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

Updated on by Georank team

The latest officially reported population of Malawi was 21,655,286 in 2024 vs 3,030,131 people in Namibia in 2024. In 2026, based on the adjusted UN estimation, the current Malawi's population is 22,949,294 people compared to 3,173,089 in Namibia.

Population statistics:

  • Malawi's population is 7.23 times bigger than Namibia's.
  • Malawi is ranked the 61st most populous country in the world, while Namibia is the 134th.
  • The countries together account for 0.32% of the world: 0.28% for Malawi vs 0.04% for Namibia.
  • For the last 10 years, Malawi has had an average growth rate of +2.7% per year vs +2.73% in Namibia.
  • Since 2006, the population of Malawi has increased from 13.2M people to 22.9M (73.9% growth), while Namibia has grown from 1.99M to 3.17M (59.3% growth).

Malawi vs Namibia: population by year and forecast

Malawi
Factual

Projection
Namibia
Factual

Projection
1x
Year Population
Malawi Namibia
2100 59,786,744 5,958,153
2099 59,528,389 5,952,623
2098 59,275,876 5,947,142
2097 59,028,312 5,942,285
2096 58,761,888 5,938,162
2095 58,508,246 5,930,395
2094 58,240,422 5,922,248
2093 57,966,788 5,911,235
2092 57,672,738 5,899,026
2091 57,377,090 5,886,490
2090 57,060,476 5,871,938
2089 56,739,410 5,858,234
2088 56,397,330 5,842,720
2087 56,053,671 5,825,856
2086 55,706,928 5,806,643
2085 55,348,708 5,789,246
2084 54,997,097 5,771,050
2083 54,605,058 5,751,610
2082 54,206,477 5,730,648
2081 53,795,317 5,707,476
2080 53,372,779 5,682,842
2079 52,948,243 5,659,698
2078 52,521,908 5,634,313
2077 52,063,931 5,608,096
2076 51,600,404 5,580,829
2075 51,141,728 5,551,107
2074 50,684,368 5,522,025
2073 50,229,762 5,494,180
2072 49,769,904 5,464,749
2071 49,287,139 5,434,461
2070 48,797,935 5,403,822
2069 48,301,644 5,371,517
2068 47,792,308 5,336,950
2067 47,277,473 5,300,707
2066 46,752,024 5,263,191
2065 46,228,139 5,227,346
2064 45,701,844 5,190,323
2063 45,179,322 5,150,579
2062 44,638,764 5,109,760
2061 44,076,711 5,068,478
2060 43,508,702 5,023,587
2059 42,916,694 4,979,591
2058 42,344,863 4,933,964
2057 41,762,060 4,887,985
2056 41,184,161 4,840,537
2055 40,584,950 4,790,848
2054 39,994,696 4,741,942
2053 39,377,622 4,691,180
2052 38,766,890 4,639,835
2051 38,153,322 4,587,353
2050 37,545,865 4,533,502
2049 36,936,275 4,482,650
2048 36,339,833 4,430,309
2047 35,725,127 4,373,597
2046 35,107,179 4,318,050
2045 34,491,916 4,259,166
2044 33,862,279 4,202,338
2043 33,247,804 4,144,892
2042 32,636,511 4,088,713
2041 32,019,447 4,032,347
2040 31,402,305 3,976,987
2039 30,782,479 3,920,720
2038 30,166,708 3,862,015
2037 29,527,821 3,804,482
2036 28,896,515 3,747,072
2035 28,267,970 3,689,163
2034 27,643,367 3,631,737
2033 27,018,105 3,575,000
2032 26,404,071 3,516,310
2031 25,795,897 3,456,265
2030 25,181,820 3,395,964
2029 24,566,478 3,336,698
2028 23,968,071 3,277,428
2027 23,374,588 3,216,917
2026 22,791,601 3,156,839
2025 22,220,885 3,094,769
2024 21,655,286 3,030,131
2023 21,104,482 2,963,095
2022 20,568,728 2,889,662
2021 20,047,258 2,810,548
2020 19,533,888 2,728,762
2019 19,025,752 2,650,494
2018 18,528,081 2,577,327
2017 18,039,715 2,506,853
2016 17,557,739 2,439,213
2015 17,085,587 2,374,300
2014 16,621,538 2,312,139
2013 16,161,816 2,252,508
2012 15,709,577 2,194,654
2011 15,265,022 2,146,325
2010 14,826,463 2,109,811
2009 14,395,788 2,077,394
2008 13,976,417 2,047,056
2007 13,576,343 2,018,600
2006 13,198,701 1,991,888
2005 12,840,031 1,966,582
2004 12,500,737 1,942,082
2003 12,181,574 1,917,464
2002 11,880,440 1,889,970
2001 11,593,058 1,857,048
2000 11,315,942 1,818,647
1999 11,047,804 1,776,368
1998 10,792,876 1,732,745
1997 10,562,035 1,689,264
1996 10,352,228 1,646,103
1995 10,150,117 1,602,170
1994 10,164,894 1,556,304
1993 10,284,024 1,508,697
1992 10,135,079 1,461,322
1991 9,844,227 1,415,684
1990 9,545,852 1,369,303
1989 9,176,220 1,288,947
1988 8,753,262 1,209,696
1987 8,293,174 1,167,889
1986 7,906,480 1,131,081
1985 7,620,508 1,096,890
1984 7,332,810 1,065,989
1983 7,051,709 1,037,511
1982 6,778,879 1,010,308
1981 6,516,454 992,500
1980 6,265,529 981,434
1979 6,028,749 962,825
1978 5,810,132 947,269
1977 5,614,983 931,104
1976 5,443,384 906,566
1975 5,287,367 881,032
1974 5,141,337 854,320
1973 5,003,938 828,928
1972 4,874,475 804,399
1971 4,751,434 780,584
1970 4,633,944 757,868
1969 4,521,184 736,120
1968 4,411,054 715,542
1967 4,303,012 696,045
1966 4,197,926 677,655
1965 4,096,157 660,558
1964 3,997,305 644,530
1963 3,900,506 629,589
1962 3,806,307 615,759
1961 3,715,534 603,067
1960 3,628,134 591,465

