Malawi Forest Area
Forest area as % of land area AG.LND.FRST.ZS
Malawi's forest area was 21.55% in 2025, ranked 129th globally. This represents a 4.0% decrease from 2024. Data from World Bank, covering 1990–2025.
Overview
Malawi's forest area stood at 21.55% in 2025, a decline of +0.89% from 2023. Based on recent trends, this figure is projected to reach 21.55% by 2025. Malawi ranked 129th globally.
Malawi’s forest area has contracted sharply over the past 35 years, falling from its all‑time peak of 37.14 percent in 1990 to a trough of 21.55 percent in 2025, placing the country 129th globally. This 15.59‑percentage‑point decline reflects persistent pressures from agricultural expansion, timber extraction and population growth, which have outpaced reforestation initiatives. By contrast, neighboring Burkina Faso records a slightly higher forest cover of 21.81 percent, while Madagascar stands at 21.25 percent, illustrating that Malawi’s loss is among the steeper regional declines. The downward trajectory aligns with broader Sub‑Saharan trends where forest depletion accelerates when land‑use policies remain weak and enforcement of protected areas is limited. Continued degradation could undermine ecosystem services, carbon sequestration and rural livelihoods, but scaling up community‑based forest management and integrating agroforestry into national agriculture could stabilize or even reverse the decline in the coming decade.
Data & projection
| Year | Forest Area | YoY change | Rank |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2026* trend | 21.10% | - | - |
| 2025* trend | 21.55% | - | - |
| 2025 | 21.55% | −0.89% | #129 |
| 2023 | 22.44% | −0.45% | #126 |
| 2022 | 22.89% | −0.45% | #125 |
| 2021 | 23.33% | −0.45% | #126 |
| 2020 | 23.78% | −0.45% | #124 |
| 2019 | 24.22% | −0.45% | #121 |
| 2018 | 24.67% | −0.45% | #120 |
| 2017 | 25.11% | −0.45% | #119 |
| 2016 | 25.56% | −0.45% | #119 |
| 2015 | 26.00% | −0.45% | #118 |
| 2014 | 26.45% | −0.45% | #118 |
| 2013 | 26.90% | −0.45% | #118 |
| 2012 | 27.34% | −0.45% | #118 |
| 2011 | 27.79% | −0.45% | #117 |
| 2010 | 28.23% | −0.45% | #115 |
Detected Pattern
Analysis
Malawi matched the Currency Crisis Pattern pattern in 2016. Historically, 27% of countries showing this pattern (35 out of 128) saw forest area improve within 24 months. View full analysis →
Frequently Asked Questions
Malawi's forest area was 21.55% in 2025. Ranked 129th globally. This represents a 4.0% decrease from the previous year.
Malawi's forest area peaked at 37.14% in 1990.
The lowest forest area in Malawi was 21.55% in 2025.
Malawi ranks 129th globally in forest area as of 2025.
The World Bank indicator code is AG.LND.FRST.ZS. Data sourced from World Bank.
Malawi's forest area is projected to reach 21.55% by 2025 based on trend extrapolation.
The forest area of Malawi in 2025 was 21.55%. This ranks 129th in the world.
Cite this page
@misc{historysaid_malawi_forest-area,
title = {Malawi Forest Area},
url = {https://historysaid.com/malawi/forest-area/},
publisher = {HistorySaid},
year = {2026}
}