Skip to content

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

Updated on by Georank team

The latest officially reported population of Malawi was 21,655,286 in 2024 vs 5,169,395 people in Mauritania in 2024. In 2026, based on the adjusted UN estimation, the current Malawi's population is 22,949,294 people compared to 5,505,206 in Mauritania.

Population statistics:

  • Malawi's population is 4.17 times bigger than Mauritania's.
  • Malawi is ranked the 61st most populous country in the world, while Mauritania is the 122nd.
  • The countries together account for 0.34% of the world: 0.28% for Malawi vs 0.07% for Mauritania.
  • For the last 10 years, Malawi has had an average growth rate of +2.7% per year vs +3% in Mauritania.
  • Since 2006, the population of Malawi has increased from 13.2M people to 22.9M (73.9% growth), while Mauritania has grown from 3.01M to 5.51M (82.7% growth).

Malawi vs Mauritania: population by year and forecast

Malawi
Factual

Projection
Mauritania
Factual

Projection
1x
Year Population
Malawi Mauritania
2100 59,786,744 17,309,980
2099 59,528,389 17,202,690
2098 59,275,876 17,090,030
2097 59,028,312 16,975,270
2096 58,761,888 16,857,252
2095 58,508,246 16,739,240
2094 58,240,422 16,617,272
2093 57,966,788 16,492,589
2092 57,672,738 16,366,098
2091 57,377,090 16,235,771
2090 57,060,476 16,103,700
2089 56,739,410 15,969,059
2088 56,397,330 15,831,339
2087 56,053,671 15,690,143
2086 55,706,928 15,547,605
2085 55,348,708 15,403,967
2084 54,997,097 15,257,740
2083 54,605,058 15,108,271
2082 54,206,477 14,958,279
2081 53,795,317 14,805,332
2080 53,372,779 14,651,508
2079 52,948,243 14,496,397
2078 52,521,908 14,337,117
2077 52,063,931 14,175,812
2076 51,600,404 14,013,255
2075 51,141,728 13,849,027
2074 50,684,368 13,684,146
2073 50,229,762 13,517,681
2072 49,769,904 13,349,376
2071 49,287,139 13,178,237
2070 48,797,935 13,007,812
2069 48,301,644 12,835,311
2068 47,792,308 12,662,862
2067 47,277,473 12,487,379
2066 46,752,024 12,311,503
2065 46,228,139 12,136,616
2064 45,701,844 11,958,955
2063 45,179,322 11,783,144
2062 44,638,764 11,606,044
2061 44,076,711 11,428,738
2060 43,508,702 11,251,427
2059 42,916,694 11,072,236
2058 42,344,863 10,892,076
2057 41,762,060 10,713,858
2056 41,184,161 10,536,935
2055 40,584,950 10,358,532
2054 39,994,696 10,179,658
2053 39,377,622 9,999,712
2052 38,766,890 9,819,098
2051 38,153,322 9,639,209
2050 37,545,865 9,461,249
2049 36,936,275 9,283,353
2048 36,339,833 9,104,299
2047 35,725,127 8,926,851
2046 35,107,179 8,748,845
2045 34,491,916 8,572,397
2044 33,862,279 8,397,189
2043 33,247,804 8,222,194
2042 32,636,511 8,048,139
2041 32,019,447 7,876,803
2040 31,402,305 7,706,696
2039 30,782,479 7,537,689
2038 30,166,708 7,369,184
2037 29,527,821 7,202,472
2036 28,896,515 7,036,729
2035 28,267,970 6,871,981
2034 27,643,367 6,708,364
2033 27,018,105 6,546,168
2032 26,404,071 6,385,827
2031 25,795,897 6,227,564
2030 25,181,820 6,070,865
2029 24,566,478 5,916,516
2028 23,968,071 5,764,060
2027 23,374,588 5,613,919
2026 22,791,601 5,464,898
2025 22,220,885 5,317,228
2024 21,655,286 5,169,395
2023 21,104,482 5,022,441
2022 20,568,728 4,875,637
2021 20,047,258 4,734,874
2020 19,533,888 4,600,131
2019 19,025,752 4,467,708
2018 18,528,081 4,337,685
2017 18,039,715 4,210,600
2016 17,557,739 4,086,657
2015 17,085,587 3,965,959
2014 16,621,538 3,848,514
2013 16,161,816 3,734,318
2012 15,709,577 3,619,034
2011 15,265,022 3,502,811
2010 14,826,463 3,390,965
2009 14,395,788 3,284,448
2008 13,976,417 3,183,269
2007 13,576,343 3,093,059
2006 13,198,701 3,013,660
2005 12,840,031 2,939,059
2004 12,500,737 2,868,664
2003 12,181,574 2,802,046
2002 11,880,440 2,738,655
2001 11,593,058 2,678,760
2000 11,315,942 2,613,441
1999 11,047,804 2,541,698
1998 10,792,876 2,474,651
1997 10,562,035 2,411,306
1996 10,352,228 2,358,188
1995 10,150,117 2,312,017
1994 10,164,894 2,249,454
1993 10,284,024 2,174,328
1992 10,135,079 2,088,135
1991 9,844,227 2,009,738
1990 9,545,852 1,951,878
1989 9,176,220 1,903,048
1988 8,753,262 1,855,859
1987 8,293,174 1,803,014
1986 7,906,480 1,751,835
1985 7,620,508 1,702,107
1984 7,332,810 1,653,693
1983 7,051,709 1,606,746
1982 6,778,879 1,561,176
1981 6,516,454 1,516,877
1980 6,265,529 1,474,043
1979 6,028,749 1,432,758
1978 5,810,132 1,392,713
1977 5,614,983 1,353,768
1976 5,443,384 1,315,336
1975 5,287,367 1,277,330
1974 5,141,337 1,240,188
1973 5,003,938 1,203,838
1972 4,874,475 1,168,355
1971 4,751,434 1,133,702
1970 4,633,944 1,099,806
1969 4,521,184 1,066,754
1968 4,411,054 1,034,739
1967 4,303,012 1,003,843
1966 4,197,926 974,157
1965 4,096,157 945,838
1964 3,997,305 918,955
1963 3,900,506 893,423
1962 3,806,307 869,184
1961 3,715,534 846,167
1960 3,628,134 824,298

