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

Updated on by Georank team

The latest officially reported population of Malawi was 21,655,286 in 2024 vs 35,557,673 people in Malaysia in 2024. In 2026, based on the adjusted UN estimation, the current Malawi's population is 22,949,294 people compared to 36,512,221 in Malaysia.

Population statistics:

  • Malaysia's population is 1.59 times bigger than Malawi's.
  • Malawi is ranked the 61st most populous country in the world, while Malaysia is the 45th.
  • The countries together account for 0.72% of the world: 0.28% for Malawi vs 0.44% for Malaysia.
  • For the last 10 years, Malawi has had an average growth rate of +2.7% per year vs +1.5% in Malaysia.
  • Since 2006, the population of Malawi has increased from 13.2M people to 22.9M (73.9% growth), while Malaysia has grown from 26.4M to 36.5M (38.2% growth).

Malawi vs Malaysia: population by year and forecast

Malawi
Factual

Projection
Malaysia
Factual

Projection
1x
Year Population
Malawi Malaysia
2100 59,786,744 44,353,615
2099 59,528,389 44,467,475
2098 59,275,876 44,579,971
2097 59,028,312 44,695,979
2096 58,761,888 44,814,885
2095 58,508,246 44,932,404
2094 58,240,422 45,047,479
2093 57,966,788 45,165,126
2092 57,672,738 45,278,674
2091 57,377,090 45,390,002
2090 57,060,476 45,501,495
2089 56,739,410 45,610,046
2088 56,397,330 45,717,882
2087 56,053,671 45,823,085
2086 55,706,928 45,926,712
2085 55,348,708 46,020,742
2084 54,997,097 46,111,490
2083 54,605,058 46,202,286
2082 54,206,477 46,284,929
2081 53,795,317 46,359,700
2080 53,372,779 46,435,482
2079 52,948,243 46,496,102
2078 52,521,908 46,549,167
2077 52,063,931 46,594,188
2076 51,600,404 46,619,045
2075 51,141,728 46,643,115
2074 50,684,368 46,658,350
2073 50,229,762 46,670,848
2072 49,769,904 46,670,426
2071 49,287,139 46,660,436
2070 48,797,935 46,645,623
2069 48,301,644 46,623,238
2068 47,792,308 46,600,060
2067 47,277,473 46,569,264
2066 46,752,024 46,530,377
2065 46,228,139 46,481,890
2064 45,701,844 46,417,369
2063 45,179,322 46,350,674
2062 44,638,764 46,272,105
2061 44,076,711 46,178,092
2060 43,508,702 46,075,877
2059 42,916,694 45,958,718
2058 42,344,863 45,837,407
2057 41,762,060 45,707,213
2056 41,184,161 45,566,357
2055 40,584,950 45,418,953
2054 39,994,696 45,252,995
2053 39,377,622 45,069,089
2052 38,766,890 44,873,927
2051 38,153,322 44,668,767
2050 37,545,865 44,445,677
2049 36,936,275 44,217,593
2048 36,339,833 43,974,925
2047 35,725,127 43,712,325
2046 35,107,179 43,438,283
2045 34,491,916 43,157,909
2044 33,862,279 42,866,716
2043 33,247,804 42,557,941
2042 32,636,511 42,239,980
2041 32,019,447 41,922,379
2040 31,402,305 41,598,231
2039 30,782,479 41,270,953
2038 30,166,708 40,929,067
2037 29,527,821 40,584,773
2036 28,896,515 40,234,128
2035 28,267,970 39,876,375
2034 27,643,367 39,515,857
2033 27,018,105 39,152,086
2032 26,404,071 38,772,414
2031 25,795,897 38,386,293
2030 25,181,820 37,995,617
2029 24,566,478 37,606,753
2028 23,968,071 37,207,852
2027 23,374,588 36,806,585
2026 22,791,601 36,403,076
2025 22,220,885 35,987,113
2024 21,655,286 35,557,673
2023 21,104,482 35,126,298
2022 20,568,728 34,695,493
2021 20,047,258 34,282,399
2020 19,533,888 33,889,558
2019 19,025,752 33,440,596
2018 18,528,081 32,910,967
2017 18,039,715 32,355,644
2016 17,557,739 31,789,685
2015 17,085,587 31,232,798
2014 16,621,538 30,696,137
2013 16,161,816 30,174,265
2012 15,709,577 29,662,831
2011 15,265,022 29,162,039
2010 14,826,463 28,655,776
2009 14,395,788 28,124,778
2008 13,976,417 27,570,059
2007 13,576,343 26,998,389
2006 13,198,701 26,417,909
2005 12,840,031 25,836,071
2004 12,500,737 25,256,772
2003 12,181,574 24,679,602
2002 11,880,440 24,102,477
2001 11,593,058 23,526,538
2000 11,315,942 22,967,816
1999 11,047,804 22,435,531
1998 10,792,876 21,906,713
1997 10,562,035 21,375,218
1996 10,352,228 20,850,087
1995 10,150,117 20,330,599
1994 10,164,894 19,820,446
1993 10,284,024 19,322,664
1992 10,135,079 18,834,572
1991 9,844,227 18,342,464
1990 9,545,852 17,833,171
1989 9,176,220 17,314,997
1988 8,753,262 16,796,605
1987 8,293,174 16,276,737
1986 7,906,480 15,760,419
1985 7,620,508 15,252,258
1984 7,332,810 14,759,009
1983 7,051,709 14,285,907
1982 6,778,879 13,832,798
1981 6,516,454 13,399,203
1980 6,265,529 12,983,363
1979 6,028,749 12,627,862
1978 5,810,132 12,328,157
1977 5,614,983 12,035,713
1976 5,443,384 11,750,097
1975 5,287,367 11,471,914
1974 5,141,337 11,200,906
1973 5,003,938 10,935,621
1972 4,874,475 10,676,835
1971 4,751,434 10,423,453
1970 4,633,944 10,178,802
1969 4,521,184 9,947,597
1968 4,411,054 9,725,281
1967 4,303,012 9,507,099
1966 4,197,926 9,284,688
1965 4,096,157 9,056,408
1964 3,997,305 8,828,406
1963 3,900,506 8,602,160
1962 3,806,307 8,380,172
1961 3,715,534 8,164,443
1960 3,628,134 7,956,197

