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

Updated on by Georank team

The latest officially reported population of Malawi was 21,655,286 in 2024 vs 6,916,140 people in Nicaragua in 2024. In 2026, based on the adjusted UN estimation, the current Malawi's population is 22,949,294 people compared to 7,124,343 in Nicaragua.

Population statistics:

  • Malawi's population is 3.22 times bigger than Nicaragua's.
  • Malawi is ranked the 61st most populous country in the world, while Nicaragua is the 107th.
  • The countries together account for 0.36% of the world: 0.28% for Malawi vs 0.09% for Nicaragua.
  • For the last 10 years, Malawi has had an average growth rate of +2.7% per year vs +1.33% in Nicaragua.
  • Since 2006, the population of Malawi has increased from 13.2M people to 22.9M (73.9% growth), while Nicaragua has grown from 5.42M to 7.12M (31.5% growth).

Malawi vs Nicaragua: population by year and forecast

Malawi
Factual

Projection
Nicaragua
Factual

Projection
1x
Year Population
Malawi Nicaragua
2100 59,786,744 8,688,116
2099 59,528,389 8,724,538
2098 59,275,876 8,760,232
2097 59,028,312 8,794,755
2096 58,761,888 8,828,433
2095 58,508,246 8,861,157
2094 58,240,422 8,892,755
2093 57,966,788 8,924,287
2092 57,672,738 8,954,488
2091 57,377,090 8,984,026
2090 57,060,476 9,012,075
2089 56,739,410 9,039,709
2088 56,397,330 9,065,862
2087 56,053,671 9,090,942
2086 55,706,928 9,115,336
2085 55,348,708 9,138,363
2084 54,997,097 9,160,205
2083 54,605,058 9,180,483
2082 54,206,477 9,199,639
2081 53,795,317 9,217,574
2080 53,372,779 9,233,677
2079 52,948,243 9,247,995
2078 52,521,908 9,260,269
2077 52,063,931 9,271,296
2076 51,600,404 9,280,355
2075 51,141,728 9,287,263
2074 50,684,368 9,293,340
2073 50,229,762 9,297,217
2072 49,769,904 9,298,930
2071 49,287,139 9,298,548
2070 48,797,935 9,296,541
2069 48,301,644 9,292,245
2068 47,792,308 9,285,519
2067 47,277,473 9,277,073
2066 46,752,024 9,266,063
2065 46,228,139 9,253,359
2064 45,701,844 9,238,451
2063 45,179,322 9,221,261
2062 44,638,764 9,201,687
2061 44,076,711 9,180,231
2060 43,508,702 9,156,164
2059 42,916,694 9,129,485
2058 42,344,863 9,100,437
2057 41,762,060 9,069,770
2056 41,184,161 9,037,076
2055 40,584,950 9,002,004
2054 39,994,696 8,964,646
2053 39,377,622 8,925,248
2052 38,766,890 8,883,323
2051 38,153,322 8,838,651
2050 37,545,865 8,791,647
2049 36,936,275 8,743,003
2048 36,339,833 8,691,701
2047 35,725,127 8,638,293
2046 35,107,179 8,583,244
2045 34,491,916 8,525,953
2044 33,862,279 8,466,669
2043 33,247,804 8,405,733
2042 32,636,511 8,342,871
2041 32,019,447 8,278,159
2040 31,402,305 8,211,510
2039 30,782,479 8,143,346
2038 30,166,708 8,072,943
2037 29,527,821 8,000,701
2036 28,896,515 7,926,969
2035 28,267,970 7,851,540
2034 27,643,367 7,774,327
2033 27,018,105 7,695,506
2032 26,404,071 7,615,273
2031 25,795,897 7,533,169
2030 25,181,820 7,449,842
2029 24,566,478 7,364,850
2028 23,968,071 7,278,061
2027 23,374,588 7,189,755
2026 22,791,601 7,100,090
2025 22,220,885 7,008,896
2024 21,655,286 6,916,140
2023 21,104,482 6,823,613
2022 20,568,728 6,730,654
2021 20,047,258 6,644,741
2020 19,533,888 6,565,267
2019 19,025,752 6,483,657
2018 18,528,081 6,400,080
2017 18,039,715 6,316,231
2016 17,557,739 6,232,666
2015 17,085,587 6,149,417
2014 16,621,538 6,066,492
2013 16,161,816 5,983,845
2012 15,709,577 5,901,287
2011 15,265,022 5,819,051
2010 14,826,463 5,737,450
2009 14,395,788 5,656,601
2008 13,976,417 5,576,593
2007 13,576,343 5,497,243
2006 13,198,701 5,418,855
2005 12,840,031 5,342,105
2004 12,500,737 5,272,912
2003 12,181,574 5,210,963
2002 11,880,440 5,149,909
2001 11,593,058 5,087,825
2000 11,315,942 5,022,633
1999 11,047,804 4,954,018
1998 10,792,876 4,883,655
1997 10,562,035 4,809,573
1996 10,352,228 4,729,974
1995 10,150,117 4,642,931
1994 10,164,894 4,549,316
1993 10,284,024 4,453,732
1992 10,135,079 4,357,026
1991 9,844,227 4,259,637
1990 9,545,852 4,162,559
1989 9,176,220 4,066,476
1988 8,753,262 3,972,320
1987 8,293,174 3,882,164
1986 7,906,480 3,794,157
1985 7,620,508 3,706,479
1984 7,332,810 3,619,104
1983 7,051,709 3,530,282
1982 6,778,879 3,438,745
1981 6,516,454 3,345,674
1980 6,265,529 3,252,403
1979 6,028,749 3,164,525
1978 5,810,132 3,080,314
1977 5,614,983 2,992,534
1976 5,443,384 2,903,851
1975 5,287,367 2,816,943
1974 5,141,337 2,732,075
1973 5,003,938 2,649,278
1972 4,874,475 2,573,578
1971 4,751,434 2,499,825
1970 4,633,944 2,423,065
1969 4,521,184 2,348,398
1968 4,411,054 2,275,836
1967 4,303,012 2,205,567
1966 4,197,926 2,137,820
1965 4,096,157 2,072,681
1964 3,997,305 2,010,176
1963 3,900,506 1,950,159
1962 3,806,307 1,892,320
1961 3,715,534 1,836,451
1960 3,628,134 1,782,370

