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

Updated on by Georank

The latest officially reported population of Malawi was 22,216,120 in 2025 vs 12,025 people in Nauru in 2025. In 2026, based on the adjusted UN estimation, the current Malawi's population is 23,086,106 people compared to 12,139 in Nauru.

Population statistics:

  • Malawi's population is 1,902 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 +2.67% per year vs +1.03% in Nauru.
  • Since 2006, the population of Malawi has increased from 13.2M people to 23.1M (74.9% growth), while Nauru has grown from 10K to 12.1K (21% growth).

Malawi vs Nauru: population by year and forecast

Malawi
Factual

Projection
Nauru
Factual

Projection
1x
Year Population
Malawi Nauru
2100 59,773,923 20,708
2099 59,515,624 20,677
2098 59,263,165 20,636
2097 59,015,654 20,596
2096 58,749,288 20,561
2095 58,495,699 20,526
2094 58,227,933 20,479
2093 57,954,358 20,423
2092 57,660,371 20,377
2091 57,364,786 20,332
2090 57,048,240 20,276
2089 56,727,243 20,210
2088 56,385,237 20,143
2087 56,041,651 20,087
2086 55,694,983 20,019
2085 55,336,839 19,950
2084 54,985,304 19,872
2083 54,593,349 19,787
2082 54,194,853 19,700
2081 53,783,781 19,603
2080 53,361,334 19,517
2079 52,936,889 19,411
2078 52,510,645 19,304
2077 52,052,767 19,198
2076 51,589,339 19,089
2075 51,130,762 18,978
2074 50,673,499 18,866
2073 50,218,991 18,750
2072 49,759,232 18,630
2071 49,276,570 18,527
2070 48,787,471 18,388
2069 48,291,287 18,281
2068 47,782,059 18,160
2067 47,267,335 18,017
2066 46,741,998 17,896
2065 46,218,226 17,769
2064 45,692,044 17,641
2063 45,169,634 17,516
2062 44,629,192 17,394
2061 44,067,259 17,260
2060 43,499,372 17,129
2059 42,907,491 17,006
2058 42,335,782 16,874
2057 41,753,105 16,745
2056 41,175,330 16,605
2055 40,576,247 16,465
2054 39,986,120 16,328
2053 39,369,178 16,186
2052 38,758,577 16,042
2051 38,145,141 15,881
2050 37,537,814 15,731
2049 36,928,354 15,565
2048 36,332,040 15,405
2047 35,717,466 15,234
2046 35,099,651 15,058
2045 34,484,520 14,888
2044 33,855,018 14,712
2043 33,240,675 14,539
2042 32,629,513 14,357
2041 32,012,581 14,174
2040 31,395,572 13,990
2039 30,775,878 13,821
2038 30,160,239 13,666
2037 29,521,489 13,507
2036 28,890,318 13,358
2035 28,261,909 13,190
2034 27,637,439 13,035
2033 27,012,311 12,888
2032 26,398,409 12,753
2031 25,790,366 12,619
2030 25,176,420 12,499
2029 24,561,210 12,381
2028 23,962,931 12,286
2027 23,369,575 12,177
2026 22,786,713 12,100
2025 22,216,120 12,025
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 (2026–2100, retrieved 2026-07-08); World Bank | Health (1960–2025, retrieved 2026-07-08).

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 5,528,367 people (a 31.5% growth), while Nauru's population increased by 989 people (a 8.87% 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 62.6% to 37,537,814 people with a rank change from 61st to 55th. The population of Nauru will increase by 29.6% to 15,731 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 2.59% 0.65%
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 (2026–2100, retrieved 2026-07-08); World Bank | Health (1961–2025, retrieved 2026-07-08).

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

In 2025, the population of Malawi grew by 2.59%, while Nauru's population grew by 0.65%.

Live population counters

Malawi Nauru
Current population
23086106
12139
Population rank 61/197 195/197
Percent of world population 0.28% 0.0001%
One net population change
56.4 seconds
4.69 days
One birth every
46.8 seconds
1.25 days
One death every
4.59 minutes
4.06 days
Daily growth/decline +1,537 +0
Annual growth/decline +560,834 +78
Annual growth/decline rate +2.59% +0.65%
Population growth rate rank 23/197 119/197
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 559,811 -1,507 203 -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 2026-07-08).

GeoRank.org/population/malawi/nauru | 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 Nauru 64.6% is from natural causes (a gain of 2,503 people) and 35.4% is from migration (a loss of 1,372 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
Mzimba 936K
Blantyre 800K
Mzuzu 150K
Zomba 101K
Mangochi 53.5K
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 (1960–2025, 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/nauru | 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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