Permanent cropland (% of land area) in Malawi
Malawi: Permanent cropland (% of land area) was 3.0% in 2024. ◆ Volatile
Permanent cropland in Malawi, 1961–2024
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 % of land area.
Analysis
In 2024, permanent cropland in Malawi stood at 3.0%. That is the highest value across all 64 years on record.
That represents a change of up 49.1% over ten years.
Over the whole period, permanent cropland in Malawi peaked at 3.0% in 2020 and was at its lowest, 0.6%, in 1961.
Malawi ranks 68th of 201 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.
Permanent cropland (% of land area) in Malawi, year by year
| Year | % of land area | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1961 | 0.6% | — |
| 1962 | 0.6% | +0.0% |
| 1963 | 0.6% | +0.0% |
| 1964 | 0.6% | +0.0% |
| 1965 | 0.7% | +5.0% |
| 1966 | 0.7% | +0.0% |
| 1967 | 0.7% | +3.2% |
| 1968 | 0.7% | +3.1% |
| 1969 | 0.7% | +0.0% |
| 1970 | 0.7% | +0.0% |
| 1971 | 0.7% | +0.0% |
| 1972 | 0.7% | +0.0% |
| 1973 | 0.7% | +0.0% |
| 1974 | 0.7% | +4.5% |
| 1975 | 0.7% | +0.0% |
| 1976 | 0.8% | +2.9% |
| 1977 | 0.8% | +4.2% |
| 1978 | 0.8% | +4.0% |
| 1979 | 0.8% | +2.6% |
| 1980 | 1.0% | +12.5% |
| 1981 | 1.0% | +0.0% |
| 1982 | 1.0% | +0.0% |
| 1983 | 1.1% | +11.1% |
| 1984 | 1.1% | +0.0% |
| 1985 | 1.2% | +15.0% |
| 1986 | 1.2% | +0.0% |
| 1987 | 1.3% | +4.3% |
| 1988 | 1.3% | +4.2% |
| 1989 | 1.3% | +0.0% |
| 1990 | 1.4% | +2.4% |
| 1991 | 1.4% | +1.6% |
| 1992 | 1.4% | -0.2% |
| 1993 | 1.4% | +0.0% |
| 1994 | 1.4% | +0.0% |
| 1995 | 1.4% | +0.0% |
| 1996 | 1.4% | +0.0% |
| 1997 | 1.4% | -0.2% |
| 1998 | 1.4% | +0.0% |
| 1999 | 1.4% | +0.0% |
| 2000 | 1.4% | +0.0% |
| 2001 | 1.4% | +0.0% |
| 2002 | 1.4% | +0.0% |
| 2003 | 1.4% | +0.0% |
| 2004 | 1.4% | +0.0% |
| 2005 | 1.4% | +0.0% |
| 2006 | 1.4% | +0.0% |
| 2007 | 1.4% | +0.0% |
| 2008 | 1.4% | +0.0% |
| 2009 | 1.4% | +0.0% |
| 2010 | 1.4% | +0.0% |
| 2011 | 1.4% | +0.0% |
| 2012 | 1.4% | +0.0% |
| 2013 | 2.0% | +46.2% |
| 2014 | 2.0% | +0.0% |
| 2015 | 2.0% | +0.0% |
| 2016 | 2.7% | +36.4% |
| 2017 | 2.7% | +0.0% |
| 2018 | 2.7% | +0.0% |
| 2019 | 2.7% | +0.0% |
| 2020 | 3.0% | +9.3% |
| 2021 | 3.0% | +0.0% |
| 2022 | 3.0% | +0.0% |
| 2023 | 3.0% | +0.0% |
| 2024 | 3.0% | +0.0% |
Malawi compared with similar countries
- Malawi's 3.0% is above the median for low income countries, which is 1.7%, 1.8× the median. (25 countries reporting)
- Malawi's 3.0% is above the median for Sub-Saharan Africa, which is 1.5%, 2.0× the median. (48 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1960s | 0.7% | 0.6% | 0.7% | 9 |
| 1970s | 0.8% | 0.7% | 0.8% | 10 |
| 1980s | 1.1% | 1.0% | 1.3% | 10 |
| 1990s | 1.4% | 1.4% | 1.4% | 10 |
| 2000s | 1.4% | 1.4% | 1.4% | 10 |
| 2010s | 2.1% | 1.4% | 2.7% | 10 |
| 2020s | 3.0% | 3.0% | 3.0% | 5 |
Countries ranked near Malawi
- 65 Malta 3.3% compare
- 66 Albania 3.2% compare
- 67 Seychelles 3.0% compare
- 69 Antigua and Barbuda 3.0% compare
- 70 Cyprus 2.9% compare
- 71 Solomon Islands 2.9% compare
More agriculture & rural data for Malawi
- Cropland extent over the long-term, annual growth rate 1.1 % change on previous year (2025)
- Cropland extent over the long-term, per unit of GDP 0.0003 hectares per US$ of GDP (2025)
- Cropland extent over the long-term, per capita 0.1965 hectares per person (2025)
- Agricultural area over the long-term, annual growth rate 0.7718 % change on previous year (2025)
- Agricultural area over the long-term, per unit of GDP 0.0004 hectares per US$ of GDP (2025)
- Agricultural area over the long-term, per capita 0.2798 hectares per person (2025)
- 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)
Frequently asked questions
- What is permanent cropland in Malawi?
- Permanent cropland in Malawi was 3.0% in 2024, 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 permanent cropland recorded in Malawi?
- The highest recorded value was 3.0% in 2020.
- What is the lowest permanent cropland recorded in Malawi?
- The lowest recorded value was 0.6% in 1961.
- How does Malawi rank for permanent cropland?
- Malawi ranks 68th out of 201 countries with data for 2024.
- Is permanent cropland rising or falling in Malawi?
- Over the last ten years it is up 49.1%. The long-run trend across the full record is volatile.
- 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 Permanent cropland (% of land area). Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
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About this data
Permanent cropland 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.