EnglishEnglish
中文Chinese (Simplified)
EspañolSpanish
हिन्दीHindi
العربيةArabic
FrançaisFrench
PortuguêsPortuguese
РусскийRussian
DeutschGerman
日本語Japanese
United States
Poland
Maldives
Iraq ↑ 54
Austria vs Czechia
Congo vs Malawi
Side-by-side comparison of Congo and Malawi from official statistics: size, economy, people, trade, natural resources, health, infrastructure and military, with world ranks, years and sources.
In short
Malawi scores 31.9 in the NationsTree Index (158th in the world) and Congo scores 27.2 (167th), a gap of 4.6 points. Their trees are 3.6 m and 3.5 m tall; tree height grows with real GDP and is adjusted by the index.
Malawi has 3.4 times the population of Congo. Congo is 2.9 times larger than Malawi by land area. The economy of Congo is 11% larger than that of Malawi (GDP at purchasing power parity). Population: Congo 6.5 million and Malawi 22.2 million (2025).
GDP per person at purchasing power parity is $7,248 in Congo and $1,899 in Malawi (2025, international dollars). People in Malawi live on average 1.6 years longer (67.6 vs 66.0 years).
Of 30 indicators reported by both countries, Congo ranks higher in the world on 17 and Malawi on 13. Congo is clearly stronger in trade, main industries and military. Malawi is clearly stronger in institutions & safety, tourism and environment & energy.
As a nation, Congo is the older of the two (statehood since 1960, 66 years), compared with Malawi (since 1964). Over the last five years Malawi improved faster (direction score 80 vs 60 out of 100).
Where they differ most
The indicators with the biggest gap in world position between Congo and Malawi.
Congobetter
0.7%
29th of 192
Malawi
-10.2%
181st of 192
Renewable freshwater per personNatural resources
Congobetter
36,785
16th of 183
Malawi
785
140th of 183
InflationEconomy
Congobetter
2.4%
76th of 180
Malawi
28.4%
172nd of 180
Air pollution (PM2.5)Environment & energy
Congo
36.5
172nd of 200
Malawibetter
16.7
97th of 200
Rule of lawInstitutions & safety
Congo
38.1
184th of 207
Malawibetter
56.4
107th of 207
Over time
How the two countries moved against each other, from the yearly data.
Malawi overtook Congo in the NationsTree Index in 2023 and has stayed ahead since.
Congo overtook Malawi in GDP (PPP) in 2021 and has stayed ahead since.
Malawi overtook Congo in life expectancy in 2019 and has stayed ahead since.
Congo has been ahead of Malawi in GDP per person (PPP) in every year since 1990.
Malawi has been ahead of Congo in population in every year since 1990.
Strength by category
Average world percentile of the indicators in each category (0–100, direction taken into account). i
CongoMalawi All indicators
Latest available value for each country with its year and world rank. Green: the better world position of the two, red: the weaker one.
