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Population in Malawi compared to New Zealand: Trends, Charts, Rankings

Updated on by Georank team

The latest officially reported population of Malawi was 21,655,286 in 2024 vs 5,287,500 people in New Zealand in 2024. In 2026, based on the adjusted UN estimation, the current Malawi's population is 22,949,294 people compared to 5,374,272 in New Zealand.

Population statistics:

  • Malawi's population is 4.27 times bigger than New Zealand's.
  • Malawi is ranked the 61st most populous country in the world, while New Zealand is the 124th.
  • The countries together account for 0.34% of the world: 0.28% for Malawi vs 0.06% for New Zealand.
  • For the last 10 years, Malawi has had an average growth rate of +2.7% per year vs +1.6% in New Zealand.
  • Since 2006, the population of Malawi has increased from 13.2M people to 22.9M (73.9% growth), while New Zealand has grown from 4.18M to 5.37M (28.4% growth).

Malawi vs New Zealand: population by year and forecast

Malawi
Factual

Projection
New Zealand
Factual

Projection
1x
Year Population
Malawi New Zealand
2100 59,786,744 5,918,837
2099 59,528,389 5,923,132
2098 59,275,876 5,927,206
2097 59,028,312 5,930,263
2096 58,761,888 5,932,907
2095 58,508,246 5,934,847
2094 58,240,422 5,936,183
2093 57,966,788 5,938,804
2092 57,672,738 5,939,085
2091 57,377,090 5,940,665
2090 57,060,476 5,941,752
2089 56,739,410 5,944,871
2088 56,397,330 5,945,635
2087 56,053,671 5,948,586
2086 55,706,928 5,951,745
2085 55,348,708 5,955,275
2084 54,997,097 5,959,115
2083 54,605,058 5,963,613
2082 54,206,477 5,966,943
2081 53,795,317 5,968,511
2080 53,372,779 5,971,082
2079 52,948,243 5,972,331
2078 52,521,908 5,972,928
2077 52,063,931 5,971,804
2076 51,600,404 5,971,386
2075 51,141,728 5,970,985
2074 50,684,368 5,969,834
2073 50,229,762 5,968,506
2072 49,769,904 5,964,548
2071 49,287,139 5,964,493
2070 48,797,935 5,963,811
2069 48,301,644 5,962,551
2068 47,792,308 5,960,918
2067 47,277,473 5,958,438
2066 46,752,024 5,954,539
2065 46,228,139 5,950,378
2064 45,701,844 5,946,851
2063 45,179,322 5,944,910
2062 44,638,764 5,940,838
2061 44,076,711 5,939,601
2060 43,508,702 5,936,094
2059 42,916,694 5,931,426
2058 42,344,863 5,925,816
2057 41,762,060 5,919,823
2056 41,184,161 5,913,287
2055 40,584,950 5,904,352
2054 39,994,696 5,894,795
2053 39,377,622 5,884,875
