Population by income level in Malawi
Malawi: Population by income level was 22.22 million in 2025. ◆ Volatile
Latest (2025)
22.22 million
Change on year
up 2.6%
World rank
60th
of 215 countries
All-time high
22.22 million
in 2025
All-time low
3.63 million
in 1960
Years of data
66
1960–2025
Population by income level in Malawi, 1960–2025
Source: United Nations Population Division, national statistical offices, and Eurostat, via World Bank (2026) – processed by Our World in Data.
Analysis
In 2025, population by income level in Malawi stood at 22.22 million. That is the highest value across all 66 years on record.
The figure is up 2.6% on the previous year and up 30.0% over ten years.
Over the whole period, population by income level in Malawi peaked at 22.22 million in 2025 and was at its lowest, 3.63 million, in 1960.
Malawi ranks 60th of 215 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 income level in Malawi, year by year
| Year | Value | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1960 | 3.63 million | — |
| 1961 | 3.72 million | +2.4% |
| 1962 | 3.81 million | +2.4% |
| 1963 | 3.90 million | +2.5% |
| 1964 | 4.00 million | +2.5% |
| 1965 | 4.10 million | +2.5% |
| 1966 | 4.20 million | +2.5% |
| 1967 | 4.30 million | +2.5% |
| 1968 | 4.41 million | +2.5% |
| 1969 | 4.52 million | +2.5% |
| 1970 | 4.63 million | +2.5% |
| 1971 | 4.75 million | +2.5% |
| 1972 | 4.87 million | +2.6% |
| 1973 | 5.00 million | +2.7% |
| 1974 | 5.14 million | +2.7% |
| 1975 | 5.29 million | +2.8% |
| 1976 | 5.44 million | +3.0% |
| 1977 | 5.61 million | +3.2% |
| 1978 | 5.81 million | +3.5% |
| 1979 | 6.03 million | +3.8% |
| 1980 | 6.27 million | +3.9% |
| 1981 | 6.52 million | +4.0% |
| 1982 | 6.78 million | +4.0% |
| 1983 | 7.05 million | +4.0% |
| 1984 | 7.33 million | +4.0% |
| 1985 | 7.62 million | +3.9% |
| 1986 | 7.91 million | +3.8% |
| 1987 | 8.29 million | +4.9% |
| 1988 | 8.75 million | +5.5% |
| 1989 | 9.18 million | +4.8% |
| 1990 | 9.55 million | +4.0% |
| 1991 | 9.84 million | +3.1% |
| 1992 | 10.14 million | +3.0% |
| 1993 | 10.28 million | +1.5% |
| 1994 | 10.16 million | -1.2% |
| 1995 | 10.15 million | -0.1% |
| 1996 | 10.35 million | +2.0% |
| 1997 | 10.56 million | +2.0% |
| 1998 | 10.79 million | +2.2% |
| 1999 | 11.05 million | +2.4% |
| 2000 | 11.32 million | +2.4% |
| 2001 | 11.59 million | +2.4% |
| 2002 | 11.88 million | +2.5% |
| 2003 | 12.18 million | +2.5% |
| 2004 | 12.50 million | +2.6% |
| 2005 | 12.84 million | +2.7% |
| 2006 | 13.20 million | +2.8% |
| 2007 | 13.58 million | +2.9% |
| 2008 | 13.98 million | +2.9% |
| 2009 | 14.40 million | +3.0% |
| 2010 | 14.83 million | +3.0% |
| 2011 | 15.27 million | +3.0% |
| 2012 | 15.71 million | +2.9% |
| 2013 | 16.16 million | +2.9% |
| 2014 | 16.62 million | +2.8% |
| 2015 | 17.09 million | +2.8% |
| 2016 | 17.56 million | +2.8% |
| 2017 | 18.04 million | +2.7% |
| 2018 | 18.53 million | +2.7% |
| 2019 | 19.03 million | +2.7% |
| 2020 | 19.53 million | +2.7% |
| 2021 | 20.05 million | +2.6% |
| 2022 | 20.57 million | +2.6% |
| 2023 | 21.10 million | +2.6% |
| 2024 | 21.66 million | +2.6% |
| 2025 | 22.22 million | +2.6% |
Malawi compared with similar countries
- Malawi's 22.22 million is below the median for low income countries, which is 24.07 million, 92% of the median. (25 countries reporting)
- Malawi's 22.22 million is above the median for Sub-Saharan Africa, which is 14.96 million, 1.5× the median. (48 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1960s | 4.06 million | 3.63 million | 4.52 million | 10 |
| 1970s | 5.26 million | 4.63 million | 6.03 million | 10 |
| 1980s | 7.57 million | 6.27 million | 9.18 million | 10 |
| 1990s | 10.29 million | 9.55 million | 11.05 million | 10 |
| 2000s | 12.75 million | 11.32 million | 14.40 million | 10 |
| 2010s | 16.88 million | 14.83 million | 19.03 million | 10 |
| 2020s | 20.85 million | 19.53 million | 22.22 million | 6 |
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 income level in Malawi?
- Population by income level in Malawi was 22.22 million in 2025, according to United Nations Population Division, national statistical offices, and Eurostat, via World Bank (2026) – processed by Our World in Data.
- What is the highest population by income level recorded in Malawi?
- The highest recorded value was 22.22 million in 2025.
- What is the lowest population by income level recorded in Malawi?
- The lowest recorded value was 3.63 million in 1960.
- How does Malawi rank for population by income level?
- Malawi ranks 60th out of 215 countries with data for 2025.
- Is population by income level rising or falling in Malawi?
- Over the last ten years it is up 30.0%. The long-run trend across the full record is volatile.
- Where does this Malawi data come from?
- The figures come from United Nations Population Division, national statistical offices, and Eurostat, via World Bank (2026) – processed by Our World in Data, published as part of Population by income level. Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
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About this data
Total population, differentiated by World Bank income level.