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

Updated on by Georank team

The latest officially reported population of Eswatini was 1,242,822 in 2024 vs 21,655,286 people in Malawi in 2024. In 2026, based on the adjusted UN estimation, the current Eswatini's population is 1,273,390 people compared to 22,949,294 in Malawi.

Population statistics:

  • Malawi's population is 18 times bigger than Eswatini's.
  • Eswatini is ranked the 156th most populous country in the world, while Malawi is the 61st.
  • The countries together account for 0.29% of the world: 0.02% for Eswatini vs 0.28% for Malawi.
  • For the last 10 years, Eswatini has had an average growth rate of +0.87% per year vs +2.7% in Malawi.
  • Since 2006, the population of Eswatini has increased from 1.08M people to 1.27M (17.4% growth), while Malawi has grown from 13.2M to 22.9M (73.9% growth).

Eswatini vs Malawi: population by year and forecast

Eswatini
Factual

Projection
Malawi
Factual

Projection
1x
Year Population
Eswatini Malawi
2100 1,352,404 59,786,744
2099 1,361,498 59,528,389
2098 1,369,861 59,275,876
2097 1,378,017 59,028,312
2096 1,386,191 58,761,888
2095 1,394,405 58,508,246
2094 1,402,538 58,240,422
2093 1,410,423 57,966,788
2092 1,418,137 57,672,738
2091 1,426,097 57,377,090
2090 1,433,623 57,060,476
2089 1,441,192 56,739,410
2088 1,448,332 56,397,330
2087 1,455,333 56,053,671
2086 1,462,398 55,706,928
2085 1,469,660 55,348,708
2084 1,476,745 54,997,097
2083 1,483,271 54,605,058
2082 1,489,551 54,206,477
2081 1,494,969 53,795,317
2080 1,500,315 53,372,779
2079 1,505,309 52,948,243
2078 1,509,779 52,521,908
2077 1,514,574 52,063,931
2076 1,519,452 51,600,404
2075 1,523,845 51,141,728
2074 1,528,267 50,684,368
2073 1,531,967 50,229,762
2072 1,535,206 49,769,904
2071 1,538,333 49,287,139
2070 1,540,715 48,797,935
2069 1,543,234 48,301,644
2068 1,545,288 47,792,308
2067 1,547,029 47,277,473
2066 1,547,862 46,752,024
2065 1,548,678 46,228,139
2064 1,549,121 45,701,844
2063 1,549,274 45,179,322
2062 1,548,873 44,638,764
2061 1,548,072 44,076,711
2060 1,547,285 43,508,702
2059 1,545,426 42,916,694
2058 1,542,799 42,344,863
2057 1,540,085 41,762,060
2056 1,537,270 41,184,161
2055 1,534,161 40,584,950
2054 1,530,631 39,994,696
2053 1,526,357 39,377,622
2052 1,521,506 38,766,890
2051 1,515,982 38,153,322
