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

Updated on by Georank team

The latest officially reported population of Malawi was 21,655,286 in 2024 vs 527,799 people in Maldives in 2024. In 2026, based on the adjusted UN estimation, the current Malawi's population is 22,949,294 people compared to 532,057 in Maldives.

Population statistics:

  • Malawi's population is 43.1 times bigger than Maldives'.
  • Malawi is ranked the 61st most populous country in the world, while Maldives is the 168th.
  • The countries together account for 0.28% of the world: 0.28% for Malawi vs 0.006% for Maldives.
  • For the last 10 years, Malawi has had an average growth rate of +2.7% per year vs +2.56% in Maldives.
  • Since 2006, the population of Malawi has increased from 13.2M people to 22.9M (73.9% growth), while Maldives has grown from 314K to 532K (69.5% growth).

Malawi vs Maldives: population by year and forecast

Malawi
Factual

Projection
Maldives
Factual

Projection
1x
Year Population
Malawi Maldives
2100 59,786,744 476,505
2099 59,528,389 477,920
2098 59,275,876 479,417
2097 59,028,312 481,109
2096 58,761,888 482,965
2095 58,508,246 484,925
2094 58,240,422 487,060
2093 57,966,788 489,462
2092 57,672,738 492,137
2091 57,377,090 494,900
2090 57,060,476 498,054
2089 56,739,410 501,304
2088 56,397,330 504,978
2087 56,053,671 508,740
2086 55,706,928 512,752
2085 55,348,708 516,863
2084 54,997,097 521,065
2083 54,605,058 525,345
2082 54,206,477 529,631
2081 53,795,317 534,118
2080 53,372,779 538,568
2079 52,948,243 543,030
2078 52,521,908 547,552
2077 52,063,931 551,886
2076 51,600,404 556,016
2075 51,141,728 560,031
2074 50,684,368 563,862
2073 50,229,762 567,654
2072 49,769,904 571,178
2071 49,287,139 574,604
2070 48,797,935 577,819
2069 48,301,644 580,792
2068 47,792,308 583,580
2067 47,277,473 586,194
2066 46,752,024 588,512
2065 46,228,139 590,500
2064 45,701,844 592,344
2063 45,179,322 594,011
2062 44,638,764 595,405
2061 44,076,711 596,482
2060 43,508,702 597,051
2059 42,916,694 597,623
2058 42,344,863 597,874
2057 41,762,060 597,811
2056 41,184,161 597,360
2055 40,584,950 596,636
2054 39,994,696 595,832
2053 39,377,622 594,829
2052 38,766,890 593,458
