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Population in Malawi compared to Papua New Guinea: Trends, Charts, Rankings

Updated on by Georank team

The latest officially reported population of Malawi was 21,655,286 in 2024 vs 10,576,502 people in Papua New Guinea in 2024. In 2026, based on the adjusted UN estimation, the current Malawi's population is 22,949,294 people compared to 11,002,753 in Papua New Guinea.

Population statistics:

  • Malawi's population is 2.09 times bigger than Papua New Guinea's.
  • Malawi is ranked the 61st most populous country in the world, while Papua New Guinea is the 89th.
  • The countries together account for 0.41% of the world: 0.28% for Malawi vs 0.13% for Papua New Guinea.
  • For the last 10 years, Malawi has had an average growth rate of +2.7% per year vs +2.23% in Papua New Guinea.
  • Since 2006, the population of Malawi has increased from 13.2M people to 22.9M (73.9% growth), while Papua New Guinea has grown from 6.75M to 11M (63.1% growth).

Malawi vs Papua New Guinea: population by year and forecast

Malawi
Factual

Projection
Papua New Guinea
Factual

Projection
1x
Year Population
Malawi Papua New Guinea
2100 59,786,744 18,802,138
2099 59,528,389 18,790,040
2098 59,275,876 18,776,265
2097 59,028,312 18,758,897
2096 58,761,888 18,737,707
2095 58,508,246 18,714,219
2094 58,240,422 18,687,257
2093 57,966,788 18,658,233
2092 57,672,738 18,625,772
2091 57,377,090 18,590,001
2090 57,060,476 18,549,501
2089 56,739,410 18,510,463
2088 56,397,330 18,468,827
2087 56,053,671 18,424,378
2086 55,706,928 18,376,043
2085 55,348,708 18,325,641
2084 54,997,097 18,274,394
2083 54,605,058 18,218,709
2082 54,206,477 18,163,177
2081 53,795,317 18,104,285
2080 53,372,779 18,039,008
2079 52,948,243 17,975,778
2078 52,521,908 17,908,670
2077 52,063,931 17,840,781
2076 51,600,404 17,771,791
2075 51,141,728 17,699,428
2074 50,684,368 17,625,044
2073 50,229,762 17,548,128
2072 49,769,904 17,466,649
2071 49,287,139 17,381,598
2070 48,797,935 17,295,105
2069 48,301,644 17,205,503
2068 47,792,308 17,112,154
2067 47,277,473 17,015,090
2066 46,752,024 16,915,436
2065 46,228,139 16,812,946
2064 45,701,844 16,708,669
2063 45,179,322 16,604,296
2062 44,638,764 16,497,292
2061 44,076,711 16,386,905
2060 43,508,702 16,270,535
2059 42,916,694 16,152,614
2058 42,344,863 16,032,684
2057 41,762,060 15,909,649
2056 41,184,161 15,784,519
2055 40,584,950 15,656,542
2054 39,994,696 15,523,143
