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Population in the Congo compared to Malawi: Trends, Charts, Rankings

Updated on by Georank

The latest officially reported population of the Congo was 6,484,437 in 2025 vs 22,216,120 people in Malawi in 2025. In 2026, based on the adjusted UN estimation, the current Congo's population is 6,718,789 people compared to 23,086,106 in Malawi.

Population statistics:

  • Malawi's population is 3.44 times bigger than the Congo's.
  • The Congo is ranked the 109th most populous country in the world, while Malawi is the 61st.
  • The countries together account for 0.36% of the world: 0.08% for the Congo vs 0.28% for Malawi.
  • For the last 10 years, the Congo has had an average growth rate of +2.44% per year vs +2.67% in Malawi.
  • Since 2006, the population of the Congo has increased from 3.84M people to 6.72M (75.1% growth), while Malawi has grown from 13.2M to 23.1M (74.9% growth).

Congo vs Malawi: population by year and forecast

Congo
Factual

Projection
Malawi
Factual

Projection
1x
Year Population
Congo Malawi
2100 20,194,267 59,773,923
2099 20,053,234 59,515,624
2098 19,906,909 59,263,165
2097 19,760,110 59,015,654
2096 19,610,521 58,749,288
2095 19,459,493 58,495,699
2094 19,306,835 58,227,933
2093 19,151,289 57,954,358
2092 18,990,577 57,660,371
2091 18,828,222 57,364,786
2090 18,663,146 57,048,240
2089 18,497,842 56,727,243
2088 18,325,571 56,385,237
2087 18,153,731 56,041,651
2086 17,979,773 55,694,983
2085 17,807,843 55,336,839
2084 17,631,386 54,985,304
2083 17,453,221 54,593,349
2082 17,270,773 54,194,853
2081 17,093,270 53,783,781
2080 16,910,570 53,361,334
2079 16,728,955 52,936,889
2078 16,542,829 52,510,645
2077 16,357,926 52,052,767
2076 16,173,005 51,589,339
2075 15,981,904 51,130,762
2074 15,791,626 50,673,499
2073 15,597,321 50,218,991
2072 15,402,110 49,759,232
2071 15,205,567 49,276,570
2070 15,009,147 48,787,471
2069 14,808,250 48,291,287
2068 14,609,790 47,782,059
2067 14,412,802 47,267,335
2066 14,211,022 46,741,998
2065 14,010,661 46,218,226
2064 13,810,933 45,692,044
2063 13,609,626 45,169,634
2062 13,405,080 44,629,192
2061 13,204,362 44,067,259
2060 13,004,957 43,499,372
2059 12,806,162 42,907,491
2058 12,609,233 42,335,782
2057 12,413,395 41,753,105
2056 12,217,406 41,175,330
2055 12,022,740 40,576,247
2054 11,824,813 39,986,120
2053 11,627,983 39,369,178
2052 11,431,875 38,758,577
2051 11,235,188 38,145,141