2051 38,153,322 591,942
2050 37,545,865 590,121
2049 36,936,275 587,970
2048 36,339,833 585,592
2047 35,725,127 583,306
2046 35,107,179 580,842
2045 34,491,916 578,160
2044 33,862,279 575,546
2043 33,247,804 572,802
2042 32,636,511 570,020
2041 32,019,447 567,246
2040 31,402,305 564,398
2039 30,782,479 561,546
2038 30,166,708 558,940
2037 29,527,821 556,343
2036 28,896,515 553,839
2035 28,267,970 551,348
2034 27,643,367 548,952
2033 27,018,105 546,465
2032 26,404,071 544,072
2031 25,795,897 541,734
2030 25,181,820 539,556
2029 24,566,478 537,533
2028 23,968,071 535,394
2027 23,374,588 533,401
2026 22,791,601 531,559
2025 22,220,885 529,712
2024 21,655,286 527,799
2023 21,104,482 525,994
2022 20,568,728 524,106
2021 20,047,258 516,154
2020 19,533,888 502,118
2019 19,025,752 487,731
2018 18,528,081 473,099
2017 18,039,715 458,287
2016 17,557,739 443,308
2015 17,085,587 428,154
2014 16,621,538 413,617
2013 16,161,816 400,070
2012 15,709,577 386,818
2011 15,265,022 373,674
2010 14,826,463 360,792
2009 14,395,788 348,275
2008 13,976,417 336,170
2007 13,576,343 324,479
2006 13,198,701 313,851
2005 12,840,031 306,429
2004 12,500,737 301,413
2003 12,181,574 296,491
2002 11,880,440 291,616
2001 11,593,058 286,767
2000 11,315,942 282,019
1999 11,047,804 277,412
1998 10,792,876 272,723
1997 10,562,035 267,707
1996 10,352,228 262,347
1995 10,150,117 256,649
1994 10,164,894 250,822
1993 10,284,024 244,884
1992 10,135,079 238,543
1991 9,844,227 231,802
1990 9,545,852 224,762
1989 9,176,220 217,738
1988 8,753,262 210,885
1987 8,293,174 203,944
1986 7,906,480 196,935
1985 7,620,508 190,169
1984 7,332,810 184,198
1983 7,051,709 179,128
1982 6,778,879 174,333
1981 6,516,454 169,532
1980 6,265,529 164,835
1979 6,028,749 160,360
1978 5,810,132 156,159
1977 5,614,983 151,930
1976 5,443,384 147,525
1975 5,287,367 143,158
1974 5,141,337 138,978
1973 5,003,938 134,952
1972 4,874,475 130,968
1971 4,751,434 127,035
1970 4,633,944 123,219
1969 4,521,184 119,564
1968 4,411,054 116,075
1967 4,303,012 112,528
1966 4,197,926 108,507
1965 4,096,157 104,102
1964 3,997,305 100,662
1963 3,900,506 98,222
1962 3,806,307 95,802
1961 3,715,534 93,450
1960 3,628,134 91,189

