Population by age group in Malawi
Malawi: Population by age group was 21.10 million people in 2023. ◆ Volatile
Latest (2023)
21.10 million people
Change on year
up 2.6%
World rank
62nd
of 236 countries
All-time high
21.10 million people
in 2023
All-time low
2.95 million people
in 1950
Years of data
74
1950–2023
Population by age group in Malawi, 1950–2023
Source: UN, World Population Prospects (2024) – processed by Our World in Data. Measured in people.
Analysis
In 2023, population by age group in Malawi stood at 21.10 million people. That is the highest value across all 74 years on record.
That represents a change of up 2.6% on the previous year and up 30.6% over ten years.
Over the whole period, population by age group in Malawi peaked at 21.10 million people in 2023 and was at its lowest, 2.95 million people, in 1950.
Malawi ranks 62nd 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.
Population by age group in Malawi, year by year
| Year | people | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1950 | 2.95 million people | — |
| 1951 | 3.00 million people | +1.8% |
| 1952 | 3.06 million people | +1.9% |
| 1953 | 3.12 million people | +2.0% |
| 1954 | 3.18 million people | +2.0% |
| 1955 | 3.25 million people | +2.0% |
| 1956 | 3.32 million people | +2.1% |
| 1957 | 3.39 million people | +2.2% |
| 1958 | 3.46 million people | +2.2% |
| 1959 | 3.54 million people | +2.3% |
| 1960 | 3.63 million people | +2.4% |
| 1961 | 3.72 million people | +2.4% |
| 1962 | 3.81 million people | +2.4% |
| 1963 | 3.90 million people | +2.5% |
| 1964 | 4.00 million people | +2.5% |
| 1965 | 4.10 million people | +2.5% |
| 1966 | 4.20 million people | +2.5% |
| 1967 | 4.30 million people | +2.5% |
| 1968 | 4.41 million people | +2.5% |
| 1969 | 4.52 million people | +2.5% |
| 1970 | 4.63 million people | +2.5% |
| 1971 | 4.75 million people | +2.5% |
| 1972 | 4.87 million people | +2.6% |
| 1973 | 5.00 million people | +2.7% |
| 1974 | 5.14 million people | +2.7% |
| 1975 | 5.29 million people | +2.8% |
| 1976 | 5.44 million people | +3.0% |
| 1977 | 5.61 million people | +3.2% |
| 1978 | 5.81 million people | +3.5% |
| 1979 | 6.03 million people | +3.8% |
| 1980 | 6.27 million people | +3.9% |
| 1981 | 6.52 million people | +4.0% |
| 1982 | 6.78 million people | +4.0% |
| 1983 | 7.05 million people | +4.0% |
| 1984 | 7.33 million people | +4.0% |
| 1985 | 7.62 million people | +3.9% |
| 1986 | 7.91 million people | +3.8% |
| 1987 | 8.29 million people | +4.9% |
| 1988 | 8.75 million people | +5.5% |
| 1989 | 9.18 million people | +4.8% |
| 1990 | 9.55 million people | +4.0% |
| 1991 | 9.84 million people | +3.1% |
| 1992 | 10.14 million people | +3.0% |
| 1993 | 10.28 million people | +1.5% |
| 1994 | 10.16 million people | -1.2% |
| 1995 | 10.15 million people | -0.1% |
| 1996 | 10.35 million people | +2.0% |
| 1997 | 10.56 million people | +2.0% |
| 1998 | 10.79 million people | +2.2% |
| 1999 | 11.05 million people | +2.4% |
| 2000 | 11.32 million people | +2.4% |
| 2001 | 11.59 million people | +2.4% |
| 2002 | 11.88 million people | +2.5% |
| 2003 | 12.18 million people | +2.5% |
| 2004 | 12.50 million people | +2.6% |
| 2005 | 12.84 million people | +2.7% |
| 2006 | 13.20 million people | +2.8% |
| 2007 | 13.58 million people | +2.9% |
| 2008 | 13.98 million people | +2.9% |
| 2009 | 14.40 million people | +3.0% |
| 2010 | 14.83 million people | +3.0% |
| 2011 | 15.27 million people | +3.0% |
| 2012 | 15.71 million people | +2.9% |
| 2013 | 16.16 million people | +2.9% |
| 2014 | 16.62 million people | +2.8% |
| 2015 | 17.09 million people | +2.8% |
| 2016 | 17.56 million people | +2.8% |
| 2017 | 18.04 million people | +2.7% |
| 2018 | 18.53 million people | +2.7% |
| 2019 | 19.03 million people | +2.7% |
| 2020 | 19.53 million people | +2.7% |
| 2021 | 20.05 million people | +2.6% |
| 2022 | 20.57 million people | +2.6% |
| 2023 | 21.10 million people | +2.6% |
Malawi compared with similar countries
- Malawi's 21.10 million people is below the median for low income countries, which is 23.03 million people, 92% of the median. (25 countries reporting)
- Malawi's 21.10 million people is above the median for Sub-Saharan Africa, which is 14.26 million people, 1.5× the median. (48 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1950s | 3.23 million people | 2.95 million people | 3.54 million people | 10 |
| 1960s | 4.06 million people | 3.63 million people | 4.52 million people | 10 |
| 1970s | 5.26 million people | 4.63 million people | 6.03 million people | 10 |
| 1980s | 7.57 million people | 6.27 million people | 9.18 million people | 10 |
| 1990s | 10.29 million people | 9.55 million people | 11.05 million people | 10 |
| 2000s | 12.75 million people | 11.32 million people | 14.40 million people | 10 |
| 2010s | 16.88 million people | 14.83 million people | 19.03 million people | 10 |
| 2020s | 20.31 million people | 19.53 million people | 21.10 million people | 4 |
Countries ranked near Malawi
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)
- World population growth 0.4% (2100)
- Population density 627.29 people per km² (2100)
- Number of children under 5, by world region 3.85 million people (2100)
Frequently asked questions
- What is population by age group in Malawi?
- Population by age group in Malawi was 21.10 million people in 2023, according to UN, World Population Prospects (2024) – processed by Our World in Data.
- What is the highest population by age group recorded in Malawi?
- The highest recorded value was 21.10 million people in 2023.
- What is the lowest population by age group recorded in Malawi?
- The lowest recorded value was 2.95 million people in 1950.
- How does Malawi rank for population by age group?
- Malawi ranks 62nd out of 236 countries with data for 2023.
- Is population by age group rising or falling in Malawi?
- Over the last ten years it is up 30.6%. The long-run trend across the full record is volatile.
- Where does this Malawi data come from?
- The figures come from UN, World Population Prospects (2024) – processed by Our World in Data, published as part of Population by age group. Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
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About this data
Total population, measured on 1 July of the year shown.