2052 38,766,890 5,876,162
2051 38,153,322 5,864,176
2050 37,545,865 5,852,896
2049 36,936,275 5,844,165
2048 36,339,833 5,833,178
2047 35,725,127 5,822,035
2046 35,107,179 5,809,860
2045 34,491,916 5,795,785
2044 33,862,279 5,780,884
2043 33,247,804 5,764,579
2042 32,636,511 5,746,528
2041 32,019,447 5,727,253
2040 31,402,305 5,708,874
2039 30,782,479 5,690,018
2038 30,166,708 5,669,959
2037 29,527,821 5,650,253
2036 28,896,515 5,630,126
2035 28,267,970 5,609,155
2034 27,643,367 5,588,315
2033 27,018,105 5,565,507
2032 26,404,071 5,542,488
2031 25,795,897 5,517,391
2030 25,181,820 5,491,320
2029 24,566,478 5,462,926
2028 23,968,071 5,432,752
2027 23,374,588 5,399,898
2026 22,791,601 5,364,771
2025 22,220,885 5,327,462
2024 21,655,286 5,287,500
2023 21,104,482 5,200,000
2022 20,568,728 5,081,700
2021 20,047,258 5,084,600
2020 19,533,888 5,072,400
2019 19,025,752 4,970,300
2018 18,528,081 4,900,600
2017 18,039,715 4,813,600
2016 17,557,739 4,714,100
2015 17,085,587 4,609,400
2014 16,621,538 4,516,500
2013 16,161,816 4,442,100
2012 15,709,577 4,408,100
2011 15,265,022 4,384,000
2010 14,826,463 4,350,700
2009 14,395,788 4,302,600
2008 13,976,417 4,259,800
2007 13,576,343 4,223,800
2006 13,198,701 4,184,600
2005 12,840,031 4,133,900
2004 12,500,737 4,087,500
2003 12,181,574 4,027,200
2002 11,880,440 3,948,500
2001 11,593,058 3,880,500
2000 11,315,942 3,857,700
1999 11,047,804 3,835,100
1998 10,792,876 3,815,000
1997 10,562,035 3,781,300
1996 10,352,228 3,732,000
1995 10,150,117 3,673,400
1994 10,164,894 3,620,000
1993 10,284,024 3,572,200
1992 10,135,079 3,531,700
1991 9,844,227 3,495,100
1990 9,545,852 3,329,800
1989 9,176,220 3,299,200
1988 8,753,262 3,283,400
1987 8,293,174 3,274,400
1986 7,906,480 3,246,300
1985 7,620,508 3,247,100
1984 7,332,810 3,227,100
1983 7,051,709 3,199,300
1982 6,778,879 3,156,100
1981 6,516,454 3,124,900
1980 6,265,529 3,112,900
1979 6,028,749 3,109,000
1978 5,810,132 3,121,200
1977 5,614,983 3,120,200
1976 5,443,384 3,110,500
1975 5,287,367 3,083,100
1974 5,141,337 3,023,700
1973 5,003,938 2,961,300
1972 4,874,475 2,903,900
1971 4,751,434 2,853,000
1970 4,633,944 2,810,700
1969 4,521,184 2,772,800
1968 4,411,054 2,748,100
1967 4,303,012 2,724,100
1966 4,197,926 2,675,900
1965 4,096,157 2,628,400
1964 3,997,305 2,585,400
1963 3,900,506 2,531,800
1962 3,806,307 2,482,000
1961 3,715,534 2,419,700
1960 3,628,134 2,371,800

