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

Updated on by Georank team

The latest officially reported population of Iceland was 386,506 in 2024 vs 21,655,286 people in Malawi in 2024. In 2026, based on the adjusted UN estimation, the current Iceland's population is 397,129 people compared to 22,949,294 in Malawi.

Population statistics:

  • Malawi's population is 57.8 times bigger than Iceland's.
  • Iceland is ranked the 173rd most populous country in the world, while Malawi is the 61st.
  • The countries together account for 0.28% of the world: 0.005% for Iceland vs 0.28% for Malawi.
  • For the last 10 years, Iceland has had an average growth rate of +1.63% per year vs +2.7% in Malawi.
  • Since 2006, the population of Iceland has increased from 304K people to 397K (30.7% growth), while Malawi has grown from 13.2M to 22.9M (73.9% growth).

Iceland vs Malawi: population by year and forecast

Iceland
Factual

Projection
Malawi
Factual

Projection
1x
Year Population
Iceland Malawi
2100 359,553 59,786,744
2099 361,331 59,528,389
2098 363,133 59,275,876
2097 364,957 59,028,312
2096 366,850 58,761,888
2095 368,746 58,508,246
2094 370,650 58,240,422
2093 372,614 57,966,788
2092 374,717 57,672,738
2091 376,803 57,377,090
2090 378,807 57,060,476
2089 380,812 56,739,410
2088 382,997 56,397,330
2087 385,164 56,053,671
2086 387,257 55,706,928
2085 389,362 55,348,708
2084 391,416 54,997,097
2083 393,481 54,605,058
2082 395,438 54,206,477
2081 397,470 53,795,317
2080 399,499 53,372,779
2079 401,462 52,948,243
2078 403,324 52,521,908
2077 405,255 52,063,931
2076 406,954 51,600,404
2075 408,546 51,141,728
2074 410,015 50,684,368
2073 411,402 50,229,762
2072 412,903 49,769,904
2071 414,245 49,287,139
2070 415,521 48,797,935
2069 416,683 48,301,644
2068 417,749 47,792,308
2067 418,899 47,277,473
2066 419,918 46,752,024
2065 420,941 46,228,139
2064 421,814 45,701,844
2063 422,695 45,179,322
2062 423,614 44,638,764
2061 424,319 44,076,711
2060 425,096 43,508,702
2059 425,721 42,916,694
2058 426,288 42,344,863
2057 426,844 41,762,060
2056 427,304 41,184,161
2055 427,695 40,584,950
2054 427,915 39,994,696
2053 428,108 39,377,622
2052 428,300 38,766,890
2051 428,278 38,153,322
2050 428,323 37,545,865
2049 428,289 36,936,275
2048 428,213 36,339,833
2047 428,102 35,725,127
2046 427,911 35,107,179
2045 427,683 34,491,916
2044 427,236 33,862,279
2043 426,580 33,247,804
2042 425,915 32,636,511
2041 425,212 32,019,447
2040 424,385 31,402,305
2039 423,407 30,782,479
2038 422,302 30,166,708
2037 421,094 29,527,821
2036 419,738 28,896,515
2035 418,238 28,267,970
2034 416,721 27,643,367
2033 415,006 27,018,105
2032 413,150 26,404,071
2031 411,039 25,795,897
2030 408,677 25,181,820
2029 406,109 24,566,478
2028 403,085 23,968,071
2027 399,797 23,374,588
2026 396,141 22,791,601
2025 391,759 22,220,885
2024 386,506 21,655,286
2023 385,663 21,104,482
2022 382,003 20,568,728
2021 372,520 20,047,258
2020 366,463 19,533,888
2019 360,563 19,025,752
2018 352,721 18,528,081
2017 343,400 18,039,715
2016 335,439 17,557,739
2015 330,815 17,085,587
2014 327,386 16,621,538
2013 323,764 16,161,816
2012 320,716 15,709,577
2011 319,014 15,265,022
2010 318,041 14,826,463
2009 318,499 14,395,788
2008 317,414 13,976,417
2007 311,566 13,576,343
2006 303,782 13,198,701
2005 296,734 12,840,031
2004 292,074 12,500,737
2003 289,521 12,181,574
2002 287,523 11,880,440
2001 284,968 11,593,058
2000 281,205 11,315,942
1999 277,381 11,047,804
1998 274,047 10,792,876
1997 271,128 10,562,035
1996 268,916 10,352,228
1995 267,468 10,150,117
1994 266,021 10,164,894
1993 263,725 10,284,024
1992 261,057 10,135,079
1991 257,797 9,844,227
1990 254,826 9,545,852
1989 252,852 9,176,220
1988 249,740 8,753,262
1987 245,859 8,293,174
1986 243,180 7,906,480
1985 241,405 7,620,508
1984 239,511 7,332,810
1983 236,977 7,051,709
1982 233,860 6,778,879
1981 230,755 6,516,454
1980 228,138 6,265,529
1979 225,735 6,028,749
1978 223,537 5,810,132
1977 221,799 5,614,983
1976 220,154 5,443,384
1975 217,979 5,287,367
1974 215,209 5,141,337
1973 212,317 5,003,938
1972 209,137 4,874,475
1971 206,098 4,751,434
1970 204,438 4,633,944
1969 203,369 4,521,184
1968 201,488 4,411,054
1967 198,751 4,303,012
1966 195,570 4,197,926
1965 192,286 4,096,157
1964 188,983 3,997,305
1963 185,653 3,900,506
1962 182,378 3,806,307
1961 179,029 3,715,534
1960 175,574 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/iceland/malawi | CC BY

