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

Updated on by Georank

The latest officially reported population of Laos was 7,873,046 in 2025 vs 22,216,120 people in Malawi in 2025. In 2026, based on the adjusted UN estimation, the current Laos' population is 8,027,464 people compared to 23,086,106 in Malawi.

Population statistics:

  • Malawi's population is 2.88 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 +1.47% per year vs +2.67% in Malawi.
  • Since 2006, the population of Laos has increased from 5.96M people to 8.03M (34.6% growth), while Malawi has grown from 13.2M to 23.1M (74.9% growth).

Laos vs Malawi: population by year and forecast

Laos
Factual

Projection
Malawi
Factual

Projection
1x
Year Population
Laos Malawi
2100 9,340,510 59,773,923
2099 9,387,374 59,515,624
2098 9,433,309 59,263,165
2097 9,478,091 59,015,654
2096 9,521,914 58,749,288
2095 9,564,898 58,495,699
2094 9,607,314 58,227,933
2093 9,648,899 57,954,358
2092 9,689,414 57,660,371
2091 9,729,262 57,364,786
2090 9,767,923 57,048,240
2089 9,805,489 56,727,243
2088 9,841,933 56,385,237
2087 9,876,893 56,041,651
2086 9,910,678 55,694,983
2085 9,942,991 55,336,839
2084 9,973,375 54,985,304
2083 10,002,778 54,593,349
2082 10,030,306 54,194,853
2081 10,056,473 53,783,781
2080 10,080,959 53,361,334
2079 10,104,434 52,936,889
2078 10,126,099 52,510,645
2077 10,146,255 52,052,767
2076 10,163,547 51,589,339
2075 10,179,776 51,130,762
2074 10,194,216 50,673,499
2073 10,206,546 50,218,991
2072 10,216,287 49,759,232
2071 10,223,430 49,276,570
2070 10,229,612 48,787,471
2069 10,233,020 48,291,287
2068 10,233,371 47,782,059
2067 10,231,633 47,267,335
2066 10,226,448 46,741,998
2065 10,219,732 46,218,226
2064 10,210,382 45,692,044
2063 10,198,463 45,169,634
2062 10,184,239 44,629,192
2061 10,166,878 44,067,259
2060 10,146,829 43,499,372
2059 10,124,398 42,907,491
2058 10,098,721 42,335,782
2057 10,070,317 41,753,105
2056 10,039,482 41,175,330
2055 10,006,669 40,576,247
2054 9,970,363 39,986,120
2053 9,931,133 39,369,178
2052 9,889,162 38,758,577
2051 9,844,445 38,145,141
2050 9,797,566 37,537,814
2049 9,748,481 36,928,354
2048 9,695,755 36,332,040
2047 9,641,319 35,717,466
2046 9,584,097 35,099,651
2045 9,524,890 34,484,520
2044 9,462,921 33,855,018
2043 9,399,555 33,240,675
2042 9,332,795 32,629,513
2041 9,264,069 32,012,581
2040 9,193,691 31,395,572
2039 9,120,921 30,775,878
2038 9,044,658 30,160,239
2037 8,966,687 29,521,489
2036 8,886,908 28,890,318
2035 8,805,396 28,261,909
2034 8,721,979 27,637,439
2033 8,636,299 27,012,311
2032 8,548,097 26,398,409
2031 8,457,770 25,790,366
2030 8,365,427 25,176,420
2029 8,271,316 24,561,210
2028 8,174,975 23,962,931
2027 8,076,308 23,369,575
2026 7,975,876 22,786,713
2025 7,873,046 22,216,120
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 (2026–2100, retrieved 2026-07-08); World Bank | Health (1960–2025, retrieved 2026-07-08).

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 1,118,662 people (a 16.2% growth), while Malawi's population increased by 5,528,367 people (a 31.5% growth).

Laos was ranked 104th 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 22.1% to 9,797,566 people with a rank change from 103rd to 99th. The population of Malawi will increase by 62.6% to 37,537,814 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 1.33% 2.59%
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 (2026–2100, retrieved 2026-07-08); World Bank | Health (1961–2025, retrieved 2026-07-08).

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

In 2025, the population of Laos grew by 1.33%, while Malawi's population grew by 2.59%.

Live population counters

Laos Malawi
Current population
8027464
23086106
Population rank 103/197 61/197
Percent of world population 0.1% 0.28%
One net population change
5.11 minutes
56.4 seconds
One birth every
3.23 minutes
46.8 seconds
One death every
10.9 minutes
4.59 minutes
Daily growth/decline +283 +1,537
Annual growth/decline +103,227 +560,834
Annual growth/decline rate +1.33% +2.59%
Population growth rate rank 76/197 23/197
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 114,574 -10,284 559,811 -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 2026-07-08).

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

Over the last 10 years, 91.7% of the population change in Laos is from natural causes (a gain of 1,179,484 people) and 8.27% is from migration (a loss of 106,302 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, 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
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/laos/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. Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) (2000–2019, retrieved 2026-07-08)
  5. Wikidata (2026, retrieved 2026-07-08)

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