Population · Africa
Malawi population 2026
Right now · estimate
Malawi population right now
22,985,148
- Births today
- 0
- Deaths today
- 0
- Births this year
- 580,876
- Births minus deaths this year
- +481,754
Malawi has an estimated 22,785,535 people on 1 July 2026, the UN's projection, 569,415 more than a year earlier (+2.56%). It is the 62nd most populous country in the world. It is still growing and is projected to reach 37.4 million by 2050 and 59.1 million by 2100.
UN projection The counter interpolates the UN’s 1 July figures to the second; it is an estimate, not a count.
Malawi in numbers, 2026
- Births in 2026
- 692 thousand 1,895 a day
- Deaths in 2026
- 118 thousand 323 a day
- Net migration
- +1 thousand more arrivals than departures
- Growth rate
- +2.53% growing
- Fertility rate
- 3.45per woman above replacement (2.1)
- Median age
- 18.4years world: 31.1
- Life expectancy
- 67.9years
- Aged 65 and over
- 2.6% 4.9% by 2050
Land, people and health
- Capital
- Lilongwe
- Area
- 118,480 km² 101st largest of 237
- Population density
- 241per km² 64th most crowded
- Urban population
- 18.0% 35.0% by 2050
- Men and women
- 11.1 million / 11.7 million 95.4 men per 100 women
- Life expectancy, women
- 71.1years men: 64.6 years
- Infant mortality
- 27.6per 1,000 births under-5: 36.7
- Birth rate
- 30.4per 1,000 death rate: 5.2
- Net migration rate
- +0.1per 1,000 net arrivals
Population of Malawi, 1950–2100
Still rising in 2100 on the UN medium projection. By 2050: 37.4 million (+64.0% from today).
- UN estimate
- UN projection
59.1M 2026
› Show the numbers as a table
| Year | Population |
|---|---|
| 1950 | 2,950,300 |
| 1951 | 3,002,885 |
| 1952 | 3,059,378 |
| 1953 | 3,119,235 |
| 1954 | 3,181,529 |
| 1955 | 3,246,543 |
| 1956 | 3,315,298 |
| 1957 | 3,387,738 |
| 1958 | 3,463,947 |
| 1959 | 3,544,159 |
| 1960 | 3,628,134 |
| 1961 | 3,715,534 |
| 1962 | 3,806,307 |
| 1963 | 3,900,506 |
| 1964 | 3,997,305 |
| 1965 | 4,096,157 |
| 1966 | 4,197,926 |
| 1967 | 4,303,012 |
| 1968 | 4,411,054 |
| 1969 | 4,521,184 |
| 1970 | 4,633,944 |
| 1971 | 4,751,434 |
| 1972 | 4,874,474 |
| 1973 | 5,003,938 |
| 1974 | 5,141,337 |
| 1975 | 5,287,366 |
| 1976 | 5,443,384 |
| 1977 | 5,614,983 |
| 1978 | 5,810,132 |
| 1979 | 6,028,749 |
| 1980 | 6,265,529 |
| 1981 | 6,516,454 |
| 1982 | 6,778,879 |
| 1983 | 7,051,710 |
| 1984 | 7,332,810 |
| 1985 | 7,620,508 |
| 1986 | 7,906,480 |
| 1987 | 8,293,174 |
| 1988 | 8,753,262 |
| 1989 | 9,176,220 |
| 1990 | 9,545,852 |
| 1991 | 9,844,226 |
| 1992 | 10,135,079 |
| 1993 | 10,284,024 |
| 1994 | 10,164,894 |
| 1995 | 10,150,117 |
| 1996 | 10,352,228 |