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/namibia | CC BY

From 2006 to 2016, the population of Malawi increased by 4,359,038 people (a 33% growth), while Namibia gained 447,325 people (a 22.5% growth).

For the next 10 years, from 2016 to 2026, Malawi gained 5,391,555 people (a 30.7% growth), while Namibia's population increased by 733,876 people (a 30.1% growth).

Malawi was ranked 69th most populous country in 2006 and is 61st in 2026. Namibia was ranked 143rd in 2006 and ranked 134th 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 Namibia will increase by 42.9% to 4,533,502 people and rank change from 134th to 131st.

Malawi is projected to reach its peak in 2100 at 59.8M people compared to the peak of 5.96M people in 2100 for Namibia.

Population growth rate by year

Malawi
Factual

Projection
Namibia
Factual

Projection
1x
Year Growth rate
Malawi Namibia
2100 0.43% 0.09%
2099 0.43% 0.09%
2098 0.42% 0.08%
2097 0.45% 0.07%
2096 0.43% 0.13%
2095 0.46% 0.14%
2094 0.47% 0.19%
2093 0.51% 0.21%
2092 0.52% 0.21%
2091 0.55% 0.25%
2090 0.57% 0.23%
2089 0.61% 0.27%
2088 0.61% 0.29%
2087 0.62% 0.33%
2086 0.65% 0.3%
2085 0.64% 0.32%
2084 0.72% 0.34%
2083 0.74% 0.37%
2082 0.76% 0.41%
2081 0.79% 0.43%
2080 0.8% 0.41%
2079 0.81% 0.45%
2078 0.88% 0.47%
2077 0.9% 0.49%
2076 0.9% 0.54%
2075 0.9% 0.53%
2074 0.91% 0.51%
2073 0.92% 0.54%
2072 0.98% 0.56%
2071 1% 0.57%
2070 1.03% 0.6%
2069 1.07% 0.65%
2068 1.09% 0.68%
2067 1.12% 0.71%
2066 1.13% 0.69%
2065 1.15% 0.71%
2064 1.16% 0.77%
2063 1.21% 0.8%
2062 1.28% 0.81%
2061 1.31% 0.89%
2060 1.38% 0.88%
2059 1.35% 0.92%
2058 1.4% 0.94%
2057 1.4% 0.98%
2056 1.48% 1.04%
2055 1.48% 1.03%
2054 1.57% 1.08%
2053 1.58% 1.11%
2052 1.61% 1.14%
2051 1.62% 1.19%
2050 1.65% 1.13%
2049 1.64% 1.18%
2048 1.72% 1.3%
2047 1.76% 1.29%
2046 1.78% 1.38%
2045 1.86% 1.35%
2044 1.85% 1.39%
2043 1.87% 1.37%
2042 1.93% 1.4%
2041 1.97% 1.39%
2040 2.01% 1.44%
2039 2.04% 1.52%
2038 2.16% 1.51%
2037 2.18% 1.53%
2036 2.22% 1.57%
2035 2.26% 1.58%
2034 2.31% 1.59%
2033 2.33% 1.67%
2032 2.36% 1.74%
2031 2.44% 1.78%
