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

Updated on by Georank team

The latest officially reported population of Kenya was 56,432,944 in 2024 vs 21,655,286 people in Malawi in 2024. In 2026, based on the adjusted UN estimation, the current Kenya's population is 58,955,623 people compared to 22,949,294 in Malawi.

Population statistics:

  • Kenya's population is 2.57 times bigger than Malawi's.
  • Kenya is ranked the 25th most populous country in the world, while Malawi is the 61st.
  • The countries together account for 0.99% of the world: 0.71% for Kenya vs 0.28% for Malawi.
  • For the last 10 years, Kenya has had an average growth rate of +2.08% per year vs +2.7% in Malawi.
  • Since 2006, the population of Kenya has increased from 36.9M people to 59M (59.8% growth), while Malawi has grown from 13.2M to 22.9M (73.9% growth).

Kenya vs Malawi: population by year and forecast

Kenya
Factual

Projection
Malawi
Factual

Projection
1x
Year Population
Kenya Malawi
2100 105,238,162 59,786,744
2099 105,257,438 59,528,389
2098 105,257,489 59,275,876
2097 105,250,948 59,028,312
2096 105,220,085 58,761,888
2095 105,175,623 58,508,246
2094 105,118,372 58,240,422
2093 105,046,907 57,966,788
2092 104,955,024 57,672,738
2091 104,846,805 57,377,090
2090 104,718,130 57,060,476
2089 104,573,271 56,739,410
2088 104,414,197 56,397,330
2087 104,243,505 56,053,671
2086 104,056,143 55,706,928
2085 103,854,891 55,348,708
2084 103,640,244 54,997,097
2083 103,407,124 54,605,058
2082 103,158,580 54,206,477
2081 102,889,291 53,795,317
2080 102,594,978 53,372,779
2079 102,286,967 52,948,243
2078 101,961,280 52,521,908
2077 101,613,181 52,063,931
2076 101,239,843 51,600,404
2075 100,849,423 51,141,728
2074 100,436,632 50,684,368
2073 100,001,277 50,229,762
2072 99,533,234 49,769,904
2071 99,042,264 49,287,139
2070 98,529,166 48,797,935
2069 97,992,232 48,301,644
2068 97,428,138 47,792,308
2067 96,842,744 47,277,473
2066 96,230,345 46,752,024
2065 95,598,937 46,228,139
2064 94,942,874 45,701,844
2063 94,266,124 45,179,322
2062 93,561,519 44,638,764
2061 92,837,768 44,076,711
2060 92,098,717 43,508,702
2059 91,343,602 42,916,694
2058 90,569,828 42,344,863
2057 89,783,087 41,762,060
2056 88,994,126 41,184,161
2055 88,192,182 40,584,950
2054 87,379,992 39,994,696
2053 86,552,281 39,377,622
2052 85,710,403 38,766,890
2051 84,850,558 38,153,322
2050 83,976,685 37,545,865
2049 83,090,517 36,936,275
2048 82,191,119 36,339,833
2047 81,274,836 35,725,127
2046 80,340,592 35,107,179
2045 79,389,433 34,491,916
2044 78,414,158 33,862,279
2043 77,418,567 33,247,804
2042 76,399,781 32,636,511
2041 75,363,853 32,019,447
2040 74,308,480 31,402,305
2039 73,241,028 30,782,479
2038 72,153,876 30,166,708
2037 71,058,753 29,527,821
2036 69,949,421 28,896,515
2035 68,831,151 28,267,970
2034 67,705,051 27,643,367
2033 66,569,532 27,018,105
2032 65,431,402 26,404,071
2031 64,289,540 25,795,897
2030 63,153,520 25,181,820
2029 62,021,378 24,566,478
2028 60,894,078 23,968,071
2027 59,770,115 23,374,588
2026 58,653,621 22,791,601
2025 57,540,609 22,220,885
2024 56,432,944 21,655,286
2023 55,339,003 21,104,482
2022 54,252,461 20,568,728
2021 53,219,166 20,047,258
2020 52,217,334 19,533,888
2019 51,202,827 19,025,752
2018 50,207,107 18,528,081
2017 49,197,766 18,039,715
2016 48,139,687 17,557,739
2015 47,088,526 17,085,587
2014 46,051,440 16,621,538
2013 44,986,791 16,161,816
2012 43,888,303 15,709,577
2011 42,758,461 15,265,022
2010 41,598,567 14,826,463
2009 40,408,891 14,395,788
2008 39,206,351 13,976,417
2007 38,036,349 13,576,343
2006 36,904,008 13,198,701
2005 35,796,484 12,840,031
2004 34,713,455 12,500,737
2003 33,652,223 12,181,574
2002 32,629,808 11,880,440
2001 31,619,170 11,593,058
2000 30,642,890 11,315,942
1999 29,733,408 11,047,804
1998 28,888,057 10,792,876
1997 28,101,768 10,562,035
1996 27,344,211 10,352,228
1995 26,601,751 10,150,117
1994 25,857,130 10,164,894
1993 25,117,188 10,284,024
1992 24,382,460 10,135,079
1991 23,646,514 9,844,227
1990 22,892,651 9,545,852
1989 22,118,434 9,176,220
1988 21,356,219 8,753,262
1987 20,616,096 8,293,174
1986 19,901,646 7,906,480
1985 19,201,768 7,620,508
1984 18,514,906 7,332,810
1983 17,846,374 7,051,709
1982 17,206,175 6,778,879
1981 16,601,507 6,516,454
1980 16,018,459 6,265,529
1979 15,460,666 6,028,749
1978 14,934,126 5,810,132
1977 14,428,819 5,614,983
1976 13,957,623 5,443,384
1975 13,511,671 5,287,367
1974 13,070,078 5,141,337
1973 12,634,835 5,003,938
1972 12,206,060 4,874,475
1971 11,788,904 4,751,434
1970 11,368,791 4,633,944
1969 10,939,695 4,521,184
1968 10,518,823 4,411,054
1967 10,111,057 4,303,012
1966 9,717,816 4,197,926
1965 9,338,078 4,096,157
1964 8,973,535 3,997,305
1963 8,627,971 3,900,506
1962 8,299,308 3,806,307
1961 7,987,770 3,715,534
1960 7,695,307 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/kenya/malawi | CC BY

