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

Updated on by Georank

The latest officially reported population of Malawi was 22,216,120 in 2025 vs 529,676 people in Maldives in 2025. In 2026, based on the adjusted UN estimation, the current Malawi's population is 23,086,106 people compared to 532,468 in Maldives.

Population statistics:

  • Malawi's population is 43.4 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 +2.67% per year vs +2.28% in Maldives.
  • Since 2006, the population of Malawi has increased from 13.2M people to 23.1M (74.9% growth), while Maldives has grown from 314K to 532K (69.7% growth).

Malawi vs Maldives: population by year and forecast

Malawi
Factual

Projection
Maldives
Factual

Projection
1x
Year Population
Malawi Maldives
2100 59,773,923 476,472
2099 59,515,624 477,887
2098 59,263,165 479,384
2097 59,015,654 481,076
2096 58,749,288 482,932
2095 58,495,699 484,892
2094 58,227,933 487,026
2093 57,954,358 489,428
2092 57,660,371 492,103
2091 57,364,786 494,866
2090 57,048,240 498,019
2089 56,727,243 501,269
2088 56,385,237 504,943
2087 56,041,651 508,705
2086 55,694,983 512,717
2085 55,336,839 516,827
2084 54,985,304 521,029
2083 54,593,349 525,309
2082 54,194,853 529,594
2081 53,783,781 534,081
2080 53,361,334 538,531
2079 52,936,889 542,993
2078 52,510,645 547,515
2077 52,052,767 551,848
2076 51,589,339 555,977
2075 51,130,762 559,992
2074 50,673,499 563,823
2073 50,218,991 567,615
2072 49,759,232 571,139
2071 49,276,570 574,565
2070 48,787,471 577,779
2069 48,291,287 580,752
2068 47,782,059 583,540
2067 47,267,335 586,154
2066 46,741,998 588,472
2065 46,218,226 590,459
2064 45,692,044 592,304
2063 45,169,634 593,970
2062 44,629,192 595,364
2061 44,067,259 596,441
2060 43,499,372 597,010
2059 42,907,491 597,582
2058 42,335,782 597,833
2057 41,753,105 597,770
2056 41,175,330 597,319
2055 40,576,247 596,595
2054 39,986,120 595,791
2053 39,369,178 594,788
2052 38,758,577 593,417
2051 38,145,141 591,901
2050 37,537,814 590,081
2049 36,928,354 587,930
2048 36,332,040 585,552
2047 35,717,466 583,266
2046 35,099,651 580,802
2045 34,484,520 578,120
2044 33,855,018 575,506
2043 33,240,675 572,763
2042 32,629,513 569,981
2041 32,012,581 567,207
2040 31,395,572 564,359
2039 30,775,878 561,507
2038 30,160,239 558,901
2037 29,521,489 556,305
2036 28,890,318 553,800
2035 28,261,909 551,310
2034 27,637,439 548,914
2033 27,012,311 546,428
2032 26,398,409 544,034
2031 25,790,366 541,696
2030 25,176,420 539,519
2029 24,561,210 537,496
2028 23,962,931 535,357
2027 23,369,575 533,364
2026 22,786,713 531,523
2025 22,216,120 529,676
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 (2026–2100, retrieved 2026-07-08); World Bank | Health (1960–2025, retrieved 2026-07-08).

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 5,528,367 people (a 31.5% growth), while Maldives' population increased by 89,160 people (a 20.1% 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 62.6% to 37,537,814 people with a rank change from 61st to 55th. The population of Maldives will increase by 10.8% to 590,081 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 2.59% 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 (2026–2100, retrieved 2026-07-08); World Bank | Health (1961–2025, retrieved 2026-07-08).

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

In 2025, the population of Malawi grew by 2.59%, while Maldives' population grew by 0.36%.

Live population counters

Malawi Maldives
Current population
23086106
532468
Population rank 61/197 168/197
Percent of world population 0.28% 0.006%
One net population change
56.4 seconds
4.68 hours
One birth every
46.8 seconds
1.57 hours
One death every
4.59 minutes
7.02 hours
Daily growth/decline +1,537 +5
Annual growth/decline +560,834 +1,877
Annual growth/decline rate +2.59% +0.36%
Population growth rate rank 23/197 142/197
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 559,811 -1,507 4,340 -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 2026-07-08).

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

Over the last 10 years, 99.5% of the population change in Malawi is from natural causes (a gain of 5,106,786 people) and 0.49% is from migration (a loss of 24,958 people). In Maldives 45.8% is from natural causes (a gain of 49,560 people) and 54.2% is from migration (a gain of 58,667 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
Mzimba 936K
Blantyre 800K
Mzuzu 150K
Zomba 101K
Mangochi 53.5K
Mulanje 14.8K
Ntcheu 14.6K
Monkey Bay 14.6K
Maldives
City Population
Male 133K
Hulhumale 65.7K

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/malawi/maldives | 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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