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Population in Malawi compared to the Netherlands: Trends, Charts, Rankings

Updated on by Georank team

The latest officially reported population of Malawi was 21,655,286 in 2024 vs 17,993,485 people in the Netherlands in 2024. In 2026, based on the adjusted UN estimation, the current Malawi's population is 22,949,294 people compared to 18,252,623 in the Netherlands.

Population statistics:

  • Malawi's population is 1.26 times bigger than the Netherlands'.
  • Malawi is ranked the 61st most populous country in the world, while the Netherlands is the 72nd.
  • The countries together account for 0.5% of the world: 0.28% for Malawi vs 0.22% for the Netherlands.
  • For the last 10 years, Malawi has had an average growth rate of +2.7% per year vs +0.62% in the Netherlands.
  • Since 2006, the population of Malawi has increased from 13.2M people to 22.9M (73.9% growth), while the Netherlands has grown from 16.3M to 18.3M (11.7% growth).

Malawi vs Netherlands: population by year and forecast

Malawi
Factual

Projection
Netherlands
Factual

Projection
1x
Year Population
Malawi Netherlands
2100 59,786,744 17,359,081
2099 59,528,389 17,392,412
2098 59,275,876 17,425,508
2097 59,028,312 17,459,827
2096 58,761,888 17,495,124
2095 58,508,246 17,532,593
2094 58,240,422 17,571,051
2093 57,966,788 17,610,792
2092 57,672,738 17,649,611
2091 57,377,090 17,688,532
2090 57,060,476 17,730,570
2089 56,739,410 17,770,380
2088 56,397,330 17,809,825
2087 56,053,671 17,845,820
2086 55,706,928 17,885,001
2085 55,348,708 17,921,302
2084 54,997,097 17,957,639
2083 54,605,058 17,994,232
2082 54,206,477 18,029,404
2081 53,795,317 18,063,233
2080 53,372,779 18,093,703
2079 52,948,243 18,124,294
2078 52,521,908 18,152,738
2077 52,063,931 18,181,372
2076 51,600,404 18,206,864
2075 51,141,728 18,227,791
2074 50,684,368 18,245,652
2073 50,229,762 18,263,765
2072 49,769,904 18,280,443
2071 49,287,139 18,295,700
2070 48,797,935 18,311,141
2069 48,301,644 18,326,509
2068 47,792,308 18,341,711
2067 47,277,473 18,356,770
2066 46,752,024 18,374,904
2065 46,228,139 18,396,018
2064 45,701,844 18,417,894
2063 45,179,322 18,441,434
2062 44,638,764 18,464,922
2061 44,076,711 18,492,436
2060 43,508,702 18,520,315
2059 42,916,694 18,548,786
2058 42,344,863 18,577,700
2057 41,762,060 18,608,370
2056 41,184,161 18,638,918
2055 40,584,950 18,666,514
2054 39,994,696 18,692,598
2053 39,377,622 18,718,268
2052 38,766,890 18,741,740