| 1997 | 10,562,035 |
| 1998 | 10,792,876 |
| 1999 | 11,047,804 |
| 2000 | 11,315,942 |
| 2001 | 11,593,058 |
| 2002 | 11,880,440 |
| 2003 | 12,181,574 |
| 2004 | 12,500,737 |
| 2005 | 12,840,031 |
| 2006 | 13,198,701 |
| 2007 | 13,576,343 |
| 2008 | 13,976,418 |
| 2009 | 14,395,788 |
| 2010 | 14,826,463 |
| 2011 | 15,265,022 |
| 2012 | 15,709,577 |
| 2013 | 16,161,816 |
| 2014 | 16,621,538 |
| 2015 | 17,085,587 |
| 2016 | 17,557,739 |
| 2017 | 18,039,715 |
| 2018 | 18,528,081 |
| 2019 | 19,025,752 |
| 2020 | 19,533,888 |
| 2021 | 20,047,258 |
| 2022 | 20,568,728 |
| 2023 | 21,104,482 |
| 2024 * | 21,655,286 |
| 2025 * | 22,216,120 |
| 2026 * | 22,785,535 |
| 2027 * | 23,366,188 |
| 2028 * | 23,954,450 |
| 2029 * | 24,553,502 |
| 2030 * | 25,160,287 |
| 2031 * | 25,763,535 |
| 2032 * | 26,366,761 |
| 2033 * | 26,978,421 |
| 2034 * | 27,595,298 |
| 2035 * | 28,213,795 |
| 2036 * | 28,835,600 |
| 2037 * | 29,462,510 |
| 2038 * | 30,081,752 |
| 2039 * | 30,691,587 |
| 2040 * | 31,302,098 |
| 2041 * | 31,911,246 |
| 2042 * | 32,517,507 |
| 2043 * | 33,122,491 |
| 2044 * | 33,736,528 |
| 2045 * | 34,350,954 |
| 2046 * | 34,959,611 |
| 2047 * | 35,567,993 |
| 2048 * | 36,165,760 |
| 2049 * | 36,761,003 |
| 2050 * | 37,361,683 |
| 2051 * | 37,964,325 |
| 2052 * | 38,568,584 |
| 2053 * | 39,174,573 |
| 2054 * | 39,770,455 |
| 2055 * | 40,357,522 |
| 2056 * | 40,938,490 |
| 2057 * | 41,511,359 |
| 2058 * | 42,081,234 |
| 2059 * | 42,655,652 |
| 2060 * | 43,228,184 |
| 2061 * | 43,785,931 |
| 2062 * | 44,330,130 |
| 2063 * | 44,854,818 |
| 2064 * | 45,372,467 |
| 2065 * | 45,890,788 |
| 2066 * | 46,408,691 |
| 2067 * | 46,922,128 |
| 2068 * | 47,427,613 |
| 2069 * | 47,923,944 |
| 2070 * | 48,410,340 |
| 2071 * | 48,890,060 |
| 2072 * | 49,355,296 |
| 2073 * | 49,806,634 |
| 2074 * | 50,256,738 |
| 2075 * | 50,708,852 |
| 2076 * | 51,164,010 |
| 2077 * | 51,618,823 |
| 2078 * | 52,055,278 |
| 2079 * | 52,475,230 |
| 2080 * | 52,893,308 |
| 2081 * | 53,304,783 |
| 2082 * | 53,704,435 |
| 2083 * | 54,094,649 |
| 2084 * | 54,461,680 |
| 2085 * | 54,812,020 |
| 2086 * | 55,159,958 |
| 2087 * | 55,500,709 |
| 2088 * | 55,839,159 |
| 2089 * | 56,166,457 |
| 2090 * | 56,481,188 |
| 2091 * | 56,783,372 |
| 2092 * | 57,074,420 |
| 2093 * | 57,354,603 |
| 2094 * | 57,621,842 |
| 2095 * | 57,879,215 |
| 2096 * | 58,135,896 |
| 2097 * | 58,389,577 |
| 2098 * | 58,636,392 |
| 2099 * | 58,888,533 |
| 2100 * | 59,141,258 |
* UN projection
Population of Malawi by year
11.3 million in 2000, 22.8 million in 2026. Every year for the last decade, then every five years to 1950. * UN projection; earlier years are UN estimates.
