Malawi Budget Deficit
General government net lending/borrowing as % of GDP GGXCNL_NGDP
Malawi's budget deficit was -10.64% in 2025, ranked 177th globally. This represents a 3.2% increase from 2024. Data from IMF WEO, covering 2002–2025.
Overview
Malawi's budget deficit stood at -10.64% in 2025, a rise of +0.36% from 2024. The IMF projects -10.64% by 2025. Malawi ranked 177th globally.
Malawi's budget deficit has been a persistent concern, with the latest figure standing at -10.64 in 2025, ranking 177th globally. The country's fiscal situation has fluctuated significantly over the past 24 years, with an all-time peak of 0.62 recorded in 2010, a rare surplus. In contrast, the all-time trough of -10.99 was reached in 2024, highlighting the challenges faced by the government in managing its finances. Compared to its peers, Malawi's budget deficit is slightly better than Bahrain's -10.70, but worse than Suriname's -9.62. As the country continues to grapple with fiscal management, a change in the trajectory of its budget deficit would likely require significant reforms to boost revenue and reduce expenditure, which could potentially alter the course of its fiscal trend in the coming years.
Data & projection
| Year | Budget Deficit | YoY change | Rank |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2030* IMF | -11.66% | - | - |
| 2029* IMF | -12.10% | - | - |
| 2028* IMF | -11.99% | - | - |
| 2027* IMF | -13.17% | - | - |
| 2026* IMF | -12.81% | - | - |
| 2025* IMF | -10.64% | - | - |
| 2025 | -10.64% | +0.36% | #177 |
| 2024 | -10.99% | −3.15% | #10 |
| 2023 | -7.84% | +1.48% | #11 |
| 2022 | -9.32% | −0.98% | #14 |
| 2021 | -8.34% | −0.31% | #23 |
| 2020 | -8.03% | −3.48% | #64 |
| 2019 | -4.55% | −0.20% | #40 |
| 2018 | -4.35% | +0.80% | #41 |
| 2017 | -5.15% | −0.25% | #36 |
| 2016 | -4.90% | −0.73% | #48 |
| 2015 | -4.17% | −1.09% | #63 |
| 2014 | -3.08% | +0.64% | #80 |
| 2013 | -3.73% | −2.27% | #65 |
| 2012 | -1.45% | +1.40% | #117 |
| 2011 | -2.85% | −3.48% | #90 |
Detected Pattern
Analysis
Malawi matched the Currency Crisis Pattern pattern in 2016. Historically, 27% of countries showing this pattern (35 out of 128) saw budget deficit improve within 24 months. View full analysis →
Frequently Asked Questions
Malawi's budget deficit was -10.64% in 2025. Ranked 177th globally. This represents a 3.2% increase from the previous year.
Malawi's budget deficit peaked at 0.63% in 2010.
The lowest budget deficit in Malawi was -10.99% in 2024.
Malawi ranks 177th globally in budget deficit as of 2025.
The World Bank indicator code is GGXCNL_NGDP. Data sourced from IMF WEO.
Malawi's budget deficit is projected to reach -10.64% by 2025 based on IMF projection.
The budget deficit of Malawi in 2025 was -10.64%. This ranks 177th in the world.
Cite this page
@misc{historysaid_malawi_budget-deficit,
title = {Malawi Budget Deficit},
url = {https://historysaid.com/malawi/budget-deficit/},
publisher = {HistorySaid},
year = {2026}
}