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
63rd
of 239 countries
All-time high
21.10 million people
in 2023
All-time low
178,500 people
in 1000
Years of data
241
1000–2023
Population in Malawi, 1000–2023
Source: HYDE (2023); Gapminder (2022); UN WPP (2024) – with major processing by Our World in Data. Measured in people.
Analysis
Malawi recorded 21.10 million people for population in 2023. That is the highest value across all 241 years on record.
That represents a change of 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, 178,500 people, in 1000.
Malawi ranks 63rd of 239 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 in Malawi, year by year
| Year | people | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1000 | 178,500 people | — |
| 1100 | 214,200 people | +20.0% |
| 1200 | 249,900 people | +16.7% |
| 1300 | 285,600 people | +14.3% |
| 1400 | 321,300 people | +12.5% |
| 1500 | 357,000 people | +11.1% |
| 1600 | 387,345 people | +8.5% |
| 1700 | 417,690 people | +7.8% |
| 1710 | 435,095 people | +4.2% |
| 1720 | 443,408 people | +1.9% |
| 1730 | 452,257 people | +2.0% |
| 1740 | 461,701 people | +2.1% |
| 1750 | 471,811 people | +2.2% |
| 1760 | 482,671 people | +2.3% |
| 1770 | 494,380 people | +2.4% |
| 1780 | 507,057 people | +2.6% |
| 1790 | 520,844 people | +2.7% |
| 1800 | 737,000 people | +41.5% |
| 1801 | 752,981 people | +2.2% |
| 1802 | 769,309 people | +2.2% |
| 1803 | 785,991 people | +2.2% |
| 1804 | 803,034 people | +2.2% |
| 1805 | 820,447 people | +2.2% |
| 1806 | 838,238 people | +2.2% |
| 1807 | 856,414 people | +2.2% |
| 1808 | 874,985 people | +2.2% |
| 1809 | 893,958 people | +2.2% |
| 1810 | 913,763 people | +2.2% |
| 1811 | 933,577 people | +2.2% |
| 1812 | 953,821 people | +2.2% |
| 1813 | 974,504 people | +2.2% |
| 1814 | 995,635 people | +2.2% |
| 1815 | 1.02 million people | +2.2% |
| 1816 | 1.04 million people | +2.2% |
| 1817 | 1.06 million people | +2.2% |
| 1818 | 1.08 million people | +2.2% |
| 1819 | 1.11 million people | +2.2% |
| 1820 | 1.13 million people | +2.2% |
| 1821 | 1.16 million people | +2.2% |
| 1822 | 1.18 million people | +2.2% |
| 1823 | 1.21 million people | +2.2% |
| 1824 | 1.23 million people | +2.2% |
| 1825 | 1.26 million people | +2.2% |
| 1826 | 1.29 million people | +2.2% |
| 1827 | 1.32 million people | +2.2% |
| 1828 | 1.34 million people | +2.2% |
| 1829 | 1.37 million people | +2.2% |
| 1830 | 1.40 million people | +2.2% |
| 1831 | 1.43 million people | +2.2% |
| 1832 | 1.46 million people | +2.2% |
| 1833 | 1.50 million people | +2.2% |
| 1834 | 1.53 million people | +2.2% |
| 1835 | 1.56 million people | +2.2% |
| 1836 | 1.60 million people | +2.2% |
| 1837 | 1.63 million people | +2.2% |
| 1838 | 1.67 million people | +2.2% |
| 1839 | 1.70 million people | +2.2% |
| 1840 | 1.74 million people | +2.2% |
| 1841 | 1.78 million people | +2.2% |
| 1842 | 1.82 million people | +2.2% |
| 1843 | 1.85 million people | +2.2% |
| 1844 | 1.89 million people | +2.2% |
| 1845 | 1.94 million people | +2.2% |
| 1846 | 1.98 million people | +2.2% |
| 1847 | 2.02 million people | +2.2% |
| 1848 | 2.06 million people | +2.2% |
| 1849 | 2.10 million people | +1.7% |
| 1850 | 2.13 million people | +1.3% |
| 1851 | 2.14 million people | +0.9% |
| 1852 | 2.15 million people | +0.4% |
| 1853 | 2.15 million people | -0.0% |
| 1854 | 2.15 million people | -0.0% |
| 1855 | 2.15 million people | -0.0% |
| 1856 | 2.15 million people | -0.0% |
| 1857 | 2.15 million people | -0.0% |
| 1858 | 2.15 million people | -0.0% |
| 1859 | 2.15 million people | -0.0% |
| 1860 | 2.15 million people | -0.0% |
| 1861 | 2.15 million people | -0.0% |
| 1862 | 2.15 million people | -0.1% |
