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

Updated on by Georank

The latest officially reported population of Ethiopia was 135,472,051 in 2025 vs 22,216,120 people in Malawi in 2025. In 2026, based on the adjusted UN estimation, the current Ethiopia's population is 140,722,974 people compared to 23,086,106 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 +2.69% per year vs +2.67% in Malawi.
  • Since 2006, the population of Ethiopia has increased from 80.7M people to 141M (74.4% growth), while Malawi has grown from 13.2M to 23.1M (74.9% growth).

Ethiopia vs Malawi: population by year and forecast

Ethiopia
Factual

Projection
Malawi
Factual

Projection
1x
Year Population
Ethiopia Malawi
2100 371,078,260 59,773,923
2099 369,338,252 59,515,624
2098 367,513,542 59,263,165
2097 365,567,496 59,015,654
2096 363,536,294 58,749,288
2095 361,596,042 58,495,699
2094 359,531,317 58,227,933
2093 357,460,480 57,954,358
2092 355,389,829 57,660,371
2091 353,218,632 57,364,786
2090 350,960,021 57,048,240
2089 348,751,618 56,727,243
2088 346,517,326 56,385,237
2087 344,162,324 56,041,651
2086 341,671,994 55,694,983
2085 339,167,930 55,336,839
2084 336,649,520 54,985,304
2083 334,083,247 54,593,349
2082 331,401,460 54,194,853
2081 328,715,487 53,783,781
2080 326,013,981 53,361,334
2079 323,282,865 52,936,889
2078 320,422,535 52,510,645
2077 317,492,915 52,052,767
2076 314,518,328 51,589,339
2075 311,487,723 51,130,762
2074 308,416,133 50,673,499
2073 305,383,505 50,218,991
2072 302,258,564 49,759,232
2071 299,119,280 49,276,570
2070 295,963,235 48,787,471
2069 292,756,723 48,291,287
2068 289,522,748 47,782,059
2067 286,191,689 47,267,335
2066 282,905,709 46,741,998
2065 279,576,283 46,218,226
2064 276,197,958 45,692,044
2063 272,782,685 45,169,634
2062 269,340,926 44,629,192
2061 265,803,351 44,067,259
2060 262,269,354 43,499,372
2059 258,692,767 42,907,491
2058 255,205,644 42,335,782
2057 251,656,356 41,753,105
2056 248,002,497 41,175,330
2055 244,426,069 40,576,247
2054 240,794,405 39,986,120
2053 237,155,110 39,369,178
2052 233,479,314 38,758,577
2051 229,733,593 38,145,141
2050 226,055,085 37,537,814
2049 222,351,471 36,928,354
2048 218,627,197 36,332,040
2047 214,883,954 35,717,466
2046 211,161,780 35,099,651
2045 207,461,987 34,484,520
2044 203,749,820 33,855,018
2043 200,035,613 33,240,675
2042 196,351,202 32,629,513
2041 192,689,672 32,012,581
2040 189,023,384 31,395,572
2039 185,365,776 30,775,878
2038 181,733,067 30,160,239
2037 178,124,993 29,521,489
2036 174,515,366 28,890,318
2035 170,904,339 28,261,909
2034 167,316,305 27,637,439
2033 163,763,376 27,012,311
2032 160,167,364 26,398,409
2031 156,590,018 25,790,366
2030 153,023,174 25,176,420
2029 149,461,578 24,561,210
2028 145,944,350 23,962,931
2027 142,419,893 23,369,575
2026 138,930,724 22,786,713
2025 135,472,051 22,216,120
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 (2026–2100, retrieved 2026-07-08); World Bank | Health (1960–2025, retrieved 2026-07-08).

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 34,004,812 people (a 31.9% growth), while Malawi's population increased by 5,528,367 people (a 31.5% 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 60.6% to 226,055,085 people with a rank change from 10th to 7th. The population of Malawi will increase by 62.6% to 37,537,814 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 2.58% 2.59%
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 (2026–2100, retrieved 2026-07-08); World Bank | Health (1961–2025, retrieved 2026-07-08).

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

In 2025, the population of Ethiopia grew by 2.58%, while Malawi's population grew by 2.59%.

Live population counters

Ethiopia Malawi
Current population
140722974
23086106
Population rank 10/197 61/197
Percent of world population 1.69% 0.28%
One net population change
9.27 seconds
56.4 seconds
One birth every
7.59 seconds
46.8 seconds
One death every
40.6 seconds
4.59 minutes
Daily growth/decline +9,349 +1,537
Annual growth/decline +3,412,284 +560,834
Annual growth/decline rate +2.58% +2.59%
Population growth rate rank 24/197 23/197
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 3,379,409 30,069 559,811 -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 2026-07-08).

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

Over the last 10 years, 99.1% of the population change in Ethiopia is from natural causes (a gain of 30,993,135 people) and 0.93% is from migration (a gain of 292,435 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, 1,168,455 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
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/ethiopia/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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