Energy intensity in Malawi
Malawi: Energy intensity was 3.33 megajoules per international-$ in 2021 prices in 2022. ▼ Falling
Energy intensity in Malawi, 2000–2022
Source: International Energy Agency (IEA), International Renewable Energy Agency (IRENA), UN Statistics Division, World Health Organization (WHO), and World Bank (2026) – processed by Our World in Data. Measured in megajoules per international-$ in 2021 prices.
Analysis
Malawi recorded 3.33 megajoules per international-$ in 2021 prices for energy intensity in 2022.
That represents a change of up 9.5% on the previous year and down 10.2% over ten years.
Over the whole period, energy intensity in Malawi peaked at 5.56 megajoules per international-$ in 2021 prices in 2002 and was at its lowest, 3.04 megajoules per international-$ in 2021 prices, in 2021.
That places Malawi 122nd out of 201 countries with data for 2022, putting it in the middle of the range.
The long-run direction has been consistently falling across the 23 years of available data.
Energy intensity in Malawi, year by year
| Year | megajoules per international-$ in 2021 prices | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 2000 | 5.25 megajoules per international-$ in 2021 prices | — |
| 2001 | 5.42 megajoules per international-$ in 2021 prices | +3.2% |
| 2002 | 5.56 megajoules per international-$ in 2021 prices | +2.6% |
| 2003 | 5.33 megajoules per international-$ in 2021 prices | -4.1% |
| 2004 | 5.13 megajoules per international-$ in 2021 prices | -3.8% |
| 2005 | 5 megajoules per international-$ in 2021 prices | -2.5% |
| 2006 | 4.76 megajoules per international-$ in 2021 prices | -4.8% |
| 2007 | 4.51 megajoules per international-$ in 2021 prices | -5.3% |
| 2008 | 4.38 megajoules per international-$ in 2021 prices | -2.9% |
| 2009 | 4.07 megajoules per international-$ in 2021 prices | -7.1% |
| 2010 | 3.79 megajoules per international-$ in 2021 prices | -6.9% |
| 2011 | 3.72 megajoules per international-$ in 2021 prices | -1.8% |
| 2012 | 3.71 megajoules per international-$ in 2021 prices | -0.3% |
| 2013 | 3.56 megajoules per international-$ in 2021 prices | -4.0% |
| 2014 | 3.33 megajoules per international-$ in 2021 prices | -6.5% |
| 2015 | 3.31 megajoules per international-$ in 2021 prices | -0.6% |
| 2016 | 3.3 megajoules per international-$ in 2021 prices | -0.3% |
| 2017 | 3.18 megajoules per international-$ in 2021 prices | -3.6% |
| 2018 | 3.26 megajoules per international-$ in 2021 prices | +2.5% |
| 2019 | 3.16 megajoules per international-$ in 2021 prices | -3.1% |
| 2020 | 3.11 megajoules per international-$ in 2021 prices | -1.6% |
| 2021 | 3.04 megajoules per international-$ in 2021 prices | -2.3% |
| 2022 | 3.33 megajoules per international-$ in 2021 prices | +9.5% |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2000s | 4.94 megajoules per international-$ in 2021 prices | 4.07 megajoules per international-$ in 2021 prices | 5.56 megajoules per international-$ in 2021 prices | 10 |
| 2010s | 3.43 megajoules per international-$ in 2021 prices | 3.16 megajoules per international-$ in 2021 prices | 3.79 megajoules per international-$ in 2021 prices | 10 |
| 2020s | 3.16 megajoules per international-$ in 2021 prices | 3.04 megajoules per international-$ in 2021 prices | 3.33 megajoules per international-$ in 2021 prices | 3 |
Countries ranked near Malawi
- 119 Belgium 3.4 megajoules per international-$ in 2021 prices compare
- 119 Paraguay 3.4 megajoules per international-$ in 2021 prices compare
- 121 Jordan 3.39 megajoules per international-$ in 2021 prices compare
- 123 Cote d'Ivoire 3.3 megajoules per international-$ in 2021 prices compare
- 124 Argentina 3.29 megajoules per international-$ in 2021 prices compare
- 125 Ecuador 3.26 megajoules per international-$ in 2021 prices compare
- 125 El Salvador 3.26 megajoules per international-$ in 2021 prices compare
More energy & mining data for Malawi
- Fuel imports 16.5% (2024)
- Ores and metals imports 1.0% (2024)
- Ores and metals exports 0.8% (2024)
- Gas production 0 terawatt-hours (2024)
- Fossil fuel production per person, by fuel 0 kilowatt-hours per person (2024)
- Fossil fuel production by fuel 0 terawatt-hours (2024)
- Gas production per person 0 kilowatt-hours per person (2024)
- Fossil fuel production by fuel, per capita 0 terawatt-hours per person (2024)
- Fossil fuel production by fuel, per unit of GDP 0 terawatt-hours per US$ of GDP (2024)
- Gas production, per capita 0 terawatt-hours per person (2024)
Frequently asked questions
- What is energy intensity in Malawi?
- Energy intensity in Malawi was 3.33 megajoules per international-$ in 2021 prices in 2022, according to International Energy Agency (IEA), International Renewable Energy Agency (IRENA), UN Statistics Division, World Health Organization (WHO), and World Bank (2026) – processed by Our World in Data.
- What is the highest energy intensity recorded in Malawi?
- The highest recorded value was 5.56 megajoules per international-$ in 2021 prices in 2002.
- What is the lowest energy intensity recorded in Malawi?
- The lowest recorded value was 3.04 megajoules per international-$ in 2021 prices in 2021.
- How does Malawi rank for energy intensity?
- Malawi ranks 122nd out of 201 countries with data for 2022.
- Is energy intensity rising or falling in Malawi?
- Over the last ten years it is down 10.2%. The long-run trend across the full record is falling.
- Where does this Malawi data come from?
- The figures come from International Energy Agency (IEA), International Renewable Energy Agency (IRENA), UN Statistics Division, World Health Organization (WHO), and World Bank (2026) – processed by Our World in Data, published as part of Energy intensity. Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
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About this data
Amount of energy needed to produce one unit of economic output. A lower number means that economies produce economic value in a less energy-intensive way. This data is measured in megajoules per dollar, adjusted for inflation and differences in living costs between countries.