Military spending per armed forces personnel in Malawi

Malawi: Military spending per armed forces personnel was 6,405 in 2020. ◆ Volatile

Latest (2020)
6,405
Change on year
up 8.3%
World rank
137th
of 160 countries
All-time high
12,051
in 2013
All-time low
1,192
in 1995
Years of data
33
1985–2020

Military spending per armed forces personnel in Malawi, 1985–2020

02.5k5.0k7.5k10.0k12.5k1985200220201985: 4.4k1989: 2.8k1990: 2.7k1991: 2.1k1992: 1.8k1993: 1.9k1994: 1.8k1995: 1.2k1996: 1.4k1997: 3.2k1998: 2.6k1999: 2.5k2000: 2.1k2001: 2.0k2002: 2.2k2003: 2.2k2004: 4.3k2005: 6.0k2006: 4.9k2007: 5.0k2008: 6.2k2009: 10.0k2010: 8.4k2011: 6.7k2012: 7.7k2013: 12.1k2014: 8.9k2015: 7.1k2016: 3.3k2017: 4.0k2018: 4.5k2019: 5.9k2020: 6.4k

Source: Our World in Data.

Analysis

The most recent figure for military spending per armed forces personnel in Malawi is 6,405, measured in 2020.

The figure is up 8.3% on the previous year and down 24.0% over ten years.

Over the whole period, military spending per armed forces personnel in Malawi peaked at 12,051 in 2013 and was at its lowest, 1,192, in 1995.

Malawi ranks 137th of 160 countries on this measure, in the bottom quarter.

The series is highly variable year to year, so single readings are best treated with caution.

Military spending per armed forces personnel in Malawi, year by year

Annual values for Military spending per armed forces personnel in Malawi, 1985 to 2020.
Year Value Change
1985 4,376 —
1989 2,845 -35.0%
1990 2,685 -5.6%
1991 2,090 -22.2%
1992 1,849 -11.5%
1993 1,876 +1.5%
1994 1,833 -2.3%
1995 1,192 -35.0%
1996 1,393 +16.8%
1997 3,233 +132.2%
1998 2,581 -20.2%
1999 2,516 -2.5%
2000 2,135 -15.1%
2001 2,013 -5.7%
2002 2,177 +8.1%
2003 2,235 +2.7%
2004 4,255 +90.3%
2005 5,978 +40.5%
2006 4,902 -18.0%
2007 5,049 +3.0%
2008 6,171 +22.2%
2009 9,986 +61.8%
2010 8,426 -15.6%
2011 6,704 -20.4%
2012 7,691 +14.7%
2013 12,051 +56.7%
2014 8,921 -26.0%
2015 7,073 -20.7%
2016 3,278 -53.6%
2017 4,027 +22.8%
2018 4,504 +11.8%
2019 5,916 +31.4%
2020 6,405 +8.3%

Malawi compared with similar countries

  • Malawi's 6,405 is below the median for low income countries, which is 7,109, 90% of the median. (21 countries reporting)
  • Malawi's 6,405 is below the median for Sub-Saharan Africa, which is 13,391, 48% of the median. (45 countries reporting)

Averages by decade

DecadeAverage LowestHighest Years
1980s 3,610 2,845 4,376 2
1990s 2,125 1,192 3,233 10
2000s 4,490 2,013 9,986 10
2010s 6,859 3,278 12,051 10
2020s 6,405 6,405 6,405 1

Countries ranked near Malawi

  1. 134 Guinea-Bissau 7,109 compare
  2. 135 Nigeria 6,824 compare
  3. 136 Mauritius 6,655 compare
  4. 138 Mongolia 6,385 compare
  5. 139 Benin 6,087 compare
  6. 140 Belarus 5,738 compare

See the full ranking of 160 places →

More reference data data for Malawi

All data for Malawi →

Frequently asked questions

What is military spending per armed forces personnel in Malawi?
Military spending per armed forces personnel in Malawi was 6,405 in 2020, according to Our World in Data.
What is the highest military spending per armed forces personnel recorded in Malawi?
The highest recorded value was 12,051 in 2013.
What is the lowest military spending per armed forces personnel recorded in Malawi?
The lowest recorded value was 1,192 in 1995.
How does Malawi rank for military spending per armed forces personnel?
Malawi ranks 137th out of 160 countries with data for 2020.
Is military spending per armed forces personnel rising or falling in Malawi?
Over the last ten years it is down 24.0%. The long-run trend across the full record is volatile.
Where does this Malawi data come from?
The figures come from Our World in Data, published as part of Military spending per armed forces personnel. Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.

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Military spending per armed forces personnel in Malawi. Statizoid, drawing on Our World in Data. Retrieved 14 November 2026, from https://reference.statizoid.com/stat/military-spending-per-armed-forces-personnel/malawi/

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About this data

Indicator
Military spending per armed forces personnel
Source
Our World in Data
Licence
CC BY 4.0 (Our World in Data)
Coverage
160 places, 4,610 data points, 1985–2020
Last refreshed