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/maldives | CC BY

From 2006 to 2016, the population of Malawi increased by 4,359,038 people (a 33% growth), while Maldives gained 129,457 people (a 41.2% growth).

For the next 10 years, from 2016 to 2026, Malawi gained 5,391,555 people (a 30.7% growth), while Maldives' population increased by 88,749 people (a 20% growth).

Malawi was ranked 69th most populous country in 2006 and is 61st in 2026. Maldives was ranked 171st in 2006 and ranked 168th 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 Maldives will increase by 10.9% to 590,121 people and rank change from 168th to 166th.

Malawi is projected to reach its peak in 2100 at 59.8M people compared to the peak of 598K people in 2058 for Maldives.

Population growth rate by year

Malawi
Factual

Projection
Maldives
Factual

Projection
1x
Year Growth rate
Malawi Maldives
2100 0.43% -0.3%
2099 0.43% -0.31%
2098 0.42% -0.35%
2097 0.45% -0.38%
2096 0.43% -0.4%
2095 0.46% -0.44%
2094 0.47% -0.49%
2093 0.51% -0.54%
2092 0.52% -0.56%
2091 0.55% -0.63%
2090 0.57% -0.65%
2089 0.61% -0.73%
2088 0.61% -0.74%
2087 0.62% -0.78%
2086 0.65% -0.8%
2085 0.64% -0.81%
2084 0.72% -0.81%
2083 0.74% -0.81%
2082 0.76% -0.84%
2081 0.79% -0.83%
2080 0.8% -0.82%
2079 0.81% -0.83%
2078 0.88% -0.79%
2077 0.9% -0.74%
2076 0.9% -0.72%
2075 0.9% -0.68%
2074 0.91% -0.67%
2073 0.92% -0.62%
2072 0.98% -0.6%
2071 1% -0.56%
2070 1.03% -0.51%
2069 1.07% -0.48%
2068 1.09% -0.45%
2067 1.12% -0.39%
2066 1.13% -0.34%
2065 1.15% -0.31%
2064 1.16% -0.28%
2063 1.21% -0.23%
2062 1.28% -0.18%
2061 1.31% -0.1%
2060 1.38% -0.1%
2059 1.35% -0.04%
2058 1.4% 0.01%
2057 1.4% 0.08%
2056 1.48% 0.12%
2055 1.48% 0.14%
2054 1.57% 0.17%
2053 1.58% 0.23%
2052 1.61% 0.26%
2051 1.62% 0.31%
2050 1.65% 0.37%
2049 1.64% 0.41%
2048 1.72% 0.39%
2047 1.76% 0.42%
2046 1.78% 0.46%
2045 1.86% 0.45%
2044 1.85% 0.48%
2043 1.87% 0.49%
2042 1.93% 0.49%
2041 1.97% 0.5%
2040 2.01% 0.51%
2039 2.04% 0.47%
2038 2.16% 0.47%
2037 2.18% 0.45%
2036 2.22% 0.45%
2035 2.26% 0.44%
2034 2.31% 0.46%
2033 2.33% 0.44%
2032 2.36% 0.43%
2031 2.44% 0.4%
2030 2.5% 0.38%
2029 2.5% 0.4%
2028 2.54% 0.37%
2027 2.56% 0.35%
2026 2.57% 0.35%
2025 2.61% 0.36%
2024 2.61% 0.34%
2023 2.6% 0.36%
2022 2.6% 1.54%
2021 2.63% 2.8%
2020 2.67% 2.95%
2019 2.69% 3.09%
2018 2.71% 3.23%
2017 2.75% 3.38%
2016 2.76% 3.54%
2015 2.79% 3.51%
2014 2.84% 3.39%
2013 2.88% 3.43%
2012 2.91% 3.52%
2011 2.96% 3.57%
2010 2.99% 3.59%
2009 3% 3.6%
2008 2.95% 3.6%
2007 2.86% 3.39%
2006 2.79% 2.42%
2005 2.71% 1.66%
2004 2.62% 1.66%
2003 2.53% 1.67%
2002 2.48% 1.69%
2001 2.45% 1.68%
2000 2.43% 1.66%
1999 2.36% 1.72%
1998 2.19% 1.87%
1997 2.03% 2.04%
1996 1.99% 2.22%
1995 -0.15% 2.32%
1994 -1.16% 2.42%
1993 1.47% 2.66%
1992 2.95% 2.91%
1991 3.13% 3.13%
1990 4.03% 3.23%
1989 4.83% 3.25%
1988 5.55% 3.4%
1987 4.89% 3.56%
1986 3.75% 3.56%
1985 3.92% 3.24%
1984 3.99% 2.83%
1983 4.02% 2.75%
1982 4.03% 2.83%
1981 4% 2.85%
1980 3.93% 2.79%
1979 3.76% 2.69%
1978 3.48% 2.78%
1977 3.15% 2.99%
1976 2.95% 3.05%
1975 2.84% 3.01%
1974 2.75% 2.98%
1973 2.66% 3.04%
1972 2.59% 3.1%
1971 2.54% 3.1%
1970 2.49% 3.06%
1969 2.5% 3.01%
1968 2.51% 3.15%
1967 2.5% 3.71%
1966 2.48% 4.23%
1965 2.47% 3.42%
1964 2.48% 2.48%
1963 2.47% 2.53%
1962 2.44% 2.52%
1961 2.41% 2.48%

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/maldives | CC BY

In 2024, the population of Malawi grew by 2.61%, while Maldives' population grew by 0.34%.

