Tree cover loss in Malawi
Malawi: Tree cover loss was 17,078 hectares in 2024. ▲ Rising
Tree cover loss 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 in Malawi is 17,078 hectares, measured in 2024.
That represents a change of down 25.7% on the previous year and down 7.8% over ten years.
Over the whole period, tree cover loss in Malawi peaked at 22,972 hectares in 2023 and was at its lowest, 2,403 hectares, in 2001.
That places Malawi 73rd out of 197 countries with data for 2024, putting it in the middle of the range.
The long-run direction has been consistently rising across the 24 years of available data.
Tree cover loss in Malawi, year by year
| Year | hectares | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 2001 | 2,403 hectares | — |
| 2002 | 4,152 hectares | +72.8% |
| 2003 | 7,027 hectares | +69.2% |
| 2004 | 5,670 hectares | -19.3% |
| 2005 | 9,335 hectares | +64.6% |
| 2006 | 5,509 hectares | -41.0% |
| 2007 | 7,448 hectares | +35.2% |
| 2008 | 9,672 hectares | +29.9% |
| 2009 | 3,996 hectares | -58.7% |
| 2010 | 3,952 hectares | -1.1% |
| 2011 | 8,211 hectares | +107.8% |
| 2012 | 12,116 hectares | +47.6% |
| 2013 | 10,448 hectares | -13.8% |
| 2014 | 18,518 hectares | +77.2% |
| 2015 | 10,757 hectares | -41.9% |
| 2016 | 13,508 hectares | +25.6% |
| 2017 | 15,322 hectares | +13.4% |
| 2018 | 15,500 hectares | +1.2% |
| 2019 | 12,141 hectares | -21.7% |
| 2020 | 16,057 hectares | +32.3% |
| 2021 | 16,571 hectares | +3.2% |
| 2022 | 14,873 hectares | -10.2% |
| 2023 | 22,972 hectares | +54.5% |
| 2024 | 17,078 hectares | -25.7% |
Malawi compared with similar countries
- Malawi's 17,078 hectares is above the median for low income countries, which is 7,400 hectares, 2.3× the median. (24 countries reporting)
- Malawi's 17,078 hectares is above the median for Sub-Saharan Africa, which is 7,735 hectares, 2.2× the median. (47 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2000s | 6,135 hectares | 2,403 hectares | 9,672 hectares | 9 |
| 2010s | 12,047 hectares | 3,952 hectares | 18,518 hectares | 10 |
| 2020s | 17,510 hectares | 14,873 hectares | 22,972 hectares | 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 tree cover loss in Malawi?
- Tree cover loss in Malawi was 17,078 hectares in 2024, according to Global Forest Watch (2025) – with major processing by Our World in Data.
- What is the highest tree cover loss recorded in Malawi?
- The highest recorded value was 22,972 hectares in 2023.
- What is the lowest tree cover loss recorded in Malawi?
- The lowest recorded value was 2,403 hectares in 2001.
- How does Malawi rank for tree cover loss?
- Malawi ranks 73rd out of 197 countries with data for 2024.
- Is tree cover loss rising or falling in Malawi?
- Over the last ten years it is down 7.8%. The long-run trend across the full record is rising.
- 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. 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 driven by all causes.