| Year | Population | Yearly change | Change | Net migrants | Median age | Fertility | Density (km²) | Urban | World share | World rank |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2026* | 22,785,535 | +2.56% | +569,415 | +1,348 | 18.4 | 3.45 | 241 | 18% | 0.27% | 62 |
| 2025* | 22,216,120 | +2.59% | +560,834 | −5,628 | 18.1 | 3.53 | 235 | 18% | 0.27% | 62 |
| 2024* | 21,655,286 | +2.61% | +550,804 | −1,507 | 17.8 | 3.59 | 229 | 17% | 0.27% | 62 |
| 2023 | 21,104,482 | +2.60% | +535,754 | −5,811 | 17.6 | 3.65 | 223 | 17% | 0.26% | 62 |
| 2022 | 20,568,728 | +2.60% | +521,470 | −5,231 | 17.3 | 3.72 | 218 | 17% | 0.26% | 62 |
| 2021 | 20,047,258 | +2.63% | +513,370 | −2,666 | 17.1 | 3.79 | 212 | 17% | 0.25% | 62 |
| 2020 | 19,533,888 | +2.67% | +508,136 | −2,655 | 16.9 | 3.88 | 207 | 16% | 0.25% | 62 |
| 2019 | 19,025,752 | +2.69% | +497,671 | −1,837 | 16.7 | 3.95 | 201 | 16% | 0.24% | 65 |
| 2018 | 18,528,081 | +2.71% | +488,366 | −3,267 | 16.5 | 4.02 | 196 | 16% | 0.24% | 65 |
| 2017 | 18,039,715 | +2.75% | +481,976 | +982 | 16.3 | 4.11 | 191 | 16% | 0.24% | 65 |
| 2016 | 17,557,739 | +2.76% | +472,152 | +3,505 | 16.1 | 4.22 | 186 | 16% | 0.23% | 65 |
| 2015 | 17,085,587 | +2.79% | +464,049 | −6,471 | 16.0 | 4.38 | 181 | 16% | 0.23% | 66 |
| 2010 | 14,826,463 | +2.99% | +430,675 | −9,327 | 15.7 | 5.26 | 157 | 16% | 0.21% | 67 |
| 2005 | 12,840,031 | +2.71% | +339,294 | −31,462 | 15.7 | 5.85 | 136 | 15% | 0.19% | 69 |
| 2000 | 11,315,942 | +2.43% | +268,138 | −28,098 | 15.7 | 6.00 | 120 | 15% | 0.18% | 70 |
| 1995 | 10,150,117 | −0.15% | −14,777 | −66,366 | 15.7 | 6.39 | 107 | 14% | 0.18% | 73 |
| 1990 | 9,545,852 | +4.03% | +369,632 | +71,111 | 16.2 | 6.74 | 101 | 12% | 0.18% | 72 |
| 1985 | 7,620,508 | +3.92% | +287,698 | +74,625 | 16.2 | 7.17 | 81 | 10% | 0.16% | 78 |
| 1980 | 6,265,529 | +3.93% | +236,780 | +52,294 | 16.2 | 7.52 | 66 | 9% | 0.14% | 81 |
| 1975 | 5,287,366 | +2.84% | +146,029 | +5,162 | 16.4 | 7.36 | 56 | 8% | 0.13% | 83 |
| 1970 | 4,633,944 | +2.49% | +112,760 | −2,147 | 16.9 | 7.30 | 49 | 6% | 0.13% | 86 |
| 1965 | 4,096,157 | +2.47% | +98,852 | +0 | 17.4 | 7.13 | 43 | 5% | 0.12% | 89 |
| 1960 | 3,628,134 | +2.37% | +83,975 | +0 | 17.1 | 7.04 | 38 | 4% | 0.12% | 89 |
| 1955 | 3,246,543 | +2.04% | +65,014 | +0 | 16.8 | 6.84 | 34 | 4% | 0.12% | 90 |
| 1950 | 2,950,300 | – | – | +0 | 16.1 | 6.82 | 31 | 4% | 0.12% | 89 |
Population forecast for Malawi
UN medium-variant projection: 37.4 million in 2050 (+64.0% from 2026), 59.1 million in 2100.
| Year | Population | Yearly change | Net migrants | Median age | Fertility | Density (km²) | Urban | World share | World rank |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2030 | 25,160,287 | +2.47% | +5,107 | 19.5 | 3.23 | 266 | 20% | 0.29% | 60 |
| 2035 | 28,213,795 | +2.24% | +4,609 | 20.9 | 3.01 | 298 | 23% | 0.32% | 60 |
| 2040 | 31,302,098 | +1.99% | −7,699 | 22.1 | 2.82 | 331 | 26% | 0.34% | 59 |
| 2045 | 34,350,954 | +1.82% | −3,123 | 23.3 | 2.67 | 363 | 30% | 0.36% | 56 |
| 2050 | 37,361,683 | +1.63% | −674 | 24.6 | 2.55 | 395 | 35% | 0.39% | 55 |
| 2060 | 43,228,184 | +1.34% | −565 | 27.3 | 2.36 | 457 | – | 0.43% | 52 |
| 2070 | 48,410,340 | +1.01% | −7,575 | 29.9 | 2.22 | 512 | – | 0.48% | 48 |
| 2080 | 52,893,308 | +0.80% | +11,640 | 32.2 | 2.10 | 559 | – | 0.51% | 47 |
| 2090 | 56,481,188 | +0.56% | −2,428 | 34.4 | 2.02 | 597 | – | 0.55% | 44 |
| 2100 | 59,141,258 | +0.43% | +26,182 | 36.5 | 1.95 | 626 | – | 0.58% | 44 |
Largest cities in Malawi
Urban area in 2026: the whole built-up city, measured the same way for every country (UN, 2025). * UN projection. Largest cities in the world
| # | City | Population 2026 | 2050* |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Lilongwe (capital) | 1,004,652 | 1,847,638 |
| 2 | Blantyre | 927,169 | 1,312,414 |
| 3 | Mzuzu | 230,975 | 430,245 |
| 4 | Likuni | 156,660 | 306,571 |
| 5 | Zomba | 80,046 | 142,134 |
| 6 | Salima | 64,518 | 136,878 |
| 7 | Kasungu | 64,140 | 142,277 |
| 8 | Mangochi | 64,094 | 101,634 |
Age structure
Median age 18.4. 2.6% are 65 or older, 4.9% by 2050; 39.6% are under 15.
