CO₂ emissions by fuel or industry in Malawi
Malawi: CO₂ emissions by fuel or industry was 1.46 million tonnes in 2024. ◆ Volatile
Latest (2024)
1.46 million tonnes
Change on year
up 1.8%
World rank
153rd
of 215 countries
All-time high
1.46 million tonnes
in 2024
All-time low
44,477 tonnes
in 1950
Years of data
75
1950–2024
CO₂ emissions by fuel or industry in Malawi, 1950–2024
Source: Global Carbon Budget (2025) – with major processing by Our World in Data. Measured in tonnes.
Analysis
Malawi recorded 1.46 million tonnes for co₂ emissions by fuel or industry in 2024. That is the highest value across all 75 years on record.
That represents a change of up 1.8% on the previous year and up 104.9% over ten years.
Over the whole period, co₂ emissions by fuel or industry in Malawi peaked at 1.46 million tonnes in 2024 and was at its lowest, 44,477 tonnes, in 1950.
Malawi ranks 153rd of 215 countries on this measure, in the middle of the range.
The series is highly variable year to year, so single readings are best treated with caution.
CO₂ emissions by fuel or industry in Malawi, year by year
| Year | tonnes | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1950 | 44,477 tonnes | — |
| 1951 | 65,006 tonnes | +46.2% |
| 1952 | 73,638 tonnes | +13.3% |
| 1953 | 82,986 tonnes | +12.7% |
| 1954 | 91,600 tonnes | +10.4% |
| 1955 | 104,576 tonnes | +14.2% |
| 1956 | 127,691 tonnes | +22.1% |
| 1957 | 130,814 tonnes | +2.4% |
| 1958 | 139,045 tonnes | +6.3% |
| 1959 | 141,704 tonnes | +1.9% |
| 1960 | 143,314 tonnes | +1.1% |
| 1961 | 141,059 tonnes | -1.6% |
| 1962 | 145,853 tonnes | +3.4% |
| 1963 | 145,414 tonnes | -0.3% |
| 1964 | 150,224 tonnes | +3.3% |
| 1965 | 153,888 tonnes | +2.4% |
| 1966 | 197,856 tonnes | +28.6% |
| 1967 | 201,520 tonnes | +1.9% |
| 1968 | 232,304 tonnes | +15.3% |
| 1969 | 258,970 tonnes | +11.5% |
| 1970 | 304,112 tonnes | +17.4% |
| 1971 | 348,080 tonnes | +14.5% |
| 1972 | 368,876 tonnes | +6.0% |
| 1973 | 378,629 tonnes | +2.6% |
| 1974 | 366,400 tonnes | -3.2% |
| 1975 | 340,752 tonnes | -7.0% |
| 1976 | 373,728 tonnes | +9.7% |
| 1977 | 439,680 tonnes | +17.6% |
| 1978 | 471,569 tonnes | +7.3% |
| 1979 | 495,457 tonnes | +5.1% |
| 1980 | 494,640 tonnes | -0.2% |
| 1981 | 437,031 tonnes | -11.6% |
| 1982 | 406,704 tonnes | -6.9% |
| 1983 | 421,360 tonnes | +3.6% |
| 1984 | 410,368 tonnes | -2.6% |
| 1985 | 440,446 tonnes | +7.3% |
| 1986 | 443,344 tonnes | +0.7% |
| 1987 | 436,016 tonnes | -1.7% |
| 1988 | 465,328 tonnes | +6.7% |
| 1989 | 498,304 tonnes | +7.1% |
| 1990 | 516,624 tonnes | +3.7% |
| 1991 | 571,584 tonnes | +10.6% |
| 1992 | 571,584 tonnes | +0.0% |
| 1993 | 648,528 tonnes | +13.5% |
| 1994 | 670,512 tonnes | +3.4% |
| 1995 | 674,176 tonnes | +0.5% |
| 1996 | 681,504 tonnes | +1.1% |
| 1997 | 685,168 tonnes | +0.5% |
| 1998 | 685,168 tonnes | +0.0% |
| 1999 | 699,824 tonnes | +2.1% |
| 2000 | 633,872 tonnes | -9.4% |
| 2001 | 597,232 tonnes | -5.8% |
| 2002 | 622,880 tonnes | +4.3% |
| 2003 | 666,848 tonnes | +7.1% |
| 2004 | 703,488 tonnes | +5.5% |
| 2005 | 677,840 tonnes | -3.6% |