Live population counters

Malawi Maldives
Current population
22949294
532057
Population rank 61/197 168/197
Percent of world population 0.28% 0.006%
One net population change
57.3 seconds
4.85 hours
One birth every
47.6 seconds
1.51 hours
One death every
4.64 minutes
7.13 hours
Daily growth/decline +1,509 +5
Annual growth/decline +550,804 +1,805
Annual growth/decline rate +2.61% +0.34%
Population growth rate rank 26/197 146/197
One migration net change every
1.56 hours
3.85 hours
Annual migration change -5,628 -2,283
Net migration rank 118/196 101/196
Foreign-born residents 186,719 75,099
Foreign-born residents rank 117/195 141/195
Foreign-born share of population 0.9% 14.2%
Foreign-born share rank 158/195 48/195

Natural population change vs migration

Malawi
Natural

Migration
Maldives
Natural

Migration
1x
Year Population change
Malawi Maldives
Natural Migration Natural Migration
2025 - -5,628 - -2,283
2024 - -1,507 - -2,421
2023 549,096 -5,811 4,566 -2,877
2022 533,450 -5,231 4,752 -2,674
2021 517,400 -2,666 4,426 9,412
2020 514,659 -2,655 4,594 9,642
2019 506,104 -1,837 4,886 9,648
2018 494,348 -3,267 5,088 9,637
2017 484,655 982 5,342 9,555
2016 474,779 3,505 5,652 9,421
2015 472,484 -6,471 5,914 9,324
2014 472,418 -10,317 6,122 7,700
2013 470,293 -12,934 6,307 6,963
2012 460,684 -13,561 6,445 6,800
2011 454,149 -12,170 6,429 6,611
2010 444,468 -9,327 6,350 6,369
2009 434,811 -8,590 6,227 6,093
2008 421,781 -9,264 5,856 6,035
2007 410,290 -22,680 5,324 6,160
2006 397,123 -29,450 4,766 5,006
2005 381,130 -31,462 4,493 578
2004 361,133 -32,221 4,287 668
2003 341,133 -31,729 4,316 578
2002 322,863 -30,013 4,257 607
2001 310,833 -28,933 4,271 560
2000 300,439 -28,098 4,372 300
1999 295,629 -31,686 4,601 -62
1998 285,407 -39,491 4,919 -94
1997 277,433 -61,646 5,267 -60
1996 270,048 -66,212 5,705 -183
1995 266,745 -66,366 6,177 -302
1994 275,439 -505,365 6,550 -768
1993 276,538 -284,867 6,842 -749
1992 269,066 37,142 7,096 -522
1991 260,193 15,291 7,295 -378
1990 250,159 71,111 7,444 -271
1989 237,967 180,031 7,472 -610
1988 226,911 201,011 7,414 -564
1987 220,566 271,693 7,300 -265
1986 218,519 62,615 7,153 -175
1985 216,179 74,625 6,944 -382
1984 212,146 72,435 6,680 -1,300
1983 209,422 68,197 6,361 -1,608
1982 205,386 62,661 6,058 -1,220
1981 199,436 57,376 5,778 -1,014
1980 192,746 52,294 5,526 -903
1979 182,123 46,388 5,275 -958
1978 172,503 36,225 4,812 -716
1977 161,930 19,638 4,779 -413
1976 153,422 8,206 4,538 -101
1975 145,254 5,162 4,325 -14
1974 137,819 3,833 4,136 -78
1973 131,529 1,623 3,924 60
1972 125,728 48 3,707 269
1971 121,015 -710 3,549 341
1970 116,822 -2,147 3,415 330
1969 113,120 -2,266 3,260 313
1968 110,329 -924 3,150 255
1967 106,668 0 3,010 672
1966 103,512 0 2,845 1,511
1965 100,040 0 2,747 1,709
1964 97,658 0 2,660 -227
1963 95,933 0 2,567 -125
1962 92,463 0 2,475 -80
1961 89,091 0 2,354 -44
1960 85,718 0 2,241 -32

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

GeoRank.org/population/malawi/maldives | 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 Maldives 42.7% is from natural causes (a gain of 51,342 people) and 57.3% is from migration (a gain of 68,788 people).

As of 2024, 186,719 residents or 0.9% of the population were not native-born in Malawi, compared to 75,099 people or 14.2% in Maldives.

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
Maldives
City Population
Male 133K
Hulhumale 50K

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/maldives | 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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