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

Updated on by Georank team

The latest officially reported population of Laos was 7,769,819 in 2024 vs 21,655,286 people in Malawi in 2024. In 2026, based on the adjusted UN estimation, the current Laos' population is 8,004,838 people compared to 22,949,294 in Malawi.

Population statistics:

  • Malawi's population is 2.87 times bigger than Laos'.
  • Laos is ranked the 103rd most populous country in the world, while Malawi is the 61st.
  • The countries together account for 0.37% of the world: 0.1% for Laos vs 0.28% for Malawi.
  • For the last 10 years, Laos has had an average growth rate of +1.48% per year vs +2.7% in Malawi.
  • Since 2006, the population of Laos has increased from 5.96M people to 8M (34.2% growth), while Malawi has grown from 13.2M to 22.9M (73.9% growth).

Laos vs Malawi: population by year and forecast

Laos
Factual

Projection
Malawi
Factual

Projection
1x
Year Population
Laos Malawi
2100 9,342,607 59,786,744
2099 9,389,481 59,528,389
2098 9,435,427 59,275,876
2097 9,480,219 59,028,312
2096 9,524,052 58,761,888
2095 9,567,045 58,508,246
2094 9,609,471 58,240,422
2093 9,651,065 57,966,788
2092 9,691,590 57,672,738
2091 9,731,446 57,377,090
2090 9,770,116 57,060,476
2089 9,807,690 56,739,410
2088 9,844,143 56,397,330
2087 9,879,110 56,053,671
2086 9,912,903 55,706,928
2085 9,945,223 55,348,708
2084 9,975,614 54,997,097
2083 10,005,023 54,605,058
2082 10,032,558 54,206,477
2081 10,058,731 53,795,317
2080 10,083,222 53,372,779
2079 10,106,703 52,948,243
2078 10,128,372 52,521,908
2077 10,148,533 52,063,931
2076 10,165,829 51,600,404
2075 10,182,062 51,141,728
2074 10,196,505 50,684,368
2073 10,208,837 50,229,762
2072 10,218,581 49,769,904
2071 10,225,726 49,287,139
2070 10,231,909 48,797,935
2069 10,235,317 48,301,644
2068 10,235,668 47,792,308
2067 10,233,930 47,277,473
2066 10,228,744 46,752,024
2065 10,222,027 46,228,139
2064 10,212,674 45,701,844
2063 10,200,753 45,179,322
2062 10,186,526 44,638,764
2061 10,169,161 44,076,711
2060 10,149,107 43,508,702
2059 10,126,671 42,916,694
2058 10,100,989 42,344,863
2057 10,072,578 41,762,060
2056 10,041,736 41,184,161
2055 10,008,916 40,584,950
2054 9,972,602 39,994,696
2053 9,933,363 39,377,622
2052 9,891,383 38,766,890
2051 9,846,656 38,153,322
2050 9,799,766 37,545,865
2049 9,750,669 36,936,275
