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

Updated on by Georank team

The latest officially reported population of Ethiopia was 132,059,767 in 2024 vs 21,655,286 people in Malawi in 2024. In 2026, based on the adjusted UN estimation, the current Ethiopia's population is 139,917,664 people compared to 22,949,294 in Malawi.

Population statistics:

  • Ethiopia's population is 6.1 times bigger than Malawi's.
  • Ethiopia is ranked the 10th most populous country in the world, while Malawi is the 61st.
  • The countries together account for 1.97% of the world: 1.69% for Ethiopia vs 0.28% for Malawi.
  • For the last 10 years, Ethiopia has had an average growth rate of +2.71% per year vs +2.7% in Malawi.
  • Since 2006, the population of Ethiopia has increased from 80.7M people to 140M (73.4% growth), while Malawi has grown from 13.2M to 22.9M (73.9% growth).

Ethiopia vs Malawi: population by year and forecast

Ethiopia
Factual

Projection
Malawi
Factual

Projection
1x
Year Population
Ethiopia Malawi
2100 371,192,732 59,786,744
2099 369,452,188 59,528,389
2098 367,626,914 59,275,876
2097 365,680,268 59,028,312
2096 363,648,440 58,761,888
2095 361,707,589 58,508,246
2094 359,642,227 58,240,422
2093 357,570,752 57,966,788
2092 355,499,462 57,672,738
2091 353,327,595 57,377,090
2090 351,068,287 57,060,476
2089 348,859,203 56,739,410
2088 346,624,222 56,397,330
2087 344,268,493 56,053,671
2086 341,777,395 55,706,928
2085 339,272,558 55,348,708
2084 336,753,372 54,997,097
2083 334,186,307 54,605,058
2082 331,503,693 54,206,477
2081 328,816,892 53,795,317
2080 326,114,551 53,372,779
2079 323,382,593 52,948,243
2078 320,521,381 52,521,908
2077 317,590,857 52,063,931
2076 314,615,353 51,600,404
2075 311,583,813 51,141,728
2074 308,511,275 50,684,368
2073 305,477,711 50,229,762
2072 302,351,806 49,769,904
2071 299,211,554 49,287,139
2070 296,054,535 48,797,935
2069 292,847,034 48,301,644
2068 289,612,061 47,792,308
2067 286,279,975 47,277,473
2066 282,992,981 46,752,024
2065 279,662,528 46,228,139
2064 276,283,161 45,701,844
2063 272,866,834 45,179,322
2062 269,424,014 44,638,764
2061 265,885,347 44,076,711
2060 262,350,260 43,508,702
2059 258,772,570 42,916,694
2058 255,284,371 42,344,863
2057 251,733,988 41,762,060
2056 248,079,002 41,184,161
2055 244,501,471 40,584,950
2054 240,868,686 39,994,696
2053 237,228,269 39,377,622
2052 233,551,340 38,766,890
2051 229,804,463 38,153,322
2050 226,124,819 37,545,865
2049 222,420,063 36,936,275
2048 218,694,640 36,339,833
2047 214,950,242 35,725,127
2046 211,226,920 35,107,179
2045 207,525,986 34,491,916
2044 203,812,674 33,862,279
2043 200,097,321 33,247,804
2042 196,411,774 32,636,511
2041 192,749,114 32,019,447
2040 189,081,695 31,402,305
2039 185,422,958 30,782,479
2038 181,789,129 30,166,708
2037 178,179,942 29,527,821
2036 174,569,201 28,896,515
2035 170,957,061 28,267,970
2034 167,367,920 27,643,367
2033 163,813,895 27,018,105
2032 160,216,774 26,404,071
2031 156,638,324 25,795,897
2030 153,070,380 25,181,820
2029 149,507,684 24,566,478
2028 145,989,372 23,968,071
2027 142,463,827 23,374,588
2026 138,973,582 22,791,601
2025 135,513,842 22,220,885
2024 132,059,767 21,655,286
2023 128,691,692 21,104,482
2022 125,384,287 20,568,728
2021 122,138,588 20,047,258
2020 118,917,671 19,533,888
2019 115,737,383 19,025,752
2018 112,664,152 18,528,081
2017 109,666,481 18,039,715
2016 106,718,162 17,557,739
2015 103,867,135 17,085,587
2014 101,115,610 16,621,538
2013 98,438,751 16,161,816
2012 95,798,767 15,709,577
2011 93,149,970 15,265,022
2010 90,538,514 14,826,463
2009 88,007,636 14,395,788
2008 85,543,668 13,976,417
2007 83,103,217 13,576,343
2006 80,703,490 13,198,701
2005 78,367,470 12,840,031
2004 76,077,206 12,500,737
2003 73,832,663 12,181,574
2002 71,635,517 11,880,440
2001 69,487,762 11,593,058
2000 67,411,494 11,315,942
1999 65,374,561 11,047,804
1998 63,363,524 10,792,876
1997 61,404,539 10,562,035
1996 59,467,635 10,352,228
1995 57,537,335 10,150,117
1994 55,611,508 10,164,894
1993 53,708,891 10,284,024
1992 51,853,747 10,135,079
1991 49,717,198 9,844,227
1990 47,609,755 9,545,852
1989 45,879,690 9,176,220
1988 44,150,825 8,753,262
1987 42,460,039 8,293,174
1986 41,037,656 7,906,480
1985 39,842,136 7,620,508
1984 38,735,722 7,332,810
1983 37,740,817 7,051,709
1982 36,701,290 6,778,879
1981 35,304,012 6,516,454
1980 34,428,514 6,265,529
1979 34,238,652 6,028,749
1978 33,734,592 5,810,132
1977 33,167,272 5,614,983
1976 32,534,418 5,443,384
1975 31,723,252 5,287,367
1974 30,957,273 5,141,337
1973 30,166,785 5,003,938
1972 29,374,608 4,874,475
1971 28,600,106 4,751,434
1970 27,829,128 4,633,944
1969 27,072,571 4,521,184
1968 26,337,930 4,411,054
1967 25,620,276 4,303,012
1966 24,952,689 4,197,926
1965 24,310,612 4,096,157
1964 23,666,548 3,997,305
1963 23,051,637 3,900,506
1962 22,465,126 3,806,307
1961 21,906,102 3,715,534
1960 21,376,693 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/ethiopia/malawi | CC BY

