Population in Malawi
Malawi: Population was 21.10 million people in 2023. ◆ Volatile
Population 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 in Malawi is 21.10 million people, measured in 2023. That is the highest value across all 74 years on record.
Compared with earlier readings it is up 2.6% on the previous year and up 30.6% over ten years.
Over the whole period, population in Malawi peaked at 21.10 million people in 2023 and was at its lowest, 2.95 million people, in 1950.
That places Malawi 62nd out of 236 countries with data for 2023, putting it in the middle of the range.
The series is highly variable year to year, so single readings are best treated with caution.
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 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 population in Malawi?
- Population 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 recorded in Malawi?
- The highest recorded value was 21.10 million people in 2023.
- What is the lowest population recorded in Malawi?
- The lowest recorded value was 2.95 million people in 1950.
- How does Malawi rank for population?
- Malawi ranks 62nd out of 236 countries with data for 2023.
- Is population 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. 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).
About this data
The total population, measured on 1 July of the year shown.