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
🌱

plants

96

96 threatened

🐟

fishes

43

43 threatened

🐦

birds

20

20 threatened

🦗

insects

17

17 threatened

🐾

mammals

8

8 threatened

🐸

amphibians

7

7 threatened

🐚

molluscs

7

7 threatened

🐢

reptiles

4

4 threatened

🍄

fungi

4

4 threatened

Global Share

0.37%

of globally threatened species

Country Rank

#133

of 250 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 on SpeciesRadar — 45 of those are Critically Endangered, facing an extremely high risk of extinction. The figures combine IUCN Red List data with national red list assessments where available.
How many Critically Endangered, Endangered, and Vulnerable species does Malawi have?
Of the 206 threatened species in Malawi, 45 are Critically Endangered, 74 are Endangered, and 87 are Vulnerable. Together these three IUCN Red List categories make up the "threatened" total.
What is the most endangered species in Malawi?
Among the 45 Critically Endangered species in Malawi, Blue Orchid Aulonocara (Aulonocara kandeense) is one of the most at-risk — featured prominently on the country dashboard. The full list of Critically Endangered species is filterable on the Species tab.
What protected areas exist in Malawi?
SpeciesRadar does not yet catalogue protected areas for Malawi. Where available, protected-area data is drawn from the World Database on Protected Areas (WDPA) and national designations.
Which animal and plant groups are most threatened in Malawi?
The most affected groups in Malawi, by number of threatened species, are plants (96), fishes (43), and birds (20). The full taxonomic breakdown is shown on the country dashboard.
What are the biggest threats to wildlife in Malawi?
The leading threats to threatened species in Malawi are annual & perennial non-timber crops, logging & wood harvesting, fishing & harvesting aquatic resources, and fire & fire suppression. Each threat is mapped to the species it affects in the country's threat breakdown.
How many threatened species are found only in Malawi?
Malawi has 51 threatened species that are endemic — found nowhere else on Earth. Because their entire global population depends on this one country, they are especially vulnerable to local habitat loss.
How many of Malawi's threatened species have declining populations?
101 of Malawi's threatened species have populations that are still declining. Reversing these trends is the central focus of the conservation work the country dashboard tracks.
How does Malawi compare to other countries for threatened species?
Malawi ranks #133 of 250 countries by number of threatened species, and accounts for roughly 0.37% of all threatened species tracked worldwide. Threat is geographically concentrated, so a high rank reflects both rich biodiversity and intense pressure on it.
Where does the data for Malawi come from, and can I download it?
SpeciesRadar draws on the IUCN Red List, the Global Biodiversity Information Facility (GBIF), the World Database on Protected Areas, and national red lists. Every table on the Malawi profile — species, national red list, and protected areas — can be downloaded as a CSV spreadsheet or a branded PDF report.