Population in Malawi
Malawi: Population 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 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.
Population 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
- Un population 2024 vs 2022, annual growth rate 0.3622 % change on previous year (2100)
- Population long run 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 regions with projections, annual growth rate 0.4293 % change on previous year (2100)
- 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)
- Projected population under age 5, annual growth rate -0.2289 % change on previous year (2100)
- Africa's Development Dynamics (AfDD) Table 03 - Annual population 2.45 Percent per annum (2030)
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
Total population, measured on 1 July of the year shown.