2050 11,039,311 37,537,814
2049 10,844,973 36,928,354
2048 10,650,230 36,332,040
2047 10,453,401 35,717,466
2046 10,258,550 35,099,651
2045 10,063,886 34,484,520
2044 9,871,213 33,855,018
2043 9,676,000 33,240,675
2042 9,482,485 32,629,513
2041 9,287,235 32,012,581
2040 9,096,577 31,395,572
2039 8,907,177 30,775,878
2038 8,719,250 30,160,239
2037 8,532,935 29,521,489
2036 8,348,719 28,890,318
2035 8,166,676 28,261,909
2034 7,985,679 27,637,439
2033 7,805,748 27,012,311
2032 7,628,440 26,398,409
2031 7,453,476 25,790,366
2030 7,284,111 25,176,420
2029 7,117,929 24,561,210
2028 6,955,268 23,962,931
2027 6,794,778 23,369,575
2026 6,638,532 22,786,713
2025 6,484,437 22,216,120
2024 6,332,961 21,655,286
2023 6,182,885 21,104,482
2022 6,035,104 20,568,728
2021 5,892,183 20,047,258
2020 5,752,791 19,533,888
2019 5,616,661 19,025,752
2018 5,483,118 18,528,081
2017 5,351,011 18,039,715
2016 5,222,536 17,557,739
2015 5,097,581 17,085,587
2014 4,975,880 16,621,538
2013 4,857,099 16,161,816
2012 4,740,450 15,709,577
2011 4,609,724 15,265,022
2010 4,462,290 14,826,463
2009 4,281,219 14,395,788
2008 4,113,517 13,976,417
2007 3,980,430 13,576,343
2006 3,837,409 13,198,701
2005 3,696,393 12,840,031
2004 3,565,554 12,500,737
2003 3,445,753 12,181,574
2002 3,350,771 11,880,440
2001 3,272,537 11,593,058
2000 3,151,345 11,315,942
1999 3,032,874 11,047,804
1998 2,952,061 10,792,876
1997 2,887,862 10,562,035
1996 2,826,785 10,352,228
1995 2,749,461 10,150,117
1994 2,673,144 10,164,894
1993 2,595,124 10,284,024
1992 2,519,465 10,135,079
1991 2,449,229 9,844,227
1990 2,380,560 9,545,852
1989 2,313,558 9,176,220
1988 2,247,653 8,753,262
1987 2,183,473 8,293,174
1986 2,120,602 7,906,480
1985 2,059,311 7,620,508
1984 1,999,528 7,332,810
1983 1,950,321 7,051,709
1982 1,910,430 6,778,879
1981 1,869,759 6,516,454
1980 1,828,985 6,265,529
1979 1,788,524 6,028,749
1978 1,748,089 5,810,132
1977 1,707,568 5,614,983
1976 1,667,225 5,443,384
1975 1,627,032 5,287,367
1974 1,582,301 5,141,337
1973 1,533,680 5,003,938
1972 1,486,468 4,874,475
1971 1,441,039 4,751,434
1970 1,397,638 4,633,944
1969 1,356,182 4,521,184
1968 1,316,519 4,411,054
1967 1,278,691 4,303,012
1966 1,242,534 4,197,926
1965 1,207,880 4,096,157
1964 1,174,816 3,997,305
1963 1,143,263 3,900,506
1962 1,113,175 3,806,307
1961 1,084,389 3,715,534
1960 1,056,732 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/congo/malawi | CC BY