2051 38,153,322 18,768,309
2050 37,545,865 18,789,481
2049 36,936,275 18,809,886
2048 36,339,833 18,827,655
2047 35,725,127 18,844,635
2046 35,107,179 18,855,920
2045 34,491,916 18,867,286
2044 33,862,279 18,877,101
2043 33,247,804 18,882,735
2042 32,636,511 18,885,839
2041 32,019,447 18,885,255
2040 31,402,305 18,879,571
2039 30,782,479 18,870,248
2038 30,166,708 18,855,512
2037 29,527,821 18,837,172
2036 28,896,515 18,811,873
2035 28,267,970 18,783,312
2034 27,643,367 18,750,125
2033 27,018,105 18,708,101
2032 26,404,071 18,662,054
2031 25,795,897 18,609,452
2030 25,181,820 18,549,634
2029 24,566,478 18,481,269
2028 23,968,071 18,404,195
2027 23,374,588 18,320,644
2026 22,791,601 18,227,403
2025 22,220,885 18,118,662
2024 21,655,286 17,993,485
2023 21,104,482 17,877,117
2022 20,568,728 17,700,982
2021 20,047,258 17,533,044
2020 19,533,888 17,441,500
2019 19,025,752 17,344,874
2018 18,528,081 17,231,624
2017 18,039,715 17,131,296
2016 17,557,739 17,030,314
2015 17,085,587 16,939,923
2014 16,621,538 16,865,008
2013 16,161,816 16,804,432
2012 15,709,577 16,754,962
2011 15,265,022 16,693,074
2010 14,826,463 16,615,394
2009 14,395,788 16,530,388
2008 13,976,417 16,445,593
2007 13,576,343 16,381,696
2006 13,198,701 16,346,101
2005 12,840,031 16,319,868
2004 12,500,737 16,281,779
2003 12,181,574 16,225,302
2002 11,880,440 16,148,929
2001 11,593,058 16,046,180
2000 11,315,942 15,925,513
1999 11,047,804 15,812,088
1998 10,792,876 15,707,209
1997 10,562,035 15,610,650
1996 10,352,228 15,530,498
1995 10,150,117 15,459,006
1994 10,164,894 15,382,838
1993 10,284,024 15,290,368
1992 10,135,079 15,184,166
1991 9,844,227 15,069,798
1990 9,545,852 14,951,510
1989 9,176,220 14,848,907
1988 8,753,262 14,760,094
1987 8,293,174 14,665,037
1986 7,906,480 14,572,278
1985 7,620,508 14,491,632
1984 7,332,810 14,424,211
1983 7,051,709 14,367,070
1982 6,778,879 14,312,690
1981 6,516,454 14,247,208
1980 6,265,529 14,149,800
1979 6,028,749 14,038,270
1978 5,810,132 13,941,700
1977 5,614,983 13,856,185
1976 5,443,384 13,774,037
1975 5,287,367 13,666,335
1974 5,141,337 13,545,056
1973 5,003,938 13,439,322
1972 4,874,475 13,328,593
1971 4,751,434 13,194,497
1970 4,633,944 13,038,526
1969 4,521,184 12,877,984
1968 4,411,054 12,729,721
1967 4,303,012 12,598,201
1966 4,197,926 12,456,251
1965 4,096,157 12,294,732
1964 3,997,305 12,127,120
1963 3,900,506 11,965,966
1962 3,806,307 11,805,689
1961 3,715,534 11,638,712
1960 3,628,134 11,486,631

