Malawi vs United States: Compare Statistics

Side-by-side comparison of 171 key metrics across economy, population, geography, and more — latest data through 2026.

Summary

United States has 15.3 times as many people as Malawi (349.13 million vs 22.78 million). United States's economy is 2,682 times the size of Malawi's ($32.95 trillion vs $12.28 billion GDP).

Comparing Malawi and United States: Malawi leads on Electricity Installed Capacity (375,000) against United States (1.09); United States leads on Tourism Receipts per Capita (226.17 billion USD) against Malawi (30.00 million USD); United States leads on Gross Domestic Product (GDP) by Country in Current US Dollars (32.95 trillion $) against Malawi (12.28 billion $). Across 171 compared metrics, Malawi wins on 46 and United States wins on 118.

  • Communications: 9 metrics compared
  • Economy: 66 metrics compared
  • Environment: 11 metrics compared
  • Geography: 7 metrics compared
  • Government: 9 metrics compared
  • Health: 22 metrics compared
  • Military and Security: 3 metrics compared
  • People and Society: 39 metrics compared
  • Transportation: 3 metrics compared
  • Travel and Tourism: 1 metric compared
  • Other: 1 metric compared

Communications

9 metrics
Metric🇲🇼 Malawi🇺🇸 United StatesShare
Fixed Broadband Penetration0.09 subscriptions per 100 inhabitants38.86 subscriptions per 100 inhabitants★
Internet Penetration Rate (%)18.96 %94.69 %★
Internet Usage Rate by Country (% of Population)17.99 %93.14 %★
Internet Userspercent of population: 18% (2023 est.)percent of population: 93% (2023 est.)
Mobile Internet Speed0.09 Mbps38.86 Mbps★
Press Freedom Index Score59.2 points65.49 points★
Radios2.6575★
TelevisionsNA219
Waterways70041,009★

Economy

66 metrics
Metric🇲🇼 Malawi🇺🇸 United StatesShare
Agriculture Value Added as a Share of GDP by Country4.84B $350.60B $★
Gross Domestic Product (GDP) by Country in Current US Dollars12.28B $32.95T $★
AI Investment (% of GDP)14.48 %21.88 %★
Apple Import Volume1.11M tonnes76.82M tonnes★
Bank Account Ownership Rate50.37 %97.02 %★
Central Bank Discount Rate (%)16 %★0.5 %
Coal Revenue0.030.2★
Commercial Bank Prime Lending Rate (%)38.1 %★4.1 %
Current Health Expenditure (% of GDP)9.3 % of GDP16.9 % of GDP★
Ease of Doing Business Index77.992★
Electricity Consumption1.323.9★
Electricity Exports09.7★
Electricity from Fossil Fuels170★
Electricity from Hydroelectric Plants93★7
Electricity from Nuclear Fuels09★
Electricity from Other Renewables614★
Electricity Imports072.72★
Electricity Installed Capacity375,000★1.09
Electricity Production1.424.1★
Energy Consumption per Capita (USD)1.79 USD per capita278.47 USD per capita★
Female Labor Force Participation Rate58.96 %68.99 %★
Gender Pay Gap Percentage18.83 %★16.77 %
Gender Wage Gap18.83 %16.77 %★
Gini Index Coefficient38.541.8★
Gross Fixed Investment23.1★12.9
Gross National Saving3.918.9★
High-Tech Export Percentage52.07 %59.63 %★
Highest GDP per Capita Countries1,623.02 USD76,931.31 USD★
Industrial Production Growth Rate (%)2.1 %3.25 %★
Inflation Rate32.18 %2.95 %★
Inflation Rate (Consumer Prices)32.2 %2.9 %★
Military Expenditures (% of GDP)0.8 % of GDP3.2 % of GDP★
Natural Gas Consumption0767.6★
Natural Gas Exports089.7★
Natural Gas Imports086.15★
Natural Gas Production0772.8★
Natural Gas Proved Reserves00
Oil Consumption8,000★19.15
Oil Exports01.92★
Oil Imports7,124★10.27
Oil Production09.69★
Oil Proved Reserves020.68★
Population Below Poverty Line51.5 people15.1 people★
Public Debt55.6★114.8
R&D Expenditure (% of GDP)0.18 %3.14 %★
Real GDP Growth Rate (USD)1.8 USD2.8 USD★
Real Interest Rate Trends14.54 %★-1.26 %
Refined Petroleum Products Consumption6,000★19.96
Refined Petroleum Products Exports05.22★
Refined Petroleum Products Imports4,769★2.18
Refined Petroleum Products Production020.3★
Remittances1.4★0
Researchers in R&D per Million25.17 researchers4,367.21 researchers★
Revenue from Forest Resources6.19★0.04
Robotics Research Funding0.18 USD3.14 USD★
Share of population in poverty ($3 a day)75.441★
Tax Burden (% of GDP)15.6 %10.77 %★
Tax Revenue (% of GDP)15.6 % of GDP★10.77 % of GDP
Taxes and Other Revenues13.5★10.6
Top Exporting Countries1.50B USD3.05T USD★
Top FDI Inflows (% of GDP)2.28 %★1.01 %
Tourism Contribution to GDP1.6 %2.15 %★
Tourism Revenue (% of GDP)1.6 %2.15 %★
Unemployment Rate5.1 %4.2 %★
Youth Labor Force Participation Rate62.58 %61.7 %★
Youth Unemployment Rate6.95 %★9.34 %

