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

Updated on by Georank team

The latest officially reported population of Malawi was 21,655,286 in 2024 vs 11,947 people in Nauru in 2024. In 2026, based on the adjusted UN estimation, the current Malawi's population is 22,949,294 people compared to 12,125 in Nauru.

Population statistics:

  • Malawi's population is 1,893 times bigger than Nauru's.
  • Malawi is ranked the 61st most populous country in the world, while Nauru is the 195th.
  • The countries together account for 0.28% of the world: 0.28% for Malawi vs 0.0001% for Nauru.
  • For the last 10 years, Malawi has had an average growth rate of +2.7% per year vs +1.17% in Nauru.
  • Since 2006, the population of Malawi has increased from 13.2M people to 22.9M (73.9% growth), while Nauru has grown from 10K to 12.1K (20.8% growth).

Malawi vs Nauru: population by year and forecast

Malawi
Factual

Projection
Nauru
Factual

Projection
1x
Year Population
Malawi Nauru
2100 59,786,744 20,717
2099 59,528,389 20,686
2098 59,275,876 20,645
2097 59,028,312 20,605
2096 58,761,888 20,570
2095 58,508,246 20,535
2094 58,240,422 20,488
2093 57,966,788 20,432
2092 57,672,738 20,386
2091 57,377,090 20,341
2090 57,060,476 20,285
2089 56,739,410 20,219
2088 56,397,330 20,152
2087 56,053,671 20,096
2086 55,706,928 20,028
2085 55,348,708 19,959
2084 54,997,097 19,880
2083 54,605,058 19,796
2082 54,206,477 19,709
2081 53,795,317 19,611
2080 53,372,779 19,525
2079 52,948,243 19,420
2078 52,521,908 19,312
2077 52,063,931 19,206
2076 51,600,404 19,098
2075 51,141,728 18,986
2074 50,684,368 18,874
2073 50,229,762 18,758
2072 49,769,904 18,638
2071 49,287,139 18,535
2070 48,797,935 18,396
2069 48,301,644 18,289
2068 47,792,308 18,168
2067 47,277,473 18,025
2066 46,752,024 17,903
2065 46,228,139 17,777
2064 45,701,844 17,649
2063 45,179,322 17,524
2062 44,638,764 17,402
2061 44,076,711 17,267
2060 43,508,702 17,137
2059 42,916,694 17,013
2058 42,344,863 16,882
2057 41,762,060 16,752
2056 41,184,161 16,612
2055 40,584,950 16,472
2054 39,994,696 16,335
2053 39,377,622 16,193
2052 38,766,890 16,049
2051 38,153,322 15,888
2050 37,545,865 15,738
2049 36,936,275 15,572
2048 36,339,833 15,412
2047 35,725,127 15,241
2046 35,107,179 15,064
2045 34,491,916 14,895
2044 33,862,279 14,718
2043 33,247,804 14,546
2042 32,636,511 14,363
2041 32,019,447 14,180
2040 31,402,305 13,996
2039 30,782,479 13,827
2038 30,166,708 13,672
2037 29,527,821 13,513
2036 28,896,515 13,363
2035 28,267,970 13,196
2034 27,643,367 13,040
2033 27,018,105 12,894
2032 26,404,071 12,758
2031 25,795,897 12,625
2030 25,181,820 12,504
2029 24,566,478 12,386
2028 23,968,071 12,292
2027 23,374,588 12,182
2026 22,791,601 12,105
2025 22,220,885 12,030
2024 21,655,286 11,947
2023 21,104,482 11,875
2022 20,568,728 11,801
2021 20,047,258 11,709
2020 19,533,888 11,643
2019 19,025,752 11,587
2018 18,528,081 11,477
2017 18,039,715 11,324
2016 17,557,739 11,150
2015 17,085,587 10,954
2014 16,621,538 10,742
2013 16,161,816 10,517
2012 15,709,577 10,267
2011 15,265,022 10,098
2010 14,826,463 10,043
2009 14,395,788 10,016
2008 13,976,417 10,009
2007 13,576,343 10,020
2006 13,198,701 10,034
2005 12,840,031 10,049
2004 12,500,737 10,060
2003 12,181,574 10,059
2002 11,880,440 10,082
2001 11,593,058 10,130
2000 11,315,942 10,168
1999 11,047,804 10,187
1998 10,792,876 10,198
1997 10,562,035 10,197
1996 10,352,228 10,183
1995 10,150,117 10,165
1994 10,164,894 10,137
1993 10,284,024 10,102
1992 10,135,079 10,021
1991 9,844,227 9,850
1990 9,545,852 9,622
1989 9,176,220 9,390
1988 8,753,262 9,165
1987 8,293,174 8,946
1986 7,906,480 8,742
1985 7,620,508 8,551
1984 7,332,810 8,377
1983 7,051,709 8,216
1982 6,778,879 8,040
1981 6,516,454 7,839
1980 6,265,529 7,649
1979 6,028,749 7,468
1978 5,810,132 7,298
1977 5,614,983 7,163
1976 5,443,384 7,064
1975 5,287,367 6,987
1974 5,141,337 6,923
1973 5,003,938 6,866
1972 4,874,475 6,812
1971 4,751,434 6,762
1970 4,633,944 6,710
1969 4,521,184 6,581
1968 4,411,054 6,328
1967 4,303,012 6,135
1966 4,197,926 6,043
1965 4,096,157 5,832
1964 3,997,305 5,515
1963 3,900,506 5,226
1962 3,806,307 4,979
1961 3,715,534 4,774
1960 3,628,134 4,607

