Net foreign assets in Malawi
Malawi: Net foreign assets was 15.82 million current US$ in 2011. ◆ Volatile
Net foreign assets in Malawi, 1965–2011
Source: International Monetary Fund, International Financial Statistics and data files. Measured in current US$.
Analysis
Malawi recorded 15.82 million current US$ for net foreign assets in 2011.
Compared with earlier readings it is down 88.6% on the previous year and down 91.1% over ten years.
Over the whole period, net foreign assets in Malawi peaked at 199.79 million current US$ in 2007 and was at its lowest, -207.27 million current US$, in 1986.
Malawi ranks 49th of 51 countries on this measure, in the bottom quarter.
The series is highly variable year to year, so single readings are best treated with caution.
Net foreign assets in Malawi, year by year
| Year | current US$ | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1965 | 24.95 million current US$ | — |
| 1966 | 18.21 million current US$ | -27.0% |
| 1967 | 15.13 million current US$ | -16.9% |
| 1968 | 16.89 million current US$ | +11.6% |
| 1969 | 16.82 million current US$ | -0.4% |
| 1970 | 22.61 million current US$ | +34.4% |
| 1971 | 23.59 million current US$ | +4.3% |
| 1972 | 24.33 million current US$ | +3.1% |
| 1973 | 55.13 million current US$ | +126.6% |
| 1974 | 74.28 million current US$ | +34.7% |
| 1975 | 45.81 million current US$ | -38.3% |
| 1976 | -32.75 million current US$ | -171.5% |
| 1977 | 5.90 million current US$ | -118.0% |
| 1978 | -15.55 million current US$ | -363.6% |
| 1979 | -111.83 million current US$ | +619.2% |
| 1980 | -109.09 million current US$ | -2.4% |
| 1981 | -144.87 million current US$ | +32.8% |
| 1982 | -165.65 million current US$ | +14.3% |
| 1983 | -180.47 million current US$ | +8.9% |
| 1984 | -103.83 million current US$ | -42.5% |
| 1985 | -156.39 million current US$ | +50.6% |
| 1986 | -207.27 million current US$ | +32.5% |
| 1987 | -140.98 million current US$ | -32.0% |
| 1988 | -16.73 million current US$ | -88.1% |
| 1989 | -38.98 million current US$ | +133.0% |
| 1990 | -16.46 million current US$ | -57.8% |
| 1991 | -10.94 million current US$ | -33.6% |
| 1992 | -132.46 million current US$ | +1111.3% |
| 1993 | -88.16 million current US$ | -33.4% |
| 1994 | -111.70 million current US$ | +26.7% |
| 1995 | -3.60 million current US$ | -96.8% |
| 1996 | 111.64 million current US$ | -3203.9% |
| 1997 | 67.72 million current US$ | -39.3% |
| 1998 | 188.34 million current US$ | +178.1% |
| 1999 | 177.47 million current US$ | -5.8% |
| 2000 | 168.23 million current US$ | -5.2% |
| 2001 | 177.44 million current US$ | +5.5% |
| 2002 | 38.98 million current US$ | -78.0% |
| 2003 | 48.57 million current US$ | +24.6% |
| 2004 | 56.06 million current US$ | +15.4% |
| 2005 | 92.58 million current US$ | +65.1% |
| 2006 | 138.51 million current US$ | +49.6% |
| 2007 | 199.79 million current US$ | +44.2% |
| 2008 | 139.88 million current US$ | -30.0% |
| 2009 | -15.61 million current US$ | -111.2% |
| 2010 | 139.07 million current US$ | -991.0% |
| 2011 | 15.82 million current US$ | -88.6% |
Malawi compared with similar countries
- Malawi's 15.82 million current US$ is below the median for low income countries, which is 369.86 million current US$, 4% of the median. (19 countries reporting)
- Malawi's 15.82 million current US$ is below the median for Sub-Saharan Africa, which is 1.19 billion current US$, 1% of the median. (46 countries reporting)
Biggest year-on-year movements
Years where Net foreign assets in Malawi changed far more than this series normally does. A large move can be a real event or a change in how the figure was measured — the source note below says who published it.
| Year | Change | From | To |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1996 | +3203.9% | -3.60 million current US$ | 111.64 million current US$ |
| 1992 | -1111.3% | -10.94 million current US$ | -132.46 million current US$ |
| 2010 | +991.0% | -15.61 million current US$ | 139.07 million current US$ |
| 1979 | -619.2% | -15.55 million current US$ | -111.83 million current US$ |
| 1978 | -363.6% | 5.90 million current US$ | -15.55 million current US$ |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1960s | 18.40 million current US$ | 15.13 million current US$ | 24.95 million current US$ | 5 |
| 1970s | 9.15 million current US$ | -111.83 million current US$ | 74.28 million current US$ | 10 |
| 1980s | -126.42 million current US$ | -207.27 million current US$ | -16.73 million current US$ | 10 |
| 1990s | 18.19 million current US$ | -132.46 million current US$ | 188.34 million current US$ | 10 |
| 2000s | 104.44 million current US$ | -15.61 million current US$ | 199.79 million current US$ | 10 |
| 2010s | 77.44 million current US$ | 15.82 million current US$ | 139.07 million current US$ | 2 |
Countries ranked near Malawi
- 46 Burundi 73.87 million current US$ compare
- 47 Sao Tome and Principe 66.69 million current US$ compare
- 48 Central African Republic 26.29 million current US$ compare
- 50 Zimbabwe -216.72 million current US$ compare
- 51 Sudan -599.70 million current US$ compare
More financial sector data for Malawi
- Reserve position in the IMF, US dollar, annual growth rate 5.01 % change on previous year (2025)
- Reserve position in the IMF, US dollar, per unit of GDP 0.0002 units per US$ of GDP (2025)
- Reserve position in the IMF, US dollar, per capita 0.1505 units per person (2025)
- Reserve position in the IMF, SDR, annual growth rate 0 % change on previous year (2025)
- Reserve position in the IMF, SDR, per unit of GDP 0.0002 units per US$ of GDP (2025)
- Reserve position in the IMF, SDR, per capita 0.1099 units per person (2025)
- Reserve tranche position, US dollar, annual growth rate 5.01 % change on previous year (2025)
- Reserve tranche position, US dollar, per unit of GDP 0.0002 units per US$ of GDP (2025)
- Reserve tranche position, US dollar, per capita 0.1505 units per person (2025)
- Reserve tranche position, SDR, annual growth rate 0 % change on previous year (2025)
Frequently asked questions
- What is net foreign assets in Malawi?
- Net foreign assets in Malawi was 15.82 million current US$ in 2011, according to International Monetary Fund, International Financial Statistics and data files.
- What is the highest net foreign assets recorded in Malawi?
- The highest recorded value was 199.79 million current US$ in 2007.
- What is the lowest net foreign assets recorded in Malawi?
- The lowest recorded value was -207.27 million current US$ in 1986.
- How does Malawi rank for net foreign assets?
- Malawi ranks 49th out of 51 countries with data for 2011.
- Is net foreign assets rising or falling in Malawi?
- Over the last ten years it is down 91.1%. The long-run trend across the full record is volatile.
- Where does this Malawi data come from?
- The figures come from International Monetary Fund, International Financial Statistics and data files, published as part of Net foreign assets (current US$). Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
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About this data
Net foreign assets are the sum of foreign assets held by monetary authorities and deposit money banks, less their foreign liabilities. Data are in current U.S. dollars.