Sub-Saharan Africa

Malawi: official statistics and sources

18 official bodies for Malawi, from National Statistical Office to Office of the Director of Public Officers' Declarations, with key figures from the World Bank and IMF. Official language: English. Capital: Lilongwe.

Who holds power in Malawi

• Head of state: Arthur Peter Mutharika (President of the Republic of Malawi and Commander-in-Chief of the Malawi Defence Force)
• Head of government: The head of state leads the government (no prime minister listed)
• Foreign minister: George Chapatula Chaponda (Minister for Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Malawi)

Source: UN Protocol and Liaison Service list, dated 15 October 2026. All world leaders.

Unitary presidential republic. How local power works in Malawi: 3 tiers of government below the nation, who is elected and who they answer to.

Part of level 6 of the 10 levels of power.

Government, regions and cities

• Government and power in Malawi: leaders, governance scores, women in parliament, spending and the bodies that hold power to account
• All 3 regions: Southern Region, Central Region, Northern Region
• The 4 largest cities: Lilongwe, Blantyre City

Key figures

What the figures show

World Bank data give a population of 22.2 million for Malawi in 2025, against 17.1 million in 2015. It ranks 18th of 48 in the World Bank's Sub-Saharan Africa region and 60th of 193 worldwide.

Malawi's economy produced $14.9 billion of goods and services in 2025, in current US dollars. Divided by population it comes to $672, where the middle country in the region has $1,351.

Output rose 1.9% after inflation in 2025 (World Bank). The IMF's October 2026 outlook projects 2.6% for 2026.

For 2025 as a whole the World Bank records 28.4%. IMF projections put 2026 at 21.9%.

Unemployment stood at 5.1% in 2025 on the ILO's modelled estimate, which can differ from the national survey.

Government debt was 96.6% of GDP in 2025, the IMF estimates, heading to 78.0% in 2026. The regional median is 53.1%.

A baby born in 2024 could expect to live 67.6 years.

• Annual inflation since 2015: highest 32.2% (2024), lowest 8.6% (2020).
• Debt ratio 2015: 35.5%; 2025: 96.6%.
• GDP per person in dollars, 2015 to 2025: +24%.

Figures checked 2026-10-13; how they are compiled.

Official sources in Malawi

Statistics office prices, jobs, people, output

• National Statistical Office
  Malawi's census, consumer price index, integrated household surveys and other official statistics.

Central bank interest rates and money

• Reserve Bank of Malawi
  Monetary policy statements, exchange rates, financial stability reports and economic statistics.

Parliament debates, votes, bills

• National Assembly
  Hansard, bills, order papers and members of the National Assembly.

Government

• Malawi Government portal
  Government services, ministry information, press releases and official notices.

Laws and the official gazette the text of laws

• Malawi Law Commission
  Law reform reports and reviews of Malawi's statutes.

Courts judgments

• Malawi Judiciary
  Court judgments, cause lists and information on the Supreme Court of Appeal and High Court.

Public audit how public money was spent

• National Audit Office
  Auditor General reports on government accounts, ministries and public bodies.

Elections results and rules

• Malawi Electoral Commission
  Election results, voter registration data and electoral calendars.

Regulators

• Malawi Communications Regulatory Authority (MACRA)
  Telecoms and broadcasting licences, regulations and sector statistics.
• Competition and Fair Trading Commission
  Merger decisions, competition investigations and consumer protection rulings.
• Malawi Energy Regulatory Authority
  Fuel price announcements, electricity tariffs and energy licences.

Ombudsman

• Office of the Ombudsman
  Investigation reports and determinations on complaints about public bodies.

Access to information requests to public bodies

• Malawi Human Rights Commission (oversight of the Access to Information Act)
  Human rights reports and investigations, and oversight and compliance monitoring of the Access to Information Act.

Public registers companies, land, charities

• Registrar General (Malawi Business Registration System)
  Online business and company registration, name searches, changes of particulars and annual return filings through the Malawi Business Registration System.
• Ministry of Lands
  Land policy, land registration and titling information, surveys and physical planning notices.
• Non-Governmental Organisations Regulatory Authority (NGORA)
  Registration and regulation of non-governmental organisations, lists of registered NGOs and compliance notices.
• Office of the Director of Public Officers' Declarations
  Declarations of assets, liabilities and business interests by public officers, compliance reports and lists of defaulters.

Public contracts government tenders and awards

• Public Procurement and Disposal of Assets Authority (PPDA)
  Procurement regulations, tender notices, contract awards, debarment lists and reviews of public procurement.

What Malawi does not have

• No state-run case-law database was found; MalawiLII is hosted by a non-governmental organisation, so it is not listed.
• No standing public inquiries body was found.

Also: World Bank country data · IMF country page · UN Sustainable Development Goals country profile · IPU Parline parliament profile.

Malawi by subject

• Economy GDP, growth, trade and investment
• Jobs and pay unemployment, jobs and work
• Cost of living inflation, poverty and inequality
• Public finances debt, deficit, tax and spending
• Health and care life expectancy, doctors and spending
• Housing homes, cities, water and power
• Crime and justice murder rate, courts and crime
• Immigration migrants, refugees and remittances
• Education schools, universities and literacy
• Environment emissions, air, forests and water

Common questions

What is the population of Malawi?

22.2 million (2025, World Bank). National figures: National Statistical Office.

What is the inflation rate in Malawi?

28.4% (2025, World Bank). Official index: National Statistical Office.

What is Malawi's GDP?

$14.9 billion (2025, World Bank).

How much government debt does Malawi have?

96.6% of GDP (2025, International Monetary Fund).

Who publishes official statistics in Malawi?

National Statistical Office: https://www.nsomalawi.mw/

What is the central bank of Malawi?

Reserve Bank of Malawi: https://www.rbm.mw/

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