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/nicaragua | CC BY

From 2006 to 2016, the population of Malawi increased by 4,359,038 people (a 33% growth), while Nicaragua gained 813,811 people (a 15% growth).

For the next 10 years, from 2016 to 2026, Malawi gained 5,391,555 people (a 30.7% growth), while Nicaragua's population increased by 891,677 people (a 14.3% growth).

Malawi was ranked 69th most populous country in 2006 and is 61st in 2026. Nicaragua was ranked 109th in 2006 and ranked 107th 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 Nicaragua will increase by 23.4% to 8,791,647 people and rank change from 107th to 108th.

Malawi is projected to reach its peak in 2100 at 59.8M people compared to the peak of 9.3M people in 2072 for Nicaragua.

Population growth rate by year

Malawi
Factual

Projection
Nicaragua
Factual

Projection
1x
Year Growth rate
Malawi Nicaragua
2100 0.43% -0.42%
2099 0.43% -0.41%
2098 0.42% -0.39%
2097 0.45% -0.38%
2096 0.43% -0.37%
2095 0.46% -0.36%
2094 0.47% -0.35%
2093 0.51% -0.34%
2092 0.52% -0.33%
2091 0.55% -0.31%
2090 0.57% -0.31%
2089 0.61% -0.29%
2088 0.61% -0.28%
2087 0.62% -0.27%
2086 0.65% -0.25%
2085 0.64% -0.24%
2084 0.72% -0.22%
2083 0.74% -0.21%
2082 0.76% -0.19%
2081 0.79% -0.17%
2080 0.8% -0.15%
2079 0.81% -0.13%
2078 0.88% -0.12%
2077 0.9% -0.1%
2076 0.9% -0.07%
2075 0.9% -0.07%
2074 0.91% -0.04%
2073 0.92% -0.02%
2072 0.98% 0.004%
2071 1% 0.02%
2070 1.03% 0.05%
2069 1.07% 0.07%
2068 1.09% 0.09%
2067 1.12% 0.12%
2066 1.13% 0.14%
2065 1.15% 0.16%
2064 1.16% 0.19%
2063 1.21% 0.21%
2062 1.28% 0.23%
2061 1.31% 0.26%
2060 1.38% 0.29%
2059 1.35% 0.32%
2058 1.4% 0.34%
2057 1.4% 0.36%
2056 1.48% 0.39%
2055 1.48% 0.42%
2054 1.57% 0.44%
2053 1.58% 0.47%
2052 1.61% 0.51%
2051 1.62% 0.53%
2050 1.65% 0.56%
2049 1.64% 0.59%
2048 1.72% 0.62%
2047 1.76% 0.64%
2046 1.78% 0.67%
2045 1.86% 0.7%
2044 1.85% 0.72%
2043 1.87% 0.75%
2042 1.93% 0.78%
2041 1.97% 0.81%
2040 2.01% 0.84%
2039 2.04% 0.87%
2038 2.16% 0.9%
2037 2.18% 0.93%
2036 2.22% 0.96%
2035 2.26% 0.99%
2034 2.31% 1.02%
2033 2.33% 1.05%
2032 2.36% 1.09%
