Malawi Demographics: Median age, Gender, Religion

Median age in Malawi, 1960–2100

In 1960, the median age in Malawi was 18.2 years compared to the world's average of 22.5 years. As of 2024, the median age had increased to 18.9 years, compared with the average of 31.6 years in other countries. Ranked 136th for median age 64 years ago (old to young), Malawi ranks 181st currently.

According to the United Nations projections, the median age in Malawi is expected to increase to 37.4 years by 2100. The aging demographics forecast is based on previous years' birth rates and increasing life expectancy.

Demographic pyramid: age and gender distribution

Chart Table

Malawi

Male

Female

Age range	Share of population
	Malawi
	Male	Female
80+	0.16%	0.3%
75-79	0.2%	0.31%
70-74	0.28%	0.38%
65-69	0.43%	0.54%
60-64	0.6%	0.81%
55-59	0.8%	1.06%
50-54	1.17%	1.24%
45-49	1.77%	1.73%
40-44	2.34%	2.61%
35-39	2.7%	3.18%
30-34	3.27%	3.61%
25-29	4.01%	4.15%
20-24	4.84%	4.95%
15-19	5.89%	5.99%
10-14	6.45%	6.49%
5-9	6.66%	6.65%
0-4	7.25%	7.21%

The chart above is a variation of the population pyramid and represents the age and gender structure. Malawi has high demographic potential with 77.4% of people in the 0-34 age group (ranked 11/196).

Working-age demographic by year

Chart Table

Malawi

Factual

UN forecast

World

Factual

UN forecast

1x

Year	Working age share
	Malawi	World
2100	63.8%	59.6%
2099	64%	59.6%
2098	64.1%	59.7%
2097	64.2%	59.7%
2096	64.3%	59.7%
2095	64.4%	59.7%
2094	64.5%	59.7%
2093	64.6%	59.8%
2092	64.6%	59.8%
2091	64.7%	59.8%
2090	64.8%	59.8%
2089	64.9%	59.8%
2088	65%	59.8%
2087	65%	59.8%
2086	65.1%	59.8%
2085	65.1%	59.9%
2084	65.2%	59.9%
2083	65.2%	60%
2082	65.3%	60.1%
2081	65.3%	60.3%
2080	65.3%	60.4%
2079	65.4%	60.6%
2078	65.4%	60.7%
2077	65.5%	60.9%
2076	65.6%	61%
2075	65.6%	61.1%
2074	65.7%	61.3%
2073	65.8%	61.4%
