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

Updated on by Georank team

The latest officially reported population of Ireland was 5,395,790 in 2024 vs 21,655,286 people in Malawi in 2024. In 2026, based on the adjusted UN estimation, the current Ireland's population is 5,518,360 people compared to 22,949,294 in Malawi.

Population statistics:

  • Malawi's population is 4.16 times bigger than Ireland's.
  • Ireland is ranked the 121st most populous country in the world, while Malawi is the 61st.
  • The countries together account for 0.34% of the world: 0.07% for Ireland vs 0.28% for Malawi.
  • For the last 10 years, Ireland has had an average growth rate of +1.41% per year vs +2.7% in Malawi.
  • Since 2006, the population of Ireland has increased from 4.27M people to 5.52M (29.1% growth), while Malawi has grown from 13.2M to 22.9M (73.9% growth).

Ireland vs Malawi: population by year and forecast

Ireland
Factual

Projection
Malawi
Factual

Projection
1x
Year Population
Ireland Malawi
2100 5,468,791 59,786,744
2099 5,493,162 59,528,389
2098 5,516,999 59,275,876
2097 5,540,157 59,028,312
2096 5,562,811 58,761,888
2095 5,583,505 58,508,246
2094 5,603,538 58,240,422
2093 5,623,266 57,966,788
2092 5,642,437 57,672,738
2091 5,661,268 57,377,090
2090 5,680,076 57,060,476
2089 5,697,512 56,739,410
2088 5,714,108 56,397,330
2087 5,729,431 56,053,671
2086 5,743,405 55,706,928
2085 5,757,666 55,348,708
2084 5,771,610 54,997,097
2083 5,785,324 54,605,058
2082 5,798,037 54,206,477
2081 5,809,262 53,795,317
2080 5,821,598 53,372,779
2079 5,836,731 52,948,243
2078 5,851,937 52,521,908
2077 5,867,627 52,063,931
2076 5,883,876 51,600,404
2075 5,900,200 51,141,728
2074 5,917,659 50,684,368
2073 5,934,975 50,229,762
2072 5,952,211 49,769,904
2071 5,969,279 49,287,139
2070 5,986,770 48,797,935
2069 6,003,570 48,301,644
2068 6,019,937 47,792,308
2067 6,035,810 47,277,473
2066 6,051,604 46,752,024
2065 6,066,791 46,228,139
2064 6,081,606 45,701,844
2063 6,094,455 45,179,322
2062 6,106,325 44,638,764
2061 6,118,587 44,076,711
2060 6,131,482 43,508,702
2059 6,143,979 42,916,694
2058 6,153,447 42,344,863
2057 6,161,059 41,762,060
2056 6,164,047 41,184,161
2055 6,168,611 40,584,950
2054 6,169,455 39,994,696
2053 6,169,673 39,377,622
2052 6,167,591 38,766,890
2051 6,164,894 38,153,322
2050 6,159,756 37,545,865
2049 6,151,623 36,936,275