From 2006 to 2016, the population of Kenya increased by 11,235,679 people (a 30.4% growth), while Malawi gained 4,359,038 people (a 33% growth).

For the next 10 years, from 2016 to 2026, Kenya gained 10,815,936 people (a 22.5% growth), while Malawi's population increased by 5,391,555 people (a 30.7% growth).

Kenya was ranked 33rd most populous country in 2006 and is 25th 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) Kenya's population will grow by 42.4% to 83,976,685 people with a rank change from 25th to 22nd. The population of Malawi will increase by 63.6% to 37,545,865 people and rank change from 61st to 55th.

Kenya is projected to reach its peak in 2098 at 105M people compared to the peak of 59.8M people in 2100 for Malawi.

Population growth rate by year

Kenya
Factual

Projection
Malawi
Factual

Projection
1x
Year Growth rate
Kenya Malawi
2100 -0.02% 0.43%
2099 -0% 0.43%
2098 0.006% 0.42%
2097 0.03% 0.45%
2096 0.04% 0.43%
2095 0.05% 0.46%
2094 0.07% 0.47%
2093 0.09% 0.51%
2092 0.1% 0.52%
2091 0.12% 0.55%
2090 0.14% 0.57%
2089 0.15% 0.61%
2088 0.16% 0.61%
2087 0.18% 0.62%
2086 0.19% 0.65%
2085 0.21% 0.64%
2084 0.23% 0.72%
2083 0.24% 0.74%
2082 0.26% 0.76%
2081 0.29% 0.79%
2080 0.3% 0.8%
2079 0.32% 0.81%
2078 0.34% 0.88%
2077 0.37% 0.9%
2076 0.39% 0.9%
2075 0.41% 0.9%
2074 0.44% 0.91%
2073 0.47% 0.92%
2072 0.5% 0.98%
2071 0.52% 1%
2070 0.55% 1.03%
2069 0.58% 1.07%
2068 0.6% 1.09%
2067 0.64% 1.12%
2066 0.66% 1.13%
2065 0.69% 1.15%
2064 0.72% 1.16%
2063 0.75% 1.21%
2062 0.78% 1.28%
2061 0.8% 1.31%
2060 0.83% 1.38%
2059 0.85% 1.35%
2058 0.88% 1.4%
2057 0.89% 1.4%
2056 0.91% 1.48%
2055 0.93% 1.48%
2054 0.96% 1.57%
2053 0.98% 1.58%
2052 1.01% 1.61%
2051 1.04% 1.62%
2050 1.07% 1.65%
2049 1.09% 1.64%
2048 1.13% 1.72%
2047 1.16% 1.76%
2046 1.2% 1.78%
2045 1.24% 1.86%
2044 1.29% 1.85%
2043 1.33% 1.87%
2042 1.37% 1.93%
2041 1.42% 1.97%
2040 1.46% 2.01%
2039 1.51% 2.04%
2038 1.54% 2.16%
2037 1.59% 2.18%
2036 1.62% 2.22%
2035 1.66% 2.26%
2034 1.71% 2.31%
2033 1.74% 2.33%
2032 1.78% 2.36%
2031 1.8% 2.44%
