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Population density: Indonesia vs Malawi compared

Updated on by Georank team

Indonesia has a population density of 394 people per square mile compared to 626 people in Malawi. Indonesia has 72,316 sq ft of land per person vs 58,893 sq ft in Malawi. Indonesia and Malawi rank 64th and 48th by population density, respectively.

Population density is calculated as the ratio of population to land area. Indonesia has 3.49% of the world's population and 1.27% 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 Indonesia 37.1% lower than in Malawi.

Population density by year

Indonesia
Malawi

people per square mile

1x
Year Population density
Indonesia Malawi
2026 394 626
2025 391 610
2024 388 595
2023 385 580
2022 382 565
2021 379 551
2020 379 537
2019 376 523
2018 372 509
2017 369 496
2016 365 482
2015 361 469
2014 357 457
2013 353 444
2012 349 432
2011 344 419
2010 340 407
2009 336 395
2008 331 384
2007 327 373
2006 323 363
2005 318 353
2004 314 343
2003 310 335
2002 306 326
2001 302 318
2000 298.1 311
1999 305 303
1998 300 296.5
1997 295.3 290.2
1996 290.5 284.4
1995 285.8 278.8
1994 281.1 279.2
1993 276.4 282.5
1992 271.7 278.4
1991 267 270.4
1990 262.4 262.2
1989 257.6 252.1
1988 252.8 240.5
1987 248.1 227.8
1986 243.3 217.2
1985 238.4 209.3
1984 233.4 201.4
1983 228.3 193.7
1982 223.1 186.2
1981 218 179
1980 213 172.1
1979 207.9 165.6
1978 202.9 159.6
1977 198.1 154.3
1976 193.3 149.5
1975 188.5 145.3
1974 183.8 141.2
1973 179.1 137.5
1972 174.5 133.9
1971 169.9 130.5
1970 165.4 127.3
1969 160.9 124.2
1968 156.5 121.2
1967 152.3 118.2
1966 148.4 115.3
1965 144.9 112.5
1964 141.3 109.8
1963 137.3 107.2
1962 133.5 104.6
1961 129.8 102.1

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/indonesia/malawi | CC BY

From 2006 to 2026, population density in Indonesia increased by 22.1%, compared to a 72.7% growth in Malawi.

In 2006, Indonesia ranked 63rd by population density and is 64th now. Malawi was 56th in 2006 and ranks 48th out of 197 currently.

Share of urban population by year

Indonesia
Malawi
1x
Year Urban population
Indonesia Malawi
2024 58.8% 17.3%
2023 58.1% 17%
2022 57.5% 16.7%
2021 56.9% 16.5%
2020 56.3% 16.3%
2019 55.7% 16.1%
2018 55.1% 16%
2017 54.5% 16%
2016 53.8% 15.9%
2015 53.2% 15.8%
2014 52.5% 15.8%
2013 51.8% 15.7%
2012 51.2% 15.6%
2011 50.5% 15.6%
2010 49.9% 15.5%
2009 49.2% 15.4%
2008 48.5% 15.3%
2007 47.7% 15.2%
2006 47% 15.2%
2005 46.2% 15.1%
2004 45.4% 15%
2003 44.6% 15%
2002 43.8% 14.9%
2001 42.9% 14.8%
2000 42% 14.7%
1999 41% 14.6%
1998 39.9% 14.4%
1997 38.7% 14.2%
1996 37.5% 14%
1995 36.3% 13.6%
1994 35.1% 13.3%
1993 33.9% 12.9%
1992 32.7% 12.4%
1991 31.6% 12%
1990 30.6% 11.6%
1989 29.6% 11.2%
1988 28.7% 10.9%
1987 27.8% 10.6%
1986 26.9% 10.4%
1985 26% 10.1%
1984 25.2% 9.93%
1983 24.3% 9.73%
1982 23.6% 9.54%
1981 22.8% 9.34%
1980 22.1% 9.13%
1979 21.5% 8.92%
1978 20.8% 8.68%
1977 20.1% 8.42%
1976 19.5% 8.11%
1975 18.9% 7.76%
1974 18.4% 7.36%
1973 17.9% 6.95%
1972 17.5% 6.53%
1971 17.1% 6.12%
1970 16.8% 5.73%
1969 16.5% 5.38%
1968 16.3% 5.08%
1967 16.1% 4.84%
1966 15.9% 4.69%
1965 15.7% 4.57%
1964 15.5% 4.45%
1963 15.3% 4.34%
1962 15.1% 4.24%
1961 14.8% 4.14%
1960 14.6% 4.04%

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

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

From 2004 to 2024, the share of urban population changed from 45.4% to 58.8% in Indonesia and from 15% to 17.3% in Malawi.

Densely populated cities

Indonesia
City Population
Jakarta 11.1M
Bali 4.36M
Surabaya 3.01M
Bandung 2.88M
Bekasi 2.38M
Depok 2.33M
Tangerang 2.24M
Medan 2.11M
South Tangerang 1.64M
Semarang 1.62M
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/indonesia/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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