Carbon intensity: CO₂ emissions per dollar of GDP in Malawi
Malawi: Carbon intensity: CO₂ emissions per dollar of GDP was 0.0681 kilograms per international-$ in 2022. ▼ Falling
Latest (2022)
0.0681 kilograms per international-$
Change on year
up 6.2%
World rank
160th
of 164 countries
All-time high
0.2374 kilograms per international-$
in 1956
All-time low
0.0492 kilograms per international-$
in 2014
Years of data
73
1950–2022
Carbon intensity: CO₂ emissions per dollar of GDP in Malawi, 1950–2022
Source: Global Carbon Budget (2025); Bolt and van Zanden – Maddison Project Database 2023 – with major processing by Our World in Data. Measured in kilograms per international-$.
Analysis
Malawi recorded 0.0681 kilograms per international-$ for carbon intensity: co₂ emissions per dollar of gdp in 2022.
Compared with earlier readings it is up 6.2% on the previous year and up 21.4% over ten years.
Over the whole period, carbon intensity: co₂ emissions per dollar of gdp in Malawi peaked at 0.2374 kilograms per international-$ in 1956 and was at its lowest, 0.0492 kilograms per international-$, in 2014.
Malawi ranks 160th of 164 countries on this measure, in the bottom quarter.
The long-run direction has been consistently falling across the 73 years of available data.
Carbon intensity: CO₂ emissions per dollar of GDP in Malawi, year by year
| Year | kilograms per international-$ | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1950 | 0.1614 kilograms per international-$ | — |
| 1951 | 0.1706 kilograms per international-$ | +5.7% |
| 1952 | 0.1846 kilograms per international-$ | +8.2% |
| 1953 | 0.1929 kilograms per international-$ | +4.5% |
| 1954 | 0.2034 kilograms per international-$ | +5.4% |
| 1955 | 0.2361 kilograms per international-$ | +16.1% |
| 1956 | 0.2374 kilograms per international-$ | +0.6% |
| 1957 | 0.2348 kilograms per international-$ | -1.1% |
| 1958 | 0.2024 kilograms per international-$ | -13.8% |
| 1959 | 0.2179 kilograms per international-$ | +7.7% |
| 1960 | 0.2023 kilograms per international-$ | -7.2% |
| 1961 | 0.1641 kilograms per international-$ | -18.9% |
| 1962 | 0.1588 kilograms per international-$ | -3.3% |
| 1963 | 0.1553 kilograms per international-$ | -2.2% |
| 1964 | 0.151 kilograms per international-$ | -2.8% |
| 1965 | 0.1404 kilograms per international-$ | -7.0% |
| 1966 | 0.1569 kilograms per international-$ | +11.7% |
| 1967 | 0.1217 kilograms per international-$ | -22.4% |
| 1968 | 0.1303 kilograms per international-$ | +7.1% |
| 1969 | 0.12 kilograms per international-$ | -7.9% |
| 1970 | 0.1413 kilograms per international-$ | +17.7% |
| 1971 | 0.1365 kilograms per international-$ | -3.4% |
| 1972 | 0.1347 kilograms per international-$ | -1.3% |
| 1973 | 0.1301 kilograms per international-$ | -3.4% |
| 1974 | 0.1166 kilograms per international-$ | -10.3% |
| 1975 | 0.1164 kilograms per international-$ | -0.2% |
| 1976 | 0.1117 kilograms per international-$ | -4.1% |
| 1977 | 0.1162 kilograms per international-$ | +4.0% |
| 1978 | 0.1122 kilograms per international-$ | -3.4% |
| 1979 | 0.1019 kilograms per international-$ | -9.2% |
| 1980 | 0.113 kilograms per international-$ | +10.9% |
| 1981 | 0.1011 kilograms per international-$ | -10.6% |
| 1982 | 0.0984 kilograms per international-$ | -2.6% |
| 1983 | 0.0914 kilograms per international-$ | -7.1% |
| 1984 | 0.0846 kilograms per international-$ | -7.4% |
| 1985 | 0.0786 kilograms per international-$ | -7.2% |
| 1986 | 0.0776 kilograms per international-$ | -1.3% |
| 1987 | 0.0748 kilograms per international-$ | -3.5% |
| 1988 | 0.0724 kilograms per international-$ | -3.3% |
| 1989 | 0.0718 kilograms per international-$ | -0.8% |
| 1990 | 0.0897 kilograms per international-$ | +25.0% |
| 1991 | 0.0884 kilograms per international-$ | -1.5% |
| 1992 | 0.0957 kilograms per international-$ | +8.2% |
| 1993 | 0.0976 kilograms per international-$ | +2.0% |
| 1994 | 0.1119 kilograms per international-$ | +14.7% |
| 1995 | 0.0986 kilograms per international-$ | -11.8% |
| 1996 | 0.0914 kilograms per international-$ | -7.4% |
| 1997 | 0.0857 kilograms per international-$ | -6.2% |
| 1998 | 0.0833 kilograms per international-$ | -2.7% |
| 1999 | 0.0798 kilograms per international-$ | -4.2% |
| 2000 | 0.0757 kilograms per international-$ | -5.1% |
| 2001 | 0.0719 kilograms per international-$ | -5.1% |
| 2002 | 0.078 kilograms per international-$ | +8.4% |
| 2003 | 0.079 kilograms per international-$ | +1.3% |
| 2004 | 0.074 kilograms per international-$ | -6.3% |