2050 1,510,547 37,545,865
2049 1,504,126 36,936,275
2048 1,497,656 36,339,833
2047 1,491,001 35,725,127
2046 1,483,817 35,107,179
2045 1,475,974 34,491,916
2044 1,468,200 33,862,279
2043 1,460,050 33,247,804
2042 1,451,433 32,636,511
2041 1,441,822 32,019,447
2040 1,432,811 31,402,305
2039 1,423,063 30,782,479
2038 1,412,806 30,166,708
2037 1,402,845 29,527,821
2036 1,392,117 28,896,515
2035 1,381,258 28,267,970
2034 1,369,883 27,643,367
2033 1,357,906 27,018,105
2032 1,346,063 26,404,071
2031 1,334,330 25,795,897
2030 1,321,430 25,181,820
2029 1,309,060 24,566,478
2028 1,296,535 23,968,071
2027 1,283,434 23,374,588
2026 1,269,667 22,791,601
2025 1,255,921 22,220,885
2024 1,242,822 21,655,286
2023 1,230,506 21,104,482
2022 1,218,917 20,568,728
2021 1,206,593 20,047,258
2020 1,192,729 19,533,888
2019 1,179,874 19,025,752
2018 1,168,929 18,528,081
2017 1,158,195 18,039,715
2016 1,149,507 17,557,739
2015 1,142,813 17,085,587
2014 1,136,299 16,621,538
2013 1,129,990 16,161,816
2012 1,123,863 15,709,577
2011 1,117,833 15,265,022
2010 1,111,650 14,826,463
2009 1,105,153 14,395,788
2008 1,098,091 13,976,417
2007 1,090,705 13,576,343
2006 1,084,436 13,198,701
2005 1,079,022 12,840,031
2004 1,073,159 12,500,737
2003 1,066,700 12,181,574
2002 1,059,441 11,880,440
2001 1,051,064 11,593,058
2000 1,041,414 11,315,942
1999 1,030,782 11,047,804
1998 1,019,653 10,792,876
1997 1,006,635 10,562,035
1996 989,841 10,352,228
1995 970,433 10,150,117
1994 971,212 10,164,894
1993 971,318 10,284,024
1992 943,416 10,135,079
1991 908,189 9,844,227
1990 872,428 9,545,852
1989 837,800 9,176,220
1988 799,798 8,753,262
1987 763,811 8,293,174
1986 734,732 7,906,480
1985 706,196 7,620,508
1984 680,783 7,332,810
1983 658,957 7,051,709
1982 637,652 6,778,879
1981 616,808 6,516,454
1980 596,644 6,265,529
1979 577,199 6,028,749
1978 558,446 5,810,132
1977 540,348 5,614,983
1976 523,330 5,443,384
1975 507,673 5,287,367
1974 492,988 5,141,337
1973 479,038 5,003,938
1972 465,788 4,874,475
1971 453,183 4,751,434
1970 441,216 4,633,944
1969 429,875 4,521,184
1968 419,147 4,411,054
1967 409,031 4,303,012
1966 398,766 4,197,926
1965 388,336 4,096,157
1964 378,656 3,997,305
1963 369,759 3,900,506
1962 361,365 3,806,307
1961 353,264 3,715,534
1960 345,337 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/eswatini/malawi | CC BY

