Skip to content

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

Updated on by Georank

The latest officially reported population of Malawi was 22,216,120 in 2025 vs 17,663 people in Palau in 2025. In 2026, based on the adjusted UN estimation, the current Malawi's population is 23,086,106 people compared to 17,620 in Palau.

Population statistics:

  • Malawi's population is 1,310 times bigger than Palau's.
  • Malawi is ranked the 61st most populous country in the world, while Palau is the 194th.
  • The countries together account for 0.28% of the world: 0.28% for Malawi vs 0.0002% for Palau.
  • For the last 10 years, Malawi has had an average growth rate of +2.67% per year vs -0.03% in Palau.
  • Since 2006, the population of Malawi has increased from 13.2M people to 23.1M (74.9% growth), while Palau has declined from 19.6K to 17.6K (10.1% decline).

Malawi vs Palau: population by year and forecast

Malawi
Factual

Projection
Palau
Factual

Projection
1x
Year Population
Malawi Palau
2100 59,773,923 11,146
2099 59,515,624 11,210
2098 59,263,165 11,275
2097 59,015,654 11,346
2096 58,749,288 11,411
2095 58,495,699 11,479
2094 58,227,933 11,543
2093 57,954,358 11,610
2092 57,660,371 11,676
2091 57,364,786 11,747
2090 57,048,240 11,823
2089 56,727,243 11,901
2088 56,385,237 11,962
2087 56,041,651 12,034
2086 55,694,983 12,103
2085 55,336,839 12,165
2084 54,985,304 12,245
2083 54,593,349 12,310
2082 54,194,853 12,376
2081 53,783,781 12,451
2080 53,361,334 12,531
2079 52,936,889 12,602
2078 52,510,645 12,674
2077 52,052,767 12,751
2076 51,589,339 12,831
2075 51,130,762 12,907
2074 50,673,499 13,000
2073 50,218,991 13,084
2072 49,759,232 13,154
2071 49,276,570 13,245
2070 48,787,471 13,332
2069 48,291,287 13,424
2068 47,782,059 13,518
2067 47,267,335 13,614
2066 46,741,998 13,716
2065 46,218,226 13,811
2064 45,692,044 13,913
2063 45,169,634 14,018
2062 44,629,192 14,129
2061 44,067,259 14,244
2060 43,499,372 14,350
2059 42,907,491 14,471
2058 42,335,782 14,581
2057 41,753,105 14,710
2056 41,175,330 14,830
2055 40,576,247 14,954
2054 39,986,120 15,077
2053 39,369,178 15,198
2052 38,758,577 15,324
2051 38,145,141 15,445
2050 37,537,814 15,554
2049 36,928,354 15,674
2048 36,332,040 15,789
2047 35,717,466 15,904
2046 35,099,651 16,015
2045 34,484,520 16,123
2044 33,855,018 16,237
2043 33,240,675 16,331
2042 32,629,513 16,437
2041 32,012,581 16,541
2040 31,395,572 16,623
2039 30,775,878 16,719
2038 30,160,239 16,797
2037 29,521,489 16,886
2036 28,890,318 16,955
2035 28,261,909 17,033
2034 27,637,439 17,109
2033 27,012,311 17,181
2032 26,398,409 17,241
2031 25,790,366 17,321
2030 25,176,420 17,389
2029 24,561,210 17,448
2028 23,962,931 17,518
2027 23,369,575 17,567
2026 22,786,713 17,620
2025 22,216,120 17,663
2024 21,655,286 17,695
2023 21,104,482 17,727
2022 20,568,728 17,759
2021 20,047,258 17,783
2020 19,533,888 17,792
2019 19,025,752 17,798
2018 18,528,081 17,814
2017 18,039,715 17,812
2016 17,557,739 17,797
2015 17,085,587 17,770
2014 16,621,538 17,715
2013 16,161,816 17,648
2012 15,709,577 17,765
2011 15,265,022 18,078
2010 14,826,463 18,396
2009 14,395,788 18,709
2008 13,976,417 19,009
2007 13,576,343 19,302
2006 13,198,701 19,593
2005 12,840,031 19,819
2004 12,500,737 19,820
2003 12,181,574 19,659
2002 11,880,440 19,503
2001 11,593,058 19,352
2000 11,315,942 19,178
1999 11,047,804 18,901
1998 10,792,876 18,524
1997 10,562,035 18,108
1996 10,352,228 17,654
1995 10,150,117 17,195
1994 10,164,894 16,770
1993 10,284,024 16,372
1992 10,135,079 15,989
1991 9,844,227 15,614
1990 9,545,852 15,259
1989 9,176,220 14,945
1988 8,753,262 14,645
1987 8,293,174 14,334
1986 7,906,480 14,024
1985 7,620,508 13,688
1984 7,332,810 13,337
1983 7,051,709 13,006
1982 6,778,879 12,694
1981 6,516,454 12,402
1980 6,265,529 12,271
1979 6,028,749 12,337
1978 5,810,132 12,440
1977 5,614,983 12,525
1976 5,443,384 12,598
1975 5,287,367 12,655
1974 5,141,337 12,687
1973 5,003,938 12,552
1972 4,874,475 12,194
1971 4,751,434 11,759
1970 4,633,944 11,368
1969 4,521,184 11,159
1968 4,411,054 11,080
1967 4,303,012 10,988
1966 4,197,926 10,805
1965 4,096,157 10,547
1964 3,997,305 10,292
1963 3,900,506 10,037
1962 3,806,307 9,793
1961 3,715,534 9,555
1960 3,628,134 9,328

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/palau | CC BY

From 2006 to 2016, the population of Malawi increased by 4,359,038 people (a 33% growth), while Palau lost 1,796 people (a 9.17% decline).

