Economy
Nominal GDP
USD 13.2 billion
GDP per capita
USD 610
2021–2025 average
Currency
- Name
- Malawian kwacha
Малавийская квача - ISO code
- MWK
- Rate against the US dollar
- USD 1 = 1,739 MWK
- Rate against the rouble
- 100 MWK = 4.8044 RUB
- Rate type
- Cross rate via the Bank of Russia USD/RUB rate
- Currency zone
- National currency
Exchange rate as of 1 October 2026
Economic structure
GDP structure: 2021–2025 average Source: Based on World Bank data. Period: 2021–2025 average
- Agriculture 28.8%
- Industry 17.2%
- Services 47.4%
Industries and programmes
- Key industries
- Agriculture, including tobacco, tea and sugar production; rare earth mining projects under development; ecotourism; and trade. Tobacco is the country’s main export.
- Government programmes
- Malawi 2063
- First 10-Year Implementation Plan (MIP-1) 2021–2030
International trade
Exports of goods, 2021–2025
USD billion Source: World Bank / WTO, merchandise exports (TX.VAL.MRCH.CD.WT). Period: 2021–2025
Table
| Year | USD billion | index, 2021 = 100 |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 1.01 | 100.0 |
| 2022 | 0.90 | 89.1 |
| 2023 | 0.97 | 96.0 |
| 2024 | 0.96 | 95.0 |
| 2025 | 0.95 | 94.1 |
- Imports of goods
- USD 3.42 billion 2021–2025 averageSource: ITC. Period: 2021–2025 average
- Exports of goods and services
- USD 1.59 billion 2025Source: World Bank, national accounts. Period: 2025
- Change in exports of goods, 2021–2025
- −5.9%
- Average annual rate of change in exports of goods, 2021–2025
- −1.5%
Export specialisation
Main export products
share of exports of goods, %, 2024 Source: UN Comtrade, 2024; share of total merchandise exports, HS chapters (2 digits). Period: 2024
Main export destinations
share of exports of goods, %, 2024 Source: UN Comtrade, 2024; share of total merchandise exports, HS chapters (2 digits). Period: 2024
Investment areas
- Mining
- Agro-processing
- Renewable energy and microgrids
- Ecotourism
Agreements with Russia
Investment protection
There is no bilateral agreement with Russia on the promotion and reciprocal protection of investments.
Absent
Double taxation
There is no double taxation agreement with Russia.
Absent
Visa requirements
Russian citizens holding ordinary passports require a visa.
Visa required
Peaceful nuclear energy
No information
Other agreements
Source: African Initiative news agency (https://afrinz.ru/2025/12/rossiya-i-malavi-podpisali-pervoe-v-istorii-dvustoronnih-otnoshenij-soglashenie/)- Memorandum on Consultations between Foreign Ministries (2025).
Incentives
- Main regimes and incentives
Investment and Export Act 2012: equipment duty exemptions and incentives for export zones.
- Type of measure
- Investment agency
- MITC — Malawi Investment and Trade Centre
