Average area burnt per wildfire in Malawi
Malawi: Average area burnt per wildfire was 192.87 hectares in 2026. ▲ Rising
Average area burnt per wildfire in Malawi, 2012–2026
Source: Global Wildfire Information System (2026) – with minor processing by Our World in Data. Measured in hectares.
Analysis
The most recent figure for average area burnt per wildfire in Malawi is 192.87 hectares, measured in 2026. That is the lowest value across all 15 years on record.
The figure is down 34.4% on the previous year and down 24.6% over ten years.
Over the whole period, average area burnt per wildfire in Malawi peaked at 293.9 hectares in 2025 and was at its lowest, 192.87 hectares, in 2026.
Malawi ranks 140th of 182 countries on this measure, in the bottom quarter.
The long-run direction has been consistently rising across the 15 years of available data.
Average area burnt per wildfire in Malawi, year by year
| Year | hectares | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 2012 | 250.38 hectares | — |
| 2013 | 230.51 hectares | -7.9% |
| 2014 | 240.05 hectares | +4.1% |
| 2015 | 242.54 hectares | +1.0% |
| 2016 | 255.83 hectares | +5.5% |
| 2017 | 236.58 hectares | -7.5% |
| 2018 | 211.32 hectares | -10.7% |
| 2019 | 240.84 hectares | +14.0% |
| 2020 | 252.47 hectares | +4.8% |
| 2021 | 234.42 hectares | -7.2% |
| 2022 | 257.27 hectares | +9.7% |
| 2023 | 257.55 hectares | +0.1% |
| 2024 | 273.4 hectares | +6.2% |
| 2025 | 293.9 hectares | +7.5% |
| 2026 | 192.87 hectares | -34.4% |
Malawi compared with similar countries
- Malawi's 192.87 hectares is below the median for low income countries, which is 307.28 hectares, 63% of the median. (25 countries reporting)
- Malawi's 192.87 hectares is below the median for Sub-Saharan Africa, which is 314.75 hectares, 61% of the median. (46 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2010s | 238.51 hectares | 211.32 hectares | 255.83 hectares | 8 |
| 2020s | 251.7 hectares | 192.87 hectares | 293.9 hectares | 7 |
Countries ranked near Malawi
More reference data data for Malawi
- Emission Totals - Indirect emissions (N2O) - Manure applied to Soils 0.1596 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Indirect emissions (N2O) - Manure left on Pasture 1.09 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Indirect emissions (N2O) - IPCC Agriculture 3.71 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Indirect emissions (N2O) - Crop Residues 0.3426 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Indirect emissions (N2O) - Agricultural Soils 3.71 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Emissions (N2O) - Manure applied to Soils 0.5353 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Emissions (N2O) - Manure Management 0.6012 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Emissions (N2O) - Manure left on Pasture 4.92 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Emissions (N2O) - IPCC Agriculture 16.7 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Emissions (N2O) - Crop Residues 1.87 (2050)
Frequently asked questions
- What is average area burnt per wildfire in Malawi?
- Average area burnt per wildfire in Malawi was 192.87 hectares in 2026, according to Global Wildfire Information System (2026) – with minor processing by Our World in Data.
- What is the highest average area burnt per wildfire recorded in Malawi?
- The highest recorded value was 293.9 hectares in 2025.
- What is the lowest average area burnt per wildfire recorded in Malawi?
- The lowest recorded value was 192.87 hectares in 2026.
- How does Malawi rank for average area burnt per wildfire?
- Malawi ranks 140th out of 182 countries with data for 2026.
- Is average area burnt per wildfire rising or falling in Malawi?
- Over the last ten years it is down 24.6%. The long-run trend across the full record is rising.
- Where does this Malawi data come from?
- The figures come from Global Wildfire Information System (2026) – with minor processing by Our World in Data, published as part of Average area burnt per wildfire. Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
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About this data
Average area burnt per wildfire, in hectares. The 2026 data is incomplete and was last updated 18 September 2026.