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

Updated on by Georank

The latest officially reported population of Ghana was 35,064,272 in 2025 vs 22,216,120 people in Malawi in 2025. In 2026, based on the adjusted UN estimation, the current Ghana's population is 36,032,857 people compared to 23,086,106 in Malawi.

Population statistics:

  • Ghana's population is 1.56 times bigger than Malawi's.
  • Ghana is ranked the 46th most populous country in the world, while Malawi is the 61st.
  • The countries together account for 0.71% of the world: 0.43% for Ghana vs 0.28% for Malawi.
  • For the last 10 years, Ghana has had an average growth rate of +2.05% per year vs +2.67% in Malawi.
  • Since 2006, the population of Ghana has increased from 23M people to 36M (56.4% growth), while Malawi has grown from 13.2M to 23.1M (74.9% growth).

Ghana vs Malawi: population by year and forecast

Ghana
Factual

Projection
Malawi
Factual

Projection
1x
Year Population
Ghana Malawi
2100 68,117,614 59,773,923
2099 68,008,028 59,515,624
2098 67,888,410 59,263,165
2097 67,759,128 59,015,654
2096 67,625,262 58,749,288
2095 67,481,344 58,495,699
2094 67,325,992 58,227,933
2093 67,162,890 57,954,358
2092 66,991,846 57,660,371
2091 66,804,098 57,364,786
2090 66,605,276 57,048,240
2089 66,395,029 56,727,243
2088 66,173,453 56,385,237
2087 65,937,323 56,041,651
2086 65,699,827 55,694,983
2085 65,451,666 55,336,839
2084 65,196,037 54,985,304
2083 64,922,457 54,593,349
2082 64,638,242 54,194,853
2081 64,342,209 53,783,781
2080 64,034,249 53,361,334
2079 63,717,528 52,936,889
2078 63,384,648 52,510,645
2077 63,046,955 52,052,767
2076 62,699,375 51,589,339
2075 62,337,964 51,130,762
2074 61,974,725 50,673,499
2073 61,604,458 50,218,991
2072 61,227,111 49,759,232
2071 60,835,024 49,276,570
2070 60,442,399 48,787,471
2069 60,041,679 48,291,287
2068 59,627,097 47,782,059
2067 59,203,373 47,267,335
2066 58,774,846 46,741,998
2065 58,341,378 46,218,226
2064 57,893,305 45,692,044
2063 57,439,982 45,169,634
2062 56,974,922 44,629,192
2061 56,500,340 44,067,259
2060 56,019,906 43,499,372
2059 55,529,609 42,907,491
2058 55,031,460 42,335,782
2057 54,524,491 41,753,105
2056 54,007,205 41,175,330
2055 53,481,428 40,576,247
2054 52,949,003 39,986,120
2053 52,407,089 39,369,178
2052 51,859,418 38,758,577
2051 51,300,839 38,145,141
2050 50,730,296 37,537,814
2049 50,153,221 36,928,354
2048 49,567,895 36,332,040
2047 48,972,414 35,717,466
2046 48,373,367 35,099,651
2045 47,766,811 34,484,520
2044 47,154,486 33,855,018
2043 46,538,892 33,240,675
2042 45,916,531 32,629,513
2041 45,291,657 32,012,581
2040 44,660,573 31,395,572
2039 44,029,228 30,775,878
2038 43,393,321 30,160,239
2037 42,752,045 29,521,489
2036 42,112,269 28,890,318
2035 41,470,624 28,261,909
2034 40,823,789 27,637,439
2033 40,176,026 27,012,311
2032 39,532,216 26,398,409
2031 38,892,407 25,790,366
2030 38,251,174 25,176,420
2029 37,616,078 24,561,210
2028 36,978,847 23,962,931
2027 36,342,429 23,369,575
2026 35,705,894 22,786,713
2025 35,064,272 22,216,120
2024 34,427,414 21,655,286
2023 33,787,914 21,104,482
2022 33,149,152 20,568,728
2021 32,518,665 20,047,258
2020 31,887,809 19,533,888
2019 31,258,945 19,025,752
2018 30,637,585 18,528,081
2017 30,008,354 18,039,715
2016 29,356,742 17,557,739
2015 28,696,068 17,085,587
2014 28,041,592 16,621,538
2013 27,386,193 16,161,816
2012 26,734,268 15,709,577
2011 26,095,088 15,265,022
2010 25,474,995 14,826,463
2009 24,862,664 14,395,788
2008 24,249,946 13,976,417
2007 23,642,279 13,576,343
2006 23,040,702 13,198,701
2005 22,449,438 12,840,031
2004 21,868,298 12,500,737
2003 21,296,705 12,181,574
2002 20,729,388 11,880,440
2001 20,167,069 11,593,058
2000 19,637,087 11,315,942
1999 19,149,864 11,047,804
1998 18,688,036 10,792,876
1997 18,238,958 10,562,035
1996 17,810,181 10,352,228
1995 17,399,017 10,150,117
1994 16,993,190 10,164,894
1993 16,589,519 10,284,024
1992 16,184,855 10,135,079
1991 15,787,496 9,844,227
1990 15,394,648 9,545,852
1989 15,006,813 9,176,220
1988 14,636,568 8,753,262
1987 14,289,108 8,293,174
1986 13,965,217 7,906,480
1985 13,661,229 7,620,508
1984 13,370,590 7,332,810
1983 13,029,836 7,051,709
1982 12,643,819 6,778,879
1981 12,281,712 6,516,454
1980 11,941,448 6,265,529
1979 11,597,255 6,028,749
1978 11,248,450 5,810,132
1977 10,911,871 5,614,983
1976 10,594,913 5,443,384
1975 10,294,308 5,287,367
1974 10,000,523 5,141,337
1973 9,714,617 5,003,938
1972 9,438,187 4,874,475
1971 9,176,264 4,751,434
1970 8,925,813 4,633,944
1969 8,690,383 4,521,184
1968 8,475,729 4,411,054
1967 8,271,913 4,303,012
1966 8,074,521 4,197,926
1965 7,882,606 4,096,157
1964 7,695,739 3,997,305
1963 7,514,714 3,900,506
1962 7,337,375 3,806,307
1961 7,162,667 3,715,534
1960 6,961,215 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/ghana/malawi | CC BY

