Methane emissions in Malawi
Malawi: Methane emissions was 8.37 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents in 2024. ◆ Volatile
Latest (2024)
8.37 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents
Change on year
up 1.8%
World rank
112th
of 199 countries
All-time high
8.37 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents
in 2024
All-time low
338,784 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents
in 1850
Years of data
175
1850–2024
Methane emissions in Malawi, 1850–2024
Source: Jones et al. (2025) – with major processing by Our World in Data. Measured in tonnes of CO₂ equivalents.
Analysis
In 2024, methane emissions in Malawi stood at 8.37 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents. That is the highest value across all 175 years on record.
The figure is up 1.8% on the previous year and up 47.1% over ten years.
Over the whole period, methane emissions in Malawi peaked at 8.37 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents in 2024 and was at its lowest, 338,784 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents, in 1850.
Malawi ranks 112th of 199 countries on this measure, in the middle of the range.
The series is highly variable year to year, so single readings are best treated with caution.
Methane emissions in Malawi, year by year
| Year | tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1850 | 338,784 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | — |
| 1851 | 339,093 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +0.1% |
| 1852 | 339,403 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +0.1% |
| 1853 | 339,713 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +0.1% |
| 1854 | 340,025 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +0.1% |
| 1855 | 340,337 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +0.1% |
| 1856 | 340,649 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +0.1% |
| 1857 | 340,963 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +0.1% |
| 1858 | 341,277 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +0.1% |
| 1859 | 341,620 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +0.1% |
| 1860 | 342,436 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +0.2% |
| 1861 | 343,653 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +0.4% |
| 1862 | 344,884 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +0.4% |
| 1863 | 348,826 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +1.1% |
| 1864 | 350,090 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +0.4% |
| 1865 | 351,370 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +0.4% |
| 1866 | 352,665 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +0.4% |
| 1867 | 353,976 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +0.4% |
| 1868 | 355,303 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +0.4% |
| 1869 | 356,647 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +0.4% |
| 1870 | 358,009 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +0.4% |
| 1871 | 359,401 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +0.4% |
| 1872 | 360,812 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +0.4% |
| 1873 | 362,241 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +0.4% |
| 1874 | 363,689 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +0.4% |
| 1875 | 365,157 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +0.4% |
| 1876 | 366,645 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +0.4% |
| 1877 | 368,153 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +0.4% |
| 1878 | 369,683 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +0.4% |
| 1879 | 371,234 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +0.4% |
| 1880 | 372,807 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +0.4% |
| 1881 | 374,416 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +0.4% |
| 1882 | 376,049 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +0.4% |
| 1883 | 377,705 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +0.4% |
| 1884 | 379,386 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +0.4% |
| 1885 | 381,092 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +0.4% |
| 1886 | 382,823 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +0.5% |
| 1887 | 384,581 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +0.5% |
| 1888 | 386,366 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +0.5% |
| 1889 | 388,178 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +0.5% |
| 1890 | 388,228 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +0.0% |
| 1891 | 390,206 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +0.5% |
| 1892 | 392,221 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +0.5% |
| 1893 | 394,272 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +0.5% |
| 1894 | 396,362 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +0.5% |
| 1895 | 398,490 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +0.5% |
| 1896 | 400,658 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +0.5% |
| 1897 | 402,867 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +0.6% |
| 1898 | 405,119 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +0.6% |
| 1899 | 407,415 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +0.6% |
| 1900 | 409,756 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +0.6% |
| 1901 | 414,214 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +1.1% |
| 1902 | 423,707 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +2.3% |
| 1903 | 434,247 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +2.5% |
| 1904 | 445,961 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +2.7% |
| 1905 | 433,594 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | -2.8% |
| 1906 | 446,645 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +3.0% |
| 1907 | 449,754 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +0.7% |
| 1908 | 455,086 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +1.2% |
| 1909 | 463,408 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +1.8% |
| 1910 | 458,950 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | -1.0% |
| 1911 | 473,660 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +3.2% |
| 1912 | 486,929 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +2.8% |
| 1913 | 498,995 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +2.5% |
| 1914 | 513,900 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +3.0% |
| 1915 | 526,667 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +2.5% |
| 1916 | 542,516 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +3.0% |
| 1917 | 552,529 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +1.8% |
| 1918 | 573,882 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +3.9% |
| 1919 | 582,716 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +1.5% |
| 1920 | 591,117 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +1.4% |
