Share of electricity generation from fossil fuels in Malawi
Malawi: Share of electricity generation from fossil fuels was 4.4% in 2024. ◆ Volatile
Share of electricity generation from fossil fuels in Malawi, 2000–2024
Source: Ember (2026) and other sources – with major processing by Our World in Data. Measured in %.
Analysis
The most recent figure for share of electricity generation from fossil fuels in Malawi is 4.4%, measured in 2024.
Compared with earlier readings it is down 20.9% over ten years.
Over the whole period, share of electricity generation from fossil fuels in Malawi peaked at 18.2% in 2018 and was at its lowest, 0.0%, in 2017.
That places Malawi 195th out of 213 countries with data for 2024, putting it in the bottom quarter.
The series is highly variable year to year, so single readings are best treated with caution.
Share of electricity generation from fossil fuels in Malawi, year by year
| Year | % | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 2000 | 9.9% | — |
| 2001 | 9.0% | -9.1% |
| 2002 | 9.4% | +4.0% |
| 2003 | 7.6% | -18.6% |
| 2004 | 9.5% | +24.8% |
| 2005 | 10.5% | +9.8% |
| 2006 | 10.8% | +3.5% |
| 2007 | 9.5% | -12.3% |
| 2008 | 7.1% | -25.6% |
| 2009 | 7.2% | +1.8% |
| 2010 | 6.2% | -13.0% |
| 2011 | 6.1% | -2.5% |
| 2012 | 6.3% | +4.1% |
| 2013 | 6.3% | +0.0% |
| 2014 | 5.5% | -12.8% |
| 2015 | 6.0% | +8.3% |
| 2016 | 6.0% | +0.9% |
| 2017 | 0.0% | -100.0% |
| 2018 | 18.2% | — |
| 2019 | 3.9% | -78.7% |
| 2020 | 0.6% | -85.3% |
| 2021 | 4.4% | +665.0% |
| 2022 | 4.4% | +0.0% |
| 2023 | 4.4% | +0.0% |
| 2024 | 4.4% | +0.0% |
Malawi compared with similar countries
- Malawi's 4.4% is below the median for low income countries, which is 50.4%, 9% of the median. (25 countries reporting)
- Malawi's 4.4% is below the median for Sub-Saharan Africa, which is 67.9%, 6% of the median. (48 countries reporting)
Biggest year-on-year movements
Years where Share of electricity generation from fossil fuels 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2021 | +665.0% | 0.6% | 4.4% |
| 2017 | -100.0% | 6.0% | 0.0% |
| 2020 | -85.3% | 3.9% | 0.6% |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2000s | 9.0% | 7.1% | 10.8% | 10 |
| 2010s | 6.5% | 0.0% | 18.2% | 10 |
| 2020s | 3.6% | 0.6% | 4.4% | 5 |
Countries ranked near Malawi
More energy & mining data for Malawi
- Primary energy from fossil nuclear renewables, per unit of GDP 0 units per US$ of GDP (2024)
- Fuel imports 19.8% (2025)
- Ores and metals imports 1.0% (2025)
- Fuel exports 0.0% (2025)
- Ores and metals exports 0.6% (2025)
- 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)
Frequently asked questions
- What is share of electricity generation from fossil fuels in Malawi?
- Share of electricity generation from fossil fuels in Malawi was 4.4% in 2024, according to Ember (2026) and other sources – with major processing by Our World in Data.
- What is the highest share of electricity generation from fossil fuels recorded in Malawi?
- The highest recorded value was 18.2% in 2018.
- What is the lowest share of electricity generation from fossil fuels recorded in Malawi?
- The lowest recorded value was 0.0% in 2017.
- How does Malawi rank for share of electricity generation from fossil fuels?
- Malawi ranks 195th out of 213 countries with data for 2024.
- Is share of electricity generation from fossil fuels rising or falling in Malawi?
- Over the last ten years it is down 20.9%. The long-run trend across the full record is volatile.
- Where does this Malawi data come from?
- The figures come from Ember (2026) and other sources – with major processing by Our World in Data, published as part of Share of electricity generation from fossil fuels. Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
Download this data
CSV · JSON — 25 observations, free to reuse under CC BY 4.0 (Our World in Data).
About this data
Electricity generation from coal, oil, and gas, measured as a percentage of total electricity produced in the country or region.