Agriculture-driven deforestation in Malawi
Malawi: Agriculture-driven deforestation was 11,260 hectares in 2024. ▲ Rising
Agriculture-driven deforestation in Malawi, 2001–2024
Source: Global Forest Watch (2025) – with major processing by Our World in Data. Measured in hectares.
Analysis
The most recent figure for agriculture-driven deforestation in Malawi is 11,260 hectares, measured in 2024.
Compared with earlier readings it is down 27.6% on the previous year and up 2.9% over ten years.
Over the whole period, agriculture-driven deforestation in Malawi peaked at 15,563 hectares in 2023 and was at its lowest, 1,976 hectares, in 2001.
That places Malawi 44th out of 187 countries with data for 2024, putting it in the top quarter.
The long-run direction has been consistently rising across the 24 years of available data.
Agriculture-driven deforestation in Malawi, year by year
| Year | hectares | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 2001 | 1,976 hectares | — |
| 2002 | 3,159 hectares | +59.9% |
| 2003 | 5,556 hectares | +75.9% |
| 2004 | 3,965 hectares | -28.6% |
| 2005 | 7,584 hectares | +91.3% |
| 2006 | 4,233 hectares | -44.2% |
| 2007 | 5,403 hectares | +27.6% |
| 2008 | 7,384 hectares | +36.7% |
| 2009 | 3,016 hectares | -59.2% |
| 2010 | 3,175 hectares | +5.2% |
| 2011 | 5,985 hectares | +88.5% |
| 2012 | 8,496 hectares | +42.0% |
| 2013 | 5,842 hectares | -31.2% |
| 2014 | 10,940 hectares | +87.3% |
| 2015 | 5,712 hectares | -47.8% |
| 2016 | 7,636 hectares | +33.7% |
| 2017 | 9,255 hectares | +21.2% |
| 2018 | 7,953 hectares | -14.1% |
| 2019 | 6,880 hectares | -13.5% |
| 2020 | 9,770 hectares | +42.0% |
| 2021 | 10,117 hectares | +3.6% |
| 2022 | 9,698 hectares | -4.1% |
| 2023 | 15,563 hectares | +60.5% |
| 2024 | 11,260 hectares | -27.6% |
Malawi compared with similar countries
- Malawi's 11,260 hectares is above the median for low income countries, which is 2,362 hectares, 4.8× the median. (24 countries reporting)
- Malawi's 11,260 hectares is above the median for Sub-Saharan Africa, which is 3,723 hectares, 3.0× the median. (45 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2000s | 4,697 hectares | 1,976 hectares | 7,584 hectares | 9 |
| 2010s | 7,187 hectares | 3,175 hectares | 10,940 hectares | 10 |
| 2020s | 11,282 hectares | 9,698 hectares | 15,563 hectares | 5 |
Countries ranked near Malawi
More environment data for Malawi
- Historical exposure to drought — Land soil moisture anomaly -0.9153 Percentage change (2025)
- Historical exposure to drought — Cropland soil moisture anomaly -0.8098 Percentage change (2025)
- Standard Deviation, annual growth rate 0 % change on previous year (2025)
- Standard Deviation 0.254 °C (2025)
- Temperature change 1.07 °C (2025)
- Total greenhouse gas emissions excluding LULUCF (Mt CO2e), annual 3.65 % change on previous year (2024)
- Total greenhouse gas emissions excluding LULUCF (Mt CO2e), per unit 0 Mt CO2e per US$ of GDP (2024)
- Total greenhouse gas emissions excluding LULUCF (Mt CO2e), per capita 0 Mt CO2e per person (2024)
- Methane (CH4) emissions from Agriculture (Mt CO2e), annual growth rate 5.3 % change on previous year (2024)
- Methane (CH4) emissions from Agriculture (Mt CO2e), per unit of GDP 0 Mt CO2e per US$ of GDP (2024)
Frequently asked questions
- What is agriculture-driven deforestation in Malawi?
- Agriculture-driven deforestation in Malawi was 11,260 hectares in 2024, according to Global Forest Watch (2025) – with major processing by Our World in Data.
- What is the highest agriculture-driven deforestation recorded in Malawi?
- The highest recorded value was 15,563 hectares in 2023.
- What is the lowest agriculture-driven deforestation recorded in Malawi?
- The lowest recorded value was 1,976 hectares in 2001.
- How does Malawi rank for agriculture-driven deforestation?
- Malawi ranks 44th out of 187 countries with data for 2024.
- Is agriculture-driven deforestation rising or falling in Malawi?
- Over the last ten years it is up 2.9%. The long-run trend across the full record is rising.
- Where does this Malawi data come from?
- The figures come from Global Forest Watch (2025) – with major processing by Our World in Data, published as part of Agriculture-driven deforestation. Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
Download this data
CSV · JSON — 24 observations, free to reuse under CC BY 4.0 (Our World in Data).
About this data
Long-term, permanent tree cover loss for small- to large-scale agriculture.