From 2006 to 2016, the population of Iceland increased by 31,657 people (a 10.4% growth), while Malawi gained 4,359,038 people (a 33% growth).

For the next 10 years, from 2016 to 2026, Iceland gained 61,690 people (a 18.4% growth), while Malawi's population increased by 5,391,555 people (a 30.7% growth).

Iceland was ranked 172nd most populous country in 2006 and is 173rd 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) Iceland's population will grow by 7.85% to 428,323 people and will still be ranked 173rd. The population of Malawi will increase by 63.6% to 37,545,865 people and rank change from 61st to 55th.

Iceland is projected to reach its peak in 2050 at 428K people compared to the peak of 59.8M people in 2100 for Malawi.

Population growth rate by year

Iceland
Factual

Projection
Malawi
Factual

Projection
1x
Year Growth rate
Iceland Malawi
2100 -0.49% 0.43%
2099 -0.5% 0.43%
2098 -0.5% 0.42%
2097 -0.52% 0.45%
2096 -0.51% 0.43%
2095 -0.51% 0.46%
2094 -0.53% 0.47%
2093 -0.56% 0.51%
2092 -0.55% 0.52%
2091 -0.53% 0.55%
2090 -0.53% 0.57%
2089 -0.57% 0.61%
2088 -0.56% 0.61%
2087 -0.54% 0.62%
2086 -0.54% 0.65%
2085 -0.52% 0.64%
2084 -0.52% 0.72%
2083 -0.49% 0.74%
2082 -0.51% 0.76%
2081 -0.51% 0.79%
2080 -0.49% 0.8%
2079 -0.46% 0.81%
2078 -0.48% 0.88%
2077 -0.42% 0.9%
2076 -0.39% 0.9%
2075 -0.36% 0.9%
2074 -0.34% 0.91%
2073 -0.36% 0.92%
2072 -0.32% 0.98%
2071 -0.31% 1%
2070 -0.28% 1.03%
2069 -0.26% 1.07%
2068 -0.27% 1.09%
2067 -0.24% 1.12%
2066 -0.24% 1.13%
2065 -0.21% 1.15%
2064 -0.21% 1.16%
2063 -0.22% 1.21%
2062 -0.17% 1.28%
2061 -0.18% 1.31%
2060 -0.15% 1.38%
2059 -0.13% 1.35%
2058 -0.13% 1.4%
2057 -0.11% 1.4%
2056 -0.09% 1.48%
2055 -0.05% 1.48%
2054 -0.05% 1.57%
2053 -0.04% 1.58%
