Urban and rural population in Malawi
Malawi: Urban and rural population was 3.91 million in 2025. ◆ Volatile
Latest (2025)
3.91 million
Change on year
up 4.5%
World rank
116th
of 236 countries
All-time high
3.91 million
in 2025
All-time low
104,199
in 1950
Years of data
76
1950–2025
Urban and rural population in Malawi, 1950–2025
Source: Our World in Data.
Analysis
Malawi recorded 3.91 million for urban and rural population in 2025. That is the highest value across all 76 years on record.
Compared with earlier readings it is up 4.5% on the previous year and up 44.5% over ten years.
Over the whole period, urban and rural population in Malawi peaked at 3.91 million in 2025 and was at its lowest, 104,199, in 1950.
That places Malawi 116th out of 236 countries with data for 2025, putting it in the middle of the range.
The series is highly variable year to year, so single readings are best treated with caution.
Urban and rural population in Malawi, year by year
| Year | Value | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1950 | 104,199 | — |
| 1951 | 106,358 | +2.1% |
| 1952 | 108,992 | +2.5% |
| 1953 | 112,073 | +2.8% |
| 1954 | 115,576 | +3.1% |
| 1955 | 119,517 | +3.4% |
| 1956 | 123,943 | +3.7% |
| 1957 | 128,861 | +4.0% |
| 1958 | 134,286 | +4.2% |
| 1959 | 140,237 | +4.4% |
| 1960 | 146,718 | +4.6% |
| 1961 | 153,727 | +4.8% |
| 1962 | 161,271 | +4.9% |
| 1963 | 169,363 | +5.0% |
| 1964 | 177,978 | +5.1% |
| 1965 | 187,097 | +5.1% |
| 1966 | 196,707 | +5.1% |
| 1967 | 208,453 | +6.0% |
| 1968 | 224,094 | +7.5% |
| 1969 | 243,296 | +8.6% |
| 1970 | 265,665 | +9.2% |
| 1971 | 290,854 | +9.5% |
| 1972 | 318,406 | +9.5% |
| 1973 | 347,823 | +9.2% |
| 1974 | 378,596 | +8.8% |
| 1975 | 410,101 | +8.3% |
| 1976 | 441,687 | +7.7% |
| 1977 | 472,880 | +7.1% |
| 1978 | 504,473 | +6.7% |
| 1979 | 537,597 | +6.6% |
| 1980 | 572,276 | +6.5% |
| 1981 | 608,493 | +6.3% |
| 1982 | 646,375 | +6.2% |
| 1983 | 686,230 | +6.2% |
| 1984 | 728,314 | +6.1% |
| 1985 | 772,979 | +6.1% |
| 1986 | 819,942 | +6.1% |
| 1987 | 880,623 | +7.4% |
| 1988 | 954,578 | +8.4% |
| 1989 | 1.03 million | +8.1% |
| 1990 | 1.11 million | +7.5% |
| 1991 | 1.18 million | +6.7% |
| 1992 | 1.26 million | +6.5% |
| 1993 | 1.32 million | +4.9% |
| 1994 | 1.35 million | +1.9% |
| 1995 | 1.38 million | +2.6% |
| 1996 | 1.45 million | +4.4% |
| 1997 | 1.50 million | +4.0% |
| 1998 | 1.56 million | +3.6% |
| 1999 | 1.61 million | +3.3% |
| 2000 | 1.66 million | +3.3% |
| 2001 | 1.71 million | +3.2% |
| 2002 | 1.77 million | +3.1% |
| 2003 | 1.82 million | +3.1% |
| 2004 | 1.88 million | +3.1% |
| 2005 | 1.94 million | +3.2% |
| 2006 | 2.00 million | +3.3% |
| 2007 | 2.07 million | +3.4% |
| 2008 | 2.14 million | +3.5% |
| 2009 | 2.22 million | +3.5% |
| 2010 | 2.29 million | +3.5% |
| 2011 | 2.37 million | +3.5% |
| 2012 | 2.45 million | +3.4% |
| 2013 | 2.54 million | +3.3% |
| 2014 | 2.62 million | +3.3% |
| 2015 | 2.71 million | +3.2% |
| 2016 | 2.79 million | +3.2% |
| 2017 | 2.88 million | +3.2% |
| 2018 | 2.97 million | +3.1% |
| 2019 | 3.07 million | +3.4% |
| 2020 | 3.18 million | +3.7% |
| 2021 | 3.31 million | +3.8% |
| 2022 | 3.44 million | +4.0% |
| 2023 | 3.58 million | +4.2% |
| 2024 | 3.74 million | +4.4% |
| 2025 | 3.91 million | +4.5% |
Malawi compared with similar countries
- Malawi's 3.91 million is below the median for low income countries, which is 6.96 million, 56% of the median. (25 countries reporting)
- Malawi's 3.91 million is below the median for Sub-Saharan Africa, which is 4.82 million, 81% of the median. (48 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1950s | 119,404 | 104,199 | 140,237 | 10 |
| 1960s | 186,870 | 146,718 | 243,296 | 10 |
| 1970s | 396,808 | 265,665 | 537,597 | 10 |
| 1980s | 770,168 | 572,276 | 1.03 million | 10 |
| 1990s | 1.37 million | 1.11 million | 1.61 million | 10 |
| 2000s | 1.92 million | 1.66 million | 2.22 million | 10 |
| 2010s | 2.67 million | 2.29 million | 3.07 million | 10 |
| 2020s | 3.53 million | 3.18 million | 3.91 million | 6 |
Countries ranked near Malawi
- 113 Congo 4.16 million compare
- 114 Costa Rica 4.11 million compare
- 115 Sierra Leone 4.05 million compare
- 117 Burundi 3.70 million compare
- 118 Turkmenistan 3.59 million compare
- 119 Ireland 3.43 million compare
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)
- Population growth rate 0.423 (2100)
- Population density 627.29 (2100)
- Projected population under age 5 3.85 million (2100)
Frequently asked questions
- What is urban and rural population in Malawi?
- Urban and rural population in Malawi was 3.91 million in 2025, according to Our World in Data.
- What is the highest urban and rural population recorded in Malawi?
- The highest recorded value was 3.91 million in 2025.
- What is the lowest urban and rural population recorded in Malawi?
- The lowest recorded value was 104,199 in 1950.
- How does Malawi rank for urban and rural population?
- Malawi ranks 116th out of 236 countries with data for 2025.
- Is urban and rural population rising or falling in Malawi?
- Over the last ten years it is up 44.5%. The long-run trend across the full record is volatile.
- Where does this Malawi data come from?
- The figures come from Our World in Data, published as part of Urban and rural population. Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
Download this data
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