Share of the total population in each age group (%)
Births per woman
3.45 in 2026; about 2.1 keeps a population stable without migration.
- UN estimate
- UN projection
1.9 2026
› Show the numbers as a table
| Year | Fertility rate |
|---|---|
| 1950 | 6.82 |
| 1951 | 6.84 |
| 1952 | 6.85 |
| 1953 | 6.85 |
| 1954 | 6.80 |
| 1955 | 6.84 |
| 1956 | 6.89 |
| 1957 | 6.92 |
| 1958 | 6.97 |
| 1959 | 7.01 |
| 1960 | 7.04 |
| 1961 | 7.07 |
| 1962 | 7.10 |
| 1963 | 7.13 |
| 1964 | 7.11 |
| 1965 | 7.13 |
| 1966 | 7.17 |
| 1967 | 7.21 |
| 1968 | 7.26 |
| 1969 | 7.27 |
| 1970 | 7.30 |
| 1971 | 7.31 |
| 1972 | 7.33 |
| 1973 | 7.34 |
| 1974 | 7.34 |
| 1975 | 7.36 |
| 1976 | 7.39 |
| 1977 | 7.41 |
| 1978 | 7.43 |
| 1979 | 7.47 |
| 1980 | 7.52 |
| 1981 | 7.49 |
| 1982 | 7.45 |
| 1983 | 7.36 |
| 1984 | 7.26 |
| 1985 | 7.17 |
| 1986 | 7.07 |
| 1987 | 6.97 |
| 1988 | 6.88 |
| 1989 | 6.80 |
| 1990 | 6.74 |
| 1991 | 6.68 |
| 1992 | 6.63 |
| 1993 | 6.57 |
| 1994 | 6.49 |
| 1995 | 6.39 |
| 1996 | 6.28 |
| 1997 | 6.23 |
| 1998 | 6.21 |
| 1999 | 6.12 |
| 2000 | 6.00 |
| 2001 | 5.94 |
| 2002 | 5.90 |
| 2003 | 5.88 |
| 2004 | 5.86 |
| 2005 | 5.85 |
| 2006 | 5.80 |
| 2007 | 5.72 |
| 2008 | 5.61 |
| 2009 | 5.45 |
| 2010 | 5.26 |
| 2011 | 5.08 |
| 2012 | 4.90 |
| 2013 | 4.76 |
| 2014 | 4.57 |
| 2015 | 4.38 |
| 2016 | 4.22 |
| 2017 | 4.11 |
| 2018 | 4.02 |
| 2019 | 3.95 |
| 2020 | 3.88 |
| 2021 | 3.79 |
| 2022 | 3.72 |
| 2023 | 3.65 |
| 2024 * | 3.59 |
| 2025 * | 3.53 |
| 2026 * | 3.45 |
| 2027 * | 3.39 |
| 2028 * | 3.33 |
| 2029 * | 3.29 |
| 2030 * | 3.23 |
| 2031 * | 3.18 |
| 2032 * | 3.13 |
| 2033 * | 3.09 |
| 2034 * | 3.05 |
| 2035 * | 3.01 |
| 2036 * | 2.97 |
| 2037 * | 2.93 |
| 2038 * | 2.90 |
| 2039 * | 2.86 |
| 2040 * | 2.82 |
| 2041 * | 2.79 |
| 2042 * | 2.76 |
| 2043 * | 2.73 |
| 2044 * | 2.70 |
| 2045 * | 2.67 |
| 2046 * | 2.64 |
| 2047 * | 2.61 |
| 2048 * | 2.59 |
| 2049 * | 2.57 |
| 2050 * | 2.55 |
| 2051 * | 2.52 |
| 2052 * | 2.50 |
| 2053 * | 2.48 |
| 2054 * | 2.46 |
| 2055 * | 2.44 |
| 2056 * | 2.42 |
| 2057 * | 2.40 |
| 2058 * | 2.39 |
| 2059 * | 2.37 |
| 2060 * | 2.36 |
| 2061 * | 2.34 |
| 2062 * | 2.32 |
| 2063 * | 2.31 |
| 2064 * | 2.29 |
| 2065 * | 2.28 |
| 2066 * | 2.26 |
| 2067 * | 2.25 |
| 2068 * | 2.24 |
| 2069 * | 2.23 |
| 2070 * | 2.22 |
| 2071 * | 2.20 |
| 2072 * | 2.19 |
| 2073 * | 2.18 |
| 2074 * | 2.17 |
| 2075 * | 2.16 |
| 2076 * | 2.15 |
| 2077 * | 2.14 |
| 2078 * | 2.13 |
| 2079 * | 2.11 |
| 2080 * | 2.10 |
| 2081 * | 2.09 |
| 2082 * | 2.08 |
| 2083 * | 2.07 |
| 2084 * | 2.07 |
| 2085 * | 2.06 |
| 2086 * | 2.05 |
| 2087 * | 2.04 |
| 2088 * | 2.04 |
| 2089 * | 2.03 |
| 2090 * | 2.02 |
| 2091 * | 2.01 |
| 2092 * | 2.00 |
| 2093 * | 1.99 |
| 2094 * | 1.99 |
| 2095 * | 1.98 |
| 2096 * | 1.97 |
| 2097 * | 1.97 |
| 2098 * | 1.96 |
| 2099 * | 1.96 |
| 2100 * | 1.95 |
* UN projection
Births and deaths each year
Births outnumber deaths throughout the projection.
- Births
- Deaths
- UN estimate