From 2006 to 2016, the population of Ghana increased by 6,316,040 people (a 27.4% growth), while Malawi gained 4,359,038 people (a 33% growth).

For the next 10 years, from 2016 to 2026, Ghana gained 6,676,115 people (a 22.7% growth), while Malawi's population increased by 5,528,367 people (a 31.5% growth).

Ghana was ranked 48th most populous country in 2006 and is 46th 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) Ghana's population will grow by 40.8% to 50,730,296 people with a rank change from 46th to 43rd. The population of Malawi will increase by 62.6% to 37,537,814 people and rank change from 61st to 55th.

Ghana is projected to reach its peak in 2100 at 68.1M people compared to the peak of 59.8M people in 2100 for Malawi.

Population growth rate by year

Ghana
Factual

Projection
Malawi
Factual

Projection
1x
Year Growth rate
Ghana Malawi
2100 0.16% 0.43%
2099 0.18% 0.43%
2098 0.19% 0.42%
2097 0.2% 0.45%
2096 0.21% 0.43%
2095 0.23% 0.46%
2094 0.24% 0.47%
2093 0.26% 0.51%
2092 0.28% 0.52%
2091 0.3% 0.55%
2090 0.32% 0.57%
2089 0.33% 0.61%
2088 0.36% 0.61%
2087 0.36% 0.62%
2086 0.38% 0.65%
2085 0.39% 0.64%
2084 0.42% 0.72%
2083 0.44% 0.74%
2082 0.46% 0.76%
2081 0.48% 0.79%
2080 0.5% 0.8%
2079 0.53% 0.81%
2078 0.54% 0.88%
2077 0.55% 0.9%
2076 0.58% 0.9%
2075 0.59% 0.9%
2074 0.6% 0.91%
2073 0.62% 0.92%
2072 0.64% 0.98%
2071 0.65% 1%
2070 0.67% 1.03%
2069 0.7% 1.07%
2068 0.72% 1.09%
2067 0.73% 1.12%
2066 0.74% 1.13%
2065 0.77% 1.15%
2064 0.79% 1.16%
2063 0.82% 1.21%
2062 0.84% 1.28%
2061 0.86% 1.31%
2060 0.88% 1.38%
2059 0.91% 1.35%
2058 0.93% 1.4%
2057 0.96% 1.4%
2056 0.98% 1.48%
2055 1.01% 1.48%
2054 1.03% 1.57%
2053 1.06% 1.58%
2052 1.09% 1.61%
2051 1.12% 1.62%
2050 1.15% 1.65%
2049 1.18% 1.64%
2048 1.22% 1.72%
2047 1.24% 1.76%
2046 1.27% 1.78%
2045 1.3% 1.86%
2044 1.32% 1.85%
2043 1.36% 1.87%
2042 1.38% 1.93%
2041 1.41% 1.97%
2040 1.43% 2.01%
2039 1.47% 2.04%
2038 1.5% 2.16%
2037 1.52% 2.18%
2036 1.55% 2.22%
2035 1.58% 2.26%
2034 1.61% 2.31%
2033 1.63% 2.33%
2032 1.65% 2.36%
2031 1.68% 2.44%
2030 1.69% 2.5%