2052 0.005% 1.61%
2051 -0.01% 1.62%
2050 0.008% 1.65%
2049 0.02% 1.64%
2048 0.03% 1.72%
2047 0.04% 1.76%
2046 0.05% 1.78%
2045 0.1% 1.86%
2044 0.15% 1.85%
2043 0.16% 1.87%
2042 0.17% 1.93%
2041 0.2% 1.97%
2040 0.23% 2.01%
2039 0.26% 2.04%
2038 0.29% 2.16%
2037 0.32% 2.18%
2036 0.36% 2.22%
2035 0.36% 2.26%
2034 0.41% 2.31%
2033 0.45% 2.33%
2032 0.51% 2.36%
2031 0.58% 2.44%
2030 0.63% 2.5%
2029 0.75% 2.5%
2028 0.82% 2.54%
2027 0.92% 2.56%
2026 1.12% 2.57%
2025 1.36% 2.61%
2024 0.22% 2.61%
2023 0.96% 2.6%
2022 2.55% 2.6%
2021 1.65% 2.63%
2020 1.64% 2.67%
2019 2.22% 2.69%
2018 2.71% 2.71%
2017 2.37% 2.75%
2016 1.4% 2.76%
2015 1.05% 2.79%
2014 1.12% 2.84%
2013 0.95% 2.88%
2012 0.53% 2.91%
2011 0.31% 2.96%
2010 -0.14% 2.99%
2009 0.34% 3%
2008 1.88% 2.95%
2007 2.56% 2.86%
2006 2.38% 2.79%
2005 1.6% 2.71%
2004 0.88% 2.62%
2003 0.69% 2.53%
2002 0.9% 2.48%
2001 1.34% 2.45%
2000 1.38% 2.43%
1999 1.22% 2.36%
1998 1.08% 2.19%
1997 0.82% 2.03%
1996 0.54% 1.99%
1995 0.54% -0.15%
1994 0.87% -1.16%
1993 1.02% 1.47%
1992 1.26% 2.95%
1991 1.17% 3.13%
1990 0.78% 4.03%
1989 1.25% 4.83%
1988 1.58% 5.55%
1987 1.1% 4.89%
1986 0.74% 3.75%
1985 0.79% 3.92%
1984 1.07% 3.99%
1983 1.33% 4.02%
1982 1.35% 4.03%
1981 1.15% 4%
1980 1.06% 3.93%
1979 0.98% 3.76%
1978 0.78% 3.48%
1977 0.75% 3.15%
1976 1% 2.95%
1975 1.29% 2.84%
1974 1.36% 2.75%
1973 1.52% 2.66%
1972 1.47% 2.59%
1971 0.81% 2.54%
1970 0.53% 2.49%
1969 0.93% 2.5%
1968 1.38% 2.51%
1967 1.63% 2.5%
1966 1.71% 2.48%
1965 1.75% 2.47%
1964 1.79% 2.48%
1963 1.8% 2.47%
1962 1.87% 2.44%
1961 1.97% 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/iceland/malawi | CC BY

In 2024, the population of Iceland grew by 0.22%, while Malawi's population grew by 2.61%.

