Malawi

206 threatened species · Biodiversity Intelligence Dashboard

Threatened Species

206

CR + EN + VU

Critically Endangered

45

Highest risk

Endangered

74

Very high risk

Vulnerable

87

High risk

Declining

49%

101 species

Category Breakdown
CR 45
EN 74
VU 87
CR: 45
EN: 74
VU: 87

Critically Endangered

4522%

Extremely high risk of extinction in the wild.

Endangered

7436%

Very high risk of extinction in the wild.

Vulnerable

8742%

High risk of extinction in the wild.

Threatened total — 206 species

Species by Group
🐾

mammals

8

8 threatened

🐦

birds

20

20 threatened

🐢

reptiles

4

4 threatened

🐸

amphibians

7

7 threatened

🐟

fishes

43

43 threatened

🦗

insects

17

17 threatened

🌱

plants

96

96 threatened

Global Share

0.38%

of globally threatened species

Country Rank

#134

of 277 countries

Endemic Threatened

51

Found only here

Top Threats
1.Annual & perennial non-timber crops92 species
2.Logging & wood harvesting77 species
3.Fishing & harvesting aquatic resources59 species
4.Fire & fire suppression39 species
5.Hunting & trapping terrestrial animals35 species
6.Invasive non-native/alien species/diseases31 species
7.Agricultural & forestry effluents30 species
8.Housing & urban areas28 species

How to Cite

IUCN: IUCN (2025). The IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. Version 2025-1. Available at: https://www.iucnredlist.org. doi:10.2305/IUCN.UK.2025-1.RLTS

GBIF: GBIF.org (2025). GBIF Home Page. Available at: https://www.gbif.org

This page: SpeciesRadar (2026). Malawi: Biodiversity Dashboard. SpeciesRadar: Intelligence for Earth's Biodiversity. Available at: https://speciesradar.org/countries/MW

Species counts reflect IUCN Red List threatened categories (CR, EN, VU). · Full citation guide & data usage terms

Frequently asked questions

How many threatened species are in Malawi?
Malawi has 206 threatened species recorded in the SpeciesRadar database — 45 of those are Critically Endangered (CR), facing an extremely high risk of extinction. The figures combine IUCN Red List data with national red list assessments where available.
What is the most endangered species in Malawi?
Among the 45 Critically Endangered species in Malawi, Lanistes nasutus is one of the most at-risk — featured prominently on the country dashboard. The full list of CR species is filterable on the country page.
What protected areas exist in Malawi?
Protected area coverage for Malawi is summarised on the country dashboard, drawing on the World Database on Protected Areas (WDPA) and national park designations.