Deforestation embedded in trade in Malawi
Malawi: Deforestation embedded in trade was -1,310 hectares in 2023. ◆ Volatile
Deforestation embedded in trade in Malawi, 2005–2023
Source: Singh et al. (2026) – processed by Our World in Data. Measured in hectares.
Analysis
The most recent figure for deforestation embedded in trade in Malawi is -1,310 hectares, measured in 2023.
The figure is down 5.3% on the previous year and down 5,565.2% over ten years.
Over the whole period, deforestation embedded in trade in Malawi peaked at 23.97 hectares in 2013 and was at its lowest, -2,010 hectares, in 2018.
That places Malawi 148th out of 178 countries with data for 2023, putting it in the bottom quarter.
The series is highly variable year to year, so single readings are best treated with caution.
Deforestation embedded in trade in Malawi, year by year
| Year | hectares | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 2005 | -424.6 hectares | — |
| 2006 | -504.96 hectares | +18.9% |
| 2007 | -1,062 hectares | +110.3% |
| 2008 | -715.12 hectares | -32.7% |
| 2009 | -605.23 hectares | -15.4% |
| 2010 | -282.94 hectares | -53.3% |
| 2011 | -244.4 hectares | -13.6% |
| 2012 | -90.13 hectares | -63.1% |
| 2013 | 23.97 hectares | -126.6% |
| 2014 | -328.91 hectares | -1472.2% |
| 2015 | -670.7 hectares | +103.9% |
| 2016 | -1,192 hectares | +77.8% |
| 2017 | -1,466 hectares | +22.9% |
| 2018 | -2,010 hectares | +37.1% |
| 2019 | -892 hectares | -55.6% |
| 2020 | -598.14 hectares | -32.9% |
| 2021 | -1,144 hectares | +91.2% |
| 2022 | -1,244 hectares | +8.8% |
| 2023 | -1,310 hectares | +5.3% |
Malawi compared with similar countries
- Malawi's -1,310 hectares is below the median for low income countries, which is 987.78 hectares. (23 countries reporting)
- Malawi's -1,310 hectares is below the median for Sub-Saharan Africa, which is 315.58 hectares. (44 countries reporting)
Biggest year-on-year movements
Years where Deforestation embedded in trade 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2014 | -1472.2% | 23.97 hectares | -328.91 hectares |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2000s | -662.37 hectares | -1,062 hectares | -424.6 hectares | 5 |
| 2010s | -715.35 hectares | -2,010 hectares | 23.97 hectares | 10 |
| 2020s | -1,074 hectares | -1,310 hectares | -598.14 hectares | 4 |
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 deforestation embedded in trade in Malawi?
- Deforestation embedded in trade in Malawi was -1,310 hectares in 2023, according to Singh et al. (2026) – processed by Our World in Data.
- What is the highest deforestation embedded in trade recorded in Malawi?
- The highest recorded value was 23.97 hectares in 2013.
- What is the lowest deforestation embedded in trade recorded in Malawi?
- The lowest recorded value was -2,010 hectares in 2018.
- How does Malawi rank for deforestation embedded in trade?
- Malawi ranks 148th out of 178 countries with data for 2023.
- Is deforestation embedded in trade rising or falling in Malawi?
- Over the last ten years it is down 5,565.2%. The long-run trend across the full record is volatile.
- Where does this Malawi data come from?
- The figures come from Singh et al. (2026) – processed by Our World in Data, published as part of Deforestation embedded in trade. Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
Download this data
CSV · JSON — 19 observations, free to reuse under CC BY 4.0 (Our World in Data).
About this data
Deforestation driven by imported goods minus exported goods from agriculture and forest plantations. Net importers of deforestation are countries who contribute to net deforestation in other countries – the deforestation that they cause in other countries is given as a positive value.