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/new-zealand | CC BY

From 2006 to 2016, the population of Malawi increased by 4,359,038 people (a 33% growth), while New Zealand gained 529,500 people (a 12.7% growth).

For the next 10 years, from 2016 to 2026, Malawi gained 5,391,555 people (a 30.7% growth), while New Zealand's population increased by 660,172 people (a 14% growth).

Malawi was ranked 69th most populous country in 2006 and is 61st in 2026. New Zealand was ranked 122nd in 2006 and ranked 124th 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 New Zealand will increase by 8.91% to 5,852,896 people and rank change from 124th to 122nd.

Malawi is projected to reach its peak in 2100 at 59.8M people compared to the peak of 5.97M people in 2078 for New Zealand.

Population growth rate by year

Malawi
Factual

Projection
New Zealand
Factual

Projection
1x
Year Growth rate
Malawi New Zealand
2100 0.43% -0.07%
2099 0.43% -0.07%
2098 0.42% -0.05%
2097 0.45% -0.04%
2096 0.43% -0.03%
2095 0.46% -0.02%
2094 0.47% -0.04%
2093 0.51% -0.005%
2092 0.52% -0.03%
2091 0.55% -0.02%
2090 0.57% -0.05%
2089 0.61% -0.01%
2088 0.61% -0.05%
2087 0.62% -0.05%
2086 0.65% -0.06%
2085 0.64% -0.06%
2084 0.72% -0.08%
2083 0.74% -0.06%
2082 0.76% -0.03%
2081 0.79% -0.04%
2080 0.8% -0.02%
2079 0.81% -0.01%
2078 0.88% 0.02%
2077 0.9% 0.007%
2076 0.9% 0.007%
2075 0.9% 0.02%
2074 0.91% 0.02%
2073 0.92% 0.07%
2072 0.98% 0.001%
2071 1% 0.01%
2070 1.03% 0.02%
2069 1.07% 0.03%
2068 1.09% 0.04%
2067 1.12% 0.07%
2066 1.13% 0.07%
2065 1.15% 0.06%
2064 1.16% 0.03%
2063 1.21% 0.07%
2062 1.28% 0.02%
2061 1.31% 0.06%
2060 1.38% 0.08%
2059 1.35% 0.09%
2058 1.4% 0.1%
2057 1.4% 0.11%
2056 1.48% 0.15%
2055 1.48% 0.16%
2054 1.57% 0.17%
2053 1.58% 0.15%
2052 1.61% 0.2%
2051 1.62% 0.19%
2050 1.65% 0.15%
2049 1.64% 0.19%
2048 1.72% 0.19%
2047 1.76% 0.21%
2046 1.78% 0.24%
2045 1.86% 0.26%
2044 1.85% 0.28%
2043 1.87% 0.31%
2042 1.93% 0.34%
2041 1.97% 0.32%
2040 2.01% 0.33%
2039 2.04% 0.35%
2038 2.16% 0.35%
2037 2.18% 0.36%
2036 2.22% 0.37%
2035 2.26% 0.37%
2034 2.31% 0.41%
2033 2.33% 0.42%
2032 2.36% 0.45%
2031 2.44% 0.47%
2030 2.5% 0.52%
2029 2.5% 0.56%
2028 2.54% 0.61%
2027 2.56% 0.65%
2026 2.57% 0.7%
2025 2.61% 0.76%
2024 2.61% 1.68%
2023 2.6% 2.33%
2022 2.6% -0.06%
2021 2.63% 0.24%
2020 2.67% 2.05%
2019 2.69% 1.42%
2018 2.71% 1.81%
2017 2.75% 2.11%
2016 2.76% 2.27%
2015 2.79% 2.06%
2014 2.84% 1.67%
2013 2.88% 0.77%
2012 2.91% 0.55%
2011 2.96% 0.77%
2010 2.99% 1.12%
2009 3% 1%
2008 2.95% 0.85%
2007 2.86% 0.94%
2006 2.79% 1.23%
2005 2.71% 1.14%
2004 2.62% 1.5%
2003 2.53% 1.99%
2002 2.48% 1.75%
2001 2.45% 0.59%
2000 2.43% 0.59%
1999 2.36% 0.53%
1998 2.19% 0.89%
1997 2.03% 1.32%
1996 1.99% 1.6%
1995 -0.15% 1.48%
1994 -1.16% 1.34%
1993 1.47% 1.15%
1992 2.95% 1.05%
1991 3.13% 4.96%
1990 4.03% 0.93%
1989 4.83% 0.48%
1988 5.55% 0.27%
1987 4.89% 0.87%
1986 3.75% -0.02%
1985 3.92% 0.62%
1984 3.99% 0.87%
1983 4.02% 1.37%
1982 4.03% 1%
1981 4% 0.39%
1980 3.93% 0.13%
1979 3.76% -0.39%
1978 3.48% 0.03%
1977 3.15% 0.31%
1976 2.95% 0.89%
1975 2.84% 1.96%
1974 2.75% 2.11%
1973 2.66% 1.98%
1972 2.59% 1.78%
1971 2.54% 1.5%
1970 2.49% 1.37%
1969 2.5% 0.9%
1968 2.51% 0.88%
1967 2.5% 1.8%
1966 2.48% 1.81%
1965 2.47% 1.66%
1964 2.48% 2.12%
1963 2.47% 2.01%
1962 2.44% 2.57%
1961 2.41% 2.02%

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/new-zealand | CC BY

In 2024, the population of Malawi grew by 2.61%, while New Zealand's population grew by 1.68%.

Live population counters

Malawi New Zealand
Current population
22949294
5374272
Population rank 61/197 124/197
Percent of world population 0.28% 0.06%
One net population change
57.3 seconds
6.01 minutes
One birth every
47.6 seconds
9.31 minutes
One death every
4.64 minutes
14 minutes
Daily growth/decline +1,509 +240
Annual growth/decline +550,804 +87,500
Annual growth/decline rate +2.61% +1.68%
Population growth rate rank 26/197 65/197
One migration net change every
1.56 hours
30.3 minutes
Annual migration change -5,628 +17,403
Net migration rank 118/196 35/196
Foreign-born residents 186,719 1,467,989
Foreign-born residents rank 117/195 45/195
Foreign-born share of population 0.9% 28.2%
Foreign-born share rank 158/195 20/195

