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

Updated on by Georank team

The latest officially reported population of Malawi was 21,655,286 in 2024 vs 4,515,577 people in Panama in 2024. In 2026, based on the adjusted UN estimation, the current Malawi's population is 22,949,294 people compared to 4,642,198 in Panama.

Population statistics:

  • Malawi's population is 4.94 times bigger than Panama's.
  • Malawi is ranked the 61st most populous country in the world, while Panama is the 128th.
  • The countries together account for 0.33% of the world: 0.28% for Malawi vs 0.06% for Panama.
  • For the last 10 years, Malawi has had an average growth rate of +2.7% per year vs +1.52% in Panama.
  • Since 2006, the population of Malawi has increased from 13.2M people to 22.9M (73.9% growth), while Panama has grown from 3.38M to 4.64M (37.5% growth).

Malawi vs Panama: population by year and forecast

Malawi
Factual

Projection
Panama
Factual

Projection
1x
Year Population
Malawi Panama
2100 59,786,744 5,947,731
2099 59,528,389 5,958,919
2098 59,275,876 5,969,676
2097 59,028,312 5,979,860
2096 58,761,888 5,989,615
2095 58,508,246 5,998,960
2094 58,240,422 6,007,655
2093 57,966,788 6,015,893
2092 57,672,738 6,023,482
2091 57,377,090 6,030,584
2090 57,060,476 6,037,116
2089 56,739,410 6,043,194
2088 56,397,330 6,048,506
2087 56,053,671 6,053,252
2086 55,706,928 6,057,347
2085 55,348,708 6,060,940
2084 54,997,097 6,063,735
2083 54,605,058 6,065,863
2082 54,206,477 6,067,171
2081 53,795,317 6,067,635
2080 53,372,779 6,067,317
2079 52,948,243 6,066,164
2078 52,521,908 6,064,127
2077 52,063,931 6,061,297
2076 51,600,404 6,057,645
2075 51,141,728 6,053,134
2074 50,684,368 6,047,620
2073 50,229,762 6,041,318
2072 49,769,904 6,034,065
2071 49,287,139 6,026,051
2070 48,797,935 6,017,288
2069 48,301,644 6,007,621
2068 47,792,308 5,997,109
2067 47,277,473 5,985,932
2066 46,752,024 5,973,853
2065 46,228,139 5,961,039
2064 45,701,844 5,947,320
2063 45,179,322 5,932,822
2062 44,638,764 5,917,367
2061 44,076,711 5,900,972
2060 43,508,702 5,883,654
2059 42,916,694 5,865,433
2058 42,344,863 5,846,037
2057 41,762,060 5,825,696
2056 41,184,161 5,804,369
2055 40,584,950 5,781,900
2054 39,994,696 5,758,339
2053 39,377,622 5,733,538
2052 38,766,890 5,707,562
2051 38,153,322 5,680,231
2050 37,545,865 5,651,617
2049 36,936,275 5,621,841
2048 36,339,833 5,590,701
2047 35,725,127 5,558,382
2046 35,107,179 5,524,843
2045 34,491,916 5,490,228
2044 33,862,279 5,454,371
2043 33,247,804 5,417,316
2042 32,636,511 5,379,169
2041 32,019,447 5,339,872
2040 31,402,305 5,299,492
2039 30,782,479 5,257,983
2038 30,166,708 5,215,284
2037 29,527,821 5,171,497
2036 28,896,515 5,126,814
2035 28,267,970 5,081,210
2034 27,643,367 5,034,708
2033 27,018,105 4,987,247
2032 26,404,071 4,938,646
2031 25,795,897 4,889,260
2030 25,181,820 4,838,970
2029 24,566,478 4,787,654
2028 23,968,071 4,735,214
2027 23,374,588 4,681,847
2026 22,791,601 4,627,497
2025 22,220,885 4,572,106
2024 21,655,286 4,515,577
2023 21,104,482 4,458,759
2022 20,568,728 4,400,773
2021 20,047,258 4,345,405
2020 19,533,888 4,293,261
2019 19,025,752 4,234,700
2018 18,528,081 4,167,860
2017 18,039,715 4,098,707
2016 17,557,739 4,029,086
2015 17,085,587 3,960,035
2014 16,621,538 3,892,101
2013 16,161,816 3,825,329
2012 15,709,577 3,759,256
2011 15,265,022 3,693,505
2010 14,826,463 3,628,535
2009 14,395,788 3,564,381
2008 13,976,417 3,500,648
2007 13,576,343 3,437,490
2006 13,198,701 3,375,024
2005 12,840,031 3,313,026
2004 12,500,737 3,251,155
2003 12,181,574 3,189,807
2002 11,880,440 3,129,344
2001 11,593,058 3,069,537
2000 11,315,942 3,010,369
1999 11,047,804 2,951,822
1998 10,792,876 2,893,914
1997 10,562,035 2,836,695
1996 10,352,228 2,780,227
1995 10,150,117 2,724,557
1994 10,164,894 2,669,546
1993 10,284,024 2,615,099
1992 10,135,079 2,561,336
1991 9,844,227 2,508,265
1990 9,545,852 2,455,583
1989 9,176,220 2,403,820
1988 8,753,262 2,352,848
1987 8,293,174 2,301,970
1986 7,906,480 2,251,325
1985 7,620,508 2,200,915
1984 7,332,810 2,150,782
1983 7,051,709 2,101,106
1982 6,778,879 2,052,271
1981 6,516,454 2,004,418
1980 6,265,529 1,957,534
1979 6,028,749 1,911,552
1978 5,810,132 1,866,311
1977 5,614,983 1,821,543
1976 5,443,384 1,776,935
1975 5,287,367 1,732,389
1974 5,141,337 1,687,926
1973 5,003,938 1,643,690
1972 4,874,475 1,599,723
1971 4,751,434 1,556,081
1970 4,633,944 1,513,070
1969 4,521,184 1,470,886
1968 4,411,054 1,429,447
1967 4,303,012 1,388,628
1966 4,197,926 1,348,388
1965 4,096,157 1,308,835
1964 3,997,305 1,270,065
1963 3,900,506 1,232,124
1962 3,806,307 1,195,301
1961 3,715,534 1,159,870
1960 3,628,134 1,126,005

