Military spending per military personnel in Malawi
Malawi: Military spending per military personnel was 11,698 constant 2022 US$ in 2022. ◆ Volatile
Latest (2022)
11,698 constant 2022 US$
Change on year
up 12.9%
World rank
140th
of 170 countries
All-time high
29,812 constant 2022 US$
in 1979
All-time low
1,674 constant 2022 US$
in 1969
Years of data
58
1965–2022
Military spending per military personnel in Malawi, 1965–2022
Source: Barnum et al. – Global Military Spending Dataset (2025); Correlates of War – National Material Capabilities Version 7.0 (2026) – with major processing by Our World in Data. Measured in constant 2022 US$.
Analysis
In 2022, military spending per military personnel in Malawi stood at 11,698 constant 2022 US$.
The figure is up 12.9% on the previous year and up 31.7% over ten years.
Over the whole period, military spending per military personnel in Malawi peaked at 29,812 constant 2022 US$ in 1979 and was at its lowest, 1,674 constant 2022 US$, in 1969.
Malawi ranks 140th of 170 countries on this measure, in the bottom quarter.
The series is highly variable year to year, so single readings are best treated with caution.
Military spending per military personnel in Malawi, year by year
| Year | constant 2022 US$ | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1965 | 2,332 constant 2022 US$ | — |
| 1966 | 2,315 constant 2022 US$ | -0.7% |
| 1967 | 2,265 constant 2022 US$ | -2.2% |
| 1968 | 2,117 constant 2022 US$ | -6.5% |
| 1969 | 1,674 constant 2022 US$ | -20.9% |
| 1970 | 2,287 constant 2022 US$ | +36.6% |
| 1971 | 2,463 constant 2022 US$ | +7.7% |
| 1972 | 2,677 constant 2022 US$ | +8.7% |
| 1973 | 3,355 constant 2022 US$ | +25.3% |
| 1974 | 3,818 constant 2022 US$ | +13.8% |
| 1975 | 5,044 constant 2022 US$ | +32.1% |
| 1976 | 8,074 constant 2022 US$ | +60.1% |
| 1977 | 10,812 constant 2022 US$ | +33.9% |
| 1978 | 22,234 constant 2022 US$ | +105.6% |
| 1979 | 29,812 constant 2022 US$ | +34.1% |
| 1980 | 21,412 constant 2022 US$ | -28.2% |
| 1981 | 12,407 constant 2022 US$ | -42.1% |
| 1982 | 10,374 constant 2022 US$ | -16.4% |
| 1983 | 8,513 constant 2022 US$ | -17.9% |
| 1984 | 7,974 constant 2022 US$ | -6.3% |
| 1985 | 8,489 constant 2022 US$ | +6.5% |
| 1986 | 7,300 constant 2022 US$ | -14.0% |
| 1987 | 6,633 constant 2022 US$ | -9.1% |
| 1988 | 6,197 constant 2022 US$ | -6.6% |
| 1989 | 5,978 constant 2022 US$ | -3.5% |
| 1990 | 5,553 constant 2022 US$ | -7.1% |
| 1991 | 4,600 constant 2022 US$ | -17.2% |
| 1992 | 3,555 constant 2022 US$ | -22.7% |
| 1993 | 3,323 constant 2022 US$ | -6.5% |
| 1994 | 3,160 constant 2022 US$ | -4.9% |
| 1995 | 2,991 constant 2022 US$ | -5.4% |
| 1996 | 3,867 constant 2022 US$ | +29.3% |
| 1997 | 4,207 constant 2022 US$ | +8.8% |
| 1998 | 3,926 constant 2022 US$ | -6.7% |
| 1999 | 5,557 constant 2022 US$ | +41.5% |
| 2000 | 3,515 constant 2022 US$ | -36.7% |
| 2001 | 3,465 constant 2022 US$ | -1.4% |
| 2002 | 4,052 constant 2022 US$ | +16.9% |
| 2003 | 3,865 constant 2022 US$ | -4.6% |
| 2004 | 4,200 constant 2022 US$ | +8.7% |
| 2005 | 6,723 constant 2022 US$ | +60.1% |
| 2006 | 8,441 constant 2022 US$ | +25.6% |
| 2007 | 10,157 constant 2022 US$ | +20.3% |
| 2008 | 10,643 constant 2022 US$ | +4.8% |
