Military spending in Malawi
Malawi: Military spending was 127.88 million constant 2024 US$ in 2025. ◆ Volatile
Latest (2025)
127.88 million constant 2024 US$
Change on year
up 8.7%
World rank
135th
of 162 countries
All-time high
130.46 million constant 2024 US$
in 2023
All-time low
7.59 million constant 2024 US$
in 1970
Years of data
58
1968–2025
Military spending in Malawi, 1968–2025
Source: Stockholm International Peace Research Institute (2026) – with minor processing by Our World in Data. Measured in constant 2024 US$.
Analysis
The most recent figure for military spending in Malawi is 127.88 million constant 2024 US$, measured in 2025.
Compared with earlier readings it is up 8.7% on the previous year and up 165.9% over ten years.
Over the whole period, military spending in Malawi peaked at 130.46 million constant 2024 US$ in 2023 and was at its lowest, 7.59 million constant 2024 US$, in 1970.
That places Malawi 135th out of 162 countries with data for 2025, putting it in the bottom quarter.
The series is highly variable year to year, so single readings are best treated with caution.
Military spending in Malawi, year by year
| Year | constant 2024 US$ | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1968 | 7.71 million constant 2024 US$ | — |
| 1969 | 7.65 million constant 2024 US$ | -0.8% |
| 1970 | 7.59 million constant 2024 US$ | -0.8% |
| 1971 | 7.99 million constant 2024 US$ | +5.3% |
| 1972 | 8.56 million constant 2024 US$ | +7.1% |
| 1973 | 14.38 million constant 2024 US$ | +68.0% |
| 1974 | 14.13 million constant 2024 US$ | -1.7% |
| 1975 | 21.33 million constant 2024 US$ | +51.0% |
| 1976 | 19.81 million constant 2024 US$ | -7.1% |
| 1977 | 25.72 million constant 2024 US$ | +29.8% |
| 1978 | 39.67 million constant 2024 US$ | +54.3% |
| 1979 | 56.03 million constant 2024 US$ | +41.2% |
| 1980 | 54.32 million constant 2024 US$ | -3.1% |
| 1981 | 38.82 million constant 2024 US$ | -28.5% |
| 1982 | 29.19 million constant 2024 US$ | -24.8% |
| 1983 | 23.58 million constant 2024 US$ | -19.2% |
| 1984 | 20.04 million constant 2024 US$ | -15.0% |
| 1985 | 23.19 million constant 2024 US$ | +15.7% |
| 1986 | 27.50 million constant 2024 US$ | +18.6% |
| 1987 | 22.81 million constant 2024 US$ | -17.1% |
| 1988 | 18.40 million constant 2024 US$ | -19.3% |
| 1989 | 19.92 million constant 2024 US$ | +8.2% |
| 1990 | 18.80 million constant 2024 US$ | -5.6% |
| 1991 | 16.72 million constant 2024 US$ | -11.1% |
| 1992 | 18.49 million constant 2024 US$ | +10.6% |
| 1993 | 18.76 million constant 2024 US$ | +1.5% |
| 1994 | 18.33 million constant 2024 US$ | -2.3% |
| 1995 | 11.33 million constant 2024 US$ | -38.2% |
| 1996 | 15.04 million constant 2024 US$ | +32.8% |
| 1997 | 19.40 million constant 2024 US$ | +29.0% |
| 1998 | 15.48 million constant 2024 US$ | -20.2% |
| 1999 | 15.10 million constant 2024 US$ | -2.5% |
| 2000 | 12.81 million constant 2024 US$ | -15.1% |
| 2001 | 13.69 million constant 2024 US$ | +6.9% |
| 2002 | 14.81 million constant 2024 US$ | +8.1% |
| 2003 | 15.20 million constant 2024 US$ | +2.7% |
| 2004 | 25.53 million constant 2024 US$ | +67.9% |
| 2005 | 41.85 million constant 2024 US$ | +63.9% |
| 2006 | 34.31 million constant 2024 US$ | -18.0% |
| 2007 | 35.34 million constant 2024 US$ | +3.0% |
| 2008 | 43.20 million constant 2024 US$ | +22.2% |
| 2009 | 52.93 million constant 2024 US$ | +22.5% |
| 2010 | 44.66 million constant 2024 US$ | -15.6% |
| 2011 | 45.59 million constant 2024 US$ | +2.1% |
