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Population density: Malawi vs Thailand compared

Updated on by Georank team

Malawi has a population density of 626 people per square mile compared to 363 people in Thailand. Malawi has 58,893 sq ft of land per person vs 77,066 sq ft in Thailand. Malawi and Thailand rank 48th and 70th 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 0.88% of the population and 0.34% of the land area for Thailand, making the population density in Malawi 72.6% higher than in Thailand.

Population density by year

Malawi
Thailand

people per square mile

1x
Year Population density
Malawi Thailand
2026 626 363
2025 610 363
2024 595 363
2023 580 363
2022 565 364
2021 551 364
2020 537 363
2019 523 363
2018 509 362
2017 496 361
2016 482 359
2015 469 358
2014 457 356
2013 444 354
2012 432 352
2011 419 350
2010 407 348
2009 395 345
2008 384 343
2007 373 340
2006 363 337
2005 353 335
2004 343 332
2003 335 329
2002 326 326
2001 318 323
2000 311 319
1999 303 316
1998 296.5 312
1997 290.2 308
1996 284.4 304
1995 278.8 299.6
1994 279.2 295.4
1993 282.5 291
1992 278.4 286.6
1991 270.4 282.1
1990 262.2 277.5
1989 252.1 273
1988 240.5 268.5
1987 227.8 264
1986 217.2 259.4
1985 209.3 254.9
1984 201.4 250.2
1983 193.7 245.5
1982 186.2 240.8
1981 179 236.1
1980 172.1 231.4
1979 165.6 226.7
1978 159.6 222
1977 154.3 217.2
1976 149.5 212.4
1975 145.3 207.5
1974 141.2 202.5
1973 137.5 197.4
1972 133.9 192.3
1971 130.5 187.3
1970 127.3 182.3
1969 124.2 177.3
1968 121.2 172.4
1967 118.2 167.5
1966 115.3 162.7
1965 112.5 157.9
1964 109.8 153.3
1963 107.2 148.8
1962 104.6 144.4
1961 102.1 140.2

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/thailand | CC BY

From 2006 to 2026, population density in Malawi increased by 72.7%, compared to a 7.52% growth in Thailand.

In 2006, Malawi ranked 56th by population density and is 48th now. Thailand was 61st in 2006 and ranks 70th out of 197 currently.

Share of urban population by year

Malawi
Thailand
1x
Year Urban population
Malawi Thailand
2024 17.3% 61.9%
2023 17% 60.9%
2022 16.7% 59.7%
2021 16.5% 58.5%
2020 16.3% 57.2%
2019 16.1% 55.9%
2018 16% 54.6%
2017 16% 49.2%
2016 15.9% 47.9%
2015 15.8% 47%
2014 15.8% 46.3%
2013 15.7% 45.8%
2012 15.6% 45.4%
2011 15.6% 44.8%
2010 15.5% 44%
2009 15.4% 43%
2008 15.3% 41.9%
2007 15.2% 40.7%
2006 15.2% 39.4%
2005 15.1% 38.1%
2004 15% 36.8%
2003 15% 35.4%
2002 14.9% 34.1%
2001 14.8% 32.7%
2000 14.7% 31.5%
1999 14.6% 30.2%
1998 14.4% 28.7%
1997 14.2% 27.2%
1996 14% 25.6%
1995 13.6% 24.1%
1994 13.3% 22.7%
1993 12.9% 21.3%
1992 12.4% 20.2%
1991 12% 19.4%
1990 11.6% 18.8%
1989 11.2% 18.5%
1988 10.9% 18.3%
1987 10.6% 18.1%
1986 10.4% 17.9%
1985 10.1% 17.8%
1984 9.93% 17.7%
1983 9.73% 17.6%
1982 9.54% 17.4%
1981 9.34% 17.3%
1980 9.13% 17.1%
1979 8.92% 16.8%
1978 8.68% 16.5%
1977 8.42% 16.1%
1976 8.11% 15.7%
1975 7.76% 15.2%
1974 7.36% 14.8%
1973 6.95% 14.3%
1972 6.53% 13.9%
1971 6.12% 13.6%
1970 5.73% 13.3%
1969 5.38% 13.1%
1968 5.08% 12.9%
1967 4.84% 12.7%
1966 4.69% 12.6%
1965 4.57% 12.5%
1964 4.45% 12.3%
1963 4.34% 12.2%
1962 4.24% 12.1%
1961 4.14% 12%
1960 4.04% 11.8%

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

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

From 2004 to 2024, the share of urban population changed from 15% to 17.3% in Malawi and from 36.8% to 61.9% in Thailand.

Densely populated cities

Malawi
City Population
Lilongwe 989K
Blantyre 800K
Mzuzu 150K
Zomba 101K
Mangochi 53.5K
Thailand
City Population
Bangkok 5.68M
Chiang Mai 1.2M
Nonthaburi 256K
Pak Kret 190K
Hat Yai 159K
Nakhon Ratchasima 134K
Chaophraya Surasak 133K
Surat Thani 131K
Udon Thani 130K
Klaeng 130K

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/thailand | 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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