Emissions of air pollutants in Malawi
Malawi: Emissions of air pollutants was 33,528 tonnes in 2022. ◆ Volatile
Latest (2022)
33,528 tonnes
Change on year
up 6.2%
World rank
143rd
of 220 countries
All-time high
33,528 tonnes
in 2022
All-time low
85.73 tonnes
in 1750
Years of data
273
1750–2022
Emissions of air pollutants in Malawi, 1750–2022
Source: Hoesly et al. (2024) – Community Emissions Data System (CEDS) – with major processing by Our World in Data. Measured in tonnes.
Analysis
The most recent figure for emissions of air pollutants in Malawi is 33,528 tonnes, measured in 2022. That is the highest value across all 273 years on record.
Compared with earlier readings it is up 6.2% on the previous year and up 38.4% over ten years.
Over the whole period, emissions of air pollutants in Malawi peaked at 33,528 tonnes in 2022 and was at its lowest, 85.73 tonnes, in 1750.
Malawi ranks 143rd of 220 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.
Emissions of air pollutants in Malawi, year by year
| Year | tonnes | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1750 | 85.73 tonnes | — |
| 1751 | 85.76 tonnes | +0.0% |
| 1752 | 85.78 tonnes | +0.0% |
| 1753 | 85.81 tonnes | +0.0% |
| 1754 | 85.84 tonnes | +0.0% |
| 1755 | 85.86 tonnes | +0.0% |
| 1756 | 85.89 tonnes | +0.0% |
| 1757 | 85.92 tonnes | +0.0% |
| 1758 | 85.94 tonnes | +0.0% |
| 1759 | 85.97 tonnes | +0.0% |
| 1760 | 86 tonnes | +0.0% |
| 1761 | 86.03 tonnes | +0.0% |
| 1762 | 86.05 tonnes | +0.0% |
| 1763 | 86.08 tonnes | +0.0% |
| 1764 | 86.11 tonnes | +0.0% |
| 1765 | 86.13 tonnes | +0.0% |
| 1766 | 86.16 tonnes | +0.0% |
| 1767 | 86.19 tonnes | +0.0% |
| 1768 | 86.21 tonnes | +0.0% |
| 1769 | 86.24 tonnes | +0.0% |
| 1770 | 86.27 tonnes | +0.0% |
| 1771 | 86.29 tonnes | +0.0% |
| 1772 | 86.32 tonnes | +0.0% |
| 1773 | 86.35 tonnes | +0.0% |
| 1774 | 86.37 tonnes | +0.0% |
| 1775 | 86.4 tonnes | +0.0% |
| 1776 | 86.43 tonnes | +0.0% |
| 1777 | 86.45 tonnes | +0.0% |
| 1778 | 86.48 tonnes | +0.0% |
| 1779 | 86.51 tonnes | +0.0% |
| 1780 | 86.53 tonnes | +0.0% |
| 1781 | 86.56 tonnes | +0.0% |
| 1782 | 86.59 tonnes | +0.0% |
| 1783 | 86.62 tonnes | +0.0% |
| 1784 | 86.64 tonnes | +0.0% |
| 1785 | 86.67 tonnes | +0.0% |
| 1786 | 86.7 tonnes | +0.0% |
| 1787 | 86.72 tonnes | +0.0% |
| 1788 | 86.75 tonnes | +0.0% |
| 1789 | 86.78 tonnes | +0.0% |
| 1790 | 86.8 tonnes | +0.0% |
| 1791 | 86.83 tonnes | +0.0% |
| 1792 | 86.86 tonnes | +0.0% |
| 1793 | 86.88 tonnes | +0.0% |
| 1794 | 86.91 tonnes | +0.0% |
| 1795 | 86.93 tonnes | +0.0% |
| 1796 | 86.96 tonnes | +0.0% |
| 1797 | 86.99 tonnes | +0.0% |
| 1798 | 87.01 tonnes | +0.0% |
| 1799 | 87.04 tonnes | +0.0% |
| 1800 | 87.07 tonnes | +0.0% |
| 1801 | 87.29 tonnes | +0.3% |