| Indicator | Congo | Malawi |
|---|---|---|
| Land & people | ||
| Surface area km² | 342,00065th/216 · 2024 | 118,484101st/216 · 2024 |
| Land area km² | 341,50065th/216 · 2024 | 94,280108th/216 · 2024 |
| Population people | 6.5 m110th/217 · 2025 | 22.2 m60th/217 · 2025 |
| Population growth % | 2.36%31st/217 · 2025 | 2.56%23rd/217 · 2025 |
| Population density people/km² | 18.5190th/216 · 2024 | 229.761st/216 · 2024 |
| Urban population % | 64.1%110th/217 · 2025 | 17.6%214th/217 · 2025 |
| Population aged 0–14 % | 39.9%26th/217 · 2025 | 40.1%25th/217 · 2025 |
| Population aged 65+ % | 3.1%194th/217 · 2025 | 2.6%207th/217 · 2025 |
| Economy | ||
| GDP USD | $16.31 bn142nd/210 · 2025 | $14.92 bn147th/210 · 2025 |
| GDP (PPP) intl. USD | $47.00 bn136th/199 · 2025 | $42.19 bn138th/199 · 2025 |
| Real GDP (PPP, constant 2021 prices) intl. USD 2021 | $40.17 bn136th/199 · 2025 | $36.06 bn139th/199 · 2025 |
| GDP per person USD | $2,515170th/210 · 2025 | $672204th/210 · 2025 |
| GDP per person (PPP) intl. USD | $7,248153rd/199 · 2025 | $1,899195th/199 · 2025 |
| GNI per person (Atlas) USD | $2,280160th/201 · 2025 | $600196th/201 · 2025 |
| GDP growth % | 3.1%111th/210 · 2025 | 1.9%148th/210 · 2025 |
| Inflation % | 2.4%76th/180 · 2025 | 28.4%172nd/180 · 2025 |
| Unemployment % | 19.9%181st/187 · 2025 | 5.1%89th/187 · 2025 |
| Central government debt % of GDP | 25.5%2010 | 61.8%31st/55 · 2023 |
| General government gross debt % of GDP | 100.4%168th/189 · 2025 | 96.6%163rd/189 · 2025 |
| Government budget balance % of GDP | 0.7%29th/192 · 2025 | -10.2%181st/192 · 2025 |
| Main industries | ||
| Agriculture, forestry, fishing % of GDP | 10.1%69th/197 · 2025 | 30.0%12th/197 · 2025 |
| Industry incl. construction % of GDP | 35.6%30th/200 · 2025 | 14.3%165th/200 · 2025 |
| Manufacturing % of GDP | 12.9%2020 | 11.0%89th/192 · 2024 |
| Services % of GDP | 54.3%126th/200 · 2025 | 48.7%153rd/200 · 2025 |
| Trade | ||
| Exports of goods & services USD | $7.83 bn116th/182 · 2025 | $1.59 bn154th/182 · 2025 |
| Imports of goods & services USD | $7.12 bn127th/182 · 2025 | $4.29 bn144th/182 · 2025 |
| Exports % of GDP | 48.0%55th/183 · 2025 | 10.6%174th/183 · 2025 |
| Imports % of GDP | 43.6%92nd/183 · 2025 | 28.8%137th/183 · 2025 |
| Trade openness % of GDP | 91.7%79th/183 · 2025 | 39.4%162nd/183 · 2025 |
| Fuel exports % of merchandise exports | 85.9%9th/170 · 2023 | 0.0%151st/170 · 2025 |
| Manufactures exports % of merchandise exports | 10.3%131st/171 · 2023 | 5.1%152nd/171 · 2025 |
| Food exports % of merchandise exports | 0.2%169th/171 · 2023 | 93.3%5th/171 · 2025 |
| Ores & metals exports % of merchandise exports | 1.2%129th/171 · 2023 | 0.6%152nd/171 · 2025 |
| High-tech exports % of manufactured exports | 3.2%114th/168 · 2023 | 1.6%137th/168 · 2024 |
| Current account balance % of GDP | -5.1%139th/191 · 2025 | -13.8%175th/191 · 2025 |
| Foreign direct investment, inflows % of GDP | 3.7%59th/196 · 2025 | 3.6%60th/196 · 2025 |
| Natural resources | ||
| Natural resource rents % of GDP | 37.7%4th/209 · 2021 | 4.2%79th/209 · 2021 |
| Oil rents % of GDP | 34.38%3rd/197 · 2021 | 0.00%120th/197 · 2021 |
