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Population in China compared to Malawi: Trends, Charts, Rankings

Updated on by Georank

The latest officially reported population of China was 1,406,585,000 in 2025 vs 22,216,120 people in Malawi in 2025. In 2026, based on the adjusted UN estimation, the current China's population is 1,403,335,670 people compared to 23,086,106 in Malawi.

Population statistics:

  • China's population is 60.8 times bigger than Malawi's.
  • China is ranked the 2nd most populous country in the world, while Malawi is the 61st.
  • The countries together account for 17.2% of the world: 16.9% for China vs 0.28% for Malawi.
  • For the last 10 years, China has had an average growth rate of +0.23% per year vs +2.67% in Malawi.
  • Since 2006, the population of China has increased from 1.31B people to 1.4B (7.04% growth), while Malawi has grown from 13.2M to 23.1M (74.9% growth).

China vs Malawi: population by year and forecast

China
Factual

Projection
Malawi
Factual

Projection
1x
Year Population
China Malawi
2100 633,662,382 59,773,923
2099 644,307,192 59,515,624
2098 655,044,881 59,263,165
2097 665,876,462 59,015,654
2096 676,803,171 58,749,288
2095 687,828,883 58,495,699
2094 698,966,872 58,227,933
2093 710,235,681 57,954,358
2092 721,640,723 57,660,371
2091 733,187,178 57,364,786
2090 744,903,105 57,048,240
2089 756,812,472 56,727,243
2088 768,893,004 56,385,237
2087 781,128,909 56,041,651
2086 793,508,970 55,694,983
2085 806,043,039 55,336,839
2084 818,709,832 54,985,304
2083 831,420,518 54,593,349
2082 844,177,036 54,194,853
2081 856,996,835 53,783,781
2080 869,821,040 53,361,334
2079 882,622,985 52,936,889
2078 895,372,147 52,510,645
2077 908,082,676 52,052,767
2076 920,776,984 51,589,339
2075 933,459,600 51,130,762
2074 946,141,456 50,673,499
2073 958,870,128 50,218,991
2072 971,639,931 49,759,232
2071 984,469,009 49,276,570
2070 997,391,342 48,787,471
2069 1,010,450,818 48,291,287
2068 1,023,633,867 47,782,059
2067 1,036,979,285 47,267,335
2066 1,050,453,924 46,741,998
2065 1,064,051,499 46,218,226
2064 1,077,787,979 45,692,044
2063 1,091,571,021 45,169,634
2062 1,105,429,748 44,629,192
2061 1,119,286,514 44,067,259
2060 1,133,115,260 43,499,372
2059 1,146,818,251 42,907,491
2058 1,160,340,554 42,335,782
2057 1,173,596,480 41,753,105
2056 1,186,578,041 41,175,330
2055 1,199,197,172 40,576,247
2054 1,211,403,028 39,986,120
2053 1,223,160,257 39,369,178
2052 1,234,474,716 38,758,577
2051 1,245,255,938 38,145,141
2050 1,255,501,171 37,537,814
2049 1,265,281,319 36,928,354
2048 1,274,572,888 36,332,040
