Official exchange rate, LCU per USD, period average in Malawi

Malawi: Official exchange rate, LCU per USD, period average was 1,735 in 2026. ◆ Volatile

Latest (2026)
1,735
Change on year
up 0.0%
World rank
25th
of 193 countries
All-time high
1,735
in 2026
All-time low
2.16
in 1987
Years of data
40
1987–2026

Official exchange rate, LCU per USD, period average in Malawi, 1987–2026

05001.0k1.5k1987200620261987: 2.21988: 2.51989: 2.71990: 2.71991: 2.71992: 3.51993: 4.31994: 7.91995: 15.21996: 15.21997: 16.31998: 30.91999: 43.92000: 59.42001: 72.32002: 76.22003: 96.42004: 108.42005: 118.12006: 1362007: 1402008: 140.52009: 141.12010: 150.72011: 156.92012: 2462013: 364.52014: 421.82015: 498.62016: 713.32017: 725.42018: 725.82019: 735.52020: 741.72021: 798.62022: 938.82023: 1.1k2024: 1.7k2025: 1.7k2026: 1.7k

Source: World Bank staff calculations based on Datastream and IMF International Finance Statistics data.

Analysis

In 2026, official exchange rate, lcu per usd, period average in Malawi stood at 1,735. That is the highest value across all 40 years on record.

That represents a change of up 143.2% over ten years.

Over the whole period, official exchange rate, lcu per usd, period average in Malawi peaked at 1,735 in 2026 and was at its lowest, 2.16, in 1987.

That places Malawi 25th out of 193 countries with data for 2026, putting it in the top quarter.

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

Averages by decade

DecadeAverage LowestHighest Years
1980s 2.46 2.16 2.7 3
1990s 14.26 2.67 43.93 10
2000s 108.84 59.38 141.14 10
2010s 473.85 150.71 735.5 10
2020s 1,259 741.72 1,735 7

Countries ranked near Malawi

  1. 22 Democratic Republic of Congo 2,220 compare
  2. 23 Congo 2,192 compare
  3. 24 Myanmar 2,100 compare
  4. 26 Italy 1,654 compare
  5. 27 South Korea 1,464 compare
  6. 28 Rwanda 1,453 compare

See the full ranking of 194 places →

More reference data data for Malawi

All data for Malawi →

Frequently asked questions

What is official exchange rate, lcu per usd, period average in Malawi?
Official exchange rate, lcu per usd, period average in Malawi was 1,735 in 2026, according to World Bank staff calculations based on Datastream and IMF International Finance Statistics data.
What is the highest official exchange rate, lcu per usd, period average recorded in Malawi?
The highest recorded value was 1,735 in 2026.
What is the lowest official exchange rate, lcu per usd, period average recorded in Malawi?
The lowest recorded value was 2.16 in 1987.
How does Malawi rank for official exchange rate, lcu per usd, period average?
Malawi ranks 25th out of 193 countries with data for 2026.
Is official exchange rate, lcu per usd, period average rising or falling in Malawi?
Over the last ten years it is up 143.2%. The long-run trend across the full record is volatile.
Where does this Malawi data come from?
The figures come from World Bank staff calculations based on Datastream and IMF International Finance Statistics data, published as part of Official exchange rate, LCU per USD, period average. Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.

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About this data

Indicator
Official exchange rate, LCU per USD, period average
Source
World Bank staff calculations based on Datastream and IMF International Finance Statistics data
Licence
CC BY 4.0 (World Bank Open Data)
Coverage
194 places, 7,533 data points, 1987–2026
Last refreshed

Official exchange rate refers to the exchange rate determined by national authorities or to the rate determined in the legally sanctioned exchange market. It is calculated as an annual average based on monthly averages (local currency units relative to the U.S. dollar).