| Natural gas rents % of GDP | 0.36%44th/197 · 2021 | 0.00%100th/197 · 2021 |
| Coal rents % of GDP | 0.00%68th/195 · 2021 | 0.02%45th/195 · 2021 |
| Mineral rents % of GDP | 0.00%91st/209 · 2021 | 0.01%87th/209 · 2021 |
| Forest rents % of GDP | 2.97%23rd/209 · 2021 | 4.20%19th/209 · 2021 |
| Arable land % of land area | 1.6%178th/206 · 2024 | 42.4%12th/206 · 2024 |
| Renewable freshwater per person m³ | 36,78516th/183 · 2022 | 785140th/183 · 2022 |
| Tourism | ||
| International tourist arrivals arrivals | 158,000157th/194 · 2018 | 871,000104th/194 · 2018 |
| Tourism receipts USD | $42.9 m158th/175 · 2016 | $35.0 m160th/175 · 2020 |
| Tourism receipts % of exports | 0.9%153rd/168 · 2016 | 2.7%115th/168 · 2020 |
| Outbound trips departures | 180,0002013 | — |
| Society & health | ||
| Life expectancy years | 66.0188th/217 · 2024 | 67.6171st/217 · 2024 |
| Under-5 mortality per 1,000 births | 39.1157th/196 · 2024 | 48.8167th/196 · 2024 |
| Physicians per 1,000 people | 0.17151st/174 · 2022 | 0.05172nd/174 · 2022 |
| Hospital beds per 1,000 people | 1.62005 | 1.32011 |
| DPT immunization % of children 12–23 months | 78%150th/193 · 2024 | 91%93rd/193 · 2024 |
| Completed lower secondary, 25+ % of adults | 39.1%2015 | 18.8%141st/153 · 2020 |
| Secondary enrolment % gross | 50.5%2012 | 36.6%166th/173 · 2023 |
| Social protection coverage (incl. pensions) % of population | 8.9%2005 | 38.3%36th/55 · 2019 |
| Old-age dependency ratio % of working-age population | 5.4%193rd/217 · 2025 | 4.5%206th/217 · 2025 |
| Health spending % of GDP | 3.3%173rd/193 · 2023 | 6.5%96th/193 · 2023 |
| Adult literacy % | 76.1%2005 | 70.2%80th/98 · 2020 |
| Tertiary enrolment % gross | 10.4%138th/150 · 2023 | 2.7%149th/150 · 2022 |
| Human Development Index index 0–1 | 0.649138th/193 · 2023 | 0.517172nd/193 · 2023 |
| Income inequality (Gini) index | 48.92011 | 38.52019 |
| Extreme poverty % of population | 39.2%2011 | 75.4%2019 |
| Infrastructure & digital | ||
| Access to electricity % of population | 53.0%198th/215 · 2024 | 15.6%213th/215 · 2024 |
| Safely managed drinking water % of population | 45.9%114th/150 · 2021 | 18.2%140th/150 · 2024 |
| Safely managed sanitation % of population | — | 46.2%88th/144 · 2024 |
| Internet users % of population | 47.3%150th/186 · 2024 | 19.0%177th/186 · 2024 |
| Mobile subscriptions per 100 people | 96149th/210 · 2024 | 69183rd/210 · 2024 |
| Fixed broadband per 100 people | 1.3166th/208 · 2023 | 0.1196th/208 · 2024 |
| Trade & transport infrastructure quality (LPI) score 1–5 | 2.10142nd/164 · 2022 | 2.18141st/164 · 2018 |
| Rail lines route-km | 8932012 | 7972007 |
| Air passengers carried passengers | 147,084133rd/161 · 2023 | 3,507156th/161 · 2023 |
| Environment & energy | ||
| CO₂ emissions per person t CO₂e | 1.3474th/203 · 2024 | 0.2225th/203 · 2024 |
| Renewable energy % of final energy use | 71.4%26th/212 · 2021 | 62.9%33rd/212 · 2022 |
| Air pollution (PM2.5) µg/m³ | 36.5172nd/200 · 2023 | 16.797th/200 · 2023 |
| Forest area % of land area | 64.0%25th/214 · 2024 | 22.0%127th/214 · 2024 |
| Energy use per person kg oil eq. | 530118th/149 · 2024 | — |
| Institutions & safety | ||
