Urban and rural population projected to 2050 in Malawi
Malawi: Urban and rural population projected to 2050 was 24.30 million people in 2050. ◆ Volatile
Latest (2050)
24.30 million people
Change on year
up 0.1%
World rank
24th
of 238 countries
All-time high
24.30 million people
in 2050
All-time low
178,500 people
in 1000
Years of data
133
1000–2050
Urban and rural population projected to 2050 in Malawi, 1000–2050
Source: HYDE (2023); United Nations Department of Economic and Social Affairs, Population Division (2025) – with minor processing by Our World in Data. Measured in people.
Analysis
The most recent figure for urban and rural population projected to 2050 in Malawi is 24.30 million people, measured in 2050. That is the highest value across all 133 years on record.
Compared with earlier readings it is up 0.1% on the previous year and up 5.0% over ten years.
Over the whole period, urban and rural population projected to 2050 in Malawi peaked at 24.30 million people in 2050 and was at its lowest, 178,500 people, in 1000.
That places Malawi 24th out of 238 countries with data for 2050, putting it in the top 10%.
The series is highly variable year to year, so single readings are best treated with caution.
Urban and rural population projected to 2050 in Malawi, year by year
| Year | people | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1000 | 178,500 people | — |
| 1100 | 214,199 people | +20.0% |
| 1200 | 249,896 people | +16.7% |
| 1300 | 285,588 people | +14.3% |
| 1400 | 321,259 people | +12.5% |
| 1500 | 356,864 people | +11.1% |
| 1600 | 386,904 people | +8.4% |
| 1700 | 416,262 people | +7.6% |
| 1710 | 433,419 people | +4.1% |
| 1720 | 441,538 people | +1.9% |
| 1730 | 450,168 people | +2.0% |
| 1740 | 459,365 people | +2.0% |
| 1750 | 469,196 people | +2.1% |
| 1760 | 479,741 people | +2.2% |
| 1770 | 491,094 people | +2.4% |
| 1780 | 503,365 people | +2.5% |
| 1790 | 516,690 people | +2.6% |
| 1800 | 531,235 people | +2.8% |
| 1810 | 547,206 people | +3.0% |
| 1820 | 564,858 people | +3.2% |
| 1830 | 584,522 people | +3.5% |
| 1840 | 606,624 people | +3.8% |
| 1850 | 631,732 people | +4.1% |
| 1860 | 660,620 people | +4.6% |
| 1870 | 694,376 people | +5.1% |
| 1880 | 734,586 people | +5.8% |
| 1890 | 783,677 people | +6.7% |
| 1900 | 845,588 people | +7.9% |
| 1910 | 927,254 people | +9.7% |
| 1920 | 1.04 million people | +12.4% |
| 1930 | 1.22 million people | +17.3% |
| 1940 | 1.57 million people | +28.7% |
| 1950 | 2.85 million people | +80.8% |
| 1951 | 2.90 million people | +1.8% |
| 1952 | 2.95 million people | +1.9% |
| 1953 | 3.01 million people | +1.9% |
| 1954 | 3.07 million people | +2.0% |
| 1955 | 3.13 million people | +2.0% |
| 1956 | 3.19 million people | +2.1% |
| 1957 | 3.26 million people | +2.1% |
| 1958 | 3.33 million people | +2.2% |
| 1959 | 3.40 million people | +2.2% |
| 1960 | 3.48 million people | +2.3% |
| 1961 | 3.56 million people | +2.3% |
| 1962 | 3.65 million people | +2.3% |
| 1963 | 3.73 million people | +2.4% |
| 1964 | 3.82 million people | +2.4% |
| 1965 | 3.91 million people | +2.3% |
| 1966 | 4.00 million people | +2.4% |
| 1967 | 4.09 million people | +2.3% |
| 1968 | 4.19 million people | +2.3% |
| 1969 | 4.28 million people | +2.2% |
| 1970 | 4.37 million people | +2.1% |
| 1971 | 4.46 million people | +2.1% |
| 1972 | 4.56 million people | +2.1% |
| 1973 | 4.66 million people | +2.2% |
| 1974 | 4.76 million people | +2.3% |
| 1975 | 4.88 million people | +2.4% |
| 1976 | 5.00 million people | +2.6% |
| 1977 | 5.14 million people | +2.8% |
| 1978 | 5.31 million people | +3.2% |
| 1979 | 5.49 million people | +3.5% |
| 1980 | 5.69 million people | +3.7% |
| 1981 | 5.91 million people | +3.8% |
| 1982 | 6.13 million people | +3.8% |
| 1983 | 6.37 million people | +3.8% |
| 1984 | 6.60 million people | +3.8% |
| 1985 | 6.85 million people | +3.7% |
| 1986 | 7.09 million people | +3.5% |
| 1987 | 7.41 million people | +4.6% |
| 1988 | 7.80 million people | +5.2% |