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/netherlands | CC BY

From 2006 to 2016, the population of Malawi increased by 4,359,038 people (a 33% growth), while the Netherlands gained 684,213 people (a 4.19% growth).

For the next 10 years, from 2016 to 2026, Malawi gained 5,391,555 people (a 30.7% growth), while the Netherlands' population increased by 1,222,309 people (a 7.18% growth).

Malawi was ranked 69th most populous country in 2006 and is 61st in 2026. The Netherlands was ranked 61st in 2006 and ranked 72nd 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 the Netherlands will increase by 2.94% to 18,789,481 people and rank change from 72nd to 77th.

Malawi is projected to reach its peak in 2100 at 59.8M people compared to the peak of 18.9M people in 2042 for the Netherlands.

Population growth rate by year

Malawi
Factual

Projection
Netherlands
Factual

Projection
1x
Year Growth rate
Malawi Netherlands
2100 0.43% -0.19%
2099 0.43% -0.19%
2098 0.42% -0.2%
2097 0.45% -0.2%
2096 0.43% -0.21%
2095 0.46% -0.22%
2094 0.47% -0.23%
2093 0.51% -0.22%
2092 0.52% -0.22%
2091 0.55% -0.24%
2090 0.57% -0.22%
2089 0.61% -0.22%
2088 0.61% -0.2%
2087 0.62% -0.22%
2086 0.65% -0.2%
2085 0.64% -0.2%
2084 0.72% -0.2%
2083 0.74% -0.2%
2082 0.76% -0.19%
2081 0.79% -0.17%
2080 0.8% -0.17%
2079 0.81% -0.16%
2078 0.88% -0.16%
2077 0.9% -0.14%
2076 0.9% -0.11%
2075 0.9% -0.1%
2074 0.91% -0.1%
2073 0.92% -0.09%
2072 0.98% -0.08%
2071 1% -0.08%
2070 1.03% -0.08%
2069 1.07% -0.08%
2068 1.09% -0.08%
2067 1.12% -0.1%
2066 1.13% -0.11%
2065 1.15% -0.12%
2064 1.16% -0.13%
2063 1.21% -0.13%
2062 1.28% -0.15%
2061 1.31% -0.15%
2060 1.38% -0.15%
2059 1.35% -0.16%
2058 1.4% -0.16%
2057 1.4% -0.16%
2056 1.48% -0.15%
2055 1.48% -0.14%
2054 1.57% -0.14%
2053 1.58% -0.13%
2052 1.61% -0.14%
2051 1.62% -0.11%
2050 1.65% -0.11%
2049 1.64% -0.09%
2048 1.72% -0.09%
2047 1.76% -0.06%
2046 1.78% -0.06%
2045 1.86% -0.05%
2044 1.85% -0.03%
2043 1.87% -0.02%
2042 1.93% 0.003%
2041 1.97% 0.03%
2040 2.01% 0.05%
2039 2.04% 0.08%
2038 2.16% 0.1%
2037 2.18% 0.13%
2036 2.22% 0.15%
2035 2.26% 0.18%
2034 2.31% 0.22%
2033 2.33% 0.25%
2032 2.36% 0.28%
2031 2.44% 0.32%
2030 2.5% 0.37%
2029 2.5% 0.42%
2028 2.54% 0.46%
2027 2.56% 0.51%
2026 2.57% 0.6%
2025 2.61% 0.7%
2024 2.61% 0.65%
2023 2.6% 1%
2022 2.6% 0.96%
2021 2.63% 0.52%
2020 2.67% 0.56%
2019 2.69% 0.66%
2018 2.71% 0.59%
2017 2.75% 0.59%
2016 2.76% 0.53%
2015 2.79% 0.44%
2014 2.84% 0.36%
2013 2.88% 0.3%
2012 2.91% 0.37%
2011 2.96% 0.47%
2010 2.99% 0.51%
2009 3% 0.52%
2008 2.95% 0.39%
2007 2.86% 0.22%
2006 2.79% 0.16%
2005 2.71% 0.23%
2004 2.62% 0.35%
2003 2.53% 0.47%
2002 2.48% 0.64%
2001 2.45% 0.76%
2000 2.43% 0.72%
1999 2.36% 0.67%
1998 2.19% 0.62%
1997 2.03% 0.52%
1996 1.99% 0.46%
1995 -0.15% 0.5%
1994 -1.16% 0.6%
1993 1.47% 0.7%
1992 2.95% 0.76%
1991 3.13% 0.79%
1990 4.03% 0.69%
1989 4.83% 0.6%
1988 5.55% 0.65%
1987 4.89% 0.64%
1986 3.75% 0.56%
1985 3.92% 0.47%
1984 3.99% 0.4%
1983 4.02% 0.38%
1982 4.03% 0.46%
1981 4% 0.69%
1980 3.93% 0.79%
1979 3.76% 0.69%
1978 3.48% 0.62%
1977 3.15% 0.6%
1976 2.95% 0.79%
1975 2.84% 0.9%
1974 2.75% 0.79%
1973 2.66% 0.83%
1972 2.59% 1.02%
1971 2.54% 1.2%
1970 2.49% 1.25%
1969 2.5% 1.16%
1968 2.51% 1.04%
1967 2.5% 1.14%
1966 2.48% 1.31%
1965 2.47% 1.38%
1964 2.48% 1.35%
1963 2.47% 1.36%
1962 2.44% 1.43%
1961 2.41% 1.32%

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/netherlands | CC BY

In 2024, the population of Malawi grew by 2.61%, while the Netherlands' population grew by 0.65%.

