Cropland extent over the long-term in Malawi
Malawi: Cropland extent over the long-term was 4.37 million hectares in 2025. ◆ Volatile
Latest (2025)
4.37 million hectares
Change on year
up 1.1%
World rank
61st
of 202 countries
All-time high
4.37 million hectares
in 2025
All-time low
62,384 hectares
in 1000
Years of data
108
1000–2025
Cropland extent over the long-term in Malawi, 1000–2025
Source: HYDE (2025) – with minor processing by Our World in Data. Measured in hectares.
Analysis
Malawi recorded 4.37 million hectares for cropland extent over the long-term in 2025. That is the highest value across all 108 years on record.
The figure is up 1.1% on the previous year and up 13.2% over ten years.
Over the whole period, cropland extent over the long-term in Malawi peaked at 4.37 million hectares in 2025 and was at its lowest, 62,384 hectares, in 1000.
Malawi ranks 61st of 202 countries on this measure, in the middle of the range.
The series is highly variable year to year, so single readings are best treated with caution.
Cropland extent over the long-term in Malawi, year by year
| Year | hectares | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1000 | 62,384 hectares | — |
| 1100 | 74,860 hectares | +20.0% |
| 1200 | 87,337 hectares | +16.7% |
| 1300 | 99,814 hectares | +14.3% |
| 1400 | 112,290 hectares | +12.5% |
| 1500 | 124,767 hectares | +11.1% |
| 1600 | 135,372 hectares | +8.5% |
| 1700 | 145,977 hectares | +7.8% |
| 1710 | 187,708 hectares | +28.6% |
| 1720 | 229,438 hectares | +22.2% |
| 1730 | 271,168 hectares | +18.2% |
| 1740 | 312,898 hectares | +15.4% |
| 1750 | 354,629 hectares | +13.3% |
| 1760 | 396,359 hectares | +11.8% |
| 1770 | 438,089 hectares | +10.5% |
| 1780 | 479,820 hectares | +9.5% |
| 1790 | 521,550 hectares | +8.7% |
| 1800 | 563,280 hectares | +8.0% |
| 1810 | 605,010 hectares | +7.4% |
| 1820 | 646,741 hectares | +6.9% |
| 1830 | 688,471 hectares | +6.5% |
| 1840 | 730,201 hectares | +6.1% |
| 1850 | 771,932 hectares | +5.7% |
| 1860 | 768,185 hectares | -0.5% |
| 1870 | 760,538 hectares | -1.0% |
| 1880 | 749,102 hectares | -1.5% |
| 1890 | 760,329 hectares | +1.5% |
| 1900 | 730,457 hectares | -3.9% |
| 1910 | 674,080 hectares | -7.7% |
| 1920 | 647,597 hectares | -3.9% |
| 1930 | 751,563 hectares | +16.1% |
| 1940 | 863,664 hectares | +14.9% |
| 1950 | 1.03 million hectares | +19.5% |
| 1951 | 1.09 million hectares | +5.8% |
| 1952 | 1.11 million hectares | +1.9% |
| 1953 | 1.13 million hectares | +1.9% |
| 1954 | 1.16 million hectares | +2.0% |
| 1955 | 1.18 million hectares | +2.0% |
| 1956 | 1.21 million hectares | +2.1% |
| 1957 | 1.23 million hectares | +2.1% |
| 1958 | 1.26 million hectares | +2.2% |
| 1959 | 1.28 million hectares | +2.2% |
| 1960 | 1.31 million hectares | +2.2% |
| 1961 | 1.36 million hectares | +3.6% |
| 1962 | 1.46 million hectares | +7.4% |
| 1963 | 1.51 million hectares | +3.4% |
| 1964 | 1.56 million hectares | +3.3% |
| 1965 | 1.76 million hectares | +13.0% |
| 1966 | 1.81 million hectares | +2.8% |
| 1967 | 1.76 million hectares | -2.6% |
| 1968 | 1.87 million hectares | +5.8% |
| 1969 | 1.92 million hectares | +2.7% |
| 1970 | 1.87 million hectares | -2.6% |
| 1971 | 2.02 million hectares | +8.0% |
| 1972 | 2.07 million hectares | +2.5% |
| 1973 | 2.12 million hectares | +2.4% |
| 1974 | 2.12 million hectares | +0.1% |
| 1975 | 2.07 million hectares | -2.4% |
