Skip to content

Population in Malawi compared to North Korea: Trends, Charts, Rankings

Updated on by Georank

The latest officially reported population of Malawi was 22,216,120 in 2025 vs 26,571,036 people in North Korea in 2025. In 2026, based on the adjusted UN estimation, the current Malawi's population is 23,086,106 people compared to 26,668,308 in North Korea.

Population statistics:

  • North Korea's population is 1.16 times bigger than Malawi's.
  • Malawi is ranked the 61st most populous country in the world, while North Korea is the 57th.
  • The countries together account for 0.6% of the world: 0.28% for Malawi vs 0.32% for North Korea.
  • For the last 10 years, Malawi has had an average growth rate of +2.67% per year vs +0.39% in North Korea.
  • Since 2006, the population of Malawi has increased from 13.2M people to 23.1M (74.9% growth), while North Korea has grown from 24.5M to 26.7M (8.74% growth).

Malawi vs North Korea: population by year and forecast

Malawi
Factual

Projection
North Korea
Factual

Projection
1x
Year Population
Malawi North Korea
2100 59,773,923 19,601,003
2099 59,515,624 19,729,897
2098 59,263,165 19,859,274
2097 59,015,654 19,989,589
2096 58,749,288 20,120,795
2095 58,495,699 20,252,653
2094 58,227,933 20,384,384
2093 57,954,358 20,516,457
2092 57,660,371 20,649,140
2091 57,364,786 20,781,939
2090 57,048,240 20,914,434
2089 56,727,243 21,046,685
2088 56,385,237 21,178,406
2087 56,041,651 21,310,103
2086 55,694,983 21,441,361
2085 55,336,839 21,571,843
2084 54,985,304 21,701,761
2083 54,593,349 21,830,989
2082 54,194,853 21,960,135
2081 53,783,781 22,088,774
2080 53,361,334 22,216,836
2079 52,936,889 22,344,442
2078 52,510,645 22,471,597
2077 52,052,767 22,598,635
2076 51,589,339 22,725,293
2075 51,130,762 22,852,140
2074 50,673,499 22,979,532
2073 50,218,991 23,107,165
2072 49,759,232 23,234,961
2071 49,276,570 23,363,260
2070 48,787,471 23,491,789
2069 48,291,287 23,621,167
2068 47,782,059 23,750,741
2067 47,267,335 23,880,460
2066 46,741,998 24,010,584
2065 46,218,226 24,140,518
2064 45,692,044 24,269,765
2063 45,169,634 24,397,924
2062 44,629,192 24,525,403
2061 44,067,259 24,651,788
2060 43,499,372 24,776,326
2059 42,907,491 24,898,430
2058 42,335,782 25,018,630
2057 41,753,105 25,135,871
2056 41,175,330 25,250,670
2055 40,576,247 25,361,704
2054 39,986,120 25,469,578
2053 39,369,178 25,574,137
2052 38,758,577 25,675,211
2051 38,145,141 25,772,870
