Annual CO₂ emissions from land-use change in Malawi
Malawi: Annual CO₂ emissions from land-use change was 9.26 million tonnes in 2024. ◆ Volatile
Latest (2024)
9.26 million tonnes
Change on year
down 0.9%
World rank
53rd
of 197 countries
All-time high
36.85 million tonnes
in 1964
All-time low
-1.86 million tonnes
in 1909
Years of data
175
1850–2024
Annual CO₂ emissions from land-use change in Malawi, 1850–2024
Source: Global Carbon Budget (2025) – with major processing by Our World in Data. Measured in tonnes.
Analysis
The most recent figure for annual co₂ emissions from land-use change in Malawi is 9.26 million tonnes, measured in 2024.
Compared with earlier readings it is down 0.9% on the previous year and down 30.7% over ten years.
Over the whole period, annual co₂ emissions from land-use change in Malawi peaked at 36.85 million tonnes in 1964 and was at its lowest, -1.86 million tonnes, in 1909.
That places Malawi 53rd out of 197 countries with data for 2024, putting it in the middle of the range.
The series is highly variable year to year, so single readings are best treated with caution.
Annual CO₂ emissions from land-use change in Malawi, year by year
| Year | tonnes | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1850 | 2.65 million tonnes | — |
| 1851 | 1.91 million tonnes | -27.8% |
| 1852 | 1.52 million tonnes | -20.8% |
| 1853 | 1.25 million tonnes | -17.8% |
| 1854 | 1.19 million tonnes | -4.8% |
| 1855 | 934,247 tonnes | -21.3% |
| 1856 | 776,475 tonnes | -16.9% |
| 1857 | 683,592 tonnes | -12.0% |
| 1858 | 567,700 tonnes | -17.0% |
| 1859 | 477,309 tonnes | -15.9% |
| 1860 | 382,228 tonnes | -19.9% |
| 1861 | 299,385 tonnes | -21.7% |
| 1862 | 226,252 tonnes | -24.4% |
| 1863 | 161,509 tonnes | -28.6% |
| 1864 | 105,193 tonnes | -34.9% |
| 1865 | 54,300 tonnes | -48.4% |
| 1866 | 10,003 tonnes | -81.6% |
| 1867 | -30,814 tonnes | -408.1% |
| 1868 | -66,245 tonnes | +115.0% |
| 1869 | -98,195 tonnes | +48.2% |
| 1870 | -142,933 tonnes | +45.6% |
| 1871 | -179,902 tonnes | +25.9% |
| 1872 | -212,952 tonnes | +18.4% |
| 1873 | -242,484 tonnes | +13.9% |
| 1874 | -63,351 tonnes | -73.9% |
| 1875 | 121,755 tonnes | -292.2% |
| 1876 | 212,659 tonnes | +74.7% |
| 1877 | 255,271 tonnes | +20.0% |
| 1878 | 268,974 tonnes | +5.4% |
| 1879 | 263,258 tonnes | -2.1% |
| 1880 | 389,813 tonnes | +48.1% |
| 1881 | 461,041 tonnes | +18.3% |
| 1882 | 510,432 tonnes | +10.7% |
| 1883 | 493,687 tonnes | -3.3% |
| 1884 | 334,596 tonnes | -32.2% |
| 1885 | 255,894 tonnes | -23.5% |
| 1886 | 218,338 tonnes | -14.7% |
| 1887 | 203,425 tonnes | -6.8% |
| 1888 | 201,520 tonnes | -0.9% |
| 1889 | 201,154 tonnes | -0.2% |
| 1890 | 104,021 tonnes | -48.3% |
| 1891 | -100,797 tonnes | -196.9% |
| 1892 | -233,983 tonnes | +132.1% |
| 1893 | -352,440 tonnes | +50.6% |
| 1894 | -449,500 tonnes | +27.5% |
