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Forest cover — all countries

Forest cover — Malawi

Forest cover in Malawi in 2023 — 22.44%. Ranked 127 in the world out of 213. Since 1990, the indicator has fallen by 14.7 pp.

2023 22.44% −0.45 pp vs 2022
World rank 127of 213
Period maximum 37.14%1990
Period minimum 22.44%2023

Trend over time

1990–2023 · % of land area

Forest cover — Malawi, 1990–202320253035401990199419982002200620102014201820221990: 37.14%1991: 36.7%1992: 36.25%1993: 35.81%1994: 35.36%1995: 34.91%1996: 34.47%1997: 34.02%1998: 33.58%1999: 33.13%2000: 32.69%2001: 32.24%2002: 31.8%2003: 31.35%2004: 30.9%2005: 30.46%2006: 30.01%2007: 29.57%2008: 29.12%2009: 28.68%2010: 28.23%2011: 27.79%2012: 27.34%2013: 26.9%2014: 26.45%2015: 26%2016: 25.56%2017: 25.11%2018: 24.67%2019: 24.22%2020: 23.78%2021: 23.33%2022: 22.89%2023: 22.44%
Change over the period: −14.7 pp Annual average: -0.45 pp

Comparison, 2023

How the value compares with the world and the groups this territory belongs to: Malawi

Malawi 22.44%
World 31.1%
Sub-Saharan Africa 25.74%
Eastern Africa computed 28.29%
Low-income countries computed 19.86%
Forest cover — Malawi, by year Malawi All countries CSV XLSX
Year % Change, pp
2023 22.44 −0.45 pp
2022 22.89 −0.45 pp
2021 23.33 −0.45 pp
2020 23.78 −0.45 pp
2019 24.22 −0.45 pp
2018 24.67 −0.45 pp
2017 25.11 −0.45 pp
2016 25.56 −0.45 pp
2015 26 −0.45 pp
2014 26.45 −0.45 pp
2013 26.9 −0.45 pp
2012 27.34 −0.45 pp
2011 27.79 −0.45 pp
2010 28.23 −0.45 pp
2009 28.68 −0.45 pp
2008 29.12 −0.45 pp
2007 29.57 −0.45 pp
2006 30.01 −0.45 pp
2005 30.46 −0.45 pp
2004 30.9 −0.45 pp
2003 31.35 −0.45 pp
2002 31.8 −0.45 pp
2001 32.24 −0.45 pp
2000 32.69 −0.45 pp
1999 33.13 −0.45 pp
1998 33.58 −0.45 pp
1997 34.02 −0.45 pp
1996 34.47 −0.45 pp
1995 34.91 −0.45 pp
1994 35.36 −0.45 pp
1993 35.81 −0.45 pp
1992 36.25 −0.45 pp
1991 36.7 −0.45 pp
1990 37.14 —

Eastern Africa, 2023

The same indicator for neighboring countries — with links to their pages

SC Seychelles 73.26 ZM Zambia 59.52 TZ Tanzania 50.05 MZ Mozambique 45.81 ZW Zimbabwe 44.74 MW Malawi 22.44 MG Madagascar 21.3 MU Mauritius 19.47 KM Comoros 16.98 ET Ethiopia 14.93 SS South Sudan 11.33 RW Rwanda 11.31 UG Uganda 11.04 BI Burundi 10.89 SO Somalia 9.17 ER Eritrea 8.63 KE Kenya 6.22 DJ Djibouti 0.26
Full table for all countries

About the indicator

The share of land under natural or planted forest in the total land area. Under the FAO definition, forest is a plot larger than 0.5 hectares with trees taller than 5 meters and a canopy cover above 10 percent; crop plantations and urban parks are not counted. The estimates are updated as part of the Global Forest Resources Assessment (FRA).

Important: The aggregate for groups of countries is weighted by land area: the forest share is calculated against land area, not against the number of residents.

Source: FAOSTAT (FAO), license CC BY 4.0.

Other indicators for Malawi

Environment Forest area

The absolute area of forest in square kilometers.

Malawi by year Environment Land area

The area of a country excluding inland water bodies — the denominator for every land share.

Malawi by year Environment Protected areas

The share of land and sea under protection — nature reserves, national parks, sanctuaries.

Malawi by year Agriculture Agricultural land share

What part of the territory is used for arable land, permanent crops and pasture.

Malawi by year
All indicators for Malawi