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

Updated on by Georank team

The latest officially reported population of Malawi was 21,655,286 in 2024 vs 232,679,478 people in Nigeria in 2024. In 2026, based on the adjusted UN estimation, the current Malawi's population is 22,949,294 people compared to 243,824,469 in Nigeria.

Population statistics:

  • Nigeria's population is 10.6 times bigger than Malawi's.
  • Malawi is ranked the 61st most populous country in the world, while Nigeria is the 6th.
  • The countries together account for 3.22% of the world: 0.28% for Malawi vs 2.94% for Nigeria.
  • For the last 10 years, Malawi has had an average growth rate of +2.7% per year vs +2.31% in Nigeria.
  • Since 2006, the population of Malawi has increased from 13.2M people to 22.9M (73.9% growth), while Nigeria has grown from 149M to 244M (63.6% growth).

Malawi vs Nigeria: population by year and forecast

Malawi
Factual

Projection
Nigeria
Factual

Projection
1x
Year Population
Malawi Nigeria
2100 59,786,744 481,678,166
2099 59,528,389 481,494,914
2098 59,275,876 481,219,866
2097 59,028,312 480,876,108
2096 58,761,888 480,460,381
2095 58,508,246 479,976,454
2094 58,240,422 479,432,855
2093 57,966,788 478,807,152
2092 57,672,738 478,097,591
2091 57,377,090 477,274,569
2090 57,060,476 476,367,086
2089 56,739,410 475,363,859
2088 56,397,330 474,268,867
2087 56,053,671 473,072,894
2086 55,706,928 471,769,229
2085 55,348,708 470,365,292
2084 54,997,097 468,843,169
2083 54,605,058 467,224,322
2082 54,206,477 465,509,151
2081 53,795,317 463,679,779
2080 53,372,779 461,741,930
2079 52,948,243 459,680,797
2078 52,521,908 457,513,367
2077 52,063,931 455,254,796
2076 51,600,404 452,885,729
2075 51,141,728 450,402,898
2074 50,684,368 447,825,224
2073 50,229,762 445,152,156
2072 49,769,904 442,375,349
2071 49,287,139 439,499,004
2070 48,797,935 436,539,777
2069 48,301,644 433,472,204
2068 47,792,308 430,320,190
2067 47,277,473 427,066,199
2066 46,752,024 423,736,078
2065 46,228,139 420,318,527
2064 45,701,844 416,811,285
2063 45,179,322 413,231,409
2062 44,638,764 409,583,480
2061 44,076,711 405,859,509
2060 43,508,702 402,073,494
2059 42,916,694 398,228,736
2058 42,344,863 394,315,883
2057 41,762,060 390,341,867
2056 41,184,161 386,298,064
2055 40,584,950 382,193,151
2054 39,994,696 378,030,342
2053 39,377,622 373,799,276
2052 38,766,890 369,501,634
2051 38,153,322 365,149,555
2050 37,545,865 360,734,783
2049 36,936,275 356,271,401
2048 36,339,833 351,752,501
2047 35,725,127 347,169,674
2046 35,107,179 342,532,578
2045 34,491,916 337,834,528
2044 33,862,279 333,076,416
2043 33,247,804 328,256,555
2042 32,636,511 323,388,886
2041 32,019,447 318,469,120
2040 31,402,305 313,492,800
2039 30,782,479 308,474,350
2038 30,166,708 303,423,786
2037 29,527,821 298,351,344
2036 28,896,515 293,250,795
2035 28,267,970 288,138,368
2034 27,643,367 283,018,151
2033 27,018,105 277,897,810
2032 26,404,071 272,769,123
2031 25,795,897 267,666,779
2030 25,181,820 262,583,487
2029 24,566,478 257,504,936
2028 23,968,071 252,465,743
2027 23,374,588 247,457,208
2026 22,791,601 242,477,499
2025 22,220,885 237,546,527
2024 21,655,286 232,679,478
2023 21,104,482 227,882,945
2022 20,568,728 223,150,896
2021 20,047,258 218,529,286
2020 19,533,888 213,996,181
2019 19,025,752 209,485,641
2018 18,528,081 204,938,755
2017 18,039,715 200,254,579
2016 17,557,739 195,443,700
2015 17,085,587 190,671,878
2014 16,621,538 185,896,915
2013 16,161,816 181,049,443
2012 15,709,577 176,200,625
2011 15,265,022 171,379,598
2010 14,826,463 166,642,886
2009 14,395,788 162,049,464
2008 13,976,417 157,595,014
2007 13,576,343 153,267,261
2006 13,198,701 149,077,334
2005 12,840,031 145,017,253
2004 12,500,737 141,057,045
2003 12,181,574 137,202,644
2002 11,880,440 133,471,989
2001 11,593,058 129,862,595
2000 11,315,942 126,382,494
1999 11,047,804 123,047,320
1998 10,792,876 119,846,254
1997 10,562,035 116,754,792
1996 10,352,228 113,754,779
1995 10,150,117 110,819,428
1994 10,164,894 107,935,714
1993 10,284,024 105,122,069
1992 10,135,079 102,372,770
1991 9,844,227 99,720,162
1990 9,545,852 97,120,925
1989 9,176,220 94,531,014
1988 8,753,262 92,020,090
1987 8,293,174 89,591,716
1986 7,906,480 87,235,953
1985 7,620,508 84,897,973
1984 7,332,810 82,526,443
1983 7,051,709 80,438,260
1982 6,778,879 78,378,701
1981 6,516,454 76,068,103
1980 6,265,529 73,764,641
1979 6,028,749 71,498,242
1978 5,810,132 69,326,532
1977 5,614,983 67,234,590
1976 5,443,384 65,258,009
1975 5,287,367 63,410,815
1974 5,141,337 61,679,144
1973 5,003,938 60,082,139
1972 4,874,475 58,601,748
1971 4,751,434 57,214,684
1970 4,633,944 55,893,838
1969 4,521,184 54,631,914
1968 4,411,054 53,432,783
1967 4,303,012 52,293,065
1966 4,197,926 51,188,234
1965 4,096,157 50,086,764
1964 3,997,305 49,012,016
1963 3,900,506 47,973,575
1962 3,806,307 46,965,292
1961 3,715,534 45,989,310
1960 3,628,134 45,053,782

