Malawi Electricity Mix
Malawi generated 95.6% of its electricity from renewable sources in 2024, above the world average of 33.8%. Each kilowatt-hour produced emitted about 55 grams of CO₂.
Data year 2024 · Source: Ember and Energy Institute via Our World in Data
How much electricity in Malawi comes from renewables?
Renewable sources produced 95.6% of the electricity generated in Malawi in 2024. The world average was 33.8% in 2025. That is up from 90.1% in 2000. That ranks Malawi 15th of 210 countries and territories by renewable share.
Electricity mix by source
Hydro is the largest source of electricity in Malawi, at 92.3% of generation, followed by oil at 4.4% and bioenergy at 2.7%. Fossil fuels together supplied 4.4%.
Carbon intensity of electricity
Generating one kilowatt-hour of electricity in Malawi emitted about 55 grams of CO₂ in 2024, 88% below the world average of 458 g. At that rate, a business using 10,000 kWh a year would be responsible for roughly 547 kg of CO₂ from electricity.
This is an estimate based on the generation mix. For a formal carbon report, use the grid factor published by the national energy or environment agency. Our guide to emission factors explains the difference.
How Malawi compares
Countries closest to Malawi when ranked by renewable share of electricity. See the full ranking, or the CO₂ emissions of Malawi.
| # | Country | Renewables | Low-carbon | g CO₂/kWh |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 13 | Uganda | 97.1% | 97.1% | 59 |
| 14 | Eswatini | 96.7% | 96.7% | 131 |
| 15 | Malawi | 95.6% | 95.6% | 55 |
| 16 | Sierra Leone | 95.2% | 95.2% | 48 |
| 17 | Tajikistan | 94.4% | 94.4% | 73 |
Frequently asked questions
What share of electricity in Malawi is renewable?
95.6% in 2024. That is up from 90.1% in 2000. Counting nuclear as well, 95.6% of electricity came from low-carbon sources.
What is the main source of electricity in Malawi?
Hydro is the largest source of electricity in Malawi, at 92.3% of generation, followed by oil at 4.4% and bioenergy at 2.7%.
How clean is electricity in Malawi?
Generating one kilowatt-hour emitted about 55 grams of CO₂ in 2024, 88% below the world average of 458 g.
Is renewable electricity growing in Malawi?
The renewable share has risen by 5.5 percentage points, from 90.1% in 2000 to 95.6% in 2024.
About the data. Shares are percentages of the electricity generated inside the country in a year. Renewables are hydro, wind, solar, bioenergy and other renewable sources. Low-carbon adds nuclear. The latest year differs between countries and is shown on each page. Carbon intensity is an estimate of the CO₂ emitted per kilowatt-hour generated, including emissions over the life of each power source.
Source: Ember and the Energy Institute Statistical Review of World Energy, processed by Our World in Data and used under the CC BY 4.0 licence.
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