| 1802 | 87.51 tonnes | +0.3% |
| 1803 | 87.73 tonnes | +0.3% |
| 1804 | 87.96 tonnes | +0.3% |
| 1805 | 88.18 tonnes | +0.3% |
| 1806 | 88.4 tonnes | +0.3% |
| 1807 | 88.62 tonnes | +0.2% |
| 1808 | 88.85 tonnes | +0.3% |
| 1809 | 89.07 tonnes | +0.3% |
| 1810 | 89.29 tonnes | +0.3% |
| 1811 | 89.56 tonnes | +0.3% |
| 1812 | 89.83 tonnes | +0.3% |
| 1813 | 90.1 tonnes | +0.3% |
| 1814 | 90.37 tonnes | +0.3% |
| 1815 | 90.64 tonnes | +0.3% |
| 1816 | 90.91 tonnes | +0.3% |
| 1817 | 91.18 tonnes | +0.3% |
| 1818 | 91.45 tonnes | +0.3% |
| 1819 | 91.72 tonnes | +0.3% |
| 1820 | 91.99 tonnes | +0.3% |
| 1821 | 92.26 tonnes | +0.3% |
| 1822 | 92.54 tonnes | +0.3% |
| 1823 | 92.81 tonnes | +0.3% |
| 1824 | 93.08 tonnes | +0.3% |
| 1825 | 93.36 tonnes | +0.3% |
| 1826 | 93.63 tonnes | +0.3% |
| 1827 | 93.9 tonnes | +0.3% |
| 1828 | 94.18 tonnes | +0.3% |
| 1829 | 94.45 tonnes | +0.3% |
| 1830 | 94.73 tonnes | +0.3% |
| 1831 | 95 tonnes | +0.3% |
| 1832 | 95.28 tonnes | +0.3% |
| 1833 | 95.56 tonnes | +0.3% |
| 1834 | 95.83 tonnes | +0.3% |
| 1835 | 96.11 tonnes | +0.3% |
| 1836 | 96.38 tonnes | +0.3% |
| 1837 | 96.66 tonnes | +0.3% |
| 1838 | 96.94 tonnes | +0.3% |
| 1839 | 97.22 tonnes | +0.3% |
| 1840 | 97.5 tonnes | +0.3% |
| 1841 | 97.78 tonnes | +0.3% |
| 1842 | 98.06 tonnes | +0.3% |
| 1843 | 98.34 tonnes | +0.3% |
| 1844 | 98.62 tonnes | +0.3% |
| 1845 | 98.89 tonnes | +0.3% |
| 1846 | 99.18 tonnes | +0.3% |
| 1847 | 99.46 tonnes | +0.3% |
| 1848 | 99.74 tonnes | +0.3% |
| 1849 | 100.02 tonnes | +0.3% |
| 1850 | 100.3 tonnes | +0.3% |
| 1851 | 100.63 tonnes | +0.3% |
| 1852 | 100.95 tonnes | +0.3% |
| 1853 | 101.28 tonnes | +0.3% |
| 1854 | 101.61 tonnes | +0.3% |
| 1855 | 101.94 tonnes | +0.3% |
| 1856 | 102.27 tonnes | +0.3% |
| 1857 | 102.6 tonnes | +0.3% |
| 1858 | 102.94 tonnes | +0.3% |
| 1859 | 103.31 tonnes | +0.4% |
| 1860 | 104.41 tonnes | +1.1% |
| 1861 | 105.91 tonnes | +1.4% |
| 1862 | 107.42 tonnes | +1.4% |
| 1863 | 108.97 tonnes | +1.4% |
| 1864 | 110.54 tonnes | +1.4% |
| 1865 | 112.13 tonnes | +1.4% |
| 1866 | 113.75 tonnes | +1.4% |
| 1867 | 115.4 tonnes | +1.4% |
| 1868 | 117.07 tonnes | +1.4% |
| 1869 | 118.77 tonnes | +1.5% |
| 1870 | 120.5 tonnes | +1.5% |
| 1871 | 126.38 tonnes | +4.9% |
| 1872 | 128.17 tonnes | +1.4% |
| 1873 | 130 tonnes | +1.4% |
| 1874 | 131.85 tonnes | +1.4% |
| 1875 | 133.74 tonnes | +1.4% |
| 1876 | 135.66 tonnes | +1.4% |
| 1877 | 137.61 tonnes | +1.4% |
| 1878 | 139.6 tonnes | +1.4% |
| 1879 | 141.62 tonnes | +1.4% |
| 1880 | 143.68 tonnes | +1.5% |
| 1881 | 145.77 tonnes | +1.5% |
| 1882 | 147.91 tonnes | +1.5% |
| 1883 | 150.08 tonnes | +1.5% |
| 1884 | 152.29 tonnes | +1.5% |
| 1885 | 154.54 tonnes | +1.5% |
| 1886 | 156.83 tonnes | +1.5% |