2030 1.83% 2.5%
2029 1.85% 2.5%
2028 1.88% 2.54%
2027 1.9% 2.56%
2026 1.93% 2.57%
2025 1.96% 2.61%
2024 1.98% 2.61%
2023 2% 2.6%
2022 1.94% 2.6%
2021 1.92% 2.63%
2020 1.98% 2.67%
2019 1.98% 2.69%
2018 2.05% 2.71%
2017 2.2% 2.75%
2016 2.23% 2.76%
2015 2.25% 2.79%
2014 2.37% 2.84%
2013 2.5% 2.88%
2012 2.64% 2.91%
2011 2.79% 2.96%
2010 2.94% 2.99%
2009 3.07% 3%
2008 3.08% 2.95%
2007 3.07% 2.86%
2006 3.09% 2.79%
2005 3.12% 2.71%
2004 3.15% 2.62%
2003 3.13% 2.53%
2002 3.2% 2.48%
2001 3.19% 2.45%
2000 3.06% 2.43%
1999 2.93% 2.36%
1998 2.8% 2.19%
1997 2.77% 2.03%
1996 2.79% 1.99%
1995 2.88% -0.15%
1994 2.95% -1.16%
1993 3.01% 1.47%
1992 3.11% 2.95%
1991 3.29% 3.13%
1990 3.5% 4.03%
1989 3.57% 4.83%
1988 3.59% 5.55%
1987 3.59% 4.89%
1986 3.64% 3.75%
1985 3.71% 3.92%
1984 3.75% 3.99%
1983 3.72% 4.02%
1982 3.64% 4.03%
1981 3.64% 4%
1980 3.61% 3.93%
1979 3.53% 3.76%
1978 3.5% 3.48%
1977 3.38% 3.15%
1976 3.3% 2.95%
1975 3.38% 2.84%
1974 3.44% 2.75%
1973 3.51% 2.66%
1972 3.54% 2.59%
1971 3.7% 2.54%
1970 3.92% 2.49%
1969 4% 2.5%
1968 4.03% 2.51%
1967 4.05% 2.5%
1966 4.07% 2.48%
1965 4.06% 2.47%
1964 4.01% 2.48%
1963 3.96% 2.47%
1962 3.9% 2.44%
1961 3.8% 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/kenya/malawi | CC BY

In 2024, the population of Kenya grew by 1.98%, while Malawi's population grew by 2.61%.

Live population counters

Kenya Malawi
Current population
58955623
22949294
Population rank 25/197 61/197
Percent of world population 0.71% 0.28%
One net population change
28.8 seconds
57.3 seconds
One birth every
21 seconds
47.6 seconds
One death every
1.32 minutes
4.64 minutes
Daily growth/decline +2,997 +1,509
Annual growth/decline +1,093,941 +550,804
Annual growth/decline rate +1.98% +2.61%
Population growth rate rank 53/197 26/197
One migration net change every
19.3 minutes
1.56 hours
Annual migration change -27,330 -5,628
Net migration rank 160/196 118/196
Foreign-born residents 992,536 186,719
Foreign-born residents rank 61/195 117/195
Foreign-born share of population 1.8% 0.9%
Foreign-born share rank 136/195 158/195

