MW · AfricaZM · Africa
Malawi vs Zambia: tax rates compared
Malawi has an income tax rate of 40%, 3pp above Zambia's 37%. The 200-country average is 28%: both sit above it. Malawi's figure is dated 2025-12-30 and Zambia's 2026-01-01, 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
| Tax | MW | ZM | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Income Tax | 40% | 37% | MW +3 pp |
| Corporate Tax | 30% | 30% | match |
| VAT | 17.5% | 16% | MW +1.5 pp |
| Capital Gains Tax | 40% | 0% | MW +40 pplargest gap |
| Wealth Tax | 0% | 0% | match |
Income Tax
| Country | Rate | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Malawi | 40% | Source: Taxation (Amendment) (No. 2) Act, 2025 (Malawi Revenue Authority) · as of 2025-12-30 |
| Zambia | 37% | Source: PWC Worldwide Tax Summaries — Zambia (Individual, Taxes on personal income) · as of 2026-01-01 |
| Difference | +3 pp | Malawi higher |
Corporate Tax
| Country | Rate | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Malawi | 30% | Source: Tax Foundation — Worldwide Corporate Tax Rates · as of 2025-01-01 |
| Zambia | 30% | Source: Tax Foundation — Worldwide Corporate Tax Rates · as of 2025-01-01 |
| Difference | 0 pp | displayed rates match |
Malawi and Zambia share the same corporate tax rate: 30%. The 201-country average is 22.6%: both sit above it.
VAT
| Country | Rate | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Malawi | 17.5% | Source: EY Worldwide VAT, GST and Sales Tax Guide 2026 — Malawi · as of 2026-01-01 |
| Zambia | 16% | Source: PWC Worldwide Tax Summaries — Zambia (Corporate, Other taxes) · as of 2026-03-20 |
| Difference | +1.5 pp | Malawi higher |
Malawi has a VAT rate of 17.5%, 1.5pp above Zambia's 16%. The 181-country average is 15%: both sit above it.
Capital Gains Tax
| Country | Rate | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Malawi | 40% | Source: EY Worldwide Personal Tax and Immigration Guide 2025-26 — Malawi · as of 2025-10-01 |
| Zambia | 0% | Source: PWC Worldwide Tax Summaries — Zambia (Individual, Income determination) · as of 2026-03-20 |
| Difference | +40 pp | Malawi higher |
Malawi has a capital gains tax rate of 40%, 40pp above Zambia's 0%. The 175-country average is 10.3%: Malawi sits above it, Zambia sits below it. Malawi's figure is dated 2025-10-01 and Zambia's 2026-03-20, so the two rates come from different data vintages.
Wealth Tax
| Country | Rate | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Malawi | 0% | Source: Malawi Legal Information Institute — Taxation Act (Chapter 41:01) · as of 2026-07-18 |
| Zambia | 0% | Source: PWC Worldwide Tax Summaries — Zambia (Individual, Other taxes) · as of 2026-03-20 |
| Difference | 0 pp | displayed rates match |
Malawi and Zambia 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.