Cumulative CO₂ emissions from land-use change in Malawi
Malawi: Cumulative CO₂ emissions from land-use change was 1.24 billion tonnes in 2024. ◆ Volatile
Latest (2024)
1.24 billion tonnes
Change on year
up 0.8%
World rank
82nd
of 197 countries
All-time high
1.24 billion tonnes
in 2024
All-time low
-19.07 million tonnes
in 1920
Years of data
175
1850–2024
Cumulative 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
In 2024, cumulative co₂ emissions from land-use change in Malawi stood at 1.24 billion tonnes. That is the highest value across all 175 years on record.
The figure is up 0.8% on the previous year and up 9.6% over ten years.
Over the whole period, cumulative co₂ emissions from land-use change in Malawi peaked at 1.24 billion tonnes in 2024 and was at its lowest, -19.07 million tonnes, in 1920.
That places Malawi 82nd 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.
Cumulative CO₂ emissions from land-use change in Malawi, year by year
| Year | tonnes | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1850 | 2.65 million tonnes | — |
| 1851 | 4.57 million tonnes | +72.2% |
| 1852 | 6.08 million tonnes | +33.2% |
| 1853 | 7.33 million tonnes | +20.5% |
| 1854 | 8.52 million tonnes | +16.2% |
| 1855 | 9.45 million tonnes | +11.0% |
| 1856 | 10.23 million tonnes | +8.2% |
| 1857 | 10.91 million tonnes | +6.7% |
| 1858 | 11.48 million tonnes | +5.2% |
| 1859 | 11.96 million tonnes | +4.2% |
| 1860 | 12.34 million tonnes | +3.2% |
| 1861 | 12.64 million tonnes | +2.4% |
| 1862 | 12.87 million tonnes | +1.8% |
| 1863 | 13.03 million tonnes | +1.3% |
| 1864 | 13.13 million tonnes | +0.8% |
| 1865 | 13.19 million tonnes | +0.4% |
| 1866 | 13.20 million tonnes | +0.1% |
| 1867 | 13.17 million tonnes | -0.2% |
| 1868 | 13.10 million tonnes | -0.5% |
| 1869 | 13.00 million tonnes | -0.7% |
| 1870 | 12.86 million tonnes | -1.1% |
| 1871 | 12.68 million tonnes | -1.4% |
| 1872 | 12.47 million tonnes | -1.7% |
| 1873 | 12.22 million tonnes | -1.9% |
| 1874 | 12.16 million tonnes | -0.5% |
| 1875 | 12.28 million tonnes | +1.0% |
| 1876 | 12.49 million tonnes | +1.7% |
| 1877 | 12.75 million tonnes | +2.0% |
| 1878 | 13.02 million tonnes | +2.1% |
| 1879 | 13.28 million tonnes | +2.0% |
| 1880 | 13.67 million tonnes | +2.9% |
| 1881 | 14.13 million tonnes | +3.4% |
| 1882 | 14.64 million tonnes | +3.6% |
| 1883 | 15.14 million tonnes | +3.4% |
| 1884 | 15.47 million tonnes | +2.2% |
| 1885 | 15.73 million tonnes | +1.7% |
| 1886 | 15.95 million tonnes | +1.4% |
| 1887 | 16.15 million tonnes | +1.3% |
| 1888 | 16.35 million tonnes | +1.2% |
| 1889 | 16.55 million tonnes | +1.2% |
| 1890 | 16.66 million tonnes | +0.6% |
| 1891 | 16.55 million tonnes | -0.6% |
| 1892 | 16.32 million tonnes | -1.4% |
| 1893 | 15.97 million tonnes | -2.2% |
| 1894 | 15.52 million tonnes | -2.8% |
| 1895 | 14.99 million tonnes | -3.4% |
| 1896 | 14.38 million tonnes | -4.0% |
| 1897 | 13.71 million tonnes | -4.7% |
| 1898 | 12.98 million tonnes | -5.3% |
| 1899 | 12.20 million tonnes | -6.0% |
| 1900 | 11.27 million tonnes | -7.6% |
| 1901 | 10.21 million tonnes | -9.4% |
| 1902 | 9.01 million tonnes | -11.7% |
| 1903 | 7.70 million tonnes | -14.6% |
| 1904 | 6.28 million tonnes | -18.4% |
| 1905 | 4.76 million tonnes | -24.2% |
| 1906 | 3.14 million tonnes | -33.9% |
| 1907 | 1.44 million tonnes | -54.2% |
| 1908 | -343,463 tonnes | -123.8% |
| 1909 | -2.20 million tonnes | +541.6% |
| 1910 | -4.03 million tonnes | +82.7% |
| 1911 | -5.76 million tonnes | +43.0% |
| 1912 | -7.44 million tonnes | +29.3% |
| 1913 | -9.10 million tonnes | +22.2% |
| 1914 | -10.73 million tonnes | +17.9% |
| 1915 | -12.34 million tonnes | +15.0% |
| 1916 | -13.94 million tonnes | +13.0% |
| 1917 | -15.53 million tonnes | +11.4% |
| 1918 | -17.11 million tonnes | +10.2% |
| 1919 | -18.68 million tonnes | +9.2% |