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/malawi/malaysia | CC BY

From 2006 to 2016, the population of Malawi increased by 4,359,038 people (a 33% growth), while Malaysia gained 5,371,776 people (a 20.3% growth).

For the next 10 years, from 2016 to 2026, Malawi gained 5,391,555 people (a 30.7% growth), while Malaysia's population increased by 4,722,536 people (a 14.9% growth).

Malawi was ranked 69th most populous country in 2006 and is 61st in 2026. Malaysia was ranked 44th in 2006 and ranked 45th now.

The UN's World Population Prospects forecasts that in 24 years (in 2050) Malawi's population will grow by 63.6% to 37,545,865 people with a rank change from 61st to 55th. The population of Malaysia will increase by 21.7% to 44,445,677 people and rank change from 45th to 49th.

Malawi is projected to reach its peak in 2100 at 59.8M people compared to the peak of 46.7M people in 2073 for Malaysia.

Population growth rate by year

Malawi
Factual

Projection
Malaysia
Factual

Projection
1x
Year Growth rate
Malawi Malaysia
2100 0.43% -0.26%
2099 0.43% -0.25%
2098 0.42% -0.26%
2097 0.45% -0.27%
2096 0.43% -0.26%
2095 0.46% -0.26%
2094 0.47% -0.26%
2093 0.51% -0.25%
2092 0.52% -0.25%
2091 0.55% -0.25%
2090 0.57% -0.24%
2089 0.61% -0.24%
2088 0.61% -0.23%
2087 0.62% -0.23%
2086 0.65% -0.2%
2085 0.64% -0.2%
2084 0.72% -0.2%
2083 0.74% -0.18%
2082 0.76% -0.16%
2081 0.79% -0.16%
2080 0.8% -0.13%
2079 0.81% -0.11%
2078 0.88% -0.1%
2077 0.9% -0.05%
2076 0.9% -0.05%
2075 0.9% -0.03%
2074 0.91% -0.03%
2073 0.92% 0.001%
2072 0.98% 0.02%
2071 1% 0.03%
2070 1.03% 0.05%
2069 1.07% 0.05%
2068 1.09% 0.07%
2067 1.12% 0.08%
2066 1.13% 0.1%
2065 1.15% 0.14%
2064 1.16% 0.14%
2063 1.21% 0.17%
2062 1.28% 0.2%
2061 1.31% 0.22%
2060 1.38% 0.25%
2059 1.35% 0.26%
2058 1.4% 0.28%
2057 1.4% 0.31%
2056 1.48% 0.32%
2055 1.48% 0.37%
2054 1.57% 0.41%
2053 1.58% 0.43%
2052 1.61% 0.46%
2051 1.62% 0.5%
2050 1.65% 0.52%
2049 1.64% 0.55%
2048 1.72% 0.6%
2047 1.76% 0.63%
2046 1.78% 0.65%
2045 1.86% 0.68%
2044 1.85% 0.73%
2043 1.87% 0.75%
2042 1.93% 0.76%
2041 1.97% 0.78%
2040 2.01% 0.79%
2039 2.04% 0.84%
2038 2.16% 0.85%
2037 2.18% 0.87%
2036 2.22% 0.9%