Environment

11 metrics
Metric🇲🇼 Malawi🇺🇸 United StatesShare
Annual CO₂ Emissions Growth (abs)28,911-14.29M★
Annual Forest Area Change Rate-42,000 %★-72,000 %
Average Annual Temperature22.29 °C★10.43 °C
Carbon Dioxide Emissions2.27★4.8
Global Precipitation Distribution1,548.92 mm★810.4 mm
Population Distributionpopulation density is highest south of Lake Nyasa, as shown in this population distribution maplarge urban clusters are spread throughout the eastern half of the US (particularly the Great Lakes area, northeast, east, and southeast) and the western-tier states; mountainous areas such as the Rocky Mountains and Appalachians, deserts in the southwest
Protected Land Area for Adaptation23.16 sq km★12.85 sq km
Protected Land Area Percentage23.1 %★12.9 %
Total Renewable Groundwater Resources by Country2.5 Cubic meters per year1,383 Cubic meters per year★
Total Renewable Water Resources17.28★3.07
Total Threatened Mammal Species10 species★43 species

Geography

7 metrics
Metric🇲🇼 Malawi🇺🇸 United StatesShare
Percentage of land area by degree of urbanization19.72 %★2.11 %
Above-Ground Biomass in Forest (tonnes/ha)78.794.67★
Agricultural land62,626 sq. km4.17M sq. km★
Airports per 1,000 Sq Km94,2809.15M★
Coastline Length (km)0 km19,924 km★
Dam capacity per capita1.8 cubic meters per inhabitant2,113 cubic meters per inhabitant★
Irrigated Land740234,782★

Government

9 metrics
Metric🇲🇼 Malawi🇺🇸 United StatesShare
Rule of Law Index by Country48.89 %88.3 %★
Administrative Divisions2850★
Corruption Perception Index34 index★65 index
Corruption Perceptions Index Score34 index65 index★
Independence6★4
LGBT Rights Index Score0.467.08★
Prison Population Rate71 per 100,000★505 per 100,000
Public Sector Corruption Perception34★65
Suffrage Participation Rate1818

Health

22 metrics
Metric🇲🇼 Malawi🇺🇸 United StatesShare
Access to Safe Drinking Water18.18 %97.57 %★
Average BMI for Adults22.6 kg/m²28.8 kg/m²★
Change in Measles Immunization Rate89 %92 %★
Diabetes Prevalence (% of Population)5.713.7★
Female Life Expectancy Leaders67.56 years78.89 years★
Global Stillbirth Rate Trends1.58 per 1,000 births0.27 per 1,000 births★
Health Care Spending per Capita152.6 USD15,459.46 USD★
Health Coverage Index Score52 score88 score★
Health Expenditure (% of GDP)7.4 % of GDP16.6 % of GDP★
Highest Male Life Expectancy67.56 years78.89 years★
HIV/AIDS Adult Prevalence Rate7.7 %NA
Hospital Bed Density1.3 people/sq km2.9 people/sq km★
Hospital Beds per Capita1.3 beds per 1,0002.94 beds per 1,000★
Low Birth Weight Prevalence15.58 %8.26 %★
Maternal Mortality Ratio (%)225 %17 %★
Mean Age at First Birth19.127.5★
Nurses and Midwives Density0.51 per 1,000 people13.38 per 1,000 people★
Obesity Adult Prevalence Rate (%)5.8 %★36.2 %
Out-of-Pocket Health Spending12 %10.93 %★
People Living With HIV/AIDS990,000NA
Total Number of Doctors0.053.68★
Underweight Children Under 511.60.4★

