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

Updated on by Georank

The latest officially reported population of Malawi was 22,216,120 in 2025 vs 7,007,502 people in Nicaragua in 2025. In 2026, based on the adjusted UN estimation, the current Malawi's population is 23,086,106 people compared to 7,144,725 in Nicaragua.

Population statistics:

  • Malawi's population is 3.23 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 +2.67% per year vs +1.32% in Nicaragua.
  • Since 2006, the population of Malawi has increased from 13.2M people to 23.1M (74.9% growth), while Nicaragua has grown from 5.42M to 7.14M (31.8% growth).

Malawi vs Nicaragua: population by year and forecast

Malawi
Factual

Projection
Nicaragua
Factual

Projection
1x
Year Population
Malawi Nicaragua
2100 59,773,923 8,686,387
2099 59,515,624 8,722,801
2098 59,263,165 8,758,489
2097 59,015,654 8,793,005
2096 58,749,288 8,826,676
2095 58,495,699 8,859,393
2094 58,227,933 8,890,985
2093 57,954,358 8,922,511
2092 57,660,371 8,952,706
2091 57,364,786 8,982,238
2090 57,048,240 9,010,281
2089 56,727,243 9,037,910
2088 56,385,237 9,064,058
2087 56,041,651 9,089,133
2086 55,694,983 9,113,522
2085 55,336,839 9,136,545
2084 54,985,304 9,158,382
2083 54,593,349 9,178,656
2082 54,194,853 9,197,809
2081 53,783,781 9,215,739
2080 53,361,334 9,231,840
2079 52,936,889 9,246,154
2078 52,510,645 9,258,426
2077 52,052,767 9,269,451
2076 51,589,339 9,278,508
2075 51,130,762 9,285,415
2074 50,673,499 9,291,490
2073 50,218,991 9,295,367
2072 49,759,232 9,297,079
2071 49,276,570 9,296,698
2070 48,787,471 9,294,691
2069 48,291,287 9,290,396
2068 47,782,059 9,283,672
2067 47,267,335 9,275,227
2066 46,741,998 9,264,219
2065 46,218,226 9,251,518
2064 45,692,044 9,236,612
2063 45,169,634 9,219,426
2062 44,629,192 9,199,856
2061 44,067,259 9,178,404
2060 43,499,372 9,154,342
2059 42,907,491 9,127,668
2058 42,335,782 9,098,625
2057 41,753,105 9,067,965
2056 41,175,330 9,035,277
2055 40,576,247 9,000,212
2054 39,986,120 8,962,862
2053 39,369,178 8,923,471
2052 38,758,577 8,881,555
2051 38,145,141 8,836,892
2050 37,537,814 8,789,897
2049 36,928,354 8,741,263
2048 36,332,040 8,689,971
2047 35,717,466 8,636,574
2046 35,099,651 8,581,536
2045 34,484,520 8,524,256
2044 33,855,018 8,464,984
2043 33,240,675 8,404,060
2042 32,629,513 8,341,211
2041 32,012,581 8,276,512
2040 31,395,572 8,209,876
2039 30,775,878 8,141,726
2038 30,160,239 8,071,337
2037 29,521,489 7,999,109
2036 28,890,318 7,925,391
2035 28,261,909 7,849,978
2034 27,637,439 7,772,780
2033 27,012,311 7,693,975
2032 26,398,409 7,613,757
2031 25,790,366 7,531,669
2030 25,176,420 7,448,359
2029 24,561,210 7,363,385
2028 23,962,931 7,276,613
2027 23,369,575 7,188,324
2026 22,786,713 7,098,677
2025 22,216,120 7,007,502
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 (2026–2100, retrieved 2026-07-08); World Bank | Health (1960–2025, retrieved 2026-07-08).

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 5,528,367 people (a 31.5% growth), while Nicaragua's population increased by 912,059 people (a 14.6% 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 62.6% to 37,537,814 people with a rank change from 61st to 55th. The population of Nicaragua will increase by 23% to 8,789,897 people and rank change from 107th to 109th.

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 2.59% 1.32%
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 (2026–2100, retrieved 2026-07-08); World Bank | Health (1961–2025, retrieved 2026-07-08).

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

In 2025, the population of Malawi grew by 2.59%, while Nicaragua's population grew by 1.32%.

Live population counters

Malawi Nicaragua
Current population
23086106
7144725
Population rank 61/197 107/197
Percent of world population 0.28% 0.09%
One net population change
56.4 seconds
5.77 minutes
One birth every
46.8 seconds
3.97 minutes
One death every
4.59 minutes
16.4 minutes
Daily growth/decline +1,537 +250
Annual growth/decline +560,834 +91,362
Annual growth/decline rate +2.59% +1.32%
Population growth rate rank 23/197 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 559,811 -1,507 100,318 -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 2026-07-08).

GeoRank.org/population/malawi/nicaragua | 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 Nicaragua 86.7% is from natural causes (a gain of 1,008,982 people) and 13.3% is from migration (a loss of 154,697 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
Mzimba 936K
Blantyre 800K
Mzuzu 150K
Zomba 101K
Mangochi 53.5K
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 (1960–2025, 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/nicaragua | 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. Wikidata (2026, retrieved 2026-07-08)
  5. Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) (2000–2019, retrieved 2026-07-08)

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