2048 9,697,931 36,339,833
2047 9,643,484 35,725,127
2046 9,586,249 35,107,179
2045 9,527,029 34,491,916
2044 9,465,046 33,862,279
2043 9,401,665 33,247,804
2042 9,334,890 32,636,511
2041 9,266,149 32,019,447
2040 9,195,755 31,402,305
2039 9,122,969 30,782,479
2038 9,046,689 30,166,708
2037 8,968,700 29,527,821
2036 8,888,903 28,896,515
2035 8,807,373 28,267,970
2034 8,723,937 27,643,367
2033 8,638,238 27,018,105
2032 8,550,017 26,404,071
2031 8,459,669 25,795,897
2030 8,367,305 25,181,820
2029 8,273,173 24,566,478
2028 8,176,811 23,968,071
2027 8,078,122 23,374,588
2026 7,977,666 22,791,601
2025 7,874,813 22,220,885
2024 7,769,819 21,655,286
2023 7,664,993 21,104,482
2022 7,559,007 20,568,728
2021 7,453,194 20,047,258
2020 7,346,533 19,533,888
2019 7,237,636 19,025,752
2018 7,128,045 18,528,081
2017 7,018,147 18,039,715
2016 6,908,802 17,557,739
2015 6,801,645 17,085,587
2014 6,703,172 16,621,538
2013 6,611,385 16,161,816
2012 6,518,978 15,709,577
2011 6,426,590 15,265,022
2010 6,334,194 14,826,463
2009 6,241,642 14,395,788
2008 6,148,969 13,976,417
2007 6,056,236 13,576,343
2006 5,963,200 13,198,701
2005 5,869,523 12,840,031
2004 5,781,626 12,500,737
2003 5,697,945 12,181,574
2002 5,610,889 11,880,440
2001 5,521,482 11,593,058
2000 5,431,212 11,315,942
1999 5,340,784 11,047,804
1998 5,248,266 10,792,876
1997 5,152,011 10,562,035
1996 5,045,678 10,352,228
1995 4,929,409 10,150,117
1994 4,809,220 10,164,894
1993 4,685,060 10,284,024
1992 4,559,646 10,135,079
1991 4,435,118 9,844,227
1990 4,311,955 9,545,852
1989 4,190,974 9,176,220
1988 4,072,601 8,753,262
1987 3,957,612 8,293,174
1986 3,846,715 7,906,480
1985 3,739,985 7,620,508
1984 3,637,843 7,332,810
1983 3,541,001 7,051,709
1982 3,450,026 6,778,879
1981 3,366,631 6,516,454
1980 3,292,573 6,265,529
1979 3,228,202 6,028,749
1978 3,171,740 5,810,132
1977 3,118,923 5,614,983
1976 3,064,876 5,443,384
1975 3,005,521 5,287,367
1974 2,939,761 5,141,337
1973 2,870,573 5,003,938
1972 2,801,660 4,874,475
1971 2,734,628 4,751,434
1970 2,669,702 4,633,944
1969 2,606,959 4,521,184
1968 2,546,377 4,411,054
1967 2,487,715 4,303,012
1966 2,431,084 4,197,926
1965 2,376,200 4,096,157
1964 2,322,826 3,997,305
1963 2,271,061 3,900,506
1962 2,219,910 3,806,307
1961 2,169,796 3,715,534
1960 2,121,514 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/laos/malawi | CC BY