2072	65.9%	61.5%
2071	66%	61.6%
2070	66%	61.7%
2069	66%	61.8%
2068	66.1%	61.9%
2067	66.1%	62%
2066	66%	62%
2065	66%	62.1%
2064	66%	62.1%
2063	66%	62.1%
2062	65.9%	62.2%
2061	65.9%	62.2%
2060	65.8%	62.3%
2059	65.7%	62.3%
2058	65.6%	62.4%
2057	65.5%	62.4%
2056	65.4%	62.5%
2055	65.3%	62.7%
2054	65.2%	62.8%
2053	65%	62.9%
2052	64.9%	63.1%
2051	64.7%	63.2%
2050	64.6%	63.4%
2049	64.4%	63.5%
2048	64.2%	63.6%
2047	64%	63.8%
2046	63.9%	63.9%
2045	63.7%	64%
2044	63.4%	64.1%
2043	63.2%	64.2%
2042	62.9%	64.3%
2041	62.7%	64.4%
2040	62.4%	64.5%
2039	62.1%	64.7%
2038	61.8%	64.8%
2037	61.5%	64.9%
2036	61.2%	65.1%
2035	60.9%	65.2%
2034	60.6%	65.3%
2033	60.3%	65.4%
2032	60%	65.4%
2031	59.7%	65.4%
2030	59.4%	65.4%
2029	59%	65.4%
2028	58.6%	65.4%
2027	58.1%	65.4%
2026	57.6%	65.2%
2025	57%	65.1%
2024	56.7%	65.1%
2023	56.1%	65%
2022	55.5%	64.9%
2021	54.8%	64.9%
2020	54.2%	64.8%
2019	53.6%	64.9%
2018	53%	64.9%
2017	52.5%	65%
2016	52%	65.1%
2015	51.5%	65.1%
2014	51.1%	65.2%
2013	50.8%	65.2%
2012	50.5%	65.2%
2011	50.3%	65.2%
2010	50.2%	65.1%
2009	50.1%	65%
2008	50%	64.9%
2007	49.9%	64.7%
2006	49.9%	64.5%
2005	50%	64.3%
2004	50.1%	64%
2003	50.2%	63.7%
2002	50.3%	63.4%
2001	50.4%	63.1%
2000	50.5%	62.8%
1999	50.7%	62.5%
1998	50.7%	62.2%
1997	50.7%	61.9%
1996	50.6%	61.7%
1995	50.6%	61.5%
1994	50.5%	61.3%
1993	50.5%	61.2%
1992	50.6%	61.1%
1991	50.6%	61%
1990	50.7%	60.9%
1989	50.8%	60.8%
1988	50.8%	60.7%
1987	50.8%	60.5%
1986	50.7%	60.4%
1985	50.8%	60.1%
1984	50.9%	59.9%
1983	51%	59.6%
1982	51.1%	59.3%
1981	51.3%	59%
1980	51.5%	58.7%
1979	51.7%	58.4%
1978	51.9%	58%
1977	52%	57.7%
1976	52%	57.5%
1975	52.1%	57.4%
1974	52.2%	57.3%
1973	52.3%	57.3%
1972	52.4%	57.2%
1971	52.5%	57.1%
1970	52.7%	57%
1969	52.9%	56.9%
1968	53.1%	56.9%
1967	53.4%	56.9%
1966	53.6%	56.8%
1965	53.9%	56.9%
1964	54.1%	57%
1963	54.2%	57.2%
1962	54.2%	57.4%
1961	54.1%	57.5%
1960	53.9%	57.6%