- UN projection
772k547k 2026
› Show the numbers as a table
| Year | Births | Deaths |
|---|---|---|
| 1950 | 145,952 | 95,476 |
| 1951 | 150,111 | 95,415 |
| 1952 | 154,333 | 96,033 |
| 1953 | 158,608 | 97,195 |
| 1954 | 161,659 | 98,486 |
| 1955 | 166,799 | 99,948 |
| 1956 | 172,196 | 101,544 |
| 1957 | 177,588 | 103,356 |
| 1958 | 183,272 | 105,081 |
| 1959 | 189,204 | 106,973 |
| 1960 | 194,928 | 109,210 |
| 1961 | 200,519 | 111,430 |
| 1962 | 206,209 | 113,747 |
| 1963 | 212,100 | 116,167 |
| 1964 | 216,595 | 118,937 |
| 1965 | 221,638 | 121,597 |
| 1966 | 227,762 | 124,251 |
| 1967 | 233,551 | 126,884 |
| 1968 | 239,804 | 129,475 |
| 1969 | 244,762 | 131,643 |
| 1970 | 250,048 | 133,228 |
| 1971 | 255,129 | 134,113 |
| 1972 | 260,603 | 134,875 |
| 1973 | 266,214 | 134,686 |
| 1974 | 271,929 | 134,114 |
| 1975 | 278,744 | 133,492 |
| 1976 | 286,172 | 132,750 |
| 1977 | 294,030 | 132,096 |
| 1978 | 304,193 | 131,691 |
| 1979 | 316,117 | 133,997 |
| 1980 | 330,225 | 137,479 |
| 1981 | 341,309 | 141,874 |
| 1982 | 352,710 | 147,328 |
| 1983 | 362,382 | 152,962 |
| 1984 | 372,185 | 160,038 |
| 1985 | 383,737 | 167,556 |
| 1986 | 393,642 | 175,124 |
| 1987 | 403,098 | 182,531 |
| 1988 | 426,759 | 199,849 |
| 1989 | 444,597 | 206,632 |
| 1990 | 462,370 | 212,217 |
| 1991 | 476,392 | 216,197 |
| 1992 | 487,116 | 218,043 |
| 1993 | 497,841 | 221,302 |
| 1994 | 492,108 | 216,673 |
| 1995 | 475,390 | 208,645 |
| 1996 | 478,411 | 208,359 |
| 1997 | 485,873 | 208,447 |
| 1998 | 494,919 | 209,515 |
| 1999 | 501,749 | 206,123 |
| 2000 | 504,370 | 203,932 |
| 2001 | 512,168 | 201,338 |
| 2002 | 522,207 | 199,339 |
| 2003 | 534,862 | 193,728 |
| 2004 | 549,595 | 188,458 |
| 2005 | 564,999 | 183,869 |
| 2006 | 577,507 | 180,380 |
| 2007 | 587,503 | 177,211 |
| 2008 | 594,896 | 173,107 |
| 2009 | 600,959 | 166,141 |
| 2010 | 603,227 | 158,766 |
| 2011 | 605,872 | 151,724 |
| 2012 | 605,829 | 145,134 |
| 2013 | 609,651 | 139,364 |
| 2014 | 606,730 | 134,322 |
| 2015 | 603,052 | 130,573 |
| 2016 | 600,917 | 126,126 |
| 2017 | 607,619 | 122,952 |
| 2018 | 615,627 | 121,281 |
| 2019 | 625,978 | 119,875 |
| 2020 | 635,555 | 120,892 |
| 2021 | 642,826 | 125,436 |
| 2022 | 652,812 | 119,361 |
| 2023 | 662,289 | 113,181 |
| 2024 * | 674,407 | 114,589 |
| 2025 * | 685,330 | 116,351 |
| 2026 * | 692,256 | 118,129 |
| 2027 * | 702,654 | 120,014 |
| 2028 * | 711,469 | 121,948 |
| 2029 * | 722,033 | 124,077 |
| 2030 * | 727,191 | 126,136 |
| 2031 * | 733,783 | 128,575 |
| 2032 * | 739,362 | 130,881 |
| 2033 * | 745,029 | 133,287 |
| 2034 * | 750,207 | 135,979 |
| 2035 * | 754,660 | 138,826 |
| 2036 * | 758,575 | 141,787 |
| 2037 * | 762,363 | 144,847 |
| 2038 * | 766,270 | 148,157 |
| 2039 * | 768,861 | 151,408 |
| 2040 * | 771,783 | 154,905 |
| 2041 * | 774,754 | 158,707 |
| 2042 * | 777,026 | 162,654 |
| 2043 * | 779,980 | 166,776 |
| 2044 * | 782,672 | 171,142 |
| 2045 * | 786,229 | 175,776 |
| 2046 * | 789,716 | 180,460 |