2048 6,140,272 36,339,833
2047 6,128,245 35,725,127
2046 6,115,454 35,107,179
2045 6,099,562 34,491,916
2044 6,081,384 33,862,279
2043 6,062,477 33,247,804
2042 6,041,683 32,636,511
2041 6,017,573 32,019,447
2040 5,992,311 31,402,305
2039 5,967,604 30,782,479
2038 5,940,474 30,166,708
2037 5,912,327 29,527,821
2036 5,884,159 28,896,515
2035 5,855,902 28,267,970
2034 5,825,178 27,643,367
2033 5,792,751 27,018,105
2032 5,757,842 26,404,071
2031 5,721,671 25,795,897
2030 5,684,420 25,181,820
2029 5,644,008 24,566,478
2028 5,600,083 23,968,071
2027 5,553,725 23,374,588
2026 5,505,248 22,791,601
2025 5,452,752 22,220,885
2024 5,395,790 21,655,286
2023 5,311,538 21,104,482
2022 5,212,836 20,568,728
2021 5,110,585 20,047,258
2020 5,039,747 19,533,888
2019 4,976,456 19,025,752
2018 4,898,022 18,528,081
2017 4,827,445 18,039,715
2016 4,762,722 17,557,739
2015 4,701,957 17,085,587
2014 4,657,740 16,621,538
2013 4,623,816 16,161,816
2012 4,599,533 15,709,577
2011 4,580,084 15,265,022
2010 4,560,155 14,826,463
2009 4,535,375 14,395,788
2008 4,489,544 13,976,417
2007 4,398,942 13,576,343
2006 4,273,591 13,198,701
2005 4,159,914 12,840,031
2004 4,070,262 12,500,737
2003 3,996,521 12,181,574
2002 3,931,947 11,880,440
2001 3,866,243 11,593,058
2000 3,805,174 11,315,942
1999 3,754,786 11,047,804
1998 3,712,696 10,792,876
1997 3,674,171 10,562,035
1996 3,637,510 10,352,228
1995 3,608,841 10,150,117
1994 3,590,386 10,164,894
1993 3,576,261 10,284,024
1992 3,558,430 10,135,079
1991 3,534,235 9,844,227
1990 3,513,974 9,545,852
1989 3,511,009 9,176,220
1988 3,524,949 8,753,262
1987 3,540,057 8,293,174
1986 3,539,690 7,906,480
1985 3,538,082 7,620,508
1984 3,532,423 7,332,810
1983 3,510,600 7,051,709
1982 3,485,800 6,778,879
1981 3,453,000 6,516,454
1980 3,412,800 6,265,529
1979 3,373,750 6,028,749
1978 3,329,100 5,810,132
1977 3,282,200 5,614,983
1976 3,238,050 5,443,384
1975 3,189,550 5,287,367
1974 3,137,500 5,141,337
1973 3,085,950 5,003,938
1972 3,036,850 4,874,475
1971 2,992,050 4,751,434
1970 2,957,250 4,633,944
1969 2,932,650 4,521,184
1968 2,915,550 4,411,054
1967 2,902,450 4,303,012
1966 2,888,800 4,197,926
1965 2,877,300 4,096,157
1964 2,866,550 3,997,305
1963 2,852,650 3,900,506
1962 2,836,050 3,806,307
1961 2,824,400 3,715,534
1960 2,828,600 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/ireland/malawi | CC BY