From 2006 to 2016, the population of the Congo increased by 1,385,127 people (a 36.1% growth), while Malawi gained 4,359,038 people (a 33% growth).

For the next 10 years, from 2016 to 2026, the Congo gained 1,496,253 people (a 28.6% growth), while Malawi's population increased by 5,528,367 people (a 31.5% growth).

The Congo was ranked 125th most populous country in 2006 and is 109th 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) the Congo's population will grow by 64.3% to 11,039,311 people with a rank change from 109th to 95th. The population of Malawi will increase by 62.6% to 37,537,814 people and rank change from 61st to 55th.

The Congo is projected to reach its peak in 2100 at 20.2M people compared to the peak of 59.8M people in 2100 for Malawi.

Population growth rate by year

Congo
Factual

Projection
Malawi
Factual

Projection
1x
Year Growth rate
Congo Malawi
2100 0.7% 0.43%
2099 0.74% 0.43%
2098 0.74% 0.42%
2097 0.76% 0.45%
2096 0.78% 0.43%
2095 0.79% 0.46%
2094 0.81% 0.47%
2093 0.85% 0.51%
2092 0.86% 0.52%
2091 0.88% 0.55%
2090 0.89% 0.57%
2089 0.94% 0.61%
2088 0.95% 0.61%
2087 0.97% 0.62%
2086 0.97% 0.65%
2085 1% 0.64%
2084 1.02% 0.72%
2083 1.06% 0.74%
2082 1.04% 0.76%
2081 1.08% 0.79%
2080 1.09% 0.8%
2079 1.13% 0.81%
2078 1.13% 0.88%
2077 1.14% 0.9%
2076 1.2% 0.9%
2075 1.2% 0.9%
2074 1.25% 0.91%
2073 1.27% 0.92%
2072 1.29% 0.98%
2071 1.31% 1%
2070 1.36% 1.03%
2069 1.36% 1.07%
2068 1.37% 1.09%
2067 1.42% 1.12%
2066 1.43% 1.13%
2065 1.45% 1.15%
2064 1.48% 1.16%
2063 1.53% 1.21%
2062 1.52% 1.28%
2061 1.53% 1.31%
2060 1.55% 1.38%
2059 1.56% 1.35%
2058 1.58% 1.4%
2057 1.6% 1.4%
2056 1.62% 1.48%
2055 1.67% 1.48%
2054 1.69% 1.57%
2053 1.72% 1.58%
2052 1.75% 1.61%
2051 1.77% 1.62%
2050 1.79% 1.65%
2049 1.83% 1.64%
2048 1.88% 1.72%
2047 1.9% 1.76%
2046 1.93% 1.78%
2045 1.95% 1.86%
2044 2.02% 1.85%
2043 2.04% 1.87%
2042 2.1% 1.93%
2041 2.1% 1.97%
2040 2.13% 2.01%
2039 2.16% 2.04%
2038 2.18% 2.16%
2037 2.21% 2.18%
2036 2.23% 2.22%
2035 2.27% 2.26%
2034 2.31% 2.31%
2033 2.32% 2.33%
2032 2.35% 2.36%
2031 2.33% 2.44%
2030 2.33% 2.5%
2029 2.34% 2.5%
2028 2.36% 2.54%
2027 2.35% 2.56%
2026 2.38% 2.57%
2025 2.39% 2.59%
2024 2.43% 2.61%
2023 2.45% 2.6%
2022 2.43% 2.6%
2021 2.42% 2.63%
2020 2.42% 2.67%
2019 2.44% 2.69%
2018 2.47% 2.71%
2017 2.46% 2.75%
2016 2.45% 2.76%
2015 2.45% 2.79%
2014 2.45% 2.84%
2013 2.46% 2.88%
2012 2.84% 2.91%
2011 3.3% 2.96%
2010 4.23% 2.99%
2009 4.08% 3%
2008 3.34% 2.95%
2007 3.73% 2.86%
2006 3.81% 2.79%
2005 3.67% 2.71%
2004 3.48% 2.62%
2003 2.83% 2.53%
2002 2.39% 2.48%
2001 3.85% 2.45%
2000 3.91% 2.43%
1999 2.74% 2.36%
1998 2.22% 2.19%
1997 2.16% 2.03%
1996 2.81% 1.99%
1995 2.85% -0.15%
1994 3.01% -1.16%
1993 3% 1.47%
1992 2.87% 2.95%
1991 2.88% 3.13%
1990 2.9% 4.03%
1989 2.93% 4.83%
1988 2.94% 5.55%
1987 2.96% 4.89%
1986 2.98% 3.75%
1985 2.99% 3.92%
1984 2.52% 3.99%
1983 2.09% 4.02%
1982 2.18% 4.03%
1981 2.23% 4%
1980 2.26% 3.93%
1979 2.31% 3.76%
1978 2.37% 3.48%
1977 2.42% 3.15%
1976 2.47% 2.95%
1975 2.83% 2.84%
1974 3.17% 2.75%
1973 3.18% 2.66%
1972 3.15% 2.59%
1971 3.11% 2.54%
1970 3.06% 2.49%
1969 3.01% 2.5%
1968 2.96% 2.51%
1967 2.91% 2.5%
1966 2.87% 2.48%
1965 2.81% 2.47%
1964 2.76% 2.48%
1963 2.7% 2.47%
1962 2.65% 2.44%
1961 2.62% 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/congo/malawi | CC BY

In 2025, the population of the Congo grew by 2.39%, while Malawi's population grew by 2.59%.