| 1895 | -531,500 tonnes | +18.2% |
| 1896 | -604,633 tonnes | +13.8% |
| 1897 | -670,585 tonnes | +10.9% |
| 1898 | -730,308 tonnes | +8.9% |
| 1899 | -785,012 tonnes | +7.5% |
| 1900 | -926,259 tonnes | +18.0% |
| 1901 | -1.06 million tonnes | +14.9% |
| 1902 | -1.19 million tonnes | +12.0% |
| 1903 | -1.31 million tonnes | +10.0% |
| 1904 | -1.42 million tonnes | +8.3% |
| 1905 | -1.52 million tonnes | +7.1% |
| 1906 | -1.62 million tonnes | +6.2% |
| 1907 | -1.70 million tonnes | +5.5% |
| 1908 | -1.78 million tonnes | +4.8% |
| 1909 | -1.86 million tonnes | +4.2% |
| 1910 | -1.82 million tonnes | -2.0% |
| 1911 | -1.73 million tonnes | -4.9% |
| 1912 | -1.69 million tonnes | -2.7% |
| 1913 | -1.65 million tonnes | -1.9% |
| 1914 | -1.63 million tonnes | -1.5% |
| 1915 | -1.61 million tonnes | -1.0% |
| 1916 | -1.60 million tonnes | -0.8% |
| 1917 | -1.59 million tonnes | -0.7% |
| 1918 | -1.58 million tonnes | -0.5% |
| 1919 | -1.57 million tonnes | -0.5% |
| 1920 | -386,882 tonnes | -75.4% |
| 1921 | 444,993 tonnes | -215.0% |
| 1922 | 1.08 million tonnes | +142.9% |
| 1923 | 1.60 million tonnes | +48.3% |
| 1924 | 2.04 million tonnes | +27.0% |
| 1925 | 2.41 million tonnes | +18.3% |
| 1926 | 2.73 million tonnes | +13.5% |
| 1927 | 3.03 million tonnes | +10.8% |
| 1928 | 3.28 million tonnes | +8.3% |
| 1929 | 3.50 million tonnes | +6.6% |
| 1930 | 3.81 million tonnes | +9.0% |
| 1931 | 4.03 million tonnes | +5.6% |
| 1932 | 4.20 million tonnes | +4.4% |
| 1933 | 4.35 million tonnes | +3.6% |
| 1934 | 4.48 million tonnes | +2.9% |
| 1935 | 4.59 million tonnes | +2.4% |
| 1936 | 4.68 million tonnes | +1.9% |
| 1937 | 4.76 million tonnes | +1.7% |
| 1938 | 4.82 million tonnes | +1.4% |
| 1939 | 4.88 million tonnes | +1.2% |
| 1940 | 5.57 million tonnes | +14.2% |
| 1941 | 6.02 million tonnes | +8.0% |
| 1942 | 6.37 million tonnes | +5.8% |
| 1943 | 6.61 million tonnes | +3.8% |
| 1944 | 7.01 million tonnes | +6.1% |
| 1945 | 7.07 million tonnes | +0.9% |
| 1946 | 7.15 million tonnes | +1.1% |
| 1947 | 7.28 million tonnes | +1.7% |
| 1948 | 7.35 million tonnes | +1.0% |
| 1949 | 7.65 million tonnes | +4.0% |
| 1950 | 19.02 million tonnes | +148.7% |
| 1951 | 15.13 million tonnes | -20.4% |
| 1952 | 13.31 million tonnes | -12.0% |
| 1953 | 12.15 million tonnes | -8.7% |
| 1954 | 11.34 million tonnes | -6.7% |
| 1955 | 11.49 million tonnes | +1.4% |
| 1956 | 11.18 million tonnes | -2.7% |
| 1957 | 11.15 million tonnes | -0.3% |
| 1958 | 12.85 million tonnes | +15.3% |
| 1959 | 13.74 million tonnes | +6.9% |
| 1960 | 19.12 million tonnes | +39.2% |
| 1961 | 24.30 million tonnes | +27.1% |
| 1962 | 24.70 million tonnes | +1.6% |
| 1963 | 23.56 million tonnes | -4.6% |
| 1964 | 36.85 million tonnes | +56.4% |
| 1965 | 33.89 million tonnes | -8.0% |
| 1966 | 22.71 million tonnes | -33.0% |
| 1967 | 25.12 million tonnes | +10.6% |