| 1920 | -19.07 million tonnes | +2.1% |
| 1921 | -18.62 million tonnes | -2.3% |
| 1922 | -17.54 million tonnes | -5.8% |
| 1923 | -15.94 million tonnes | -9.1% |
| 1924 | -13.90 million tonnes | -12.8% |
| 1925 | -11.50 million tonnes | -17.3% |
| 1926 | -8.76 million tonnes | -23.8% |
| 1927 | -5.73 million tonnes | -34.6% |
| 1928 | -2.45 million tonnes | -57.2% |
| 1929 | 1.04 million tonnes | -142.5% |
| 1930 | 4.85 million tonnes | +365.6% |
| 1931 | 8.88 million tonnes | +83.0% |
| 1932 | 13.08 million tonnes | +47.3% |
| 1933 | 17.43 million tonnes | +33.3% |
| 1934 | 21.91 million tonnes | +25.7% |
| 1935 | 26.50 million tonnes | +20.9% |
| 1936 | 31.18 million tonnes | +17.6% |
| 1937 | 35.93 million tonnes | +15.3% |
| 1938 | 40.76 million tonnes | +13.4% |
| 1939 | 45.64 million tonnes | +12.0% |
| 1940 | 51.21 million tonnes | +12.2% |
| 1941 | 57.23 million tonnes | +11.8% |
| 1942 | 63.61 million tonnes | +11.1% |
| 1943 | 70.22 million tonnes | +10.4% |
| 1944 | 77.23 million tonnes | +10.0% |
| 1945 | 84.31 million tonnes | +9.2% |
| 1946 | 91.46 million tonnes | +8.5% |
| 1947 | 98.74 million tonnes | +8.0% |
| 1948 | 106.09 million tonnes | +7.4% |
| 1949 | 113.74 million tonnes | +7.2% |
| 1950 | 132.76 million tonnes | +16.7% |
| 1951 | 147.89 million tonnes | +11.4% |
| 1952 | 161.20 million tonnes | +9.0% |
| 1953 | 173.35 million tonnes | +7.5% |
| 1954 | 184.69 million tonnes | +6.5% |
| 1955 | 196.18 million tonnes | +6.2% |
| 1956 | 207.36 million tonnes | +5.7% |
| 1957 | 218.51 million tonnes | +5.4% |
| 1958 | 231.37 million tonnes | +5.9% |
| 1959 | 245.10 million tonnes | +5.9% |
| 1960 | 264.22 million tonnes | +7.8% |
| 1961 | 288.52 million tonnes | +9.2% |
| 1962 | 313.21 million tonnes | +8.6% |
| 1963 | 336.77 million tonnes | +7.5% |
| 1964 | 373.62 million tonnes | +10.9% |
| 1965 | 407.51 million tonnes | +9.1% |
| 1966 | 430.22 million tonnes | +5.6% |
| 1967 | 455.34 million tonnes | +5.8% |
| 1968 | 479.74 million tonnes | +5.4% |
| 1969 | 497.31 million tonnes | +3.7% |
| 1970 | 523.12 million tonnes | +5.2% |
| 1971 | 547.80 million tonnes | +4.7% |
| 1972 | 570.71 million tonnes | +4.2% |
| 1973 | 587.67 million tonnes | +3.0% |
| 1974 | 599.68 million tonnes | +2.0% |
| 1975 | 610.12 million tonnes | +1.7% |
| 1976 | 619.46 million tonnes | +1.5% |
| 1977 | 630.46 million tonnes | +1.8% |
| 1978 | 639.10 million tonnes | +1.4% |
| 1979 | 642.66 million tonnes | +0.6% |
| 1980 | 651.97 million tonnes | +1.4% |
| 1981 | 664.74 million tonnes | +2.0% |
| 1982 | 670.69 million tonnes | +0.9% |
| 1983 | 677.95 million tonnes | +1.1% |
| 1984 | 684.31 million tonnes | +0.9% |
| 1985 | 696.05 million tonnes | +1.7% |
| 1986 | 704.13 million tonnes | +1.2% |
| 1987 | 710.68 million tonnes | +0.9% |
| 1988 | 719.38 million tonnes | +1.2% |
| 1989 | 729.81 million tonnes | +1.4% |
| 1990 | 744.30 million tonnes | +2.0% |
| 1991 | 753.24 million tonnes | +1.2% |
| 1992 | 759.24 million tonnes | +0.8% |
| 1993 | 759.02 million tonnes | -0.0% |
| 1994 | 773.32 million tonnes | +1.9% |
| 1995 | 789.93 million tonnes | +2.1% |
| 1996 | 805.24 million tonnes | +1.9% |
| 1997 | 825.82 million tonnes | +2.6% |
| 1998 | 848.69 million tonnes | +2.8% |
| 1999 | 869.37 million tonnes | +2.4% |
| 2000 | 890.21 million tonnes | +2.4% |
| 2001 | 906.68 million tonnes | +1.8% |
| 2002 | 927.74 million tonnes | +2.3% |
| 2003 | 945.88 million tonnes | +2.0% |
| 2004 | 970.65 million tonnes | +2.6% |
| 2005 | 995.42 million tonnes | +2.6% |
| 2006 | 1.02 billion tonnes | +2.0% |
| 2007 | 1.04 billion tonnes | +2.2% |
| 2008 | 1.06 billion tonnes | +2.0% |
| 2009 | 1.07 billion tonnes | +1.3% |
| 2010 | 1.08 billion tonnes | +1.1% |
| 2011 | 1.10 billion tonnes | +1.0% |
| 2012 | 1.11 billion tonnes | +1.0% |
| 2013 | 1.12 billion tonnes | +1.2% |
| 2014 | 1.13 billion tonnes | +1.2% |