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/nauru | CC BY

From 2006 to 2016, the population of Malawi increased by 4,359,038 people (a 33% growth), while Nauru gained 1,116 people (a 11.1% growth).

For the next 10 years, from 2016 to 2026, Malawi gained 5,391,555 people (a 30.7% growth), while Nauru's population increased by 975 people (a 8.74% growth).

Malawi was ranked 69th most populous country in 2006 and is 61st in 2026. Nauru was ranked 196th in 2006 and ranked 195th 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 Nauru will increase by 29.8% to 15,738 people and rank change from 195th to 194th.

Malawi is projected to reach its peak in 2100 at 59.8M people compared to the peak of 20.7K people in 2100 for Nauru.

Population growth rate by year

Malawi
Factual

Projection
Nauru
Factual

Projection
1x
Year Growth rate
Malawi Nauru
2100 0.43% 0.15%
2099 0.43% 0.2%
2098 0.42% 0.19%
2097 0.45% 0.17%
2096 0.43% 0.17%
2095 0.46% 0.23%
2094 0.47% 0.27%
2093 0.51% 0.23%
2092 0.52% 0.22%
2091 0.55% 0.28%
2090 0.57% 0.33%
2089 0.61% 0.33%
2088 0.61% 0.28%
2087 0.62% 0.34%
2086 0.65% 0.35%
2085 0.64% 0.39%
2084 0.72% 0.43%
2083 0.74% 0.44%
2082 0.76% 0.5%
2081 0.79% 0.44%
2080 0.8% 0.54%
2079 0.81% 0.56%
2078 0.88% 0.55%
2077 0.9% 0.57%
2076 0.9% 0.59%
2075 0.9% 0.6%
2074 0.91% 0.62%
2073 0.92% 0.65%
2072 0.98% 0.56%
2071 1% 0.75%
2070 1.03% 0.59%
2069 1.07% 0.66%
2068 1.09% 0.8%
2067 1.12% 0.68%
2066 1.13% 0.71%
2065 1.15% 0.73%
2064 1.16% 0.71%
2063 1.21% 0.7%
2062 1.28% 0.78%
2061 1.31% 0.76%
2060 1.38% 0.73%
2059 1.35% 0.78%
2058 1.4% 0.77%
2057 1.4% 0.85%
2056 1.48% 0.85%
2055 1.48% 0.84%
2054 1.57% 0.87%
2053 1.58% 0.9%
2052 1.61% 1.01%
2051 1.62% 0.96%
2050 1.65% 1.06%
2049 1.64% 1.04%
2048 1.72% 1.12%
2047 1.76% 1.17%
2046 1.78% 1.14%
2045 1.86% 1.2%
2044 1.85% 1.19%
2043 1.87% 1.27%
2042 1.93% 1.29%
2041 1.97% 1.32%
2040 2.01% 1.22%
2039 2.04% 1.14%
2038 2.16% 1.17%
2037 2.18% 1.12%
2036 2.22% 1.27%
2035 2.26% 1.19%
2034 2.31% 1.14%
2033 2.33% 1.06%
2032 2.36% 1.06%
2031 2.44% 0.96%
2030 2.5% 0.96%
2029 2.5% 0.77%
2028 2.54% 0.9%
2027 2.56% 0.64%
2026 2.57% 0.63%
2025 2.61% 0.7%
2024 2.61% 0.61%
2023 2.6% 0.63%
2022 2.6% 0.79%
2021 2.63% 0.57%
2020 2.67% 0.48%
2019 2.69% 0.96%
2018 2.71% 1.35%
2017 2.75% 1.56%
2016 2.76% 1.79%
2015 2.79% 1.97%
2014 2.84% 2.14%
2013 2.88% 2.43%
2012 2.91% 1.67%
2011 2.96% 0.55%
2010 2.99% 0.27%
2009 3% 0.07%
2008 2.95% -0.11%
2007 2.86% -0.14%
2006 2.79% -0.15%
2005 2.71% -0.11%
2004 2.62% 0.01%
2003 2.53% -0.23%
2002 2.48% -0.47%
2001 2.45% -0.37%
2000 2.43% -0.19%
1999 2.36% -0.11%
1998 2.19% 0.01%
1997 2.03% 0.14%
1996 1.99% 0.18%
1995 -0.15% 0.28%
1994 -1.16% 0.35%
1993 1.47% 0.81%
1992 2.95% 1.74%
1991 3.13% 2.37%
1990 4.03% 2.47%
1989 4.83% 2.45%
1988 5.55% 2.45%
1987 4.89% 2.33%
1986 3.75% 2.23%
1985 3.92% 2.08%
1984 3.99% 1.96%
1983 4.02% 2.19%
1982 4.03% 2.56%
1981 4% 2.48%
1980 3.93% 2.42%
1979 3.76% 2.33%
1978 3.48% 1.88%
1977 3.15% 1.4%
1976 2.95% 1.1%
1975 2.84% 0.92%
1974 2.75% 0.83%
1973 2.66% 0.79%
1972 2.59% 0.74%
1971 2.54% 0.77%
1970 2.49% 1.96%
1969 2.5% 4%
1968 2.51% 3.15%
1967 2.5% 1.52%
1966 2.48% 3.62%
1965 2.47% 5.75%
1964 2.48% 5.53%
1963 2.47% 4.96%
1962 2.44% 4.29%
1961 2.41% 3.62%