From 2006 to 2016, the population of Ethiopia increased by 26,014,672 people (a 32.2% growth), while Malawi gained 4,359,038 people (a 33% growth).

For the next 10 years, from 2016 to 2026, Ethiopia gained 33,199,502 people (a 31.1% growth), while Malawi's population increased by 5,391,555 people (a 30.7% growth).

Ethiopia was ranked 16th most populous country in 2006 and is 10th 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) Ethiopia's population will grow by 61.6% to 226,124,819 people with a rank change from 10th to 7th. The population of Malawi will increase by 63.6% to 37,545,865 people and rank change from 61st to 55th.

Ethiopia is projected to reach its peak in 2100 at 371M people compared to the peak of 59.8M people in 2100 for Malawi.

Population growth rate by year

Ethiopia
Factual

Projection
Malawi
Factual

Projection
1x
Year Growth rate
Ethiopia Malawi
2100 0.47% 0.43%
2099 0.5% 0.43%
2098 0.53% 0.42%
2097 0.56% 0.45%
2096 0.54% 0.43%
2095 0.57% 0.46%
2094 0.58% 0.47%
2093 0.58% 0.51%
2092 0.61% 0.52%
2091 0.64% 0.55%
2090 0.63% 0.57%
2089 0.64% 0.61%
2088 0.68% 0.61%
2087 0.73% 0.62%
2086 0.74% 0.65%
2085 0.75% 0.64%
2084 0.77% 0.72%
2083 0.81% 0.74%
2082 0.82% 0.76%
2081 0.83% 0.79%
2080 0.84% 0.8%
2079 0.89% 0.81%
2078 0.92% 0.88%
2077 0.95% 0.9%
2076 0.97% 0.9%
2075 1% 0.9%
2074 0.99% 0.91%
2073 1.03% 0.92%
2072 1.05% 0.98%
2071 1.07% 1%
2070 1.1% 1.03%
2069 1.12% 1.07%
2068 1.16% 1.09%
2067 1.16% 1.12%
2066 1.19% 1.13%
2065 1.22% 1.15%
2064 1.25% 1.16%
2063 1.28% 1.21%
2062 1.33% 1.28%
2061 1.35% 1.31%
2060 1.38% 1.38%
2059 1.37% 1.35%
2058 1.41% 1.4%
2057 1.47% 1.4%
2056 1.46% 1.48%
2055 1.51% 1.48%
2054 1.53% 1.57%
2053 1.57% 1.58%
2052 1.63% 1.61%
2051 1.63% 1.62%
2050 1.67% 1.65%
2049 1.7% 1.64%
2048 1.74% 1.72%
2047 1.76% 1.76%
2046 1.78% 1.78%
2045 1.82% 1.86%
2044 1.86% 1.85%
2043 1.88% 1.87%
2042 1.9% 1.93%
2041 1.94% 1.97%
2040 1.97% 2.01%
2039 2% 2.04%
2038 2.03% 2.16%
2037 2.07% 2.18%
2036 2.11% 2.22%
2035 2.14% 2.26%
2034 2.17% 2.31%
2033 2.25% 2.33%
2032 2.28% 2.36%
2031 2.33% 2.44%
2030 2.38% 2.5%
