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