| 1989 | 8.14 million people | +4.4% |
| 1990 | 8.44 million people | +3.6% |
| 1991 | 8.66 million people | +2.7% |
| 1992 | 8.87 million people | +2.5% |
| 1993 | 8.96 million people | +1.0% |
| 1994 | 8.82 million people | -1.6% |
| 1995 | 8.77 million people | -0.6% |
| 1996 | 8.91 million people | +1.6% |
| 1997 | 9.06 million people | +1.7% |
| 1998 | 9.24 million people | +2.0% |
| 1999 | 9.44 million people | +2.2% |
| 2000 | 9.66 million people | +2.3% |
| 2001 | 9.88 million people | +2.3% |
| 2002 | 10.11 million people | +2.4% |
| 2003 | 10.36 million people | +2.4% |
| 2004 | 10.62 million people | +2.5% |
| 2005 | 10.90 million people | +2.6% |
| 2006 | 11.20 million people | +2.7% |
| 2007 | 11.51 million people | +2.8% |
| 2008 | 11.83 million people | +2.9% |
| 2009 | 12.18 million people | +2.9% |
| 2010 | 12.53 million people | +2.9% |
| 2011 | 12.89 million people | +2.9% |
| 2012 | 13.25 million people | +2.8% |
| 2013 | 13.62 million people | +2.8% |
| 2014 | 14.00 million people | +2.8% |
| 2015 | 14.38 million people | +2.7% |
| 2016 | 14.77 million people | +2.7% |
| 2017 | 15.16 million people | +2.7% |
| 2018 | 15.56 million people | +2.6% |
| 2019 | 15.96 million people | +2.5% |
| 2020 | 16.35 million people | +2.5% |
| 2021 | 16.74 million people | +2.4% |
| 2022 | 17.13 million people | +2.3% |
| 2023 | 17.52 million people | +2.3% |
| 2024 | 17.92 million people | +2.2% |
| 2025 | 18.31 million people | +2.2% |
| 2026 | 18.69 million people | +2.1% |
| 2027 | 19.08 million people | +2.1% |
| 2028 | 19.46 million people | +2.0% |
| 2029 | 19.83 million people | +1.9% |
| 2030 | 20.20 million people | +1.9% |
| 2031 | 20.56 million people | +1.7% |
| 2032 | 20.89 million people | +1.6% |
| 2033 | 21.22 million people | +1.6% |
| 2034 | 21.54 million people | +1.5% |
| 2035 | 21.85 million people | +1.4% |
| 2036 | 22.14 million people | +1.3% |
| 2037 | 22.42 million people | +1.3% |
| 2038 | 22.68 million people | +1.2% |
| 2039 | 22.92 million people | +1.0% |
| 2040 | 23.13 million people | +1.0% |
| 2041 | 23.33 million people | +0.9% |
| 2042 | 23.52 million people | +0.8% |
| 2043 | 23.68 million people | +0.7% |
| 2044 | 23.83 million people | +0.6% |
| 2045 | 23.96 million people | +0.6% |
| 2046 | 24.07 million people | +0.5% |
| 2047 | 24.16 million people | +0.4% |
| 2048 | 24.23 million people | +0.3% |
| 2049 | 24.27 million people | +0.2% |
| 2050 | 24.30 million people | +0.1% |
Malawi compared with similar countries
- Malawi's 24.30 million people is above the median for low income countries, which is 16.82 million people, 1.4× the median. (25 countries reporting)
- Malawi's 24.30 million people is above the median for Sub-Saharan Africa, which is 10.62 million people, 2.3× the median. (48 countries reporting)
Biggest year-on-year movements
Years where Urban and rural population projected to 2050 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1950 | +80.8% | 1.57 million people | 2.85 million people |
| 1940 | +28.7% | 1.22 million people | 1.57 million people |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1000s | 178,500 people | 178,500 people | 178,500 people | 1 |
| 1100s | 214,199 people | 214,199 people | 214,199 people | 1 |
| 1200s | 249,896 people | 249,896 people | 249,896 people | 1 |
| 1300s | 285,588 people | 285,588 people | 285,588 people | 1 |
| 1400s | 321,259 people | 321,259 people | 321,259 people | 1 |
| 1500s | 356,864 people | 356,864 people | 356,864 people | 1 |
| 1600s | 386,904 people | 386,904 people | 386,904 people | 1 |
| 1700s | 416,262 people | 416,262 people | 416,262 people | 1 |
| 1710s | 433,419 people | 433,419 people | 433,419 people | 1 |
| 1720s | 441,538 people | 441,538 people | 441,538 people | 1 |
| 1730s | 450,168 people | 450,168 people | 450,168 people | 1 |
| 1740s | 459,365 people | 459,365 people | 459,365 people | 1 |
| 1750s | 469,196 people | 469,196 people | 469,196 people | 1 |
