Climate zones in Malawi, 1991 to 2020
Share of Malawi's classified land in each Köppen-Geiger zone in 1991 to 2020. Zones under 0.05% are left out. The 143,446 map cells used cover 100% of the country's outline (about 119,839 km²).
By major group: C (temperate) 50%, A (tropical) 49%, B (arid) 1.6%.
Malawi has no single dominant climate. The biggest zone, Aw (tropical savannah), covers only 49% of its classified land in 1991 to 2020, followed by Cwa (40%) and Cwb (9.7%). 4 zones each cover 1% or more of it. In plain terms, tropical savannah means hot all year, with a clear dry season. Under the middle-of-the-road scenario (SSP2-4.5), 46% of its land is projected to be in a different zone by 2071 to 2099, with the biggest gain going to Aw (tropical savannah).
How Malawi's zones have changed and may change
Each row compares a map with 1991 to 2020. "Share in a different zone" is the share of the country's area whose class is different from 1991 to 2020. Future rows are model projections under an emissions scenario, not forecasts.
| Map | Share in a different zone | Different major group | Biggest gain | Biggest loss |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1901 to 1930 (past) | 11% | 7.2% | Aw +5.1 percentage points | Cwb -3.3 percentage points |
| 2071 to 2099, SSP1-2.6 (low emissions) | 21% | 16% | Aw +12.4 percentage points | Cwa -8.2 percentage points |
| 2071 to 2099, SSP2-4.5 (middle of the road) | 46% | 39% | Aw +31.9 percentage points | Cwa -28.2 percentage points |
| 2071 to 2099, SSP5-8.5 (high emissions) | 56% | 52% | Aw +36.8 percentage points | Cwa -37.1 percentage points |
For the past row, the comparison runs the other way: the 1901 to 1930 map against 1991 to 2020.
Zone shares by map
| Zone | 1901 to 1930 | 1991 to 2020 | SSP1-2.6 (2071 to 2099) | SSP2-4.5 (2071 to 2099) | SSP5-8.5 (2071 to 2099) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Aw Tropical savannah | 43% | 49% | 61% | 80% | 85% |
| Cwa Humid subtropical with dry winter | 43% | 40% | 32% | 12% | 3.2% |
| Cwb Subtropical highland (dry winter) | 13% | 9.7% | 3.9% | 2.2% | 1% |
| BSh Hot semi-arid (steppe) | 0.8% | 1.6% | 3.1% | 5.4% | 11% |
Percentages are of the country's classified land in each map. A dash means under 0.05%.
Cities in Malawi and their climate zones
| City | 1991 to 2020 | 2071 to 2099, SSP2-4.5 |
|---|---|---|
| Lilongwe | Cwa Humid subtropical with dry winter | Aw Tropical savannah |
| Blantyre | Cwa Humid subtropical with dry winter | Aw Tropical savannah |
Zones found in Malawi
Data: Beck et al. (2023), CC BY 4.0; country outlines from Natural Earth. In 1901 to 1930 the most common zone was Aw. See data sources and licences.