| 2005 | 0.0674 kilograms per international-$ | -8.9% |
| 2006 | 0.0651 kilograms per international-$ | -3.5% |
| 2007 | 0.0644 kilograms per international-$ | -1.1% |
| 2008 | 0.0653 kilograms per international-$ | +1.5% |
| 2009 | 0.0617 kilograms per international-$ | -5.5% |
| 2010 | 0.0556 kilograms per international-$ | -10.0% |
| 2011 | 0.0567 kilograms per international-$ | +2.1% |
| 2012 | 0.0561 kilograms per international-$ | -1.2% |
| 2013 | 0.0574 kilograms per international-$ | +2.3% |
| 2014 | 0.0492 kilograms per international-$ | -14.3% |
| 2015 | 0.0494 kilograms per international-$ | +0.5% |
| 2016 | 0.0539 kilograms per international-$ | +9.2% |
| 2017 | 0.0528 kilograms per international-$ | -2.2% |
| 2018 | 0.0716 kilograms per international-$ | +35.7% |
| 2019 | 0.0681 kilograms per international-$ | -4.9% |
| 2020 | 0.0744 kilograms per international-$ | +9.2% |
| 2021 | 0.0641 kilograms per international-$ | -13.9% |
| 2022 | 0.0681 kilograms per international-$ | +6.2% |
Malawi compared with similar countries
- Malawi's 0.0681 kilograms per international-$ is below the median for low income countries, which is 0.1236 kilograms per international-$, 55% of the median. (21 countries reporting)
- Malawi's 0.0681 kilograms per international-$ is below the median for Sub-Saharan Africa, which is 0.158 kilograms per international-$, 43% of the median. (44 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1950s | 0.2041 kilograms per international-$ | 0.1614 kilograms per international-$ | 0.2374 kilograms per international-$ | 10 |
| 1960s | 0.1501 kilograms per international-$ | 0.12 kilograms per international-$ | 0.2023 kilograms per international-$ | 10 |
| 1970s | 0.1218 kilograms per international-$ | 0.1019 kilograms per international-$ | 0.1413 kilograms per international-$ | 10 |
| 1980s | 0.0864 kilograms per international-$ | 0.0718 kilograms per international-$ | 0.113 kilograms per international-$ | 10 |
| 1990s | 0.0922 kilograms per international-$ | 0.0798 kilograms per international-$ | 0.1119 kilograms per international-$ | 10 |
| 2000s | 0.0703 kilograms per international-$ | 0.0617 kilograms per international-$ | 0.079 kilograms per international-$ | 10 |
| 2010s | 0.0571 kilograms per international-$ | 0.0492 kilograms per international-$ | 0.0716 kilograms per international-$ | 10 |
| 2020s | 0.0688 kilograms per international-$ | 0.0641 kilograms per international-$ | 0.0744 kilograms per international-$ | 3 |
Countries ranked near Malawi
- 157 Sweden 0.0735 kilograms per international-$ compare
- 158 Sri Lanka 0.0721 kilograms per international-$ compare
- 159 Rwanda 0.0688 kilograms per international-$ compare
- 161 Democratic Republic of Congo 0.0645 kilograms per international-$ compare
- 162 Ethiopia 0.0628 kilograms per international-$ compare
- 163 Uganda 0.0601 kilograms per international-$ 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 carbon intensity: co₂ emissions per dollar of gdp in Malawi?
- Carbon intensity: co₂ emissions per dollar of gdp in Malawi was 0.0681 kilograms per international-$ in 2022, according to Global Carbon Budget (2025); Bolt and van Zanden – Maddison Project Database 2023 – with major processing by Our World in Data.
- What is the highest carbon intensity: co₂ emissions per dollar of gdp recorded in Malawi?
- The highest recorded value was 0.2374 kilograms per international-$ in 1956.
- What is the lowest carbon intensity: co₂ emissions per dollar of gdp recorded in Malawi?
- The lowest recorded value was 0.0492 kilograms per international-$ in 2014.
- How does Malawi rank for carbon intensity: co₂ emissions per dollar of gdp?
- Malawi ranks 160th out of 164 countries with data for 2022.
- Is carbon intensity: co₂ emissions per dollar of gdp rising or falling in Malawi?
- Over the last ten years it is up 21.4%. The long-run trend across the full record is falling.
- Where does this Malawi data come from?
- The figures come from Global Carbon Budget (2025); Bolt and van Zanden – Maddison Project Database 2023 – with major processing by Our World in Data, published as part of Carbon intensity: CO₂ emissions per dollar of GDP. Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
Download this data
CSV · JSON — 73 observations, free to reuse under CC BY 4.0 (Our World in Data).
About this data
Annual total emissions of carbon dioxide (CO₂), excluding land-use change, measured in kilograms per dollar of GDP (2011 international-$).