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/nigeria | CC BY

From 2006 to 2016, the population of Malawi increased by 4,359,038 people (a 33% growth), while Nigeria gained 46,366,366 people (a 31.1% growth).

For the next 10 years, from 2016 to 2026, Malawi gained 5,391,555 people (a 30.7% growth), while Nigeria's population increased by 48,380,769 people (a 24.8% growth).

Malawi was ranked 69th most populous country in 2006 and is 61st in 2026. Nigeria was ranked 7th in 2006 and ranked 6th 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 Nigeria will increase by 47.9% to 360,734,783 people and rank change from 6th to 5th.

Malawi is projected to reach its peak in 2100 at 59.8M people compared to the peak of 482M people in 2100 for Nigeria.

Population growth rate by year

Malawi
Factual

Projection
Nigeria
Factual

Projection
1x
Year Growth rate
Malawi Nigeria
2100 0.43% 0.04%
2099 0.43% 0.06%
2098 0.42% 0.07%
2097 0.45% 0.09%
2096 0.43% 0.1%
2095 0.46% 0.11%
2094 0.47% 0.13%
2093 0.51% 0.15%
2092 0.52% 0.17%
2091 0.55% 0.19%
2090 0.57% 0.21%
2089 0.61% 0.23%
2088 0.61% 0.25%
2087 0.62% 0.28%
2086 0.65% 0.3%
2085 0.64% 0.32%
2084 0.72% 0.35%
2083 0.74% 0.37%
2082 0.76% 0.39%
2081 0.79% 0.42%
2080 0.8% 0.45%
2079 0.81% 0.47%
2078 0.88% 0.5%
2077 0.9% 0.52%
2076 0.9% 0.55%
2075 0.9% 0.58%
2074 0.91% 0.6%
2073 0.92% 0.63%
2072 0.98% 0.65%
2071 1% 0.68%
2070 1.03% 0.71%
2069 1.07% 0.73%
2068 1.09% 0.76%
2067 1.12% 0.79%
2066 1.13% 0.81%
2065 1.15% 0.84%
2064 1.16% 0.87%
2063 1.21% 0.89%
2062 1.28% 0.92%
2061 1.31% 0.94%
2060 1.38% 0.97%
2059 1.35% 0.99%
2058 1.4% 1.02%
2057 1.4% 1.05%
2056 1.48% 1.07%
2055 1.48% 1.1%
2054 1.57% 1.13%
2053 1.58% 1.16%
2052 1.61% 1.19%
2051 1.62% 1.22%
2050 1.65% 1.25%
2049 1.64% 1.28%
2048 1.72% 1.32%
2047 1.76% 1.35%
2046 1.78% 1.39%
2045 1.86% 1.43%
2044 1.85% 1.47%
2043 1.87% 1.51%
2042 1.93% 1.54%
2041 1.97% 1.59%
2040 2.01% 1.63%
2039 2.04% 1.66%
2038 2.16% 1.7%
2037 2.18% 1.74%
2036 2.22% 1.77%
2035 2.26% 1.81%
2034 2.31% 1.84%
2033 2.33% 1.88%
2032 2.36% 1.91%
2031 2.44% 1.94%
