CO₂ emissions by sector in Malawi
Malawi: CO₂ emissions by sector was 70,000 tonnes in 2023. ◆ Volatile
CO₂ emissions by sector in Malawi, 1990–2023
Source: Climate Watch (2026) – with major processing by Our World in Data. Measured in tonnes.
Analysis
The most recent figure for co₂ emissions by sector in Malawi is 70,000 tonnes, measured in 2023.
The figure is up 600.0% over ten years.
Over the whole period, co₂ emissions by sector in Malawi peaked at 120,000 tonnes in 1999 and was at its lowest, 0 tonnes, in 2015.
Malawi ranks 153rd of 187 countries on this measure, in the bottom quarter.
The series is highly variable year to year, so single readings are best treated with caution.
CO₂ emissions by sector in Malawi, year by year
| Year | tonnes | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1990 | 30,000 tonnes | — |
| 1991 | 50,000 tonnes | +66.7% |
| 1992 | 50,000 tonnes | +0.0% |
| 1993 | 50,000 tonnes | +0.0% |
| 1994 | 60,000 tonnes | +20.0% |
| 1995 | 60,000 tonnes | +0.0% |
| 1996 | 60,000 tonnes | +0.0% |
| 1997 | 60,000 tonnes | +0.0% |
| 1998 | 80,000 tonnes | +33.3% |
| 1999 | 120,000 tonnes | +50.0% |
| 2000 | 80,000 tonnes | -33.3% |
| 2001 | 50,000 tonnes | -37.5% |
| 2002 | 60,000 tonnes | +20.0% |
| 2003 | 60,000 tonnes | +0.0% |
| 2004 | 70,000 tonnes | +16.7% |
| 2005 | 60,000 tonnes | -14.3% |
| 2006 | 60,000 tonnes | +0.0% |
| 2007 | 50,000 tonnes | -16.7% |
| 2008 | 50,000 tonnes | +0.0% |
| 2009 | 40,000 tonnes | -20.0% |
| 2010 | 40,000 tonnes | +0.0% |
| 2011 | 30,000 tonnes | -25.0% |
| 2012 | 20,000 tonnes | -33.3% |
| 2013 | 10,000 tonnes | -50.0% |
| 2014 | 10,000 tonnes | +0.0% |
| 2015 | 0 tonnes | -100.0% |
| 2016 | 10,000 tonnes | — |
| 2017 | 0 tonnes | -100.0% |
| 2018 | 10,000 tonnes | — |
| 2019 | 10,000 tonnes | +0.0% |
| 2020 | 60,000 tonnes | +500.0% |
| 2021 | 60,000 tonnes | +0.0% |
| 2022 | 70,000 tonnes | +16.7% |
| 2023 | 70,000 tonnes | +0.0% |
Malawi compared with similar countries
- Malawi's 70,000 tonnes is below the median for low income countries, which is 165,000 tonnes, 42% of the median. (24 countries reporting)
- Malawi's 70,000 tonnes is below the median for Sub-Saharan Africa, which is 170,000 tonnes, 41% of the median. (47 countries reporting)
Biggest year-on-year movements
Years where CO₂ emissions by sector in Malawi changed far more than this series normally does. A large move can be a real event or a change in how the figure was measured — the source note below says who published it.
| Year | Change | From | To |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2020 | +500.0% | 10,000 tonnes | 60,000 tonnes |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1990s | 62,000 tonnes | 30,000 tonnes | 120,000 tonnes | 10 |
| 2000s | 58,000 tonnes | 40,000 tonnes | 80,000 tonnes | 10 |
| 2010s | 14,000 tonnes | 0 tonnes | 40,000 tonnes | 10 |
| 2020s | 65,000 tonnes | 60,000 tonnes | 70,000 tonnes | 4 |
Countries ranked near Malawi
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 co₂ emissions by sector in Malawi?
- Co₂ emissions by sector in Malawi was 70,000 tonnes in 2023, according to Climate Watch (2026) – with major processing by Our World in Data.
- What is the highest co₂ emissions by sector recorded in Malawi?
- The highest recorded value was 120,000 tonnes in 1999.
- What is the lowest co₂ emissions by sector recorded in Malawi?
- The lowest recorded value was 0 tonnes in 2015.
- How does Malawi rank for co₂ emissions by sector?
- Malawi ranks 153rd out of 187 countries with data for 2023.
- Is co₂ emissions by sector rising or falling in Malawi?
- Over the last ten years it is up 600.0%. The long-run trend across the full record is volatile.
- Where does this Malawi data come from?
- The figures come from Climate Watch (2026) – with major processing by Our World in Data, published as part of CO₂ emissions by sector. Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
Download this data
CSV · JSON — 34 observations, free to reuse under CC BY 4.0 (Our World in Data).
About this data
Emissions are measured in tonnes.