| 2009 | 12,294 constant 2022 US$ | +15.5% |
| 2010 | 15,674 constant 2022 US$ | +27.5% |
| 2011 | 11,009 constant 2022 US$ | -29.8% |
| 2012 | 8,884 constant 2022 US$ | -19.3% |
| 2013 | 8,201 constant 2022 US$ | -7.7% |
| 2014 | 9,891 constant 2022 US$ | +20.6% |
| 2015 | 8,956 constant 2022 US$ | -9.5% |
| 2016 | 8,607 constant 2022 US$ | -3.9% |
| 2017 | 9,965 constant 2022 US$ | +15.8% |
| 2018 | 5,270 constant 2022 US$ | -47.1% |
| 2019 | 8,295 constant 2022 US$ | +57.4% |
| 2020 | 9,213 constant 2022 US$ | +11.1% |
| 2021 | 10,357 constant 2022 US$ | +12.4% |
| 2022 | 11,698 constant 2022 US$ | +12.9% |
Malawi compared with similar countries
- Malawi's 11,698 constant 2022 US$ is above the median for low income countries, which is 8,393 constant 2022 US$, 1.4× the median. (25 countries reporting)
- Malawi's 11,698 constant 2022 US$ is below the median for Sub-Saharan Africa, which is 18,299 constant 2022 US$, 64% of the median. (46 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1960s | 2,140 constant 2022 US$ | 1,674 constant 2022 US$ | 2,332 constant 2022 US$ | 5 |
| 1970s | 9,058 constant 2022 US$ | 2,287 constant 2022 US$ | 29,812 constant 2022 US$ | 10 |
| 1980s | 9,528 constant 2022 US$ | 5,978 constant 2022 US$ | 21,412 constant 2022 US$ | 10 |
| 1990s | 4,074 constant 2022 US$ | 2,991 constant 2022 US$ | 5,557 constant 2022 US$ | 10 |
| 2000s | 6,736 constant 2022 US$ | 3,465 constant 2022 US$ | 12,294 constant 2022 US$ | 10 |
| 2010s | 9,475 constant 2022 US$ | 5,270 constant 2022 US$ | 15,674 constant 2022 US$ | 10 |
| 2020s | 10,423 constant 2022 US$ | 9,213 constant 2022 US$ | 11,698 constant 2022 US$ | 3 |
Countries ranked near Malawi
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 military personnel in Malawi?
- Military spending per military personnel in Malawi was 11,698 constant 2022 US$ in 2022, according to Barnum et al. – Global Military Spending Dataset (2025); Correlates of War – National Material Capabilities Version 7.0 (2026) – with major processing by Our World in Data.
- What is the highest military spending per military personnel recorded in Malawi?
- The highest recorded value was 29,812 constant 2022 US$ in 1979.
- What is the lowest military spending per military personnel recorded in Malawi?
- The lowest recorded value was 1,674 constant 2022 US$ in 1969.
- How does Malawi rank for military spending per military personnel?
- Malawi ranks 140th out of 170 countries with data for 2022.
- Is military spending per military personnel rising or falling in Malawi?
- Over the last ten years it is up 31.7%. The long-run trend across the full record is volatile.
- Where does this Malawi data come from?
- The figures come from Barnum et al. – Global Military Spending Dataset (2025); Correlates of War – National Material Capabilities Version 7.0 (2026) – with major processing by Our World in Data, published as part of Military spending per military personnel. Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
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About this data
This data is expressed in US dollars. It is adjusted for inflation but does not account for differences in the cost of living between countries.