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Population density: Liberia vs Malawi compared

Updated on by Georank team

Liberia has a population density of 157.4 people per square mile compared to 626 people in Malawi. Liberia has 213,577 sq ft of land per person vs 58,893 sq ft in Malawi. Liberia and Malawi rank 130th and 48th by population density, respectively.

Population density is calculated as the ratio of population to land area. Liberia has 0.07% of the world's population and 0.06% 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 Liberia 74.9% lower than in Malawi.

Population density by year

Liberia
Malawi

people per square mile

1x
Year Population density
Liberia Malawi
2026 157.4 626
2025 154.2 610
2024 150.9 595
2023 147.7 580
2022 144.5 565
2021 141.4 551
2020 138.5 537
2019 135.6 523
2018 133 509
2017 130.4 496
2016 127.9 482
2015 125.3 469
2014 122.7 457
2013 120.2 444
2012 117.6 432
2011 113.5 419
2010 109.1 407
2009 106 395
2008 102.7 384
2007 98.7 373
2006 93.9 363
2005 88.8 353
2004 84.9 343
2003 83.9 335
2002 83.2 326
2001 81.1 318
2000 78.7 311
1999 75.9 303
1998 71.8 296.5
1997 64.9 290.2
1996 60 284.4
1995 58.3 278.8
1994 57.8 279.2
1993 58 282.5
1992 55.7 278.4
1991 52.6 270.4
1990 59.8 262.2
1989 67.7 252.1
1988 65.8 240.5
1987 63.9 227.8
1986 62.1 217.2
1985 60.2 209.3
1984 58.4 201.4
1983 56.7 193.7
1982 55 186.2
1981 53.4 179
1980 51.9 172.1
1979 50.4 165.6
1978 48.9 159.6
1977 47.5 154.3
1976 46.2 149.5
1975 44.9 145.3
1974 43.7 141.2
1973 42.6 137.5
1972 41.5 133.9
1971 40.4 130.5
1970 39.4 127.3
1969 38.4 124.2
1968 37.5 121.2
1967 36.5 118.2
1966 35.6 115.3
1965 34.7 112.5
1964 33.8 109.8
1963 33 107.2
1962 32.2 104.6
1961 31.4 102.1

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/liberia/malawi | CC BY

From 2006 to 2026, population density in Liberia increased by 67.6%, compared to a 72.7% growth in Malawi.

In 2006, Liberia ranked 140th by population density and is 130th now. Malawi was 56th in 2006 and ranks 48th out of 197 currently.

Share of urban population by year

Liberia
Malawi
1x
Year Urban population
Liberia Malawi
2024 55.5% 17.3%
2023 55% 17%
2022 54.5% 16.7%
2021 53.9% 16.5%
2020 53.4% 16.3%
2019 52.9% 16.1%
2018 52.3% 16%
2017 51.8% 16%
2016 51.3% 15.9%
2015 50.7% 15.8%
2014 50.2% 15.8%
2013 49.7% 15.7%
2012 49.2% 15.6%
2011 48.7% 15.6%
2010 48.1% 15.5%
2009 47.6% 15.4%
2008 47.1% 15.3%
2007 46.6% 15.2%
2006 46.2% 15.2%
2005 45.9% 15.1%
2004 45.4% 15%
2003 45% 15%
2002 44.6% 14.9%
2001 44.2% 14.8%
2000 43.8% 14.7%
1999 43.4% 14.6%
1998 43.2% 14.4%
1997 43% 14.2%
1996 43% 14%
1995 44.5% 13.6%
1994 48.3% 13.3%
1993 52.7% 12.9%
1992 56.4% 12.4%
1991 58% 12%
1990 43.3% 11.6%
1989 41.9% 11.2%
1988 41.3% 10.9%
1987 40.7% 10.6%
1986 36.7% 10.4%
1985 39.5% 10.1%
1984 39.1% 9.93%
1983 38.5% 9.73%
1982 37.7% 9.54%
1981 36.8% 9.34%
1980 35.8% 9.13%
1979 34.8% 8.92%
1978 33.7% 8.68%
1977 32.6% 8.42%
1976 31.5% 8.11%
1975 30.5% 7.76%
1974 29.5% 7.36%
1973 28.6% 6.95%
1972 27.8% 6.53%
1971 26.9% 6.12%
1970 26.1% 5.73%
1969 25.3% 5.38%
1968 24.5% 5.08%
1967 23.7% 4.84%
1966 22.9% 4.69%
1965 22.1% 4.57%
1964 21.4% 4.45%
1963 20.6% 4.34%
1962 19.9% 4.24%
1961 19.2% 4.14%
1960 18.6% 4.04%

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

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

From 2004 to 2024, the share of urban population changed from 45.4% to 55.5% in Liberia and from 15% to 17.3% in Malawi.

Densely populated cities

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/liberia/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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