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Population density: Cuba vs Malawi compared

Updated on by Georank team

Cuba has a population density of 271.8 people per square mile compared to 626 people in Malawi. Cuba has 107,724 sq ft of land per person vs 58,893 sq ft in Malawi. Cuba and Malawi rank 90th and 48th by population density, respectively.

Population density is calculated as the ratio of population to land area. Cuba has 0.14% of the world's population and 0.07% 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 Cuba 56.6% lower than in Malawi.

Population density by year

Cuba
Malawi

people per square mile

1x
Year Population density
Cuba Malawi
2026 271.8 626
2025 272.9 610
2024 274 595
2023 275 580
2022 276 565
2021 277.5 551
2020 278.9 537
2019 279.5 523
2018 280.1 509
2017 280.7 496
2016 280.4 482
2015 280.5 469
2014 281 457
2013 280.8 444
2012 274.5 432
2011 273.9 419
2010 274.9 407
2009 274.8 395
2008 274.8 384
2007 274.7 373
2006 274.5 363
2005 274 353
2004 273.5 343
2003 272.9 335
2002 272.1 326
2001 268.7 318
2000 267.9 311
1999 267 303
1998 266.1 296.5
1997 265.2 290.2
1996 264.4 284.4
1995 263.5 278.8
1994 262.5 279.2
1993 261.4 282.5
1992 260.1 278.4
1991 258.5 270.4
1990 256.4 262.2
1989 254 252.1
1988 251.6 240.5
1987 249.2 227.8
1986 247 217.2
1985 244.9 209.3
1984 242.9 201.4
1983 240.9 193.7
1982 239 186.2
1981 237.5 179
1980 236.4 172.1
1979 235.4 165.6
1978 234.2 159.6
1977 232.7 154.3
1976 230.8 149.5
1975 228.6 145.3
1974 226.1 141.2
1973 223.2 137.5
1972 220 133.9
1971 216.5 130.5
1970 212.8 127.3
1969 209 124.2
1968 205.2 121.2
1967 201.4 118.2
1966 197.6 115.3
1965 193.7 112.5
1964 189.7 109.8
1963 185.7 107.2
1962 181.9 104.6
1961 178.1 102.1

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/cuba/malawi | CC BY

From 2006 to 2026, population density in Cuba decreased by 0.96%, compared to a 72.7% growth in Malawi.

In 2006, Cuba ranked 76th by population density and is 90th now. Malawi was 56th in 2006 and ranks 48th out of 197 currently.

Share of urban population by year

Cuba
Malawi
1x
Year Urban population
Cuba Malawi
2024 77.2% 17.3%
2023 77.1% 17%
2022 77.1% 16.7%
2021 77.1% 16.5%
2020 77.1% 16.3%
2019 77.1% 16.1%
2018 77% 16%
2017 77% 16%
2016 76.9% 15.9%
2015 76.9% 15.8%
2014 76.8% 15.8%
2013 76.8% 15.7%
2012 76.8% 15.6%
2011 76.7% 15.6%
2010 76.6% 15.5%
2009 76.5% 15.4%
2008 76.4% 15.3%
2007 76.2% 15.2%
2006 76.1% 15.2%
2005 76% 15.1%
2004 75.9% 15%
2003 75.9% 15%
2002 75.9% 14.9%
2001 75.9% 14.8%
2000 75.6% 14.7%
1999 75.4% 14.6%
1998 75.3% 14.4%
1997 75.1% 14.2%
1996 74.8% 14%
1995 74.6% 13.6%
1994 74.5% 13.3%
1993 74.5% 12.9%
1992 74.4% 12.4%
1991 74.1% 12%
1990 73.7% 11.6%
1989 73.3% 11.2%
1988 72.7% 10.9%
1987 72.1% 10.6%
1986 71.6% 10.4%
1985 71.1% 10.1%
1984 70.8% 9.93%
1983 70.3% 9.73%
1982 69.5% 9.54%
1981 68.9% 9.34%
1980 68.4% 9.13%
1979 67.7% 8.92%
1978 66.9% 8.68%
1977 65.9% 8.42%
1976 64.9% 8.11%
1975 63.9% 7.76%
1974 63% 7.36%
1973 62.1% 6.95%
1972 61.3% 6.53%
1971 60.7% 6.12%
1970 60.3% 5.73%
1969 59.9% 5.38%
1968 59.6% 5.08%
1967 59.4% 4.84%
1966 59.1% 4.69%
1965 58.8% 4.57%
1964 58.6% 4.45%
1963 58.3% 4.34%
1962 58.1% 4.24%
1961 57.9% 4.14%
1960 57.7% 4.04%

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

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

From 2004 to 2024, the share of urban population changed from 75.9% to 77.2% in Cuba and from 15% to 17.3% in Malawi.

Densely populated cities

Cuba
City Population
Havana 2.49M
Santiago de Cuba 445K
Holguin 350K
Camaguey 322K
Santa Clara 247K
Bayamo 235K
Guantanamo 228K
Las Tunas 202K
Pinar del Rio 189K
Cienfuegos 165K
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/cuba/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 (2007–2024, retrieved 2026-02-08)

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