| 1976 | 2.07 million hectares | +0.1% |
| 1977 | 2.08 million hectares | +0.1% |
| 1978 | 2.13 million hectares | +2.6% |
| 1979 | 2.13 million hectares | +0.1% |
| 1980 | 1.99 million hectares | -6.6% |
| 1981 | 2.09 million hectares | +5.0% |
| 1982 | 2.19 million hectares | +4.8% |
| 1983 | 2.10 million hectares | -4.1% |
| 1984 | 2.15 million hectares | +2.4% |
| 1985 | 2.17 million hectares | +0.7% |
| 1986 | 2.27 million hectares | +4.6% |
| 1987 | 2.27 million hectares | +0.2% |
| 1988 | 2.27 million hectares | +0.2% |
| 1989 | 2.33 million hectares | +2.2% |
| 1990 | 2.38 million hectares | +2.3% |
| 1991 | 2.48 million hectares | +4.3% |
| 1992 | 2.43 million hectares | -2.0% |
| 1993 | 2.43 million hectares | +0.0% |
| 1994 | 2.23 million hectares | -8.2% |
| 1995 | 2.43 million hectares | +9.0% |
| 1996 | 2.53 million hectares | +4.1% |
| 1997 | 2.58 million hectares | +2.0% |
| 1998 | 2.73 million hectares | +5.8% |
| 1999 | 2.83 million hectares | +3.7% |
| 2000 | 2.88 million hectares | +1.8% |
| 2001 | 2.98 million hectares | +3.5% |
| 2002 | 2.98 million hectares | +0.0% |
| 2003 | 3.13 million hectares | +5.0% |
| 2004 | 3.13 million hectares | +0.0% |
| 2005 | 3.33 million hectares | +6.4% |
| 2006 | 3.44 million hectares | +3.2% |
| 2007 | 3.44 million hectares | +0.0% |
| 2008 | 3.58 million hectares | +4.4% |
| 2009 | 3.63 million hectares | +1.4% |
| 2010 | 3.63 million hectares | +0.0% |
| 2011 | 3.63 million hectares | +0.0% |
| 2012 | 3.63 million hectares | +0.0% |
| 2013 | 3.69 million hectares | +1.7% |
| 2014 | 3.80 million hectares | +2.9% |
| 2015 | 3.86 million hectares | +1.4% |
| 2016 | 3.91 million hectares | +1.5% |
| 2017 | 3.97 million hectares | +1.4% |
| 2018 | 4.02 million hectares | +1.4% |
| 2019 | 4.08 million hectares | +1.4% |
| 2020 | 4.13 million hectares | +1.4% |
| 2021 | 4.20 million hectares | +1.6% |
| 2022 | 4.20 million hectares | +0.0% |
| 2023 | 4.27 million hectares | +1.7% |
| 2024 | 4.32 million hectares | +1.1% |
| 2025 | 4.37 million hectares | +1.1% |
Malawi compared with similar countries
- Malawi's 4.37 million hectares is above the median for low income countries, which is 3.98 million hectares, 1.1× the median. (24 countries reporting)
- Malawi's 4.37 million hectares is above the median for Sub-Saharan Africa, which is 3.31 million hectares, 1.3× the median. (46 countries reporting)
Biggest year-on-year movements
Years where Cropland extent over the long-term 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1710 | +28.6% | 145,977 hectares | 187,708 hectares |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1000s | 62,384 hectares | 62,384 hectares | 62,384 hectares | 1 |
| 1100s | 74,860 hectares | 74,860 hectares | 74,860 hectares | 1 |
| 1200s | 87,337 hectares | 87,337 hectares | 87,337 hectares | 1 |
| 1300s | 99,814 hectares | 99,814 hectares | 99,814 hectares | 1 |
| 1400s | 112,290 hectares | 112,290 hectares | 112,290 hectares | 1 |
| 1500s | 124,767 hectares | 124,767 hectares | 124,767 hectares | 1 |
| 1600s | 135,372 hectares | 135,372 hectares | 135,372 hectares | 1 |
| 1700s | 145,977 hectares | 145,977 hectares | 145,977 hectares | 1 |
| 1710s | 187,708 hectares | 187,708 hectares | 187,708 hectares | 1 |
| 1720s | 229,438 hectares | 229,438 hectares | 229,438 hectares | 1 |
| 1730s | 271,168 hectares | 271,168 hectares | 271,168 hectares | 1 |