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/mauritania | CC BY

From 2006 to 2016, the population of Malawi increased by 4,359,038 people (a 33% growth), while Mauritania gained 1,072,997 people (a 35.6% growth).

For the next 10 years, from 2016 to 2026, Malawi gained 5,391,555 people (a 30.7% growth), while Mauritania's population increased by 1,418,549 people (a 34.7% growth).

Malawi was ranked 69th most populous country in 2006 and is 61st in 2026. Mauritania was ranked 132nd in 2006 and ranked 122nd 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 Mauritania will increase by 71.9% to 9,461,249 people and rank change from 122nd to 102nd.

Malawi is projected to reach its peak in 2100 at 59.8M people compared to the peak of 17.3M people in 2100 for Mauritania.

Population growth rate by year

Malawi
Factual

Projection
Mauritania
Factual

Projection
1x
Year Growth rate
Malawi Mauritania
2100 0.43% 0.62%
2099 0.43% 0.66%
2098 0.42% 0.68%
2097 0.45% 0.7%
2096 0.43% 0.7%
2095 0.46% 0.73%
2094 0.47% 0.76%
2093 0.51% 0.77%
2092 0.52% 0.8%
2091 0.55% 0.82%
2090 0.57% 0.84%
2089 0.61% 0.87%
2088 0.61% 0.9%
2087 0.62% 0.92%
2086 0.65% 0.93%
2085 0.64% 0.96%
2084 0.72% 0.99%
2083 0.74% 1%
2082 0.76% 1.03%
2081 0.79% 1.05%
2080 0.8% 1.07%
2079 0.81% 1.11%
2078 0.88% 1.14%
2077 0.9% 1.16%
2076 0.9% 1.19%
2075 0.9% 1.2%
2074 0.91% 1.23%
2073 0.92% 1.26%
2072 0.98% 1.3%
2071 1% 1.31%
2070 1.03% 1.34%
2069 1.07% 1.36%
2068 1.09% 1.41%
2067 1.12% 1.43%
2066 1.13% 1.44%
2065 1.15% 1.49%
2064 1.16% 1.49%
2063 1.21% 1.53%
2062 1.28% 1.55%
2061 1.31% 1.58%
2060 1.38% 1.62%
2059 1.35% 1.65%
2058 1.4% 1.66%
2057 1.4% 1.68%
2056 1.48% 1.72%
2055 1.48% 1.76%
2054 1.57% 1.8%
2053 1.58% 1.84%
2052 1.61% 1.87%
2051 1.62% 1.88%
2050 1.65% 1.92%
2049 1.64% 1.97%
2048 1.72% 1.99%
2047 1.76% 2.03%
2046 1.78% 2.06%
2045 1.86% 2.09%
2044 1.85% 2.13%
2043 1.87% 2.16%
2042 1.93% 2.18%
2041 1.97% 2.21%
2040 2.01% 2.24%
2039 2.04% 2.29%
2038 2.16% 2.31%
2037 2.18% 2.36%
2036 2.22% 2.4%
2035 2.26% 2.44%
2034 2.31% 2.48%
2033 2.33% 2.51%
2032 2.36% 2.54%
2031 2.44% 2.58%
