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Malawi

Malawi's population is 22,216,120 (2025) — the 60th-largest in the world and the 21st-largest in Africa, growing by about 560,834 people a year.

22,528,972
Population right now, ticking live from the last confirmed count.▲ growing22,216,120 (World Bank, 2025) + +560,834/year × elapsed time since 2025-12-31 — open formula, updates every ticksource: World Bank · indicator year: 2025 · method: estimated, annual · license: CC BY 4.0 · 1 in 370 on Earth

Malawi Facts at a Glance

Five numbers that summarise the country — population trend, rank, density, wealth, share of humanity.
Population2025
22,216,120
World rank
#60
of 217 tracked geographies
Density
235.6 / km²
94,280 km² land area
GDP / capita
$672
#142 economy overall
Share of humanity
1 in 370 people on Earth lives in Malawi

Malawi's Population Growth

Yes — Malawi's population rose by 560,834 people (+2.59%) between 2024 and 2025. The fertility rate is 3.6 births per woman. Net migration was negative in the latest year on record.

You, in Malawi

A personal read on the numbers above — nothing is stored, it never leaves your browser.

Enter a birth year between 1960 and 2025 to see where you'd land.

Malawi Demographics

Every indicator has its own source and dataset year — shown honestly rather than smoothed into one.
Population density2025
235.6 people / km²
94,280 km² land area, 2025
Median age2025
19.2 years
half the population is older, half younger
Life expectancy2024
67.6 years
M 64.3 · F 70.8
Average height2019
165.7 cm (male)
female 156.1 cm
Homicide rate2012
1.8 per 100,000
#75 safest of 196
Air quality (PM2.5)2023
16.7 µg/m³
lower is cleaner
Urban population2025
17.6 %
share living in cities
Fertility rate2025
3.6 births / woman
replacement level ≈ 2.1
Net migration2025
−5,628 people
negative in latest year

Malawi in World Rankings

Every world ranking we publish, where this country sits in each one, and its overall percentile profile.
Population22,216,120 people
#60 / 217
→
GDP$14.9B
#142 / 186
→
Life expectancy67.6 years
#171 / 217
→
Average height165.7 cm (male)
#185 / 200
→
Cleanest air16.72 µg/m³ PM2.5
#97 / 200
→
Safest countries1.8 homicides / 100k
#75 / 196
→
Most dangerous1.8 homicides / 100k
#122 / 196
→
PopulationGDPLife expectancyAverage heightCleanest airSafest countriesMost dangerous
Percentile in each ranking — further from centre is a higher rank (closer to #1).

Population, 1960 to 2025

66 years of estimates from the same source.
3,573,7128,289,85413,005,99717,722,13922,438,281196019761993200920251960: 3,628,1341965: 4,096,1571970: 4,633,9441975: 5,287,3671980: 6,265,5291985: 7,620,5081990: 9,545,8521995: 10,150,1172000: 11,315,9422005: 12,840,0312010: 14,826,4632015: 17,085,5872020: 19,533,8882025: 22,216,120
Source: World Bank (SP.POP.TOTL) · annual estimates, 1960–2025 · hover the line for any year.

Age & sex structure

17 five-year bands, male and female, 2025.
Male — 10,843,953Female — 11,372,173
0-4 · Male: 1,594,7840-4 · Female: 1,585,7120-45-9 · Male: 1,459,6645-9 · Female: 1,456,1815-910-14 · Male: 1,405,28810-14 · Female: 1,412,91710-1415-19 · Male: 1,307,93215-19 · Female: 1,328,40915-1920-24 · Male: 1,088,12820-24 · Female: 1,111,68320-2425-29 · Male: 899,76525-29 · Female: 928,43025-2930-34 · Male: 736,41930-34 · Female: 800,85830-3435-39 · Male: 601,71835-39 · Female: 705,75935-3940-44 · Male: 519,17540-44 · Female: 593,64740-4445-49 · Male: 408,10445-49 · Female: 408,47645-4950-54 · Male: 272,42050-54 · Female: 279,03450-5455-59 · Male: 181,14755-59 · Female: 236,08255-5960-64 · Male: 133,76660-64 · Female: 185,54460-6465-69 · Male: 96,60665-69 · Female: 123,44565-6970-74 · Male: 62,88670-74 · Female: 83,41070-7475-79 · Male: 41,84575-79 · Female: 65,65275-7980+ · Male: 34,30680+ · Female: 66,93480+

Largest cities

By population, GeoNames city-proper figures (not metro area).
1
Lilongwe
1,115,815
2
Blantyre
902,588
3
Mzuzu
249,564
4
Zomba
118,440
5
Karonga
69,486
6
Kasungu
66,152
7
Mangochi
60,338
8
Salima
41,492
9
Liwonde
41,077
10
Balaka
40,950
11
Dedza
34,882
12
Nkhotakota
31,974

Where is Malawi Located?

Capital
Lilongwe
Currency
Kwacha (MWK)
Language(s)
Chichewa, YAO, TUM, SWK
Region
Sub-Saharan Africa
Continent
54 countries in Africa →
Land area
94,280 km²
Area (GeoNames)
118,480 km²
Borders
3 countries
Shares a border with
TanzaniaMozambiqueZambia
MalawiMalawiVS
Compare →

Explore Malawi in Every Ranking

Jump straight to the full world table for any of these indicators.
#60
Population
22,216,120 people · of 217
#142
GDP
$14.9B · of 186
#171
Life expectancy
67.6 years · of 217
#185
Average height
165.7 cm (male) · of 200
#97
Cleanest air
16.72 µg/m³ PM2.5 · of 200
#75
Safest countries
1.8 homicides / 100k · of 196

Frequently asked

What is the population of Malawi?
Malawi's population is 22,216,120 as of 2025 (World Bank estimate), ranking #60 of 217 countries and territories by population.
How many people live in Malawi?
22,216,120 people, as of the 2025 World Bank estimate — the most recent figure this page tracks.
What is Malawi's population density?
235.6 people per km², based on a land area of 94,280 km².
What is Malawi ranked in population worldwide?
#60 of 217 countries and territories by population — see the full ranking table for every country's position.
What is the life expectancy in Malawi?
67.6 years on average (2024) — 64.3 for men, 70.8 for women.
What is Malawi's GDP?
$14.9B, ranking #142 of 186 economies we track — $672 per capita.

Sources

World Bank Open Data
CC BY 4.0 · population, GDP, life expectancy, homicide, PM2.5, vitals
data.worldbank.org →
NCD-RisC / The Lancet
CC BY 4.0 · pooled measured-height and life-expectancy studies
ncdrisc.org →
GeoNames
CC BY 4.0 · cities, geographic passport
geonames.org →