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Population density: Chile vs Malawi compared

Updated on by Georank team

Chile has a population density of 69.6 people per square mile compared to 626 people in Malawi. Chile has 411,774 sq ft of land per person vs 58,893 sq ft in Malawi. Chile and Malawi rank 162nd and 48th by population density, respectively.

Population density is calculated as the ratio of population to land area. Chile has 0.24% of the world's population and 0.5% of all countries' land area, compared to 0.27% of the population and 0.06% of the land area for Malawi, making the population density in Chile 88.9% lower than in Malawi.

Population density by year

Chile
Malawi

people per square mile

1x
Year Population density
Chile Malawi
2026 69.6 626
2025 69.3 610
2024 68.9 595
2023 68.5 580
2022 68.2 565
2021 67.8 551
2020 67.5 537
2019 66.9 523
2018 65.9 509
2017 64.8 496
2016 63.7 482
2015 63 469
2014 62.4 457
2013 61.6 444
2012 61 432
2011 60.4 419
2010 59.8 407
2009 59.3 395
2008 58.7 384
2007 58.1 373
2006 57.5 363
2005 56.9 353
2004 56.4 343
2003 55.8 335
2002 55.2 326
2001 54.6 318
2000 54 311
1999 53.4 303
1998 52.7 296.5
1997 52 290.2
1996 51.3 284.4
1995 50.6 278.8
1994 49.9 279.2
1993 49.1 282.5
1992 48.4 278.4
1991 47.6 270.4
1990 46.8 262.2
1989 46 252.1
1988 45.3 240.5
1987 44.6 227.8
1986 43.9 217.2
1985 43.2 209.3
1984 42.5 201.4
1983 41.9 193.7
1982 41.3 186.2
1981 40.7 179
1980 40.1 172.1
1979 39.5 165.6
1978 38.9 159.6
1977 38.3 154.3
1976 37.8 149.5
1975 37.2 145.3
1974 36.6 141.2
1973 36 137.5
1972 35.4 133.9
1971 34.9 130.5
1970 34.3 127.3
1969 33.7 124.2
1968 33.1 121.2
1967 32.6 118.2
1966 32 115.3
1965 31.4 112.5
1964 30.8 109.8
1963 30.2 107.2
1962 29.6 104.6
1961 29 102.1

Data sources: World Bank | Agriculture & Rural Development (1961–2026, retrieved 2026-04-06); United Nations | World Population Prospects (2025–2026, retrieved 2026-03-10).

GeoRank.org/population-density/chile/malawi | CC BY

From 2006 to 2026, population density in Chile increased by 21%, compared to a 72.7% growth in Malawi.

In 2006, Chile ranked 156th by population density and is 162nd now. Malawi was 56th in 2006 and ranks 48th out of 197 currently.

Share of urban population by year

Chile
Malawi
1x
Year Urban population
Chile Malawi
2024 89% 17.3%
2023 88.8% 17%
2022 88.6% 16.7%
2021 88.5% 16.5%
2020 88.3% 16.3%
2019 88.1% 16.1%
2018 88% 16%
2017 87.8% 16%
2016 87.6% 15.9%
2015 87.5% 15.8%
2014 87.3% 15.8%
2013 87.2% 15.7%
2012 87.1% 15.6%
2011 87% 15.6%
2010 87% 15.5%
2009 86.9% 15.4%
2008 86.9% 15.3%
2007 86.8% 15.2%
2006 86.8% 15.2%
2005 86.8% 15.1%
2004 86.7% 15%
2003 86.7% 15%
2002 86.6% 14.9%
2001 86.5% 14.8%
2000 86.3% 14.7%
1999 86% 14.6%
1998 85.6% 14.4%
1997 85.2% 14.2%
1996 84.8% 14%
1995 84.4% 13.6%
1994 84% 13.3%
1993 83.7% 12.9%
1992 83.5% 12.4%
1991 83.3% 12%
1990 83.2% 11.6%
1989 83.1% 11.2%
1988 83% 10.9%
1987 82.9% 10.6%
1986 82.8% 10.4%
1985 82.7% 10.1%
1984 82.6% 9.93%
1983 82.4% 9.73%
1982 82.3% 9.54%
1981 82% 9.34%
1980 81.7% 9.13%
1979 81.2% 8.92%
1978 80.7% 8.68%
1977 80.1% 8.42%
1976 79.5% 8.11%
1975 78.8% 7.76%
1974 78.1% 7.36%
1973 77.4% 6.95%
1972 76.7% 6.53%
1971 75.9% 6.12%
1970 75.3% 5.73%
1969 74.6% 5.38%
1968 73.9% 5.08%
1967 73.2% 4.84%
1966 72.5% 4.69%
1965 71.8% 4.57%
1964 71% 4.45%
1963 70.3% 4.34%
1962 69.5% 4.24%
1961 68.7% 4.14%
1960 67.8% 4.04%

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

GeoRank.org/population-density/chile/malawi | CC BY

From 2004 to 2024, the share of urban population changed from 86.7% to 89% in Chile and from 15% to 17.3% in Malawi.

Densely populated cities

Chile
City Population
Santiago 6.26M
Puente Alto 574K
Antofagasta 349K
Vina del Mar 333K
San Bernardo 301K
Valparaiso 297K
Temuco 282K
Talcahuano 270K
Talca 232K
Rancagua 231K
Malawi
City Population
Lilongwe 989K
Blantyre 800K
Mzuzu 150K
Zomba 101K
Mangochi 53.5K

Compare countries by 7 more topics

Population density in other countries

1x

Data sources: World Bank | Agriculture & Rural Development (1961–2026, retrieved 2026-04-06); United Nations | World Population Prospects (1961–2026, retrieved 2026-03-10); U.S. Census Bureau (1961–2025, retrieved 2026-02-08); Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) (2000–2019, retrieved 2026-02-20).

GeoRank.org/population-density/chile/malawi | CC BY

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Data sources:

  1. World Bank | Agriculture & Rural Development (1961–2026, retrieved 2026-04-06)
  2. United Nations | World Population Prospects (1961–2026, retrieved 2026-03-10)
  3. U.S. Census Bureau (1961–2025, retrieved 2026-02-08)
  4. Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) (2000–2019, retrieved 2026-02-20)
  5. Wikidata (2001–2024, retrieved 2026-02-08)

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