Consumption-based CO₂ emissions in Malawi
Malawi: Consumption-based CO₂ emissions was 3.23 million tonnes in 2023. ◆ Volatile
Consumption-based CO₂ emissions in Malawi, 1990–2023
Source: Global Carbon Budget (2025) – with major processing by Our World in Data. Measured in tonnes.
Analysis
The most recent figure for consumption-based co₂ emissions in Malawi is 3.23 million tonnes, measured in 2023. That is the highest value across all 34 years on record.
The figure is up 1.1% on the previous year and up 337.0% over ten years.
Over the whole period, consumption-based co₂ emissions in Malawi peaked at 3.23 million tonnes in 2023 and was at its lowest, 668,854 tonnes, in 2014.
Malawi ranks 120th of 120 countries on this measure, in the bottom quarter.
The series is highly variable year to year, so single readings are best treated with caution.
Consumption-based CO₂ emissions in Malawi, year by year
| Year | tonnes | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1990 | 694,722 tonnes | — |
| 1991 | 743,962 tonnes | +7.1% |
| 1992 | 754,176 tonnes | +1.4% |
| 1993 | 861,544 tonnes | +14.2% |
| 1994 | 827,930 tonnes | -3.9% |
| 1995 | 830,594 tonnes | +0.3% |
| 1996 | 1.05 million tonnes | +26.2% |
| 1997 | 1.03 million tonnes | -1.5% |
| 1998 | 1.03 million tonnes | -0.3% |
| 1999 | 1.14 million tonnes | +10.9% |
| 2000 | 797,913 tonnes | -30.1% |
| 2001 | 715,830 tonnes | -10.3% |
| 2002 | 819,917 tonnes | +14.5% |
| 2003 | 907,538 tonnes | +10.7% |
| 2004 | 811,239 tonnes | -10.6% |
| 2005 | 759,624 tonnes | -6.4% |
| 2006 | 831,495 tonnes | +9.5% |
| 2007 | 783,773 tonnes | -5.7% |
| 2008 | 877,500 tonnes | +12.0% |
| 2009 | 807,766 tonnes | -7.9% |
| 2010 | 833,635 tonnes | +3.2% |
| 2011 | 874,810 tonnes | +4.9% |
| 2012 | 931,035 tonnes | +6.4% |
| 2013 | 739,798 tonnes | -20.5% |
| 2014 | 668,854 tonnes | -9.6% |
| 2015 | 709,149 tonnes | +6.0% |
| 2016 | 968,370 tonnes | +36.6% |
| 2017 | 921,194 tonnes | -4.9% |
| 2018 | 2.66 million tonnes | +188.6% |
| 2019 | 2.71 million tonnes | +2.0% |
| 2020 | 2.93 million tonnes | +8.2% |
| 2021 | 2.94 million tonnes | +0.3% |
| 2022 | 3.20 million tonnes | +8.7% |
| 2023 | 3.23 million tonnes | +1.1% |
Malawi compared with similar countries
- Malawi's 3.23 million tonnes is below the median for low income countries, which is 6.42 million tonnes, 50% of the median. (7 countries reporting)
- Malawi's 3.23 million tonnes is below the median for Sub-Saharan Africa, which is 12.71 million tonnes, 25% of the median. (23 countries reporting)
Biggest year-on-year movements
Years where Consumption-based CO₂ emissions 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 | +188.6% | 921,194 tonnes | 2.66 million tonnes |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1990s | 896,480 tonnes | 694,722 tonnes | 1.14 million tonnes | 10 |
| 2000s | 811,260 tonnes | 715,830 tonnes | 907,538 tonnes | 10 |
| 2010s | 1.20 million tonnes | 668,854 tonnes | 2.71 million tonnes | 10 |
| 2020s | 3.08 million tonnes | 2.93 million tonnes | 3.23 million 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 consumption-based co₂ emissions in Malawi?
- Consumption-based co₂ emissions in Malawi was 3.23 million tonnes in 2023, according to Global Carbon Budget (2025) – with major processing by Our World in Data.
- What is the highest consumption-based co₂ emissions recorded in Malawi?
- The highest recorded value was 3.23 million tonnes in 2023.
- What is the lowest consumption-based co₂ emissions recorded in Malawi?
- The lowest recorded value was 668,854 tonnes in 2014.
- How does Malawi rank for consumption-based co₂ emissions?
- Malawi ranks 120th out of 120 countries with data for 2023.
- Is consumption-based co₂ emissions rising or falling in Malawi?
- Over the last ten years it is up 337.0%. 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 Consumption-based CO₂ emissions. 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
Annual consumption-based emissions of carbon dioxide (CO₂), measured in tonnes.