Cumulative CO₂ emissions, per square kilometre in Malawi
Malawi: Cumulative CO₂ emissions, per square kilometre was 590.53 tonnes per square kilometre in 2023. ◆ Volatile
Latest (2023)
590.53 tonnes per square kilometre
Change on year
up 3.4%
World rank
171st
of 204 countries
All-time high
590.53 tonnes per square kilometre
in 2023
All-time low
47.24 tonnes per square kilometre
in 1961
Years of data
63
1961–2023
Cumulative CO₂ emissions, per square kilometre in Malawi, 1961–2023
Source: Statizoid (derived). Measured in tonnes per square kilometre.
Analysis
In 2023, cumulative co₂ emissions, per square kilometre in Malawi stood at 590.53 tonnes per square kilometre. That is the highest value across all 63 years on record.
That represents a change of up 3.4% on the previous year and up 36.9% over ten years.
Over the whole period, cumulative co₂ emissions, per square kilometre in Malawi peaked at 590.53 tonnes per square kilometre in 2023 and was at its lowest, 47.24 tonnes per square kilometre, in 1961.
Malawi ranks 171st of 204 countries on this measure, in the bottom quarter.
The series is highly variable year to year, so single readings are best treated with caution.
Cumulative CO₂ emissions, per square kilometre in Malawi, year by year
| Year | tonnes per square kilometre | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1961 | 47.24 tonnes per square kilometre | — |
| 1962 | 51.07 tonnes per square kilometre | +8.1% |
| 1963 | 54.75 tonnes per square kilometre | +7.2% |
| 1964 | 58.24 tonnes per square kilometre | +6.4% |
| 1965 | 61.93 tonnes per square kilometre | +6.3% |
| 1966 | 66.48 tonnes per square kilometre | +7.3% |
| 1967 | 70.36 tonnes per square kilometre | +5.8% |
| 1968 | 74.48 tonnes per square kilometre | +5.9% |
| 1969 | 78.52 tonnes per square kilometre | +5.4% |
| 1970 | 83.33 tonnes per square kilometre | +6.1% |
| 1971 | 88.65 tonnes per square kilometre | +6.4% |
| 1972 | 94.44 tonnes per square kilometre | +6.5% |
| 1973 | 100.5 tonnes per square kilometre | +6.4% |
| 1974 | 106.32 tonnes per square kilometre | +5.8% |
| 1975 | 112.46 tonnes per square kilometre | +5.8% |
| 1976 | 118.63 tonnes per square kilometre | +5.5% |
| 1977 | 125.39 tonnes per square kilometre | +5.7% |
| 1978 | 132.49 tonnes per square kilometre | +5.7% |
| 1979 | 139.24 tonnes per square kilometre | +5.1% |
| 1980 | 146.77 tonnes per square kilometre | +5.4% |
| 1981 | 153.18 tonnes per square kilometre | +4.4% |
| 1982 | 159.47 tonnes per square kilometre | +4.1% |
| 1983 | 165.56 tonnes per square kilometre | +3.8% |
| 1984 | 171.46 tonnes per square kilometre | +3.6% |
| 1985 | 177.36 tonnes per square kilometre | +3.4% |
| 1986 | 183.22 tonnes per square kilometre | +3.3% |
| 1987 | 189 tonnes per square kilometre | +3.2% |
| 1988 | 194.75 tonnes per square kilometre | +3.0% |
| 1989 | 200.72 tonnes per square kilometre | +3.1% |
| 1990 | 208.54 tonnes per square kilometre | +3.9% |
| 1991 | 216.89 tonnes per square kilometre | +4.0% |
| 1992 | 225.24 tonnes per square kilometre | +3.8% |
| 1993 | 234.56 tonnes per square kilometre | +4.1% |
| 1994 | 244.12 tonnes per square kilometre | +4.1% |
| 1995 | 253.7 tonnes per square kilometre | +3.9% |
| 1996 | 263.45 tonnes per square kilometre | +3.8% |
| 1997 | 273.19 tonnes per square kilometre | +3.7% |
| 1998 | 282.76 tonnes per square kilometre | +3.5% |
| 1999 | 292.23 tonnes per square kilometre | +3.4% |
| 2000 | 301.29 tonnes per square kilometre | +3.1% |
| 2001 | 309.54 tonnes per square kilometre | +2.7% |
| 2002 | 318.62 tonnes per square kilometre | +2.9% |
| 2003 | 328.32 tonnes per square kilometre | +3.0% |
| 2004 | 337.88 tonnes per square kilometre | +2.9% |
| 2005 | 346.85 tonnes per square kilometre | +2.7% |
| 2006 | 355.88 tonnes per square kilometre | +2.6% |
| 2007 | 365.63 tonnes per square kilometre | +2.7% |
| 2008 | 376.22 tonnes per square kilometre | +2.9% |
| 2009 | 387.01 tonnes per square kilometre | +2.9% |
| 2010 | 397.33 tonnes per square kilometre | +2.7% |
| 2011 | 408.29 tonnes per square kilometre | +2.8% |
| 2012 | 419.33 tonnes per square kilometre | +2.7% |
| 2013 | 431.21 tonnes per square kilometre | +2.8% |
| 2014 | 441.98 tonnes per square kilometre | +2.5% |