From 2006 to 2016, the population of Eswatini increased by 65,071 people (a 6% growth), while Malawi gained 4,359,038 people (a 33% growth).

For the next 10 years, from 2016 to 2026, Eswatini gained 123,883 people (a 10.8% growth), while Malawi's population increased by 5,391,555 people (a 30.7% growth).

Eswatini was ranked 152nd most populous country in 2006 and is 156th 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) Eswatini's population will grow by 18.6% to 1,510,547 people with a rank change from 156th to 154th. The population of Malawi will increase by 63.6% to 37,545,865 people and rank change from 61st to 55th.

Eswatini is projected to reach its peak in 2063 at 1.55M people compared to the peak of 59.8M people in 2100 for Malawi.

Population growth rate by year

Eswatini
Factual

Projection
Malawi
Factual

Projection
1x
Year Growth rate
Eswatini Malawi
2100 -0.67% 0.43%
2099 -0.61% 0.43%
2098 -0.59% 0.42%
2097 -0.59% 0.45%
2096 -0.59% 0.43%
2095 -0.58% 0.46%
2094 -0.56% 0.47%
2093 -0.54% 0.51%
2092 -0.56% 0.52%
2091 -0.52% 0.55%
2090 -0.53% 0.57%
2089 -0.49% 0.61%
2088 -0.48% 0.61%
2087 -0.48% 0.62%
2086 -0.49% 0.65%
2085 -0.48% 0.64%
2084 -0.44% 0.72%
2083 -0.42% 0.74%
2082 -0.36% 0.76%
2081 -0.36% 0.79%
2080 -0.33% 0.8%
2079 -0.3% 0.81%
2078 -0.32% 0.88%
2077 -0.32% 0.9%
2076 -0.29% 0.9%
2075 -0.29% 0.9%
2074 -0.24% 0.91%
2073 -0.21% 0.92%
2072 -0.2% 0.98%
2071 -0.15% 1%
2070 -0.16% 1.03%
2069 -0.13% 1.07%
2068 -0.11% 1.09%
2067 -0.05% 1.12%
2066 -0.05% 1.13%
2065 -0.03% 1.15%
2064 -0.01% 1.16%
2063 0.03% 1.21%
2062 0.05% 1.28%
2061 0.05% 1.31%
2060 0.12% 1.38%
2059 0.17% 1.35%
2058 0.18% 1.4%
2057 0.18% 1.4%
2056 0.2% 1.48%
2055 0.23% 1.48%
2054 0.28% 1.57%
2053 0.32% 1.58%
2052 0.36% 1.61%
2051 0.36% 1.62%
2050 0.43% 1.65%
2049 0.43% 1.64%
2048 0.45% 1.72%
2047 0.48% 1.76%
2046 0.53% 1.78%
2045 0.53% 1.86%
2044 0.56% 1.85%
2043 0.59% 1.87%
2042 0.67% 1.93%
2041 0.63% 1.97%
2040 0.68% 2.01%
2039 0.73% 2.04%
2038 0.71% 2.16%
2037 0.77% 2.18%
2036 0.79% 2.22%
2035 0.83% 2.26%
2034 0.88% 2.31%
2033 0.88% 2.33%
2032 0.88% 2.36%
2031 0.98% 2.44%
2030 0.94% 2.5%
2029 0.97% 2.5%
2028 1.02% 2.54%
2027 1.08% 2.56%
2026 1.09% 2.57%
2025 1.05% 2.61%
2024 1% 2.61%
2023 0.95% 2.6%
2022 1.02% 2.6%
2021 1.16% 2.63%
2020 1.09% 2.67%
2019 0.94% 2.69%
2018 0.93% 2.71%
2017 0.76% 2.75%
2016 0.59% 2.76%
2015 0.57% 2.79%
2014 0.56% 2.84%
2013 0.55% 2.88%
2012 0.54% 2.91%
2011 0.56% 2.96%
2010 0.59% 2.99%
2009 0.64% 3%
2008 0.68% 2.95%
2007 0.58% 2.86%
2006 0.5% 2.79%
2005 0.55% 2.71%
2004 0.61% 2.62%
2003 0.69% 2.53%
2002 0.8% 2.48%
2001 0.93% 2.45%
2000 1.03% 2.43%
1999 1.09% 2.36%
1998 1.29% 2.19%
1997 1.7% 2.03%
1996 2% 1.99%
1995 -0.08% -0.15%
1994 -0.01% -1.16%
1993 2.96% 1.47%
1992 3.88% 2.95%
1991 4.1% 3.13%
1990 4.13% 4.03%
1989 4.75% 4.83%
1988 4.71% 5.55%
1987 3.96% 4.89%
1986 4.04% 3.75%
1985 3.73% 3.92%
1984 3.31% 3.99%
1983 3.34% 4.02%
1982 3.38% 4.03%
1981 3.38% 4%
1980 3.37% 3.93%
1979 3.36% 3.76%
1978 3.35% 3.48%
1977 3.25% 3.15%
1976 3.08% 2.95%
1975 2.98% 2.84%
1974 2.91% 2.75%
1973 2.84% 2.66%
1972 2.78% 2.59%
1971 2.71% 2.54%
1970 2.64% 2.49%
1969 2.56% 2.5%
1968 2.47% 2.51%
1967 2.57% 2.5%
1966 2.69% 2.48%
1965 2.56% 2.47%
1964 2.41% 2.48%
1963 2.32% 2.47%
1962 2.29% 2.44%
1961 2.3% 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/eswatini/malawi | CC BY

In 2024, the population of Eswatini grew by 1%, while Malawi's population grew by 2.61%.