2053 39,377,622 15,389,244
2052 38,766,890 15,250,715
2051 38,153,322 15,110,389
2050 37,545,865 14,968,530
2049 36,936,275 14,821,865
2048 36,339,833 14,673,459
2047 35,725,127 14,522,926
2046 35,107,179 14,370,120
2045 34,491,916 14,213,585
2044 33,862,279 14,056,036
2043 33,247,804 13,897,765
2042 32,636,511 13,738,690
2041 32,019,447 13,577,382
2040 31,402,305 13,413,396
2039 30,782,479 13,247,486
2038 30,166,708 13,079,352
2037 29,527,821 12,909,735
2036 28,896,515 12,738,223
2035 28,267,970 12,566,543
2034 27,643,367 12,392,476
2033 27,018,105 12,218,246
2032 26,404,071 12,042,345
2031 25,795,897 11,865,316
2030 25,181,820 11,685,599
2029 24,566,478 11,504,890
2028 23,968,071 11,322,573
2027 23,374,588 11,138,409
2026 22,791,601 10,952,454
2025 22,220,885 10,765,048
2024 21,655,286 10,576,502
2023 21,104,482 10,389,635
2022 20,568,728 10,203,169
2021 20,047,258 10,012,896
2020 19,533,888 9,815,746
2019 19,025,752 9,609,010
2018 18,528,081 9,394,513
2017 18,039,715 9,178,714
2016 17,557,739 8,961,718
2015 17,085,587 8,743,246
2014 16,621,538 8,523,441
2013 16,161,816 8,302,698
2012 15,709,577 8,081,390
2011 15,265,022 7,859,346
2010 14,826,463 7,633,523
2009 14,395,788 7,406,438
2008 13,976,417 7,183,002
2007 13,576,343 6,963,345
2006 13,198,701 6,747,720
2005 12,840,031 6,535,905
2004 12,500,737 6,328,041
2003 12,181,574 6,123,997
2002 11,880,440 5,924,003
2001 11,593,058 5,728,435
2000 11,315,942 5,537,064
1999 11,047,804 5,349,333
1998 10,792,876 5,166,390
1997 10,562,035 4,987,883
1996 10,352,228 4,813,361
1995 10,150,117 4,644,278
1994 10,164,894 4,480,208
1993 10,284,024 4,320,872
1992 10,135,079 4,166,699
1991 9,844,227 4,021,837
1990 9,545,852 3,896,481
1989 9,176,220 3,796,078
1988 8,753,262 3,711,880
1987 8,293,174 3,632,543
1986 7,906,480 3,554,793
1985 7,620,508 3,478,936
1984 7,332,810 3,405,198
1983 7,051,709 3,333,633
1982 6,778,879 3,264,291
1981 6,516,454 3,197,019
1980 6,265,529 3,131,512
1979 6,028,749 3,067,341
1978 5,810,132 3,003,714
1977 5,614,983 2,940,327
1976 5,443,384 2,877,327
1975 5,287,367 2,814,820
1974 5,141,337 2,752,671
1973 5,003,938 2,690,629
1972 4,874,475 2,628,432
1971 4,751,434 2,566,421
1970 4,633,944 2,505,628
1969 4,521,184 2,446,927
1968 4,411,054 2,390,803
1967 4,303,012 2,337,532
1966 4,197,926 2,285,774
1965 4,096,157 2,235,820
1964 3,997,305 2,188,325
1963 3,900,506 2,141,376
1962 3,806,307 2,093,919
1961 3,715,534 2,046,127
1960 3,628,134 1,995,110