From 2006 to 2016, the population of Ireland increased by 489,131 people (a 11.4% growth), while Malawi gained 4,359,038 people (a 33% growth).

For the next 10 years, from 2016 to 2026, Ireland gained 755,638 people (a 15.9% growth), while Malawi's population increased by 5,391,555 people (a 30.7% growth).

Ireland was ranked 121st most populous country in 2006 and is still 121st 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) Ireland's population will grow by 11.6% to 6,159,756 people with a rank change from 121st to 119th. The population of Malawi will increase by 63.6% to 37,545,865 people and rank change from 61st to 55th.

Ireland is projected to reach its peak in 2053 at 6.17M people compared to the peak of 59.8M people in 2100 for Malawi.

Population growth rate by year

Ireland
Factual

Projection
Malawi
Factual

Projection
1x
Year Growth rate
Ireland Malawi
2100 -0.44% 0.43%
2099 -0.43% 0.43%
2098 -0.42% 0.42%
2097 -0.41% 0.45%
2096 -0.37% 0.43%
2095 -0.36% 0.46%
2094 -0.35% 0.47%
2093 -0.34% 0.51%
2092 -0.33% 0.52%
2091 -0.33% 0.55%
2090 -0.31% 0.57%
2089 -0.29% 0.61%
2088 -0.27% 0.61%
2087 -0.24% 0.62%
2086 -0.25% 0.65%
2085 -0.24% 0.64%
2084 -0.24% 0.72%
2083 -0.22% 0.74%
2082 -0.19% 0.76%
2081 -0.21% 0.79%
2080 -0.26% 0.8%
2079 -0.26% 0.81%
2078 -0.27% 0.88%
2077 -0.28% 0.9%
2076 -0.28% 0.9%
2075 -0.3% 0.9%
2074 -0.29% 0.91%
2073 -0.29% 0.92%
2072 -0.29% 0.98%
2071 -0.29% 1%
2070 -0.28% 1.03%
2069 -0.27% 1.07%
2068 -0.26% 1.09%
2067 -0.26% 1.12%
2066 -0.25% 1.13%
2065 -0.24% 1.15%
2064 -0.21% 1.16%
2063 -0.19% 1.21%
2062 -0.2% 1.28%
2061 -0.21% 1.31%
2060 -0.2% 1.38%
2059 -0.15% 1.35%
2058 -0.12% 1.4%
2057 -0.05% 1.4%
2056 -0.07% 1.48%
2055 -0.01% 1.48%
2054 -0.004% 1.57%
2053 0.03% 1.58%
2052 0.04% 1.61%
2051 0.08% 1.62%
2050 0.13% 1.65%
2049 0.18% 1.64%
2048 0.2% 1.72%
2047 0.21% 1.76%
2046 0.26% 1.78%
2045 0.3% 1.86%
2044 0.31% 1.85%
2043 0.34% 1.87%
2042 0.4% 1.93%
2041 0.42% 1.97%
2040 0.41% 2.01%
2039 0.46% 2.04%
2038 0.48% 2.16%
2037 0.48% 2.18%
2036 0.48% 2.22%
2035 0.53% 2.26%
2034 0.56% 2.31%
2033 0.61% 2.33%
2032 0.63% 2.36%
2031 0.66% 2.44%
2030 0.72% 2.5%
2029 0.78% 2.5%
2028 0.83% 2.54%
2027 0.88% 2.56%
2026 0.96% 2.57%
2025 1.06% 2.61%
2024 1.59% 2.61%
2023 1.89% 2.6%
2022 2% 2.6%
2021 1.41% 2.63%
2020 1.27% 2.67%
2019 1.6% 2.69%
2018 1.46% 2.71%
2017 1.36% 2.75%
2016 1.29% 2.76%
2015 0.95% 2.79%
2014 0.73% 2.84%
2013 0.53% 2.88%
2012 0.42% 2.91%
2011 0.44% 2.96%
2010 0.55% 2.99%
2009 1.02% 3%
2008 2.06% 2.95%
2007 2.93% 2.86%
2006 2.73% 2.79%
2005 2.2% 2.71%
2004 1.85% 2.62%
2003 1.64% 2.53%
2002 1.7% 2.48%
2001 1.6% 2.45%
2000 1.34% 2.43%
1999 1.13% 2.36%
1998 1.05% 2.19%
1997 1.01% 2.03%
1996 0.79% 1.99%
1995 0.51% -0.15%
1994 0.39% -1.16%
1993 0.5% 1.47%
1992 0.68% 2.95%
1991 0.58% 3.13%
1990 0.08% 4.03%
1989 -0.4% 4.83%
1988 -0.43% 5.55%
1987 0.01% 4.89%
1986 0.05% 3.75%
1985 0.16% 3.92%
1984 0.62% 3.99%
1983 0.71% 4.02%
1982 0.95% 4.03%
1981 1.18% 4%
1980 1.16% 3.93%
1979 1.34% 3.76%
1978 1.43% 3.48%
1977 1.36% 3.15%
1976 1.52% 2.95%
1975 1.66% 2.84%
1974 1.67% 2.75%
1973 1.62% 2.66%
1972 1.5% 2.59%
1971 1.18% 2.54%
1970 0.84% 2.49%
1969 0.59% 2.5%
1968 0.45% 2.51%
1967 0.47% 2.5%
1966 0.4% 2.48%
1965 0.38% 2.47%
1964 0.49% 2.48%
1963 0.59% 2.47%
1962 0.41% 2.44%
1961 -0.15% 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/ireland/malawi | CC BY

In 2024, the population of Ireland grew by 1.59%, while Malawi's population grew by 2.61%.