| 2015 | 1.15 billion tonnes | +1.1% |
| 2016 | 1.16 billion tonnes | +1.1% |
| 2017 | 1.17 billion tonnes | +1.1% |
| 2018 | 1.18 billion tonnes | +1.0% |
| 2019 | 1.19 billion tonnes | +1.0% |
| 2020 | 1.21 billion tonnes | +1.0% |
| 2021 | 1.21 billion tonnes | +0.8% |
| 2022 | 1.22 billion tonnes | +0.8% |
| 2023 | 1.23 billion tonnes | +0.8% |
| 2024 | 1.24 billion tonnes | +0.7% |
Malawi compared with similar countries
- Malawi's 1.24 billion tonnes is below the median for low income countries, which is 1.53 billion tonnes, 81% of the median. (25 countries reporting)
- Malawi's 1.24 billion tonnes is below the median for Sub-Saharan Africa, which is 1.56 billion tonnes, 79% of the median. (48 countries reporting)
Biggest year-on-year movements
Years where Cumulative 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1909 | -541.6% | -343,463 tonnes | -2.20 million tonnes |
| 1930 | +365.6% | 1.04 million tonnes | 4.85 million tonnes |
| 1929 | +142.5% | -2.45 million tonnes | 1.04 million tonnes |
| 1908 | -123.8% | 1.44 million tonnes | -343,463 tonnes |
| 1910 | -82.7% | -2.20 million tonnes | -4.03 million tonnes |
| 1931 | +83.0% | 4.85 million tonnes | 8.88 million tonnes |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1850s | 8.32 million tonnes | 2.65 million tonnes | 11.96 million tonnes | 10 |
| 1860s | 12.97 million tonnes | 12.34 million tonnes | 13.20 million tonnes | 10 |
| 1870s | 12.62 million tonnes | 12.16 million tonnes | 13.28 million tonnes | 10 |
| 1880s | 15.38 million tonnes | 13.67 million tonnes | 16.55 million tonnes | 10 |
| 1890s | 14.93 million tonnes | 12.20 million tonnes | 16.66 million tonnes | 10 |
| 1900s | 5.13 million tonnes | -2.20 million tonnes | 11.27 million tonnes | 10 |
| 1910s | -11.46 million tonnes | -18.68 million tonnes | -4.03 million tonnes | 10 |
| 1920s | -11.25 million tonnes | -19.07 million tonnes | 1.04 million tonnes | 10 |
| 1930s | 24.62 million tonnes | 4.85 million tonnes | 45.64 million tonnes | 10 |
| 1940s | 81.38 million tonnes | 51.21 million tonnes | 113.74 million tonnes | 10 |
| 1950s | 189.84 million tonnes | 132.76 million tonnes | 245.10 million tonnes | 10 |
| 1960s | 384.64 million tonnes | 264.22 million tonnes | 497.31 million tonnes | 10 |
| 1970s | 597.08 million tonnes | 523.12 million tonnes | 642.66 million tonnes | 10 |
| 1980s | 690.97 million tonnes | 651.97 million tonnes | 729.81 million tonnes | 10 |
| 1990s | 792.82 million tonnes | 744.30 million tonnes | 869.37 million tonnes | 10 |
| 2000s | 982.14 million tonnes | 890.21 million tonnes | 1.07 billion tonnes | 10 |
| 2010s | 1.14 billion tonnes | 1.08 billion tonnes | 1.19 billion tonnes | 10 |
| 2020s | 1.22 billion tonnes | 1.21 billion tonnes | 1.24 billion 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 cumulative co₂ emissions from land-use change in Malawi?
- Cumulative co₂ emissions from land-use change in Malawi was 1.24 billion tonnes in 2024, according to Global Carbon Budget (2025) – with major processing by Our World in Data.
- What is the highest cumulative co₂ emissions from land-use change recorded in Malawi?
- The highest recorded value was 1.24 billion tonnes in 2024.
- What is the lowest cumulative co₂ emissions from land-use change recorded in Malawi?
- The lowest recorded value was -19.07 million tonnes in 1920.
- How does Malawi rank for cumulative co₂ emissions from land-use change?
- Malawi ranks 82nd out of 197 countries with data for 2024.
- Is cumulative co₂ emissions from land-use change rising or falling in Malawi?
- Over the last ten years it is up 9.6%. 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 Cumulative 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
Cumulative emissions of carbon dioxide (CO₂) from land-use change since the first year of available data, measured in tonnes.