Skip to content

China vs Malawi statistics compared

Updated on by Georank team

China has a population of 1.41B (ranked 2/197), compared with 21.7M in Malawi (ranked 62/197). China's land area is 3,624,808 sq mi versus 36,402 sq mi for Malawi (ranked 2nd vs. 107th).

By GDP, China ranks 2/197 ($18.7T) and Malawi ranks 151/197 ($11.3B). By GDP per capita, China ranks 76/197 ($13,303), while Malawi ranks 194/197 ($523).

Main facts and rankings

China Malawi
Population
1402578808
22949294
Population rank 2/197 61/197
GDP
$18.7T
2024
$11.3B
2024
GDP rank 2/197 151/197
GDP per capita
$13,303
2024
$523
2024
GDP per capita rank 76/197 194/197
GDP per capita, PPP
$27,105
2024
$1,858
2024
Government debt
$16.6T
2024
$9.91B
2024
Debt-to-GDP ratio
88.3%
2024
87.6%
2024
Government debt per person
$11,749
2024
$458
2024
Government debt per person rank 47/185 168/185
Average annual personal income after taxes
$9,826
2026
$3,031
2026
Land area 3,624,808 sq mi 36,402 sq mi
Population density
387 ppl/mi²
2026
626 ppl/mi²
2026
Fertility rate
1
2023
3.65
2023
Median age
40.6 years
2024
18.9 years
2024
Life expectancy
79 years
2026
67.9 years
2026

China and Malawi: Comparison Charts

China and Malawi economies compared

GDP
China

Malawi
1x
Year GDP
China Malawi
2024 $18,743,803,170,827 $11,316,411,329
2023 $18,270,356,654,533 $13,363,669,673
2022 $18,316,765,021,690 $12,429,059,928
2021 $18,201,698,719,564 $12,378,119,199
2020 $14,996,414,166,715 $11,769,313,598
2019 $14,560,167,101,283 $11,051,852,713
2018 $14,147,765,772,964 $9,879,220,354
2017 $12,537,559,062,283 $8,943,543,794
2016 $11,456,024,084,962 $7,909,868,618
2015 $11,280,814,787,469 $9,219,474,379
2014 $10,674,533,168,257 $8,801,326,169
2013 $9,743,124,247,267 $8,031,571,928
2012 $8,673,664,713,189 $8,773,203,178
2011 $7,671,757,207,851 $11,648,142,958
2010 $6,192,564,874,453 $10,128,323,011
2009 $5,189,577,094,998 $9,009,887,947
2008 $4,667,346,414,522 $7,743,617,352
2007 $3,604,055,822,572 $6,451,210,219
2006 $2,791,498,472,804 $5,818,279,739
2005 $2,317,551,298,052 $5,320,409,651
2004 $1,984,196,551,300 $5,058,726,350
2003 $1,683,903,309,844 $4,669,789,300
2002 $1,489,821,682,051 $5,087,328,438
2001 $1,355,036,590,252 $2,498,008,665
2000 $1,223,754,919,971 $2,537,307,580
1999 $1,103,843,203,576 $2,584,478,924
1998 $1,037,134,141,760 $2,547,609,590
1997 $967,753,570,435 $3,875,785,863
1996 $868,523,936,530 $3,319,573,750
1995 $738,190,896,228 $2,033,701,498
1994 $566,929,539,493 $1,719,864,761
1993 $446,557,291,212 $3,013,392,658
1992 $428,502,354,788 $2,618,837,835
1991 $384,510,452,962 $3,206,783,830
1990 $361,560,229,446 $2,737,087,862
1989 $348,380,566,802 $2,314,205,130
1988 $312,888,888,889 $2,008,189,508
1987 $273,455,156,951 $1,721,711,808
1986 $301,310,144,928 $1,722,586,299
1985 $310,064,625,850 $1,646,442,273
1984 $260,442,857,143 $1,758,028,656
1983 $231,130,268,199 $1,780,148,049
1982 $205,480,916,031 $1,717,379,495
1981 $196,218,253,968 $1,801,193,910
1980 $191,487,500,000 $1,801,156,775
1979 $178,573,913,043 -
1978 $149,788,617,886 -
1977 $175,226,595,860 -
1976 $154,196,810,059 -
1975 $163,687,619,736 -
1974 $144,418,433,058 -
1973 $138,764,340,892 -
1972 $113,871,930,714 -
1971 $99,959,013,880 -
1970 $92,752,930,873 -
1969 $79,847,786,729 -
1968 $70,980,323,819 -
1967 $73,011,350,596 -
1966 $76,854,053,259 -
1965 $70,565,994,356 -
1964 $59,821,862,703 -
1963 $50,812,227,919 -
1962 $47,310,737,754 -
1961 $50,162,299,350 -
1960 $59,846,235,025 -

Data sources: World Bank | Economy & Growth (1960–2024, retrieved 2026-04-06).