2031 2.44% 1.12%
2030 2.5% 1.15%
2029 2.5% 1.19%
2028 2.54% 1.23%
2027 2.56% 1.26%
2026 2.57% 1.3%
2025 2.61% 1.34%
2024 2.61% 1.36%
2023 2.6% 1.38%
2022 2.6% 1.29%
2021 2.63% 1.21%
2020 2.67% 1.26%
2019 2.69% 1.31%
2018 2.71% 1.33%
2017 2.75% 1.34%
2016 2.76% 1.35%
2015 2.79% 1.37%
2014 2.84% 1.38%
2013 2.88% 1.4%
2012 2.91% 1.41%
2011 2.96% 1.42%
2010 2.99% 1.43%
2009 3% 1.43%
2008 2.95% 1.44%
2007 2.86% 1.45%
2006 2.79% 1.44%
2005 2.71% 1.31%
2004 2.62% 1.19%
2003 2.53% 1.19%
2002 2.48% 1.22%
2001 2.45% 1.3%
2000 2.43% 1.39%
1999 2.36% 1.44%
1998 2.19% 1.54%
1997 2.03% 1.68%
1996 1.99% 1.87%
1995 -0.15% 2.06%
1994 -1.16% 2.15%
1993 1.47% 2.22%
1992 2.95% 2.29%
1991 3.13% 2.33%
1990 4.03% 2.36%
1989 4.83% 2.37%
1988 5.55% 2.32%
1987 4.89% 2.32%
1986 3.75% 2.37%
1985 3.92% 2.41%
1984 3.99% 2.52%
1983 4.02% 2.66%
1982 4.03% 2.78%
1981 4% 2.87%
1980 3.93% 2.78%
1979 3.76% 2.73%
1978 3.48% 2.93%
1977 3.15% 3.05%
1976 2.95% 3.09%
1975 2.84% 3.11%
1974 2.75% 3.13%
1973 2.66% 2.94%
1972 2.59% 2.95%
1971 2.54% 3.17%
1970 2.49% 3.18%
1969 2.5% 3.19%
1968 2.51% 3.19%
1967 2.5% 3.17%
1966 2.48% 3.14%
1965 2.47% 3.11%
1964 2.48% 3.08%
1963 2.47% 3.06%
1962 2.44% 3.04%
1961 2.41% 3.03%

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/nicaragua | CC BY

In 2024, the population of Malawi grew by 2.61%, while Nicaragua's population grew by 1.36%.

Live population counters

Malawi Nicaragua
Current population
22949294
7124343
Population rank 61/197 107/197
Percent of world population 0.28% 0.09%
One net population change
57.3 seconds
5.68 minutes
One birth every
47.6 seconds
3.98 minutes
One death every
4.64 minutes
16.8 minutes
Daily growth/decline +1,509 +253
Annual growth/decline +550,804 +92,527
Annual growth/decline rate +2.61% +1.36%
Population growth rate rank 26/197 78/197
One migration net change every
1.56 hours
1.05 hours
Annual migration change -5,628 -8,371
Net migration rank 118/196 129/196
Foreign-born residents 186,719 43,757
Foreign-born residents rank 117/195 154/195
Foreign-born share of population 0.9% 0.6%
Foreign-born share rank 158/195 172/195