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/papua-new-guinea | CC BY

From 2006 to 2016, the population of Malawi increased by 4,359,038 people (a 33% growth), while Papua New Guinea gained 2,213,998 people (a 32.8% growth).

For the next 10 years, from 2016 to 2026, Malawi gained 5,391,555 people (a 30.7% growth), while Papua New Guinea's population increased by 2,041,035 people (a 22.8% growth).

Malawi was ranked 69th most populous country in 2006 and is 61st in 2026. Papua New Guinea was ranked 100th in 2006 and ranked 89th 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 Papua New Guinea will increase by 36% to 14,968,530 people and rank change from 89th to 85th.

Malawi is projected to reach its peak in 2100 at 59.8M people compared to the peak of 18.8M people in 2100 for Papua New Guinea.

Population growth rate by year

Malawi
Factual

Projection
Papua New Guinea
Factual

Projection
1x
Year Growth rate
Malawi Papua New Guinea
2100 0.43% 0.06%
2099 0.43% 0.07%
2098 0.42% 0.09%
2097 0.45% 0.11%
2096 0.43% 0.13%
2095 0.46% 0.14%
2094 0.47% 0.16%
2093 0.51% 0.17%
2092 0.52% 0.19%
2091 0.55% 0.22%
2090 0.57% 0.21%
2089 0.61% 0.23%
2088 0.61% 0.24%
2087 0.62% 0.26%
2086 0.65% 0.28%
2085 0.64% 0.28%
2084 0.72% 0.31%
2083 0.74% 0.31%
2082 0.76% 0.33%
2081 0.79% 0.36%
2080 0.8% 0.35%
2079 0.81% 0.37%
2078 0.88% 0.38%
2077 0.9% 0.39%
2076 0.9% 0.41%
2075 0.9% 0.42%
2074 0.91% 0.44%
2073 0.92% 0.47%
2072 0.98% 0.49%
2071 1% 0.5%
2070 1.03% 0.52%
2069 1.07% 0.55%
2068 1.09% 0.57%
2067 1.12% 0.59%
2066 1.13% 0.61%
2065 1.15% 0.62%
2064 1.16% 0.63%
2063 1.21% 0.65%
2062 1.28% 0.67%
2061 1.31% 0.72%
2060 1.38% 0.73%
2059 1.35% 0.75%
2058 1.4% 0.77%
2057 1.4% 0.79%
2056 1.48% 0.82%
2055 1.48% 0.86%
2054 1.57% 0.87%
2053 1.58% 0.91%
2052 1.61% 0.93%
2051 1.62% 0.95%
2050 1.65% 0.99%
2049 1.64% 1.01%
2048 1.72% 1.04%
2047 1.76% 1.06%
2046 1.78% 1.1%
2045 1.86% 1.12%
2044 1.85% 1.14%
2043 1.87% 1.16%
2042 1.93% 1.19%
2041 1.97% 1.22%
2040 2.01% 1.25%
2039 2.04% 1.29%
2038 2.16% 1.31%
2037 2.18% 1.35%
2036 2.22% 1.37%
2035 2.26% 1.4%
2034 2.31% 1.43%
2033 2.33% 1.46%
2032 2.36% 1.49%
2031 2.44% 1.54%
2030 2.5% 1.57%
2029 2.5% 1.61%
2028 2.54% 1.65%
2027 2.56% 1.7%
2026 2.57% 1.74%
2025 2.61% 1.78%
2024 2.61% 1.8%
2023 2.6% 1.83%
2022 2.6% 1.9%
2021 2.63% 2.01%
2020 2.67% 2.15%
2019 2.69% 2.28%
2018 2.71% 2.35%
2017 2.75% 2.42%
2016 2.76% 2.5%
2015 2.79% 2.58%
2014 2.84% 2.66%
2013 2.88% 2.74%
2012 2.91% 2.83%
2011 2.96% 2.96%
2010 2.99% 3.07%
2009 3% 3.11%
2008 2.95% 3.15%
2007 2.86% 3.2%
2006 2.79% 3.24%
2005 2.71% 3.28%
2004 2.62% 3.33%
2003 2.53% 3.38%
2002 2.48% 3.41%
2001 2.45% 3.46%
2000 2.43% 3.51%
1999 2.36% 3.54%
1998 2.19% 3.58%
1997 2.03% 3.63%
1996 1.99% 3.64%
1995 -0.15% 3.66%
1994 -1.16% 3.69%
1993 1.47% 3.7%
1992 2.95% 3.6%
1991 3.13% 3.22%
1990 4.03% 2.64%
1989 4.83% 2.27%
1988 5.55% 2.18%
1987 4.89% 2.19%
1986 3.75% 2.18%
1985 3.92% 2.17%
1984 3.99% 2.15%
1983 4.02% 2.12%
1982 4.03% 2.1%
1981 4% 2.09%
1980 3.93% 2.09%
1979 3.76% 2.12%
1978 3.48% 2.16%
1977 3.15% 2.19%
1976 2.95% 2.22%
1975 2.84% 2.26%
1974 2.75% 2.31%
1973 2.66% 2.37%
1972 2.59% 2.42%
1971 2.54% 2.43%
1970 2.49% 2.4%
1969 2.5% 2.35%
1968 2.51% 2.28%
1967 2.5% 2.26%
1966 2.48% 2.23%
1965 2.47% 2.17%
1964 2.48% 2.19%
1963 2.47% 2.27%
1962 2.44% 2.34%
1961 2.41% 2.56%

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/papua-new-guinea | CC BY

In 2024, the population of Malawi grew by 2.61%, while Papua New Guinea's population grew by 1.8%.

