Malawi vs South Africa
Malawi vs South Africa: GDP per person
GDP per person in 2025: $548 in Malawi and $5,713 in South Africa, by World Bank estimates. In 2025 the value was higher in South Africa, by $5,165, or 10 times that in Malawi.
US dollars at 2015 prices · World Bank
What the numbers say
- South Africa has been higher in every year both have figures for since 1960.
- In 2025, Malawi ranked 182 and South Africa ranked 101 of 186 countries, counting from the highest.
- The world as a whole: $12,130 in 2025.
Every year
US dollars at 2015 prices · World Bank
| Year | Malawi | South Africa | World |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | $548 | $5,713 | $12,130 |
| 2024 | $552 | $5,715 | $11,890 |
| 2023 | $557 | $5,757 | $11,670 |
| 2022 | $561 | $5,787 | $11,450 |
| 2021 | $570 | $5,751 | $11,170 |
| 2020 | $559 | $5,570 | $10,580 |
| 2019 | $570 | $6,033 | $11,000 |
| 2018 | $554 | $6,117 | $10,820 |
| 2017 | $545 | $6,126 | $10,590 |
| 2016 | $538 | $6,095 | $10,360 |
| 2015 | $540 | $6,112 | $10,190 |
| 2014 | $540 | $6,155 | $10,000 |
| 2013 | $525 | $6,171 | $9,811 |
| 2012 | $513 | $6,122 | $9,654 |
| 2011 | $518 | $6,067 | $9,515 |
| 2010 | $508 | $5,954 | $9,322 |
| 2009 | $490 | $5,847 | $9,028 |
| 2008 | $466 | $6,010 | $9,266 |
| 2007 | $445 | $5,891 | $9,191 |
| 2006 | $418 | $5,651 | $8,913 |
| 2005 | $410 | $5,406 | $8,639 |
| 2004 | $408 | $5,187 | $8,409 |
| 2003 | $397 | $5,012 | $8,151 |
| 2002 | $385 | $4,917 | $8,011 |
| 2001 | $388 | $4,786 | $7,932 |
| 2000 | $419 | $4,701 | $7,880 |
| 1999 | $422 | $4,553 | $7,639 |
| 1998 | $419 | $4,495 | $7,479 |
| 1997 | $412 | $4,527 | $7,382 |
| 1996 | $405 | $4,466 | $7,203 |
| 1995 | $385 | $4,337 | $7,058 |
| 1994 | $330 | $4,258 | $6,944 |
| 1993 | $363 | $4,194 | $6,819 |
| 1992 | $336 | $4,226 | $6,801 |
| 1991 | $373 | $4,396 | $6,773 |
| 1990 | $354 | $4,544 | $6,804 |
| 1989 | $348 | $4,687 | $6,741 |
| 1988 | $360 | $4,714 | $6,620 |
| 1987 | $369 | $4,664 | $6,446 |
| 1986 | $380 | $4,713 | $6,326 |
| 1985 | $395 | $4,865 | $6,233 |
| 1984 | $393 | $5,092 | $6,120 |
| 1983 | $388 | $5,015 | $5,947 |
| 1982 | $389 | $5,291 | $5,903 |
| 1981 | $395 | $5,499 | $5,986 |
| 1980 | $434 | $5,400 | $5,980 |
| 1979 | $449 | $5,221 | $5,978 |
| 1978 | $446 | $5,168 | $5,843 |
| 1977 | $421 | $5,156 | $5,710 |
| 1976 | $413 | $5,302 | $5,591 |
| 1975 | $405 | $5,328 | $5,410 |
| 1974 | $393 | $5,386 | $5,467 |
| 1973 | $377 | $5,221 | $5,465 |
| 1972 | $378 | $5,137 | $5,236 |
| 1971 | $365 | $5,201 | $5,061 |
| 1970 | $322 | $5,136 | $4,964 |
| 1969 | $329 | $5,030 | $4,885 |
| 1968 | $318 | $4,954 | $4,707 |
| 1967 | $332 | $4,907 | $4,535 |
| 1966 | $318 | $4,722 | $4,461 |
| 1965 | $287 | $4,664 | $4,321 |
| 1964 | $259 | $4,532 | $4,176 |
| 1963 | $259 | $4,329 | $3,999 |
| 1962 | $269 | $4,156 | $3,889 |
| 1961 | $274 | $4,032 | $3,759 |
| 1960 | $260 | $3,993 | $3,667 |
Each country on its own
Good to know
- The value of everything produced in the country in a year, divided by its people, in 2015 US dollars so that years compare.
- Source: World Bank, World Development Indicators.
- Ranks count the 186 countries with a value in 2025, highest first.
- The faint line is the world as a whole, as the same source counts it.
How the layers work, where their data comes from and what they can’t tell you: Countries through time
Malawi vs South Africa
Health
- Life expectancyMalawi: 67.4 years in 2023South Africa: 66.1 years in 2023
- Child mortalityMalawi: 4.9 per 100 live births in 2024South Africa: 3.5 per 100 live births in 2024
- Infant mortalityMalawi: 29.6 per 1,000 live births in 2023South Africa: 27.9 per 1,000 live births in 2023
- DepressionMalawi: 3.45% in 2017South Africa: 3.75% in 2017
- Suicide rateMalawi: 12.1 per 100,000 people in 2017South Africa: 11.2 per 100,000 people in 2017
People
- PopulationMalawi: 21.1 million people in 2023South Africa: 63.2 million people in 2023
- Population growthMalawi: 2.57% a year in 2023South Africa: 1.32% a year in 2023
- Fertility rateMalawi: 3.65 births per woman in 2023South Africa: 2.22 births per woman in 2023
- Urban populationMalawi: 17.6% in 2025South Africa: 63.8% in 2025
- Median ageMalawi: 17.6 years in 2023South Africa: 28.2 years in 2023
- People aged 65 and overMalawi: 2.6% in 2023South Africa: 6.5% in 2023
- Net migration rateMalawi: -0.3 per 1,000 people in 2023South Africa: 3.6 per 1,000 people in 2023
Economy
Education
Politics
Conflict
Military
- Military spendingMalawi: 1.15% of GDP in 2025South Africa: 0.74% of GDP in 2025
- Military spending in US dollarsMalawi: $128M in 2025South Africa: $3B in 2025
- Military spending per personMalawi: $7 in 2025South Africa: $49 in 2025
- Military share of state spendingMalawi: 3.8% of government spending in 2025South Africa: 2.2% of government spending in 2025
- Armed forces personnelMalawi: 15,000 people in 2020South Africa: 89,000 people in 2020
- National powerMalawi: 0.07% of world capability in 2022South Africa: 0.55% of world capability in 2022
- Armed forces, share of workersMalawi: 0.2% of the labour force in 2020South Africa: 0.4% of the labour force in 2020
- Arms importsMalawi: 2 million TIV in 2024South Africa: 30 million TIV in 2025
- Arms exportsMalawi: 1 million TIV in 2000South Africa: 115 million TIV in 2025