Agricultural area over the long-term in Malawi
Malawi: Agricultural area over the long-term was 6.21 million hectares in 2025. ▲ Rising
Latest (2025)
6.21 million hectares
Change on year
up 0.8%
World rank
81st
of 202 countries
All-time high
6.21 million hectares
in 2025
All-time low
291,913 hectares
in 1000
Years of data
108
1000–2025
Agricultural area over the long-term in Malawi, 1000–2025
Source: HYDE (2025) – with minor processing by Our World in Data. Measured in hectares.
Analysis
In 2025, agricultural area over the long-term in Malawi stood at 6.21 million hectares. That is the highest value across all 108 years on record.
Compared with earlier readings it is up 0.8% on the previous year and up 8.9% over ten years.
Over the whole period, agricultural area over the long-term in Malawi peaked at 6.21 million hectares in 2025 and was at its lowest, 291,913 hectares, in 1000.
Malawi ranks 81st of 202 countries on this measure, in the middle of the range.
The long-run direction has been consistently rising across the 108 years of available data.
Agricultural area over the long-term in Malawi, year by year
| Year | hectares | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1000 | 291,913 hectares | — |
| 1100 | 350,296 hectares | +20.0% |
| 1200 | 408,678 hectares | +16.7% |
| 1300 | 467,061 hectares | +14.3% |
| 1400 | 525,444 hectares | +12.5% |
| 1500 | 583,826 hectares | +11.1% |
| 1600 | 633,451 hectares | +8.5% |
| 1700 | 683,077 hectares | +7.8% |
| 1710 | 878,347 hectares | +28.6% |
| 1720 | 1.07 million hectares | +22.2% |
| 1730 | 1.27 million hectares | +18.2% |
| 1740 | 1.46 million hectares | +15.4% |
| 1750 | 1.66 million hectares | +13.3% |
| 1760 | 1.80 million hectares | +8.4% |
| 1770 | 1.93 million hectares | +7.2% |
| 1780 | 2.05 million hectares | +6.3% |
| 1790 | 2.16 million hectares | +5.5% |
| 1800 | 2.27 million hectares | +4.8% |
| 1810 | 2.36 million hectares | +4.3% |
| 1820 | 2.46 million hectares | +3.8% |
| 1830 | 2.54 million hectares | +3.4% |
| 1840 | 2.62 million hectares | +3.1% |
| 1850 | 2.69 million hectares | +2.8% |
| 1860 | 2.60 million hectares | -3.2% |
| 1870 | 2.51 million hectares | -3.7% |
| 1880 | 2.40 million hectares | -4.1% |
| 1890 | 2.38 million hectares | -1.2% |
| 1900 | 2.22 million hectares | -6.4% |
| 1910 | 2.00 million hectares | -10.1% |
| 1920 | 1.87 million hectares | -6.4% |
| 1930 | 2.12 million hectares | +13.1% |
| 1940 | 2.37 million hectares | +12.1% |
| 1950 | 2.77 million hectares | +16.6% |
| 1951 | 2.86 million hectares | +3.3% |
| 1952 | 2.87 million hectares | +0.7% |
| 1953 | 2.90 million hectares | +0.7% |
| 1954 | 2.92 million hectares | +0.8% |
| 1955 | 2.94 million hectares | +0.8% |
| 1956 | 2.97 million hectares | +0.9% |
| 1957 | 3.00 million hectares | +0.9% |
| 1958 | 3.03 million hectares | +1.0% |
| 1959 | 3.06 million hectares | +1.0% |
| 1960 | 3.09 million hectares | +1.1% |
| 1961 | 3.20 million hectares | +3.6% |
| 1962 | 3.30 million hectares | +3.1% |
| 1963 | 3.35 million hectares | +1.5% |
| 1964 | 3.40 million hectares | +1.5% |
| 1965 | 3.60 million hectares | +6.0% |
| 1966 | 3.65 million hectares | +1.4% |
| 1967 | 3.60 million hectares | -1.3% |
| 1968 | 3.71 million hectares | +2.8% |
| 1969 | 3.76 million hectares | +1.3% |
| 1970 | 3.71 million hectares | -1.3% |
| 1971 | 3.86 million hectares | +4.0% |
| 1972 | 3.91 million hectares | +1.3% |
| 1973 | 3.96 million hectares | +1.3% |
| 1974 | 3.96 million hectares | +0.1% |
