Personal remittances and foreign aid received in Malawi
Malawi: Personal remittances and foreign aid received was 318.64 million current US$ in 2021. ◆ Volatile
Personal remittances and foreign aid received in Malawi, 1994–2021
Source: World Bank based on International Monetary Fund balance of payments data (2026) – processed by Our World in Data. Measured in current US$.
Analysis
The most recent figure for personal remittances and foreign aid received in Malawi is 318.64 million current US$, measured in 2021. That is the highest value across all 28 years on record.
The figure is up 37.5% on the previous year and up 1,158.4% over ten years.
Over the whole period, personal remittances and foreign aid received in Malawi peaked at 318.64 million current US$ in 2021 and was at its lowest, 523,432 current US$, in 1995.
That places Malawi 126th out of 193 countries with data for 2021, putting it in the middle of the range.
The series is highly variable year to year, so single readings are best treated with caution.
Personal remittances and foreign aid received in Malawi, year by year
| Year | current US$ | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1994 | 766,906 current US$ | — |
| 1995 | 523,432 current US$ | -31.7% |
| 1996 | 647,354 current US$ | +23.7% |
| 1997 | 744,945 current US$ | +15.1% |
| 1998 | 746,887 current US$ | +0.3% |
| 1999 | 746,884 current US$ | -0.0% |
| 2000 | 746,886 current US$ | +0.0% |
| 2001 | 746,886 current US$ | +0.0% |
| 2002 | 843,694 current US$ | +13.0% |
| 2003 | 13.91 million current US$ | +1549.0% |
| 2004 | 18.32 million current US$ | +31.7% |
| 2005 | 22.53 million current US$ | +23.0% |
| 2006 | 14.79 million current US$ | -34.4% |
| 2007 | 21.01 million current US$ | +42.1% |
| 2008 | 16.67 million current US$ | -20.6% |
| 2009 | 16.66 million current US$ | -0.1% |
| 2010 | 21.77 million current US$ | +30.7% |
| 2011 | 25.32 million current US$ | +16.3% |
| 2012 | 28.30 million current US$ | +11.8% |
| 2013 | 34.13 million current US$ | +20.6% |
| 2014 | 38.49 million current US$ | +12.8% |
| 2015 | 41.49 million current US$ | +7.8% |
| 2016 | 39.05 million current US$ | -5.9% |
| 2017 | 78.88 million current US$ | +102.0% |
| 2018 | 181.07 million current US$ | +129.5% |
| 2019 | 280.91 million current US$ | +55.1% |
| 2020 | 231.65 million current US$ | -17.5% |
| 2021 | 318.64 million current US$ | +37.6% |
Malawi compared with similar countries
- Malawi's 318.64 million current US$ is below the median for low income countries, which is 439.71 million current US$, 72% of the median. (23 countries reporting)
- Malawi's 318.64 million current US$ is above the median for Sub-Saharan Africa, which is 318.64 million current US$, 1.0× the median. (47 countries reporting)
Biggest year-on-year movements
Years where Personal remittances and foreign aid received in Malawi changed far more than this series normally does. A large move can be a real event or a change in how the figure was measured — the source note below says who published it.
| Year | Change | From | To |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2003 | +1549.0% | 843,694 current US$ | 13.91 million current US$ |
| 2018 | +129.5% | 78.88 million current US$ | 181.07 million current US$ |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1990s | 696,068 current US$ | 523,432 current US$ | 766,906 current US$ | 6 |
| 2000s | 12.62 million current US$ | 746,886 current US$ | 22.53 million current US$ | 10 |
| 2010s | 76.94 million current US$ | 21.77 million current US$ | 280.91 million current US$ | 10 |
| 2020s | 275.14 million current US$ | 231.65 million current US$ | 318.64 million current US$ | 2 |
Countries ranked near Malawi
- 123 Rwanda 391.21 million current US$ compare
- 124 Niger 353.33 million current US$ compare
- 125 Guinea 343.91 million current US$ compare
- 127 Cape Verde 314.51 million current US$ compare
- 128 Kazakhstan 309.89 million current US$ compare
- 129 Saudi Arabia 294.91 million current 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 personal remittances and foreign aid received in Malawi?
- Personal remittances and foreign aid received in Malawi was 318.64 million current US$ in 2021, according to World Bank based on International Monetary Fund balance of payments data (2026) – processed by Our World in Data.
- What is the highest personal remittances and foreign aid received recorded in Malawi?
- The highest recorded value was 318.64 million current US$ in 2021.
- What is the lowest personal remittances and foreign aid received recorded in Malawi?
- The lowest recorded value was 523,432 current US$ in 1995.
- How does Malawi rank for personal remittances and foreign aid received?
- Malawi ranks 126th out of 193 countries with data for 2021.
- Is personal remittances and foreign aid received rising or falling in Malawi?
- Over the last ten years it is up 1,158.4%. The long-run trend across the full record is volatile.
- Where does this Malawi data come from?
- The figures come from World Bank based on International Monetary Fund balance of payments data (2026) – processed by Our World in Data, published as part of Personal remittances and foreign aid received. Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
Download this data
CSV · JSON — 28 observations, free to reuse under CC BY 4.0 (Our World in Data).
About this data
Remittances are financial transfers from non-residents to residents of a country, such as a worker abroad sending money to family and friends. Foreign aid is measured as official development assistance. Both are measured in current US$.