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

Updated on by Georank

The latest officially reported population of Japan was 123,366,734 in 2025 vs 22,216,120 people in Malawi in 2025. In 2026, based on the adjusted UN estimation, the current Japan's population is 122,704,252 people compared to 23,086,106 in Malawi.

Population statistics:

  • Japan's population is 5.32 times bigger than Malawi's.
  • Japan is ranked the 12th most populous country in the world, while Malawi is the 61st.
  • The countries together account for 1.75% of the world: 1.48% for Japan vs 0.28% for Malawi.
  • For the last 10 years, Japan has had an average growth rate of -0.28% per year vs +2.67% in Malawi.
  • Since 2006, the population of Japan has decreased from 128M people to 123M (4.03% decline), while Malawi has grown from 13.2M to 23.1M (74.9% growth).

Japan vs Malawi: population by year and forecast

Japan
Factual

Projection
Malawi
Factual

Projection
1x
Year Population
Japan Malawi
2100 76,995,942 59,773,923
2099 77,380,486 59,515,624
2098 77,759,557 59,263,165
2097 78,135,569 59,015,654
2096 78,515,892 58,749,288
2095 78,892,606 58,495,699
2094 79,267,768 58,227,933
2093 79,645,584 57,954,358
2092 80,025,578 57,660,371
2091 80,401,222 57,364,786
2090 80,778,500 57,048,240
2089 81,158,413 56,727,243
2088 81,539,639 56,385,237
2087 81,926,401 56,041,651
2086 82,322,612 55,694,983
2085 82,727,738 55,336,839
2084 83,141,354 54,985,304
2083 83,562,394 54,593,349
2082 83,998,809 54,194,853
2081 84,447,888 53,783,781
2080 84,918,455 53,361,334
2079 85,406,042 52,936,889
2078 85,916,840 52,510,645
2077 86,453,316 52,052,767
2076 87,012,155 51,589,339
2075 87,597,053 51,130,762
2074 88,209,803 50,673,499
2073 88,854,316 50,218,991
2072 89,519,055 49,759,232
2071 90,204,314 49,276,570
2070 90,919,143 48,787,471
2069 91,645,589 48,291,287
2068 92,388,299 47,782,059
2067 93,133,993 47,267,335
2066 93,889,902 46,741,998
2065 94,654,259 46,218,226
2064 95,412,429 45,692,044
2063 96,169,244 45,169,634
2062 96,924,236 44,629,192
2061 97,675,525 44,067,259
2060 98,422,553 43,499,372
2059 99,166,038 42,907,491
2058 99,890,950 42,335,782
2057 100,607,740 41,753,105
2056 101,318,164 41,175,330
2055 102,012,184 40,576,247
2054 102,706,063 39,986,120
2053 103,381,833 39,369,178
2052 104,059,800 38,758,577
2051 104,729,745 38,145,141
2050 105,400,477 37,537,814
2049 106,076,354 36,928,354
2048 106,754,699 36,332,040
2047 107,442,881 35,717,466
2046 108,139,155 35,099,651
2045 108,844,934 34,484,520
2044 109,553,441 33,855,018
2043 110,269,851 33,240,675
2042 110,992,599 32,629,513
2041 111,729,216 32,012,581
2040 112,463,507 31,395,572
2039 113,200,859 30,775,878
2038 113,940,856 30,160,239
2037 114,687,611 29,521,489
2036 115,436,359 28,890,318
2035 116,187,949 28,261,909
2034 116,936,734 27,637,439
2033 117,678,572 27,012,311
2032 118,419,247 26,398,409
2031 119,153,646 25,790,366
2030 119,882,512 25,176,420
2029 120,600,781 24,561,210
2028 121,314,239 23,962,931
2027 122,015,984 23,369,575
2026 122,704,252 22,786,713
2025 123,366,734 22,216,120
2024 123,975,371 21,655,286
2023 124,516,650 21,104,482
2022 125,124,989 20,568,728
2021 125,681,593 20,047,258
2020 126,261,000 19,533,888
2019 126,633,000 19,025,752
2018 126,811,000 18,528,081
2017 126,972,000 18,039,715
2016 127,076,000 17,557,739
2015 127,141,000 17,085,587
2014 127,276,000 16,621,538
2013 127,445,000 16,161,816
2012 127,629,000 15,709,577
2011 127,833,000 15,265,022
2010 128,070,000 14,826,463
2009 128,047,000 14,395,788
2008 128,063,000 13,976,417
2007 128,001,000 13,576,343
2006 127,854,000 13,198,701
2005 127,773,000 12,840,031
2004 127,761,000 12,500,737
2003 127,718,000 12,181,574
2002 127,445,000 11,880,440
2001 127,149,000 11,593,058
2000 126,843,000 11,315,942
1999 126,631,000 11,047,804
1998 126,400,000 10,792,876
1997 126,057,000 10,562,035
1996 125,757,000 10,352,228
1995 125,472,000 10,150,117
1994 125,178,000 10,164,894
1993 124,829,000 10,284,024
1992 124,425,000 10,135,079
1991 123,964,000 9,844,227
1990 123,478,000 9,545,852
1989 123,069,000 9,176,220
1988 122,578,000 8,753,262
1987 122,069,000 8,293,174
1986 121,482,000 7,906,480
1985 120,837,000 7,620,508
1984 120,083,000 7,332,810
1983 119,307,000 7,051,709
1982 118,480,000 6,778,879
1981 117,661,000 6,516,454
1980 116,807,000 6,265,529
1979 115,890,000 6,028,749
1978 114,913,000 5,810,132
1977 113,872,000 5,614,983
1976 112,775,000 5,443,384
1975 111,573,000 5,287,367
1974 110,162,000 5,141,337
1973 108,707,000 5,003,938
1972 107,188,000 4,874,475
1971 105,697,000 4,751,434
1970 103,403,000 4,633,944
1969 102,219,000 4,521,184
1968 101,011,000 4,411,054
1967 99,879,000 4,303,012
1966 98,851,000 4,197,926
1965 97,952,000 4,096,157
1964 96,903,000 3,997,305
1963 95,900,000 3,900,506
1962 94,933,000 3,806,307
1961 94,055,000 3,715,534
1960 93,216,000 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/japan/malawi | CC BY