For the next 10 years, from 2016 to 2026, Malawi gained 5,528,367 people (a 31.5% growth), while Palau's population decreased by 177 people (a 0.99% decline).

Malawi was ranked 69th most populous country in 2006 and is 61st in 2026. Palau was ranked 194th in 2006 and still ranked 194th 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 Palau will decrease by 11.7% to 15,554 people and rank change from 194th to 195th.

Malawi is projected to reach its peak in 2100 at 59.8M people, while Palau's population already peaked in 2004 at 19.8K people and is projected to decrease to 11.1K people by 2100.

Population growth rate by year

Malawi
Factual

Projection
Palau
Factual

Projection
1x
Year Growth rate
Malawi Palau
2100 0.43% -0.57%
2099 0.43% -0.58%
2098 0.42% -0.62%
2097 0.45% -0.57%
2096 0.43% -0.59%
2095 0.46% -0.55%
2094 0.47% -0.58%
2093 0.51% -0.56%
2092 0.52% -0.6%
2091 0.55% -0.65%
2090 0.57% -0.65%
2089 0.61% -0.51%
2088 0.61% -0.6%
2087 0.62% -0.57%
2086 0.65% -0.51%
2085 0.64% -0.65%
2084 0.72% -0.53%
2083 0.74% -0.53%
2082 0.76% -0.6%
2081 0.79% -0.64%
2080 0.8% -0.56%
2079 0.81% -0.58%
2078 0.88% -0.6%
2077 0.9% -0.62%
2076 0.9% -0.59%
2075 0.9% -0.71%
2074 0.91% -0.64%
2073 0.92% -0.53%
2072 0.98% -0.69%
2071 1% -0.65%
2070 1.03% -0.68%
2069 1.07% -0.7%
2068 1.09% -0.7%
2067 1.12% -0.74%
2066 1.13% -0.69%
2065 1.15% -0.73%
2064 1.16% -0.75%
2063 1.21% -0.78%
2062 1.28% -0.81%
2061 1.31% -0.74%
2060 1.38% -0.84%
2059 1.35% -0.75%
2058 1.4% -0.88%
2057 1.4% -0.81%
2056 1.48% -0.83%
2055 1.48% -0.81%
2054 1.57% -0.8%
2053 1.58% -0.82%
2052 1.61% -0.78%
2051 1.62% -0.7%
2050 1.65% -0.76%
2049 1.64% -0.73%
2048 1.72% -0.72%
2047 1.76% -0.7%
2046 1.78% -0.67%
2045 1.86% -0.7%
2044 1.85% -0.57%
2043 1.87% -0.64%
2042 1.93% -0.63%
2041 1.97% -0.49%
2040 2.01% -0.57%
2039 2.04% -0.46%
2038 2.16% -0.53%
2037 2.18% -0.41%
2036 2.22% -0.46%
2035 2.26% -0.44%
2034 2.31% -0.42%
2033 2.33% -0.35%
2032 2.36% -0.46%
2031 2.44% -0.39%
2030 2.5% -0.34%
2029 2.5% -0.4%
2028 2.54% -0.28%
2027 2.56% -0.3%
2026 2.57% -0.24%
2025 2.59% -0.18%
2024 2.61% -0.18%
2023 2.6% -0.18%
2022 2.6% -0.13%
2021 2.63% -0.05%
2020 2.67% -0.03%
2019 2.69% -0.09%
2018 2.71% 0.01%
2017 2.75% 0.08%
2016 2.76% 0.15%
2015 2.79% 0.31%
2014 2.84% 0.38%
2013 2.88% -0.66%
2012 2.91% -1.73%
2011 2.96% -1.73%
2010 2.99% -1.67%
2009 3% -1.58%
2008 2.95% -1.52%
2007 2.86% -1.49%
2006 2.79% -1.14%
2005 2.71% -0.005%
2004 2.62% 0.82%
2003 2.53% 0.8%
2002 2.48% 0.78%
2001 2.45% 0.91%
2000 2.43% 1.47%
1999 2.36% 2.04%
1998 2.19% 2.3%
1997 2.03% 2.57%
1996 1.99% 2.67%
1995 -0.15% 2.53%
1994 -1.16% 2.43%
1993 1.47% 2.4%
1992 2.95% 2.4%
1991 3.13% 2.33%
1990 4.03% 2.1%
1989 4.83% 2.05%
1988 5.55% 2.17%
1987 4.89% 2.21%
1986 3.75% 2.45%
1985 3.92% 2.63%
1984 3.99% 2.54%
1983 4.02% 2.46%
1982 4.03% 2.35%
1981 4% 1.07%
1980 3.93% -0.53%
1979 3.76% -0.83%
1978 3.48% -0.68%
1977 3.15% -0.58%
1976 2.95% -0.45%
1975 2.84% -0.25%
1974 2.75% 1.08%
1973 2.66% 2.94%
1972 2.59% 3.7%
1971 2.54% 3.44%
1970 2.49% 1.87%
1969 2.5% 0.71%
1968 2.51% 0.84%
1967 2.5% 1.69%
1966 2.48% 2.45%
1965 2.47% 2.48%
1964 2.48% 2.54%
1963 2.47% 2.49%
1962 2.44% 2.49%
1961 2.41% 2.43%

