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

Updated on by Georank team

The latest officially reported population of the Congo was 6,332,961 in 2024 vs 21,655,286 people in Malawi in 2024. In 2026, based on the adjusted UN estimation, the current Congo's population is 6,681,829 people compared to 22,949,294 in Malawi.

Population statistics:

  • Malawi's population is 3.43 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 +2.7% in Malawi.
  • Since 2006, the population of the Congo has increased from 3.84M people to 6.68M (74.1% growth), while Malawi has grown from 13.2M to 22.9M (73.9% growth).

Congo vs Malawi: population by year and forecast

Congo
Factual

Projection
Malawi
Factual

Projection
1x
Year Population
Congo Malawi
2100 20,197,393 59,786,744
2099 20,056,338 59,528,389
2098 19,909,990 59,275,876
2097 19,763,169 59,028,312
2096 19,613,556 58,761,888
2095 19,462,505 58,508,246
2094 19,309,823 58,240,422
2093 19,154,254 57,966,788
2092 18,993,517 57,672,738
2091 18,831,137 57,377,090
2090 18,666,035 57,060,476
2089 18,500,705 56,739,410
2088 18,328,408 56,397,330
2087 18,156,542 56,053,671
2086 17,982,556 55,706,928
2085 17,810,599 55,348,708
2084 17,634,115 54,997,097
2083 17,455,922 54,605,058
2082 17,273,447 54,206,477
2081 17,095,916 53,795,317
2080 16,913,187 53,372,779
2079 16,731,545 52,948,243
2078 16,545,390 52,521,908
2077 16,360,458 52,063,931
2076 16,175,508 51,600,404
2075 15,984,378 51,141,728
2074 15,794,071 50,684,368
2073 15,599,735 50,229,762
2072 15,404,494 49,769,904
2071 15,207,921 49,287,139
2070 15,011,471 48,797,935
2069 14,810,543 48,301,644
2068 14,612,051 47,792,308
2067 14,415,033 47,277,473
2066 14,213,222 46,752,024
2065 14,012,829 46,228,139
2064 13,813,071 45,701,844
2063 13,611,733 45,179,322
2062 13,407,155 44,638,764
2061 13,206,406 44,076,711
2060 13,006,970 43,508,702
2059 12,808,144 42,916,694
2058 12,611,185 42,344,863
2057 12,415,316 41,762,060
2056 12,219,298 41,184,161
2055 12,024,601 40,584,950
2054 11,826,644 39,994,696
2053 11,629,783 39,377,622
2052 11,433,645 38,766,890
2051 11,236,927 38,153,322
2050 11,041,020 37,545,865
2049 10,846,652 36,936,275
2048 10,651,879 36,339,833
2047 10,455,019 35,725,127
2046 10,260,138 35,107,179
2045 10,065,444 34,491,916
2044 9,872,742 33,862,279
2043 9,677,498 33,247,804
2042 9,483,953 32,636,511
2041 9,288,673 32,019,447
2040 9,097,986 31,402,305
2039 8,908,556 30,782,479
2038 8,720,599 30,166,708
2037 8,534,256 29,527,821
2036 8,350,011 28,896,515
2035 8,167,940 28,267,970
2034 7,986,915 27,643,367
2033 7,806,956 27,018,105
2032 7,629,621 26,404,071
2031 7,454,630 25,795,897
2030 7,285,238 25,181,820
2029 7,119,031 24,566,478
2028 6,956,345 23,968,071
2027 6,795,830 23,374,588
2026 6,639,560 22,791,601
2025 6,485,440 22,220,885
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 (2025–2100, retrieved 2026-03-10); World Bank | Health (1960–2024, retrieved 2026-04-06).

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 1,459,293 people (a 27.9% growth), while Malawi's population increased by 5,391,555 people (a 30.7% 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 65.2% to 11,041,020 people with a rank change from 109th to 95th. The population of Malawi will increase by 63.6% to 37,545,865 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 2.41% 2.61%
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 (2025–2100, retrieved 2026-03-10); World Bank | Health (1961–2024, retrieved 2026-04-06).

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

In 2024, the population of the Congo grew by 2.43%, while Malawi's population grew by 2.61%.

Live population counters

Congo Malawi
Current population
6681829
22949294
Population rank 109/197 61/197
Percent of world population 0.08% 0.28%
One net population change
3.5 minutes
57.3 seconds
One birth every
2.78 minutes
47.6 seconds
One death every
13.5 minutes
4.64 minutes
Daily growth/decline +411 +1,509
Annual growth/decline +150,076 +550,804
Annual growth/decline rate +2.43% +2.61%
Population growth rate rank 31/197 26/197
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 - -2,491 - -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 2026-04-06).

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

Over the last 10 years, 94% of the population change in the Congo is from natural causes (a gain of 1,434,056 people) and 6.04% is from migration (a loss of 92,251 people). In Malawi 99.3% is from natural causes (a gain of 5,019,393 people) and 0.67% is from migration (a loss of 33,768 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 71.6K
Madingou 36.2K
Gamboma 26.1K
Kinkala 12.1K
Malawi
City Population
Lilongwe 989K
Blantyre 800K
Mzuzu 150K
Zomba 101K
Mangochi 53.5K
Mzimba 26.1K
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 (1960–2024, retrieved 2026-04-06); United Nations | World Population Prospects (1960–2026, retrieved 2026-03-10); U.S. Census Bureau (1960–2025, retrieved 2026-02-08); Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) (2000–2019, retrieved 2026-02-20).

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

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Data sources:

  1. World Bank | Health (1960–2025, retrieved 2026-04-06)
  2. United Nations | World Population Prospects (1960–2100, retrieved 2026-03-10)
  3. U.S. Census Bureau (1960–2025, retrieved 2026-02-08)
  4. Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) (2000–2019, retrieved 2026-02-20)
  5. Wikidata (2026, retrieved 2026-02-08)

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