| 1968 | 24.40 million tonnes | -2.9% |
| 1969 | 17.57 million tonnes | -28.0% |
| 1970 | 25.81 million tonnes | +46.9% |
| 1971 | 24.68 million tonnes | -4.4% |
| 1972 | 22.91 million tonnes | -7.2% |
| 1973 | 16.97 million tonnes | -25.9% |
| 1974 | 12.01 million tonnes | -29.2% |
| 1975 | 10.44 million tonnes | -13.1% |
| 1976 | 9.33 million tonnes | -10.6% |
| 1977 | 11.00 million tonnes | +17.9% |
| 1978 | 8.65 million tonnes | -21.4% |
| 1979 | 3.56 million tonnes | -58.8% |
| 1980 | 9.31 million tonnes | +161.3% |
| 1981 | 12.76 million tonnes | +37.1% |
| 1982 | 5.96 million tonnes | -53.3% |
| 1983 | 7.26 million tonnes | +21.8% |
| 1984 | 6.36 million tonnes | -12.4% |
| 1985 | 11.75 million tonnes | +84.8% |
| 1986 | 8.08 million tonnes | -31.2% |
| 1987 | 6.55 million tonnes | -18.9% |
| 1988 | 8.70 million tonnes | +32.8% |
| 1989 | 10.43 million tonnes | +19.9% |
| 1990 | 14.49 million tonnes | +38.9% |
| 1991 | 8.94 million tonnes | -38.3% |
| 1992 | 5.99 million tonnes | -33.0% |
| 1993 | -218,961 tonnes | -103.7% |
| 1994 | 14.30 million tonnes | -6631.6% |
| 1995 | 16.61 million tonnes | +16.1% |
| 1996 | 15.32 million tonnes | -7.8% |
| 1997 | 20.58 million tonnes | +34.3% |
| 1998 | 22.87 million tonnes | +11.2% |
| 1999 | 20.68 million tonnes | -9.6% |
| 2000 | 20.84 million tonnes | +0.8% |
| 2001 | 16.47 million tonnes | -21.0% |
| 2002 | 21.06 million tonnes | +27.9% |
| 2003 | 18.14 million tonnes | -13.9% |
| 2004 | 24.77 million tonnes | +36.5% |
| 2005 | 24.77 million tonnes | +0.0% |
| 2006 | 19.76 million tonnes | -20.2% |
| 2007 | 22.69 million tonnes | +14.8% |
| 2008 | 21.09 million tonnes | -7.0% |
| 2009 | 13.86 million tonnes | -34.3% |
| 2010 | 11.98 million tonnes | -13.6% |
| 2011 | 10.42 million tonnes | -13.0% |
| 2012 | 11.20 million tonnes | +7.4% |
| 2013 | 13.54 million tonnes | +20.9% |
| 2014 | 13.37 million tonnes | -1.3% |
| 2015 | 12.73 million tonnes | -4.8% |
| 2016 | 12.31 million tonnes | -3.3% |
| 2017 | 12.25 million tonnes | -0.4% |
| 2018 | 11.79 million tonnes | -3.7% |
| 2019 | 11.53 million tonnes | -2.3% |
| 2020 | 11.65 million tonnes | +1.1% |
| 2021 | 9.10 million tonnes | -21.9% |
| 2022 | 9.32 million tonnes | +2.4% |
| 2023 | 9.34 million tonnes | +0.3% |
| 2024 | 9.26 million tonnes | -0.9% |
Malawi compared with similar countries
- Malawi's 9.26 million tonnes is above the median for low income countries, which is 9.26 million tonnes, 1.0× the median. (25 countries reporting)
- Malawi's 9.26 million tonnes is above the median for Sub-Saharan Africa, which is 7.78 million tonnes, 1.2× the median. (48 countries reporting)
Biggest year-on-year movements
Years where Annual CO₂ emissions from land-use change 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1994 | +6631.6% | -218,961 tonnes | 14.30 million tonnes |