| 2006 | 688,832 tonnes | +1.6% |
| 2007 | 739,243 tonnes | +7.3% |
| 2008 | 846,384 tonnes | +14.5% |
| 2009 | 865,493 tonnes | +2.3% |
| 2010 | 787,760 tonnes | -9.0% |
| 2011 | 806,080 tonnes | +2.3% |
| 2012 | 824,400 tonnes | +2.3% |
| 2013 | 853,712 tonnes | +3.6% |
| 2014 | 714,480 tonnes | -16.3% |
| 2015 | 780,432 tonnes | +9.2% |
| 2016 | 922,565 tonnes | +18.2% |
| 2017 | 923,328 tonnes | +0.1% |
| 2018 | 1.38 million tonnes | +49.2% |
| 2019 | 1.37 million tonnes | -0.5% |
| 2020 | 1.43 million tonnes | +4.2% |
| 2021 | 1.31 million tonnes | -8.0% |
| 2022 | 1.41 million tonnes | +7.3% |
| 2023 | 1.44 million tonnes | +2.0% |
| 2024 | 1.46 million tonnes | +1.8% |
Malawi compared with similar countries
- Malawi's 1.46 million tonnes is below the median for low income countries, which is 2.66 million tonnes, 55% of the median. (25 countries reporting)
- Malawi's 1.46 million tonnes is below the median for Sub-Saharan Africa, which is 3.02 million tonnes, 49% of the median. (48 countries reporting)
Biggest year-on-year movements
Years where CO₂ emissions by fuel or industry 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2018 | +49.2% | 923,328 tonnes | 1.38 million tonnes |
| 1951 | +46.2% | 44,477 tonnes | 65,006 tonnes |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1950s | 100,154 tonnes | 44,477 tonnes | 141,704 tonnes | 10 |
| 1960s | 177,040 tonnes | 141,059 tonnes | 258,970 tonnes | 10 |
| 1970s | 388,728 tonnes | 304,112 tonnes | 495,457 tonnes | 10 |
| 1980s | 445,354 tonnes | 406,704 tonnes | 498,304 tonnes | 10 |
| 1990s | 640,467 tonnes | 516,624 tonnes | 699,824 tonnes | 10 |
| 2000s | 704,211 tonnes | 597,232 tonnes | 865,493 tonnes | 10 |
| 2010s | 936,144 tonnes | 714,480 tonnes | 1.38 million tonnes | 10 |
| 2020s | 1.41 million tonnes | 1.31 million tonnes | 1.46 million tonnes | 5 |
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 fuel or industry in Malawi?
- Co₂ emissions by fuel or industry in Malawi was 1.46 million tonnes in 2024, according to Global Carbon Budget (2025) – with major processing by Our World in Data.
- What is the highest co₂ emissions by fuel or industry recorded in Malawi?
- The highest recorded value was 1.46 million tonnes in 2024.
- What is the lowest co₂ emissions by fuel or industry recorded in Malawi?
- The lowest recorded value was 44,477 tonnes in 1950.
- How does Malawi rank for co₂ emissions by fuel or industry?
- Malawi ranks 153rd out of 215 countries with data for 2024.
- Is co₂ emissions by fuel or industry rising or falling in Malawi?
- Over the last ten years it is up 104.9%. The long-run trend across the full record is volatile.
- Where does this Malawi data come from?
- The figures come from Global Carbon Budget (2025) – with major processing by Our World in Data, published as part of CO₂ emissions by fuel or industry. Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
Download this data
CSV · JSON — 75 observations, free to reuse under CC BY 4.0 (Our World in Data).
About this data
Annual emissions of carbon dioxide (CO₂) from oil, measured in tonnes.