| 1760s | 479,741 people | 479,741 people | 479,741 people | 1 |
| 1770s | 491,094 people | 491,094 people | 491,094 people | 1 |
| 1780s | 503,365 people | 503,365 people | 503,365 people | 1 |
| 1790s | 516,690 people | 516,690 people | 516,690 people | 1 |
| 1800s | 531,235 people | 531,235 people | 531,235 people | 1 |
| 1810s | 547,206 people | 547,206 people | 547,206 people | 1 |
| 1820s | 564,858 people | 564,858 people | 564,858 people | 1 |
| 1830s | 584,522 people | 584,522 people | 584,522 people | 1 |
| 1840s | 606,624 people | 606,624 people | 606,624 people | 1 |
| 1850s | 631,732 people | 631,732 people | 631,732 people | 1 |
| 1860s | 660,620 people | 660,620 people | 660,620 people | 1 |
| 1870s | 694,376 people | 694,376 people | 694,376 people | 1 |
| 1880s | 734,586 people | 734,586 people | 734,586 people | 1 |
| 1890s | 783,677 people | 783,677 people | 783,677 people | 1 |
| 1900s | 845,588 people | 845,588 people | 845,588 people | 1 |
| 1910s | 927,254 people | 927,254 people | 927,254 people | 1 |
| 1920s | 1.04 million people | 1.04 million people | 1.04 million people | 1 |
| 1930s | 1.22 million people | 1.22 million people | 1.22 million people | 1 |
| 1940s | 1.57 million people | 1.57 million people | 1.57 million people | 1 |
| 1950s | 3.11 million people | 2.85 million people | 3.40 million people | 10 |
| 1960s | 3.87 million people | 3.48 million people | 4.28 million people | 10 |
| 1970s | 4.86 million people | 4.37 million people | 5.49 million people | 10 |
| 1980s | 6.80 million people | 5.69 million people | 8.14 million people | 10 |
| 1990s | 8.92 million people | 8.44 million people | 9.44 million people | 10 |
| 2000s | 10.82 million people | 9.66 million people | 12.18 million people | 10 |
| 2010s | 14.21 million people | 12.53 million people | 15.96 million people | 10 |
| 2020s | 18.10 million people | 16.35 million people | 19.83 million people | 10 |
| 2030s | 21.64 million people | 20.20 million people | 22.92 million people | 10 |
| 2040s | 23.82 million people | 23.13 million people | 24.27 million people | 10 |
| 2050s | 24.30 million people | 24.30 million people | 24.30 million people | 1 |
Countries ranked near Malawi
- 21 Mozambique 30.00 million people compare
- 22 Madagascar 27.43 million people compare
- 23 Russia 25.81 million people compare
- 25 Mali 24.16 million people compare
- 26 South Africa 23.02 million people compare
- 27 Cameroon 20.85 million people compare
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 urban and rural population projected to 2050 in Malawi?
- Urban and rural population projected to 2050 in Malawi was 24.30 million people in 2050, according to HYDE (2023); United Nations Department of Economic and Social Affairs, Population Division (2025) – with minor processing by Our World in Data.
- What is the highest urban and rural population projected to 2050 recorded in Malawi?
- The highest recorded value was 24.30 million people in 2050.
- What is the lowest urban and rural population projected to 2050 recorded in Malawi?
- The lowest recorded value was 178,500 people in 1000.
- How does Malawi rank for urban and rural population projected to 2050?
- Malawi ranks 24th out of 238 countries with data for 2050.
- Is urban and rural population projected to 2050 rising or falling in Malawi?
- Over the last ten years it is up 5.0%. The long-run trend across the full record is volatile.
- Where does this Malawi data come from?
- The figures come from HYDE (2023); United Nations Department of Economic and Social Affairs, Population Division (2025) – with minor processing by Our World in Data, published as part of Urban and rural population projected to 2050. Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
Download this data
CSV · JSON — 133 observations, free to reuse under CC BY 4.0 (Our World in Data).
About this data
Number of people living in rural areas, combining UN estimates and projections with modeled historical data.