Natural population change vs migration

Kenya
Natural

Migration
Malawi
Natural

Migration
1x
Year Population change
Kenya Malawi
Natural Migration Natural Migration
2025 - -27,330 - -5,628
2024 - -19,781 - -1,507
2023 1,100,970 -10,003 549,096 -5,811
2022 1,092,102 -10,003 533,450 -5,231
2021 1,037,082 -52,552 517,400 -2,666
2020 1,036,253 -17,111 514,659 -2,655
2019 1,071,777 -61,949 506,104 -1,837
2018 1,097,075 -115,436 494,348 -3,267
2017 1,105,769 -68,702 484,655 982
2016 1,108,801 -29,728 474,779 3,505
2015 1,119,200 -95,977 472,484 -6,471
2014 1,123,333 -72,415 472,418 -10,317
2013 1,136,006 -57,634 470,293 -12,934
2012 1,161,548 -42,928 460,684 -13,561
2011 1,185,863 -44,795 454,149 -12,170
2010 1,199,786 -21,069 444,468 -9,327
2009 1,193,598 7,096 434,811 -8,590
2008 1,174,818 29,612 421,781 -9,264
2007 1,147,063 -11,495 410,290 -22,680
2006 1,113,357 15,767 397,123 -29,450
2005 1,080,446 5,501 381,130 -31,462
2004 1,048,590 31,525 361,133 -32,221
2003 1,018,182 24,175 341,133 -31,729
2002 992,044 10,431 322,863 -30,013
2001 963,721 55,052 310,833 -28,933
2000 928,357 5,407 300,439 -28,098
1999 898,484 -13,257 295,629 -31,686
1998 875,511 -70,023 285,407 -39,491
1997 847,493 -80,443 277,433 -61,646
1996 827,326 -79,276 270,048 -66,212
1995 812,391 -75,506 266,745 -66,366
1994 792,702 -40,367 275,439 -505,365
1993 788,579 -61,054 276,538 -284,867
1992 785,018 -43,085 269,066 37,142
1991 790,030 -60,087 260,193 15,291
1990 789,087 -11,338 250,159 71,111
1989 795,622 -24,949 237,967 180,031
1988 785,652 -31,894 226,911 201,011
1987 775,124 -48,633 220,566 271,693
1986 755,606 -53,183 218,519 62,615
1985 732,739 -35,400 216,179 74,625
1984 709,639 -33,253 212,146 72,435
1983 684,587 -23,905 209,422 68,197
1982 663,109 -43,382 205,386 62,661
1981 642,379 -52,761 199,436 57,376
1980 616,390 -39,920 192,746 52,294
1979 595,390 -56,280 182,123 46,388
1978 574,695 -60,718 172,503 36,225
1977 554,124 -57,493 161,930 19,638
1976 536,740 -90,990 153,422 8,206
1975 517,579 -71,421 145,254 5,162
1974 500,008 -62,973 137,819 3,833
1973 485,556 -52,102 131,529 1,623
1972 472,557 -48,466 125,728 48
1971 459,897 -49,671 121,015 -710
1970 443,065 -13,064 116,822 -2,147
1969 427,819 369 113,120 -2,266
1968 411,948 1,611 110,329 -924
1967 396,920 5,060 106,668 0
1966 382,891 1,616 103,512 0
1965 366,444 8,524 100,040 0
1964 349,322 4,788 97,658 0
1963 332,763 4,246 95,933 0
1962 315,797 4,521 92,463 0
1961 298,463 4,296 89,091 0
1960 280,032 2,134 85,718 0

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

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

Over the last 10 years, 95.3% of the population change in Kenya is from natural causes (a gain of 10,892,362 people) and 4.67% is from migration (a loss of 533,876 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, 992,536 residents or 1.8% of the population were not native-born in Kenya, compared to 186,719 people or 0.9% in Malawi.

Biggest cities by population

Kenya
City Population
Nairobi 5.54M
Mombasa 1.21M
Kisumu 398K
Nakuru 308K
Eldoret 289K
Thika 279K
Malindi 120K
Machakos 114K
Mumias 100K
Meru 42.7K
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/kenya/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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