2030 2.5% 2.61%
2029 2.5% 2.64%
2028 2.54% 2.67%
2027 2.56% 2.73%
2026 2.57% 2.78%
2025 2.61% 2.86%
2024 2.61% 2.93%
2023 2.6% 3.01%
2022 2.6% 2.97%
2021 2.63% 2.93%
2020 2.67% 2.96%
2019 2.69% 3%
2018 2.71% 3.02%
2017 2.75% 3.03%
2016 2.76% 3.04%
2015 2.79% 3.05%
2014 2.84% 3.06%
2013 2.88% 3.19%
2012 2.91% 3.32%
2011 2.96% 3.3%
2010 2.99% 3.24%
2009 3% 3.18%
2008 2.95% 2.92%
2007 2.86% 2.63%
2006 2.79% 2.54%
2005 2.71% 2.45%
2004 2.62% 2.38%
2003 2.53% 2.31%
2002 2.48% 2.24%
2001 2.45% 2.5%
2000 2.43% 2.82%
1999 2.36% 2.71%
1998 2.19% 2.63%
1997 2.03% 2.25%
1996 1.99% 2%
1995 -0.15% 2.78%
1994 -1.16% 3.46%
1993 1.47% 4.13%
1992 2.95% 3.9%
1991 3.13% 2.96%
1990 4.03% 2.57%
1989 4.83% 2.54%
1988 5.55% 2.93%
1987 4.89% 2.92%
1986 3.75% 2.92%
1985 3.92% 2.93%
1984 3.99% 2.92%
1983 4.02% 2.92%
1982 4.03% 2.92%
1981 4% 2.91%
1980 3.93% 2.88%
1979 3.76% 2.88%
1978 3.48% 2.88%
1977 3.15% 2.92%
1976 2.95% 2.98%
1975 2.84% 2.99%
1974 2.75% 3.02%
1973 2.66% 3.04%
1972 2.59% 3.06%
1971 2.54% 3.08%
1970 2.49% 3.1%
1969 2.5% 3.09%
1968 2.51% 3.08%
1967 2.5% 3.05%
1966 2.48% 2.99%
1965 2.47% 2.93%
1964 2.48% 2.86%
1963 2.47% 2.79%
1962 2.44% 2.72%
1961 2.41% 2.65%

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/mauritania | CC BY

In 2024, the population of Malawi grew by 2.61%, while Mauritania's population grew by 2.93%.

Live population counters

Malawi Mauritania
Current population
22949294
5505206
Population rank 61/197 122/197
Percent of world population 0.28% 0.07%
One net population change
57.3 seconds
3.58 minutes
One birth every
47.6 seconds
3.04 minutes
One death every
4.64 minutes
19 minutes
Daily growth/decline +1,509 +403
Annual growth/decline +550,804 +146,954
Annual growth/decline rate +2.61% +2.93%
Population growth rate rank 26/197 17/197
One migration net change every
1.56 hours
1.74 hours
Annual migration change -5,628 -5,044
Net migration rank 118/196 115/196
Foreign-born residents 186,719 195,937
Foreign-born residents rank 117/195 113/195
Foreign-born share of population 0.9% 3.8%
Foreign-born share rank 158/195 107/195

