Malawi: environment

How many people in Malawi have electricity?

15.6% of Malawi's population had access to electricity in 2024, according to the World Bank. The National Statistical Office Sixth Integrated Household Survey (IHS6) found that about 15% of households used electricity for lighting in 2024/25, while 63.6% relied on batteries and torches.

The survey also found that 97.4% of households used solid fuel for cooking, mostly firewood, which 75.9% of households used. The World Bank figure counts people in households with an electricity connection, including off-grid solar.

Official sources: World Bank: Access to electricity, Malawi · NSO Malawi: Sixth Integrated Household Survey (IHS6) 2024-2025, main report (PDF)

What are the CO2 emissions of Malawi?

Malawi's carbon dioxide emissions were 0.22 tonnes per person in 2024, according to the World Bank, which takes the figures from the EDGAR database.

The figure covers carbon dioxide from fossil fuels and industrial processes, divided by the population, and excludes emissions from land use and forestry. Other greenhouse gases, such as methane and nitrous oxide, are counted separately. For context, the World Bank puts access to electricity at 15.6% of the population in 2024.

Official sources: World Bank: CO2 emissions per capita, Malawi · World Bank: Access to electricity, Malawi

How much of Malawi is forest?

22.0% of Malawi's land area was forest in 2024, according to the World Bank, based on FAO Global Forest Resources Assessment data.

Forest area counts land with trees at least 5 metres tall covering more than 10% of the ground, and excludes tree stands in farms and urban parks. The National Statistical Office IHS6 survey found that 75.9% of households cooked with firewood in 2024/25.

Official sources: World Bank: Forest area (% of land area), Malawi · NSO Malawi: Sixth Integrated Household Survey (IHS6) 2024-2025, main report (PDF)

What are Malawi's CO2 emissions per person?

According to the European Commission's EDGAR database, carbon dioxide emissions per person in Malawi was 0.2 tonnes in 2024. That is the lowest since at least 2005. It is 32nd highest of 47 in Sub-Saharan Africa, where the median is 0.4 tonnes. Of 186 countries with 2024 data, 167th highest.

What are Malawi's total greenhouse gas emissions?

In 2024, total greenhouse gas emissions in Malawi was 19.0 million tonnes of CO2 equivalent, according to the European Commission's EDGAR database. No year since 2005 has been higher. Across Sub-Saharan Africa the middle value was 24.6 million tonnes of CO2 equivalent, and Malawi placed 26th highest of 47. Of 186 countries with 2024 data, 121st highest.

What share of Malawi's energy comes from renewables?

The latest figure from the IEA, IRENA, the UN Statistics Division, the World Bank and the WHO, for 2022, is 62.9%. It is the bottom of the series, which starts in 2005. Sub-Saharan Africa median: 70.0%; Malawi is 15th highest of 23. Worldwide: 16th of 53.

How much of Malawi is forest?

The FAO puts forest area as a share of land in Malawi at 22.0% in 2024. It is the bottom of the series, which starts in 2005. Sub-Saharan Africa median: 22.2%; Malawi is 25th highest of 48. Worldwide: 116th of 190.

What is air pollution like in Malawi?

16.7 micrograms per cubic metre: that is average exposure to fine particle air pollution (PM2.5) in Malawi for 2023, according to the Global Burden of Disease study. Since 2005 it has ranged from 15.7 micrograms per cubic metre (2021) to 21.4 micrograms per cubic metre (2008). It is 39th highest of 48 in Sub-Saharan Africa, where the median is 27.5 micrograms per cubic metre. Worldwide: 103rd of 192.

What share of Malawi is protected land?

The latest figure from the UN Environment Programme, for 2025, is 23.1%. It is the top of the series, which starts in 2013. Sub-Saharan Africa median: 16.9%; Malawi is 17th highest of 48. Worldwide: 57th of 192.

What is water stress in Malawi?

In 2022, water stress in Malawi was 17.5%, according to the FAO. The figure has been the same every year since 2005. It is 11th highest of 47 in Sub-Saharan Africa, where the median is 5.1%. World rank, highest first: 70th of 175.