Tobacco production in Malawi
Malawi: Tobacco production was 119,957 tonnes in 2024. ◆ Volatile
Latest (2024)
119,957 tonnes
Change on year
down 0.1%
World rank
9th
of 146 countries
All-time high
208,155 tonnes
in 2009
All-time low
12,202 tonnes
in 1961
Years of data
64
1961–2024
Tobacco production in Malawi, 1961–2024
Source: Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (2025) – with major processing by Our World in Data. Measured in tonnes.
Analysis
The most recent figure for tobacco production in Malawi is 119,957 tonnes, measured in 2024.
Compared with earlier readings it is down 0.1% on the previous year and down 5.1% over ten years.
Over the whole period, tobacco production in Malawi peaked at 208,155 tonnes in 2009 and was at its lowest, 12,202 tonnes, in 1961.
Malawi ranks 9th of 146 countries on this measure, in the top 10%.
The series is highly variable year to year, so single readings are best treated with caution.
Tobacco production in Malawi, year by year
| Year | tonnes | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1961 | 12,202 tonnes | — |
| 1962 | 16,420 tonnes | +34.6% |
| 1963 | 18,008 tonnes | +9.7% |
| 1964 | 14,923 tonnes | -17.1% |
| 1965 | 22,816 tonnes | +52.9% |
| 1966 | 18,597 tonnes | -18.5% |
| 1967 | 16,193 tonnes | -12.9% |
| 1968 | 14,515 tonnes | -10.4% |
| 1969 | 13,082 tonnes | -9.9% |
| 1970 | 22,250 tonnes | +70.1% |
| 1971 | 26,438 tonnes | +18.8% |
| 1972 | 30,662 tonnes | +16.0% |
| 1973 | 30,481 tonnes | -0.6% |
| 1974 | 27,291 tonnes | -10.5% |
| 1975 | 34,926 tonnes | +28.0% |
| 1976 | 36,980 tonnes | +5.9% |
| 1977 | 51,842 tonnes | +40.2% |
| 1978 | 51,627 tonnes | -0.4% |
| 1979 | 54,293 tonnes | +5.2% |
| 1980 | 54,123 tonnes | -0.3% |
| 1981 | 51,031 tonnes | -5.7% |
| 1982 | 58,627 tonnes | +14.9% |
| 1983 | 72,428 tonnes | +23.5% |
| 1984 | 73,328 tonnes | +1.2% |
| 1985 | 73,379 tonnes | +0.1% |
| 1986 | 63,539 tonnes | -13.4% |
| 1987 | 72,507 tonnes | +14.1% |
| 1988 | 75,023 tonnes | +3.5% |
| 1989 | 86,327 tonnes | +15.1% |
| 1990 | 101,028 tonnes | +17.0% |
| 1991 | 113,374 tonnes | +12.2% |
| 1992 | 127,213 tonnes | +12.2% |
| 1993 | 130,400 tonnes | +2.5% |
| 1994 | 99,300 tonnes | -23.8% |
| 1995 | 129,400 tonnes | +30.3% |
| 1996 | 141,662 tonnes | +9.5% |
| 1997 | 158,113 tonnes | +11.6% |
| 1998 | 124,550 tonnes | -21.2% |
| 1999 | 84,555 tonnes | -32.1% |
| 2000 | 98,675 tonnes | +16.7% |
| 2001 | 82,544 tonnes | -16.3% |
| 2002 | 89,401 tonnes | +8.3% |
| 2003 | 94,312 tonnes | +5.5% |
| 2004 | 106,187 tonnes | +12.6% |
| 2005 | 93,598 tonnes | -11.9% |
| 2006 | 121,600 tonnes | +29.9% |
| 2007 | 118,000 tonnes | -3.0% |
| 2008 | 160,238 tonnes | +35.8% |
| 2009 | 208,155 tonnes | +29.9% |
| 2010 | 172,922 tonnes | -16.9% |
| 2011 | 174,928 tonnes | +1.2% |
| 2012 | 72,551 tonnes | -58.5% |
| 2013 | 132,849 tonnes | +83.1% |
| 2014 | 126,348 tonnes | -4.9% |
| 2015 | 120,479 tonnes | -4.6% |
| 2016 | 109,151 tonnes | -9.4% |
| 2017 | 82,964 tonnes | -24.0% |
| 2018 | 95,356 tonnes | +14.9% |
| 2019 | 128,207 tonnes | +34.5% |
| 2020 | 103,245 tonnes | -19.5% |
| 2021 | 98,692 tonnes | -4.4% |
| 2022 | 88,579 tonnes | -10.2% |
| 2023 | 120,056 tonnes | +35.5% |
| 2024 | 119,957 tonnes | -0.1% |
Malawi compared with similar countries
- Malawi's 119,957 tonnes is above the median for low income countries, which is 1,943 tonnes, 61.7× the median. (18 countries reporting)
- Malawi's 119,957 tonnes is above the median for Sub-Saharan Africa, which is 2,288 tonnes, 52.4× the median. (32 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1960s | 16,306 tonnes | 12,202 tonnes | 22,816 tonnes | 9 |
| 1970s | 36,679 tonnes | 22,250 tonnes | 54,293 tonnes | 10 |
| 1980s | 68,031 tonnes | 51,031 tonnes | 86,327 tonnes | 10 |
| 1990s | 120,960 tonnes | 84,555 tonnes | 158,113 tonnes | 10 |
| 2000s | 117,271 tonnes | 82,544 tonnes | 208,155 tonnes | 10 |
| 2010s | 121,576 tonnes | 72,551 tonnes | 174,928 tonnes | 10 |
| 2020s | 106,106 tonnes | 88,579 tonnes | 120,056 tonnes | 5 |
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 tobacco production in Malawi?
- Tobacco production in Malawi was 119,957 tonnes in 2024, according to Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (2025) – with major processing by Our World in Data.
- What is the highest tobacco production recorded in Malawi?
- The highest recorded value was 208,155 tonnes in 2009.
- What is the lowest tobacco production recorded in Malawi?
- The lowest recorded value was 12,202 tonnes in 1961.
- How does Malawi rank for tobacco production?
- Malawi ranks 9th out of 146 countries with data for 2024.
- Is tobacco production rising or falling in Malawi?
- Over the last ten years it is down 5.1%. The long-run trend across the full record is volatile.
- Where does this Malawi data come from?
- The figures come from Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (2025) – with major processing by Our World in Data, published as part of Tobacco production. Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
Download this data
CSV · JSON — 64 observations, free to reuse under CC BY 4.0 (Our World in Data).
About this data
Tobacco production is measured in tonnes.