Live population counters

Malawi Netherlands
Current population
22949294
18252623
Population rank 61/197 72/197
Percent of world population 0.28% 0.22%
One net population change
57.3 seconds
4.52 minutes
One birth every
47.6 seconds
3.2 minutes
One death every
4.64 minutes
3.09 minutes
Daily growth/decline +1,509 +319
Annual growth/decline +550,804 +116,368
Annual growth/decline rate +2.61% +0.65%
Population growth rate rank 26/197 121/197
One migration net change every
1.56 hours
5.03 minutes
Annual migration change -5,628 +104,681
Net migration rank 118/196 16/196
Foreign-born residents 186,719 2,956,518
Foreign-born residents rank 117/195 23/195
Foreign-born share of population 0.9% 16.2%
Foreign-born share rank 158/195 40/195

Natural population change vs migration

Malawi
Natural

Migration
Netherlands
Natural

Migration
1x
Year Population change
Malawi Netherlands
Natural Migration Natural Migration
2025 - -5,628 - 104,681
2024 - -1,507 - 121,628
2023 549,096 -5,811 -5,363 144,558
2022 533,450 -5,231 -1,770 224,472
2021 517,400 -2,666 7,014 106,416
2020 514,659 -2,655 0 67,598
2019 506,104 -1,837 17,345 109,003
2018 494,348 -3,267 15,508 87,197
2017 484,655 982 18,844 86,332
2016 474,779 3,505 23,843 88,743
2015 472,484 -6,471 23,716 55,585
2014 472,418 -10,317 35,417 36,591
2013 470,293 -12,934 30,248 19,973
2012 460,684 -13,561 35,186 14,861
2011 454,149 -12,170 45,072 31,224
2010 444,468 -9,327 48,184 33,703
2009 434,811 -8,590 51,244 39,832
2008 421,781 -9,264 49,337 32,406
2007 410,290 -22,680 49,145 -304
2006 397,123 -29,450 49,038 -25,401
2005 381,130 -31,462 50,592 -22,496
2004 361,133 -32,221 56,987 -9,230
2003 341,133 -31,729 58,411 7,937
2002 322,863 -30,013 59,751 28,824
2001 310,833 -28,933 62,580 56,096
2000 300,439 -28,098 66,887 59,308
1999 295,629 -31,686 60,086 47,179
1998 285,407 -39,491 61,258 52,058
1997 277,433 -61,646 56,198 31,302
1996 270,048 -66,212 51,251 21,792
1995 266,745 -66,366 54,106 15,056
1994 275,439 -505,365 61,532 20,193
1993 276,538 -284,867 58,103 44,514
1992 269,066 37,142 66,811 50,148
1991 260,193 15,291 69,321 51,670
1990 250,159 71,111 68,777 53,564
1989 237,967 180,031 59,396 31,165
1988 226,911 201,011 61,993 31,026
1987 220,566 271,693 64,526 39,559
1986 218,519 62,615 59,746 30,380
1985 216,179 74,625 55,069 27,356
1984 212,146 72,435 54,812 12,902
1983 209,422 68,197 51,722 11,007
1982 205,386 62,661 54,388 7,644
1981 199,436 57,376 62,688 17,643
1980 192,746 52,294 66,504 54,010
1979 182,123 46,388 63,172 42,772
1978 172,503 36,225 61,344 26,639
1977 161,930 19,638 63,739 19,809
1976 153,422 8,206 63,361 18,774
1975 145,254 5,162 64,232 68,569
1974 137,819 3,833 75,853 31,645
1973 131,529 1,623 84,668 18,705
1972 125,728 48 101,297 17,470
1971 121,015 -710 116,112 32,756
1970 116,822 -2,147 129,082 32,438
1969 113,120 -2,266 139,082 21,850
1968 110,329 -924 132,389 7,243
1967 106,668 0 138,580 -10,673
1966 103,512 0 138,265 20,740
1965 100,040 0 146,308 19,444
1964 97,658 0 157,653 15,014
1963 95,933 0 154,361 -21
1962 92,463 0 153,474 18,024
1961 89,091 0 159,450 8,258
1960 85,718 0 151,623 -13,235

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

GeoRank.org/population/malawi/netherlands | 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 the Netherlands 11.8% is from natural causes (a gain of 134,554 people) and 88.2% is from migration (a gain of 1,006,495 people).

As of 2024, 186,719 residents or 0.9% of the population were not native-born in Malawi, compared to 2,956,518 people or 16.2% in the Netherlands.

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
Netherlands
City Population
Amsterdam 921K
Rotterdam 664K
The Hague 548K
Utrecht 359K
Eindhoven 244K
Groningen 238K
Tilburg 228K
Almere 215K
Breda 188K
Nijmegen 177K

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/netherlands | 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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