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

Updated on by Georank

The latest officially reported population of Ireland was 5,484,367 in 2025 vs 22,216,120 people in Malawi in 2025. In 2026, based on the adjusted UN estimation, the current Ireland's population is 5,562,212 people compared to 23,086,106 in Malawi.

Population statistics:

  • Malawi's population is 4.15 times bigger than Ireland's.
  • Ireland is ranked the 122nd 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 +1.5% per year vs +2.67% in Malawi.
  • Since 2006, the population of Ireland has increased from 4.27M people to 5.56M (30.2% growth), while Malawi has grown from 13.2M to 23.1M (74.9% growth).

Ireland vs Malawi: population by year and forecast

Ireland
Factual

Projection
Malawi
Factual

Projection
1x
Year Population
Ireland Malawi
2100 5,500,499 59,773,923
2099 5,525,011 59,515,624
2098 5,548,986 59,263,165
2097 5,572,279 59,015,654
2096 5,595,064 58,749,288
2095 5,615,877 58,495,699
2094 5,636,027 58,227,933
2093 5,655,870 57,954,358
2092 5,675,151 57,660,371
2091 5,694,092 57,364,786
2090 5,713,009 57,048,240
2089 5,730,546 56,727,243
2088 5,747,238 56,385,237
2087 5,762,650 56,041,651
2086 5,776,705 55,694,983
2085 5,791,049 55,336,839
2084 5,805,074 54,985,304
2083 5,818,867 54,593,349
2082 5,831,653 54,194,853
2081 5,842,944 53,783,781
2080 5,855,351 53,361,334
2079 5,870,572 52,936,889
2078 5,885,866 52,510,645
2077 5,901,647 52,052,767
2076 5,917,991 51,589,339
2075 5,934,408 51,130,762
2074 5,951,970 50,673,499
2073 5,969,385 50,218,991
2072 5,986,721 49,759,232
2071 6,003,888 49,276,570
2070 6,021,481 48,787,471
2069 6,038,378 48,291,287
2068 6,054,840 47,782,059
2067 6,070,805 47,267,335
2066 6,086,691 46,741,998
2065 6,101,966 46,218,226
2064 6,116,867 45,692,044
2063 6,129,790 45,169,634
2062 6,141,729 44,629,192
2061 6,154,062 44,067,259
2060 6,167,032 43,499,372
2059 6,179,602 42,907,491
2058 6,189,124 42,335,782
2057 6,196,781 41,753,105
2056 6,199,786 41,175,330
2055 6,204,376 40,576,247
2054 6,205,225 39,986,120
2053 6,205,444 39,369,178
2052 6,203,350 38,758,577
2051 6,200,637 38,145,141
2050 6,195,469 37,537,814
2049 6,187,289 36,928,354
2048 6,175,872 36,332,040
2047 6,163,776 35,717,466
2046 6,150,911 35,099,651
2045 6,134,927 34,484,520
2044 6,116,643 33,855,018
2043 6,097,627 33,240,675
2042 6,076,713 32,629,513
2041 6,052,462 32,012,581
2040 6,027,054 31,395,572
2039 6,002,204 30,775,878
2038 5,974,917 30,160,239
2037 5,946,606 29,521,489
2036 5,918,275 28,890,318
2035 5,889,854 28,261,909
2034 5,858,952 27,637,439
2033 5,826,337 27,012,311
2032 5,791,225 26,398,409
2031 5,754,845 25,790,366
2030 5,717,377 25,176,420
2029 5,676,731 24,561,210
2028 5,632,552 23,962,931
2027 5,585,925 23,369,575
2026 5,537,167 22,786,713
2025 5,484,367 22,216,120
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 (2026–2100, retrieved 2026-07-08); World Bank | Health (1960–2025, retrieved 2026-07-08).

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 799,490 people (a 16.8% growth), while Malawi's population increased by 5,528,367 people (a 31.5% growth).

Ireland was ranked 121st most populous country in 2006 and is 122nd 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 11.4% to 6,195,469 people with a rank change from 122nd to 118th. The population of Malawi will increase by 62.6% to 37,537,814 people and rank change from 61st to 55th.

Ireland is projected to reach its peak in 2053 at 6.21M 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 1.64% 2.59%
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 (2026–2100, retrieved 2026-07-08); World Bank | Health (1961–2025, retrieved 2026-07-08).

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

In 2025, the population of Ireland grew by 1.64%, while Malawi's population grew by 2.59%.

Live population counters

Ireland Malawi
Current population
5562212
23086106
Population rank 122/197 61/197
Percent of world population 0.07% 0.28%
One net population change
5.95 minutes
56.4 seconds
One birth every
9.74 minutes
46.8 seconds
One death every
15 minutes
4.59 minutes
Daily growth/decline +243 +1,537
Annual growth/decline +88,577 +560,834
Annual growth/decline rate +1.64% +2.59%
Population growth rate rank 64/197 23/197
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 18,885 39,059 559,811 -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 2026-07-08).

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

Over the last 10 years, 43.6% of the population change in Ireland is from natural causes (a gain of 265,801 people) and 56.4% is from migration (a gain of 343,908 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, 1,216,237 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
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/ireland/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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