| 1863 | 2.15 million people | -0.1% |
| 1864 | 2.15 million people | -0.1% |
| 1865 | 2.14 million people | -0.1% |
| 1866 | 2.14 million people | -0.1% |
| 1867 | 2.14 million people | -0.1% |
| 1868 | 2.14 million people | -0.1% |
| 1869 | 2.14 million people | -0.1% |
| 1870 | 2.14 million people | -0.1% |
| 1871 | 2.13 million people | -0.1% |
| 1872 | 2.13 million people | -0.1% |
| 1873 | 2.13 million people | -0.1% |
| 1874 | 2.13 million people | -0.1% |
| 1875 | 2.12 million people | -0.1% |
| 1876 | 2.12 million people | -0.1% |
| 1877 | 2.12 million people | -0.1% |
| 1878 | 2.12 million people | -0.1% |
| 1879 | 2.11 million people | -0.1% |
| 1880 | 2.11 million people | +0.0% |
| 1881 | 2.12 million people | +0.1% |
| 1882 | 2.12 million people | +0.1% |
| 1883 | 2.12 million people | +0.2% |
| 1884 | 2.13 million people | +0.2% |
| 1885 | 2.13 million people | +0.2% |
| 1886 | 2.13 million people | +0.2% |
| 1887 | 2.14 million people | +0.2% |
| 1888 | 2.14 million people | +0.2% |
| 1889 | 2.14 million people | +0.1% |
| 1890 | 2.14 million people | -0.0% |
| 1891 | 2.14 million people | -0.1% |
| 1892 | 2.13 million people | -0.3% |
| 1893 | 2.13 million people | -0.4% |
| 1894 | 2.12 million people | -0.4% |
| 1895 | 2.11 million people | -0.4% |
| 1896 | 2.10 million people | -0.4% |
| 1897 | 2.10 million people | -0.4% |
| 1898 | 2.09 million people | -0.4% |
| 1899 | 2.08 million people | -0.4% |
| 1900 | 2.07 million people | -0.5% |
| 1901 | 2.05 million people | -0.6% |
| 1902 | 2.04 million people | -0.7% |
| 1903 | 2.02 million people | -0.8% |
| 1904 | 2.01 million people | -0.8% |
| 1905 | 1.99 million people | -0.8% |
| 1906 | 1.98 million people | -0.8% |
| 1907 | 1.96 million people | -0.8% |
| 1908 | 1.95 million people | -0.8% |
| 1909 | 1.93 million people | -0.7% |
| 1910 | 1.92 million people | -0.6% |
| 1911 | 1.91 million people | -0.5% |
| 1912 | 1.90 million people | -0.4% |
| 1913 | 1.90 million people | -0.4% |
| 1914 | 1.89 million people | -0.4% |
| 1915 | 1.88 million people | -0.4% |
| 1916 | 1.88 million people | -0.4% |
| 1917 | 1.87 million people | -0.4% |
| 1918 | 1.86 million people | -0.4% |
| 1919 | 1.86 million people | -0.0% |
| 1920 | 1.87 million people | +0.4% |
| 1921 | 1.88 million people | +0.7% |
| 1922 | 1.90 million people | +1.1% |
| 1923 | 1.93 million people | +1.5% |
| 1924 | 1.96 million people | +1.5% |
| 1925 | 1.99 million people | +1.5% |
| 1926 | 2.02 million people | +1.5% |
| 1927 | 2.05 million people | +1.5% |
| 1928 | 2.08 million people | +1.5% |
| 1929 | 2.11 million people | +1.5% |
| 1930 | 2.14 million people | +1.5% |
| 1931 | 2.17 million people | +1.4% |
| 1932 | 2.20 million people | +1.4% |
| 1933 | 2.24 million people | +1.4% |
| 1934 | 2.27 million people | +1.4% |
| 1935 | 2.30 million people | +1.4% |
| 1936 | 2.33 million people | +1.4% |
| 1937 | 2.36 million people | +1.4% |
| 1938 | 2.40 million people | +1.4% |
| 1939 | 2.43 million people | +1.5% |
| 1940 | 2.47 million people | +1.6% |
| 1941 | 2.51 million people | +1.6% |
| 1942 | 2.55 million people | +1.7% |
| 1943 | 2.60 million people | +1.8% |
| 1944 | 2.65 million people | +1.8% |
| 1945 | 2.69 million people | +1.8% |
| 1946 | 2.74 million people | +1.8% |
| 1947 | 2.79 million people | +1.8% |
| 1948 | 2.84 million people | +1.8% |
| 1949 | 2.89 million people | +1.9% |
| 1950 | 2.95 million people | +1.9% |
| 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)
Biggest year-on-year movements
Years where Population in Malawi changed far more than this series normally does. A large move can be a real event or a change in how the figure was measured — the source note below says who published it.
