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

Updated on by Georank team

The latest officially reported population of Malawi was 21,655,286 in 2024 vs 17,695 people in Palau in 2024. In 2026, based on the adjusted UN estimation, the current Malawi's population is 22,949,294 people compared to 17,629 in Palau.

Population statistics:

  • Malawi's population is 1,302 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 +2.7% per year vs +0.02% in Palau.
  • Since 2006, the population of Malawi has increased from 13.2M people to 22.9M (73.9% growth), while Palau has declined from 19.6K to 17.6K (10% decline).

Malawi vs Palau: population by year and forecast

Malawi
Factual

Projection
Palau
Factual

Projection
1x
Year Population
Malawi Palau
2100 59,786,744 11,152
2099 59,528,389 11,216
2098 59,275,876 11,281
2097 59,028,312 11,352
2096 58,761,888 11,417
2095 58,508,246 11,485
2094 58,240,422 11,549
2093 57,966,788 11,616
2092 57,672,738 11,682
2091 57,377,090 11,753
2090 57,060,476 11,829
2089 56,739,410 11,907
2088 56,397,330 11,968
2087 56,053,671 12,040
2086 55,706,928 12,109
2085 55,348,708 12,171
2084 54,997,097 12,251
2083 54,605,058 12,316
2082 54,206,477 12,382
2081 53,795,317 12,457
2080 53,372,779 12,537
2079 52,948,243 12,608
2078 52,521,908 12,681
2077 52,063,931 12,758
2076 51,600,404 12,838
2075 51,141,728 12,914
2074 50,684,368 13,007
2073 50,229,762 13,091
2072 49,769,904 13,161
2071 49,287,139 13,252
2070 48,797,935 13,338
2069 48,301,644 13,430
2068 47,792,308 13,525
2067 47,277,473 13,621
2066 46,752,024 13,723
2065 46,228,139 13,818
2064 45,701,844 13,920
2063 45,179,322 14,025
2062 44,638,764 14,136
2061 44,076,711 14,251
2060 43,508,702 14,358
2059 42,916,694 14,479
2058 42,344,863 14,589
2057 41,762,060 14,718
2056 41,184,161 14,837
2055 40,584,950 14,961
2054 39,994,696 15,084
2053 39,377,622 15,206
2052 38,766,890 15,332
2051 38,153,322 15,453
2050 37,545,865 15,562
2049 36,936,275 15,682
2048 36,339,833 15,797
2047 35,725,127 15,912
2046 35,107,179 16,024
2045 34,491,916 16,132
2044 33,862,279 16,245
2043 33,247,804 16,339
2042 32,636,511 16,445
2041 32,019,447 16,549
2040 31,402,305 16,631
2039 30,782,479 16,727
2038 30,166,708 16,805
2037 29,527,821 16,895
2036 28,896,515 16,964
2035 28,267,970 17,042
2034 27,643,367 17,118
2033 27,018,105 17,190
2032 26,404,071 17,250
2031 25,795,897 17,330
2030 25,181,820 17,398
2029 24,566,478 17,457
2028 23,968,071 17,527
2027 23,374,588 17,576
2026 22,791,601 17,629
2025 22,220,885 17,672
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 (2025–2100, retrieved 2026-03-10); World Bank | Health (1960–2024, retrieved 2026-04-06).

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 5,391,555 people (a 30.7% growth), while Palau's population decreased by 168 people (a 0.94% 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 63.6% to 37,545,865 people with a rank change from 61st to 55th. The population of Palau will decrease by 11.7% to 15,562 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 11.2K 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 2.61% -0.13%
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 (2025–2100, retrieved 2026-03-10); World Bank | Health (1961–2024, retrieved 2026-04-06).

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

In 2024, the population of Malawi grew by 2.61%, while Palau's population declined by 0.18%.

Live population counters

Malawi Palau
Current population
22949294
17629
Population rank 61/197 194/197
Percent of world population 0.28% 0.0002%
One net population change
57.3 seconds
1.63 weeks
One birth every
47.6 seconds
1.89 days
One death every
4.64 minutes
1.8 days
Daily growth/decline +1,509 +0
Annual growth/decline +550,804 -32
Annual growth/decline rate +2.61% -0.18%
Population growth rate rank 26/197 175/197
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 - -1,507 - -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 2026-04-06).

GeoRank.org/population/malawi/palau | 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 Palau 53.8% is from natural causes (a gain of 264 people) and 46.2% is from migration (a loss of 227 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
Blantyre 800K
Mzuzu 150K
Zomba 101K
Mangochi 53.5K
Mzimba 26.1K
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 (1960–2024, 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/palau | 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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