2047 1,283,393,445 35,717,466
2046 1,291,830,414 35,099,651
2045 1,299,855,379 34,484,520
2044 1,307,510,531 33,855,018
2043 1,314,885,869 33,240,675
2042 1,322,032,311 32,629,513
2041 1,328,936,491 32,012,581
2040 1,335,577,799 31,395,572
2039 1,341,989,157 30,775,878
2038 1,348,134,255 30,160,239
2037 1,354,107,817 29,521,489
2036 1,359,866,705 28,890,318
2035 1,365,387,904 28,261,909
2034 1,370,679,807 27,637,439
2033 1,375,744,986 27,012,311
2032 1,380,528,766 26,398,409
2031 1,385,048,521 25,790,366
2030 1,389,269,809 25,176,420
2029 1,393,241,425 24,561,210
2028 1,396,917,178 23,962,931
2027 1,400,271,033 23,369,575
2026 1,403,335,670 22,786,713
2025 1,406,585,000 22,216,120
2024 1,408,975,000 21,655,286
2023 1,410,710,000 21,104,482
2022 1,412,175,000 20,568,728
2021 1,412,360,000 20,047,258
2020 1,411,100,000 19,533,888
2019 1,407,745,000 19,025,752
2018 1,402,760,000 18,528,081
2017 1,396,215,000 18,039,715
2016 1,387,790,000 17,557,739
2015 1,379,860,000 17,085,587
2014 1,371,860,000 16,621,538
2013 1,363,240,000 16,161,816
2012 1,354,190,000 15,709,577
2011 1,345,035,000 15,265,022
2010 1,337,705,000 14,826,463
2009 1,331,260,000 14,395,788
2008 1,324,655,000 13,976,417
2007 1,317,885,000 13,576,343
2006 1,311,020,000 13,198,701
2005 1,303,720,000 12,840,031
2004 1,296,075,000 12,500,737
2003 1,288,400,000 12,181,574
2002 1,280,400,000 11,880,440
2001 1,271,850,000 11,593,058
2000 1,262,645,000 11,315,942
1999 1,252,735,000 11,047,804
1998 1,241,935,000 10,792,876
1997 1,230,075,000 10,562,035
1996 1,217,550,000 10,352,228
1995 1,204,855,000 10,150,117
1994 1,191,835,000 10,164,894
1993 1,178,440,000 10,284,024
1992 1,164,970,000 10,135,079
1991 1,150,780,000 9,844,227
1990 1,135,185,000 9,545,852
1989 1,118,650,000 9,176,220
1988 1,101,630,000 8,753,262
1987 1,084,035,000 8,293,174
1986 1,066,790,000 7,906,480
1985 1,051,040,000 7,620,508
1984 1,036,825,000 7,332,810
1983 1,023,310,000 7,051,709
1982 1,008,630,000 6,778,879
1981 993,885,000 6,516,454
1980 981,235,000 6,265,529
1979 969,005,000 6,028,749
1978 956,165,000 5,810,132
1977 943,455,000 5,614,983
1976 930,685,000 5,443,384
1975 916,395,000 5,287,367
1974 900,350,000 5,141,337
1973 881,940,000 5,003,938
1972 862,030,000 4,874,475
1971 841,105,000 4,751,434
1970 818,315,000 4,633,944
1969 796,025,000 4,521,184
1968 774,510,000 4,411,054
1967 754,550,000 4,303,012
1966 735,400,000 4,197,926
1965 715,185,000 4,096,157
1964 698,355,000 3,997,305
1963 682,335,000 3,900,506
1962 665,770,000 3,806,307
1961 660,330,000 3,715,534
1960 667,070,000 3,628,134