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/panama | CC BY

From 2006 to 2016, the population of Malawi increased by 4,359,038 people (a 33% growth), while Panama gained 654,062 people (a 19.4% growth).

For the next 10 years, from 2016 to 2026, Malawi gained 5,391,555 people (a 30.7% growth), while Panama's population increased by 613,112 people (a 15.2% growth).

Malawi was ranked 69th most populous country in 2006 and is 61st in 2026. Panama was ranked 128th in 2006 and still ranked 128th 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 Panama will increase by 21.7% to 5,651,617 people and rank change from 128th to 124th.

Malawi is projected to reach its peak in 2100 at 59.8M people compared to the peak of 6.07M people in 2081 for Panama.

Population growth rate by year

Malawi
Factual

Projection
Panama
Factual

Projection
1x
Year Growth rate
Malawi Panama
2100 0.43% -0.19%
2099 0.43% -0.18%
2098 0.42% -0.17%
2097 0.45% -0.16%
2096 0.43% -0.16%
2095 0.46% -0.14%
2094 0.47% -0.14%
2093 0.51% -0.13%
2092 0.52% -0.12%
2091 0.55% -0.11%
2090 0.57% -0.1%
2089 0.61% -0.09%
2088 0.61% -0.08%
2087 0.62% -0.07%
2086 0.65% -0.06%
2085 0.64% -0.05%
2084 0.72% -0.04%
2083 0.74% -0.02%
2082 0.76% -0.008%
2081 0.79% 0.005%
2080 0.8% 0.02%
2079 0.81% 0.03%
2078 0.88% 0.05%
2077 0.9% 0.06%
2076 0.9% 0.07%
2075 0.9% 0.09%
2074 0.91% 0.1%
2073 0.92% 0.12%
2072 0.98% 0.13%
2071 1% 0.15%
2070 1.03% 0.16%
2069 1.07% 0.18%
2068 1.09% 0.19%
2067 1.12% 0.2%
2066 1.13% 0.21%
2065 1.15% 0.23%
2064 1.16% 0.24%
2063 1.21% 0.26%
2062 1.28% 0.28%
2061 1.31% 0.29%
2060 1.38% 0.31%
2059 1.35% 0.33%
2058 1.4% 0.35%
2057 1.4% 0.37%
2056 1.48% 0.39%
2055 1.48% 0.41%
2054 1.57% 0.43%
2053 1.58% 0.46%
2052 1.61% 0.48%
2051 1.62% 0.51%
2050 1.65% 0.53%
2049 1.64% 0.56%
2048 1.72% 0.58%
2047 1.76% 0.61%
2046 1.78% 0.63%
2045 1.86% 0.66%
2044 1.85% 0.68%
2043 1.87% 0.71%
2042 1.93% 0.74%
2041 1.97% 0.76%
2040 2.01% 0.79%
2039 2.04% 0.82%
2038 2.16% 0.85%
2037 2.18% 0.87%
2036 2.22% 0.9%
2035 2.26% 0.92%
2034 2.31% 0.95%
2033 2.33% 0.98%
2032 2.36% 1.01%