Live population counters

Malawi Papua New Guinea
Current population
22949294
11002753
Population rank 61/197 89/197
Percent of world population 0.28% 0.13%
One net population change
57.3 seconds
2.81 minutes
One birth every
47.6 seconds
2.06 minutes
One death every
4.64 minutes
7.76 minutes
Daily growth/decline +1,509 +512
Annual growth/decline +550,804 +186,867
Annual growth/decline rate +2.61% +1.8%
Population growth rate rank 26/197 59/197
One migration net change every
1.56 hours
1.29 days
Annual migration change -5,628 -284
Net migration rank 118/196 87/196
Foreign-born residents 186,719 31,171
Foreign-born residents rank 117/195 163/195
Foreign-born share of population 0.9% 0.3%
Foreign-born share rank 158/195 183/195

Natural population change vs migration

Malawi
Natural

Migration
Papua New Guinea
Natural

Migration
1x
Year Population change
Malawi Papua New Guinea
Natural Migration Natural Migration
2025 - -5,628 - -284
2024 - -1,507 - -707
2023 549,096 -5,811 187,637 -787
2022 533,450 -5,231 186,861 -787
2021 517,400 -2,666 183,766 10,703
2020 514,659 -2,655 189,130 10,703
2019 506,104 -1,837 190,662 22,978
2018 494,348 -3,267 190,662 24,684
2017 484,655 982 189,715 26,513
2016 474,779 3,505 189,281 28,473
2015 472,484 -6,471 188,600 30,580
2014 472,418 -10,317 187,592 32,840
2013 470,293 -12,934 185,790 35,280
2012 460,684 -13,561 183,658 37,893
2011 454,149 -12,170 181,842 40,690
2010 444,468 -9,327 178,998 50,106
2009 434,811 -8,590 175,421 49,647
2008 421,781 -9,264 172,823 48,985
2007 410,290 -22,680 169,306 48,203
2006 397,123 -29,450 166,540 47,191
2005 381,130 -31,462 163,888 46,014
2004 361,133 -32,221 161,023 44,811
2003 341,133 -31,729 158,611 43,639
2002 322,863 -30,013 155,091 42,657
2001 310,833 -28,933 151,431 41,962
2000 300,439 -28,098 147,496 41,855
1999 295,629 -31,686 143,592 42,519
1998 285,407 -39,491 136,677 43,091
1997 277,433 -61,646 134,458 42,787
1996 270,048 -66,212 129,802 41,994
1995 266,745 -66,366 125,410 40,962
1994 275,439 -505,365 122,113 39,669
1993 276,538 -284,867 118,668 38,220
1992 269,066 37,142 114,818 36,622
1991 260,193 15,291 111,453 26,830
1990 250,159 71,111 110,033 2,398
1989 237,967 180,031 108,199 -19,824
1988 226,911 201,011 106,256 -26,232
1987 220,566 271,693 104,367 -25,720
1986 218,519 62,615 102,346 -25,495
1985 216,179 74,625 100,333 -25,470
1984 212,146 72,435 98,103 -25,487
1983 209,422 68,197 95,982 -25,465
1982 205,386 62,661 93,522 -25,355
1981 199,436 57,376 91,767 -25,383
1980 192,746 52,294 90,266 -25,638
1979 182,123 46,388 89,330 -25,618
1978 172,503 36,225 88,747 -25,208
1977 161,930 19,638 87,954 -24,722
1976 153,422 8,206 86,965 -24,198
1975 145,254 5,162 85,809 -23,562
1974 137,819 3,833 84,829 -22,771
1973 131,529 1,623 83,821 -21,803
1972 125,728 48 82,672 -20,303
1971 121,015 -710 80,599 -18,945
1970 116,822 -2,147 78,712 -18,773
1969 113,120 -2,266 76,454 -18,994
1968 110,329 -924 73,983 -19,188
1967 106,668 0 71,519 -19,767
1966 103,512 0 69,206 -17,454
1965 100,040 0 66,693 -18,532
1964 97,658 0 64,558 -17,730
1963 95,933 0 62,260 -15,189
1962 92,463 0 59,974 -12,141
1961 89,091 0 58,151 -10,409
1960 85,718 0 56,326 -2,034

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

GeoRank.org/population/malawi/papua-new-guinea | 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 Papua New Guinea 91% is from natural causes (a gain of 1,883,906 people) and 8.98% is from migration (a gain of 185,900 people).

As of 2024, 186,719 residents or 0.9% of the population were not native-born in Malawi, compared to 31,171 people or 0.3% in Papua New Guinea.

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
Papua New Guinea
City Population
Port Moresby 317K
Lae 101K

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/papua-new-guinea | 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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