GeoRank.org/facts/china/malawi | CC BY

China and Malawi economies compared

GDP per capita
China

Malawi
1x
Year GDP per capita
China Malawi
2024 $13,303 $523
2023 $12,951 $633
2022 $12,971 $604
2021 $12,887 $617
2020 $10,627 $603
2019 $10,343 $581
2018 $10,086 $533
2017 $8,980 $496
2016 $8,255 $451
2015 $8,175 $540
2014 $7,781 $530
2013 $7,147 $497
2012 $6,405 $558
2011 $5,704 $763
2010 $4,629 $683
2009 $3,898 $626
2008 $3,523 $554
2007 $2,735 $475
2006 $2,129 $441
2005 $1,778 $414
2004 $1,531 $405
2003 $1,307 $383
2002 $1,164 $428
2001 $1,065 $215.5
2000 $969 $224.2
1999 $881 $233.9
1998 $835 $236
1997 $787 $367
1996 $713 $321
1995 $613 $200.4
1994 $476 $169.2
1993 $379 $293
1992 $368 $258.4
1991 $334 $326
1990 $319 $286.7
1989 $311 $252.2
1988 $284 $229.4
1987 $252.3 $207.6
1986 $282.4 $217.9
1985 $295 $216.1
1984 $251.2 $239.7
1983 $225.9 $252.4
1982 $203.7 $253.3
1981 $197.4 $276.4
1980 $195.1 $287.5
1979 $184.3 -
1978 $156.7 -
1977 $185.7 -
1976 $165.7 -
1975 $178.6 -
1974 $160.4 -
1973 $157.3 -
1972 $132.1 -
1971 $118.8 -
1970 $113.3 -
1969 $100.3 -
1968 $91.6 -
1967 $96.8 -
1966 $104.5 -
1965 $98.7 -
1964 $85.7 -
1963 $74.5 -
1962 $71.1 -
1961 $76 -
1960 $89.7 -

Data sources: World Bank | Economy & Growth (1960–2024, retrieved 2026-04-06).

GeoRank.org/facts/china/malawi | CC BY

China vs. Malawi life expectancy calculator

Life expectancy
China

Malawi
1x
Year Life expectancy, years
China Malawi
2026 79 67.9
2025 78.4 67.7
2024 78 67.6
2023 78 67.4
2022 78.2 66
2021 78.1 64.8
2020 78 65.2
2019 77.9 65
2018 77.7 64.5
2017 77.2 63.9
2016 77.2 63.2
2015 77 62.3
2014 76.7 61.7
2013 76.5 60.8
2012 76.2 59.9
2011 75.9 58.9
2010 75.7 57.8
2009 75.3 56.7
2008 74.8 55.7
2007 74.8 54.7
2006 74.4 53.7
2005 74.1 52.5
2004 73.7 51.1
2003 73.4 49.6
2002 73 48.2
2001 72.7 47.2
2000 72.3 46.2
1999 72 45.1
1998 71.6 44.3
1997 71.2 44.2
1996 70.8 44
1995 70.4 43.8
1994 69.8 43.8
1993 69.5 43.6
1992 69.1 43.6
1991 68.6 43.5
1990 68.2 43.6
1989 67.9 43.5
1988 67.6 43.6
1987 67.3 43.9
1986 66.9 44.3
1985 66.5 44.6
1984 66.1 44.8
1983 65.7 45
1982 65.2 44.8
1981 64.8 44.7
1980 64.2 44.3
1979 63.7 43.7
1978 63.1 43
1977 62.5 42
1976 61.2 41
1975 61 40.1
1974 60.2 39.2
1973 59.5 38.4
1972 58.6 37.6
1971 57.7 37.1
1970 56.8 36.6
1969 56 36.3
1968 55.2 36.1
1967 54.4 35.9
1966 53.7 35.8
1965 53 35.7
1964 52.3 35.7
1963 51.7 35.6
1962 51 35.4
1961 40.2 35.2
1960 33.4 35
1959 40.2 34.8
1958 48.8 34.4
1957 48.4 34.1
1956 47.8 33.8
1955 47.2 33.6
1954 46.8 33.3
1953 45.9 33.2
1952 45.3 33
1951 44.6 32.8
1950 43.8 32.7

Data sources: United Nations | World Population Prospects (1950–2026, retrieved 2026-03-10).

