Agricultural land in Malawi
Malawi: Agricultural land was 60,500 sq. km in 2023. ▲ Rising
Agricultural land in Malawi, 1961–2023
Source: FAO electronic files and web site, Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO), publisher: Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO). Measured in sq. km.
Analysis
In 2023, agricultural land in Malawi stood at 60,500 sq. km. That is the highest value across all 63 years on record.
The figure is up 9.1% over ten years.
Over the whole period, agricultural land in Malawi peaked at 60,500 sq. km in 2021 and was at its lowest, 32,000 sq. km, in 1961.
Malawi ranks 82nd of 210 countries on this measure, in the middle of the range.
The long-run direction has been consistently rising across the 63 years of available data.
Agricultural land in Malawi, year by year
| Year | sq. km | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1961 | 32,000 sq. km | — |
| 1962 | 33,000 sq. km | +3.1% |
| 1963 | 33,500 sq. km | +1.5% |
| 1964 | 34,000 sq. km | +1.5% |
| 1965 | 36,030 sq. km | +6.0% |
| 1966 | 36,530 sq. km | +1.4% |
| 1967 | 36,050 sq. km | -1.3% |
| 1968 | 37,070 sq. km | +2.8% |
| 1969 | 37,570 sq. km | +1.3% |
| 1970 | 37,070 sq. km | -1.3% |
| 1971 | 38,570 sq. km | +4.0% |
| 1972 | 39,070 sq. km | +1.3% |
| 1973 | 39,570 sq. km | +1.3% |
| 1974 | 39,600 sq. km | +0.1% |
| 1975 | 39,100 sq. km | -1.3% |
| 1976 | 39,120 sq. km | +0.1% |
| 1977 | 39,150 sq. km | +0.1% |
| 1978 | 39,680 sq. km | +1.4% |
| 1979 | 39,700 sq. km | +0.1% |
| 1980 | 38,300 sq. km | -3.5% |
| 1981 | 39,300 sq. km | +2.6% |
| 1982 | 40,300 sq. km | +2.5% |
| 1983 | 39,400 sq. km | -2.2% |
| 1984 | 39,900 sq. km | +1.3% |
| 1985 | 40,050 sq. km | +0.4% |
| 1986 | 41,050 sq. km | +2.5% |
| 1987 | 41,100 sq. km | +0.1% |
| 1988 | 41,150 sq. km | +0.1% |
| 1989 | 41,650 sq. km | +1.2% |
| 1990 | 42,180 sq. km | +1.3% |
| 1991 | 43,200 sq. km | +2.4% |
| 1992 | 42,700 sq. km | -1.2% |
| 1993 | 42,700 sq. km | +0.0% |
| 1994 | 40,700 sq. km | -4.7% |
| 1995 | 42,800 sq. km | +5.2% |
| 1996 | 43,800 sq. km | +2.3% |
| 1997 | 44,300 sq. km | +1.1% |
| 1998 | 45,800 sq. km | +3.4% |
| 1999 | 46,800 sq. km | +2.2% |
| 2000 | 47,300 sq. km | +1.1% |
| 2001 | 48,300 sq. km | +2.1% |
| 2002 | 48,300 sq. km | +0.0% |
| 2003 | 49,800 sq. km | +3.1% |
| 2004 | 49,800 sq. km | +0.0% |
| 2005 | 51,800 sq. km | +4.0% |
| 2006 | 52,850 sq. km | +2.0% |
| 2007 | 52,850 sq. km | +0.0% |
| 2008 | 54,350 sq. km | +2.8% |
| 2009 | 54,850 sq. km | +0.9% |
| 2010 | 54,850 sq. km | +0.0% |
| 2011 | 54,850 sq. km | +0.0% |
| 2012 | 54,850 sq. km | +0.0% |
| 2013 | 55,450 sq. km | +1.1% |
| 2014 | 56,510 sq. km | +1.9% |
| 2015 | 57,060 sq. km | +1.0% |
| 2016 | 57,620 sq. km | +1.0% |
| 2017 | 58,170 sq. km | +1.0% |
| 2018 | 58,730 sq. km | +1.0% |
| 2019 | 59,280 sq. km | +0.9% |
| 2020 | 59,840 sq. km | +0.9% |
| 2021 | 60,500 sq. km | +1.1% |
| 2022 | 60,500 sq. km | +0.0% |
| 2023 | 60,500 sq. km | +0.0% |
Malawi compared with similar countries
- Malawi's 60,500 sq. km is below the median for low income countries, which is 146,108 sq. km, 41% of the median. (25 countries reporting)
- Malawi's 60,500 sq. km is below the median for Sub-Saharan Africa, which is 135,094 sq. km, 45% of the median. (48 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1960s | 35,083 sq. km | 32,000 sq. km | 37,570 sq. km | 9 |