Live population counters

Ireland Malawi
Current population
5518360
22949294
Population rank 121/197 61/197
Percent of world population 0.07% 0.28%
One net population change
6.24 minutes
57.3 seconds
One birth every
9.61 minutes
47.6 seconds
One death every
15 minutes
4.64 minutes
Daily growth/decline +231 +1,509
Annual growth/decline +84,252 +550,804
Annual growth/decline rate +1.59% +2.61%
Population growth rate rank 68/197 26/197
One migration net change every
14.9 minutes
1.56 hours
Annual migration change +35,417 -5,628
Net migration rank 27/196 118/196
Foreign-born residents 1,216,237 186,719
Foreign-born residents rank 52/195 117/195
Foreign-born share of population 23.1% 0.9%
Foreign-born share rank 25/195 158/195

Natural population change vs migration

Ireland
Natural

Migration
Malawi
Natural

Migration
1x
Year Population change
Ireland Malawi
Natural Migration Natural Migration
2025 - 35,417 - -5,628
2024 - 39,059 - -1,507
2023 19,652 43,873 549,096 -5,811
2022 19,287 93,535 533,450 -5,231
2021 26,064 27,419 517,400 -2,666
2020 23,687 15,746 514,659 -2,655
2019 28,365 29,663 506,104 -1,837
2018 29,878 33,387 494,348 -3,267
2017 31,379 28,883 484,655 982
2016 33,339 18,967 474,779 3,505
2015 35,265 13,376 472,484 -6,471
2014 37,728 448 472,418 -10,317
2013 39,302 -12,309 470,293 -12,934
2012 42,775 -22,411 460,684 -13,561
2011 45,801 -26,529 454,149 -12,170
2010 47,426 -26,974 444,468 -9,327
2009 47,168 -18,524 434,811 -8,590
2008 46,691 18,979 421,781 -9,264
2007 43,109 76,465 410,290 -22,680
2006 36,752 94,513 397,123 -29,450
2005 33,279 63,983 381,130 -31,462
2004 33,376 49,102 361,133 -32,221
2003 32,372 32,220 341,133 -31,729
2002 31,062 34,286 322,863 -30,013
2001 27,837 39,220 310,833 -28,933
2000 23,592 31,298 300,439 -28,098
1999 21,402 23,592 295,629 -31,686
1998 22,277 16,615 285,407 -39,491
1997 21,311 17,425 277,433 -61,646
1996 18,915 9,959 270,048 -66,212
1995 16,601 10,019 266,745 -66,366
1994 17,234 -3,118 275,439 -505,365
1993 17,166 -3,762 276,538 -284,867
1992 20,283 1,335 269,066 37,142
1991 21,206 4,944 260,193 15,291
1990 21,787 -8,203 250,159 71,111
1989 20,012 -28,752 237,967 180,031
1988 22,912 -44,020 226,911 201,011
1987 26,904 -38,426 220,566 271,693
1986 27,963 -21,139 218,519 62,615
1985 29,013 -16,178 216,179 74,625
1984 31,791 -15,549 212,146 72,435
1983 34,053 -15,043 209,422 68,197
1982 38,344 -14,464 205,386 62,661
1981 39,364 -10,834 199,436 57,376
1980 40,612 -2,876 192,746 52,294
1979 38,798 1,486 182,123 46,388
1978 36,288 15,543 172,503 36,225
1977 35,448 14,505 161,930 19,638
1976 33,676 14,200 153,422 8,206
1975 34,128 13,828 145,254 5,162
1974 34,199 13,482 137,819 3,833
1973 34,562 13,164 131,529 1,623
1972 34,316 12,858 125,728 48
1971 35,606 5,851 121,015 -710
1970 30,756 -8,892 116,822 -2,147
1969 29,326 -10,250 113,120 -2,266
1968 27,697 -11,132 110,329 -924
1967 29,895 -11,708 106,668 0
1966 26,866 -11,858 103,512 0
1965 30,500 -14,016 100,040 0
1964 31,532 -15,640 97,658 0
1963 29,667 -16,615 95,933 0
1962 28,077 -17,438 92,463 0
1961 25,137 -22,237 89,091 0
1960 28,286 -38,492 85,718 0

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

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

Over the last 10 years, 48.2% of the population change in Ireland is from natural causes (a gain of 284,644 people) and 51.8% is from migration (a gain of 305,297 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, 1,216,237 residents or 23.1% of the population were not native-born in Ireland, compared to 186,719 people or 0.9% in Malawi.

Biggest cities by population

Ireland
City Population
Dublin 593K
Cork 222K
Galway 83.5K
Limerick 62.7K
Waterford 48.4K
Drogheda 41K
Swords 40.8K
Dundalk 39K
Tralee 26.1K
Kilkenny 22.2K
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/ireland/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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