| 2012 | 52.30 million constant 2024 US$ | +14.7% |
| 2013 | 81.95 million constant 2024 US$ | +56.7% |
| 2014 | 60.66 million constant 2024 US$ | -26.0% |
| 2015 | 48.09 million constant 2024 US$ | -20.7% |
| 2016 | 48.85 million constant 2024 US$ | +1.6% |
| 2017 | 60.41 million constant 2024 US$ | +23.7% |
| 2018 | 66.21 million constant 2024 US$ | +9.6% |
| 2019 | 88.74 million constant 2024 US$ | +34.0% |
| 2020 | 96.08 million constant 2024 US$ | +8.3% |
| 2021 | 87.05 million constant 2024 US$ | -9.4% |
| 2022 | 108.75 million constant 2024 US$ | +24.9% |
| 2023 | 130.46 million constant 2024 US$ | +20.0% |
| 2024 | 117.59 million constant 2024 US$ | -9.9% |
| 2025 | 127.88 million constant 2024 US$ | +8.7% |
Malawi compared with similar countries
- Malawi's 127.88 million constant 2024 US$ is below the median for low income countries, which is 193.28 million constant 2024 US$, 66% of the median. (22 countries reporting)
- Malawi's 127.88 million constant 2024 US$ is below the median for Sub-Saharan Africa, which is 336.91 million constant 2024 US$, 38% of the median. (45 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1960s | 7.68 million constant 2024 US$ | 7.65 million constant 2024 US$ | 7.71 million constant 2024 US$ | 2 |
| 1970s | 21.52 million constant 2024 US$ | 7.59 million constant 2024 US$ | 56.03 million constant 2024 US$ | 10 |
| 1980s | 27.78 million constant 2024 US$ | 18.40 million constant 2024 US$ | 54.32 million constant 2024 US$ | 10 |
| 1990s | 16.74 million constant 2024 US$ | 11.33 million constant 2024 US$ | 19.40 million constant 2024 US$ | 10 |
| 2000s | 28.97 million constant 2024 US$ | 12.81 million constant 2024 US$ | 52.93 million constant 2024 US$ | 10 |
| 2010s | 59.75 million constant 2024 US$ | 44.66 million constant 2024 US$ | 88.74 million constant 2024 US$ | 10 |
| 2020s | 111.30 million constant 2024 US$ | 87.05 million constant 2024 US$ | 130.46 million constant 2024 US$ | 6 |
Countries ranked near Malawi
- 132 Burundi 169.28 million constant 2024 US$ compare
- 133 Montenegro 162.78 million constant 2024 US$ compare
- 134 Zimbabwe 133.49 million constant 2024 US$ compare
- 136 Malta 116.81 million constant 2024 US$ compare
- 137 Nicaragua 114.56 million constant 2024 US$ compare
- 138 Equatorial Guinea 112.50 million constant 2024 US$ 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 in Malawi?
- Military spending in Malawi was 127.88 million constant 2024 US$ in 2025, according to Stockholm International Peace Research Institute (2026) – with minor processing by Our World in Data.
- What is the highest military spending recorded in Malawi?
- The highest recorded value was 130.46 million constant 2024 US$ in 2023.
- What is the lowest military spending recorded in Malawi?
- The lowest recorded value was 7.59 million constant 2024 US$ in 1970.
- How does Malawi rank for military spending?
- Malawi ranks 135th out of 162 countries with data for 2025.
- Is military spending rising or falling in Malawi?
- Over the last ten years it is up 165.9%. The long-run trend across the full record is volatile.
- Where does this Malawi data come from?
- The figures come from Stockholm International Peace Research Institute (2026) – with minor processing by Our World in Data, published as part of Military spending. Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
Download this data
CSV · JSON — 58 observations, free to reuse under CC BY 4.0 (Our World in Data).
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.