From 2006 to 2016, the population of Japan decreased by 778,000 people (a 0.61% decline), while Malawi gained 4,359,038 people (a 33% growth).

For the next 10 years, from 2016 to 2026, Japan lost 4,371,748 people (a 3.44% decline), while Malawi's population increased by 5,528,367 people (a 31.5% growth).

Japan was ranked 10th most populous country in 2006 and is 12th 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) Japan's population will shrink by 14.1% to 105,400,477 people with a rank change from 12th to 17th. The population of Malawi will increase by 62.6% to 37,537,814 people and rank change from 61st to 55th.

Malawi is projected to reach its peak in 2100 at 59.8M people, while Japan's population already peaked in 2010 at 128M people and is projected to decrease to 77M people by 2100.

Population growth rate by year

Japan
Factual

Projection
Malawi
Factual

Projection
1x
Year Growth rate
Japan Malawi
2100 -0.5% 0.43%
2099 -0.49% 0.43%
2098 -0.48% 0.42%
2097 -0.48% 0.45%
2096 -0.48% 0.43%
2095 -0.47% 0.46%
2094 -0.47% 0.47%
2093 -0.47% 0.51%
2092 -0.47% 0.52%
2091 -0.47% 0.55%
2090 -0.47% 0.57%
2089 -0.47% 0.61%
2088 -0.47% 0.61%
2087 -0.48% 0.62%
2086 -0.49% 0.65%
2085 -0.5% 0.64%
2084 -0.5% 0.72%
2083 -0.52% 0.74%
2082 -0.53% 0.76%
2081 -0.55% 0.79%
2080 -0.57% 0.8%
2079 -0.59% 0.81%
2078 -0.62% 0.88%
2077 -0.64% 0.9%
2076 -0.67% 0.9%
2075 -0.69% 0.9%
2074 -0.73% 0.91%
2073 -0.74% 0.92%
2072 -0.76% 0.98%
2071 -0.79% 1%
2070 -0.79% 1.03%
2069 -0.8% 1.07%
2068 -0.8% 1.09%
2067 -0.81% 1.12%
2066 -0.81% 1.13%
2065 -0.79% 1.15%
2064 -0.79% 1.16%
2063 -0.78% 1.21%
2062 -0.77% 1.28%
2061 -0.76% 1.31%
2060 -0.75% 1.38%
2059 -0.73% 1.35%
2058 -0.71% 1.4%
2057 -0.7% 1.4%
2056 -0.68% 1.48%
2055 -0.68% 1.48%
2054 -0.65% 1.57%
2053 -0.65% 1.58%
2052 -0.64% 1.61%
2051 -0.64% 1.62%
2050 -0.64% 1.65%
2049 -0.64% 1.64%
2048 -0.64% 1.72%
2047 -0.64% 1.76%
2046 -0.65% 1.78%
2045 -0.65% 1.86%
2044 -0.65% 1.85%
2043 -0.65% 1.87%
2042 -0.66% 1.93%
2041 -0.65% 1.97%
2040 -0.65% 2.01%
2039 -0.65% 2.04%
2038 -0.65% 2.16%
2037 -0.65% 2.18%
2036 -0.65% 2.22%
2035 -0.64% 2.26%
2034 -0.63% 2.31%
2033 -0.63% 2.33%