Military and Security

3 metrics
Metric🇲🇼 Malawi🇺🇸 United StatesShare
Active Military Personnel11,000 personnel1.36M personnel★
Military Expenditure (% of GDP)1.15 %★3.12 %
Total Armed Forces Personnel (PPP)15,0001.40M★

People and Society

39 metrics
Metric🇲🇼 Malawi🇺🇸 United StatesShare
Currently married (Percent)59.17 %★51.38 %
Human Capital Index0.450.72★
Life expectancy at birth72.03 years83.22 years★
Median age of population18.35 years38.79 years★
Population Change579,788 persons2.26M persons★
Population density240.56 per sq. km38.15 per sq. km★
Total population22.78M persons349.13M persons★
Academic Freedom Index0.8★0.4
Beer Consumption per Capita0.15 liters3.86 liters★
Birth Rate (%)28.04 %★10.75 %
Contraceptive Prevalence Rate65.6 %73.9 %★
Crude Birth Rate31.14 per 1,000 people★10.6 per 1,000 people
Death Rate (%)3.57 %★8.76 %
Education Expenditure (% of GDP)2.7 % of GDP5.4 % of GDP★
Female population of reproductive age6.07M persons78.56M persons★
Female Tertiary Enrollment Rate (%)2.23 %94.85 %★
Fixed Broadband Penetration Rate0.09 %38.86 %★
Global Average Sex Ratio at Birth100.76 male/female104.75 male/female★
Human Development Index0.270.75★
Labor Force Participation Rate8.6174.17★
Learning-adjusted years of school5.77 years11.07 years★
Length of paid parental leave for mother0 days183.4 days★
Major Urban Areas Population1.28 people18.94 people★
Mean Male Height (cm)162.23177.13★
Mean Years of Schooling5.41 years13.32 years★
Military Service Age and Obligation18★17
Old-Age Dependency Ratio4.62 %★26.8 %
Percentage of population by degree of urbanization71.82 %74.52 %★
Physician Density0.05 people/sq km3.68 people/sq km★
Population Growth Rate2.16 %★0.45 %
Population living in slums33.18 %★0.05 %
Primary School Pupil-Teacher Ratio69.5114.46★
Total deaths110,901 persons★2.87M persons
Total demand for family planning (Percent)61.79 %65.73 %★
Total fertility rate3.46 per woman★1.61 per woman
Total net-migration-4,828.6 persons1.49M persons★
Under-five mortality rate36.16 per live births5.52 per live births★
Urban Population Annual Growth Rate4.43 %★0.61 %
Voting Age Population44.32 millions62.36 millions★

Transportation

3 metrics
Metric🇲🇼 Malawi🇺🇸 United StatesShare
Air Travel Trips Per Capita (PPP)0.012.06★
Airports2716,116★
Civil Air Travel58,252★

Travel and Tourism

1 metric
Metric🇲🇼 Malawi🇺🇸 United StatesShare
Tourism Receipts per Capita30.00M USD226.17B USD★

Other

1 metric
Metric🇲🇼 Malawi🇺🇸 United StatesShare
Current Bank Rate24 %★3.75 %

Frequently Asked Questions About Malawi vs United States

Which has a larger population, Malawi or United States?▾

United States. United States has 15.3 times as many people as Malawi (349.13 million vs 22.78 million). Data for 2026.

Which has a bigger economy, Malawi or United States?▾

United States. United States's economy is 2,682 times the size of Malawi's ($32.95 trillion vs $12.28 billion GDP). Data for 2026.

Which is richer per person, Malawi or United States?▾

United States is richer per person: GDP per capita is about $94,373 in United States vs $539.28 in Malawi (2026 GDP in current US dollars divided by population).

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