| 1970s | 39,063 sq. km | 37,070 sq. km | 39,700 sq. km | 10 |
| 1980s | 40,220 sq. km | 38,300 sq. km | 41,650 sq. km | 10 |
| 1990s | 43,498 sq. km | 40,700 sq. km | 46,800 sq. km | 10 |
| 2000s | 51,020 sq. km | 47,300 sq. km | 54,850 sq. km | 10 |
| 2010s | 56,737 sq. km | 54,850 sq. km | 59,280 sq. km | 10 |
| 2020s | 60,335 sq. km | 59,840 sq. km | 60,500 sq. km | 4 |
Countries ranked near Malawi
More agriculture & rural data for Malawi
- Agriculture, forestry, and fishing, value added (current US$), annual 24.6 % change on previous year (2025)
- Agriculture, forestry, and fishing, value added (current US$), per 0.3003 current US$ per US$ of GDP (2025)
- Agriculture, forestry, and fishing, value added (current US$), per 201.66 current US$ per person (2025)
- Rural population, annual growth rate 2.19 % change on previous year (2025)
- Rural population, per unit of GDP 0.0012 units per US$ of GDP (2025)
- Rural population, per capita 0.8241 units per person (2025)
- Share of GDP from agriculture 30.0% (2025)
- Agriculture as a share of GDP vs. GDP per capita 30.0% (2025)
- Agricultural raw materials exports 0.9% (2024)
- Agricultural raw materials imports 2.7% (2024)
Frequently asked questions
- What is agricultural land in Malawi?
- Agricultural land in Malawi was 60,500 sq. km in 2023, according to FAO electronic files and web site, Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO), publisher: Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO).
- What is the highest agricultural land recorded in Malawi?
- The highest recorded value was 60,500 sq. km in 2021.
- What is the lowest agricultural land recorded in Malawi?
- The lowest recorded value was 32,000 sq. km in 1961.
- How does Malawi rank for agricultural land?
- Malawi ranks 82nd out of 210 countries with data for 2023.
- Is agricultural land rising or falling in Malawi?
- Over the last ten years it is up 9.1%. The long-run trend across the full record is rising.
- Where does this Malawi data come from?
- The figures come from FAO electronic files and web site, Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO), publisher: Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO), published as part of Agricultural land (sq. km). Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
Download this data
CSV · JSON — 63 observations, free to reuse under CC BY 4.0 (World Bank Open Data).
About this data
Agricultural land refers to the land area that is arable, under permanent crops, and under permanent pastures. Arable land includes land defined by the FAO as land under temporary crops (double-cropped areas are counted once), temporary meadows for mowing or for pasture, land under market or kitchen gardens, and land temporarily fallow. Land abandoned as a result of shifting cultivation is excluded. Land under permanent crops is land cultivated with crops that occupy the land for long periods and need not be replanted after each harvest, such as cocoa, coffee, and rubber. This category includes land under flowering shrubs, fruit trees, nut trees, and vines, but excludes land under trees grown for wood or timber. Permanent pasture is land used for five or more years for forage, including natural and cultivated crops.