| Year | Change | From | To |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1800 | +41.5% | 520,844 people | 737,000 people |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1000s | 178,500 people | 178,500 people | 178,500 people | 1 |
| 1100s | 214,200 people | 214,200 people | 214,200 people | 1 |
| 1200s | 249,900 people | 249,900 people | 249,900 people | 1 |
| 1300s | 285,600 people | 285,600 people | 285,600 people | 1 |
| 1400s | 321,300 people | 321,300 people | 321,300 people | 1 |
| 1500s | 357,000 people | 357,000 people | 357,000 people | 1 |
| 1600s | 387,345 people | 387,345 people | 387,345 people | 1 |
| 1700s | 417,690 people | 417,690 people | 417,690 people | 1 |
| 1710s | 435,095 people | 435,095 people | 435,095 people | 1 |
| 1720s | 443,408 people | 443,408 people | 443,408 people | 1 |
| 1730s | 452,257 people | 452,257 people | 452,257 people | 1 |
| 1740s | 461,701 people | 461,701 people | 461,701 people | 1 |
| 1750s | 471,811 people | 471,811 people | 471,811 people | 1 |
| 1760s | 482,671 people | 482,671 people | 482,671 people | 1 |
| 1770s | 494,380 people | 494,380 people | 494,380 people | 1 |
| 1780s | 507,057 people | 507,057 people | 507,057 people | 1 |
| 1790s | 520,844 people | 520,844 people | 520,844 people | 1 |
| 1800s | 813,236 people | 737,000 people | 893,958 people | 10 |
| 1810s | 1.01 million people | 913,763 people | 1.11 million people | 10 |
| 1820s | 1.25 million people | 1.13 million people | 1.37 million people | 10 |
| 1830s | 1.55 million people | 1.40 million people | 1.70 million people | 10 |
| 1840s | 1.92 million people | 1.74 million people | 2.10 million people | 10 |
| 1850s | 2.15 million people | 2.13 million people | 2.15 million people | 10 |
| 1860s | 2.14 million people | 2.14 million people | 2.15 million people | 10 |
| 1870s | 2.13 million people | 2.11 million people | 2.14 million people | 10 |
| 1880s | 2.13 million people | 2.11 million people | 2.14 million people | 10 |
| 1890s | 2.11 million people | 2.08 million people | 2.14 million people | 10 |
| 1900s | 2.00 million people | 1.93 million people | 2.07 million people | 10 |
| 1910s | 1.89 million people | 1.86 million people | 1.92 million people | 10 |
| 1920s | 1.98 million people | 1.87 million people | 2.11 million people | 10 |
| 1930s | 2.28 million people | 2.14 million people | 2.43 million people | 10 |
| 1940s | 2.67 million people | 2.47 million people | 2.89 million people | 10 |
| 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 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 in Malawi?
- Population in Malawi was 21.10 million people in 2023, according to HYDE (2023); Gapminder (2022); UN WPP (2024) – with major processing 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 178,500 people in 1000.
- How does Malawi rank for population?
- Malawi ranks 63rd out of 239 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 HYDE (2023); Gapminder (2022); UN WPP (2024) – with major processing by Our World in Data, published as part of Population. Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
Download this data
CSV · JSON — 241 observations, free to reuse under CC BY 4.0 (Our World in Data).
About this data
Population by country, available from 10,000 BCE to 2023, based on data and estimates from different sources.