2030 2.5% 1.78%
2029 2.5% 1.81%
2028 2.54% 1.88%
2027 2.56% 1.9%
2026 2.57% 2.01%
2025 2.61% 2.13%
2024 2.61% 2.26%
2023 2.6% 2.54%
2022 2.6% 2.81%
2021 2.63% 3%
2020 2.67% 2.95%
2019 2.69% 2.84%
2018 2.71% 2.81%
2017 2.75% 2.77%
2016 2.76% 2.73%
2015 2.79% 2.69%
2014 2.84% 2.65%
2013 2.88% 2.64%
2012 2.91% 2.25%
2011 2.96% 1.73%
2010 2.99% 1.56%
2009 3% 1.48%
2008 2.95% 1.41%
2007 2.86% 1.34%
2006 2.79% 1.29%
2005 2.71% 1.26%
2004 2.62% 1.28%
2003 2.53% 1.45%
2002 2.48% 1.77%
2001 2.45% 2.11%
2000 2.43% 2.38%
1999 2.36% 2.52%
1998 2.19% 2.57%
1997 2.03% 2.62%
1996 1.99% 2.74%
1995 -0.15% 2.95%
1994 -1.16% 3.16%
1993 1.47% 3.24%
1992 2.95% 3.22%
1991 3.13% 3.39%
1990 4.03% 6.23%
1989 4.83% 6.55%
1988 5.55% 3.58%
1987 4.89% 3.25%
1986 3.75% 3.12%
1985 3.92% 2.9%
1984 3.99% 2.74%
1983 4.02% 2.69%
1982 4.03% 1.79%
1981 4% 1.13%
1980 3.93% 1.93%
1979 3.76% 1.64%
1978 3.48% 1.74%
1977 3.15% 2.71%
1976 2.95% 2.9%
1975 2.84% 3.13%
1974 2.75% 3.06%
1973 2.66% 3.05%
1972 2.59% 3.05%
1971 2.54% 3%
1970 2.49% 2.95%
1969 2.5% 2.88%
1968 2.51% 2.8%
1967 2.5% 2.71%
1966 2.48% 2.59%
1965 2.47% 2.49%
1964 2.48% 2.37%
1963 2.47% 2.25%
1962 2.44% 2.1%
1961 2.41% 1.96%

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/namibia | CC BY

In 2024, the population of Malawi grew by 2.61%, while Namibia's population grew by 2.26%.

Live population counters

Malawi Namibia
Current population
22949294
3173089
Population rank 61/197 134/197
Percent of world population 0.28% 0.04%
One net population change
57.3 seconds
7.84 minutes
One birth every
47.6 seconds
6.85 minutes
One death every
4.64 minutes
28.8 minutes
Daily growth/decline +1,509 +184
Annual growth/decline +550,804 +67,036
Annual growth/decline rate +2.61% +2.26%
Population growth rate rank 26/197 41/197
One migration net change every
1.56 hours
4.71 hours
Annual migration change -5,628 +1,866
Net migration rank 118/196 57/196
Foreign-born residents 186,719 116,035
Foreign-born residents rank 117/195 127/195
Foreign-born share of population 0.9% 3.8%
Foreign-born share rank 158/195 108/195