Data sources: United Nations | World Population Prospects (2026–2100, retrieved 2026-07-08); World Bank | Health (1960–2025, retrieved 2026-07-08).

GeoRank.org/population/china/malawi | CC BY

From 2006 to 2016, the population of China increased by 76,770,000 people (a 5.86% growth), while Malawi gained 4,359,038 people (a 33% growth).

For the next 10 years, from 2016 to 2026, China gained 15,545,670 people (a 1.12% growth), while Malawi's population increased by 5,528,367 people (a 31.5% growth).

China was ranked 1st most populous country in 2006 and is 2nd in 2026. Malawi was ranked 69th in 2006 and ranked 61st now.

The UN's World Population Prospects forecasts that in 24 years (in 2050) China's population will shrink by 10.5% to 1,255,501,171 people and will still be ranked 2nd. The population of Malawi will increase by 62.6% to 37,537,814 people and rank change from 61st to 55th.

Malawi is projected to reach its peak in 2100 at 59.8M people, while China's population already peaked in 2021 at 1.41B people and is projected to decrease to 634M people by 2100.

Population growth rate by year

China
Factual

Projection
Malawi
Factual

Projection
1x
Year Growth rate
China Malawi
2100 -1.65% 0.43%
2099 -1.64% 0.43%
2098 -1.63% 0.42%
2097 -1.61% 0.45%
2096 -1.6% 0.43%
2095 -1.59% 0.46%
2094 -1.59% 0.47%
2093 -1.58% 0.51%
2092 -1.57% 0.52%
2091 -1.57% 0.55%
2090 -1.57% 0.57%
2089 -1.57% 0.61%
2088 -1.57% 0.61%
2087 -1.56% 0.62%
2086 -1.56% 0.65%
2085 -1.55% 0.64%
2084 -1.53% 0.72%
2083 -1.51% 0.74%
2082 -1.5% 0.76%
2081 -1.47% 0.79%
2080 -1.45% 0.8%
2079 -1.42% 0.81%
2078 -1.4% 0.88%
2077 -1.38% 0.9%
2076 -1.36% 0.9%
2075 -1.34% 0.9%
2074 -1.33% 0.91%
2073 -1.31% 0.92%
2072 -1.3% 0.98%
2071 -1.3% 1%
2070 -1.29% 1.03%
2069 -1.29% 1.07%
2068 -1.29% 1.09%
2067 -1.28% 1.12%
2066 -1.28% 1.13%
2065 -1.27% 1.15%
2064 -1.26% 1.16%
2063 -1.25% 1.21%
2062 -1.24% 1.28%
2061 -1.22% 1.31%
2060 -1.19% 1.38%
2059 -1.17% 1.35%
2058 -1.13% 1.4%
2057 -1.09% 1.4%
2056 -1.05% 1.48%
2055 -1.01% 1.48%
2054 -0.96% 1.57%
2053 -0.92% 1.58%
2052 -0.87% 1.61%
2051 -0.82% 1.62%
2050 -0.77% 1.65%
2049 -0.73% 1.64%
2048 -0.69% 1.72%
2047 -0.65% 1.76%
2046 -0.62% 1.78%
2045 -0.59% 1.86%
2044 -0.56% 1.85%
2043 -0.54% 1.87%
2042 -0.52% 1.93%
2041 -0.5% 1.97%
2040 -0.48% 2.01%
2039 -0.46% 2.04%
2038 -0.44% 2.16%
2037 -0.42% 2.18%
2036 -0.4% 2.22%
2035 -0.39% 2.26%
2034 -0.37% 2.31%
2033 -0.35% 2.33%
2032 -0.33% 2.36%
2031 -0.3% 2.44%
2030 -0.29% 2.5%
2029 -0.26% 2.5%
2028 -0.24% 2.54%
2027 -0.22% 2.56%
2026 -0.23% 2.57%
2025 -0.17% 2.59%
2024 -0.12% 2.61%
2023 -0.1% 2.6%
2022 -0.01% 2.6%
2021 0.09% 2.63%
2020 0.24% 2.67%
2019 0.36% 2.69%
2018 0.47% 2.71%
2017 0.61% 2.75%
2016 0.57% 2.76%
2015 0.58% 2.79%
2014 0.63% 2.84%
2013 0.67% 2.88%
2012 0.68% 2.91%
2011 0.55% 2.96%
2010 0.48% 2.99%
2009 0.5% 3%
2008 0.51% 2.95%
2007 0.52% 2.86%
2006 0.56% 2.79%
2005 0.59% 2.71%
2004 0.6% 2.62%
2003 0.62% 2.53%
2002 0.67% 2.48%
2001 0.73% 2.45%
2000 0.79% 2.43%
1999 0.87% 2.36%
1998 0.96% 2.19%
1997 1.03% 2.03%
1996 1.05% 1.99%
1995 1.09% -0.15%
1994 1.14% -1.16%
1993 1.16% 1.47%
1992 1.23% 2.95%
1991 1.37% 3.13%
1990 1.48% 4.03%
1989 1.54% 4.83%
1988 1.62% 5.55%
1987 1.62% 4.89%
1986 1.5% 3.75%
1985 1.37% 3.92%
1984 1.32% 3.99%
1983 1.46% 4.02%
1982 1.48% 4.03%
1981 1.29% 4%
1980 1.26% 3.93%
1979 1.34% 3.76%
1978 1.35% 3.48%
1977 1.37% 3.15%
1976 1.56% 2.95%
1975 1.78% 2.84%
1974 2.09% 2.75%
1973 2.31% 2.66%
1972 2.49% 2.59%
1971 2.78% 2.54%
1970 2.8% 2.49%
1969 2.78% 2.5%
1968 2.65% 2.51%
1967 2.6% 2.5%
1966 2.83% 2.48%
1965 2.41% 2.47%
1964 2.35% 2.48%
1963 2.49% 2.47%
1962 0.82% 2.44%
1961 -1.01% 2.41%

