Military spending, per capita in Malawi
Malawi: Military spending, per capita was 5.76 constant 2024 US$ per person in 2025. ◆ Volatile
Latest (2025)
5.76 constant 2024 US$ per person
Change on year
up 6.0%
World rank
152nd
of 161 countries
All-time high
9.29 constant 2024 US$ per person
in 1979
All-time low
1.12 constant 2024 US$ per person
in 1995
Years of data
58
1968–2025
Military spending, per capita in Malawi, 1968–2025
Source: Statizoid (derived). Measured in constant 2024 US$ per person.
Analysis
Malawi recorded 5.76 constant 2024 US$ per person for military spending, per capita in 2025.
The figure is up 6.0% on the previous year and up 104.5% over ten years.
Over the whole period, military spending, per capita in Malawi peaked at 9.29 constant 2024 US$ per person in 1979 and was at its lowest, 1.12 constant 2024 US$ per person, in 1995.
That places Malawi 152nd out of 161 countries with data for 2025, putting it in the bottom quarter.
The series is highly variable year to year, so single readings are best treated with caution.
Military spending, per capita in Malawi, year by year
| Year | constant 2024 US$ per person | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1968 | 1.75 constant 2024 US$ per person | — |
| 1969 | 1.69 constant 2024 US$ per person | -3.2% |
| 1970 | 1.64 constant 2024 US$ per person | -3.2% |
| 1971 | 1.68 constant 2024 US$ per person | +2.7% |
| 1972 | 1.76 constant 2024 US$ per person | +4.4% |
| 1973 | 2.87 constant 2024 US$ per person | +63.6% |
| 1974 | 2.75 constant 2024 US$ per person | -4.4% |
| 1975 | 4.03 constant 2024 US$ per person | +46.8% |
| 1976 | 3.64 constant 2024 US$ per person | -9.8% |
| 1977 | 4.58 constant 2024 US$ per person | +25.8% |
| 1978 | 6.83 constant 2024 US$ per person | +49.1% |
| 1979 | 9.29 constant 2024 US$ per person | +36.1% |
| 1980 | 8.67 constant 2024 US$ per person | -6.7% |
| 1981 | 5.96 constant 2024 US$ per person | -31.3% |
| 1982 | 4.31 constant 2024 US$ per person | -27.7% |
| 1983 | 3.34 constant 2024 US$ per person | -22.4% |
| 1984 | 2.73 constant 2024 US$ per person | -18.3% |
| 1985 | 3.04 constant 2024 US$ per person | +11.4% |
| 1986 | 3.48 constant 2024 US$ per person | +14.3% |
| 1987 | 2.75 constant 2024 US$ per person | -20.9% |
| 1988 | 2.1 constant 2024 US$ per person | -23.6% |
| 1989 | 2.17 constant 2024 US$ per person | +3.2% |
| 1990 | 1.97 constant 2024 US$ per person | -9.3% |
| 1991 | 1.7 constant 2024 US$ per person | -13.8% |
| 1992 | 1.82 constant 2024 US$ per person | +7.4% |
| 1993 | 1.82 constant 2024 US$ per person | -0.0% |
| 1994 | 1.8 constant 2024 US$ per person | -1.1% |
| 1995 | 1.12 constant 2024 US$ per person | -38.1% |
| 1996 | 1.45 constant 2024 US$ per person | +30.2% |
| 1997 | 1.84 constant 2024 US$ per person | +26.4% |
| 1998 | 1.43 constant 2024 US$ per person | -21.9% |
| 1999 | 1.37 constant 2024 US$ per person | -4.7% |
| 2000 | 1.13 constant 2024 US$ per person | -17.1% |
| 2001 | 1.18 constant 2024 US$ per person | +4.3% |
| 2002 | 1.25 constant 2024 US$ per person | +5.5% |
| 2003 | 1.25 constant 2024 US$ per person | +0.1% |
| 2004 | 2.04 constant 2024 US$ per person | +63.7% |
| 2005 | 3.26 constant 2024 US$ per person | +59.6% |
| 2006 | 2.6 constant 2024 US$ per person | -20.2% |
| 2007 | 2.6 constant 2024 US$ per person | +0.1% |
| 2008 | 3.09 constant 2024 US$ per person | +18.7% |
| 2009 | 3.68 constant 2024 US$ per person | +19.0% |
| 2010 | 3.01 constant 2024 US$ per person | -18.1% |
| 2011 | 2.99 constant 2024 US$ per person | -0.8% |
| 2012 | 3.33 constant 2024 US$ per person | +11.5% |
| 2013 | 5.07 constant 2024 US$ per person | +52.3% |
| 2014 | 3.65 constant 2024 US$ per person | -28.0% |
| 2015 | 2.81 constant 2024 US$ per person | -22.9% |
| 2016 | 2.78 constant 2024 US$ per person | -1.2% |
| 2017 | 3.35 constant 2024 US$ per person | +20.4% |
| 2018 | 3.57 constant 2024 US$ per person | +6.7% |
| 2019 | 4.66 constant 2024 US$ per person | +30.5% |
| 2020 | 4.92 constant 2024 US$ per person | +5.5% |
| 2021 | 4.34 constant 2024 US$ per person | -11.7% |
| 2022 | 5.29 constant 2024 US$ per person | +21.8% |
| 2023 | 6.18 constant 2024 US$ per person | +16.9% |
| 2024 | 5.43 constant 2024 US$ per person | -12.2% |
| 2025 | 5.76 constant 2024 US$ per person | +6.0% |
