Malawi Interest Payments to Revenue
Interest payments as % of revenue GC.XPN.INTP.RV.ZS
Malawi's interest payments to revenue was 36.33% in 2025, ranked 3rd globally. This represents a 21.4% increase from 2024. Data from World Bank, covering 2009–2025.
Overview
Malawi's interest payments to revenue stood at 36.33% in 2025, a rise of +6.40pp from 2022. Based on recent trends, this figure is projected to reach 36.33% by 2025. Malawi ranked 3rd globally.
Malawi’s interest payments as a share of revenue have risen sharply over the 15‑year series, climbing from 8.59 % in 2009 to a record 36.33 % in 2025, the highest proportion among all economies tracked by the World Bank. The trough in 2013, when interest outlays fell to 7.05 % of revenue, marked the low point before a sustained upward trajectory that accelerated after 2015, coinciding with widening fiscal deficits and higher external borrowing costs. By 2025 Malawi ranked third globally, surpassed only by Sri Lanka at 98.10 % and Ghana at 61.44 %, while India’s 36.24 % and Brazil’s 32.37 % illustrate the range of emerging‑market experiences. The steep increase reflects both a growing debt stock and limited revenue mobilization, raising concerns about fiscal sustainability. If revenue reforms and debt‑service management improve, the upward pressure on interest‑to‑revenue ratios could be mitigated, potentially reversing the current trend.
Data & projection
| Year | Interest Payments to Revenue | YoY change | Rank |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2025* trend | 36.33% | - | - |
| 2025 | 36.33% | +6.40pp | #3 |
| 2022 | 29.92% | +5.15pp | #109 |
| 2021 | 24.77% | +4.09pp | #121 |
| 2020 | 20.68% | +0.88pp | #122 |
| 2019 | 19.80% | +0.91pp | #127 |
| 2018 | 18.89% | +0.39pp | #125 |
| 2017 | 18.51% | +2.08pp | #131 |
| 2016 | 16.42% | +0.96pp | #127 |
| 2015 | 15.47% | −2.12pp | #131 |
| 2014 | 17.58% | +10.54pp | #128 |
| 2013 | 7.05% | −2.18pp | #79 |
| 2012 | 9.23% | +0.85pp | #98 |
| 2011 | 8.38% | −0.00pp | #88 |
| 2010 | 8.39% | −0.21pp | #85 |
| 2009 | 8.59% | – | #85 |
Detected Pattern
Analysis
Malawi matched the Currency Crisis Pattern pattern in 2016. Historically, 27% of countries showing this pattern (35 out of 128) saw interest payments to revenue improve within 24 months. View full analysis →
Frequently Asked Questions
Malawi's interest payments to revenue was 36.33% in 2025. Ranked 3rd globally. This represents a 21.4% increase from the previous year.
Malawi's interest payments to revenue peaked at 36.33% in 2025.
The lowest interest payments to revenue in Malawi was 7.05% in 2013.
Malawi ranks 3rd globally in interest payments to revenue as of 2025.
The World Bank indicator code is GC.XPN.INTP.RV.ZS. Data sourced from World Bank.
Malawi's interest payments to revenue is projected to reach 36.33% by 2025 based on trend extrapolation.
The interest payments to revenue of Malawi in 2025 was 36.33%. This ranks 3rd in the world.
Cite this page
@misc{historysaid_malawi_interest-to-revenue,
title = {Malawi Interest Payments to Revenue},
url = {https://historysaid.com/malawi/interest-to-revenue/},
publisher = {HistorySaid},
year = {2026}
}