| 1740s | 312,898 hectares | 312,898 hectares | 312,898 hectares | 1 |
| 1750s | 354,629 hectares | 354,629 hectares | 354,629 hectares | 1 |
| 1760s | 396,359 hectares | 396,359 hectares | 396,359 hectares | 1 |
| 1770s | 438,089 hectares | 438,089 hectares | 438,089 hectares | 1 |
| 1780s | 479,820 hectares | 479,820 hectares | 479,820 hectares | 1 |
| 1790s | 521,550 hectares | 521,550 hectares | 521,550 hectares | 1 |
| 1800s | 563,280 hectares | 563,280 hectares | 563,280 hectares | 1 |
| 1810s | 605,010 hectares | 605,010 hectares | 605,010 hectares | 1 |
| 1820s | 646,741 hectares | 646,741 hectares | 646,741 hectares | 1 |
| 1830s | 688,471 hectares | 688,471 hectares | 688,471 hectares | 1 |
| 1840s | 730,201 hectares | 730,201 hectares | 730,201 hectares | 1 |
| 1850s | 771,932 hectares | 771,932 hectares | 771,932 hectares | 1 |
| 1860s | 768,185 hectares | 768,185 hectares | 768,185 hectares | 1 |
| 1870s | 760,538 hectares | 760,538 hectares | 760,538 hectares | 1 |
| 1880s | 749,102 hectares | 749,102 hectares | 749,102 hectares | 1 |
| 1890s | 760,329 hectares | 760,329 hectares | 760,329 hectares | 1 |
| 1900s | 730,457 hectares | 730,457 hectares | 730,457 hectares | 1 |
| 1910s | 674,080 hectares | 674,080 hectares | 674,080 hectares | 1 |
| 1920s | 647,597 hectares | 647,597 hectares | 647,597 hectares | 1 |
| 1930s | 751,563 hectares | 751,563 hectares | 751,563 hectares | 1 |
| 1940s | 863,664 hectares | 863,664 hectares | 863,664 hectares | 1 |
| 1950s | 1.17 million hectares | 1.03 million hectares | 1.28 million hectares | 10 |
| 1960s | 1.63 million hectares | 1.31 million hectares | 1.92 million hectares | 10 |
| 1970s | 2.07 million hectares | 1.87 million hectares | 2.13 million hectares | 10 |
| 1980s | 2.18 million hectares | 1.99 million hectares | 2.33 million hectares | 10 |
| 1990s | 2.50 million hectares | 2.23 million hectares | 2.83 million hectares | 10 |
| 2000s | 3.25 million hectares | 2.88 million hectares | 3.63 million hectares | 10 |
| 2010s | 3.82 million hectares | 3.63 million hectares | 4.08 million hectares | 10 |
| 2020s | 4.25 million hectares | 4.13 million hectares | 4.37 million hectares | 6 |
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 cropland extent over the long-term in Malawi?
- Cropland extent over the long-term in Malawi was 4.37 million hectares in 2025, according to HYDE (2025) – with minor processing by Our World in Data.
- What is the highest cropland extent over the long-term recorded in Malawi?
- The highest recorded value was 4.37 million hectares in 2025.
- What is the lowest cropland extent over the long-term recorded in Malawi?
- The lowest recorded value was 62,384 hectares in 1000.
- How does Malawi rank for cropland extent over the long-term?
- Malawi ranks 61st out of 202 countries with data for 2025.
- Is cropland extent over the long-term rising or falling in Malawi?
- Over the last ten years it is up 13.2%. The long-run trend across the full record is volatile.
- Where does this Malawi data come from?
- The figures come from HYDE (2025) – with minor processing by Our World in Data, published as part of Cropland extent over the long-term. Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
Download this data
CSV · JSON — 108 observations, free to reuse under CC BY 4.0 (Our World in Data).
About this data
Total cropland area for each separate country over time.