GeoRank.org/facts/china/malawi | CC BY

China and Malawi population clocks and comparison

Population
China

Malawi
1x
Year Population
China Malawi
2024 1,408,975,000 21,655,286
2023 1,410,710,000 21,104,482
2022 1,412,175,000 20,568,728
2021 1,412,360,000 20,047,258
2020 1,411,100,000 19,533,888
2019 1,407,745,000 19,025,752
2018 1,402,760,000 18,528,081
2017 1,396,215,000 18,039,715
2016 1,387,790,000 17,557,739
2015 1,379,860,000 17,085,587
2014 1,371,860,000 16,621,538
2013 1,363,240,000 16,161,816
2012 1,354,190,000 15,709,577
2011 1,345,035,000 15,265,022
2010 1,337,705,000 14,826,463
2009 1,331,260,000 14,395,788
2008 1,324,655,000 13,976,417
2007 1,317,885,000 13,576,343
2006 1,311,020,000 13,198,701
2005 1,303,720,000 12,840,031
2004 1,296,075,000 12,500,737
2003 1,288,400,000 12,181,574
2002 1,280,400,000 11,880,440
2001 1,271,850,000 11,593,058
2000 1,262,645,000 11,315,942
1999 1,252,735,000 11,047,804
1998 1,241,935,000 10,792,876
1997 1,230,075,000 10,562,035
1996 1,217,550,000 10,352,228
1995 1,204,855,000 10,150,117
1994 1,191,835,000 10,164,894
1993 1,178,440,000 10,284,024
1992 1,164,970,000 10,135,079
1991 1,150,780,000 9,844,227
1990 1,135,185,000 9,545,852
1989 1,118,650,000 9,176,220
1988 1,101,630,000 8,753,262
1987 1,084,035,000 8,293,174
1986 1,066,790,000 7,906,480
1985 1,051,040,000 7,620,508
1984 1,036,825,000 7,332,810
1983 1,023,310,000 7,051,709
1982 1,008,630,000 6,778,879
1981 993,885,000 6,516,454
1980 981,235,000 6,265,529
1979 969,005,000 6,028,749
1978 956,165,000 5,810,132
1977 943,455,000 5,614,983
1976 930,685,000 5,443,384
1975 916,395,000 5,287,367
1974 900,350,000 5,141,337
1973 881,940,000 5,003,938
1972 862,030,000 4,874,475
1971 841,105,000 4,751,434
1970 818,315,000 4,633,944
1969 796,025,000 4,521,184
1968 774,510,000 4,411,054
1967 754,550,000 4,303,012
1966 735,400,000 4,197,926
1965 715,185,000 4,096,157
1964 698,355,000 3,997,305
1963 682,335,000 3,900,506
1962 665,770,000 3,806,307
1961 660,330,000 3,715,534
1960 667,070,000 3,628,134

Data sources: World Bank | Health (1960–2024, retrieved 2026-04-06).

GeoRank.org/facts/china/malawi | CC BY

Fertility rates in China and Malawi

Fertility rate
China

Malawi
1x
Year Fertility rate
China Malawi
2023 1 3.65
2022 1.03 3.72
2021 1.12 3.79
2020 1.24 3.88
2019 1.5 3.95
2018 1.54 4.02
2017 1.8 4.11
2016 1.77 4.22
2015 1.67 4.38
2014 1.77 4.57
2013 1.71 4.76
2012 1.8 4.9
2011 1.67 5.08
2010 1.69 5.26
2009 1.71 5.45
2008 1.7 5.61
2007 1.67 5.72
2006 1.64 5.8
2005 1.62 5.85
2004 1.61 5.86
2003 1.57 5.88
2002 1.57 5.9
2001 1.56 5.94
2000 1.63 6
1999 1.53 6.12
1998 1.52 6.21
1997 1.53 6.23
1996 1.55 6.29
1995 1.59 6.39
1994 1.63 6.49
1993 1.69 6.57
1992 1.78 6.63
1991 1.93 6.68
1990 2.51 6.74
1989 2.52 6.8
1988 2.54 6.88
1987 2.76 6.97
1986 2.72 7.07
1985 2.63 7.17
1984 2.61 7.27
1983 2.56 7.36
1982 2.97 7.45
1981 2.79 7.49
1980 2.74 7.52
1979 2.75 7.47
1978 2.72 7.43
1977 2.84 7.41
1976 3.24 7.39
1975 3.57 7.36
1974 4.17 7.34
1973 4.73 7.34
1972 5.11 7.33
1971 5.52 7.31
1970 6.09 7.3
1969 6.18 7.27
1968 6.51 7.26
1967 5.81 7.21
1966 6.31 7.17
1965 6.61 7.13
1964 6.67 7.11
1963 7.51 7.13
1962 6.09 7.1
1961 3.86 7.07
1960 4.45 7.04