| 1975 | 3.91 million hectares | -1.3% |
| 1976 | 3.91 million hectares | +0.1% |
| 1977 | 3.92 million hectares | +0.1% |
| 1978 | 3.97 million hectares | +1.4% |
| 1979 | 3.97 million hectares | +0.1% |
| 1980 | 3.83 million hectares | -3.5% |
| 1981 | 3.93 million hectares | +2.6% |
| 1982 | 4.03 million hectares | +2.5% |
| 1983 | 3.94 million hectares | -2.2% |
| 1984 | 3.99 million hectares | +1.3% |
| 1985 | 4.00 million hectares | +0.4% |
| 1986 | 4.11 million hectares | +2.5% |
| 1987 | 4.11 million hectares | +0.1% |
| 1988 | 4.12 million hectares | +0.1% |
| 1989 | 4.17 million hectares | +1.2% |
| 1990 | 4.22 million hectares | +1.3% |
| 1991 | 4.32 million hectares | +2.4% |
| 1992 | 4.27 million hectares | -1.2% |
| 1993 | 4.27 million hectares | +0.0% |
| 1994 | 4.07 million hectares | -4.7% |
| 1995 | 4.28 million hectares | +5.2% |
| 1996 | 4.38 million hectares | +2.3% |
| 1997 | 4.43 million hectares | +1.1% |
| 1998 | 4.58 million hectares | +3.4% |
| 1999 | 4.68 million hectares | +2.2% |
| 2000 | 4.73 million hectares | +1.1% |
| 2001 | 4.83 million hectares | +2.1% |
| 2002 | 4.83 million hectares | +0.0% |
| 2003 | 4.98 million hectares | +3.1% |
| 2004 | 4.98 million hectares | +0.0% |
| 2005 | 5.18 million hectares | +4.0% |
| 2006 | 5.29 million hectares | +2.0% |
| 2007 | 5.29 million hectares | +0.0% |
| 2008 | 5.43 million hectares | +2.8% |
| 2009 | 5.49 million hectares | +0.9% |
| 2010 | 5.49 million hectares | +0.0% |
| 2011 | 5.49 million hectares | +0.0% |
| 2012 | 5.49 million hectares | +0.0% |
| 2013 | 5.54 million hectares | +1.1% |
| 2014 | 5.65 million hectares | +1.9% |
| 2015 | 5.71 million hectares | +1.0% |
| 2016 | 5.76 million hectares | +1.0% |
| 2017 | 5.82 million hectares | +1.0% |
| 2018 | 5.87 million hectares | +1.0% |
| 2019 | 5.93 million hectares | +0.9% |
| 2020 | 5.98 million hectares | +0.9% |
| 2021 | 6.05 million hectares | +1.1% |
| 2022 | 6.05 million hectares | +0.0% |
| 2023 | 6.12 million hectares | +1.2% |
| 2024 | 6.17 million hectares | +0.8% |
| 2025 | 6.21 million hectares | +0.8% |
Malawi compared with similar countries
- Malawi's 6.21 million hectares is below the median for low income countries, which is 14.70 million hectares, 42% of the median. (24 countries reporting)
- Malawi's 6.21 million hectares is below the median for Sub-Saharan Africa, which is 13.68 million hectares, 45% of the median. (46 countries reporting)
Biggest year-on-year movements
Years where Agricultural area 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% | 683,077 hectares | 878,347 hectares |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1000s | 291,913 hectares | 291,913 hectares | 291,913 hectares | 1 |
| 1100s | 350,296 hectares | 350,296 hectares | 350,296 hectares | 1 |
| 1200s | 408,678 hectares | 408,678 hectares | 408,678 hectares | 1 |
| 1300s | 467,061 hectares | 467,061 hectares | 467,061 hectares | 1 |
| 1400s | 525,444 hectares | 525,444 hectares | 525,444 hectares | 1 |
| 1500s | 583,826 hectares | 583,826 hectares | 583,826 hectares | 1 |
| 1600s | 633,451 hectares | 633,451 hectares | 633,451 hectares | 1 |
| 1700s | 683,077 hectares | 683,077 hectares | 683,077 hectares | 1 |
| 1710s | 878,347 hectares | 878,347 hectares | 878,347 hectares | 1 |
| 1720s | 1.07 million hectares | 1.07 million hectares | 1.07 million hectares | 1 |
| 1730s | 1.27 million hectares | 1.27 million hectares | 1.27 million hectares | 1 |
