Malawi Military Spending
Military expenditure as % of GDP MS.MIL.XPND.GD.ZS
Malawi's military spending was 1.18% in 2025, ranked 101st globally. This represents a 15.4% increase from 2024. Data from World Bank, covering 1965–2025.
Overview
Malawi's military spending stood at 1.18% in 2025, a rise of +0.16% from 2024. Based on recent trends, this figure is projected to reach 1.18% by 2025. Malawi ranked 101st globally.
Malawi’s military expenditure has risen modestly to 1.18 percent of GDP in 2025, placing the country 101st in the World Bank’s global ranking and closely aligning with peers such as Fiji (1.19) and Tanzania (1.22). The trajectory spans 61 years, beginning at 0.70 percent in 1965, climbing to an all‑time peak of 4.07 percent in 1979 during the Cold‑War era, then falling to a trough of 0.28 percent in 2000 as regional security demands eased. Since the turn of the millennium, spending has gradually recovered, reflecting incremental investments in defence infrastructure and modest procurement programmes. The recent uptick suggests a cautious reallocation of fiscal resources toward security, yet the level remains well below the 1979 high. Continued economic growth, coupled with regional stability initiatives, could sustain this moderate rise, whereas a shift in domestic or geopolitical risk assessments might accelerate or reverse the current upward trend.
Data & projection
| Year | Military Spending | YoY change | Rank |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2027* trend | 1.35% | - | - |
| 2026* trend | 1.26% | - | - |
| 2025* trend | 1.18% | - | - |
| 2025 | 1.18% | +0.16% | #101 |
| 2024 | 1.02% | −0.14% | #44 |
| 2023 | 1.17% | +0.23% | #43 |
| 2022 | 0.93% | +0.20% | #33 |
| 2021 | 0.73% | −0.10% | #21 |
| 2020 | 0.83% | +0.07% | #26 |
| 2019 | 0.76% | +0.17% | #27 |
| 2018 | 0.59% | +0.06% | #16 |
| 2017 | 0.53% | +0.08% | #15 |
| 2016 | 0.45% | +0.00% | #11 |
| 2015 | 0.45% | −0.13% | #10 |
| 2014 | 0.58% | −0.23% | #15 |
| 2013 | 0.81% | +0.27% | #27 |
| 2012 | 0.54% | +0.08% | #13 |
| 2011 | 0.47% | −0.04% | #9 |
Detected Pattern
Analysis
Malawi matched the Currency Crisis Pattern pattern in 2016. Historically, 27% of countries showing this pattern (35 out of 128) saw military spending improve within 24 months. View full analysis →
Frequently Asked Questions
Malawi's military spending was 1.18% in 2025. Ranked 101st globally. This represents a 15.4% increase from the previous year.
Malawi's military spending peaked at 4.07% in 1979.
The lowest military spending in Malawi was 0.28% in 2000.
Malawi ranks 101st globally in military spending as of 2025.
The World Bank indicator code is MS.MIL.XPND.GD.ZS. Data sourced from World Bank.
Malawi's military spending is projected to reach 1.18% by 2025 based on trend extrapolation.
The military spending of Malawi in 2025 was 1.18%. This ranks 101st in the world.
Cite this page
@misc{historysaid_malawi_military-spending,
title = {Malawi Military Spending},
url = {https://historysaid.com/malawi/military-spending/},
publisher = {HistorySaid},
year = {2026}
}