2030 2.5% 1.97%
2029 2.5% 2%
2028 2.54% 2.02%
2027 2.56% 2.05%
2026 2.57% 2.08%
2025 2.61% 2.09%
2024 2.61% 2.1%
2023 2.6% 2.12%
2022 2.6% 2.11%
2021 2.63% 2.12%
2020 2.67% 2.15%
2019 2.69% 2.22%
2018 2.71% 2.34%
2017 2.75% 2.46%
2016 2.76% 2.5%
2015 2.79% 2.57%
2014 2.84% 2.68%
2013 2.88% 2.75%
2012 2.91% 2.81%
2011 2.96% 2.84%
2010 2.99% 2.83%
2009 3% 2.83%
2008 2.95% 2.82%
2007 2.86% 2.81%
2006 2.79% 2.8%
2005 2.71% 2.81%
2004 2.62% 2.81%
2003 2.53% 2.8%
2002 2.48% 2.78%
2001 2.45% 2.75%
2000 2.43% 2.71%
1999 2.36% 2.67%
1998 2.19% 2.65%
1997 2.03% 2.64%
1996 1.99% 2.65%
1995 -0.15% 2.67%
1994 -1.16% 2.68%
1993 1.47% 2.69%
1992 2.95% 2.66%
1991 3.13% 2.68%
1990 4.03% 2.74%
1989 4.83% 2.73%
1988 5.55% 2.71%
1987 4.89% 2.7%
1986 3.75% 2.75%
1985 3.92% 2.87%
1984 3.99% 2.6%
1983 4.02% 2.63%
1982 4.03% 3.04%
1981 4% 3.12%
1980 3.93% 3.17%
1979 3.76% 3.13%
1978 3.48% 3.11%
1977 3.15% 3.03%
1976 2.95% 2.91%
1975 2.84% 2.81%
1974 2.75% 2.66%
1973 2.66% 2.53%
1972 2.59% 2.42%
1971 2.54% 2.36%
1970 2.49% 2.31%
1969 2.5% 2.24%
1968 2.51% 2.18%
1967 2.5% 2.16%
1966 2.48% 2.2%
1965 2.47% 2.19%
1964 2.48% 2.16%
1963 2.47% 2.15%
1962 2.44% 2.12%
1961 2.41% 2.08%

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/nigeria | CC BY

In 2024, the population of Malawi grew by 2.61%, while Nigeria's population grew by 2.1%.

Live population counters

Malawi Nigeria
Current population
22949294
243824469
Population rank 61/197 6/197
Percent of world population 0.28% 2.94%
One net population change
57.3 seconds
6.58 seconds
One birth every
47.6 seconds
4.2 seconds
One death every
4.64 minutes
11.8 seconds
Daily growth/decline +1,509 +13,141
Annual growth/decline +550,804 +4,796,533
Annual growth/decline rate +2.61% +2.1%
Population growth rate rank 26/197 48/197
One migration net change every
1.56 hours
34.5 minutes
Annual migration change -5,628 -15,258
Net migration rank 118/196 145/196
Foreign-born residents 186,719 1,403,281
Foreign-born residents rank 117/195 49/195
Foreign-born share of population 0.9% 0.6%
Foreign-born share rank 158/195 173/195