2032 -0.62% 2.36%
2031 -0.61% 2.44%
2030 -0.6% 2.5%
2029 -0.59% 2.5%
2028 -0.58% 2.54%
2027 -0.56% 2.56%
2026 -0.54% 2.57%
2025 -0.49% 2.59%
2024 -0.43% 2.61%
2023 -0.49% 2.6%
2022 -0.44% 2.6%
2021 -0.46% 2.63%
2020 -0.29% 2.67%
2019 -0.14% 2.69%
2018 -0.13% 2.71%
2017 -0.08% 2.75%
2016 -0.05% 2.76%
2015 -0.11% 2.79%
2014 -0.13% 2.84%
2013 -0.14% 2.88%
2012 -0.16% 2.91%
2011 -0.19% 2.96%
2010 0.02% 2.99%
2009 -0.01% 3%
2008 0.05% 2.95%
2007 0.11% 2.86%
2006 0.06% 2.79%
2005 0.009% 2.71%
2004 0.03% 2.62%
2003 0.21% 2.53%
2002 0.23% 2.48%
2001 0.24% 2.45%
2000 0.17% 2.43%
1999 0.18% 2.36%
1998 0.27% 2.19%
1997 0.24% 2.03%
1996 0.23% 1.99%
1995 0.23% -0.15%
1994 0.28% -1.16%
1993 0.32% 1.47%
1992 0.37% 2.95%
1991 0.39% 3.13%
1990 0.33% 4.03%
1989 0.4% 4.83%
1988 0.42% 5.55%
1987 0.48% 4.89%
1986 0.53% 3.75%
1985 0.63% 3.92%
1984 0.65% 3.99%
1983 0.7% 4.02%
1982 0.7% 4.03%
1981 0.73% 4%
1980 0.79% 3.93%
1979 0.85% 3.76%
1978 0.91% 3.48%
1977 0.97% 3.15%
1976 1.08% 2.95%
1975 1.28% 2.84%
1974 1.34% 2.75%
1973 1.42% 2.66%
1972 1.41% 2.59%
1971 2.22% 2.54%
1970 1.16% 2.49%
1969 1.2% 2.5%
1968 1.13% 2.51%
1967 1.04% 2.5%
1966 0.92% 2.48%
1965 1.08% 2.47%
1964 1.05% 2.48%
1963 1.02% 2.47%
1962 0.93% 2.44%
1961 0.9% 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/japan/malawi | CC BY

In 2025, the population of Japan declined by 0.49%, while Malawi's population grew by 2.59%.

Live population counters

Japan Malawi
Current population
122704252
23086106
Population rank 12/197 61/197
Percent of world population 1.48% 0.28%
One net population change
52 seconds
56.4 seconds
One birth every
44.6 seconds
46.8 seconds
One death every
19.1 seconds
4.59 minutes
Daily growth/decline -1,667 +1,537
Annual growth/decline -608,637 +560,834
Annual growth/decline rate -0.49% +2.59%
Population growth rate rank 183/197 23/197
One migration net change every
3.75 minutes
1.56 hours
Annual migration change +140,579 -5,628
Net migration rank 10/196 118/196
Foreign-born residents 3,409,529 186,719
Foreign-born residents rank 19/195 117/195
Foreign-born share of population 2.8% 0.9%
Foreign-born share rank 120/195 158/195