| 1921 | 602,837 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +2.0% |
| 1922 | 613,238 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +1.7% |
| 1923 | 622,255 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +1.5% |
| 1924 | 639,375 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +2.8% |
| 1925 | 651,128 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +1.8% |
| 1926 | 674,296 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +3.6% |
| 1927 | 684,804 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +1.6% |
| 1928 | 703,987 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +2.8% |
| 1929 | 720,445 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +2.3% |
| 1930 | 737,187 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +2.3% |
| 1931 | 762,946 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +3.5% |
| 1932 | 779,918 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +2.2% |
| 1933 | 798,516 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +2.4% |
| 1934 | 817,242 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +2.3% |
| 1935 | 836,096 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +2.3% |
| 1936 | 856,746 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +2.5% |
| 1937 | 877,584 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +2.4% |
| 1938 | 898,609 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +2.4% |
| 1939 | 918,590 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +2.2% |
| 1940 | 935,408 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +1.8% |
| 1941 | 959,670 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +2.6% |
| 1942 | 993,117 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +3.5% |
| 1943 | 1.02 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +2.7% |
| 1944 | 1.04 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +2.1% |
| 1945 | 1.06 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +1.6% |
| 1946 | 1.08 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +1.6% |
| 1947 | 1.09 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +1.5% |
| 1948 | 1.11 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +1.4% |
| 1949 | 1.12 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +1.4% |
| 1950 | 1.18 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +5.4% |
| 1951 | 1.20 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +1.2% |
| 1952 | 1.21 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +1.2% |
| 1953 | 1.22 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +1.2% |
| 1954 | 1.24 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +1.2% |
| 1955 | 1.25 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +1.2% |
| 1956 | 1.27 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +1.2% |
| 1957 | 1.29 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +1.2% |
| 1958 | 1.30 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +1.3% |
| 1959 | 1.32 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +1.2% |
| 1960 | 1.33 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +1.3% |
| 1961 | 1.40 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +5.2% |
| 1962 | 1.39 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | -0.8% |
| 1963 | 1.40 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +0.6% |
| 1964 | 1.42 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +1.4% |
| 1965 | 1.45 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +2.4% |
| 1966 | 1.48 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +1.5% |
| 1967 | 1.51 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +2.2% |
| 1968 | 1.53 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +1.5% |
| 1969 | 1.55 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +1.3% |
| 1970 | 1.66 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +6.8% |
| 1971 | 1.59 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | -4.1% |
| 1972 | 1.67 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +5.1% |
| 1973 | 1.71 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +2.3% |
| 1974 | 1.75 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +2.5% |
| 1975 | 1.81 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +3.3% |
| 1976 | 1.88 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +4.1% |
| 1977 | 1.94 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +2.8% |
| 1978 | 1.99 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +2.6% |
| 1979 | 2.07 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +4.1% |
| 1980 | 2.03 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | -1.7% |
| 1981 | 2.09 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +2.9% |
| 1982 | 2.16 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +3.0% |
| 1983 | 2.16 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +0.3% |
| 1984 | 2.19 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +1.1% |
| 1985 | 2.29 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +4.9% |
| 1986 | 2.34 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +2.1% |
| 1987 | 2.50 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +6.6% |
| 1988 | 2.32 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | -7.0% |
| 1989 | 2.39 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +2.9% |
| 1990 | 3.29 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +37.6% |
| 1991 | 3.32 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +0.9% |
| 1992 | 3.34 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +0.5% |
| 1993 | 3.30 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | -1.2% |
| 1994 | 3.26 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | -1.2% |
| 1995 | 3.27 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +0.3% |
| 1996 | 3.34 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +2.0% |
| 1997 | 3.33 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | -0.2% |
| 1998 | 3.50 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +5.3% |
| 1999 | 3.67 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +4.8% |
| 2000 | 3.81 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +3.6% |
| 2001 | 3.67 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | -3.5% |
| 2002 | 3.77 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +2.5% |
| 2003 | 3.91 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +3.8% |
| 2004 | 3.91 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | -0.0% |
| 2005 | 4.05 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +3.6% |
| 2006 | 4.14 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +2.3% |
| 2007 | 4.30 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +3.8% |
| 2008 | 4.54 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +5.6% |
| 2009 | 4.70 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +3.5% |
| 2010 | 4.97 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +5.8% |
| 2011 | 5.13 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +3.1% |
| 2012 | 5.34 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +4.1% |