Natural population change vs migration

Malawi
Natural

Migration
Nicaragua
Natural

Migration
1x
Year Population change
Malawi Nicaragua
Natural Migration Natural Migration
2025 - -5,628 - -8,371
2024 - -1,507 - -8,189
2023 549,096 -5,811 100,921 -7,996
2022 533,450 -5,231 100,987 -7,996
2021 517,400 -2,666 89,213 -10,383
2020 514,659 -2,655 90,515 -10,383
2019 506,104 -1,837 102,817 -19,730
2018 494,348 -3,267 104,814 -20,742
2017 484,655 982 105,468 -21,849
2016 474,779 3,505 106,585 -23,076
2015 472,484 -6,471 107,344 -24,353
2014 472,418 -10,317 108,420 -25,570
2013 470,293 -12,934 109,032 -26,587
2012 460,684 -13,561 110,065 -27,389
2011 454,149 -12,170 110,026 -28,221
2010 444,468 -9,327 110,475 -29,081
2009 434,811 -8,590 110,213 -29,913
2008 421,781 -9,264 110,395 -30,675
2007 410,290 -22,680 110,341 -31,357
2006 397,123 -29,450 110,073 -32,274
2005 381,130 -31,462 108,984 -33,280
2004 361,133 -32,221 106,904 -44,222
2003 341,133 -31,729 106,142 -44,931
2002 322,863 -30,013 105,805 -44,906
2001 310,833 -28,933 107,109 -43,837
2000 300,439 -28,098 109,192 -42,087
1999 295,629 -31,686 110,217 -40,095
1998 285,407 -39,491 108,862 -38,260
1997 277,433 -61,646 114,415 -36,851
1996 270,048 -66,212 116,849 -35,208
1995 266,745 -66,366 118,325 -25,889
1994 275,439 -505,365 119,565 -24,773
1993 276,538 -284,867 120,469 -24,091
1992 269,066 37,142 121,204 -24,171
1991 260,193 15,291 121,787 -24,028
1990 250,159 71,111 120,677 -24,280
1989 237,967 180,031 120,128 -24,364
1988 226,911 201,011 117,299 -24,753
1987 220,566 271,693 112,885 -25,127
1986 218,519 62,615 113,054 -24,805
1985 216,179 74,625 110,949 -23,840
1984 212,146 72,435 110,133 -22,493
1983 209,422 68,197 110,618 -20,620
1982 205,386 62,661 112,468 -19,395
1981 199,436 57,376 110,421 -17,353
1980 192,746 52,294 108,604 -15,130
1979 182,123 46,388 96,429 -14,152
1978 172,503 36,225 98,419 -12,273
1977 161,930 19,638 100,498 -11,082
1976 153,422 8,206 98,100 -10,155
1975 145,254 5,162 95,230 -9,349
1974 137,819 3,833 92,505 -8,639
1973 131,529 1,623 89,662 -7,947
1972 125,728 48 76,906 -7,219
1971 121,015 -710 84,139 -6,328
1970 116,822 -2,147 81,127 -5,423
1969 113,120 -2,266 78,237 -4,592
1968 110,329 -924 75,458 -3,979
1967 106,668 0 72,722 -3,666
1966 103,512 0 69,883 -3,443
1965 100,040 0 67,056 -3,231
1964 97,658 0 64,227 -3,043
1963 95,933 0 61,738 -2,881
1962 92,463 0 59,547 -2,727
1961 89,091 0 57,499 -2,579
1960 85,718 0 55,664 -2,418

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

GeoRank.org/population/malawi/nicaragua | 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 Nicaragua 85.5% is from natural causes (a gain of 1,017,084 people) and 14.5% is from migration (a loss of 172,078 people).

As of 2024, 186,719 residents or 0.9% of the population were not native-born in Malawi, compared to 43,757 people or 0.6% in Nicaragua.

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
Nicaragua
City Population
Managua 937K
Leon 174K
Masaya 140K
Matagalpa 133K
Chinandega 122K
Esteli 112K
Granada 105K
Jinotega 99.4K
Juigalpa 51.8K
San Juan del Sur 14.7K

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/nicaragua | 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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