Malawi: Trade balance, percent of GDP

The latest value from 2025 is -18.1 percent, an increase from -19.33 percent in 2024. In comparison, the world average is -3.51 percent, based on data from 135 countries. Historically, the average for Malawi from 2017 to 2025 is -19.43 percent. The minimum value, -20.93 percent, was reached in 2022 while the maximum of -18.1 percent was recorded in 2025. See the global rankings for that indicator or use the country comparator to compare trends over time.

The trade balance for Malawi and other countries is calculated as the difference between the exports and imports of goods and services, as percent of GDP. A positive number means trade surplus and a negative number means trade deficit.

Definition: The balance of international trade in goods and services is the difference between the exports and imports of goods and services. This indicator is expressed as a percentage of Gross Domestic Product (GDP) which is the total income earned through the production of goods and services in an economic territory during an accounting period.