| 2013 | 5.51 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +3.0% |
| 2014 | 5.69 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +3.4% |
| 2015 | 5.89 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +3.4% |
| 2016 | 6.11 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +3.7% |
| 2017 | 6.24 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +2.2% |
| 2018 | 6.71 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +7.5% |
| 2019 | 7.36 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +9.7% |
| 2020 | 7.58 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +2.9% |
| 2021 | 7.66 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +1.0% |
| 2022 | 7.92 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +3.5% |
| 2023 | 8.23 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +3.8% |
| 2024 | 8.37 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +1.8% |
Malawi compared with similar countries
- Malawi's 8.37 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents is below the median for low income countries, which is 18.97 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents, 44% of the median. (25 countries reporting)
- Malawi's 8.37 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents is below the median for Sub-Saharan Africa, which is 13.22 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents, 63% of the median. (48 countries reporting)
Biggest year-on-year movements
Years where Methane 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1990 | +37.6% | 2.39 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | 3.29 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1850s | 340,186 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | 338,784 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | 341,620 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | 10 |
| 1860s | 349,985 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | 342,436 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | 356,647 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | 10 |
| 1870s | 364,502 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | 358,009 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | 371,234 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | 10 |
| 1880s | 380,340 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | 372,807 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | 388,178 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | 10 |
| 1890s | 397,584 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | 388,228 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | 407,415 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | 10 |
| 1900s | 437,637 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | 409,756 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | 463,408 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | 10 |
| 1910s | 521,074 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | 458,950 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | 582,716 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | 10 |
| 1920s | 650,348 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | 591,117 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | 720,445 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | 10 |
| 1930s | 828,343 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | 737,187 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | 918,590 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | 10 |
| 1940s | 1.04 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | 935,408 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | 1.12 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | 10 |
| 1950s | 1.25 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | 1.18 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | 1.32 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | 10 |
| 1960s | 1.45 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | 1.33 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | 1.55 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | 10 |
| 1970s | 1.81 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | 1.59 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | 2.07 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | 10 |
| 1980s | 2.25 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | 2.03 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | 2.50 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | 10 |
| 1990s | 3.36 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | 3.26 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | 3.67 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | 10 |
| 2000s | 4.08 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | 3.67 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | 4.70 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | 10 |
| 2010s | 5.90 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | 4.97 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | 7.36 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | 10 |
| 2020s | 7.95 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | 7.58 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | 8.37 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | 5 |
Countries ranked near Malawi
- 109 Haiti 8.93 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents compare
- 110 Norway 8.40 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents compare
- 111 Tunisia 8.40 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents compare
- 113 Tajikistan 8.10 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents compare
- 114 Kyrgyzstan 7.97 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents compare
- 115 Sweden 7.93 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents 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 methane emissions in Malawi?
- Methane emissions in Malawi was 8.37 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents in 2024, according to Jones et al. (2025) – with major processing by Our World in Data.
- What is the highest methane emissions recorded in Malawi?
- The highest recorded value was 8.37 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents in 2024.
- What is the lowest methane emissions recorded in Malawi?
- The lowest recorded value was 338,784 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents in 1850.
- How does Malawi rank for methane emissions?
- Malawi ranks 112th out of 199 countries with data for 2024.
- Is methane emissions rising or falling in Malawi?
- Over the last ten years it is up 47.1%. The long-run trend across the full record is volatile.
- Where does this Malawi data come from?
- The figures come from Jones et al. (2025) – with major processing by Our World in Data, published as part of Methane emissions. 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
Measured in tonnes of carbon dioxide-equivalents over a 100-year timescale.