Natural population change vs migration

Malawi
Natural

Migration
Namibia
Natural

Migration
1x
Year Population change
Malawi Namibia
Natural Migration Natural Migration
2025 - -5,628 - 1,866
2024 - -1,507 - 4,211
2023 549,096 -5,811 58,435 11,675
2022 533,450 -5,231 54,534 22,212
2021 517,400 -2,666 50,160 31,327
2020 514,659 -2,655 55,034 27,056
2019 506,104 -1,837 54,769 19,676
2018 494,348 -3,267 53,970 17,920
2017 484,655 982 52,975 16,080
2016 474,779 3,505 52,228 14,002
2015 472,484 -6,471 50,846 12,755
2014 472,418 -10,317 49,581 11,134
2013 470,293 -12,934 47,801 10,748
2012 460,684 -13,561 46,204 10,957
2011 454,149 -12,170 43,557 -4,067
2010 444,468 -9,327 42,046 -8,518
2009 434,811 -8,590 39,942 -8,626
2008 421,781 -9,264 38,147 -8,775
2007 410,290 -22,680 36,430 -8,905
2006 397,123 -29,450 34,690 -8,792
2005 381,130 -31,462 32,909 -8,195
2004 361,133 -32,221 31,478 -7,192
2003 341,133 -31,729 31,115 -6,153
2002 322,863 -30,013 31,947 -1,913
2001 310,833 -28,933 32,942 2,869
2000 300,439 -28,098 35,280 5,709
1999 295,629 -31,686 37,233 6,333
1998 285,407 -39,491 37,500 6,180
1997 277,433 -61,646 37,256 6,023
1996 270,048 -66,212 37,177 5,866
1995 266,745 -66,366 39,119 5,712
1994 275,439 -505,365 41,316 5,578
1993 276,538 -284,867 42,861 5,464
1992 269,066 37,142 43,945 2,487
1991 260,193 15,291 44,523 309
1990 250,159 71,111 43,956 3,969
1989 237,967 180,031 37,715 75,072
1988 226,911 201,011 34,798 10,916
1987 220,566 271,693 33,340 4,559
1986 218,519 62,615 31,764 3,953
1985 216,179 74,625 30,575 2,090
1984 212,146 72,435 29,395 -267
1983 209,422 68,197 28,307 -481
1982 205,386 62,661 27,474 -889
1981 199,436 57,376 27,938 -18,901
1980 192,746 52,294 28,142 -15,041
1979 182,123 46,388 28,930 -4,818
1978 172,503 36,225 29,821 -22,827
1977 161,930 19,638 29,241 -3,907
1976 153,422 8,206 28,785 -5,048
1975 145,254 5,162 27,882 -553
1974 137,819 3,833 26,844 -744
1973 131,529 1,623 25,754 -1,066
1972 125,728 48 24,606 -236
1971 121,015 -710 23,467 -208
1970 116,822 -2,147 22,414 -244
1969 113,120 -2,266 21,387 -57
1968 110,329 -924 20,470 -636
1967 106,668 0 19,498 -339
1966 103,512 0 18,635 -1,023
1965 100,040 0 17,902 -1,327
1964 97,658 0 17,134 -1,660
1963 95,933 0 16,430 -2,016
1962 92,463 0 15,656 -2,403
1961 89,091 0 14,936 -2,807
1960 85,718 0 14,307 -3,227

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

GeoRank.org/population/malawi/namibia | 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 Namibia 74.3% is from natural causes (a gain of 532,532 people) and 25.7% is from migration (a gain of 183,837 people).

As of 2024, 186,719 residents or 0.9% of the population were not native-born in Malawi, compared to 116,035 people or 3.8% in Namibia.

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
Namibia
City Population
Windhoek 431K
Walvis Bay 103K
Swakopmund 75.9K
Otjiwarongo 49K
Rehoboth 40.8K
Tsumeb 35K
Gobabis 33.4K
Mariental 18.5K
Oshikango 12.4K
Omaruru 10.8K

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/namibia | 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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