Agriculture as a share of GDP vs. GDP per capita in Malawi
Malawi: Agriculture as a share of GDP vs. GDP per capita was 30.0% in 2025. ▼ Falling
Agriculture as a share of GDP vs. GDP per capita in Malawi, 1980–2025
Source: National statistical organizations and central banks, OECD national accounts, and World Bank staff estimates (2026) – processed by Our World in Data. Measured in % of GDP.
Analysis
The most recent figure for agriculture as a share of gdp vs. gdp per capita in Malawi is 30.0%, measured in 2025.
That represents a change of down 5.5% on the previous year and up 30.6% over ten years.
Over the whole period, agriculture as a share of gdp vs. gdp per capita in Malawi peaked at 37.2% in 1993 and was at its lowest, 18.6%, in 1994.
Malawi ranks 13th of 203 countries on this measure, in the top 10%.
The long-run direction has been consistently falling across the 46 years of available data.
Agriculture as a share of GDP vs. GDP per capita in Malawi, year by year
| Year | % of GDP | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1980 | 32.6% | — |
| 1981 | 29.9% | -8.4% |
| 1982 | 31.0% | +3.6% |
| 1983 | 31.8% | +2.6% |
| 1984 | 31.3% | -1.4% |
| 1985 | 31.7% | +1.3% |
| 1986 | 32.3% | +1.7% |
| 1987 | 35.8% | +11.1% |
| 1988 | 36.1% | +0.8% |
| 1989 | 33.7% | -6.6% |
| 1990 | 32.0% | -5.1% |
| 1991 | 33.0% | +3.0% |
| 1992 | 29.1% | -11.9% |
| 1993 | 37.2% | +28.2% |
| 1994 | 18.6% | -50.1% |
| 1995 | 22.3% | +20.2% |
| 1996 | 26.1% | +17.0% |
| 1997 | 25.2% | -3.5% |
| 1998 | 26.8% | +6.2% |
| 1999 | 28.6% | +6.9% |
| 2000 | 29.7% | +3.7% |
| 2001 | 29.3% | -1.1% |
| 2002 | 32.3% | +10.0% |
| 2003 | 30.1% | -6.7% |
| 2004 | 28.9% | -4.2% |
| 2005 | 27.4% | -5.2% |
| 2006 | 25.7% | -6.2% |
| 2007 | 22.9% | -10.9% |
| 2008 | 24.9% | +9.0% |
| 2009 | 25.3% | +1.5% |
| 2010 | 24.6% | -2.7% |
| 2011 | 23.9% | -2.8% |
| 2012 | 23.5% | -1.7% |
| 2013 | 23.8% | +1.4% |
| 2014 | 23.9% | +0.1% |
| 2015 | 23.0% | -3.7% |
| 2016 | 22.2% | -3.5% |
| 2017 | 22.9% | +3.3% |
| 2018 | 21.6% | -5.6% |
| 2019 | 22.9% | +6.1% |
| 2020 | 25.0% | +9.0% |
| 2021 | 25.5% | +2.1% |
| 2022 | 27.6% | +8.1% |
| 2023 | 28.9% | +4.6% |
| 2024 | 31.8% | +10.1% |
| 2025 | 30.0% | -5.5% |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1980s | 32.6% | 29.9% | 36.1% | 10 |
| 1990s | 27.9% | 18.6% | 37.2% | 10 |
| 2000s | 27.6% | 22.9% | 32.3% | 10 |
| 2010s | 23.3% | 21.6% | 24.6% | 10 |
| 2020s | 28.1% | 25.0% | 31.8% | 6 |
Countries ranked near Malawi
More agriculture & rural data for Malawi
- Agriculture, forestry, and fishing, value added (current US$), annual 24.6 % change on previous year (2025)
- Agriculture, forestry, and fishing, value added (current US$), per 0.3003 current US$ per US$ of GDP (2025)
- Agriculture, forestry, and fishing, value added (current US$), per 201.66 current US$ per person (2025)
- Rural population, annual growth rate 2.19 % change on previous year (2025)
- Rural population, per unit of GDP 0.0012 units per US$ of GDP (2025)
- Rural population, per capita 0.8241 units per person (2025)
- Share of GDP from agriculture 30.0% (2025)
- Agricultural raw materials exports 0.9% (2024)
- Agricultural raw materials imports 2.7% (2024)
- Rural population 82.4% (2025)
Frequently asked questions
- What is agriculture as a share of gdp vs. gdp per capita in Malawi?
- Agriculture as a share of gdp vs. gdp per capita in Malawi was 30.0% in 2025, according to National statistical organizations and central banks, OECD national accounts, and World Bank staff estimates (2026) – processed by Our World in Data.
- What is the highest agriculture as a share of gdp vs. gdp per capita recorded in Malawi?
- The highest recorded value was 37.2% in 1993.
- What is the lowest agriculture as a share of gdp vs. gdp per capita recorded in Malawi?
- The lowest recorded value was 18.6% in 1994.
- How does Malawi rank for agriculture as a share of gdp vs. gdp per capita?
- Malawi ranks 13th out of 203 countries with data for 2025.
- Is agriculture as a share of gdp vs. gdp per capita rising or falling in Malawi?
- Over the last ten years it is up 30.6%. The long-run trend across the full record is falling.
- Where does this Malawi data come from?
- The figures come from National statistical organizations and central banks, OECD national accounts, and World Bank staff estimates (2026) – processed by Our World in Data, published as part of Agriculture as a share of GDP vs. GDP per capita. Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
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About this data
Agriculture includes the cultivation of crops and livestock production, as well as forestry, hunting, and fishing. GDP per capita is adjusted for inflation and differences in living costs between countries.