2035 2.26% 0.91%
2034 2.31% 0.93%
2033 2.33% 0.98%
2032 2.36% 1.01%
2031 2.44% 1.03%
2030 2.5% 1.03%
2029 2.5% 1.07%
2028 2.54% 1.09%
2027 2.56% 1.11%
2026 2.57% 1.16%
2025 2.61% 1.21%
2024 2.61% 1.23%
2023 2.6% 1.24%
2022 2.6% 1.2%
2021 2.63% 1.16%
2020 2.67% 1.34%
2019 2.69% 1.61%
2018 2.71% 1.72%
2017 2.75% 1.78%
2016 2.76% 1.78%
2015 2.79% 1.75%
2014 2.84% 1.73%
2013 2.88% 1.72%
2012 2.91% 1.72%
2011 2.96% 1.77%
2010 2.99% 1.89%
2009 3% 2.01%
2008 2.95% 2.12%
2007 2.86% 2.2%
2006 2.79% 2.25%
2005 2.71% 2.29%
2004 2.62% 2.34%
2003 2.53% 2.39%
2002 2.48% 2.45%
2001 2.45% 2.43%
2000 2.43% 2.37%
1999 2.36% 2.41%
1998 2.19% 2.49%
1997 2.03% 2.52%
1996 1.99% 2.56%
1995 -0.15% 2.57%
1994 -1.16% 2.58%
1993 1.47% 2.59%
1992 2.95% 2.68%
1991 3.13% 2.86%
1990 4.03% 2.99%
1989 4.83% 3.09%
1988 5.55% 3.19%
1987 4.89% 3.28%
1986 3.75% 3.33%
1985 3.92% 3.34%
1984 3.99% 3.31%
1983 4.02% 3.28%
1982 4.03% 3.24%
1981 4% 3.2%
1980 3.93% 2.82%
1979 3.76% 2.43%
1978 3.48% 2.43%
1977 3.15% 2.43%
1976 2.95% 2.42%
1975 2.84% 2.42%
1974 2.75% 2.43%
1973 2.66% 2.42%
1972 2.59% 2.43%
1971 2.54% 2.4%
1970 2.49% 2.32%
1969 2.5% 2.29%
1968 2.51% 2.29%
1967 2.5% 2.4%
1966 2.48% 2.52%
1965 2.47% 2.58%
1964 2.48% 2.63%
1963 2.47% 2.65%
1962 2.44% 2.64%
1961 2.41% 2.62%

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/malawi/malaysia | CC BY

In 2024, the population of Malawi grew by 2.61%, while Malaysia's population grew by 1.23%.

Live population counters

Malawi Malaysia
Current population
22949294
36512221
Population rank 61/197 45/197
Percent of world population 0.28% 0.44%
One net population change
57.3 seconds
1.22 minutes
One birth every
47.6 seconds
1.21 minutes
One death every
4.64 minutes
2.9 minutes
Daily growth/decline +1,509 +1,182
Annual growth/decline +550,804 +431,375
Annual growth/decline rate +2.61% +1.23%
Population growth rate rank 26/197 89/197
One migration net change every
1.56 hours
3.16 minutes
Annual migration change -5,628 +166,615
Net migration rank 118/196 7/196
Foreign-born residents 186,719 3,806,514
Foreign-born residents rank 117/195 18/195
Foreign-born share of population 0.9% 10.7%
Foreign-born share rank 158/195 62/195

