Malawi Foreign Exchange Reserves
Total reserves including gold, current US dollars.
Foreign Exchange Reserves in Malawi decreased to 0.59 USD billion in 2020 from 0.85 USD billion in 2019.
Malawi Foreign Exchange Reserves — History
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Malawi Foreign Exchange Reserves — analysis in simple words
Latest reading
Foreign Exchange Reserves in Malawi decreased to 0.59 USD billion in 2020 from 0.85 USD billion in 2019.
Over the last three years it rose once and fell twice.
Recent trend
A year earlier (2019) it was $0.8B, so the latest figure is $0.3B lower.
Over the past five years the average was $0.7B, with a range from $0.6B to $0.8B. The latest value is below that five-year average.
Historical context
This data series starts in 1965 and has 56 annual observations. The latest reading is higher than 88% of all of them.
The highest value on record is $0.8B (2019) and the lowest is $0.0B (1983). The long-run average is $0.2B.
Compared with other countries
Among 174 economies with recent data, Malawi ranks 153rd from the top. The median across all these economies is $8.6B, so Malawi is below the typical country.
Within Sub-Saharan Africa (37 economies with data) it ranks 27th; the regional median is $1.3B.
Statistics
- Latest
- $0.6B2020
- Previous
- $0.8B
- 5-year average
- $0.7B
- Long-run average
- $0.2Bsince 1965
- All-time high
- $0.8B2019
- All-time low
- $0.0B1983
- Observations
- 56Annual
Recent Data
| Period | Value | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 2020 | $0.6B | ▼ −0.3 |
| 2019 | $0.8B | ▲ +0.1 |
| 2018 | $0.8B | ▼ −0.0 |
| 2017 | $0.8B | ▲ +0.2 |
| 2016 | $0.6B | ▼ −0.1 |
| 2015 | $0.7B | ▲ +0.1 |
| 2014 | $0.6B | ▲ +0.2 |
| 2013 | $0.4B | ▲ +0.2 |
| 2012 | $0.2B | ▲ +0.0 |
| 2011 | $0.2B | ▼ −0.1 |
| 2010 | $0.3B | ▲ +0.2 |
| 2009 | $0.2B | ▼ −0.1 |
| 2008 | $0.3B | ▲ +0.0 |
| 2007 | $0.2B | ▲ +0.1 |
| 2006 | $0.1B | ▼ −0.0 |
| 2005 | $0.2B | ▲ +0.0 |
| 2004 | $0.1B | ▲ +0.0 |
| 2003 | $0.1B | ▼ −0.0 |
| 2002 | $0.2B | ▼ −0.0 |
| 2001 | $0.2B | ▼ −0.0 |
| 2000 | $0.2B | ▼ −0.0 |
| 1999 | $0.3B | ▼ −0.0 |
| 1998 | $0.3B | ▲ +0.1 |
| 1997 | $0.1B | ▼ −0.1 |
| 1996 | $0.2B | ▲ +0.1 |
| 1995 | $0.1B | ▲ +0.1 |
| 1994 | $0.0B | ▼ −0.0 |
| 1993 | $0.1B | ▲ +0.0 |
| 1992 | $0.0B | ▼ −0.1 |
| 1991 | $0.2B |
Foreign Exchange Reserves — Malawi vs Peers
Latest available reading for each economy (periods may differ). Malawi highlighted.
More Malawi indicators
Understanding Foreign Exchange Reserves — a simple guide
What it measures
Total reserves including gold held by the central bank, in current US dollars.
How it is calculated
Foreign currency, gold, IMF reserve position and SDRs held by the central bank, in US dollars.
Reserves of $700 billion can pay for many months of imports.
Large reserves give a cushion against currency shocks.
Low reserves leave less room to handle sudden outflows.
Why it matters for the economy and markets
Reserves act as a buffer to defend the currency and pay for imports during external shocks.
How to read it
A common yardstick is months of import cover; 3 months or more is often considered adequate.
Data source
World Bank — World Development Indicators (series FI.RES.TOTL.CD), annual data from 1965 to 2020. Values are shown exactly as published by the source and may be revised later.
How to use the chart
Use the 5Y / 10Y / 25Y / Max buttons to change the time range, or drag the slider under the chart. Hover (or tap) on the line to see the exact value for any period. Dashed lines and hatched bars are IMF projections, not actual data. The “Download CSV” button gives you the full data series.
Frequently asked questions
What is the current foreign exchange reserves of Malawi?
What is the highest and lowest foreign exchange reserves of Malawi?
What does foreign exchange reserves measure?
Data are sourced from official international organisations (IMF, World Bank, BIS) and national authorities, and are shown for educational and informational purposes only. They are not investment advice and no recommendation is made. Figures may be revised by the source; IMF figures for the current and future years are projections. This page was last updated on Saturday, October 17, 2026.