Cotton lint production in Malawi
In 2023 Malawi produced 4,000 t of cotton lint, the 51st largest in the world (0.02% of the world total). Over ten years it fell by 91%. The record was 65,000 t in 2012.
The 2023 figure is estimated by FAO.
- Production, 2023
- 4,000 t
- World rank
- 51 of 84
- 10-year change
- −91%
- Record
- 65,000 t
- 2012
Cotton lint in Malawi, 1961–2023 (tonnes)
Malawi compared with the world, 2023
- Share of world total
- 0.02%
- 0.17% in 2013
- 10-year change
- −91%
- world +0.2%
Position in the world ranking
| # | Country | Tonnes | Share |
|---|---|---|---|
| 49 | Madagascar | 4,801 | 0.02% |
| 50 | Senegal | 4,500 | 0.02% |
| 51 | Malawi | 4,000 | 0.02% |
| 52 | Bolivia | 2,481 | 0.01% |
| 53 | Nicaragua | 2,299 | 0.01% |
Map of world production of cotton lint
Share of the world total; Malawi is outlined. Small island states are not drawn at this scale.
By year
| Year | Tonnes | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 2023 | 4,000 | −27% |
| 2022 | 5,500 | −8.3% |
| 2021 | 6,000 | −57% |
| 2020 | 14,000 | +159% |
| 2019 | 5,400 | −13% |
| 2018 | 6,176 | −21% |
| 2017 | 7,823 | −5.0% |
| 2016 | 8,234 | −70% |
| 2015 | 27,173 | −23% |
| 2014 | 35,334 | −17% |
| 2013 | 42,400 | −35% |
| 2012 | 65,000 | +364% |
| 2011 | 14,000 | +77% |
| 2010 | 7,900 | −58% |
| 2009 | 19,000 | −7.3% |
| 2008 | 20,500 | +14% |
| 2007 | 18,000 | +13% |
| 2006 | 16,000 | +14% |
| 2005 | 14,000 | −4.4% |
| 2004 | 14,650 | +44% |
| 2003 | 10,200 | +2.0% |
| 2002 | 10,000 | +1.0% |
| 2001 | 9,900 | +2.1% |
| 2000 | 9,700 | −28% |
| 1999 | 13,500 | +42% |
| 1998 | 9,500 | −19% |
| 1997 | 11,700 | −46% |
| 1996 | 21,500 | +21% |
| 1995 | 17,700 | +302% |
| 1994 | 4,400 | −63% |
| 1993 | 11,800 | +237% |
| 1992 | 3,500 | −68% |
| 1991 | 11,100 | +29% |
| 1990 | 8,600 | −5.5% |
| 1989 | 9,100 | +20% |
| 1988 | 7,600 | +39% |
| 1987 | 5,449 | −42% |
| 1986 | 9,421 | −21% |
| 1985 | 11,988 | +41% |
| 1984 | 8,476 | +148% |
| 1983 | 3,415 | −41% |
| 1982 | 5,743 | −32% |
| 1981 | 8,435 | +41% |
| 1980 | 6,000 | −33% |
| 1979 | 9,000 | +13% |
| 1978 | 8,000 | +15% |
| 1977 | 6,979 | +26% |
| 1976 | 5,517 | −1.8% |
| 1975 | 5,619 | −21% |
| 1974 | 7,089 | +33% |
| 1973 | 5,348 | −26% |
| 1972 | 7,242 | −1.7% |
| 1971 | 7,365 | +3.5% |
| 1970 | 7,114 | +19% |
| 1969 | 5,961 | +56% |
| 1968 | 3,831 | −3.2% |
| 1967 | 3,957 | −7.4% |
| 1966 | 4,273 | −36% |
| 1965 | 6,706 | +65% |
| 1964 | 4,053 | +26% |
| 1963 | 3,212 | −44% |
| 1962 | 5,755 | +77% |
| 1961 | 3,256 | — |
Trade, 2024
- Exports
- 549 t USD 2.0 m
- Exporter rank
- 51 of 105
- Imports
- 4 t USD 40,000
- Importer rank
- 120 of 148
FAOSTAT detailed trade data, release of 23 July 2026; quantities in tonnes, values in current US dollars; exports include re-exports. World exporters and importers
Questions and answers
What is the production of cotton lint in Malawi?
Malawi produced 4,000 t in 2023, 0.02% of the world total, according to FAOSTAT.
Where does Malawi rank in the world for production of cotton lint?
Malawi ranked 51st of 84 countries in 2023. The largest producer was China with 22.7% of the world total.
How has the production of cotton lint in Malawi changed?
It fell by 91% between 2013 and 2023, compared with +0.2% for the world. The record was 65,000 t in 2012.
Does Malawi export or import cotton lint, ginned?
In 2024 Malawi reported exports of 549 t (USD 2.0 m) and imports of 4 t (USD 40,000), according to FAOSTAT trade data.
Where does this data come from?
From FAOSTAT, the statistics database of the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations; the 2023 figure for Malawi is estimated by FAO. Shares, ranks and per-person figures are calculated by Husfarm.
Other large producers
Source: FAO. 2025. FAOSTAT: Crops and livestock products. Accessed on 4 November 2026. fao.org/faostat. Licence: CC BY 4.0. Charts, rankings and changes calculated by Husfarm.