Malawi Trade Openness
Trade as % of GDP NE.TRD.GNFS.ZS
Malawi's trade openness was 42.80% in 2025, ranked 161st globally. This represents a 0.9% increase from 2024. Data from World Bank, covering 2017–2025.
Overview
Malawi's trade openness stood at 42.80% in 2025, a rise of +0.37% from 2023. Based on recent trends, this figure is projected to reach 42.80% by 2025. Malawi ranked 161st globally.
Malawi’s trade openness, measured as the sum of exports and imports as a share of GDP, stood at 42.80 in 2025, placing the country 161st in the world. This figure marks a modest decline from the all‑time peak of 45.30 recorded in 2017, the first year of the eight‑year series, and sits slightly above the trough of 41.03 reached in 2020 during the pandemic‑related slowdown. Compared with peers of similar rank, Malawi is marginally less open than Algeria (43.38) and Egypt, Arab Republic of (43.47) but marginally more open than Nepal (42.33) and Colombia (41.84). The downward drift since 2017 reflects persistent constraints in export diversification and limited integration into regional value chains, while the brief rebound after 2020 suggests some resilience in import demand. Continued investment in transport infrastructure and trade‑facilitating reforms could stabilize the ratio and potentially lift Malawi’s openness above its recent trough, supporting broader economic diversification.
Data & projection
| Year | Trade Openness | YoY change | Rank |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2026* trend | 42.71% | - | - |
| 2025* trend | 42.80% | - | - |
| 2025 | 42.80% | +0.37% | #161 |
| 2023 | 42.44% | −1.18% | #22 |
| 2022 | 43.62% | −0.98% | #17 |
| 2021 | 44.60% | +3.56% | #29 |
| 2020 | 41.03% | −3.16% | #29 |
| 2019 | 44.20% | +0.62% | #22 |
| 2018 | 43.58% | −1.72% | #20 |
| 2017 | 45.30% | – | #29 |
Detected Pattern
Analysis
Malawi matched the Currency Crisis Pattern pattern in 2016. Historically, 27% of countries showing this pattern (35 out of 128) saw trade openness improve within 24 months. View full analysis →
Frequently Asked Questions
Malawi's trade openness was 42.80% in 2025. Ranked 161st globally. This represents a 0.9% increase from the previous year.
Malawi's trade openness peaked at 45.30% in 2017.
The lowest trade openness in Malawi was 41.03% in 2020.
Malawi ranks 161st globally in trade openness as of 2025.
The World Bank indicator code is NE.TRD.GNFS.ZS. Data sourced from World Bank.
Malawi's trade openness is projected to reach 42.80% by 2025 based on trend extrapolation.
The trade openness of Malawi in 2025 was 42.80%. This ranks 161st in the world.
Cite this page
@misc{historysaid_malawi_trade-openness,
title = {Malawi Trade Openness},
url = {https://historysaid.com/malawi/trade-openness/},
publisher = {HistorySaid},
year = {2026}
}