2050 37,537,814 25,866,886
2049 36,928,354 25,957,363
2048 36,332,040 26,043,774
2047 35,717,466 26,126,594
2046 35,099,651 26,205,638
2045 34,484,520 26,281,344
2044 33,855,018 26,353,455
2043 33,240,675 26,422,173
2042 32,629,513 26,486,580
2041 32,012,581 26,547,651
2040 31,395,572 26,604,634
2039 30,775,878 26,656,882
2038 30,160,239 26,703,458
2037 29,521,489 26,744,185
2036 28,890,318 26,778,348
2035 28,261,909 26,805,065
2034 27,637,439 26,823,948
2033 27,012,311 26,834,263
2032 26,398,409 26,835,978
2031 25,790,366 26,827,992
2030 25,176,420 26,809,850
2029 24,561,210 26,782,161
2028 23,962,931 26,744,278
2027 23,369,575 26,696,504
2026 22,786,713 26,638,530
2025 22,216,120 26,571,036
2024 21,655,286 26,498,823
2023 21,104,482 26,418,204
2022 20,568,728 26,328,845
2021 20,047,258 26,232,534
2020 19,533,888 26,136,312
2019 19,025,752 26,037,632
2018 18,528,081 25,931,147
2017 18,039,715 25,817,709
2016 17,557,739 25,698,326
2015 17,085,587 25,575,350
2014 16,621,538 25,451,262
2013 16,161,816 25,329,451
2012 15,709,577 25,211,728
2011 15,265,022 25,097,874
2010 14,826,463 24,987,258
2009 14,395,788 24,878,332
2008 13,976,417 24,764,618
2007 13,576,343 24,646,383
2006 13,198,701 24,524,507
2005 12,840,031 24,396,433
2004 12,500,737 24,254,943
2003 12,181,574 24,090,380
2002 11,880,440 23,943,973
2001 11,593,058 23,815,358
2000 11,315,942 23,665,910
1999 11,047,804 23,497,599
1998 10,792,876 23,311,564
1997 10,562,035 23,110,830
1996 10,352,228 22,895,746
1995 10,150,117 22,669,304
1994 10,164,894 22,393,975
1993 10,284,024 22,073,352
1992 10,135,079 21,750,911
1991 9,844,227 21,428,638
1990 9,545,852 21,112,137
1989 9,176,220 20,804,367
1988 8,753,262 20,503,161
1987 8,293,174 20,205,483
1986 7,906,480 19,910,855
1985 7,620,508 19,620,388
1984 7,332,810 19,335,043
1983 7,051,709 19,054,034
1982 6,778,879 18,776,357
1981 6,516,454 18,501,295
1980 6,265,529 18,236,786
1979 6,028,749 17,983,470
1978 5,810,132 17,735,995
1977 5,614,983 17,492,798
1976 5,443,384 17,243,450
1975 5,287,367 16,971,055
1974 5,141,337 16,673,121
1973 5,003,938 16,350,367
1972 4,874,475 15,975,069
1971 4,751,434 15,572,457
1970 4,633,944 15,172,775
1969 4,521,184 14,767,615
1968 4,411,054 14,365,596
1967 4,303,012 13,958,350
1966 4,197,926 13,569,094
1965 4,096,157 13,219,369
1964 3,997,305 12,889,770
1963 3,900,506 12,567,057
1962 3,806,307 12,262,882
1961 3,715,534 11,990,713
1960 3,628,134 11,722,953