2029 2.41% 2.5%
2028 2.47% 2.54%
2027 2.51% 2.56%
2026 2.55% 2.57%
2025 2.62% 2.61%
2024 2.62% 2.61%
2023 2.64% 2.6%
2022 2.66% 2.6%
2021 2.71% 2.63%
2020 2.75% 2.67%
2019 2.73% 2.69%
2018 2.73% 2.71%
2017 2.76% 2.75%
2016 2.74% 2.76%
2015 2.72% 2.79%
2014 2.72% 2.84%
2013 2.76% 2.88%
2012 2.84% 2.91%
2011 2.88% 2.96%
2010 2.88% 2.99%
2009 2.88% 3%
2008 2.94% 2.95%
2007 2.97% 2.86%
2006 2.98% 2.79%
2005 3.01% 2.71%
2004 3.04% 2.62%
2003 3.07% 2.53%
2002 3.09% 2.48%
2001 3.08% 2.45%
2000 3.12% 2.43%
1999 3.17% 2.36%
1998 3.19% 2.19%
1997 3.26% 2.03%
1996 3.35% 1.99%
1995 3.46% -0.15%
1994 3.54% -1.16%
1993 3.58% 1.47%
1992 4.3% 2.95%
1991 4.43% 3.13%
1990 3.77% 4.03%
1989 3.92% 4.83%
1988 3.98% 5.55%
1987 3.47% 4.89%
1986 3% 3.75%
1985 2.86% 3.92%
1984 2.64% 3.99%
1983 2.83% 4.02%
1982 3.96% 4.03%
1981 2.54% 4%
1980 0.55% 3.93%
1979 1.49% 3.76%
1978 1.71% 3.48%
1977 1.95% 3.15%
1976 2.56% 2.95%
1975 2.47% 2.84%
1974 2.62% 2.75%
1973 2.7% 2.66%
1972 2.71% 2.59%
1971 2.77% 2.54%
1970 2.79% 2.49%
1969 2.79% 2.5%
1968 2.8% 2.51%
1967 2.68% 2.5%
1966 2.64% 2.48%
1965 2.72% 2.47%
1964 2.67% 2.48%
1963 2.61% 2.47%
1962 2.55% 2.44%
1961 2.48% 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/ethiopia/malawi | CC BY

In 2024, the population of Ethiopia grew by 2.62%, while Malawi's population grew by 2.61%.

Live population counters

Ethiopia Malawi
Current population
139917664
22949294
Population rank 10/197 61/197
Percent of world population 1.69% 0.28%
One net population change
9.36 seconds
57.3 seconds
One birth every
7.68 seconds
47.6 seconds
One death every
41.1 seconds
4.64 minutes
Daily growth/decline +9,228 +1,509
Annual growth/decline +3,368,075 +550,804
Annual growth/decline rate +2.62% +2.61%
Population growth rate rank 25/197 26/197
One migration net change every
21.9 minutes
1.56 hours
Annual migration change +24,054 -5,628
Net migration rank 31/196 118/196
Foreign-born residents 1,168,455 186,719
Foreign-born residents rank 53/195 117/195
Foreign-born share of population 0.9% 0.9%
Foreign-born share rank 157/195 158/195