| Government effectiveness score 0–100 | 28.4185th/205 · 2025 | 40.0150th/205 · 2025 |
| Control of corruption score 0–100 | 19.3194th/207 · 2025 | 34.7143rd/207 · 2025 |
| Rule of law score 0–100 | 38.1184th/207 · 2025 | 56.4107th/207 · 2025 |
| Political stability score 0–100 | 57.0152nd/207 · 2025 | 62.7128th/207 · 2025 |
| Regulatory quality score 0–100 | 34.9183rd/205 · 2025 | 45.4142nd/205 · 2025 |
| Voice & accountability score 0–100 | 34.3173rd/205 · 2025 | 57.6103rd/205 · 2025 |
| Homicide rate per 100,000 | — | 1.82012 |
| Military | ||
| Military expenditure USD | $204.9 m127th/156 · 2025 | $162.8 m132nd/156 · 2025 |
| Military expenditure % of GDP | 1.3%99th/156 · 2025 | 1.1%106th/156 · 2025 |
| Military expenditure % of government spending | 6.0%58th/154 · 2025 | 3.8%112th/154 · 2025 |
| Armed forces personnel people | 12,000124th/170 · 2020 | 15,000117th/170 · 2020 |
| Armed forces personnel % of labour force | 0.55%106th/168 · 2020 | 0.20%154th/168 · 2020 |
| Arms imports (SIPRI TIV) TIV | 9.0 m111th/163 · 2024 | 2.0 m144th/163 · 2024 |
| Arms exports (SIPRI TIV) TIV | — | 1.0 m2000 |
| Science & innovation | ||
| R&D spending % of GDP | 0.38%68th/110 · 2022 | 0.18%2019 |
| Patent applications by residents applications | — | 32016 |
| Scientific articles articles | 96141st/197 · 2023 | 378111th/197 · 2023 |
Questions and answers
Which has more people, Congo or Malawi?
Malawi has the larger population: 22.2 m (2025) compared with 6.5 m for Congo (2025). Source: World Bank, SP.POP.TOTL.
Which is bigger by area, Congo or Malawi?
Congo is larger: 342,000 km² (2024) compared with 118,484 km² for Malawi (2024). Source: World Bank, AG.SRF.TOTL.K2.
Which economy is larger, Congo or Malawi?
Congo has the larger economy at purchasing power parity: $47.00 bn intl. (2025) compared with $42.19 bn intl. for Malawi (2025). Source: World Bank, NY.GDP.MKTP.PP.CD.
Which is richer per person, Congo or Malawi?
Congo has the higher GDP per person (PPP): $7,248 intl. (2025) compared with $1,899 intl. for Malawi (2025). Source: World Bank, NY.GDP.PCAP.PP.CD.
Where do people live longer, in Congo or Malawi?
Malawi has the higher life expectancy at birth: 67.6 years (2024) compared with 66.0 years for Congo (2024). Source: World Bank, SP.DYN.LE00.IN.
Which spends more on the military, Congo or Malawi?
Congo spends more on the military: $204.9 m (2025) compared with $162.8 m for Malawi (2025). Source: World Bank, MS.MIL.XPND.CD.
Which ranks higher in the NationsTree Index, Congo or Malawi?
Malawi: 31.9 points (158th in the world); Congo: 27.2 points (167th). The index combines foundations, economic strength, quality of life, problems and 5-year direction from public statistics.
Botswana
Mauritania
Mauritius
NamibiaSources
World Bank World Development Indicators and Worldwide Governance Indicators, compiling UN agencies, the IMF, WHO, SIPRI and national statistical offices; every row links to its world ranking with the source series. See Sources & licences and Methodology.
Cite as: NationsTree (2026). Congo vs Malawi — country comparison. https://nationstree.org/compare/congo-vs-malawi. Data as of 26 October 2026.