Net migration metrics in Malawi
Malawi: Net migration metrics was -5,811 in 2023. ◆ Volatile
Latest (2023)
-5,811
Change on year
down 11.1%
World rank
173rd
of 236 countries
All-time high
271,693
in 1987
All-time low
-505,365
in 1994
Years of data
74
1950–2023
Net migration metrics in Malawi, 1950–2023
Source: Our World in Data.
Analysis
Malawi recorded -5,811 for net migration metrics in 2023.
That represents a change of down 11.1% on the previous year and up 55.1% over ten years.
Over the whole period, net migration metrics in Malawi peaked at 271,693 in 1987 and was at its lowest, -505,365, in 1994.
Malawi ranks 173rd of 236 countries on this measure, in the middle of the range.
The series is highly variable year to year, so single readings are best treated with caution.
Net migration metrics in Malawi, year by year
| Year | Value | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1950 | 0 | — |
| 1951 | 0 | — |
| 1952 | 0 | — |
| 1953 | 0 | — |
| 1954 | 0 | — |
| 1955 | 0 | — |
| 1956 | 0 | — |
| 1957 | 0 | — |
| 1958 | 0 | — |
| 1959 | 0 | — |
| 1960 | 0 | — |
| 1961 | 0 | — |
| 1962 | 0 | — |
| 1963 | 0 | — |
| 1964 | 0 | — |
| 1965 | 0 | — |
| 1966 | 0 | — |
| 1967 | 0 | — |
| 1968 | -924 | — |
| 1969 | -2,266 | +145.2% |
| 1970 | -2,147 | -5.3% |
| 1971 | -710 | -66.9% |
| 1972 | 48 | -106.8% |
| 1973 | 1,623 | +3281.2% |
| 1974 | 3,833 | +136.2% |
| 1975 | 5,162 | +34.7% |
| 1976 | 8,206 | +59.0% |
| 1977 | 19,638 | +139.3% |
| 1978 | 36,225 | +84.5% |
| 1979 | 46,388 | +28.1% |
| 1980 | 52,294 | +12.7% |
| 1981 | 57,376 | +9.7% |
| 1982 | 62,661 | +9.2% |
| 1983 | 68,197 | +8.8% |
| 1984 | 72,435 | +6.2% |
| 1985 | 74,625 | +3.0% |
| 1986 | 62,615 | -16.1% |
| 1987 | 271,693 | +333.9% |
| 1988 | 201,011 | -26.0% |
| 1989 | 180,031 | -10.4% |
| 1990 | 71,111 | -60.5% |
| 1991 | 15,291 | -78.5% |
| 1992 | 37,142 | +142.9% |
| 1993 | -284,867 | -867.0% |
| 1994 | -505,365 | +77.4% |
| 1995 | -66,366 | -86.9% |
| 1996 | -66,212 | -0.2% |
| 1997 | -61,646 | -6.9% |
| 1998 | -39,491 | -35.9% |
| 1999 | -31,686 | -19.8% |
| 2000 | -28,098 | -11.3% |
| 2001 | -28,933 | +3.0% |
| 2002 | -30,013 | +3.7% |
| 2003 | -31,729 | +5.7% |
| 2004 | -32,221 | +1.6% |
| 2005 | -31,462 | -2.4% |
| 2006 | -29,450 | -6.4% |
| 2007 | -22,680 | -23.0% |
| 2008 | -9,264 | -59.2% |
| 2009 | -8,590 | -7.3% |
| 2010 | -9,327 | +8.6% |
| 2011 | -12,170 | +30.5% |
| 2012 | -13,561 | +11.4% |
| 2013 | -12,934 | -4.6% |
| 2014 | -10,317 | -20.2% |
| 2015 | -6,471 | -37.3% |
| 2016 | 3,505 | -154.2% |
| 2017 | 982 | -72.0% |
| 2018 | -3,267 | -432.7% |
| 2019 | -1,837 | -43.8% |
| 2020 | -2,655 | +44.5% |
| 2021 | -2,666 | +0.4% |
| 2022 | -5,231 | +96.2% |
| 2023 | -5,811 | +11.1% |
Malawi compared with similar countries
- Malawi's -5,811 is below the median for low income countries, which is -5,233, 1.1× the median. (25 countries reporting)
- Malawi's -5,811 is below the median for Sub-Saharan Africa, which is -3,998, 1.5× the median. (48 countries reporting)
Biggest year-on-year movements
Years where Net migration metrics in Malawi changed far more than this series normally does. A large move can be a real event or a change in how the figure was measured — the source note below says who published it.
| Year | Change | From | To |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1973 | +3281.2% | 48 | 1,623 |
| 1993 | -867.0% | 37,142 | -284,867 |
| 2018 | -432.7% | 982 | -3,267 |
| 1987 | +333.9% | 62,615 | 271,693 |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1950s | 0 | 0 | 0 | 10 |
| 1960s | -319 | -2,266 | 0 | 10 |
| 1970s | 11,827 | -2,147 | 46,388 | 10 |
| 1980s | 110,294 | 52,294 | 271,693 | 10 |
| 1990s | -93,209 | -505,365 | 71,111 | 10 |
| 2000s | -25,244 | -32,221 | -8,590 | 10 |
| 2010s | -6,540 | -13,561 | 3,505 | 10 |
| 2020s | -4,091 | -5,811 | -2,655 | 4 |
Countries ranked near Malawi
- 170 North Macedonia -5,597 compare
- 171 East Timor -5,620 compare
- 172 Iraq -5,710 compare
- 174 Uzbekistan -6,004 compare
- 175 Guyana -6,161 compare
- 176 Botswana -6,487 compare
More population data for Malawi
- Population regions with projections, annual growth rate 0.4293 % change on previous year (2100)
- Urban and rural population 2050, annual growth rate 0.1183 % change on previous year (2050)
- Population long run with projections, annual growth rate 0.4293 % change on previous year (2100)
- Un population 2024 vs 2022, annual growth rate 0.3622 % change on previous year (2100)
- Africa's Development Dynamics (AfDD) Table 05 - Demographic estimates 37,159 Persons (2050)
- Africa's Development Dynamics (AfDD) Table 03 - Annual population 2.45 Percent per annum (2030)
- Projected population under age 5, annual growth rate -0.2289 % change on previous year (2100)
- Population growth rate 0.423 (2100)
- Population density 627.29 (2100)
- Projected population under age 5 3.85 million (2100)
Frequently asked questions
- What is net migration metrics in Malawi?
- Net migration metrics in Malawi was -5,811 in 2023, according to Our World in Data.
- What is the highest net migration metrics recorded in Malawi?
- The highest recorded value was 271,693 in 1987.
- What is the lowest net migration metrics recorded in Malawi?
- The lowest recorded value was -505,365 in 1994.
- How does Malawi rank for net migration metrics?
- Malawi ranks 173rd out of 236 countries with data for 2023.
- Is net migration metrics rising or falling in Malawi?
- Over the last ten years it is up 55.1%. The long-run trend across the full record is volatile.
- Where does this Malawi data come from?
- The figures come from Our World in Data, published as part of Net migration metrics. Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
Download this data
CSV · JSON — 74 observations, free to reuse under CC BY 4.0 (Our World in Data).