Total reserves (% of total external debt) in Malawi
Malawi: Total reserves (% of total external debt) was 20.1% in 2020. ◆ Volatile
Total reserves in Malawi, 1971–2020
Source: International Debt Statistics, World Bank (WB). Measured in % of total external debt.
Analysis
Malawi recorded 20.1% for total reserves in 2020.
The figure is down 42.5% on the previous year and down 37.0% over ten years.
Over the whole period, total reserves in Malawi peaked at 39.6% in 2015 and was at its lowest, 2.3%, in 1983.
That places Malawi 84th out of 112 countries with data for 2020, putting it in the middle of the range.
The series is highly variable year to year, so single readings are best treated with caution.
Total reserves (% of total external debt) in Malawi, year by year
| Year | % of total external debt | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1971 | 21.0% | — |
| 1972 | 20.6% | -1.6% |
| 1973 | 31.0% | +50.2% |
| 1974 | 33.7% | +8.8% |
| 1975 | 22.7% | -32.6% |
| 1976 | 8.5% | -62.7% |
| 1977 | 19.2% | +126.9% |
| 1978 | 12.9% | -32.7% |
| 1979 | 11.4% | -12.1% |
| 1980 | 9.2% | -19.5% |
| 1981 | 6.6% | -28.0% |
| 1982 | 3.3% | -50.0% |
| 1983 | 2.3% | -31.0% |
| 1984 | 6.9% | +202.6% |
| 1985 | 4.8% | -30.0% |
| 1986 | 2.6% | -46.8% |
| 1987 | 4.2% | +65.9% |
| 1988 | 11.1% | +161.3% |
| 1989 | 7.5% | -32.6% |
| 1990 | 9.1% | +21.9% |
| 1991 | 9.5% | +3.9% |
| 1992 | 2.6% | -72.7% |
| 1993 | 3.4% | +30.9% |
| 1994 | 2.4% | -30.3% |
| 1995 | 5.1% | +117.5% |
| 1996 | 9.7% | +89.8% |
| 1997 | 6.6% | -32.7% |
| 1998 | 10.6% | +62.1% |
| 1999 | 9.1% | -14.6% |
| 2000 | 9.1% | +0.0% |
| 2001 | 8.0% | -12.4% |
| 2002 | 5.7% | -28.1% |
| 2003 | 4.1% | -28.4% |
| 2004 | 3.9% | -5.2% |
| 2005 | 5.2% | +33.2% |
| 2006 | 16.3% | +215.3% |
| 2007 | 26.2% | +60.5% |
| 2008 | 25.5% | -2.4% |
| 2009 | 14.3% | -44.1% |
| 2010 | 31.9% | +123.4% |
| 2011 | 17.9% | -43.9% |
| 2012 | 18.4% | +2.7% |
| 2013 | 27.4% | +49.3% |
| 2014 | 37.1% | +35.3% |
| 2015 | 39.6% | +6.7% |
| 2016 | 33.0% | -16.5% |
| 2017 | 35.5% | +7.5% |
| 2018 | 33.8% | -4.8% |
| 2019 | 34.9% | +3.2% |
| 2020 | 20.1% | -42.5% |
Malawi compared with similar countries
- Malawi's 20.1% is above the median for low income countries, which is 18.5%, 1.1× the median. (18 countries reporting)
- Malawi's 20.1% is below the median for Sub-Saharan Africa, which is 23.9%, 84% of the median. (36 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1970s | 20.1% | 8.5% | 33.7% | 9 |
| 1980s | 5.8% | 2.3% | 11.1% | 10 |
| 1990s | 6.8% | 2.4% | 10.6% | 10 |
| 2000s | 11.8% | 3.9% | 26.2% | 10 |
| 2010s | 30.9% | 17.9% | 39.6% | 10 |
| 2020s | 20.1% | 20.1% | 20.1% | 1 |
Countries ranked near Malawi
- 81 Armenia 22.5% compare
- 82 Tanzania 22.3% compare
- 83 Bangladesh 20.5% compare
- 85 Montenegro 19.9% compare
- 86 Ghana 19.0% compare
- 87 Sierra Leone 18.6% 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 total reserves in Malawi?
- Total reserves in Malawi was 20.1% in 2020, according to International Debt Statistics, World Bank (WB).
- What is the highest total reserves recorded in Malawi?
- The highest recorded value was 39.6% in 2015.
- What is the lowest total reserves recorded in Malawi?
- The lowest recorded value was 2.3% in 1983.
- How does Malawi rank for total reserves?
- Malawi ranks 84th out of 112 countries with data for 2020.
- Is total reserves rising or falling in Malawi?
- Over the last ten years it is down 37.0%. The long-run trend across the full record is volatile.
- Where does this Malawi data come from?
- The figures come from International Debt Statistics, World Bank (WB), published as part of Total reserves (% of total external debt). Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
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About this data
Reserve assets are external assets, including monetary gold, that are readily available to and controlled by monetary authorities for meeting balance of payments financing needs, for intervention in exchange markets to affect the currency exchange rate, and for other related purposes (such as maintaining confidence in the currency and the economy, and serving as a basis for foreign borrowing). Reserve assets must be denominated and settled in foreign currency. This indicator is expressed as a percentage of total external debt which are all liabilities that require payment(s) of interest and/or principal by the debtor at some point(s) in the future and that are owed to non-residents by residents of an economy.