The share of working-age demographics aged 15-64 in Malawi changed from 50.1% to 56.7% between 2004 and 2024.

Age dependency by year

Age dependency is the ratio of people not in the labor force (children under 15 and adults 64+) to people aged 15 to 64. Age dependency in Malawi decreased from 99.5% to 76.3% between 2004 and 2024 with a decreased share of children and an decreased proportion of people aged 65+

Share of young demographic (0-14 years) by year

Chart Table

Malawi

Factual

UN forecast

World

Factual

UN forecast

1x

Year	Share of 0-14
	Malawi	World
2100	19.9%	16.5%
2099	20%	16.6%
2098	20.2%	16.6%
2097	20.3%	16.7%
2096	20.4%	16.8%
2095	20.6%	16.8%
2094	20.7%	16.9%
2093	20.9%	17%
2092	21%	17%
2091	21.2%	17.1%
2090	21.3%	17.2%
2089	21.5%	17.2%
2088	21.6%	17.3%
2087	21.8%	17.4%
2086	22%	17.4%
2085	22.1%	17.5%
2084	22.3%	17.5%
2083	22.5%	17.6%
2082	22.7%	17.7%
2081	22.9%	17.7%
2080	23.1%	17.8%
2079	23.2%	17.8%
2078	23.4%	17.9%
2077	23.6%	17.9%
2076	23.8%	18%
2075	24.1%	18%
2074	24.3%	18.1%
2073	24.5%	18.2%
2072	24.7%	18.2%
2071	24.9%	18.3%
2070	25.2%	18.3%
2069	25.4%	18.4%
2068	25.6%	18.5%
2067	25.9%	18.6%
2066	26.1%	18.6%
2065	26.3%	18.7%
2064	26.6%	18.8%
2063	26.8%	18.9%
2062	27.1%	19.1%
2061	27.3%	19.2%
2060	27.6%	19.3%
2059	27.9%	19.4%
2058	28.1%	19.5%
2057	28.4%	19.6%
2056	28.7%	19.8%
2055	29%	19.9%
2054	29.3%	20%
2053	29.6%	20.1%
2052	29.9%	20.2%
2051	30.3%	20.3%
2050	30.6%	20.4%
2049	31%	20.5%
2048	31.4%	20.6%
2047	31.7%	20.7%
2046	32.1%	20.8%
2045	32.5%	20.9%
2044	32.9%	20.9%
2043	33.3%	21%
2042	33.7%	21.1%
2041	34%	21.2%
2040	34.4%	21.2%
2039	34.8%	21.3%
2038	35.1%	21.4%
2037	35.5%	21.5%
2036	35.9%	21.6%
2035	36.2%	21.8%
2034	36.5%	22%
2033	36.9%	22.2%
2032	37.2%	22.4%
2031	37.5%	22.7%
2030	37.9%	23%
2029	38.3%	23.3%
2028	38.8%	23.6%
2027	39.3%	23.9%
2026	39.9%	24.2%
2025	40.4%	24.6%
2024	40.7%	24.7%
2023	41.3%	25%
2022	41.9%	25.3%
2021	42.5%	25.6%
2020	43.1%	25.8%
2019	43.7%	26%
2018	44.2%	26.2%
2017	44.6%	26.4%
2016	45.1%	26.5%
2015	45.4%	26.6%
2014	45.7%	26.8%
2013	46%	26.9%
2012	46.1%	27%
2011	46.2%	27.1%
2010	46.2%	27.3%
2009	46.2%	27.5%
2008	46.1%	27.6%
2007	46.1%	27.9%
2006	46.1%	28.1%
2005	46%	28.5%
2004	46%	28.8%
2003	46.1%	29.2%
2002	46.1%	29.6%
2001	46.1%	30%
2000	46.2%	30.4%
1999	46.2%	30.8%
1998	46.2%	31.1%
1997	46.2%	31.5%
1996	46.2%	31.8%
1995	46.1%	32.1%
1994	46.1%	32.3%
1993	46%	32.5%
1992	45.8%	32.7%
1991	45.6%	32.9%
1990	45.4%	33%
1989	45.2%	33.2%
1988	45%	33.4%
1987	45.1%	33.6%
1986	45.4%	33.8%
1985	45.4%	34%
1984	45.5%	34.3%
1983	45.5%	34.6%
1982	45.4%	34.9%
1981	45.4%	35.2%
1980	45.4%	35.5%
1979	45.3%	35.9%
1978	45.3%	36.3%
1977	45.3%	36.7%
1976	45.2%	36.9%
1975	45.2%	37.1%
1974	45.1%	37.2%
1973	44.9%	37.3%
1972	44.8%	37.5%
1971	44.6%	37.6%
1970	44.4%	37.7%
1969	44.2%	37.8%
1968	43.9%	37.9%
1967	43.7%	38%
1966	43.4%	38%
1965	43.2%	38%
1964	43%	38%
1963	42.9%	37.8%
1962	42.8%	37.6%
1961	42.9%	37.5%
1960	43.1%	37.4%

The share of children aged 0-14 in Malawi decreased from 46% to 40.7% between 2004 and 2024 due to changes in birth rates.

