Forest area as a proportion of total land area in Malawi
Malawi: Forest area as a proportion of total land area was 21.6% in 2025. ▼ Falling
Latest (2025)
21.6%
World rank
127th
of 219 countries
All-time high
37.1%
in 1990
All-time low
21.6%
in 2025
Years of data
6
1990–2025
Forest area as a proportion of total land area in Malawi, 1990–2025
Source: United Nations Statistics Division, SDG Global Database.
Analysis
The most recent figure for forest area as a proportion of total land area in Malawi is 21.6%, measured in 2025. That is the lowest value across all 6 years on record.
The figure is down 17.1% over ten years.
Over the whole period, forest area as a proportion of total land area in Malawi peaked at 37.1% in 1990 and was at its lowest, 21.6%, in 2025.
Malawi ranks 127th of 219 countries on this measure, in the middle of the range.
Forest area as a proportion of total land area in Malawi, year by year
| Year | Value | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1990 | 37.1% | — |
| 2000 | 32.7% | -12.0% |
| 2010 | 28.2% | -13.6% |
| 2015 | 26.0% | -7.9% |
| 2020 | 23.8% | -8.5% |
| 2025 | 21.6% | -9.4% |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1990s | 37.1% | 37.1% | 37.1% | 1 |
| 2000s | 32.7% | 32.7% | 32.7% | 1 |
| 2010s | 27.1% | 26.0% | 28.2% | 2 |
| 2020s | 22.7% | 21.6% | 23.8% | 2 |
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)
- Other paper and paperboard — Import quantity, annual growth rate 25.33 % change on previous year (2024)
- Other paper and paperboard — Import quantity, per capita 0.0006 t per person (2024)
- Other paper and paperboard — Import value, annual growth rate 12.75 % change on previous year (2024)
- Other paper and paperboard — Import value, per capita 0.0007 1000 USD per person (2024)
- Other paper and paperboard, not elsewhere specified — Import 79.35 % change on previous year (2024)
Frequently asked questions
- What is forest area as a proportion of total land area in Malawi?
- Forest area as a proportion of total land area in Malawi was 21.6% in 2025, according to United Nations Statistics Division, SDG Global Database.
- What is the highest forest area as a proportion of total land area recorded in Malawi?
- The highest recorded value was 37.1% in 1990.
- What is the lowest forest area as a proportion of total land area recorded in Malawi?
- The lowest recorded value was 21.6% in 2025.
- How does Malawi rank for forest area as a proportion of total land area?
- Malawi ranks 127th out of 219 countries with data for 2025.
- Is forest area as a proportion of total land area rising or falling in Malawi?
- Over the last ten years it is down 17.1%. The long-run trend across the full record is falling.
- Where does this Malawi data come from?
- The figures come from United Nations Statistics Division, SDG Global Database, published as part of Forest area as a proportion of total land area (%). Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
Download this data
CSV · JSON — 6 observations, free to reuse under UN SDG Global Database (open, attribution requested).