2031 2.44% 1.04%
2030 2.5% 1.07%
2029 2.5% 1.11%
2028 2.54% 1.14%
2027 2.56% 1.17%
2026 2.57% 1.21%
2025 2.61% 1.25%
2024 2.61% 1.27%
2023 2.6% 1.32%
2022 2.6% 1.27%
2021 2.63% 1.21%
2020 2.67% 1.38%
2019 2.69% 1.6%
2018 2.71% 1.69%
2017 2.75% 1.73%
2016 2.76% 1.74%
2015 2.79% 1.75%
2014 2.84% 1.75%
2013 2.88% 1.76%
2012 2.91% 1.78%
2011 2.96% 1.79%
2010 2.99% 1.8%
2009 3% 1.82%
2008 2.95% 1.84%
2007 2.86% 1.85%
2006 2.79% 1.87%
2005 2.71% 1.9%
2004 2.62% 1.92%
2003 2.53% 1.93%
2002 2.48% 1.95%
2001 2.45% 1.97%
2000 2.43% 1.98%
1999 2.36% 2%
1998 2.19% 2.02%
1997 2.03% 2.03%
1996 1.99% 2.04%
1995 -0.15% 2.06%
1994 -1.16% 2.08%
1993 1.47% 2.1%
1992 2.95% 2.12%
1991 3.13% 2.15%
1990 4.03% 2.15%
1989 4.83% 2.17%
1988 5.55% 2.21%
1987 4.89% 2.25%
1986 3.75% 2.29%
1985 3.92% 2.33%
1984 3.99% 2.36%
1983 4.02% 2.38%
1982 4.03% 2.39%
1981 4% 2.4%
1980 3.93% 2.41%
1979 3.76% 2.42%
1978 3.48% 2.46%
1977 3.15% 2.51%
1976 2.95% 2.57%
1975 2.84% 2.63%
1974 2.75% 2.69%
1973 2.66% 2.75%
1972 2.59% 2.8%
1971 2.54% 2.84%
1970 2.49% 2.87%
1969 2.5% 2.9%
1968 2.51% 2.94%
1967 2.5% 2.98%
1966 2.48% 3.02%
1965 2.47% 3.05%
1964 2.48% 3.08%
1963 2.47% 3.08%
1962 2.44% 3.05%
1961 2.41% 3.01%

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/panama | CC BY

In 2024, the population of Malawi grew by 2.61%, while Panama's population grew by 1.27%.

Live population counters

Malawi Panama
Current population
22949294
4642198
Population rank 61/197 128/197
Percent of world population 0.28% 0.06%
One net population change
57.3 seconds
9.25 minutes
One birth every
47.6 seconds
7.35 minutes
One death every
4.64 minutes
24.7 minutes
Daily growth/decline +1,509 +156
Annual growth/decline +550,804 +56,818
Annual growth/decline rate +2.61% +1.27%
Population growth rate rank 26/197 83/197
One migration net change every
1.56 hours
1.43 hours
Annual migration change -5,628 +6,151
Net migration rank 118/196 49/196
Foreign-born residents 186,719 477,749
Foreign-born residents rank 117/195 81/195
Foreign-born share of population 0.9% 10.6%
Foreign-born share rank 158/195 63/195

