Malawi Health Spending
Current health expenditure as % of GDP SH.XPD.CHEX.GD.ZS
Malawi's health spending was 6.78% in 2025, ranked 98th globally. This represents a 3.8% increase from 2024. Data from World Bank, covering 2000–2025.
Overview
Malawi's health spending stood at 6.78% in 2025, a rise of +0.25% from 2023. Based on recent trends, this figure is projected to reach 6.78% by 2025. Malawi ranked 98th globally.
Malawi’s health expenditure has risen markedly since the turn of the millennium, climbing from a low of 2.06 in 2001 to a peak of 8.22 in 2013 before settling at 6.78 in 2025, which places the country 98th in the world. Over the 25‑year coverage period the average annual increase exceeds 0.18 percentage points, reflecting expanded public financing and donor support for primary care and disease‑prevention programmes. The 2025 level is closely aligned with the spending shares of peer nations such as Eswatini (6.87) and Costa Rica (6.80), suggesting that Malawi is now operating at a comparable fiscal intensity to middle‑income health systems. Nonetheless, the gap between the 2013 peak and current spending indicates a modest contraction that could stem from fiscal pressures or reallocation of resources toward other sectors. Continued economic growth, coupled with sustained donor commitments and domestic revenue mobilisation, will be essential to preserve the upward trajectory of health spending and to close the disparity with higher‑spending peers.
Data & projection
| Year | Health Spending | YoY change | Rank |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2026* trend | 6.77% | - | - |
| 2025* trend | 6.78% | - | - |
| 2025 | 6.78% | +0.25% | #98 |
| 2023 | 6.53% | −0.09% | #96 |
| 2022 | 6.63% | −0.89% | #98 |
| 2021 | 7.52% | +0.48% | #114 |
| 2020 | 7.04% | +0.67% | #102 |
| 2019 | 6.37% | −0.51% | #104 |
| 2018 | 6.88% | −0.70% | #121 |
| 2017 | 7.58% | −0.14% | #136 |
| 2016 | 7.73% | +1.10% | #137 |
| 2015 | 6.63% | −0.27% | #113 |
| 2014 | 6.90% | −1.33% | #118 |
| 2013 | 8.22% | +2.20% | #142 |
| 2012 | 6.02% | +0.70% | #100 |
| 2011 | 5.32% | +0.18% | #87 |
| 2010 | 5.14% | −0.73% | #79 |
Detected Pattern
Analysis
Malawi matched the Currency Crisis Pattern pattern in 2016. Historically, 27% of countries showing this pattern (35 out of 128) saw health spending improve within 24 months. View full analysis →
Frequently Asked Questions
Malawi's health spending was 6.78% in 2025. Ranked 98th globally. This represents a 3.8% increase from the previous year.
Malawi's health spending peaked at 8.22% in 2013.
The lowest health spending in Malawi was 2.06% in 2001.
Malawi ranks 98th globally in health spending as of 2025.
The World Bank indicator code is SH.XPD.CHEX.GD.ZS. Data sourced from World Bank.
Malawi's health spending is projected to reach 6.78% by 2025 based on trend extrapolation.
The health spending of Malawi in 2025 was 6.78%. This ranks 98th in the world.
Cite this page
@misc{historysaid_malawi_health-spending,
title = {Malawi Health Spending},
url = {https://historysaid.com/malawi/health-spending/},
publisher = {HistorySaid},
year = {2026}
}