Forest area in Malawi
Malawi: Forest area was 2,032 ha th in 2025. ▼ Falling
Latest (2025)
2,032 ha th
World rank
121st
of 255 countries
All-time high
3,502 ha th
in 1990
All-time low
2,032 ha th
in 2025
Years of data
6
1990–2025
Forest area in Malawi, 1990–2025
Source: United Nations Statistics Division, SDG Global Database. Measured in ha th.
Analysis
Malawi recorded 2,032 ha th for forest area 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 in Malawi peaked at 3,502 ha th in 1990 and was at its lowest, 2,032 ha th, in 2025.
That places Malawi 121st out of 255 countries with data for 2025, putting it in the middle of the range.
Forest area in Malawi, year by year
| Year | ha th | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1990 | 3,502 ha th | — |
| 2000 | 3,082 ha th | -12.0% |
| 2010 | 2,662 ha th | -13.6% |
| 2015 | 2,452 ha th | -7.9% |
| 2020 | 2,242 ha th | -8.6% |
| 2025 | 2,032 ha th | -9.4% |
Malawi compared with similar countries
- Malawi's 2,032 ha th is below the median for low income countries, which is 2,436 ha th, 83% of the median. (23 countries reporting)
- Malawi's 2,032 ha th is below the median for Sub-Saharan Africa, which is 3,914 ha th, 52% of the median. (45 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1990s | 3,502 ha th | 3,502 ha th | 3,502 ha th | 1 |
| 2000s | 3,082 ha th | 3,082 ha th | 3,082 ha th | 1 |
| 2010s | 2,557 ha th | 2,452 ha th | 2,662 ha th | 2 |
| 2020s | 2,137 ha th | 2,032 ha th | 2,242 ha th | 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)
- Wood-based panels — Production, annual growth rate 0 % change on previous year (2024)
- 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)
Frequently asked questions
- What is forest area in Malawi?
- Forest area in Malawi was 2,032 ha th in 2025, according to United Nations Statistics Division, SDG Global Database.
- What is the highest forest area recorded in Malawi?
- The highest recorded value was 3,502 ha th in 1990.
- What is the lowest forest area recorded in Malawi?
- The lowest recorded value was 2,032 ha th in 2025.
- How does Malawi rank for forest area?
- Malawi ranks 121st out of 255 countries with data for 2025.
- Is forest 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 (thousands of hectares). 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).