From 2006 to 2016, the population of Laos increased by 945,602 people (a 15.9% growth), while Malawi gained 4,359,038 people (a 33% growth).

For the next 10 years, from 2016 to 2026, Laos gained 1,096,036 people (a 15.9% growth), while Malawi's population increased by 5,391,555 people (a 30.7% growth).

Laos was ranked 105th most populous country in 2006 and is 103rd 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) Laos' population will grow by 22.4% to 9,799,766 people with a rank change from 103rd to 99th. The population of Malawi will increase by 63.6% to 37,545,865 people and rank change from 61st to 55th.

Laos is projected to reach its peak in 2068 at 10.2M people compared to the peak of 59.8M people in 2100 for Malawi.

Population growth rate by year

Laos
Factual

Projection
Malawi
Factual

Projection
1x
Year Growth rate
Laos Malawi
2100 -0.5% 0.43%
2099 -0.49% 0.43%
2098 -0.47% 0.42%
2097 -0.46% 0.45%
2096 -0.45% 0.43%
2095 -0.44% 0.46%
2094 -0.43% 0.47%
2093 -0.42% 0.51%
2092 -0.41% 0.52%
2091 -0.4% 0.55%
2090 -0.38% 0.57%
2089 -0.37% 0.61%
2088 -0.35% 0.61%
2087 -0.34% 0.62%
2086 -0.32% 0.65%
2085 -0.3% 0.64%
2084 -0.29% 0.72%
2083 -0.27% 0.74%
2082 -0.26% 0.76%
2081 -0.24% 0.79%
2080 -0.23% 0.8%
2079 -0.21% 0.81%
2078 -0.2% 0.88%
2077 -0.17% 0.9%
2076 -0.16% 0.9%
2075 -0.14% 0.9%
2074 -0.12% 0.91%
2073 -0.1% 0.92%
2072 -0.07% 0.98%
2071 -0.06% 1%
2070 -0.03% 1.03%
2069 -0.003% 1.07%
2068 0.02% 1.09%
2067 0.05% 1.12%
2066 0.07% 1.13%
2065 0.09% 1.15%
2064 0.12% 1.16%
2063 0.14% 1.21%
2062 0.17% 1.28%
2061 0.2% 1.31%
2060 0.22% 1.38%
2059 0.25% 1.35%
2058 0.28% 1.4%
2057 0.31% 1.4%
2056 0.33% 1.48%
2055 0.36% 1.48%
2054 0.4% 1.57%
2053 0.42% 1.58%
2052 0.45% 1.61%
2051 0.48% 1.62%
2050 0.5% 1.65%
2049 0.54% 1.64%
2048 0.56% 1.72%
2047 0.6% 1.76%
2046 0.62% 1.78%
2045 0.65% 1.86%
2044 0.67% 1.85%
2043 0.72% 1.87%
2042 0.74% 1.93%
2041 0.77% 1.97%
2040 0.8% 2.01%
2039 0.84% 2.04%
2038 0.87% 2.16%
2037 0.9% 2.18%
2036 0.93% 2.22%
2035 0.96% 2.26%
2034 0.99% 2.31%
2033 1.03% 2.33%
2032 1.07% 2.36%
2031 1.1% 2.44%
2030 1.14% 2.5%
2029 1.18% 2.5%
2028 1.22% 2.54%
2027 1.26% 2.56%
2026 1.31% 2.57%
2025 1.35% 2.61%
2024 1.37% 2.61%
2023 1.4% 2.6%
2022 1.42% 2.6%
2021 1.45% 2.63%
2020 1.5% 2.67%
2019 1.54% 2.69%
2018 1.57% 2.71%
2017 1.58% 2.75%
2016 1.58% 2.76%
2015 1.47% 2.79%
2014 1.39% 2.84%
2013 1.42% 2.88%
2012 1.44% 2.91%
2011 1.46% 2.96%
2010 1.48% 2.99%
2009 1.51% 3%
2008 1.53% 2.95%
2007 1.56% 2.86%
2006 1.6% 2.79%
2005 1.52% 2.71%
2004 1.47% 2.62%
2003 1.55% 2.53%
2002 1.62% 2.48%
2001 1.66% 2.45%
2000 1.69% 2.43%
1999 1.76% 2.36%
1998 1.87% 2.19%
1997 2.11% 2.03%
1996 2.36% 1.99%
1995 2.5% -0.15%
1994 2.65% -1.16%
1993 2.75% 1.47%
1992 2.81% 2.95%
1991 2.86% 3.13%
1990 2.89% 4.03%
1989 2.91% 4.83%
1988 2.91% 5.55%
1987 2.88% 4.89%
1986 2.85% 3.75%
1985 2.81% 3.92%
1984 2.73% 3.99%
1983 2.64% 4.02%
1982 2.48% 4.03%
1981 2.25% 4%
1980 1.99% 3.93%
1979 1.78% 3.76%
1978 1.69% 3.48%
1977 1.76% 3.15%
1976 1.97% 2.95%
1975 2.24% 2.84%
1974 2.41% 2.75%
1973 2.46% 2.66%
1972 2.45% 2.59%
1971 2.43% 2.54%
1970 2.41% 2.49%
1969 2.38% 2.5%
1968 2.36% 2.51%
1967 2.33% 2.5%
1966 2.31% 2.48%
1965 2.3% 2.47%
1964 2.28% 2.48%
1963 2.3% 2.47%
1962 2.31% 2.44%
1961 2.28% 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/laos/malawi | CC BY

In 2024, the population of Laos grew by 1.37%, while Malawi's population grew by 2.61%.