2029 1.72% 2.5%
2028 1.75% 2.54%
2027 1.78% 2.56%
2026 1.83% 2.57%
2025 1.85% 2.59%
2024 1.89% 2.61%
2023 1.93% 2.6%
2022 1.94% 2.6%
2021 1.98% 2.63%
2020 2.01% 2.67%
2019 2.03% 2.69%
2018 2.1% 2.71%
2017 2.22% 2.75%
2016 2.3% 2.76%
2015 2.33% 2.79%
2014 2.39% 2.84%
2013 2.44% 2.88%
2012 2.45% 2.91%
2011 2.43% 2.96%
2010 2.46% 2.99%
2009 2.53% 3%
2008 2.57% 2.95%
2007 2.61% 2.86%
2006 2.63% 2.79%
2005 2.66% 2.71%
2004 2.68% 2.62%
2003 2.74% 2.53%
2002 2.79% 2.48%
2001 2.7% 2.45%
2000 2.54% 2.43%
1999 2.47% 2.36%
1998 2.46% 2.19%
1997 2.41% 2.03%
1996 2.36% 1.99%
1995 2.39% -0.15%
1994 2.43% -1.16%
1993 2.5% 1.47%
1992 2.52% 2.95%
1991 2.55% 3.13%
1990 2.58% 4.03%
1989 2.53% 4.83%
1988 2.43% 5.55%
1987 2.32% 4.89%
1986 2.23% 3.75%
1985 2.17% 3.92%
1984 2.62% 3.99%
1983 3.05% 4.02%
1982 2.95% 4.03%
1981 2.85% 4%
1980 2.97% 3.93%
1979 3.1% 3.76%
1978 3.08% 3.48%
1977 2.99% 3.15%
1976 2.92% 2.95%
1975 2.94% 2.84%
1974 2.94% 2.75%
1973 2.93% 2.66%
1972 2.85% 2.59%
1971 2.81% 2.54%
1970 2.71% 2.49%
1969 2.53% 2.5%
1968 2.46% 2.51%
1967 2.44% 2.5%
1966 2.43% 2.48%
1965 2.43% 2.47%
1964 2.41% 2.48%
1963 2.42% 2.47%
1962 2.44% 2.44%
1961 2.89% 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/ghana/malawi | CC BY

In 2025, the population of Ghana grew by 1.85%, while Malawi's population grew by 2.59%.

Live population counters

Ghana Malawi
Current population
36032857
23086106
Population rank 46/197 61/197
Percent of world population 0.43% 0.28%
One net population change
49.7 seconds
56.4 seconds
One birth every
35.3 seconds
46.8 seconds
One death every
2.18 minutes
4.59 minutes
Daily growth/decline +1,745 +1,537
Annual growth/decline +636,858 +560,834
Annual growth/decline rate +1.85% +2.59%
Population growth rate rank 57/197 23/197
One migration net change every
30.9 minutes
1.56 hours
Annual migration change -17,079 -5,628
Net migration rank 150/196 118/196
Foreign-born residents 532,286 186,719
Foreign-born residents rank 77/195 117/195
Foreign-born share of population 1.5% 0.9%
Foreign-born share rank 145/195 158/195