| 1867 | -408.1% | 10,003 tonnes | -30,814 tonnes |
| 1875 | +292.2% | -63,351 tonnes | 121,755 tonnes |
| 1921 | +215.0% | -386,882 tonnes | 444,993 tonnes |
| 1891 | -196.9% | 104,021 tonnes | -100,797 tonnes |
| 1980 | +161.3% | 3.56 million tonnes | 9.31 million tonnes |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1850s | 1.20 million tonnes | 477,309 tonnes | 2.65 million tonnes | 10 |
| 1860s | 104,362 tonnes | -98,195 tonnes | 382,228 tonnes | 10 |
| 1870s | 28,030 tonnes | -242,484 tonnes | 268,974 tonnes | 10 |
| 1880s | 326,990 tonnes | 201,154 tonnes | 510,432 tonnes | 10 |
| 1890s | -435,474 tonnes | -785,012 tonnes | 104,021 tonnes | 10 |
| 1900s | -1.44 million tonnes | -1.86 million tonnes | -926,259 tonnes | 10 |
| 1910s | -1.65 million tonnes | -1.82 million tonnes | -1.57 million tonnes | 10 |
| 1920s | 1.97 million tonnes | -386,882 tonnes | 3.50 million tonnes | 10 |
| 1930s | 4.46 million tonnes | 3.81 million tonnes | 4.88 million tonnes | 10 |
| 1940s | 6.81 million tonnes | 5.57 million tonnes | 7.65 million tonnes | 10 |
| 1950s | 13.14 million tonnes | 11.15 million tonnes | 19.02 million tonnes | 10 |
| 1960s | 25.22 million tonnes | 17.57 million tonnes | 36.85 million tonnes | 10 |
| 1970s | 14.54 million tonnes | 3.56 million tonnes | 25.81 million tonnes | 10 |
| 1980s | 8.71 million tonnes | 5.96 million tonnes | 12.76 million tonnes | 10 |
| 1990s | 13.96 million tonnes | -218,961 tonnes | 22.87 million tonnes | 10 |
| 2000s | 20.34 million tonnes | 13.86 million tonnes | 24.77 million tonnes | 10 |
| 2010s | 12.11 million tonnes | 10.42 million tonnes | 13.54 million tonnes | 10 |
| 2020s | 9.73 million tonnes | 9.10 million tonnes | 11.65 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 annual co₂ emissions from land-use change in Malawi?
- Annual co₂ emissions from land-use change in Malawi was 9.26 million tonnes in 2024, according to Global Carbon Budget (2025) – with major processing by Our World in Data.
- What is the highest annual co₂ emissions from land-use change recorded in Malawi?
- The highest recorded value was 36.85 million tonnes in 1964.
- What is the lowest annual co₂ emissions from land-use change recorded in Malawi?
- The lowest recorded value was -1.86 million tonnes in 1909.
- How does Malawi rank for annual co₂ emissions from land-use change?
- Malawi ranks 53rd out of 197 countries with data for 2024.
- Is annual co₂ emissions from land-use change rising or falling in Malawi?
- Over the last ten years it is down 30.7%. 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 Annual CO₂ emissions from land-use change. Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
Download this data
CSV · JSON — 175 observations, free to reuse under CC BY 4.0 (Our World in Data).
About this data
Annual emissions of carbon dioxide (CO₂) from land-use change, measured in tonnes.