| 1887 | 159.17 tonnes | +1.5% |
| 1888 | 161.65 tonnes | +1.6% |
| 1889 | 164.18 tonnes | +1.6% |
| 1890 | 164.04 tonnes | -0.1% |
| 1891 | 166.81 tonnes | +1.7% |
| 1892 | 169.63 tonnes | +1.7% |
| 1893 | 172.51 tonnes | +1.7% |
| 1894 | 175.44 tonnes | +1.7% |
| 1895 | 178.45 tonnes | +1.7% |
| 1896 | 181.51 tonnes | +1.7% |
| 1897 | 184.64 tonnes | +1.7% |
| 1898 | 187.84 tonnes | +1.7% |
| 1899 | 191.1 tonnes | +1.7% |
| 1900 | 194.43 tonnes | +1.7% |
| 1901 | 201.38 tonnes | +3.6% |
| 1902 | 216 tonnes | +7.3% |
| 1903 | 232.28 tonnes | +7.5% |
| 1904 | 250.42 tonnes | +7.8% |
| 1905 | 231.75 tonnes | -7.5% |
| 1906 | 252.16 tonnes | +8.8% |
| 1907 | 257.35 tonnes | +2.1% |
| 1908 | 265.97 tonnes | +3.4% |
| 1909 | 279.25 tonnes | +5.0% |
| 1910 | 272.75 tonnes | -2.3% |
| 1911 | 288.18 tonnes | +5.7% |
| 1912 | 301.45 tonnes | +4.6% |
| 1913 | 312.92 tonnes | +3.8% |
| 1914 | 328.91 tonnes | +5.1% |
| 1915 | 341.63 tonnes | +3.9% |
| 1916 | 359.26 tonnes | +5.2% |
| 1917 | 367.81 tonnes | +2.4% |
| 1918 | 394.25 tonnes | +7.2% |
| 1919 | 401.09 tonnes | +1.7% |
| 1920 | 407.29 tonnes | +1.5% |
| 1921 | 416.52 tonnes | +2.3% |
| 1922 | 424.09 tonnes | +1.8% |
| 1923 | 429.85 tonnes | +1.4% |
| 1924 | 447.91 tonnes | +4.2% |
| 1925 | 463.17 tonnes | +3.4% |
| 1926 | 494.57 tonnes | +6.8% |
| 1927 | 503.93 tonnes | +1.9% |
| 1928 | 526.38 tonnes | +4.5% |
| 1929 | 544.11 tonnes | +3.4% |
| 1930 | 560.33 tonnes | +3.0% |
| 1931 | 621.64 tonnes | +10.9% |
| 1932 | 633.9 tonnes | +2.0% |
| 1933 | 643.85 tonnes | +1.6% |
| 1934 | 650.99 tonnes | +1.1% |
| 1935 | 660.63 tonnes | +1.5% |
| 1936 | 679.3 tonnes | +2.8% |
| 1937 | 707.65 tonnes | +4.2% |
| 1938 | 738.44 tonnes | +4.4% |
| 1939 | 763.85 tonnes | +3.4% |
| 1940 | 786.96 tonnes | +3.0% |
| 1941 | 820.09 tonnes | +4.2% |
| 1942 | 925.03 tonnes | +12.8% |
| 1943 | 962.18 tonnes | +4.0% |
| 1944 | 1,001 tonnes | +4.0% |
| 1945 | 1,019 tonnes | +1.8% |
| 1946 | 1,065 tonnes | +4.5% |
| 1947 | 1,113 tonnes | +4.5% |
| 1948 | 1,158 tonnes | +4.1% |
| 1949 | 1,213 tonnes | +4.8% |
| 1950 | 2,410 tonnes | +98.6% |
| 1951 | 3,035 tonnes | +25.9% |
| 1952 | 3,261 tonnes | +7.4% |
| 1953 | 3,501 tonnes | +7.4% |
| 1954 | 3,698 tonnes | +5.6% |
| 1955 | 3,958 tonnes | +7.0% |
| 1956 | 4,518 tonnes | +14.1% |
| 1957 | 4,554 tonnes | +0.8% |
| 1958 | 4,868 tonnes | +6.9% |
| 1959 | 4,743 tonnes | -2.6% |
| 1960 | 4,780 tonnes | +0.8% |
| 1961 | 4,834 tonnes | +1.1% |
| 1962 | 4,943 tonnes | +2.3% |
| 1963 | 4,921 tonnes | -0.4% |
| 1964 | 3,927 tonnes | -20.2% |
| 1965 | 4,176 tonnes | +6.3% |
| 1966 | 4,733 tonnes | +13.3% |
| 1967 | 4,613 tonnes | -2.5% |
| 1968 | 4,835 tonnes | +4.8% |
| 1969 | 4,882 tonnes | +1.0% |
| 1970 | 5,510 tonnes | +12.9% |