Live population counters

Eswatini Malawi
Current population
1273390
22949294
Population rank 156/197 61/197
Percent of world population 0.02% 0.28%
One net population change
42.7 minutes
57.3 seconds
One birth every
17.7 minutes
47.6 seconds
One death every
55.5 minutes
4.64 minutes
Daily growth/decline +34 +1,509
Annual growth/decline +12,316 +550,804
Annual growth/decline rate +1% +2.61%
Population growth rate rank 101/197 26/197
One migration net change every
1.52 hours
1.56 hours
Annual migration change -5,775 -5,628
Net migration rank 121/196 118/196
Foreign-born residents 33,268 186,719
Foreign-born residents rank 161/195 117/195
Foreign-born share of population 2.7% 0.9%
Foreign-born share rank 121/195 158/195

Natural population change vs migration

Eswatini
Natural

Migration
Malawi
Natural

Migration
1x
Year Population change
Eswatini Malawi
Natural Migration Natural Migration
2025 - -5,775 - -5,628
2024 - -6,754 - -1,507
2023 20,147 -8,549 549,096 -5,811
2022 20,125 -8,549 533,450 -5,231
2021 17,314 -4,242 517,400 -2,666
2020 18,899 -4,242 514,659 -2,655
2019 19,488 -8,439 506,104 -1,837
2018 19,392 -8,546 494,348 -3,267
2017 19,278 -8,658 484,655 982
2016 19,233 -12,481 474,779 3,505
2015 19,223 -12,582 472,484 -6,471
2014 19,107 -12,724 472,418 -10,317
2013 18,903 -12,664 470,293 -12,934
2012 18,308 -12,294 460,684 -13,561
2011 17,645 -11,596 454,149 -12,170
2010 17,652 -11,334 444,468 -9,327
2009 17,656 -10,989 434,811 -8,590
2008 17,275 -9,822 421,781 -9,264
2007 16,595 -9,271 410,290 -22,680
2006 16,133 -10,923 397,123 -29,450
2005 15,945 -10,330 381,130 -31,462
2004 15,979 -9,863 361,133 -32,221
2003 16,396 -9,595 341,133 -31,729
2002 16,924 -9,209 322,863 -30,013
2001 17,824 -8,788 310,833 -28,933
2000 18,830 -8,563 300,439 -28,098
1999 19,420 -8,421 295,629 -31,686
1998 19,762 -8,505 285,407 -39,491
1997 20,686 -5,911 277,433 -61,646
1996 21,858 -3,049 270,048 -66,212
1995 23,029 -3,023 266,745 -66,366
1994 26,703 -48,259 275,439 -505,365
1993 28,046 -6,692 276,538 -284,867
1992 28,446 6,011 269,066 37,142
1991 28,497 7,496 260,193 15,291
1990 28,349 7,169 250,159 71,111
1989 28,257 5,477 237,967 180,031
1988 27,396 14,879 226,911 201,011
1987 27,285 2,417 220,566 271,693
1986 27,096 1,353 218,519 62,615
1985 26,835 1,792 216,179 74,625
1984 26,149 -3,949 212,146 72,435
1983 24,883 -3,429 209,422 68,197
1982 24,742 -3,574 205,386 62,661
1981 23,973 -3,464 199,436 57,376
1980 23,153 -3,350 192,746 52,294
1979 22,299 -3,210 182,123 46,388
1978 21,466 -3,040 172,503 36,225
1977 20,609 -2,838 161,930 19,638
1976 19,734 -3,469 153,422 8,206
1975 18,849 -3,794 145,254 5,162
1974 17,971 -3,665 137,819 3,833
1973 17,145 -3,555 131,529 1,623
1972 16,353 -3,435 125,728 48
1971 15,615 -3,325 121,015 -710
1970 14,873 -3,230 116,822 -2,147
1969 14,164 -3,127 113,120 -2,266
1968 13,449 -3,029 110,329 -924
1967 12,773 -2,964 106,668 0
1966 12,282 -1,557 103,512 0
1965 11,719 -1,578 100,040 0
1964 11,266 -2,049 97,658 0
1963 10,929 -2,358 95,933 0
1962 10,601 -2,390 92,463 0
1961 10,262 -2,270 89,091 0
1960 9,947 -2,082 85,718 0

Data sources: World Bank | Health (1960–2025, retrieved 2026-04-06).

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

Over the last 10 years, 68.3% of the population change in Eswatini is from natural causes (a gain of 192,206 people) and 31.7% is from migration (a loss of 89,012 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, 33,268 residents or 2.7% of the population were not native-born in Eswatini, compared to 186,719 people or 0.9% in Malawi.

Biggest cities by population

Eswatini
City Population
Manzini 111K
Mbabane 76.2K
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/eswatini/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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