Live population counters

Congo Malawi
Current population
6718789
23086106
Population rank 109/197 61/197
Percent of world population 0.08% 0.28%
One net population change
3.48 minutes
56.4 seconds
One birth every
2.73 minutes
46.8 seconds
One death every
13.3 minutes
4.59 minutes
Daily growth/decline +415 +1,537
Annual growth/decline +151,476 +560,834
Annual growth/decline rate +2.39% +2.59%
Population growth rate rank 31/197 23/197
One migration net change every
2.93 hours
1.56 hours
Annual migration change -2,999 -5,628
Net migration rank 108/196 118/196
Foreign-born residents 385,589 186,719
Foreign-born residents rank 91/195 117/195
Foreign-born share of population 6.1% 0.9%
Foreign-born share rank 86/195 158/195

Natural population change vs migration

Congo
Natural

Migration
Malawi
Natural

Migration
1x
Year Population change
Congo Malawi
Natural Migration Natural Migration
2025 - -2,999 - -5,628
2024 153,150 -2,491 559,811 -1,507
2023 150,486 -995 549,096 -5,811
2022 147,076 -995 533,450 -5,231
2021 144,241 -4,476 517,400 -2,666
2020 143,492 -4,472 514,659 -2,655
2019 139,513 -6,268 506,104 -1,837
2018 142,704 -8,856 494,348 -3,267
2017 141,973 -11,601 484,655 982
2016 141,358 -14,783 474,779 3,505
2015 141,539 -18,207 472,484 -6,471
2014 141,674 -21,598 472,418 -10,317
2013 142,080 -24,605 470,293 -12,934
2012 142,464 -26,643 460,684 -13,561
2011 140,371 5,262 454,149 -12,170
2010 136,908 12,318 444,468 -9,327
2009 126,904 86,014 434,811 -8,590
2008 120,711 1,774 421,781 -9,264
2007 112,459 31,239 410,290 -22,680
2006 106,876 35,475 397,123 -29,450
2005 101,344 38,337 381,130 -31,462
2004 96,577 25,412 361,133 -32,221
2003 91,326 26,280 341,133 -31,729
2002 88,497 -16,140 322,863 -30,013
2001 84,876 -764 310,833 -28,933
2000 78,491 79,780 300,439 -28,098
1999 76,204 2,470 295,629 -31,686
1998 72,450 10,500 285,407 -39,491
1997 66,149 -20,704 277,433 -61,646
1996 75,628 1,085 270,048 -66,212
1995 74,189 3,747 266,745 -66,366
1994 72,857 1,850 275,439 -505,365
1993 71,119 10,218 276,538 -284,867
1992 69,973 0 269,066 37,142
1991 68,534 1,966 260,193 15,291
1990 67,241 -395 250,159 71,111
1989 65,944 1,214 237,967 180,031
1988 64,629 22 226,911 201,011
1987 63,183 525 220,566 271,693
1986 61,669 367 218,519 62,615
1985 60,359 182 216,179 74,625
1984 59,028 0 212,146 72,435
1983 58,120 -18,720 209,422 68,197
1982 57,036 -16,664 205,386 62,661
1981 56,603 -15,630 199,436 57,376
1980 55,550 -14,972 192,746 52,294
1979 54,723 -14,378 182,123 46,388
1978 53,885 -13,356 172,503 36,225
1977 53,179 -12,673 161,930 19,638
1976 52,148 -11,971 153,422 8,206
1975 51,155 -10,944 145,254 5,162
1974 49,563 -312 137,819 3,833
1973 48,017 -22 131,529 1,623
1972 46,427 0 125,728 48
1971 44,431 0 121,015 -710
1970 42,374 0 116,822 -2,147
1969 40,532 0 113,120 -2,266
1968 38,786 0 110,329 -924
1967 36,866 0 106,668 0
1966 35,452 0 103,512 0
1965 33,865 0 100,040 0
1964 32,270 0 97,658 0
1963 30,832 0 95,933 0
1962 29,342 0 92,463 0
1961 28,220 0 89,091 0
1960 27,094 0 85,718 0

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

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

Over the last 10 years, 95.2% of the population change in the Congo is from natural causes (a gain of 1,445,532 people) and 4.82% is from migration (a loss of 73,144 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, 385,589 residents or 6.1% of the population were not native-born in the Congo, compared to 186,719 people or 0.9% in Malawi.

Biggest cities by population

Congo
City Population
Brazzaville 2.15M
Pointe-Noire 1.42M
Kayes 127K
Madingou 36.2K
Gamboma 26.1K
Kinkala 12.1K
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/congo/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. Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) (2000–2019, retrieved 2026-07-08)
  5. Wikidata (2026, retrieved 2026-07-08)

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