Share of urban population who live in the largest city in Malawi
Malawi: Share of urban population who live in the largest city was 6.7% in 2020. ▼ Falling
Share of urban population who live in the largest city in Malawi, 1980–2020
Source: European Commission, Joint Research Centre (JRC) (2025) – with minor processing by Our World in Data. Measured in %.
Analysis
Malawi recorded 6.7% for share of urban population who live in the largest city in 2020.
Compared with earlier readings it is down 23.8% over ten years.
Over the whole period, share of urban population who live in the largest city in Malawi peaked at 11.5% in 2000 and was at its lowest, 5.0%, in 1980.
Malawi ranks 173rd of 179 countries on this measure, in the bottom quarter.
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1980s | 7.8% | 5.0% | 10.5% | 2 |
| 1990s | 10.0% | 9.7% | 10.4% | 2 |
| 2000s | 10.9% | 10.2% | 11.5% | 2 |
| 2010s | 8.2% | 7.7% | 8.8% | 2 |
| 2020s | 6.7% | 6.7% | 6.7% | 1 |
Countries ranked near Malawi
More population data for Malawi
- Population growth rate, by level of development 0.4% (2100)
- Number of children under 5, by world region 3.85 million people (2100)
- Population density 627.29 people per km² (2100)
- World population growth 0.4% (2100)
- Total fertility rate vs. wanted fertility rate 3.59 births per woman (2024)
- Refugees by country of asylum 35,510 people (2024)
- Fertility rate vs. unmet need for contraception 3.59 births per woman (2024)
- Total fertility rate vs. contraceptive prevalence 3.59 births per woman (2024)
- Natural population growth rate 2.6% (2023)
- Fertility rate: births per woman 3.65 live births per woman (2023)
Frequently asked questions
- What is share of urban population who live in the largest city in Malawi?
- Share of urban population who live in the largest city in Malawi was 6.7% in 2020, according to European Commission, Joint Research Centre (JRC) (2025) – with minor processing by Our World in Data.
- What is the highest share of urban population who live in the largest city recorded in Malawi?
- The highest recorded value was 11.5% in 2000.
- What is the lowest share of urban population who live in the largest city recorded in Malawi?
- The lowest recorded value was 5.0% in 1980.
- How does Malawi rank for share of urban population who live in the largest city?
- Malawi ranks 173rd out of 179 countries with data for 2020.
- Is share of urban population who live in the largest city rising or falling in Malawi?
- Over the last ten years it is down 23.8%. The long-run trend across the full record is falling.
- Where does this Malawi data come from?
- The figures come from European Commission, Joint Research Centre (JRC) (2025) – with minor processing by Our World in Data, published as part of Share of urban population who live in the largest city. Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
Download this data
CSV · JSON — 9 observations, free to reuse under CC BY 4.0 (Our World in Data).
About this data
Percentage of the urban population living in the country's largest city (by population). City boundaries are defined using a consistent global approach based on satellite imagery and population data.