Malawi compared with similar countries
- Malawi's 5.76 constant 2024 US$ per person is below the median for low income countries, which is 10.78 constant 2024 US$ per person, 53% of the median. (22 countries reporting)
- Malawi's 5.76 constant 2024 US$ per person is below the median for Sub-Saharan Africa, which is 18.2 constant 2024 US$ per person, 32% of the median. (45 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1960s | 1.72 constant 2024 US$ per person | 1.69 constant 2024 US$ per person | 1.75 constant 2024 US$ per person | 2 |
| 1970s | 3.91 constant 2024 US$ per person | 1.64 constant 2024 US$ per person | 9.29 constant 2024 US$ per person | 10 |
| 1980s | 3.86 constant 2024 US$ per person | 2.1 constant 2024 US$ per person | 8.67 constant 2024 US$ per person | 10 |
| 1990s | 1.63 constant 2024 US$ per person | 1.12 constant 2024 US$ per person | 1.97 constant 2024 US$ per person | 10 |
| 2000s | 2.21 constant 2024 US$ per person | 1.13 constant 2024 US$ per person | 3.68 constant 2024 US$ per person | 10 |
| 2010s | 3.52 constant 2024 US$ per person | 2.78 constant 2024 US$ per person | 5.07 constant 2024 US$ per person | 10 |
| 2020s | 5.32 constant 2024 US$ per person | 4.34 constant 2024 US$ per person | 6.18 constant 2024 US$ per person | 6 |
Countries ranked near Malawi
- 149 Nigeria 7.39 constant 2024 US$ per person compare
- 150 Liberia 7.02 constant 2024 US$ per person compare
- 151 Ethiopia 5.8 constant 2024 US$ per person compare
- 153 Gambia 5.19 constant 2024 US$ per person compare
- 154 Madagascar 3.38 constant 2024 US$ per person compare
- 155 Sierra Leone 3.35 constant 2024 US$ per person compare
More reference data data for Malawi
- Emission Totals - Indirect emissions (N2O) - Manure applied to Soils 0.1596 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Indirect emissions (N2O) - Manure left on Pasture 1.09 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Indirect emissions (N2O) - IPCC Agriculture 3.71 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Indirect emissions (N2O) - Crop Residues 0.3426 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Indirect emissions (N2O) - Agricultural Soils 3.71 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Emissions (N2O) - Manure applied to Soils 0.5353 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Emissions (N2O) - Manure Management 0.6012 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Emissions (N2O) - Manure left on Pasture 4.92 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Emissions (N2O) - IPCC Agriculture 16.7 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Emissions (N2O) - Crop Residues 1.87 (2050)
Frequently asked questions
- What is military spending, per capita in Malawi?
- Military spending, per capita in Malawi was 5.76 constant 2024 US$ per person in 2025, according to Statizoid (derived).
- What is the highest military spending, per capita recorded in Malawi?
- The highest recorded value was 9.29 constant 2024 US$ per person in 1979.
- What is the lowest military spending, per capita recorded in Malawi?
- The lowest recorded value was 1.12 constant 2024 US$ per person in 1995.
- How does Malawi rank for military spending, per capita?
- Malawi ranks 152nd out of 161 countries with data for 2025.
- Is military spending, per capita rising or falling in Malawi?
- Over the last ten years it is up 104.5%. 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 spending, per capita. Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
Download this data
CSV · JSON — 58 observations, free to reuse under Derived by Statizoid from the sources named on the page.
How this figure is calculated
Military spending divided by Population, total, matched on country and year. Neither publisher issues this ratio as a series; it is computed here from both.
Military spending ÷ Population, total
Computed from
- Military spending Stockholm International Peace Research Institute (2026) – with minor processing by Our World in Data
- Population, total World Population Prospects, United Nations (UN)
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 spending divided by Population, total, matched on country and year. Neither publisher issues this ratio as a series; it is computed here from both.