Live population counters

Laos Malawi
Current population
8004838
22949294
Population rank 103/197 61/197
Percent of world population 0.1% 0.28%
One net population change
5.01 minutes
57.3 seconds
One birth every
3.22 minutes
47.6 seconds
One death every
11 minutes
4.64 minutes
Daily growth/decline +287 +1,509
Annual growth/decline +104,826 +550,804
Annual growth/decline rate +1.37% +2.61%
Population growth rate rank 77/197 26/197
One migration net change every
49.5 minutes
1.56 hours
Annual migration change -10,645 -5,628
Net migration rank 134/196 118/196
Foreign-born residents 51,446 186,719
Foreign-born residents rank 149/195 117/195
Foreign-born share of population 0.7% 0.9%
Foreign-born share rank 166/195 158/195

Natural population change vs migration

Laos
Natural

Migration
Malawi
Natural

Migration
1x
Year Population change
Laos Malawi
Natural Migration Natural Migration
2025 - -10,645 - -5,628
2024 - -10,284 - -1,507
2023 115,359 -10,003 549,096 -5,811
2022 116,620 -10,003 533,450 -5,231
2021 115,323 -10,305 517,400 -2,666
2020 118,609 -10,305 514,659 -2,655
2019 119,797 -10,305 506,104 -1,837
2018 119,986 -10,305 494,348 -3,267
2017 120,515 -10,400 484,655 982
2016 119,978 -11,401 474,779 3,505
2015 118,723 -12,991 472,484 -6,471
2014 118,103 -26,881 472,418 -10,317
2013 119,845 -27,492 470,293 -12,934
2012 121,324 -28,871 460,684 -13,561
2011 122,863 -30,538 454,149 -12,170
2010 122,516 -30,046 444,468 -9,327
2009 122,174 -29,545 434,811 -8,590
2008 121,042 -28,318 421,781 -9,264
2007 119,980 -27,233 410,290 -22,680
2006 118,602 -25,286 397,123 -29,450
2005 118,165 -24,138 381,130 -31,462
2004 121,888 -40,120 361,133 -32,221
2003 122,158 -36,572 341,133 -31,729
2002 122,110 -33,595 322,863 -30,013
2001 123,847 -33,552 310,833 -28,933
2000 124,201 -33,965 300,439 -28,098
1999 127,255 -36,632 295,629 -31,686
1998 128,409 -33,997 285,407 -39,491
1997 130,388 -32,288 277,433 -61,646
1996 131,142 -16,574 270,048 -66,212
1995 132,241 -14,279 266,745 -66,366
1994 134,201 -11,782 275,439 -505,365
1993 135,295 -9,390 276,538 -284,867
1992 132,417 -7,502 269,066 37,142
1991 129,523 -5,390 260,193 15,291
1990 125,297 -3,100 250,159 71,111
1989 121,044 -1,272 237,967 180,031
1988 117,050 -80 226,911 201,011
1987 113,005 0 220,566 271,693
1986 109,266 -475 218,519 62,615
1985 106,047 -1,376 216,179 74,625
1984 102,318 -2,698 212,146 72,435
1983 98,178 -4,108 209,422 68,197
1982 94,058 -6,184 205,386 62,661
1981 89,963 -11,061 199,436 57,376
1980 86,548 -17,339 192,746 52,294
1979 82,852 -23,317 182,123 46,388
1978 80,604 -27,208 172,503 36,225
1977 79,149 -26,908 161,930 19,638
1976 77,575 -21,738 153,422 8,206
1975 76,725 -13,858 145,254 5,162
1974 74,652 -6,000 137,819 3,833
1973 70,513 -774 131,529 1,623
1972 68,095 0 125,728 48
1971 65,959 0 121,015 -710
1970 63,896 0 116,822 -2,147
1969 61,595 0 113,120 -2,266
1968 59,567 0 110,329 -924
1967 57,763 0 106,668 0
1966 55,494 0 103,512 0
1965 54,268 0 100,040 0
1964 52,482 0 97,658 0
1963 51,056 0 95,933 0
1962 51,244 0 92,463 0
1961 48,992 0 89,091 0
1960 47,575 0 85,718 0

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

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

Over the last 10 years, 90.6% of the population change in Laos is from natural causes (a gain of 1,183,013 people) and 9.41% is from migration (a loss of 122,899 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, 51,446 residents or 0.7% of the population were not native-born in Laos, compared to 186,719 people or 0.9% in Malawi.

Biggest cities by population

Laos
City Population
Vientiane 948K
Thakhek 90.8K
Luang Prabang 53.8K
Vang Vieng 25K
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/laos/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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