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/north-korea | CC BY

From 2006 to 2016, the population of Malawi increased by 4,359,038 people (a 33% growth), while North Korea gained 1,173,819 people (a 4.79% growth).

For the next 10 years, from 2016 to 2026, Malawi gained 5,528,367 people (a 31.5% growth), while North Korea's population increased by 969,982 people (a 3.77% growth).

Malawi was ranked 69th most populous country in 2006 and is 61st in 2026. North Korea was ranked 46th in 2006 and ranked 57th 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 North Korea will decrease by 3.01% to 25,866,886 people and rank change from 57th to 66th.

Malawi is projected to reach its peak in 2100 at 59.8M people compared to the peak of 26.8M people in 2032 for North Korea.

Population growth rate by year

Malawi
Factual

Projection
North Korea
Factual

Projection
1x
Year Growth rate
Malawi North Korea
2100 0.43% -0.65%
2099 0.43% -0.65%
2098 0.42% -0.65%
2097 0.45% -0.65%
2096 0.43% -0.65%
2095 0.46% -0.65%
2094 0.47% -0.64%
2093 0.51% -0.64%
2092 0.52% -0.64%
2091 0.55% -0.63%
2090 0.57% -0.63%
2089 0.61% -0.62%
2088 0.61% -0.62%
2087 0.62% -0.61%
2086 0.65% -0.6%
2085 0.64% -0.6%
2084 0.72% -0.59%
2083 0.74% -0.59%
2082 0.76% -0.58%
2081 0.79% -0.58%
2080 0.8% -0.57%
2079 0.81% -0.57%
2078 0.88% -0.56%
2077 0.9% -0.56%
2076 0.9% -0.56%
2075 0.9% -0.55%
2074 0.91% -0.55%
2073 0.92% -0.55%
2072 0.98% -0.55%
2071 1% -0.55%
2070 1.03% -0.55%
2069 1.07% -0.55%
2068 1.09% -0.54%
2067 1.12% -0.54%
2066 1.13% -0.54%
2065 1.15% -0.53%
2064 1.16% -0.53%
2063 1.21% -0.52%
2062 1.28% -0.51%
2061 1.31% -0.5%
2060 1.38% -0.49%
2059 1.35% -0.48%
2058 1.4% -0.47%
2057 1.4% -0.45%
2056 1.48% -0.44%
2055 1.48% -0.42%
2054 1.57% -0.41%
2053 1.58% -0.39%
2052 1.61% -0.38%
2051 1.62% -0.36%
2050 1.65% -0.35%
2049 1.64% -0.33%
2048 1.72% -0.32%
2047 1.76% -0.3%
2046 1.78% -0.29%
2045 1.86% -0.27%
2044 1.85% -0.26%
2043 1.87% -0.24%
2042 1.93% -0.23%
2041 1.97% -0.21%
2040 2.01% -0.2%
2039 2.04% -0.17%
2038 2.16% -0.15%
2037 2.18% -0.13%
2036 2.22% -0.1%
2035 2.26% -0.07%
2034 2.31% -0.04%
2033 2.33% -0.006%
2032 2.36% 0.03%
2031 2.44% 0.07%
2030 2.5% 0.1%
2029 2.5% 0.14%
2028 2.54% 0.18%
2027 2.56% 0.22%
2026 2.57% 0.25%
2025 2.59% 0.27%
2024 2.61% 0.31%
2023 2.6% 0.34%
2022 2.6% 0.37%
2021 2.63% 0.37%
2020 2.67% 0.38%
2019 2.69% 0.41%
2018 2.71% 0.44%
2017 2.75% 0.46%
2016 2.76% 0.48%
2015 2.79% 0.49%
2014 2.84% 0.48%
2013 2.88% 0.47%
2012 2.91% 0.45%
2011 2.96% 0.44%
2010 2.99% 0.44%
2009 3% 0.46%
2008 2.95% 0.48%
2007 2.86% 0.5%
2006 2.79% 0.52%
2005 2.71% 0.58%
2004 2.62% 0.68%
2003 2.53% 0.61%
2002 2.48% 0.54%
2001 2.45% 0.63%
2000 2.43% 0.72%
1999 2.36% 0.8%
1998 2.19% 0.87%
1997 2.03% 0.94%
1996 1.99% 1%
1995 -0.15% 1.23%
1994 -1.16% 1.45%
1993 1.47% 1.48%
1992 2.95% 1.5%
1991 3.13% 1.5%
1990 4.03% 1.48%
1989 4.83% 1.47%
1988 5.55% 1.47%
1987 4.89% 1.48%
1986 3.75% 1.48%
1985 3.92% 1.48%
1984 3.99% 1.47%
1983 4.02% 1.48%
1982 4.03% 1.49%
1981 4% 1.45%
1980 3.93% 1.41%
1979 3.76% 1.4%
1978 3.48% 1.39%
1977 3.15% 1.45%
1976 2.95% 1.61%
1975 2.84% 1.79%
1974 2.75% 1.97%
1973 2.66% 2.35%
1972 2.59% 2.59%
1971 2.54% 2.63%
1970 2.49% 2.74%
1969 2.5% 2.8%
1968 2.51% 2.92%
1967 2.5% 2.87%
1966 2.48% 2.65%
1965 2.47% 2.56%
1964 2.48% 2.57%
1963 2.47% 2.48%
1962 2.44% 2.27%
1961 2.41% 2.28%

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/north-korea | CC BY

In 2025, the population of Malawi grew by 2.59%, while North Korea's population grew by 0.27%.

Live population counters

Malawi North Korea
Current population
23086106
26668308
Population rank 61/197 57/197
Percent of world population 0.28% 0.32%
One net population change
56.4 seconds
7.3 minutes
One birth every
46.8 seconds
1.54 minutes
One death every
4.59 minutes
2.01 minutes
Daily growth/decline +1,537 +198
Annual growth/decline +560,834 +72,213
Annual growth/decline rate +2.59% +0.27%
Population growth rate rank 23/197 146/197
One migration net change every
1.56 hours
3.15 hours
Annual migration change -5,628 -2,787
Net migration rank 118/196 104/196
Foreign-born residents 186,719 50,439
Foreign-born residents rank 117/195 150/195
Foreign-born share of population 0.9% 0.2%
Foreign-born share rank 158/195 189/195