Data sources: World Bank | Health (1960–2023, retrieved 2026-04-06).

GeoRank.org/facts/china/malawi | CC BY

China and Malawi demographics compared

Median age
China

Malawi
1x
Year Median age, years
China Malawi
2024 40.6 18.9
2023 40.1 18.7
2022 39.6 18.4
2021 39 18.2
2020 38.5 18
2019 38.1 17.8
2018 37.7 17.6
2017 37.4 17.4
2016 37.1 17.2
2015 36.7 17.1
2014 36.3 17
2013 36 16.9
2012 35.7 16.8
2011 35.5 16.8
2010 35.1 16.7
2009 34.7 16.7
2008 34.2 16.8
2007 33.7 16.8
2006 33.1 16.8
2005 32.6 16.8
2004 32.1 16.8
2003 31.6 16.8
2002 31.1 16.8
2001 30.5 16.8
2000 30 16.8
1999 29.4 16.7
1998 28.8 16.8
1997 28.3 16.8
1996 27.8 16.8
1995 27.2 16.9
1994 26.6 16.9
1993 26.1 17
1992 25.6 17.1
1991 25.1 17.2
1990 24.7 17.3
1989 24.4 17.4
1988 23.9 17.5
1987 23.6 17.4
1986 23.4 17.3
1985 23.2 17.3
1984 23 17.3
1983 22.6 17.3
1982 22.1 17.3
1981 21.8 17.3
1980 21.6 17.3
1979 21.4 17.4
1978 21.2 17.4
1977 20.8 17.4
1976 20.4 17.5
1975 20.1 17.5
1974 19.7 17.6
1973 19.5 17.7
1972 19.3 17.8
1971 19.2 17.9
1970 19.1 18
1969 19.1 18.2
1968 19.2 18.3
1967 19.2 18.3
1966 19.3 18.3
1965 19.6 18.4
1964 19.9 18.3
1963 20.4 18.3
1962 21 18.3
1961 21.1 18.3
1960 20.9 18.2

Data sources: World Bank | Health (1960–2024, retrieved 2026-04-06).

GeoRank.org/facts/china/malawi | CC BY

Interactive Maps

Use the buttons below to switch between world maps comparing statistics for China and Malawi.

1x
1x
1x
1x
1x
1x
1x

National statistics comparison

Finance

China Malawi
GNI, Atlas method
$19.3T
2024
$12.3B
2024
Government expenditure, % of GDP
32.9%
2024
29.5%
2024
Education expenditure, % of GDP
4%
2023
2.75%
2022
Military expenditure, % of GDP
1.71%
2024
1.02%
2024
Armed forces personnel
2,535,000
2020
15,000
2020
Deficit/surplus, % of GDP
-7.34%
2024
-11%
2024
Unemployment rate
5.11%
2021
15.4%
2024
Services, % of GDP
56.7%
2024
44.2%
2024
Industry, % of GDP
36.5%
2024
17.1%
2024
Economic freedom index
48.3
2026
50.7
2026
Income share by richest 10%
28.4%
2022
31%
2019
Income share by poorest 10%
3.1%
2022
2.9%
2019
Number of millionaires
6,327,000
2025
n/a
Percentage of millionaires
0.57%
2025
n/a
Number of billionaires
450
2025
n/a
Percentage of billionaires
0.00004%
2025
n/a
Listed domestic companies
11,231
2024
n/a
Market capitalization of domestic companies
$11.8T
2024
n/a
Total reserves including gold
$3.46T
2024
$594M
2020
Personal remittances received
$31.4B
2024
$187M
2024
International tourist arrivals
30,402,000
2020
871,000
2018
International tourism as share of exports
4.59%
2004
2.68%
2020
Banked people share
89.4%
2024
50.4%
2024