Natural population change vs migration

Malawi
Natural

Migration
New Zealand
Natural

Migration
1x
Year Population change
Malawi New Zealand
Natural Migration Natural Migration
2025 - -5,628 - 17,403
2024 - -1,507 - 18,766
2023 549,096 -5,811 18,876 21,404
2022 533,450 -5,231 20,123 21,404
2021 517,400 -2,666 23,644 -14,944
2020 514,659 -2,655 24,905 42,124
2019 506,104 -1,837 25,299 69,770
2018 494,348 -3,267 24,797 59,139
2017 484,655 982 26,282 68,349
2016 474,779 3,505 28,237 75,512
2015 472,484 -6,471 29,408 70,870
2014 472,418 -10,317 26,196 57,974
2013 470,293 -12,934 29,096 26,385
2012 460,684 -13,561 31,077 -1,015
2011 454,149 -12,170 31,302 -2,196
2010 444,468 -9,327 35,458 6,722
2009 434,811 -8,590 33,560 12,700
2008 421,781 -9,264 35,143 4,804
2007 410,290 -22,680 35,480 3,053
2006 397,123 -29,450 30,924 14,542
2005 381,130 -31,462 30,674 19,212
2004 361,133 -32,221 29,634 24,521
2003 341,133 -31,729 28,150 42,456
2002 322,863 -30,013 25,941 48,195
2001 310,833 -28,933 27,939 17,793
2000 300,439 -28,098 29,897 -6,604
1999 295,629 -31,686 28,916 -7,634
1998 285,407 -39,491 29,146 -1,387
1997 277,433 -61,646 30,137 12,040
1996 270,048 -66,212 28,997 25,169
1995 266,745 -66,366 29,828 26,743
1994 275,439 -505,365 30,372 20,420
1993 276,538 -284,867 31,685 12,638
1992 269,066 37,142 32,067 6,460
1991 260,193 15,291 33,518 31,156
1990 250,159 71,111 33,298 70,432
1989 237,967 180,031 30,749 -8,818
1988 226,911 201,011 29,846 -17,005
1987 220,566 271,693 27,603 -7,631
1986 218,519 62,615 25,549 -10,234
1985 216,179 74,625 24,126 -13,462
1984 212,146 72,435 26,043 -901
1983 209,422 68,197 24,315 11,464
1982 205,386 62,661 24,207 7,982
1981 199,436 57,376 25,374 -7,606
1980 192,746 52,294 23,658 -15,423
1979 182,123 46,388 26,675 -26,694
1978 172,503 36,225 26,156 -28,783
1977 161,930 19,638 28,020 -22,697
1976 153,422 8,206 29,456 -9,138
1975 145,254 5,162 31,355 13,196
1974 137,819 3,833 33,896 27,580
1973 131,529 1,623 35,239 28,261
1972 125,728 48 38,244 17,779
1971 121,015 -710 40,000 7,547
1970 116,822 -2,147 37,101 4,511
1969 113,120 -2,266 38,098 -5,212
1968 110,329 -924 37,594 -11,853
1967 106,668 0 37,974 -2,289
1966 103,512 0 36,151 9,161
1965 100,040 0 36,982 9,245
1964 97,658 0 39,375 9,806
1963 95,933 0 42,027 10,226
1962 92,463 0 42,865 12,697
1961 89,091 0 43,482 10,689
1960 85,718 0 41,791 3,846

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

GeoRank.org/population/malawi/new-zealand | 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 New Zealand 34.4% is from natural causes (a gain of 247,767 people) and 65.6% is from migration (a gain of 471,602 people).

As of 2024, 186,719 residents or 0.9% of the population were not native-born in Malawi, compared to 1,467,989 people or 28.2% in New Zealand.

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
New Zealand
City Population
Auckland 1.47M
Christchurch 383K
Wellington 216K
Hamilton 176K
Tauranga 151K
Dunedin 106K
Lower Hutt 103K
Palmerston North 81.5K
Napier 66.3K
Hibiscus Coast 59.8K

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/new-zealand | 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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