Natural population change vs migration

Malawi
Natural

Migration
North Korea
Natural

Migration
1x
Year Population change
Malawi North Korea
Natural Migration Natural Migration
2025 - -5,628 - -2,787
2024 559,811 -1,507 79,496 -2,473
2023 549,096 -5,811 86,203 -1,997
2022 533,450 -5,231 96,495 -1,997
2021 517,400 -2,666 99,710 -1,585
2020 514,659 -2,655 95,920 -1,585
2019 506,104 -1,837 106,208 -3,142
2018 494,348 -3,267 113,164 -3,225
2017 484,655 982 120,181 -3,224
2016 474,779 3,505 125,048 -3,222
2015 472,484 -6,471 127,365 -3,208
2014 472,418 -10,317 127,078 -3,042
2013 470,293 -12,934 122,519 -2,933
2012 460,684 -13,561 118,773 -2,919
2011 454,149 -12,170 114,798 -2,957
2010 444,468 -9,327 112,443 -3,053
2009 434,811 -8,590 111,530 -3,058
2008 421,781 -9,264 122,015 -3,051
2007 410,290 -22,680 120,521 -3,021
2006 397,123 -29,450 129,171 -2,948
2005 381,130 -31,462 132,765 -2,861
2004 361,133 -32,221 155,838 -2,758
2003 341,133 -31,729 178,775 -2,717
2002 322,863 -30,013 119,504 -2,763
2001 310,833 -28,933 143,321 -2,884
2000 300,439 -28,098 161,591 -3,142
1999 295,629 -31,686 181,613 -3,443
1998 285,407 -39,491 197,589 -3,706
1997 277,433 -61,646 211,325 -3,745
1996 270,048 -66,212 226,095 -3,512
1995 266,745 -66,366 233,381 -3,094
1994 275,439 -505,365 320,861 -517
1993 276,538 -284,867 320,880 0
1992 269,066 37,142 324,002 0
1991 260,193 15,291 320,551 0
1990 250,159 71,111 312,460 0
1989 237,967 180,031 303,078 0
1988 226,911 201,011 299,305 0
1987 220,566 271,693 296,030 0
1986 218,519 62,615 293,227 0
1985 216,179 74,625 287,714 0
1984 212,146 72,435 282,987 0
1983 209,422 68,197 279,046 0
1982 205,386 62,661 276,332 0
1981 199,436 57,376 273,800 0
1980 192,746 52,294 255,206 0
1979 182,123 46,388 251,409 0
1978 172,503 36,225 243,533 0
1977 161,930 19,638 242,870 0
1976 153,422 8,206 255,841 0
1975 145,254 5,162 288,966 0
1974 137,819 3,833 306,902 0
1973 131,529 1,623 338,600 0
1972 125,728 48 411,997 0
1971 121,015 -710 393,220 0
1970 116,822 -2,147 406,129 0
1969 113,120 -2,266 404,189 0
1968 110,329 -924 399,837 0
1967 106,668 0 414,632 0
1966 103,512 0 363,882 0
1965 100,040 0 335,587 0
1964 97,658 0 323,623 0
1963 95,933 0 321,805 0
1962 92,463 0 286,534 0
1961 89,091 0 257,788 0
1960 85,718 0 277,717 0

Data sources: World Bank | Health (1960–2025, retrieved 2026-07-08).

GeoRank.org/population/malawi/north-korea | 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 North Korea 97.6% is from natural causes (a gain of 1,049,790 people) and 2.39% is from migration (a loss of 25,658 people).

As of 2024, 186,719 residents or 0.9% of the population were not native-born in Malawi, compared to 50,439 people or 0.2% in North Korea.

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
North Korea
City Population
Pyongyang 2.86M
Hamhung 769K
Chongjin 668K
Sunchon 437K
Nampo 367K
Wonsan 363K
Sinuiju 359K
Tanchon 346K
Kaechon 320K
Kaesong 308K

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/north-korea | CC BY

Help us show the world through your eyes

Share a photo of your city and help others discover what it looks like to live there. Your contribution makes our data come alive.

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)

Creative Commons Attribution (CC BY) — you’re free to copy, share, remix, adapt, and use even commercially as long as you give appropriate credit and clearly indicate if you made changes. Other sources may be subject to different license terms.