Tree cover loss from wildfires in Malawi
Malawi: Tree cover loss from wildfires was 342.18 hectares in 2024. ◆ Volatile
Tree cover loss from wildfires in Malawi, 2001–2024
Source: Global Forest Watch (2025) – with major processing by Our World in Data. Measured in hectares.
Analysis
The most recent figure for tree cover loss from wildfires in Malawi is 342.18 hectares, measured in 2024. That is the highest value across all 24 years on record.
That represents a change of up 44.5% on the previous year and up 426.5% over ten years.
Over the whole period, tree cover loss from wildfires in Malawi peaked at 342.18 hectares in 2024 and was at its lowest, 9.21 hectares, in 2002.
That places Malawi 69th out of 152 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.
Tree cover loss from wildfires in Malawi, year by year
| Year | hectares | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 2001 | 13.54 hectares | — |
| 2002 | 9.21 hectares | -31.9% |
| 2003 | 66.13 hectares | +617.8% |
| 2004 | 41.66 hectares | -37.0% |
| 2005 | 103.3 hectares | +148.0% |
| 2006 | 19.76 hectares | -80.9% |
| 2007 | 12.95 hectares | -34.5% |
| 2008 | 14.01 hectares | +8.2% |
| 2009 | 10.58 hectares | -24.5% |
| 2010 | 19.52 hectares | +84.5% |
| 2011 | 19.07 hectares | -2.3% |
| 2012 | 45.23 hectares | +137.2% |
| 2013 | 156.77 hectares | +246.6% |
| 2014 | 64.99 hectares | -58.5% |
| 2015 | 18.57 hectares | -71.4% |
| 2016 | 122.31 hectares | +558.6% |
| 2017 | 134.28 hectares | +9.8% |
| 2018 | 160.6 hectares | +19.6% |
| 2019 | 122.34 hectares | -23.8% |
| 2020 | 199.41 hectares | +63.0% |
| 2021 | 282.09 hectares | +41.5% |
| 2022 | 176.59 hectares | -37.4% |
| 2023 | 236.85 hectares | +34.1% |
| 2024 | 342.18 hectares | +44.5% |
Malawi compared with similar countries
- Malawi's 342.18 hectares is below the median for low income countries, which is 353.64 hectares, 97% of the median. (18 countries reporting)
- Malawi's 342.18 hectares is above the median for Sub-Saharan Africa, which is 169.25 hectares, 2.0× the median. (34 countries reporting)
Biggest year-on-year movements
Years where Tree cover loss from wildfires 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2003 | +617.8% | 9.21 hectares | 66.13 hectares |
| 2016 | +558.6% | 18.57 hectares | 122.31 hectares |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2000s | 32.35 hectares | 9.21 hectares | 103.3 hectares | 9 |
| 2010s | 86.37 hectares | 18.57 hectares | 160.6 hectares | 10 |
| 2020s | 247.42 hectares | 176.59 hectares | 342.18 hectares | 5 |
Countries ranked near Malawi
- 66 Central African Republic 436.28 hectares compare
- 67 Liberia 365.11 hectares compare
- 68 Belarus 353.67 hectares compare
- 70 French Guiana 332.07 hectares compare
- 71 South Korea 297.16 hectares compare
- 72 Germany 275.82 hectares compare
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 tree cover loss from wildfires in Malawi?
- Tree cover loss from wildfires in Malawi was 342.18 hectares in 2024, according to Global Forest Watch (2025) – with major processing by Our World in Data.
- What is the highest tree cover loss from wildfires recorded in Malawi?
- The highest recorded value was 342.18 hectares in 2024.
- What is the lowest tree cover loss from wildfires recorded in Malawi?
- The lowest recorded value was 9.21 hectares in 2002.
- How does Malawi rank for tree cover loss from wildfires?
- Malawi ranks 69th out of 152 countries with data for 2024.
- Is tree cover loss from wildfires rising or falling in Malawi?
- Over the last ten years it is up 426.5%. 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 from wildfires. 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
Tree cover loss due to fire with no visible human conversion or agricultural activity afterward. Fires may be started by natural causes (e.g. lightning) or may be related to human activities (accidental or deliberate).