| 1971 | 6,379 tonnes | +15.8% |
| 1972 | 7,030 tonnes | +10.2% |
| 1973 | 7,527 tonnes | +7.1% |
| 1974 | 7,868 tonnes | +4.5% |
| 1975 | 8,488 tonnes | +7.9% |
| 1976 | 8,876 tonnes | +4.6% |
| 1977 | 9,463 tonnes | +6.6% |
| 1978 | 9,903 tonnes | +4.6% |
| 1979 | 10,385 tonnes | +4.9% |
| 1980 | 10,371 tonnes | -0.1% |
| 1981 | 10,200 tonnes | -1.6% |
| 1982 | 10,077 tonnes | -1.2% |
| 1983 | 10,117 tonnes | +0.4% |
| 1984 | 10,192 tonnes | +0.7% |
| 1985 | 10,533 tonnes | +3.4% |
| 1986 | 11,120 tonnes | +5.6% |
| 1987 | 11,230 tonnes | +1.0% |
| 1988 | 11,796 tonnes | +5.0% |
| 1989 | 12,483 tonnes | +5.8% |
| 1990 | 16,673 tonnes | +33.6% |
| 1991 | 16,499 tonnes | -1.0% |
| 1992 | 16,808 tonnes | +1.9% |
| 1993 | 15,292 tonnes | -9.0% |
| 1994 | 16,966 tonnes | +10.9% |
| 1995 | 17,791 tonnes | +4.9% |
| 1996 | 17,809 tonnes | +0.1% |
| 1997 | 17,106 tonnes | -4.0% |
| 1998 | 17,231 tonnes | +0.7% |
| 1999 | 16,531 tonnes | -4.1% |
| 2000 | 19,062 tonnes | +15.3% |
| 2001 | 18,696 tonnes | -1.9% |
| 2002 | 19,546 tonnes | +4.5% |
| 2003 | 20,473 tonnes | +4.7% |
| 2004 | 20,834 tonnes | +1.8% |
| 2005 | 21,261 tonnes | +2.1% |
| 2006 | 21,644 tonnes | +1.8% |
| 2007 | 22,815 tonnes | +5.4% |
| 2008 | 24,781 tonnes | +8.6% |
| 2009 | 24,179 tonnes | -2.4% |
| 2010 | 25,801 tonnes | +6.7% |
| 2011 | 23,961 tonnes | -7.1% |
| 2012 | 24,218 tonnes | +1.1% |
| 2013 | 25,131 tonnes | +3.8% |
| 2014 | 24,815 tonnes | -1.3% |
| 2015 | 25,709 tonnes | +3.6% |
| 2016 | 26,067 tonnes | +1.4% |
| 2017 | 27,939 tonnes | +7.2% |
| 2018 | 28,954 tonnes | +3.6% |
| 2019 | 30,242 tonnes | +4.4% |
| 2020 | 30,726 tonnes | +1.6% |
| 2021 | 31,569 tonnes | +2.7% |
| 2022 | 33,528 tonnes | +6.2% |
Malawi compared with similar countries
- Malawi's 33,528 tonnes is below the median for low income countries, which is 44,196 tonnes, 76% of the median. (25 countries reporting)
- Malawi's 33,528 tonnes is below the median for Sub-Saharan Africa, which is 44,992 tonnes, 75% of the median. (48 countries reporting)
Biggest year-on-year movements
Years where Emissions of air pollutants 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1950 | +98.6% | 1,213 tonnes | 2,410 tonnes |
| 1990 | +33.6% | 12,483 tonnes | 16,673 tonnes |
| 1951 | +25.9% | 2,410 tonnes | 3,035 tonnes |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1750s | 85.85 tonnes | 85.73 tonnes | 85.97 tonnes | 10 |
| 1760s | 86.12 tonnes | 86 tonnes | 86.24 tonnes | 10 |
| 1770s | 86.39 tonnes | 86.27 tonnes | 86.51 tonnes | 10 |
| 1780s | 86.66 tonnes | 86.53 tonnes | 86.78 tonnes | 10 |
| 1790s | 86.92 tonnes | 86.8 tonnes | 87.04 tonnes | 10 |
| 1800s | 88.07 tonnes | 87.07 tonnes | 89.07 tonnes | 10 |
| 1810s | 90.5 tonnes | 89.29 tonnes | 91.72 tonnes | 10 |
