Population by age group in Malawi
Malawi: Population by age group was 3.08 million people in 2023. ◆ Volatile
Latest (2023)
3.08 million people
Change on year
up 1.6%
World rank
48th
of 236 countries
All-time high
3.08 million people
in 2023
All-time low
546,069 people
in 1952
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
The most recent figure for population by age group in Malawi is 3.08 million people, measured in 2023. That is the highest value across all 74 years on record.
Compared with earlier readings it is up 1.6% on the previous year and up 9.0% over ten years.
Over the whole period, population by age group in Malawi peaked at 3.08 million people in 2023 and was at its lowest, 546,069 people, in 1952.
That places Malawi 48th out of 236 countries with data for 2023, putting it in the top quarter.
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 | 557,561 people | — |
| 1951 | 550,058 people | -1.3% |
| 1952 | 546,069 people | -0.7% |
| 1953 | 549,315 people | +0.6% |
| 1954 | 557,087 people | +1.4% |
| 1955 | 568,773 people | +2.1% |
| 1956 | 585,653 people | +3.0% |
| 1957 | 603,626 people | +3.1% |
| 1958 | 622,678 people | +3.2% |
| 1959 | 643,316 people | +3.3% |
| 1960 | 665,168 people | +3.4% |
| 1961 | 687,249 people | +3.3% |
| 1962 | 709,405 people | +3.2% |
| 1963 | 731,713 people | +3.1% |
| 1964 | 753,538 people | +3.0% |
| 1965 | 774,611 people | +2.8% |
| 1966 | 795,888 people | +2.7% |
| 1967 | 817,722 people | +2.7% |
| 1968 | 839,987 people | +2.7% |
| 1969 | 862,690 people | +2.7% |
| 1970 | 885,893 people | +2.7% |
| 1971 | 909,684 people | +2.7% |
| 1972 | 934,087 people | +2.7% |
| 1973 | 959,129 people | +2.7% |
| 1974 | 985,233 people | +2.7% |
| 1975 | 1.01 million people | +2.8% |
| 1976 | 1.04 million people | +3.0% |
| 1977 | 1.08 million people | +3.2% |
| 1978 | 1.11 million people | +3.5% |
| 1979 | 1.16 million people | +3.9% |
| 1980 | 1.21 million people | +4.2% |
| 1981 | 1.26 million people | +4.3% |
| 1982 | 1.31 million people | +4.3% |
| 1983 | 1.37 million people | +4.1% |
| 1984 | 1.42 million people | +3.7% |
| 1985 | 1.46 million people | +3.3% |
| 1986 | 1.51 million people | +3.0% |
| 1987 | 1.55 million people | +3.2% |
| 1988 | 1.62 million people | +4.4% |
| 1989 | 1.71 million people | +5.1% |
| 1990 | 1.78 million people | +4.3% |
| 1991 | 1.84 million people | +3.4% |
| 1992 | 1.90 million people | +3.2% |
| 1993 | 1.93 million people | +1.5% |
| 1994 | 1.90 million people | -1.3% |
| 1995 | 1.89 million people | -0.4% |
| 1996 | 1.92 million people | +1.6% |
| 1997 | 1.96 million people | +1.6% |
| 1998 | 1.99 million people | +1.8% |
| 1999 | 2.03 million people | +2.0% |
| 2000 | 2.07 million people | +2.0% |
| 2001 | 2.11 million people | +2.1% |
| 2002 | 2.16 million people | +2.3% |
| 2003 | 2.21 million people | +2.4% |
| 2004 | 2.27 million people | +2.7% |
| 2005 | 2.34 million people | +3.0% |
| 2006 | 2.42 million people | +3.3% |
| 2007 | 2.50 million people | +3.3% |
| 2008 | 2.58 million people | +3.2% |
| 2009 | 2.65 million people | +2.9% |
| 2010 | 2.71 million people | +2.3% |
| 2011 | 2.76 million people | +1.8% |
| 2012 | 2.80 million people | +1.3% |
| 2013 | 2.83 million people | +1.0% |
| 2014 | 2.85 million people | +0.8% |
| 2015 | 2.86 million people | +0.5% |
| 2016 | 2.87 million people | +0.3% |
| 2017 | 2.88 million people | +0.3% |
| 2018 | 2.89 million people | +0.4% |
| 2019 | 2.91 million people | +0.7% |
| 2020 | 2.94 million people | +1.1% |
| 2021 | 2.98 million people | +1.4% |
| 2022 | 3.03 million people | +1.6% |
| 2023 | 3.08 million people | +1.6% |
Malawi compared with similar countries
- Malawi's 3.08 million people is below the median for low income countries, which is 3.35 million people, 92% of the median. (25 countries reporting)
- Malawi's 3.08 million people is above the median for Sub-Saharan Africa, which is 2.19 million people, 1.4× the median. (48 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1950s | 578,414 people | 546,069 people | 643,316 people | 10 |
| 1960s | 763,797 people | 665,168 people | 862,690 people | 10 |
| 1970s | 1.01 million people | 885,893 people | 1.16 million people | 10 |
| 1980s | 1.44 million people | 1.21 million people | 1.71 million people | 10 |
| 1990s | 1.91 million people | 1.78 million people | 2.03 million people | 10 |
| 2000s | 2.33 million people | 2.07 million people | 2.65 million people | 10 |
| 2010s | 2.84 million people | 2.71 million people | 2.91 million people | 10 |
| 2020s | 3.01 million people | 2.94 million people | 3.08 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 3.08 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 3.08 million people in 2023.
- What is the lowest population by age group recorded in Malawi?
- The lowest recorded value was 546,069 people in 1952.
- How does Malawi rank for population by age group?
- Malawi ranks 48th 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 9.0%. 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. This only includes people aged 0-4.