Natural population change vs migration

Malawi
Natural

Migration
Panama
Natural

Migration
1x
Year Population change
Malawi Panama
Natural Migration Natural Migration
2025 - -5,628 - 6,151
2024 - -1,507 - 6,706
2023 549,096 -5,811 50,197 7,262
2022 533,450 -5,231 50,556 7,967
2021 517,400 -2,666 46,747 5,473
2020 514,659 -2,655 46,599 5,473
2019 506,104 -1,837 54,420 10,623
2018 494,348 -3,267 57,508 11,130
2017 484,655 982 58,607 11,059
2016 474,779 3,505 59,454 10,109
2015 472,484 -6,471 59,896 8,648
2014 472,418 -10,317 60,227 7,105
2013 470,293 -12,934 60,295 5,926
2012 460,684 -13,561 60,471 5,447
2011 454,149 -12,170 60,411 5,167
2010 444,468 -9,327 59,418 4,953
2009 434,811 -8,590 59,168 4,765
2008 421,781 -9,264 58,961 4,568
2007 410,290 -22,680 58,454 4,330
2006 397,123 -29,450 58,067 4,087
2005 381,130 -31,462 58,014 3,843
2004 361,133 -32,221 58,281 3,596
2003 341,133 -31,729 57,458 3,352
2002 322,863 -30,013 57,011 3,099
2001 310,833 -28,933 56,654 2,856
2000 300,439 -28,098 56,236 2,602
1999 295,629 -31,686 55,911 2,341
1998 285,407 -39,491 55,482 2,084
1997 277,433 -61,646 55,060 1,820
1996 270,048 -66,212 54,512 1,533
1995 266,745 -66,366 54,069 1,221
1994 275,439 -505,365 53,845 899
1993 276,538 -284,867 53,591 560
1992 269,066 37,142 53,186 182
1991 260,193 15,291 53,079 -305
1990 250,159 71,111 53,451 -854
1989 237,967 180,031 52,295 -1,368
1988 226,911 201,011 52,767 -1,750
1987 220,566 271,693 52,690 -1,953
1986 218,519 62,615 52,681 -2,136
1985 216,179 74,625 52,573 -2,297
1984 212,146 72,435 52,436 -2,435
1983 209,422 68,197 51,880 -2,518
1982 205,386 62,661 50,858 -2,554
1981 199,436 57,376 50,018 -2,620
1980 192,746 52,294 49,077 -2,701
1979 182,123 46,388 48,362 -2,772
1978 172,503 36,225 47,694 -2,811
1977 161,930 19,638 47,438 -2,792
1976 153,422 8,206 47,307 -2,727
1975 145,254 5,162 47,149 -2,635
1974 137,819 3,833 46,932 -2,531
1973 131,529 1,623 46,540 -2,464
1972 125,728 48 46,311 -2,448
1971 121,015 -710 45,867 -2,454
1970 116,822 -2,147 45,075 -2,476
1969 113,120 -2,266 44,278 -2,510
1968 110,329 -924 43,641 -2,528
1967 106,668 0 43,054 -2,528
1966 103,512 0 42,457 -2,500
1965 100,040 0 41,604 -2,454
1964 97,658 0 40,806 -2,418
1963 95,933 0 39,872 -2,380
1962 92,463 0 38,537 -2,377
1961 89,091 0 37,100 -2,394
1960 85,718 0 35,431 -2,409

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

GeoRank.org/population/malawi/panama | 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 Panama 86.5% is from natural causes (a gain of 544,211 people) and 13.5% is from migration (a gain of 84,849 people).

As of 2024, 186,719 residents or 0.9% of the population were not native-born in Malawi, compared to 477,749 people or 10.6% in Panama.

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
Panama
City Population
Panama 410K
Colon 242K
Santiago de Veraguas 110K
Tocumen 103K
David 82.9K
La Chorrera 68.9K
Pacora 52.5K
Penonome 21.7K
Balboa 10K
Chitre 9.02K

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/panama | 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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