Natural population change vs migration

Ghana
Natural

Migration
Malawi
Natural

Migration
1x
Year Population change
Ghana Malawi
Natural Migration Natural Migration
2025 - -17,079 - -5,628
2024 651,057 -13,114 559,811 -1,507
2023 651,094 -10,003 549,096 -5,811
2022 646,441 -10,003 533,450 -5,231
2021 635,805 -11,259 517,400 -2,666
2020 637,469 -291 514,659 -2,655
2019 642,403 -21,857 506,104 -1,837
2018 641,551 -19,375 494,348 -3,267
2017 641,218 -4,913 484,655 982
2016 659,910 7,009 474,779 3,505
2015 667,729 -13,306 472,484 -6,471
2014 660,829 -6,312 472,418 -10,317
2013 658,638 -2,377 470,293 -12,934
2012 646,595 1,005 460,684 -13,561
2011 631,501 -720 454,149 -12,170
2010 613,133 -3,726 444,468 -9,327
2009 592,825 22,416 434,811 -8,590
2008 579,695 30,506 421,781 -9,264
2007 572,332 32,813 410,290 -22,680
2006 569,474 28,536 397,123 -29,450
2005 563,234 21,272 381,130 -31,462
2004 543,339 34,433 361,133 -32,221
2003 536,656 28,768 341,133 -31,729
2002 528,620 40,573 322,863 -30,013
2001 519,382 36,050 310,833 -28,933
2000 508,738 -4,206 300,439 -28,098
1999 487,210 -17,304 295,629 -31,686
1998 471,313 -17,564 285,407 -39,491
1997 459,822 -15,409 277,433 -61,646
1996 450,259 -37,113 270,048 -66,212
1995 451,748 -42,558 266,745 -66,366
1994 449,589 -47,120 275,439 -505,365
1993 454,669 -49,792 276,538 -284,867
1992 452,156 -47,736 269,066 37,142
1991 448,159 -57,878 260,193 15,291
1990 442,211 -46,789 250,159 71,111
1989 432,541 -52,293 237,967 180,031
1988 425,031 -64,810 226,911 201,011
1987 419,328 -84,648 220,566 271,693
1986 411,191 -98,099 218,519 62,615
1985 401,722 -106,855 216,179 74,625
1984 392,053 -105,655 212,146 72,435
1983 379,846 15,276 209,422 68,197
1982 369,061 7,863 205,386 62,661
1981 359,572 -12,296 199,436 57,376
1980 346,816 -13,564 192,746 52,294
1979 334,848 20,291 182,123 46,388
1978 324,428 18,041 172,503 36,225
1977 315,429 15,243 161,930 19,638
1976 305,769 -2,528 153,422 8,206
1975 298,267 -292 145,254 5,162
1974 290,796 -1,197 137,819 3,833
1973 283,385 -1,168 131,529 1,623
1972 275,236 -4,589 125,728 48
1971 265,442 -12,238 121,015 -710
1970 257,938 -10,233 116,822 -2,147
1969 251,925 -28,752 113,120 -2,266
1968 242,821 -36,683 110,329 -924
1967 237,156 -35,666 106,668 0
1966 231,440 -38,143 103,512 0
1965 229,061 -38,519 100,040 0
1964 226,685 -43,480 97,658 0
1963 225,367 -46,516 95,933 0
1962 223,842 -48,017 92,463 0
1961 222,372 -48,777 89,091 0
1960 217,134 12,181 85,718 0

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

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

Over the last 10 years, 98.5% of the population change in Ghana is from natural causes (a gain of 6,474,677 people) and 1.48% is from migration (a loss of 97,112 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, 532,286 residents or 1.5% of the population were not native-born in Ghana, compared to 186,719 people or 0.9% in Malawi.

Biggest cities by population

Ghana
City Population
Kumasi 3.9M
Accra 1.78M
Tamale 730K
Sekondi-Takoradi 540K
Ashaiman 208K
Obuasi 180K
Tema 162K
Koforidua 127K
Ho 126K
Hohoe 56.2K
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/ghana/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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