Forest area in Malawi
Malawi: Forest area was 21,157 sq. km in 2023. ▼ Falling
Forest area in Malawi, 1990–2023
Source: FAOSTAT, Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO). Measured in sq. km.
Analysis
Malawi recorded 21,157 sq. km for forest area in 2023. That is the lowest value across all 34 years on record.
The figure is down 1.9% on the previous year and down 16.6% over ten years.
Over the whole period, forest area in Malawi peaked at 35,017 sq. km in 1990 and was at its lowest, 21,157 sq. km, in 2023.
That places Malawi 105th out of 214 countries with data for 2023, putting it in the middle of the range.
The long-run direction has been consistently falling across the 34 years of available data.
Forest area in Malawi, year by year
| Year | sq. km | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1990 | 35,017 sq. km | — |
| 1991 | 34,597 sq. km | -1.2% |
| 1992 | 34,177 sq. km | -1.2% |
| 1993 | 33,757 sq. km | -1.2% |
| 1994 | 33,337 sq. km | -1.2% |
| 1995 | 32,917 sq. km | -1.3% |
| 1996 | 32,497 sq. km | -1.3% |
| 1997 | 32,077 sq. km | -1.3% |
| 1998 | 31,657 sq. km | -1.3% |
| 1999 | 31,237 sq. km | -1.3% |
| 2000 | 30,817 sq. km | -1.3% |
| 2001 | 30,397 sq. km | -1.4% |
| 2002 | 29,977 sq. km | -1.4% |
| 2003 | 29,557 sq. km | -1.4% |
| 2004 | 29,137 sq. km | -1.4% |
| 2005 | 28,717 sq. km | -1.4% |
| 2006 | 28,297 sq. km | -1.5% |
| 2007 | 27,877 sq. km | -1.5% |
| 2008 | 27,457 sq. km | -1.5% |
| 2009 | 27,037 sq. km | -1.5% |
| 2010 | 26,617 sq. km | -1.6% |
| 2011 | 26,197 sq. km | -1.6% |
| 2012 | 25,777 sq. km | -1.6% |
| 2013 | 25,357 sq. km | -1.6% |
| 2014 | 24,937 sq. km | -1.7% |
| 2015 | 24,517 sq. km | -1.7% |
| 2016 | 24,097 sq. km | -1.7% |
| 2017 | 23,677 sq. km | -1.7% |
| 2018 | 23,257 sq. km | -1.8% |
| 2019 | 22,837 sq. km | -1.8% |
| 2020 | 22,417 sq. km | -1.8% |
| 2021 | 21,997 sq. km | -1.9% |
| 2022 | 21,577 sq. km | -1.9% |
| 2023 | 21,157 sq. km | -1.9% |
Malawi compared with similar countries
- Malawi's 21,157 sq. km is below the median for low income countries, which is 39,804 sq. km, 53% of the median. (25 countries reporting)
- Malawi's 21,157 sq. km is below the median for Sub-Saharan Africa, which is 59,081 sq. km, 36% of the median. (48 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1990s | 33,127 sq. km | 31,237 sq. km | 35,017 sq. km | 10 |
| 2000s | 28,927 sq. km | 27,037 sq. km | 30,817 sq. km | 10 |
| 2010s | 24,727 sq. km | 22,837 sq. km | 26,617 sq. km | 10 |
| 2020s | 21,787 sq. km | 21,157 sq. km | 22,417 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 forest area in Malawi?
- Forest area in Malawi was 21,157 sq. km in 2023, according to FAOSTAT, Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO).
- What is the highest forest area recorded in Malawi?
- The highest recorded value was 35,017 sq. km in 1990.
- What is the lowest forest area recorded in Malawi?
- The lowest recorded value was 21,157 sq. km in 2023.
- How does Malawi rank for forest area?
- Malawi ranks 105th out of 214 countries with data for 2023.
- Is forest area rising or falling in Malawi?
- Over the last ten years it is down 16.6%. The long-run trend across the full record is falling.
- Where does this Malawi data come from?
- The figures come from FAOSTAT, Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO), published as part of Forest area (sq. km). Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
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About this data
Forest area is land under natural or planted stands of trees of at least 5 meters in situ, whether productive or not, and excludes tree stands in agricultural production systems (for example, in fruit plantations and agroforestry systems) and trees in urban parks and gardens.