Tree cover loss by dominant driver in Malawi

Malawi: Tree cover loss by dominant driver was 8.49 hectares in 2024. ◆ Volatile

Latest (2024)
8.49 hectares
Change on year
down 86.5%
World rank
136th
of 186 countries
All-time high
62.88 hectares
in 2023
All-time low
8.49 hectares
in 2024
Years of data
24
2001–2024

Tree cover loss by dominant driver in Malawi, 2001–2024

02040602001201220242001: 13.2 hectares2002: 13.3 hectares2003: 24 hectares2004: 22.6 hectares2005: 36.8 hectares2006: 19.3 hectares2007: 32.2 hectares2008: 56.8 hectares2009: 28.4 hectares2010: 20.8 hectares2011: 24.5 hectares2012: 27.4 hectares2013: 18.8 hectares2014: 16.7 hectares2015: 18.9 hectares2016: 23.9 hectares2017: 18.3 hectares2018: 17.2 hectares2019: 25.3 hectares2020: 14.9 hectares2021: 32.4 hectares2022: 12.2 hectares2023: 62.9 hectares2024: 8.5 hectares

Source: Global Forest Watch (2025) – with major processing by Our World in Data. Measured in hectares.

Analysis

In 2024, tree cover loss by dominant driver in Malawi stood at 8.49 hectares. That is the lowest value across all 24 years on record.

That represents a change of down 86.5% on the previous year and down 49.1% over ten years.

Over the whole period, tree cover loss by dominant driver in Malawi peaked at 62.88 hectares in 2023 and was at its lowest, 8.49 hectares, in 2024.

That places Malawi 136th out of 186 countries with data for 2024, putting it in the middle of the range.

The series is highly variable year to year, so single readings are best treated with caution.

Averages by decade

DecadeAverage LowestHighest Years
2000s 27.4 hectares 13.23 hectares 56.78 hectares 9
2010s 21.2 hectares 16.7 hectares 27.41 hectares 10
2020s 26.2 hectares 8.49 hectares 62.88 hectares 5

Countries ranked near Malawi

  1. 133 Comoros 10.32 hectares compare
  2. 134 Tunisia 8.84 hectares compare
  3. 135 Dominica 8.68 hectares compare
  4. 137 Saint Lucia 7.85 hectares compare
  5. 139 Turks and Caicos Islands 6.51 hectares compare

See the full ranking of 186 places →

More reference data data for Malawi

All data for Malawi →

Frequently asked questions

What is tree cover loss by dominant driver in Malawi?
Tree cover loss by dominant driver in Malawi was 8.49 hectares in 2024, according to Global Forest Watch (2025) – with major processing by Our World in Data.
What is the highest tree cover loss by dominant driver recorded in Malawi?
The highest recorded value was 62.88 hectares in 2023.
What is the lowest tree cover loss by dominant driver recorded in Malawi?
The lowest recorded value was 8.49 hectares in 2024.
How does Malawi rank for tree cover loss by dominant driver?
Malawi ranks 136th out of 186 countries with data for 2024.
Is tree cover loss by dominant driver rising or falling in Malawi?
Over the last ten years it is down 49.1%. The long-run trend across the full record is volatile.
Where does this Malawi data come from?
The figures come from Global Forest Watch (2025) – with major processing by Our World in Data, published as part of Tree cover loss by dominant driver. Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.

Download this data

CSV · JSON — 24 observations, free to reuse under CC BY 4.0 (Our World in Data).

About this data

Indicator
Tree cover loss by dominant driver
Unit
hectares
Source
Global Forest Watch (2025) – with major processing by Our World in Data
Licence
CC BY 4.0 (Our World in Data)
Coverage
186 places, 4,195 data points, 2001–2024
Last refreshed

Tree cover loss due to the expansion and intensification of roads, settlements, urban areas, or other built infrastructure.