KE · AfricaMW · Africa

Kenya vs Malawi: tax rates compared

Malawi has an income tax rate of 40%, 5pp above Kenya's 35%. The 200-country average is 28%: both sit above it. Kenya's figure is dated 2026-07-17 and Malawi's 2025-12-30, so the two rates come from different data vintages.

Verified data covers five of the six tracked tax types for both countries; every rate below is cited to its source and dated.

At a glance

0102030405060Income35%40%Corporate30%VAT16%17.5%Capital Gains0%40%Wealth Tax0%
five shared taxes, side by side
Tax KE MWDifference
Income Tax35%40%MW +5 pp
Corporate Tax30%30%match
VAT16%17.5%MW +1.5 pp
Capital Gains Tax0%40%MW +40 pplargest gap
Wealth Tax0%0%match

Income Tax

Income Tax, side by side
CountryRateSource
Kenya35%Source: PWC Worldwide Tax Summaries — Kenya (Individual, Taxes on personal income) · as of 2026-07-17
Malawi40%Source: Taxation (Amendment) (No. 2) Act, 2025 (Malawi Revenue Authority) · as of 2025-12-30
Difference−5 ppMalawi higher

Corporate Tax

Corporate Tax, side by side
CountryRateSource
Kenya30%Source: Tax Foundation — Worldwide Corporate Tax Rates · as of 2025-01-01
Malawi30%Source: Tax Foundation — Worldwide Corporate Tax Rates · as of 2025-01-01
Difference0 ppdisplayed rates match

Kenya and Malawi share the same corporate tax rate: 30%. The 201-country average is 22.6%: both sit above it.

VAT

VAT, side by side
CountryRateSource
Kenya16%Source: PWC Worldwide Tax Summaries — Kenya (Corporate, Other taxes) · as of 2026-07-17
Malawi17.5%Source: EY Worldwide VAT, GST and Sales Tax Guide 2026 — Malawi · as of 2026-01-01
Difference−1.5 ppMalawi higher

Malawi has a VAT rate of 17.5%, 1.5pp above Kenya's 16%. The 181-country average is 15%: both sit above it.

Capital Gains Tax

Capital Gains Tax, side by side
CountryRateSource
Kenya0%Source: PWC Worldwide Tax Summaries — Kenya (Corporate, Other taxes) · as of 2026-07-17
Malawi40%Source: EY Worldwide Personal Tax and Immigration Guide 2025-26 — Malawi · as of 2025-10-01
Difference−40 ppMalawi higher

Malawi has a capital gains tax rate of 40%, 40pp above Kenya's 0%. The 175-country average is 10.3%: Kenya sits below it, Malawi sits above it. Kenya's figure is dated 2026-07-17 and Malawi's 2025-10-01, so the two rates come from different data vintages.

Wealth Tax

Wealth Tax, side by side
CountryRateSource
Kenya0%Source: Kenya Revenue Authority — Types of Taxes (Individual) · as of 2026-07-18
Malawi0%Source: Malawi Legal Information Institute — Taxation Act (Chapter 41:01) · as of 2026-07-18
Difference0 ppdisplayed rates match

Kenya and Malawi share the same wealth tax rate: 0%. The 193-country average is 0.1%: both sit below it.

Not covered for both countries yet: Crypto Tax.