Natural population change vs migration

Ethiopia
Natural

Migration
Malawi
Natural

Migration
1x
Year Population change
Ethiopia Malawi
Natural Migration Natural Migration
2025 - 24,054 - -5,628
2024 - 30,069 - -1,507
2023 3,338,649 -11,996 549,096 -5,811
2022 3,300,114 -11,996 533,450 -5,231
2021 3,204,673 -1,377 517,400 -2,666
2020 3,199,718 38,866 514,659 -2,655
2019 3,132,780 -10,807 506,104 -1,837
2018 3,015,231 9,302 494,348 -3,267
2017 2,899,143 71,766 484,655 982
2016 2,809,889 115,823 474,779 3,505
2015 2,713,529 62,785 472,484 -6,471
2014 2,623,647 103,122 472,418 -10,317
2013 2,546,020 80,955 470,293 -12,934
2012 2,533,398 119,517 460,684 -13,561
2011 2,527,811 116,793 454,149 -12,170
2010 2,498,048 80,213 444,468 -9,327
2009 2,467,118 16,315 434,811 -8,590
2008 2,465,283 -20,780 421,781 -9,264
2007 2,436,753 -381 410,290 -22,680
2006 2,393,585 -30,512 397,123 -29,450
2005 2,353,375 -44,421 381,130 -31,462
2004 2,296,999 -25,430 361,133 -32,221
2003 2,231,223 -13,744 341,133 -31,729
2002 2,189,683 -12,925 322,863 -30,013
2001 2,137,791 -19,063 310,833 -28,933
2000 2,083,622 -49,891 300,439 -28,098
1999 2,010,987 29,142 295,629 -31,686
1998 1,984,989 -3,011 285,407 -39,491
1997 1,945,112 -9,119 277,433 -61,646
1996 1,896,364 41,456 270,048 -66,212
1995 1,831,068 91,727 266,745 -66,366
1994 1,788,133 140,715 275,439 -505,365
1993 1,734,851 141,545 276,538 -284,867
1992 1,673,839 160,106 269,066 37,142
1991 1,579,416 859,737 260,193 15,291
1990 1,479,663 296,014 250,159 71,111
1989 1,441,769 242,614 237,967 180,031
1988 1,393,356 379,966 226,911 201,011
1987 1,356,853 251,387 220,566 271,693
1986 1,050,277 186,227 218,519 62,615
1985 997,050 157,476 216,179 74,625
1984 920,670 137,632 212,146 72,435
1983 863,472 68,022 209,422 68,197
1982 1,080,853 66,702 205,386 62,661
1981 1,018,838 628,135 199,436 57,376
1980 1,007,516 -903,529 192,746 52,294
1979 987,203 -711,455 182,123 46,388
1978 943,388 -210,991 172,503 36,225
1977 929,381 -527,133 161,930 19,638
1976 899,577 -36,125 153,422 8,206
1975 801,425 -42,540 145,254 5,162
1974 777,306 -4,232 137,819 3,833
1973 807,535 347 131,529 1,623
1972 779,808 -3,375 125,728 48
1971 787,047 -14,510 121,015 -710
1970 760,821 8,589 116,822 -2,147
1969 736,428 7,258 113,120 -2,266
1968 715,602 9,992 110,329 -924
1967 695,283 14,437 106,668 0
1966 616,281 9,160 103,512 0
1965 642,359 16,348 100,040 0
1964 618,667 10,749 97,658 0
1963 590,998 9,418 95,933 0
1962 563,650 8,960 92,463 0
1961 538,518 6,938 89,091 0
1960 511,694 1,696 85,718 0

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

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

Over the last 10 years, 98.8% of the population change in Ethiopia is from natural causes (a gain of 30,237,373 people) and 1.19% is from migration (a gain of 365,488 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, 1,168,455 residents or 0.9% of the population were not native-born in Ethiopia, compared to 186,719 people or 0.9% in Malawi.

Biggest cities by population

Ethiopia
City Population
Addis Ababa 5.7M
Gondar 324K
Mekelle 324K
Awasa 300K
Dire Dawa 277K
Bahir Dar 243K
Dessie 188K
Jimma 178K
Harar 157K
Jijiga 126K
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/ethiopia/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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