Wildfires worldwide · Country
Malawi: wildfires seen from space, 2000-2026
From November 2000 to 15 October 2026, NASA's MODIS satellites detected 234,606 vegetation fires in this country.
- Fires detected since 2000
- 234,606
- World rank
- #54 of 223
- Share of the world
- 0.2%
- Record year
- 2005
- 20-year change (Aqua)
- −28%
Fires detected per year
Terra from November 2000, Aqua from July 2002. 2026 runs to 15 October.
Year by year data
| Year | Detections |
|---|---|
| 2001 | 3,294 |
| 2002 | 9,196 |
| 2003 | 11,956 |
| 2004 | 9,272 |
| 2005 | 13,131 |
| 2006 | 9,139 |
| 2007 | 11,567 |
| 2008 | 12,521 |
| 2009 | 9,299 |
| 2010 | 10,328 |
| 2011 | 11,200 |
| 2012 | 12,305 |
| 2013 | 10,643 |
| 2014 | 8,945 |
| 2015 | 10,070 |
| 2016 | 10,022 |
| 2017 | 7,855 |
| 2018 | 8,218 |
| 2019 | 8,608 |
| 2020 | 8,498 |
| 2021 | 7,660 |
| 2022 | 6,198 |
| 2023 | 6,803 |
| 2024 | 7,716 |
| 2025 | 6,402 |
| 2026 | 3,724 |
Fire season: average detections per month, 2003-2025
In short
2005 is the year with the most detections (13,131); the record month is October 2012, with 3,721.
The fire season is concentrated between August and October: these three months hold 67% of an average year's detections.
Against 2003-2012, yearly detections in 2016-2025 fell by 28% (Aqua satellite).
The average radiative power of a detection (Aqua satellite) went from 33.5 MW in 2003-2012 to 31.0 MW in 2016-2025.
In 2026 (to 15 October): 3,724 detections.
Method and sourcesFrequently asked questions
Malawi: frequently asked questions
Malawi: how many wildfires are there each year?
On average 9,494 vegetation fires detected a year by the MODIS satellites in 2003-2025, with a high of 13,131 in 2005.
Malawi: are wildfires increasing?
Against 2003-2012, yearly detections in 2016-2025 fell by 28% (Aqua satellite).
Malawi: when is the fire season?
The fire season is concentrated between August and October: these three months hold 67% of an average year's detections.
Malawi: what was the worst year for wildfires?
2005, with 13,131 detections. The record month was October 2012, with 3,721.
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