Natural population change vs migration

Malawi
Natural

Migration
Mauritania
Natural

Migration
1x
Year Population change
Malawi Mauritania
Natural Migration Natural Migration
2025 - -5,628 - -5,044
2024 - -1,507 - -2,185
2023 549,096 -5,811 145,164 2,999
2022 533,450 -5,231 142,451 2,999
2021 517,400 -2,666 137,557 -1,483
2020 514,659 -2,655 134,899 -1,483
2019 506,104 -1,837 134,460 -3,019
2018 494,348 -3,267 131,584 -2,987
2017 484,655 982 128,562 -3,001
2016 474,779 3,505 125,342 -3,008
2015 472,484 -6,471 122,092 -3,019
2014 472,418 -10,317 118,792 -2,980
2013 470,293 -12,934 115,558 -2,987
2012 460,684 -13,561 113,489 4,515
2011 454,149 -12,170 111,165 3,272
2010 444,468 -9,327 108,121 1,128
2009 434,811 -8,590 105,273 -1,481
2008 421,781 -9,264 102,432 -3,860
2007 410,290 -22,680 98,895 -17,048
2006 397,123 -29,450 94,991 -18,033
2005 381,130 -31,462 90,940 -18,693
2004 361,133 -32,221 87,578 -19,042
2003 341,133 -31,729 83,804 -19,104
2002 322,863 -30,013 80,993 -18,903
2001 310,833 -28,933 78,769 -21,067
2000 300,439 -28,098 75,929 -2,997
1999 295,629 -31,686 73,554 -2,999
1998 285,407 -39,491 72,045 -8,504
1997 277,433 -61,646 71,327 -8,187
1996 270,048 -66,212 71,939 -28,840
1995 266,745 -66,366 72,244 -22,997
1994 275,439 -505,365 70,570 5,304
1993 276,538 -284,867 68,167 6,217
1992 269,066 37,142 63,501 34,505
1991 260,193 15,291 61,782 -2,997
1990 250,159 71,111 59,934 -3,000
1989 237,967 180,031 58,666 -17,941
1988 226,911 201,011 56,654 -2,997
1987 220,566 271,693 55,037 -2,998
1986 218,519 62,615 53,313 -2,998
1985 216,179 74,625 52,125 -2,998
1984 212,146 72,435 50,705 -2,998
1983 209,422 68,197 49,187 -2,998
1982 205,386 62,661 47,947 -2,998
1981 199,436 57,376 46,641 -2,998
1980 192,746 52,294 45,026 -2,997
1979 182,123 46,388 43,537 -2,997
1978 172,503 36,225 42,539 -2,998
1977 161,930 19,638 41,352 -2,999
1976 153,422 8,206 40,149 -1,645
1975 145,254 5,162 38,975 -1,472
1974 137,819 3,833 38,106 -1,321
1973 131,529 1,623 37,122 -1,201
1972 125,728 48 36,184 -1,139
1971 121,015 -710 35,279 -1,014
1970 116,822 -2,147 34,382 -855
1969 113,120 -2,266 33,252 -688
1968 110,329 -924 32,029 -565
1967 106,668 0 30,853 -514
1966 103,512 0 29,502 -466
1965 100,040 0 28,028 -434
1964 97,658 0 26,565 -390
1963 95,933 0 25,250 -362
1962 92,463 0 23,927 -342
1961 89,091 0 22,781 -332
1960 85,718 0 21,604 -318

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

GeoRank.org/population/malawi/mauritania | 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 Mauritania 98.9% is from natural causes (a gain of 1,320,903 people) and 1.12% is from migration (a loss of 14,982 people).

As of 2024, 186,719 residents or 0.9% of the population were not native-born in Malawi, compared to 195,937 people or 3.8% in Mauritania.

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
Mauritania
City Population
Nouakchott 1.45M
Rosso 61.2K

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/mauritania | CC BY

Help us show the world through your eyes

Share a photo of your city and help others discover what it looks like to live there. Your contribution makes our data come alive.

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)

Creative Commons Attribution (CC BY) — you’re free to copy, share, remix, adapt, and use even commercially as long as you give appropriate credit and clearly indicate if you made changes. Other sources may be subject to different license terms.