Energy

China Malawi
Energy use, kg of oil equivalent per capita
2,851 kg
2023
n/a
GDP PPP per kg equivalent of energy use
$8.83
2023
n/a
Carbon dioxide (CO2) emissions
13,125 megatons
2024
4.79 megatons
2024
CO2 emissions per capita
9.32 tons
2024
0.22 tons
2024
Fossil fuel energy use share
86.7%
2022
n/a
Renewable energy use share
15.2%
2021
62.9%
2022
Alternative and nuclear energy use share
9.76%
2023
n/a
Net energy imports use share
24%
2023
n/a
Electric power consumption per capita
6,524 kWh
2023
n/a
Renewable electricity output share
28.4%
2021
80.1%
2021
Hydroelectric share
13.5%
2023
72.5%
2021
Nuclear share
4.55%
2023
0%
2021
Electricity access
100%
2023
15.6%
2023

Society

China Malawi
% of world population
17.3%
2024
0.27%
2024
Annual migration change
-268,126
2025
-5,628
2025
Urban population
65.9%
2024
17.3%
2024
Male:Female ratio
50.9:49.1
2024
48.8:51.2
2024
Average male height
5.76 ft
2025
5.44 ft
2025
Average female height
5.36 ft
2025
5.12 ft
2025
Quality of life index
52.3
2026
31.3
2026
Corruption Perceptions Index
43
2025
34
2025
Higher education index
87
2026
26
2026
Homicides per 100K people
0.5
2020
1.79
2012
Road traffic mortality per 100K people
17.4
2019
33.4
2019
Visa free countries
92
2025
78
2025
Adult literacy rate
96.7%
2020
68.1%
2022
English speaking
0.7%
2023
3.88%
2023
People using the Internet
92%
2024
18%
2023

Health

China Malawi
Government health expenditure per capita
$763
2023
$41.3
2023
Out-of-pocket health expenditure per capita
$245.6
2023
$4.95
2023
Life expectancy
79 years
2026
67.9 years
2026
Foreign aid share of health expenditure
0.005%
2023
65.5%
2023
Physicians per 1,000 people
3.11
2022
0.05
2022
Age at first childbirth n/a
19.1 years
2025
Maternal mortality per 100K births
16
2023
225
2023
Mortality rate before reaching 5 years of age
6.2
2023
38.3
2023
Obesity rate
8.37%
2022
7.87%
2022
Diabetes prevalence
11.9%
2024
5.7%
2024
Air quality index
14
2026
34
2026
Tobacco use prevalence
23.4%
2022
9.7%
2022
Pure alcohol consumption per capita
4.58 liters
2020
3.61 liters
2020

Territory

China Malawi
% of world land
6.3%
2026
0.06%
2026
Land area per capita
2,573 sq mi
2024
1,681 sq mi
2024
Agricultural land area
2,009,326 sq mi
2026
23,359 sq mi
2026
Forest area
871,112 sq mi
2026
8,169 sq mi
2026
Roads length
3,411,576 mi
2024
9,601 mi
2015

In-depth comparisons

Help us show the world through your eyes

Share a photo of your city and help others discover what it looks like to live there. Your contribution makes our data come alive.

Data sources:

  1. World Bank | Health (1960–2025, retrieved 2026-04-06)
  2. United Nations | World Population Prospects (1950–2026, retrieved 2026-03-10)
  3. U.S. Census Bureau (1960–2025, retrieved 2026-02-08)
  4. Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) (2000–2025, retrieved 2026-02-20)
  5. International Monetary Fund (IMF) | Fiscal Monitor (2024, retrieved 2026-02-20)
  6. LivingCost (2026, retrieved 2025-10-14)
  7. World Obesity Federation (2022, retrieved 2026-02-08)
  8. Passport Index (2025, retrieved 2026-02-08)
  9. Transparency International (2025, retrieved 2026-02-10)
  10. The Heritage Foundation | Economic Freedom Index (2026, retrieved 2026-03-09)
  11. EduRank (2026, retrieved 2025-10-13)

Creative Commons Attribution (CC BY) — you’re free to copy, share, remix, adapt, and use even commercially as long as you give appropriate credit and clearly indicate if you made changes. Other sources may be subject to different license terms.