| 2015 | 453.12 tonnes per square kilometre | +2.5% |
| 2016 | 465.55 tonnes per square kilometre | +2.7% |
| 2017 | 478.21 tonnes per square kilometre | +2.7% |
| 2018 | 496.13 tonnes per square kilometre | +3.7% |
| 2019 | 514.11 tonnes per square kilometre | +3.6% |
| 2020 | 533.93 tonnes per square kilometre | +3.9% |
| 2021 | 551.77 tonnes per square kilometre | +3.3% |
| 2022 | 570.88 tonnes per square kilometre | +3.5% |
| 2023 | 590.53 tonnes per square kilometre | +3.4% |
Malawi compared with similar countries
- Malawi's 590.53 tonnes per square kilometre is above the median for low income countries, which is 282.47 tonnes per square kilometre, 2.1× the median. (25 countries reporting)
- Malawi's 590.53 tonnes per square kilometre is above the median for Sub-Saharan Africa, which is 582.93 tonnes per square kilometre, 1.0× the median. (48 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1960s | 62.56 tonnes per square kilometre | 47.24 tonnes per square kilometre | 78.52 tonnes per square kilometre | 9 |
| 1970s | 110.15 tonnes per square kilometre | 83.33 tonnes per square kilometre | 139.24 tonnes per square kilometre | 10 |
| 1980s | 174.15 tonnes per square kilometre | 146.77 tonnes per square kilometre | 200.72 tonnes per square kilometre | 10 |
| 1990s | 249.47 tonnes per square kilometre | 208.54 tonnes per square kilometre | 292.23 tonnes per square kilometre | 10 |
| 2000s | 342.72 tonnes per square kilometre | 301.29 tonnes per square kilometre | 387.01 tonnes per square kilometre | 10 |
| 2010s | 450.53 tonnes per square kilometre | 397.33 tonnes per square kilometre | 514.11 tonnes per square kilometre | 10 |
| 2020s | 561.78 tonnes per square kilometre | 533.93 tonnes per square kilometre | 590.53 tonnes per square kilometre | 4 |
Countries ranked near Malawi
- 168 Cameroon 633.82 tonnes per square kilometre compare
- 169 Uganda 623.63 tonnes per square kilometre compare
- 170 Burundi 614.14 tonnes per square kilometre compare
- 172 Angola 575.32 tonnes per square kilometre compare
- 173 Sierra Leone 570.59 tonnes per square kilometre compare
- 174 Bolivia 565.38 tonnes per square kilometre 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 cumulative co₂ emissions, per square kilometre in Malawi?
- Cumulative co₂ emissions, per square kilometre in Malawi was 590.53 tonnes per square kilometre in 2023, according to Statizoid (derived).
- What is the highest cumulative co₂ emissions, per square kilometre recorded in Malawi?
- The highest recorded value was 590.53 tonnes per square kilometre in 2023.
- What is the lowest cumulative co₂ emissions, per square kilometre recorded in Malawi?
- The lowest recorded value was 47.24 tonnes per square kilometre in 1961.
- How does Malawi rank for cumulative co₂ emissions, per square kilometre?
- Malawi ranks 171st out of 204 countries with data for 2023.
- Is cumulative co₂ emissions, per square kilometre rising or falling in Malawi?
- Over the last ten years it is up 36.9%. The long-run trend across the full record is volatile.
- Where does this Malawi data come from?
- The figures come from Statizoid (derived), published as part of Cumulative CO₂ emissions, per square kilometre. Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
Download this data
CSV · JSON — 63 observations, free to reuse under Derived by Statizoid from the sources named on the page.
How this figure is calculated
Cumulative CO₂ emissions divided by Land area (sq. km), matched on country and year. Neither publisher issues this ratio as a series; it is computed here from both.
Cumulative CO₂ emissions ÷ Land area (sq. km)
Computed from
- Cumulative CO₂ emissions Global Carbon Budget (2025) – with major processing by Our World in Data
- Land area FAOSTAT, Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO)
Statizoid computes this series; the underlying measurements belong to the publishers named above. The arithmetic is applied to every country and year where both inputs report, and nothing is estimated unless the page says so.
About this data
Cumulative CO₂ emissions divided by Land area (sq. km), matched on country and year. Neither publisher issues this ratio as a series; it is computed here from both.