Live population counters

Iceland Malawi
Current population
397129
22949294
Population rank 173/197 61/197
Percent of world population 0.005% 0.28%
One net population change
10.4 hours
57.3 seconds
One birth every
2.07 hours
47.6 seconds
One death every
3.44 hours
4.64 minutes
Daily growth/decline +2 +1,509
Annual growth/decline +843 +550,804
Annual growth/decline rate +0.22% +2.61%
Population growth rate rank 155/197 26/197
One migration net change every
3.24 hours
1.56 hours
Annual migration change +2,709 -5,628
Net migration rank 56/196 118/196
Foreign-born residents 98,818 186,719
Foreign-born residents rank 130/195 117/195
Foreign-born share of population 25.1% 0.9%
Foreign-born share rank 23/195 158/195

Natural population change vs migration

Iceland
Natural

Migration
Malawi
Natural

Migration
1x
Year Population change
Iceland Malawi
Natural Migration Natural Migration
2025 - 2,709 - -5,628
2024 - 3,543 - -1,507
2023 1,697 4,630 549,096 -5,811
2022 1,719 6,535 533,450 -5,231
2021 2,534 4,911 517,400 -2,666
2020 2,199 2,498 514,659 -2,655
2019 2,163 5,030 506,104 -1,837
2018 1,975 6,638 494,348 -3,267
2017 1,854 8,348 484,655 982
2016 1,711 4,128 474,779 3,505
2015 1,952 1,499 472,484 -6,471
2014 2,324 1,139 472,418 -10,317
2013 2,169 1,666 470,293 -12,934
2012 2,566 -277 460,684 -13,561
2011 2,521 -1,393 454,149 -12,170
2010 2,862 -2,055 444,468 -9,327
2009 3,026 -4,785 434,811 -8,590
2008 2,825 1,138 421,781 -9,264
2007 2,617 5,254 410,290 -22,680
2006 2,491 5,300 397,123 -29,450
2005 2,433 3,925 381,130 -31,462
2004 2,425 610 361,133 -32,221
2003 2,317 -204 341,133 -31,729
2002 2,243 -333 322,863 -30,013
2001 2,365 867 310,833 -28,933
2000 2,475 1,877 300,439 -28,098
1999 2,192 1,165 295,629 -31,686
1998 2,357 1,014 285,407 -39,491
1997 2,305 225 277,433 -61,646
1996 2,447 -511 270,048 -66,212
1995 2,354 -1,354 266,745 -66,366
1994 2,713 -804 275,439 -505,365
1993 2,875 -194 276,538 -284,867
1992 2,898 -225 269,066 37,142
1991 2,733 1,145 260,193 15,291
1990 3,058 -971 250,159 71,111
1989 2,832 -994 237,967 180,031
1988 2,847 1,572 226,911 201,011
1987 2,360 944 220,566 271,693
1986 2,384 -335 218,519 62,615
1985 2,221 -628 216,179 74,625
1984 2,539 -328 212,146 72,435
1983 2,702 170 209,422 68,197
1982 2,736 616 205,386 62,661
1981 2,677 157 199,436 57,376
1980 2,966 -629 192,746 52,294
1979 2,980 -572 182,123 46,388
1978 2,727 -781 172,503 36,225
1977 2,551 -1,079 161,930 19,638
1976 2,951 -1,181 153,422 8,206
1975 2,965 -388 145,254 5,162
1974 2,776 209 137,819 3,833
1973 3,121 -310 131,529 1,623
1972 3,241 362 125,728 48
1971 2,782 -231 121,015 -710
1970 2,576 -1,754 116,822 -2,147
1969 2,766 -1,414 113,120 -2,266
1968 2,841 -448 110,329 -924
1967 3,021 47 106,668 0
1966 3,305 39 103,512 0
1965 3,442 -194 100,040 0
1964 3,459 -67 97,658 0
1963 3,490 -113 95,933 0
1962 3,465 -228 92,463 0
1961 3,312 164 89,091 0
1960 3,758 -269 85,718 0

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

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

Over the last 10 years, 30.7% of the population change in Iceland is from natural causes (a gain of 20,128 people) and 69.3% is from migration (a gain of 45,356 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, 98,818 residents or 25.1% of the population were not native-born in Iceland, compared to 186,719 people or 0.9% in Malawi.

Biggest cities by population

Iceland
City Population
Reykjavik 139K
Kopavogur 40K
Hafnarfjorur 31.5K
Keflavik 23.3K
Akureyri 20K
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/iceland/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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