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Population density: Malawi vs Malta compared

Updated on by Georank team

Malawi has a population density of 626 people per square mile compared to 4,704 people in Malta. Malawi has 58,893 sq ft of land per person vs 5,979 sq ft in Malta. Malawi and Malta rank 48th and 5th by population density, respectively.

Population density is calculated as the ratio of population to land area. Malawi has 0.27% of the world's population and 0.06% of all countries' land area, compared to 0.007% of the population and 0.0002% of the land area for Malta, making the population density in Malawi 86.7% lower than in Malta.

Population density by year

Malawi
Malta

people per square mile

1x
Year Population density
Malawi Malta
2026 626 4,704
2025 610 4,659
2024 595 4,604
2023 580 4,474
2022 565 4,299
2021 551 4,194
2020 537 4,172
2019 523 4,079
2018 509 3,917
2017 496 3,781
2016 482 3,679
2015 469 3,595
2014 457 3,508
2013 444 3,438
2012 432 3,400
2011 419 3,369
2010 407 3,355
2009 395 3,338
2008 384 3,313
2007 373 3,292
2006 363 3,280
2005 353 3,269
2004 343 3,248
2003 335 3,226
2002 326 3,205
2001 318 3,181
2000 311 3,157
1999 303 3,137
1998 296.5 3,118
1997 290.2 3,098
1996 284.4 3,075
1995 278.8 3,055
1994 279.2 3,033
1993 282.5 3,005
1992 278.4 2,975
1991 270.4 2,945
1990 262.2 2,867
1989 252.1 2,839
1988 240.5 2,811
1987 227.8 2,788
1986 217.2 2,769
1985 209.3 2,723
1984 201.4 2,676
1983 193.7 2,675
1982 186.2 2,638
1981 179 2,582
1980 172.1 2,563
1979 165.6 2,536
1978 159.6 2,511
1977 154.3 2,485
1976 149.5 2,475
1975 145.3 2,462
1974 141.2 2,444
1973 137.5 2,446
1972 133.9 2,448
1971 130.5 2,450
1970 127.3 2,450
1969 124.2 2,463
1968 121.2 2,492
1967 118.2 2,522
1966 115.3 2,551
1965 112.5 2,580
1964 109.8 2,600
1963 107.2 2,611
1962 104.6 2,622
1961 102.1 2,632

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/malawi/malta | CC BY

From 2006 to 2026, population density in Malawi increased by 72.7%, compared to a 43.4% growth in Malta.

In 2006, Malawi ranked 56th by population density and is 48th now. Malta was 5th in 2006 and still ranks 5th out of 197 currently.

Share of urban population by year

Malawi
Malta
1x
Year Urban population
Malawi Malta
2024 17.3% 95.7%
2023 17% 95.6%
2022 16.7% 95.6%
2021 16.5% 95.5%
2020 16.3% 95.2%
2019 16.1% 94.9%
2018 16% 94.7%
2017 16% 94.6%
2016 15.9% 94.5%
2015 15.8% 94.4%
2014 15.8% 94.4%
2013 15.7% 94.4%
2012 15.6% 94.4%
2011 15.6% 94.3%
2010 15.5% 94.2%
2009 15.4% 94.1%
2008 15.3% 94%
2007 15.2% 93.9%
2006 15.2% 93.8%
2005 15.1% 93.7%
2004 15% 93.6%
2003 15% 93.5%
2002 14.9% 93.4%
2001 14.8% 93.4%
2000 14.7% 93.3%
1999 14.6% 93.2%
1998 14.4% 93.1%
1997 14.2% 93%
1996 14% 92.9%
1995 13.6% 92.7%
1994 13.3% 92.5%
1993 12.9% 92.2%
1992 12.4% 91.8%
1991 12% 91.4%
1990 11.6% 91%
1989 11.2% 90.7%
1988 10.9% 90.3%
1987 10.6% 90.1%
1986 10.4% 89.9%
1985 10.1% 89.8%
1984 9.93% 89.8%
1983 9.73% 89.7%
1982 9.54% 89.7%
1981 9.34% 89.6%
1980 9.13% 89.6%
1979 8.92% 89.6%
1978 8.68% 89.5%
1977 8.42% 89.5%
1976 8.11% 89.5%
1975 7.76% 89.4%
1974 7.36% 89.4%
1973 6.95% 89.4%
1972 6.53% 89.4%
1971 6.12% 89.4%
1970 5.73% 89.4%
1969 5.38% 89.4%
1968 5.08% 89.4%
1967 4.84% 89.4%
1966 4.69% 89.4%
1965 4.57% 89.5%
1964 4.45% 89.6%
1963 4.34% 89.7%
1962 4.24% 89.9%
1961 4.14% 90%
1960 4.04% 90.1%

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

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

From 2004 to 2024, the share of urban population changed from 15% to 17.3% in Malawi and from 93.6% to 95.7% in Malta.

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/malawi/malta | 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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