Malawi Foreign Reserves
Total reserves including gold FI.RES.TOTL.CD
Malawi's foreign reserves was $594.5M in 2020, ranked 147th globally. This represents a 29.8% decrease from 2019. Data from World Bank, covering 1965–2020.
Overview
Malawi's foreign reserves stood at $594.5M in 2020, a decline of +$252.3M from 2019. Malawi ranked 147th globally.
Malawi’s foreign exchange reserves have risen from a modest 25,227,000.00 in 1965 to 594,498,493.62 in 2020, placing the country 147th globally and positioning it alongside peers such as Vanuatu (613,636,752.09) and Suriname (584,929,135.57). The upward trajectory accelerated after the early‑1980s trough of 20,298,652.99, reaching an all‑time high of 846,839,844.27 in 2019 before a slight decline the following year. This pattern reflects periods of external debt relief, commodity price booms and targeted reserve‑building policies, while the 2020 figure still lags behind the 2019 peak by roughly 252 million dollars. Over the 56‑year coverage span, the reserve stock has more than tripled, indicating improved external liquidity and a modest buffer against balance‑of‑payments shocks. Continued diversification of export markets and sustained fiscal prudence could stabilize the reserve base, while any reversal in commodity terms or external financing constraints might reverse the recent gains.
Data & projection
| Year | Foreign Reserves | YoY change | Rank |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2020 | $594.5M | −$252.3M | #147 |
| 2019 | $846.8M | +$80.7M | #135 |
| 2018 | $766.2M | −$2.2M | #134 |
| 2017 | $768.4M | +$157.6M | #134 |
| 2016 | $610.8M | −$70.8M | #137 |
| 2015 | $681.6M | +$65.5M | #135 |
| 2014 | $616.1M | +$187.5M | #143 |
| 2013 | $428.6M | +$184.0M | #152 |
| 2012 | $244.6M | +$27.6M | #158 |
| 2011 | $217.0M | −$108.3M | #157 |
| 2010 | $325.3M | +$162.1M | #151 |
| 2009 | $163.3M | −$90.6M | #160 |
| 2008 | $253.9M | +$26.6M | #145 |
| 2007 | $227.3M | +$85.4M | #144 |
| 2006 | $141.9M | −$23.3M | #149 |
Detected Pattern
Analysis
Malawi matched the Currency Crisis Pattern pattern in 2016. Historically, 27% of countries showing this pattern (35 out of 128) saw foreign reserves improve within 24 months. View full analysis →
Frequently Asked Questions
Malawi's foreign reserves was $594.5M in 2020. Ranked 147th globally. This represents a 29.8% decrease from the previous year.
Malawi's foreign reserves peaked at $846.8M in 2019.
The lowest foreign reserves in Malawi was $20.3M in 1983.
Malawi ranks 147th globally in foreign reserves as of 2020.
The World Bank indicator code is FI.RES.TOTL.CD. Data sourced from World Bank.
Malawi's foreign reserves was approximately 594.5 million ($594.5M) in 2020.
The foreign reserves of Malawi in 2020 was $594.5M. This ranks 147th in the world.
Cite this page
@misc{historysaid_malawi_reserves,
title = {Malawi Foreign Reserves},
url = {https://historysaid.com/malawi/reserves/},
publisher = {HistorySaid},
year = {2026}
}