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/palau | CC BY

In 2025, the population of Malawi grew by 2.59%, while Palau's population declined by 0.18%.

Live population counters

Malawi Palau
Current population
23086106
17620
Population rank 61/197 194/197
Percent of world population 0.28% 0.0002%
One net population change
56.4 seconds
1.63 weeks
One birth every
46.8 seconds
1.93 days
One death every
4.59 minutes
1.76 days
Daily growth/decline +1,537 +0
Annual growth/decline +560,834 -32
Annual growth/decline rate +2.59% -0.18%
Population growth rate rank 23/197 175/197
One migration net change every
1.56 hours
3.27 weeks
Annual migration change -5,628 -16
Net migration rank 118/196 78/196
Foreign-born residents 186,719 5,212
Foreign-born residents rank 117/195 184/195
Foreign-born share of population 0.9% 29.5%
Foreign-born share rank 158/195 19/195

Natural population change vs migration

Malawi
Natural

Migration
Palau
Natural

Migration
1x
Year Population change
Malawi Palau
Natural Migration Natural Migration
2025 - -5,628 - -16
2024 559,811 -1,507 -18 -14
2023 549,096 -5,811 -10 -19
2022 533,450 -5,231 -7 -20
2021 517,400 -2,666 -3 -21
2020 514,659 -2,655 8 0
2019 506,104 -1,837 23 -46
2018 494,348 -3,267 29 -35
2017 484,655 982 43 -33
2016 474,779 3,505 53 -35
2015 472,484 -6,471 55 -11
2014 472,418 -10,317 73 -7
2013 470,293 -12,934 88 -28
2012 460,684 -13,561 86 -387
2011 454,149 -12,170 83 -405
2010 444,468 -9,327 81 -392
2009 434,811 -8,590 81 -382
2008 421,781 -9,264 79 -378
2007 410,290 -22,680 80 -372
2006 397,123 -29,450 79 -365
2005 381,130 -31,462 80 -250
2004 361,133 -32,221 83 79
2003 341,133 -31,729 86 71
2002 322,863 -30,013 88 67
2001 310,833 -28,933 88 65
2000 300,439 -28,098 85 120
1999 295,629 -31,686 100 243
1998 285,407 -39,491 116 280
1997 277,433 -61,646 140 297
1996 270,048 -66,212 166 312
1995 266,745 -66,366 186 258
1994 275,439 -505,365 195 211
1993 276,538 -284,867 196 193
1992 269,066 37,142 183 193
1991 260,193 15,291 175 193
1990 250,159 71,111 181 156
1989 237,967 180,031 185 113
1988 226,911 201,011 183 126
1987 220,566 271,693 182 125
1986 218,519 62,615 182 135
1985 216,179 74,625 181 179
1984 212,146 72,435 181 157
1983 209,422 68,197 176 144
1982 205,386 62,661 170 132
1981 199,436 57,376 161 120
1980 192,746 52,294 165 -179
1979 182,123 46,388 176 -291
1978 172,503 36,225 193 -285
1977 161,930 19,638 213 -292
1976 153,422 8,206 236 -296
1975 145,254 5,162 249 -296
1974 137,819 3,833 256 -282
1973 131,529 1,623 268 22
1972 125,728 48 280 147
1971 121,015 -710 287 156
1970 116,822 -2,147 286 54
1969 113,120 -2,266 283 -209
1968 110,329 -924 275 -194
1967 106,668 0 266 -150
1966 103,512 0 268 -18
1965 100,040 0 275 -16
1964 97,658 0 284 -27
1963 95,933 0 291 -41
1962 92,463 0 296 -54
1961 89,091 0 298 -65
1960 85,718 0 296 -70

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

GeoRank.org/population/malawi/palau | 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 Palau 42.5% is from natural causes (a gain of 173 people) and 57.5% is from migration (a loss of 234 people).

As of 2024, 186,719 residents or 0.9% of the population were not native-born in Malawi, compared to 5,212 people or 29.5% in Palau.

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
Palau
City Population
Ngerulmud 318
Melekeok 299

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/palau | 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. Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) (2000–2019, retrieved 2026-07-08)
  5. Wikidata (2026, 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.