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

Updated on by Georank team

The latest officially reported population of Malawi was 21,655,286 in 2024 vs 26,498,823 people in North Korea in 2024. In 2026, based on the adjusted UN estimation, the current Malawi's population is 22,949,294 people compared to 26,659,144 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 +2.7% per year vs +0.41% in North Korea.
  • Since 2006, the population of Malawi has increased from 13.2M people to 22.9M (73.9% growth), while North Korea has grown from 24.5M to 26.7M (8.7% growth).

Malawi vs North Korea: population by year and forecast

Malawi
Factual

Projection
North Korea
Factual

Projection
1x
Year Population
Malawi North Korea
2100 59,786,744 19,604,631
2099 59,528,389 19,733,548
2098 59,275,876 19,862,949
2097 59,028,312 19,993,288
2096 58,761,888 20,124,518
2095 58,508,246 20,256,401
2094 58,240,422 20,388,156
2093 57,966,788 20,520,253
2092 57,672,738 20,652,961
2091 57,377,090 20,785,785
2090 57,060,476 20,918,305
2089 56,739,410 21,050,580
2088 56,397,330 21,182,325
2087 56,053,671 21,314,047
2086 55,706,928 21,445,329
2085 55,348,708 21,575,835
2084 54,997,097 21,705,777
2083 54,605,058 21,835,029
2082 54,206,477 21,964,199
2081 53,795,317 22,092,862
2080 53,372,779 22,220,948
2079 52,948,243 22,348,577
2078 52,521,908 22,475,755
2077 52,063,931 22,602,817
2076 51,600,404 22,729,499
2075 51,141,728 22,856,369
2074 50,684,368 22,983,784
2073 50,229,762 23,111,441
2072 49,769,904 23,239,261
2071 49,287,139 23,367,583
2070 48,797,935 23,496,136
2069 48,301,644 23,625,538
2068 47,792,308 23,755,136
2067 47,277,473 23,884,879
2066 46,752,024 24,015,027
2065 46,228,139 24,144,985
2064 45,701,844 24,274,257
2063 45,179,322 24,402,439
2062 44,638,764 24,529,941
2061 44,076,711 24,656,350
2060 43,508,702 24,780,911
2059 42,916,694 24,903,037
2058 42,344,863 25,023,260
2057 41,762,060 25,140,523
2056 41,184,161 25,255,342
2055 40,584,950 25,366,397
2054 39,994,696 25,474,292
2053 39,377,622 25,578,870
2052 38,766,890 25,679,963
2051 38,153,322 25,777,639
2050 37,545,865 25,871,673
2049 36,936,275 25,962,167
2048 36,339,833 26,048,593
2047 35,725,127 26,131,429
2046 35,107,179 26,210,487
2045 34,491,916 26,286,208
2044 33,862,279 26,358,331
2043 33,247,804 26,427,062
2042 32,636,511 26,491,482
2041 32,019,447 26,552,564
2040 31,402,305 26,609,557
2039 30,782,479 26,661,815
2038 30,166,708 26,708,400
2037 29,527,821 26,749,134
2036 28,896,515 26,783,304
2035 28,267,970 26,810,026
2034 27,643,367 26,828,912
2033 27,018,105 26,839,229
2032 26,404,071 26,840,944
2031 25,795,897 26,832,957
2030 25,181,820 26,814,812
2029 24,566,478 26,787,117
2028 23,968,071 26,749,227
2027 23,374,588 26,701,444
2026 22,791,601 26,643,460
2025 22,220,885 26,575,953
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 (2025–2100, retrieved 2026-03-10); World Bank | Health (1960–2024, retrieved 2026-04-06).

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 5,391,555 people (a 30.7% growth), while North Korea's population increased by 960,818 people (a 3.74% 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 63.6% to 37,545,865 people with a rank change from 61st to 55th. The population of North Korea will decrease by 2.95% to 25,871,673 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 2.61% 0.29%
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 (2025–2100, retrieved 2026-03-10); World Bank | Health (1961–2024, retrieved 2026-04-06).

GeoRank.org/population/malawi/north-korea | CC BY

In 2024, the population of Malawi grew by 2.61%, while North Korea's population grew by 0.31%.

Live population counters

Malawi North Korea
Current population
22949294
26659144
Population rank 61/197 57/197
Percent of world population 0.28% 0.32%
One net population change
57.3 seconds
6.52 minutes
One birth every
47.6 seconds
1.54 minutes
One death every
4.64 minutes
2.05 minutes
Daily growth/decline +1,509 +221
Annual growth/decline +550,804 +80,619
Annual growth/decline rate +2.61% +0.31%
Population growth rate rank 26/197 150/197
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 - -1,507 - -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 2026-04-06).

GeoRank.org/population/malawi/north-korea | 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 North Korea 97.7% is from natural causes (a gain of 1,097,372 people) and 2.33% is from migration (a loss of 26,227 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
Blantyre 800K
Mzuzu 150K
Zomba 101K
Mangochi 53.5K
Mzimba 26.1K
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 (1960–2024, 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/north-korea | 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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