Data sources: United Nations | World Population Prospects (2026–2100, retrieved 2026-07-08); World Bank | Health (1961–2025, retrieved 2026-07-08).

GeoRank.org/population/china/malawi | CC BY

In 2025, the population of China declined by 0.17%, while Malawi's population grew by 2.59%.

Live population counters

China Malawi
Current population
1403335670
23086106
Population rank 2/197 61/197
Percent of world population 16.9% 0.28%
One net population change
13.2 seconds
56.4 seconds
One birth every
3.31 seconds
46.8 seconds
One death every
2.88 seconds
4.59 minutes
Daily growth/decline -6,548 +1,537
Annual growth/decline -2,390,000 +560,834
Annual growth/decline rate -0.17% +2.59%
Population growth rate rank 174/197 23/197
One migration net change every
1.97 minutes
1.56 hours
Annual migration change -268,126 -5,628
Net migration rank 189/196 118/196
Foreign-born residents 1,638,718 186,719
Foreign-born residents rank 43/195 117/195
Foreign-born share of population 0.1% 0.9%
Foreign-born share rank 192/195 158/195

Natural population change vs migration

China
Natural

Migration
Malawi
Natural

Migration
1x
Year Population change
China Malawi
Natural Migration Natural Migration
2025 - -268,126 - -5,628
2024 -1,394,886 -318,992 559,811 -1,507
2023 -2,087,851 -567,724 549,096 -5,811
2022 -847,305 -293,846 533,450 -5,231
2021 480,203 -379,749 517,400 -2,666
2020 2,046,095 -91,577 514,659 -2,655
2019 4,673,713 -656,091 506,104 -1,837
2018 5,302,433 -198,206 494,348 -3,267
2017 7,790,880 -94,625 484,655 982
2016 9,062,269 -153,056 474,779 3,505
2015 6,788,911 -646,941 472,484 -6,471
2014 9,205,180 -371,108 472,418 -10,317
2013 8,043,116 -188,951 470,293 -12,934
2012 10,075,174 -58,864 460,684 -13,561
2011 8,245,065 -416,189 454,149 -12,170
2010 6,407,607 -184,144 444,468 -9,327
2009 6,483,236 -177,135 434,811 -8,590
2008 6,729,247 -764,370 421,781 -9,264
2007 6,813,465 -1,042,019 410,290 -22,680
2006 6,922,185 -759,559 397,123 -29,450
2005 7,678,911 -103,701 381,130 -31,462
2004 7,607,960 -770,977 361,133 -32,221
2003 7,743,284 -613,223 341,133 -31,729
2002 8,258,580 -761,291 322,863 -30,013
2001 8,839,358 -176,419 310,833 -28,933
2000 9,570,849 -62,622 300,439 -28,098
1999 10,247,372 -96,102 295,629 -31,686
1998 11,351,286 -40,472 285,407 -39,491
1997 12,374,554 -279,251 277,433 -61,646
1996 12,686,872 -250,750 270,048 -66,212
1995 12,711,220 -365,986 266,745 -66,366
1994 13,360,470 -723,641 275,439 -505,365
1993 13,493,138 -373,316 276,538 -284,867
1992 13,548,601 -142,985 269,066 37,142
1991 14,937,124 -544,650 260,193 15,291
1990 16,335,313 -11,187 250,159 71,111
1989 16,824,495 -313,476 237,967 180,031
1988 17,328,640 -282,194 226,911 201,011
1987 18,005,821 -169,170 220,566 271,693