| 2047 * | 792,094 | 185,339 |
| 2048 * | 795,107 | 190,396 |
| 2049 * | 798,231 | 195,584 |
| 2050 * | 801,293 | 200,984 |
| 2051 * | 804,472 | 206,593 |
| 2052 * | 806,674 | 212,364 |
| 2053 * | 810,318 | 218,257 |
| 2054 * | 813,577 | 224,320 |
| 2055 * | 815,564 | 230,436 |
| 2056 * | 817,032 | 236,897 |
| 2057 * | 819,117 | 243,123 |
| 2058 * | 821,511 | 249,748 |
| 2059 * | 823,675 | 256,502 |
| 2060 * | 824,533 | 263,270 |
| 2061 * | 824,833 | 270,025 |
| 2062 * | 825,586 | 276,737 |
| 2063 * | 825,215 | 283,482 |
| 2064 * | 824,951 | 290,387 |
| 2065 * | 825,054 | 297,585 |
| 2066 * | 824,813 | 304,987 |
| 2067 * | 823,775 | 311,949 |
| 2068 * | 824,068 | 319,370 |
| 2069 * | 824,732 | 326,988 |
| 2070 * | 824,833 | 334,363 |
| 2071 * | 823,781 | 341,854 |
| 2072 * | 822,792 | 349,117 |
| 2073 * | 821,335 | 356,671 |
| 2074 * | 820,652 | 364,034 |
| 2075 * | 819,552 | 371,286 |
| 2076 * | 818,513 | 378,897 |
| 2077 * | 818,274 | 386,664 |
| 2078 * | 817,815 | 394,243 |
| 2079 * | 816,572 | 401,912 |
| 2080 * | 814,703 | 409,249 |
| 2081 * | 813,740 | 416,727 |
| 2082 * | 812,173 | 424,339 |
| 2083 * | 810,541 | 431,885 |
| 2084 * | 810,203 | 439,603 |
| 2085 * | 809,002 | 447,255 |
| 2086 * | 807,152 | 454,650 |
| 2087 * | 804,678 | 461,897 |
| 2088 * | 802,273 | 469,380 |
| 2089 * | 800,677 | 476,521 |
| 2090 * | 798,616 | 483,655 |
| 2091 * | 795,744 | 491,210 |
| 2092 * | 792,562 | 498,237 |
| 2093 * | 788,736 | 504,754 |
| 2094 * | 785,599 | 511,125 |
| 2095 * | 783,016 | 517,473 |
| 2096 * | 780,542 | 523,549 |
| 2097 * | 778,115 | 529,878 |
| 2098 * | 775,336 | 535,966 |
| 2099 * | 773,471 | 541,506 |
| 2100 * | 771,567 | 547,327 |
* UN projection
Economy of Malawi
GDP by country →- GDP 2026
- $18.3 billion 140th largest economy
- GDP per person
- $740 US$, market rates
- GDP per person (PPP)
- Int$ 1,819 at purchasing power parity
- Economic growth
- +2.6% real GDP
- Inflation
- 21.9% consumer prices
- Unemployment
- – of the labour force
- Government debt
- 78.0% of GDP
- Share of world GDP
- 0.0%
- IMF estimate
- IMF projection
25B 2026
› Show the numbers as a table
| Year | GDP, US$ |
|---|---|
| 1990 | 4,222,000,000 |
| 1991 | 5,380,000,000 |
| 1992 | 4,394,000,000 |
| 1993 | 5,055,000,000 |
| 1994 | 2,930,000,000 |
| 1995 | 3,412,000,000 |
| 1996 | 5,569,000,000 |
| 1997 | 6,504,000,000 |
| 1998 | 4,275,000,000 |
| 1999 | 4,336,000,000 |
| 2000 | 4,257,000,000 |
| 2001 | 4,178,000,000 |
| 2002 | 4,922,000,000 |
| 2003 | 4,521,000,000 |
| 2004 | 4,895,000,000 |
| 2005 | 5,148,000,000 |
| 2006 | 5,630,000,000 |
| 2007 | 6,240,000,000 |
| 2008 | 7,492,000,000 |
| 2009 | 8,723,000,000 |
| 2010 | 9,796,000,000 |
| 2011 | 11,241,000,000 |
| 2012 | 8,421,000,000 |
| 2013 | 7,648,000,000 |
| 2014 | 8,526,000,000 |
| 2015 | 9,014,000,000 |
| 2016 | 7,733,000,000 |
| 2017 | 8,943,000,000 |
| 2018 | 9,882,000,000 |
| 2019 | 11,031,000,000 |
| 2020 | 11,847,000,000 |
