.3% |
| 1972 | 0.6% | +3.6% |
| 1973 | 1.1% | +76.1% |
| 1974 | 1.0% | -8.8% |
| 1975 | 1.5% | +57.9% |
| 1976 | 1.4% | -10.0% |
| 1977 | 1.7% | +23.0% |
| 1978 | 2.7% | +59.4% |
| 1979 | 4.1% | +50.9% |
| 1980 | 1.8% | -56.8% |
| 1981 | 1.3% | -27.5% |
| 1982 | 0.9% | -26.5% |
| 1983 | 0.7% | -20.6% |
| 1984 | 0.6% | -14.1% |
| 1985 | 0.7% | +12.3% |
| 1986 | 0.9% | +19.7% |
| 1987 | 0.8% | -11.0% |
| 1988 | 0.6% | -18.9% |
| 1989 | 0.6% | -0.9% |
| 1990 | 0.6% | -6.1% |
| 1991 | 0.4% | -23.5% |
| 1992 | 0.6% | +30.4% |
| 1993 | 0.5% | -11.4% |
| 1994 | 0.6% | +14.4% |
| 1995 | 0.3% | -44.4% |
| 1996 | 0.4% | +11.8% |
| 1997 | 0.4% | +12.2% |
| 1998 | 0.3% | -16.6% |
| 1999 | 0.3% | -1.9% |
| 2000 | 0.3% | -17.1% |
| 2001 | 0.3% | +10.2% |
| 2002 | 0.3% | -0.8% |
| 2003 | 0.3% | -3.5% |
| 2004 | 0.4% | +54.6% |
| 2005 | 0.7% | +65.4% |
| 2006 | 0.6% | -25.6% |
| 2007 | 0.5% | -2.5% |
| 2008 | 0.6% | +10.2% |
| 2009 | 0.7% | +13.6% |
| 2010 | 0.5% | -24.4% |
| 2011 | 0.5% | -8.1% |
| 2012 | 0.5% | +16.1% |
| 2013 | 0.8% | +48.9% |
| 2014 | 0.6% | -28.3% |
| 2015 | 0.5% | -22.4% |
| 2016 | 0.5% | +0.3% |
| 2017 | 0.5% | +17.3% |
| 2018 | 0.6% | +11.2% |
| 2019 | 0.8% | +29.1% |
| 2020 | 0.8% | +9.7% |
| 2021 | 0.7% | -12.5% |
| 2022 | 0.9% | +27.8% |
| 2023 | 1.2% | +24.9% |
| 2024 | 1.1% | -9.3% |
| 2025 | 1.1% | +8.3% |
Malawi compared with similar countries
- Malawi's 1.1% is below the median for low income countries, which is 1.8%, 62% of the median. (24 countries reporting)
- Malawi's 1.1% is below the median for Sub-Saharan Africa, which is 1.3%, 88% of the median. (46 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1960s | 0.7% | 0.6% | 0.7% | 5 |
| 1970s | 1.5% | 0.6% | 4.1% | 10 |
| 1980s | 0.9% | 0.6% | 1.8% | 10 |
| 1990s | 0.4% | 0.3% | 0.6% | 10 |
| 2000s | 0.5% | 0.3% | 0.7% | 10 |
| 2010s | 0.6% | 0.5% | 0.8% | 10 |
| 2020s | 1.0% | 0.7% | 1.2% | 6 |
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)
- Elected parliament, annual growth rate 0 % change on previous year (2025)
- Men's universal right to vote, annual growth rate 0 % change on previous year (2025)
- Universal right to vote, annual growth rate 0 % change on previous year (2025)
- Universal right to vote in practice, annual growth rate 0 % change on previous year (2025)
- Arms imports 2.00 million SIPRI trend indicator values (2024)
- Arms imports (SIPRI trend indicator values), per capita 0.9237 SIPRI trend indicator values per person (2022)
- Arms imports (SIPRI trend indicator values), per unit of GDP 0.0015 SIPRI trend indicator values per US$ of GDP (2022)
- Arms imports (SIPRI trend indicator values), annual growth rate -100 % change on previous year (2016)
Frequently asked questions
- What is military expenditure in Malawi?
- Military expenditure in Malawi was 1.1% in 2025, according to SIPRI Military Expenditure Database, Stockholm International Peace Research Institute (SIPRI).
- What is the highest military expenditure recorded in Malawi?
- The highest recorded value was 4.1% in 1979.
- What is the lowest military expenditure recorded in Malawi?
- The lowest recorded value was 0.3% in 2000.
- How does Malawi rank for military expenditure?
- Malawi ranks 116th out of 167 countries with data for 2025.
- Is military expenditure rising or falling in Malawi?
- Over the last ten years it is up 154.1%. The long-run trend across the full record is volatile.
- Where does this Malawi data come from?
- The figures come from SIPRI Military Expenditure Database, Stockholm International Peace Research Institute (SIPRI), published as part of Military expenditure (% of GDP). Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
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About this data
Military expenditure by country as percentage of gross domestic product