Natural population change vs migration

Japan
Natural

Migration
Malawi
Natural

Migration
1x
Year Population change
Japan Malawi
Natural Migration Natural Migration
2025 - 140,579 - -5,628
2024 -942,213 153,357 559,811 -1,507
2023 -871,617 175,003 549,096 -5,811
2022 -825,825 175,003 533,450 -5,231
2021 -640,976 -34,996 517,400 -2,666
2020 -542,923 42,001 514,659 -2,655
2019 -531,858 318,190 506,104 -1,837
2018 -456,520 320,601 494,348 -3,267
2017 -406,310 322,564 484,655 982
2016 -343,106 314,732 474,779 3,505
2015 -292,424 168,896 472,484 -6,471
2014 -267,279 58,109 472,418 -10,317
2013 -242,146 66,449 470,293 -12,934
2012 -229,733 67,904 460,684 -13,561
2011 -204,533 97,720 454,149 -12,170
2010 -128,070 131,860 444,468 -9,327
2009 -76,828 125,450 434,811 -8,590
2008 -51,225 142,605 421,781 -9,264
2007 -25,600 138,024 410,290 -22,680
2006 12,785 130,065 397,123 -29,450
2005 -25,554 113,017 381,130 -31,462
2004 76,656 69,014 361,133 -32,221
2003 114,946 74,875 341,133 -31,729
2002 178,423 60,864 322,863 -30,013
2001 203,438 59,563 310,833 -28,933
2000 228,317 23,468 300,439 -28,098
1999 202,610 56,901 295,629 -31,686
1998 265,440 45,912 285,407 -39,491
1997 277,325 43,366 277,433 -61,646
1996 314,392 25,030 270,048 -66,212
1995 276,039 87,714 266,745 -66,366
1994 363,017 154,214 275,439 -505,365
1993 312,073 168,836 276,538 -284,867
1992 360,833 170,878 269,066 37,142
1991 396,685 161,331 260,193 15,291
1990 407,478 124,582 250,159 71,111
1989 467,662 31,202 237,967 180,031
1988 527,085 51,154 226,911 201,011
1987 598,138 28,001 220,566 271,693
1986 631,706 27,987 218,519 62,615
1985 676,687 -141,323 216,179 74,625
1984 756,523 -273,686 212,146 72,435
1983 775,495 -269,755 209,422 68,197
1982 805,664 -288,550 205,386 62,661
1981 811,861 -278,525 199,436 57,376
1980 864,372 -92,314 192,746 52,294
1979 950,298 -57,692 182,123 46,388
1978 1,011,234 -47,996 172,503 36,225
1977 1,070,397 -49,082 161,930 19,638
1976 1,127,750 -34,976 153,422 8,206
1975 1,204,989 107 145,254 5,162
1974 1,332,960 -10,145 137,819 3,833
1973 1,391,449 -34,674 131,529 1,623
1972 1,372,006 -73,980 125,728 48
1971 1,331,782 -107,778 121,015 -710
1970 1,230,496 33,731 116,822 -2,147
1969 1,195,962 49,447 113,120 -2,266
1968 1,191,930 43,593 110,329 -924
1967 1,258,475 29,632 106,668 0
1966 682,072 68,934 103,512 0
1965 1,126,448 -50,667 100,040 0
1964 1,046,553 -100,696 97,658 0
1963 987,770 -100,742 95,933 0
1962 901,864 -57,075 92,463 0
1961 893,522 -58,882 89,091 0
1960 894,874 -150,371 85,718 0

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

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

Over the last 10 years, 75% of the population change in Japan is from natural causes (a loss of 5,853,772 people) and 25% is from migration (a gain of 1,955,351 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, 3,409,529 residents or 2.8% of the population were not native-born in Japan, compared to 186,719 people or 0.9% in Malawi.

Biggest cities by population

Japan
City Population
Tokyo 14.3M
Yokohama 3.76M
Osaka 2.75M
Nagoya 2.33M
Sapporo 1.96M
Fukuoka 1.6M
Kawasaki 1.54M
Kobe 1.52M
Kyoto 1.46M
Saitama 1.33M
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/japan/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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