| 2021 | 12,475,000,000 |
| 2022 | 12,531,000,000 |
| 2023 | 13,439,000,000 |
| 2024 | 11,790,000,000 |
| 2025 | 15,096,000,000 |
| 2026 * | 18,309,000,000 |
| 2027 * | 19,999,000,000 |
| 2028 * | 20,668,000,000 |
| 2029 * | 22,302,000,000 |
| 2030 * | 23,831,000,000 |
| 2031 * | 25,022,000,000 |
* IMF projection
Source: International Monetary Fund, World Economic Outlook (October 2026). 2026 and later are IMF projections. GDP per capita by country · Richest countries
CO₂ emissions of Malawi
CO₂ by country →- CO₂ emissions 2024
- 1.9 million tonnes 157th largest emitter
- Per person
- 0.09 t world: 4.73 t
- Share of world CO₂
- 0.00% 0.27% of its people
- Change since 1990
- +155% +123% since 2005
1.9 2024
› Show the numbers as a table
| Year | CO₂, million tonnes |
|---|---|
| 1950 | 0.23 |
| 1951 | 0.26 |
| 1952 | 0.29 |
| 1953 | 0.32 |
| 1954 | 0.35 |
| 1955 | 0.41 |
| 1956 | 0.45 |
| 1957 | 0.46 |
| 1958 | 0.41 |
| 1959 | 0.46 |
| 1960 | 0.44 |
| 1961 | 0.37 |
| 1962 | 0.36 |
| 1963 | 0.35 |
| 1964 | 0.33 |
| 1965 | 0.35 |
| 1966 | 0.43 |
| 1967 | 0.37 |
| 1968 | 0.39 |
| 1969 | 0.38 |
| 1970 | 0.45 |
| 1971 | 0.50 |
| 1972 | 0.55 |
| 1973 | 0.57 |
| 1974 | 0.55 |
| 1975 | 0.58 |
| 1976 | 0.58 |
| 1977 | 0.64 |
| 1978 | 0.67 |
| 1979 | 0.64 |
| 1980 | 0.71 |
| 1981 | 0.60 |
| 1982 | 0.59 |
| 1983 | 0.57 |
| 1984 | 0.56 |
| 1985 | 0.56 |
| 1986 | 0.55 |
| 1987 | 0.55 |
| 1988 | 0.54 |
| 1989 | 0.56 |
| 1990 | 0.74 |
| 1991 | 0.79 |
| 1992 | 0.79 |
| 1993 | 0.88 |
| 1994 | 0.90 |
| 1995 | 0.90 |
| 1996 | 0.92 |
| 1997 | 0.92 |
| 1998 | 0.90 |
| 1999 | 0.89 |
| 2000 | 0.85 |
| 2001 | 0.78 |
| 2002 | 0.86 |
| 2003 | 0.92 |
| 2004 | 0.90 |
| 2005 | 0.84 |
| 2006 | 0.85 |
| 2007 | 0.92 |
| 2008 | 1.00 |
| 2009 | 1.02 |
| 2010 | 0.97 |
| 2011 | 1.03 |
| 2012 | 1.04 |
| 2013 | 1.12 |
| 2014 | 1.01 |
| 2015 | 1.05 |
| 2016 | 1.17 |
| 2017 | 1.19 |
| 2018 | 1.69 |
| 2019 | 1.70 |
| 2020 | 1.87 |
| 2021 | 1.68 |
| 2022 | 1.80 |
| 2023 | 1.85 |
| 2024 | 1.88 |
By source, 2024
- Oil77.7%
- Cement12.8%
- Coal9.6%
Fossil fuels and industry, territorial; Global Carbon Budget via Our World in Data (CC BY 4.0). CO₂ per capita by country · Historical emissions
Compare with Africa
| Country | Population 2026 | Growth | Fertility | Median age |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Malawi | 22.8 million | +2.53% | 3.45 | 18.4 |
| Nigeria | 242 million | +2.03% | 4.20 | 18.3 |
| Ethiopia | 139 million | +2.48% | 3.72 | 19.3 |
| Egypt | 120 million | +1.44% | 2.68 | 24.7 |
| DR Congo | 116 million | +3.13% | 5.80 | 15.9 |
| Tanzania | 72.6 million | +2.79% | 4.41 | 17.6 |
| South Africa | 65.5 million | +1.05% | 2.17 | 28.9 |
| Kenya | 58.6 million | +1.89% | 3.07 | 20.3 |
| Sudan | 53.3 million | +3.03% | 4.13 | 18.8 |