| 1820s | 93.22 tonnes | 91.99 tonnes | 94.45 tonnes | 10 |
| 1830s | 95.97 tonnes | 94.73 tonnes | 97.22 tonnes | 10 |
| 1840s | 98.76 tonnes | 97.5 tonnes | 100.02 tonnes | 10 |
| 1850s | 101.78 tonnes | 100.3 tonnes | 103.31 tonnes | 10 |
| 1860s | 111.44 tonnes | 104.41 tonnes | 118.77 tonnes | 10 |
| 1870s | 132.51 tonnes | 120.5 tonnes | 141.62 tonnes | 10 |
| 1880s | 153.61 tonnes | 143.68 tonnes | 164.18 tonnes | 10 |
| 1890s | 177.2 tonnes | 164.04 tonnes | 191.1 tonnes | 10 |
| 1900s | 238.1 tonnes | 194.43 tonnes | 279.25 tonnes | 10 |
| 1910s | 336.82 tonnes | 272.75 tonnes | 401.09 tonnes | 10 |
| 1920s | 465.78 tonnes | 407.29 tonnes | 544.11 tonnes | 10 |
| 1930s | 666.06 tonnes | 560.33 tonnes | 763.85 tonnes | 10 |
| 1940s | 1,006 tonnes | 786.96 tonnes | 1,213 tonnes | 10 |
| 1950s | 3,855 tonnes | 2,410 tonnes | 4,868 tonnes | 10 |
| 1960s | 4,664 tonnes | 3,927 tonnes | 4,943 tonnes | 10 |
| 1970s | 8,143 tonnes | 5,510 tonnes | 10,385 tonnes | 10 |
| 1980s | 10,812 tonnes | 10,077 tonnes | 12,483 tonnes | 10 |
| 1990s | 16,871 tonnes | 15,292 tonnes | 17,809 tonnes | 10 |
| 2000s | 21,329 tonnes | 18,696 tonnes | 24,781 tonnes | 10 |
| 2010s | 26,284 tonnes | 23,961 tonnes | 30,242 tonnes | 10 |
| 2020s | 31,941 tonnes | 30,726 tonnes | 33,528 tonnes | 3 |
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 emissions of air pollutants in Malawi?
- Emissions of air pollutants in Malawi was 33,528 tonnes in 2022, according to Hoesly et al. (2024) – Community Emissions Data System (CEDS) – with major processing by Our World in Data.
- What is the highest emissions of air pollutants recorded in Malawi?
- The highest recorded value was 33,528 tonnes in 2022.
- What is the lowest emissions of air pollutants recorded in Malawi?
- The lowest recorded value was 85.73 tonnes in 1750.
- How does Malawi rank for emissions of air pollutants?
- Malawi ranks 143rd out of 220 countries with data for 2022.
- Is emissions of air pollutants rising or falling in Malawi?
- Over the last ten years it is up 38.4%. The long-run trend across the full record is volatile.
- Where does this Malawi data come from?
- The figures come from Hoesly et al. (2024) – Community Emissions Data System (CEDS) – with major processing by Our World in Data, published as part of Emissions of air pollutants. Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
Download this data
CSV · JSON — 273 observations, free to reuse under CC BY 4.0 (Our World in Data).
About this data
Nitrogen oxides (NOₓ) are gases that are mainly formed during the burning of fossil fuels. Exposure to NOₓ gases can have negative impacts on respiratory health. NOₓ gases can also lead to the formation of ozone – another air pollutant.