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/nauru | CC BY

In 2024, the population of Malawi grew by 2.61%, while Nauru's population grew by 0.61%.

Live population counters

Malawi Nauru
Current population
22949294
12125
Population rank 61/197 195/197
Percent of world population 0.28% 0.0001%
One net population change
57.3 seconds
5.07 days
One birth every
47.6 seconds
1.21 days
One death every
4.64 minutes
4.1 days
Daily growth/decline +1,509 +0
Annual growth/decline +550,804 +72
Annual growth/decline rate +2.61% +0.61%
Population growth rate rank 26/197 126/197
One migration net change every
1.56 hours
3 days
Annual migration change -5,628 -122
Net migration rank 118/196 82/196
Foreign-born residents 186,719 2,548
Foreign-born residents rank 117/195 191/195
Foreign-born share of population 0.9% 21.3%
Foreign-born share rank 158/195 29/195

Natural population change vs migration

Malawi
Natural

Migration
Nauru
Natural

Migration
1x
Year Population change
Malawi Nauru
Natural Migration Natural Migration
2025 - -5,628 - -122
2024 - -1,507 - -121
2023 549,096 -5,811 213 -148
2022 533,450 -5,231 226 -144
2021 517,400 -2,666 236 -137
2020 514,659 -2,655 246 -214
2019 506,104 -1,837 255 -171
2018 494,348 -3,267 265 -131
2017 484,655 982 279 -115
2016 474,779 3,505 289 -105
2015 472,484 -6,471 291 -86
2014 472,418 -10,317 290 -69
2013 470,293 -12,934 291 -53
2012 460,684 -13,561 292 -38
2011 454,149 -12,170 291 -206
2010 444,468 -9,327 281 -246
2009 434,811 -8,590 261 -249
2008 421,781 -9,264 240 -243
2007 410,290 -22,680 222 -235
2006 397,123 -29,450 209 -224
2005 381,130 -31,462 204 -217
2004 361,133 -32,221 202 -210
2003 341,133 -31,729 201 -199
2002 322,863 -30,013 200 -247
2001 310,833 -28,933 203 -252
2000 300,439 -28,098 207 -236
1999 295,629 -31,686 212 -227
1998 285,407 -39,491 214 -217
1997 277,433 -61,646 218 -209
1996 270,048 -66,212 221 -204
1995 266,745 -66,366 225 -201
1994 275,439 -505,365 229 -196
1993 276,538 -284,867 235 -194
1992 269,066 37,142 237 -121
1991 260,193 15,291 225 0
1990 250,159 71,111 214 20
1989 237,967 180,031 204 24
1988 226,911 201,011 195 29
1987 220,566 271,693 186 27
1986 218,519 62,615 178 21
1985 216,179 74,625 171 8
1984 212,146 72,435 166 -2
1983 209,422 68,197 163 -5
1982 205,386 62,661 162 30
1981 199,436 57,376 157 44
1980 192,746 52,294 145 44
1979 182,123 46,388 130 48
1978 172,503 36,225 111 40
1977 161,930 19,638 89 32
1976 153,422 8,206 79 0
1975 145,254 5,162 70 0
1974 137,819 3,833 63 0
1973 131,529 1,623 57 0
1972 125,728 48 53 0
1971 121,015 -710 50 0
1970 116,822 -2,147 49 0
1969 113,120 -2,266 71 132
1968 110,329 -924 116 180
1967 106,668 0 117 -28
1966 103,512 0 123 -32
1965 100,040 0 113 218
1964 97,658 0 100 203
1963 95,933 0 88 181
1962 92,463 0 75 158
1961 89,091 0 70 120
1960 85,718 0 72 76

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

GeoRank.org/population/malawi/nauru | 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 Nauru 66.2% is from natural causes (a gain of 2,590 people) and 33.8% is from migration (a loss of 1,320 people).

As of 2024, 186,719 residents or 0.9% of the population were not native-born in Malawi, compared to 2,548 people or 21.3% in Nauru.

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
Nauru
City Population
Yaren 747

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/nauru | 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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