All 237 countries · Fertility rate by country · Birth rate by country · Median age by country · Life expectancy by country · Population growth rate by country · Population density by country · Largest countries by area · Death rate by country · Infant mortality rate by country · Elderly population by country · Net migration rate by country · Urban population by country · Sex ratio by country
Air quality in Malawi today
Hourly AQI and a 48-hour forecast for 2 cities, from Lilongwe to Blantyre.
Questions
What is the population of Malawi in 2026?
22,785,535 on 1 July 2026, according to the UN's World Population Prospects 2024 (medium-variant projection). That is 22.8 million people, +2.56% on 2025.
Is Malawi's population growing or shrinking?
Growing: 569,415 more people in 2026 than in 2025, with 1,895 births and 323 deaths a day and net migration of +1,348 a year.
When will Malawi's population peak?
Not this century on the UN's medium projection: 37.4 million in 2050 and 59.1 million in 2100, still rising.
What is the fertility rate in Malawi?
3.45 births per woman in 2026. A population replaces itself at about 2.1.
How many babies are born in Malawi every day?
About 1,895 a day (692 thousand in 2026), against about 323 deaths a day.
What is the life expectancy in Malawi?
67.9 years at birth in 2026: 71.1 for women and 64.6 for men, against a world average of 73.8.
How many men and women live in Malawi?
About 11.1 million men and 11.7 million women in 2026, or 95.4 men for every 100 women.
What is the population density of Malawi?
241 people per km² of land in 2026, on a total area of 118,480 km². The world average is 64.
What was the population of Malawi in 2000?
11,315,942 (11.3 million), the UN estimate for 1 July 2000. It has grown by 101% since, to 22.8 million in 2026.
What will the population of Malawi be in 2050?
About 37.4 million on the UN's medium projection (37,361,683), +64.0% from 2026; 59.1 million by 2100.
What are the largest cities in Malawi?
Lilongwe (1 million), Blantyre (927 thousand), Mzuzu (231 thousand), Likuni (157 thousand), Zomba (80 thousand). UN figures for 2026, counting each city’s whole built-up area.
What is the GDP of Malawi in 2026?
$18.3 billion at current prices, the 140th largest economy in the world, on the IMF’s World Economic Outlook (October 2026) figures; real growth of +2.6%.
What is Malawi's GDP per capita?
$740 per person at market exchange rates in 2026, or Int$ 1,819 at purchasing power parity, which adjusts for local prices.
How much CO₂ does Malawi emit?
1.9 million tonnes from fossil fuels and industry in 2024, 0.09 t per person and 0.00% of the world total; oil is the largest source (78%).
Source and method
United Nations, Department of Economic and Social Affairs, Population Division (2024). World Population Prospects 2024, medium variant. Figures for 1950–2023 are UN estimates; later years are the medium-variant projection, which assumes fertility, mortality and migration follow their most likely paths. National statistics offices publish their own counts, which can differ. Reuse under CC BY 3.0 IGO. How we use the data.