Natural population change vs migration

Malawi
Natural

Migration
Nigeria
Natural

Migration
1x
Year Population change
Malawi Nigeria
Natural Migration Natural Migration
2025 - -5,628 - -15,258
2024 - -1,507 - -35,202
2023 549,096 -5,811 4,834,309 -57,936
2022 533,450 -5,231 4,739,502 -51,680
2021 517,400 -2,666 4,641,562 -86,115
2020 514,659 -2,655 4,525,164 -14,497
2019 506,104 -1,837 4,609,941 -99,722
2018 494,348 -3,267 4,659,898 -76,565
2017 484,655 982 4,706,183 78,685
2016 474,779 3,505 4,761,594 75,265
2015 472,484 -6,471 4,823,045 -116,162
2014 472,418 -10,317 4,862,319 -19,376
2013 470,293 -12,934 4,811,751 40,201
2012 460,684 -13,561 4,774,508 71,138
2011 454,149 -12,170 4,728,363 67,808
2010 444,468 -9,327 4,629,173 47,966
2009 434,811 -8,590 4,528,149 -18,422
2008 421,781 -9,264 4,412,976 -13,646
2007 410,290 -22,680 4,265,428 -9,162
2006 397,123 -29,450 4,135,703 -12,093
2005 381,130 -31,462 4,013,788 -17,146
2004 361,133 -32,221 3,877,376 46,370
2003 341,133 -31,729 3,751,120 33,857
2002 322,863 -30,013 3,606,814 69,594
2001 310,833 -28,933 3,478,370 64,163
2000 300,439 -28,098 3,343,196 74,535
1999 295,629 -31,686 3,155,425 97,195
1998 285,407 -39,491 3,003,946 145,575
1997 277,433 -61,646 2,936,500 96,885
1996 270,048 -66,212 2,882,205 84,448
1995 266,745 -66,366 2,830,771 73,243
1994 275,439 -505,365 2,735,198 128,134
1993 276,538 -284,867 2,673,675 90,200
1992 269,066 37,142 2,596,173 138,412
1991 260,193 15,291 2,527,807 42,760
1990 250,159 71,111 2,491,928 135,959
1989 237,967 180,031 2,452,324 99,588
1988 226,911 201,011 2,376,419 93,510
1987 220,566 271,693 2,322,397 64,418
1986 218,519 62,615 2,295,003 29,682
1985 216,179 74,625 2,289,784 61,514
1984 212,146 72,435 2,278,060 113,758
1983 209,422 68,197 2,292,089 -507,539
1982 205,386 62,661 2,233,401 101,116
1981 199,436 57,376 2,179,884 106,723
1980 192,746 52,294 2,121,618 198,672
1979 182,123 46,388 2,074,807 137,721
1978 172,503 36,225 2,019,621 111,258
1977 161,930 19,638 1,923,917 129,075
1976 153,422 8,206 1,827,289 72,889
1975 145,254 5,162 1,718,623 75,603
1974 137,819 3,833 1,624,813 44,281
1973 131,529 1,623 1,525,485 -618
1972 125,728 48 1,448,928 -12,962
1971 121,015 -710 1,373,896 -35,639
1970 116,822 -2,147 1,295,507 7,953
1969 113,120 -2,266 1,213,484 6,912
1968 110,329 -924 1,168,254 9,615
1967 106,668 0 1,082,884 18,683
1966 103,512 0 1,095,582 12,513
1965 100,040 0 1,061,840 32,988
1964 97,658 0 1,028,272 26,411
1963 95,933 0 995,116 27,115
1962 92,463 0 966,452 27,906
1961 89,091 0 932,111 25,515
1960 85,718 0 901,301 12,131

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

GeoRank.org/population/malawi/nigeria | 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 Nigeria 99.2% is from natural causes (a gain of 47,163,517 people) and 0.77% is from migration (a loss of 368,103 people).

As of 2024, 186,719 residents or 0.9% of the population were not native-born in Malawi, compared to 1,403,281 people or 0.6% in Nigeria.

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
Nigeria
City Population
Lagos 15.1M
Kano 4.35M
Port Harcourt 3.32M
Ibadan 2.55M
Benin 1.78M
Abuja 1.69M
Onitsha 1.48M
Maiduguri 1.2M
Aba 1.16M
Enugu 1.03M

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/nigeria | 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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