| 1740s | 1.46 million hectares | 1.46 million hectares | 1.46 million hectares | 1 |
| 1750s | 1.66 million hectares | 1.66 million hectares | 1.66 million hectares | 1 |
| 1760s | 1.80 million hectares | 1.80 million hectares | 1.80 million hectares | 1 |
| 1770s | 1.93 million hectares | 1.93 million hectares | 1.93 million hectares | 1 |
| 1780s | 2.05 million hectares | 2.05 million hectares | 2.05 million hectares | 1 |
| 1790s | 2.16 million hectares | 2.16 million hectares | 2.16 million hectares | 1 |
| 1800s | 2.27 million hectares | 2.27 million hectares | 2.27 million hectares | 1 |
| 1810s | 2.36 million hectares | 2.36 million hectares | 2.36 million hectares | 1 |
| 1820s | 2.46 million hectares | 2.46 million hectares | 2.46 million hectares | 1 |
| 1830s | 2.54 million hectares | 2.54 million hectares | 2.54 million hectares | 1 |
| 1840s | 2.62 million hectares | 2.62 million hectares | 2.62 million hectares | 1 |
| 1850s | 2.69 million hectares | 2.69 million hectares | 2.69 million hectares | 1 |
| 1860s | 2.60 million hectares | 2.60 million hectares | 2.60 million hectares | 1 |
| 1870s | 2.51 million hectares | 2.51 million hectares | 2.51 million hectares | 1 |
| 1880s | 2.40 million hectares | 2.40 million hectares | 2.40 million hectares | 1 |
| 1890s | 2.38 million hectares | 2.38 million hectares | 2.38 million hectares | 1 |
| 1900s | 2.22 million hectares | 2.22 million hectares | 2.22 million hectares | 1 |
| 1910s | 2.00 million hectares | 2.00 million hectares | 2.00 million hectares | 1 |
| 1920s | 1.87 million hectares | 1.87 million hectares | 1.87 million hectares | 1 |
| 1930s | 2.12 million hectares | 2.12 million hectares | 2.12 million hectares | 1 |
| 1940s | 2.37 million hectares | 2.37 million hectares | 2.37 million hectares | 1 |
| 1950s | 2.93 million hectares | 2.77 million hectares | 3.06 million hectares | 10 |
| 1960s | 3.47 million hectares | 3.09 million hectares | 3.76 million hectares | 10 |
| 1970s | 3.91 million hectares | 3.71 million hectares | 3.97 million hectares | 10 |
| 1980s | 4.02 million hectares | 3.83 million hectares | 4.17 million hectares | 10 |
| 1990s | 4.35 million hectares | 4.07 million hectares | 4.68 million hectares | 10 |
| 2000s | 5.10 million hectares | 4.73 million hectares | 5.49 million hectares | 10 |
| 2010s | 5.67 million hectares | 5.49 million hectares | 5.93 million hectares | 10 |
| 2020s | 6.10 million hectares | 5.98 million hectares | 6.21 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 agricultural area over the long-term in Malawi?
- Agricultural area over the long-term in Malawi was 6.21 million hectares in 2025, according to HYDE (2025) – with minor processing by Our World in Data.
- What is the highest agricultural area over the long-term recorded in Malawi?
- The highest recorded value was 6.21 million hectares in 2025.
- What is the lowest agricultural area over the long-term recorded in Malawi?
- The lowest recorded value was 291,913 hectares in 1000.
- How does Malawi rank for agricultural area over the long-term?
- Malawi ranks 81st out of 202 countries with data for 2025.
- Is agricultural area over the long-term rising or falling in Malawi?
- Over the last ten years it is up 8.9%. The long-run trend across the full record is rising.
- 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 Agricultural area 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 agricultural area for each separate country over time.