1986 16,609,920 -79,190 218,519 62,615
1985 14,987,830 -60,929 216,179 74,625
1984 13,561,671 -51,961 212,146 72,435
1983 13,599,789 -43,756 209,422 68,197
1982 15,815,318 -36,181 205,386 62,661
1981 14,461,027 -28,016 199,436 57,376
1980 11,647,260 -20,129 192,746 52,294
1979 11,250,148 -13,704 182,123 46,388
1978 11,473,980 -9,916 172,503 36,225
1977 11,378,068 -15,323 161,930 19,638
1976 11,782,472 -55,109 153,422 8,206
1975 14,378,237 -115,173 145,254 5,162
1974 15,738,118 -175,239 137,819 3,833
1973 18,423,727 -214,997 131,529 1,623
1972 19,102,585 -215,650 125,728 48
1971 19,622,980 -180,153 121,015 -710
1970 21,137,076 -126,510 116,822 -2,147
1969 20,760,332 -72,836 113,120 -2,266
1968 21,206,083 -37,290 110,329 -924
1967 19,263,662 1,246,654 106,668 0
1966 19,282,187 4,165 103,512 0
1965 20,296,950 -130,900 100,040 0
1964 19,302,532 -1,250,441 97,658 0
1963 22,742,225 -31,383 95,933 0
1962 17,969,132 -31,305 92,463 0
1961 2,496,047 -25,578 89,091 0
1960 -3,048,510 -16,927 85,718 0

Data sources: World Bank | Health (1960–2025, retrieved 2026-07-08).

GeoRank.org/population/china/malawi | CC BY

Over the last 10 years, 90.3% of the population change in China is from natural causes (a gain of 31,814,462 people) and 9.66% is from migration (a loss of 3,400,807 people). In Malawi 99.5% is from natural causes (a gain of 5,106,786 people) and 0.49% is from migration (a loss of 24,958 people).

As of 2024, 1,638,718 residents or 0.1% of the population were not native-born in China, compared to 186,719 people or 0.9% in Malawi.

Biggest cities by population

China
City Population
Chongqing 32.1M
Shanghai 24.9M
Beijing 21.9M
Chengdu 20.9M
Guangzhou 18.7M
Shenzhen 17.5M
Tianjin 13.9M
Xi'an 13M
Suzhou 12.7M
Zhengzhou 12.6M
Malawi
City Population
Lilongwe 989K
Mzimba 936K
Blantyre 800K
Mzuzu 150K
Zomba 101K
Mangochi 53.5K
Mulanje 14.8K
Ntcheu 14.6K
Monkey Bay 14.6K

Compare countries by 7 more topics

Population map with other countries

1x

Data sources: World Bank | Health (1960–2025, retrieved 2026-07-08); United Nations | World Population Prospects (1960–2026, retrieved 2026-07-08); U.S. Census Bureau (1960–2025, retrieved 2026-07-08); Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) (2000–2019, retrieved 2026-07-08).

GeoRank.org/population/china/malawi | CC BY

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Data sources:

  1. World Bank | Health (1960–2025, retrieved 2026-07-08)
  2. United Nations | World Population Prospects (1960–2100, retrieved 2026-07-08)
  3. U.S. Census Bureau (1960–2025, retrieved 2026-07-08)
  4. Wikidata (2026, retrieved 2026-07-08)
  5. Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) (2000–2019, retrieved 2026-07-08)

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