Annual PM2.5 emissions from wildfires in Malawi
Malawi: Annual PM2.5 emissions from wildfires was 9,785 tonnes in 2026. ▼ Falling
Annual PM2.5 emissions from wildfires in Malawi, 2003–2026
Source: Global Wildfire Information System (2026) – with minor processing by Our World in Data. Measured in tonnes.
Analysis
The most recent figure for annual pm2.5 emissions from wildfires in Malawi is 9,785 tonnes, measured in 2026. That is the lowest value across all 24 years on record.
Compared with earlier readings it is down 33.2% on the previous year and down 75.3% over ten years.
Over the whole period, annual pm2.5 emissions from wildfires in Malawi peaked at 52,607 tonnes in 2005 and was at its lowest, 9,785 tonnes, in 2026.
That places Malawi 79th out of 248 countries with data for 2026, putting it in the middle of the range.
The long-run direction has been consistently falling across the 24 years of available data.
Annual PM2.5 emissions from wildfires in Malawi, year by year
| Year | tonnes | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 2003 | 38,564 tonnes | — |
| 2004 | 29,909 tonnes | -22.4% |
| 2005 | 52,607 tonnes | +75.9% |
| 2006 | 30,475 tonnes | -42.1% |
| 2007 | 36,964 tonnes | +21.3% |
| 2008 | 44,337 tonnes | +19.9% |
| 2009 | 31,903 tonnes | -28.0% |
| 2010 | 44,711 tonnes | +40.1% |
| 2011 | 41,728 tonnes | -6.7% |
| 2012 | 52,311 tonnes | +25.4% |
| 2013 | 40,415 tonnes | -22.7% |
| 2014 | 36,422 tonnes | -9.9% |
| 2015 | 42,372 tonnes | +16.3% |
| 2016 | 39,649 tonnes | -6.4% |
| 2017 | 23,717 tonnes | -40.2% |
| 2018 | 24,606 tonnes | +3.7% |
| 2019 | 22,743 tonnes | -7.6% |
| 2020 | 19,699 tonnes | -13.4% |
| 2021 | 21,179 tonnes | +7.5% |
| 2022 | 23,048 tonnes | +8.8% |
| 2023 | 20,639 tonnes | -10.5% |
| 2024 | 17,786 tonnes | -13.8% |
| 2025 | 14,654 tonnes | -17.6% |
| 2026 | 9,785 tonnes | -33.2% |
Malawi compared with similar countries
- Malawi's 9,785 tonnes is below the median for low income countries, which is 19,009 tonnes, 51% of the median. (25 countries reporting)
- Malawi's 9,785 tonnes is below the median for Sub-Saharan Africa, which is 30,647 tonnes, 32% of the median. (48 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2000s | 37,823 tonnes | 29,909 tonnes | 52,607 tonnes | 7 |
| 2010s | 36,867 tonnes | 22,743 tonnes | 52,311 tonnes | 10 |
| 2020s | 18,113 tonnes | 9,785 tonnes | 23,048 tonnes | 7 |
Countries ranked near Malawi
- 76 Saudi Arabia 11,430 tonnes compare
- 77 Nepal 10,534 tonnes compare
- 78 United Arab Emirates 9,814 tonnes compare
- 80 Dominican Republic 9,009 tonnes compare
- 81 Panama 8,898 tonnes compare
- 82 United Kingdom 8,743 tonnes compare
More climate change data for Malawi
- Nutrient nitrogen N (total) — Synthetic fertilizers (Agricultural) 415.04 million kg (2050)
- Emissions from livestock — Emissions (CO2eq) 4,106 kt (2050)
- Emissions from livestock — Emissions (CO2eq) from N2O 1,605 kt (2050)
- Emissions from livestock — Emissions (CO2eq) from CH4 2,501 kt (2050)
- Emissions from livestock — Emissions 6.06 kt (2050)
- Emissions from livestock — Emissions 89.31 kt (2050)
- Emissions from crops — Emissions (CO2eq) 3,185 kt (2050)
- Emissions from crops — Emissions (CO2eq) from N2O 2,819 kt (2050)
- Emissions from crops — Emissions (CO2eq) from CH4 366.56 kt (2050)
- Emissions from crops — Emissions 10.64 kt (2050)
Frequently asked questions
- What is annual pm2.5 emissions from wildfires in Malawi?
- Annual pm2.5 emissions from wildfires in Malawi was 9,785 tonnes in 2026, according to Global Wildfire Information System (2026) – with minor processing by Our World in Data.
- What is the highest annual pm2.5 emissions from wildfires recorded in Malawi?
- The highest recorded value was 52,607 tonnes in 2005.
- What is the lowest annual pm2.5 emissions from wildfires recorded in Malawi?
- The lowest recorded value was 9,785 tonnes in 2026.
- How does Malawi rank for annual pm2.5 emissions from wildfires?
- Malawi ranks 79th out of 248 countries with data for 2026.
- Is annual pm2.5 emissions from wildfires rising or falling in Malawi?
- Over the last ten years it is down 75.3%. The long-run trend across the full record is falling.
- Where does this Malawi data come from?
- The figures come from Global Wildfire Information System (2026) – with minor processing by Our World in Data, published as part of Annual PM2.5 emissions from wildfires. Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
Download this data
CSV · JSON — 24 observations, free to reuse under CC BY 4.0 (Our World in Data).
About this data
PM2.5 emissions represent the quantity of fine particulate matter (diameter less than 2.5 micrometers) released by wildfires, in tonnes. The 2026 data is incomplete and was last updated 18 September 2026.