Share of old population (65+) by year

Chart Table

Malawi

Factual

UN forecast

World

Factual

UN forecast

1x

Year	Share of 65+ years old
	Malawi	World
2100	16.3%	23.9%
2099	16%	23.8%
2098	15.8%	23.7%
2097	15.5%	23.6%
2096	15.3%	23.5%
2095	15.1%	23.4%
2094	14.8%	23.4%
2093	14.6%	23.3%
2092	14.3%	23.2%
2091	14.1%	23.1%
2090	13.8%	23.1%
2089	13.6%	23%
2088	13.4%	22.9%
2087	13.2%	22.8%
2086	12.9%	22.7%
2085	12.7%	22.6%
2084	12.5%	22.5%
2083	12.3%	22.4%
2082	12.1%	22.2%
2081	11.9%	22%
2080	11.6%	21.8%
2079	11.4%	21.6%
2078	11.1%	21.4%
2077	10.9%	21.2%
2076	10.6%	21%
2075	10.3%	20.8%
2074	10%	20.6%
2073	9.7%	20.4%
2072	9.4%	20.3%
2071	9.11%	20.1%
2070	8.83%	19.9%
2069	8.56%	19.8%
2068	8.31%	19.6%
2067	8.07%	19.5%
2066	7.85%	19.3%
2065	7.63%	19.2%
2064	7.41%	19.1%
2063	7.2%	18.9%
2062	6.99%	18.8%
2061	6.8%	18.6%
2060	6.61%	18.5%
2059	6.43%	18.3%
2058	6.24%	18.1%
2057	6.06%	17.9%
2056	5.88%	17.7%
2055	5.7%	17.5%
2054	5.52%	17.2%
2053	5.34%	17%
2052	5.16%	16.7%
2051	4.98%	16.4%
2050	4.79%	16.2%
2049	4.6%	16%
2048	4.41%	15.8%
2047	4.22%	15.5%
2046	4.03%	15.3%
2045	3.85%	15.1%
2044	3.68%	14.9%
2043	3.54%	14.8%
2042	3.41%	14.6%
2041	3.3%	14.4%
2040	3.21%	14.2%
2039	3.12%	14%
2038	3.05%	13.8%
2037	2.99%	13.5%
2036	2.94%	13.3%
2035	2.89%	13%
2034	2.84%	12.7%
2033	2.8%	12.4%
2032	2.76%	12.2%
2031	2.72%	11.9%
2030	2.69%	11.6%
2029	2.66%	11.3%
2028	2.63%	11%
2027	2.61%	10.7%
2026	2.59%	10.5%
2025	2.59%	10.3%
2024	2.59%	10.2%
2023	2.59%	9.98%
2022	2.61%	9.74%
2021	2.65%	9.53%
2020	2.71%	9.33%
2019	2.77%	9.1%
2018	2.83%	8.88%
2017	2.9%	8.65%
2016	2.98%	8.45%
2015	3.07%	8.26%
2014	3.16%	8.08%
2013	3.26%	7.92%
2012	3.37%	7.78%
2011	3.48%	7.66%
2010	3.6%	7.58%
2009	3.74%	7.52%
2008	3.92%	7.47%
2007	4.02%	7.41%
2006	4%	7.34%
2005	3.94%	7.26%
2004	3.85%	7.18%
2003	3.73%	7.1%
2002	3.6%	7.01%
2001	3.47%	6.92%
2000	3.31%	6.84%
1999	3.11%	6.76%
1998	3.03%	6.68%
1997	3.11%	6.61%
1996	3.2%	6.53%
1995	3.29%	6.45%
1994	3.39%	6.37%
1993	3.5%	6.29%
1992	3.61%	6.21%
1991	3.74%	6.14%
1990	3.87%	6.07%
1989	4.03%	6.01%
1988	4.21%	5.95%
1987	4.09%	5.91%
1986	3.83%	5.86%
1985	3.77%	5.82%
1984	3.67%	5.8%
1983	3.55%	5.79%
1982	3.41%	5.8%
1981	3.26%	5.81%
1980	3.12%	5.81%
1979	2.97%	5.77%
1978	2.82%	5.71%
1977	2.74%	5.65%
1976	2.74%	5.59%
1975	2.74%	5.53%
1974	2.76%	5.47%
1973	2.79%	5.42%
1972	2.83%	5.37%
1971	2.87%	5.32%
1970	2.91%	5.28%
1969	2.93%	5.24%
1968	2.94%	5.2%
1967	2.94%	5.16%
1966	2.94%	5.12%
1965	2.94%	5.08%
1964	2.95%	5.04%
1963	2.97%	5.02%
1962	2.99%	5.01%
1961	3.01%	4.99%
1960	3.02%	4.97%

The share of older people aged 65 and over in Malawi decreased from 3.85% to 2.59% between 2004 and 2024.

Median age map

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