Natural population change vs migration

Malawi
Natural

Migration
Malaysia
Natural

Migration
1x
Year Population change
Malawi Malaysia
Natural Migration Natural Migration
2025 - -5,628 - 166,615
2024 - -1,507 - 174,770
2023 549,096 -5,811 254,806 181,071
2022 533,450 -5,231 237,560 188,154
2021 517,400 -2,666 212,002 188,506
2020 514,659 -2,655 283,282 101,907
2019 506,104 -1,837 309,426 203,284
2018 494,348 -3,267 324,568 221,965
2017 484,655 982 336,434 227,677
2016 474,779 3,505 345,681 222,141
2015 472,484 -6,471 358,302 187,663
2014 472,418 -10,317 367,587 159,791
2013 470,293 -12,934 366,738 149,637
2012 460,684 -13,561 371,497 134,975
2011 454,149 -12,170 372,836 122,269
2010 444,468 -9,327 360,260 157,164
2009 434,811 -8,590 366,157 178,410
2008 421,781 -9,264 362,380 202,481
2007 410,290 -22,680 348,711 229,784
2006 397,123 -29,450 349,509 232,971
2005 381,130 -31,462 355,324 225,864
2004 361,133 -32,221 365,138 212,278
2003 341,133 -31,729 377,425 199,510
2002 322,863 -30,013 381,084 196,227
2001 310,833 -28,933 400,939 173,613
2000 300,439 -28,098 417,371 125,499
1999 295,629 -31,686 432,355 89,335
1998 285,407 -39,491 436,316 99,639
1997 277,433 -61,646 447,768 79,266
1996 270,048 -66,212 450,174 73,040
1995 266,745 -66,366 443,349 72,393
1994 275,439 -505,365 437,873 66,685
1993 276,538 -284,867 429,910 61,079
1992 269,066 37,142 418,900 66,286
1991 260,193 15,291 401,938 97,111
1990 250,159 71,111 384,518 135,020
1989 237,967 180,031 373,277 143,544
1988 226,911 201,011 386,507 133,478
1987 220,566 271,693 381,999 137,759
1986 218,519 62,615 385,799 127,081
1985 216,179 74,625 383,243 120,215
1984 212,146 72,435 376,797 106,248
1983 209,422 68,197 365,290 97,862
1982 205,386 62,661 353,138 89,942
1981 199,436 57,376 339,991 84,142
1980 192,746 52,294 326,947 80,617
1979 182,123 46,388 317,439 -13,980
1978 172,503 36,225 311,027 -15,059
1977 161,930 19,638 305,515 -16,601
1976 153,422 8,206 300,615 -18,316
1975 145,254 5,162 294,541 -20,480
1974 137,819 3,833 289,880 -21,919
1973 131,529 1,623 284,611 -21,995
1972 125,728 48 276,263 -21,305
1971 121,015 -710 272,323 -20,535
1970 116,822 -2,147 269,341 -31,839
1969 113,120 -2,266 264,327 -39,420
1968 110,329 -924 260,705 -40,996
1967 106,668 0 258,764 -42,108
1966 103,512 0 262,162 -33,993
1965 100,040 0 264,836 -36,456
1964 97,658 0 266,406 -38,785
1963 95,933 0 265,815 -40,952
1962 92,463 0 262,140 -43,033
1961 89,091 0 257,270 -44,916
1960 85,718 0 251,090 -46,948

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

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

Over the last 10 years, 99.3% of the population change in Malawi is from natural causes (a gain of 5,019,393 people) and 0.67% is from migration (a loss of 33,768 people). In Malaysia 61.7% is from natural causes (a gain of 3,029,648 people) and 38.3% is from migration (a gain of 1,882,159 people).

As of 2024, 186,719 residents or 0.9% of the population were not native-born in Malawi, compared to 3,806,514 people or 10.7% in Malaysia.

Biggest cities by population

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
Malaysia
City Population
Kuala Lumpur 9M
Klang 878K
Ipoh 867K
Johor Bahru 798K
George Town 794K
Shah Alam 741K
Subang Jaya 708K
Petaling Jaya 639K
Kuantan 608K
Sungai Petani 545K

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/malawi/malaysia | 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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