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

Updated on by Georank

The latest officially reported population of Malawi was 22,216,120 in 2025 vs 10,804,871 people in Portugal in 2025. In 2026, based on the adjusted UN estimation, the current Malawi's population is 23,086,106 people compared to 10,788,071 in Portugal.

Population statistics:

  • Malawi's population is 2.14 times bigger than Portugal's.
  • Malawi is ranked the 61st most populous country in the world, while Portugal is the 91st.
  • The countries together account for 0.41% of the world: 0.28% for Malawi vs 0.13% for Portugal.
  • For the last 10 years, Malawi has had an average growth rate of +2.67% per year vs +0.35% in Portugal.
  • Since 2006, the population of Malawi has increased from 13.2M people to 23.1M (74.9% growth), while Portugal has grown from 10.5M to 10.8M (2.53% growth).

Malawi vs Portugal: population by year and forecast

Malawi
Factual

Projection
Portugal
Factual

Projection
1x
Year Population
Malawi Portugal
2100 59,773,923 9,079,610
2099 59,515,624 9,084,930
2098 59,263,165 9,089,064
2097 59,015,654 9,094,546
2096 58,749,288 9,100,755
2095 58,495,699 9,108,548
2094 58,227,933 9,113,366
2093 57,954,358 9,118,286
2092 57,660,371 9,123,579
2091 57,364,786 9,127,714
2090 57,048,240 9,132,140
2089 56,727,243 9,136,870
2088 56,385,237 9,141,647
2087 56,041,651 9,147,996
2086 55,694,983 9,152,804
2085 55,336,839 9,158,263
2084 54,985,304 9,165,158
2083 54,593,349 9,171,574
2082 54,194,853 9,179,958
2081 53,783,781 9,190,466
2080 53,361,334 9,201,621
2079 52,936,889 9,214,398
2078 52,510,645 9,228,555
2077 52,052,767 9,243,708
2076 51,589,339 9,262,542
2075 51,130,762 9,282,392
2074 50,673,499 9,305,608
2073 50,218,991 9,330,117
2072 49,759,232 9,353,771
2071 49,276,570 9,380,991
2070 48,787,471 9,409,668
2069 48,291,287 9,440,299
2068 47,782,059 9,473,457
2067 47,267,335 9,506,001
2066 46,741,998 9,539,597
2065 46,218,226 9,574,237
2064 45,692,044 9,611,738
2063 45,169,634 9,649,045
2062 44,629,192 9,686,737
2061 44,067,259 9,723,601
2060 43,499,372 9,762,379
2059 42,907,491 9,801,072
2058 42,335,782 9,841,936
2057 41,753,105 9,880,092
2056 41,175,330 9,918,643
2055 40,576,247 9,958,971
2054 39,986,120 9,997,570
2053 39,369,178 10,037,385
2052 38,758,577 10,076,095
2051 38,145,141 10,112,788
2050 37,537,814 10,149,626
2049 36,928,354 10,187,172
2048 36,332,040 10,221,034
2047 35,717,466 10,255,340
2046 35,099,651 10,289,266
2045 34,484,520 10,321,807
2044 33,855,018 10,353,338
2043 33,240,675 10,384,554
2042 32,629,513 10,412,950
2041 32,012,581 10,440,054
2040 31,395,572 10,469,380
2039 30,775,878 10,497,556
2038 30,160,239 10,523,869
2037 29,521,489 10,548,445
2036 28,890,318 10,573,361
2035 28,261,909 10,597,352
2034 27,637,439 10,621,955
2033 27,012,311 10,645,024
2032 26,398,409 10,668,384
2031 25,790,366 10,689,372
2030 25,176,420 10,708,819
2029 24,561,210 10,729,893
2028 23,962,931 10,752,023
2027 23,369,575 10,770,712
2026 22,786,713 10,788,071
2025 22,216,120 10,804,871
2024 21,655,286 10,694,681
2023 21,104,482 10,578,174
2022 20,568,728 10,434,332
2021 20,047,258 10,361,831
2020 19,533,888 10,297,081
2019 19,025,752 10,286,263
2018 18,528,081 10,283,822
2017 18,039,715 10,300,300
2016 17,557,739 10,325,452
2015 17,085,587 10,358,076
2014 16,621,538 10,401,062
2013 16,161,816 10,457,295
2012 15,709,577 10,514,844
2011 15,265,022 10,557,560
2010 14,826,463 10,573,100
2009 14,395,788 10,568,247
2008 13,976,417 10,558,177
2007 13,576,343 10,542,964
2006 13,198,701 10,522,288
2005 12,840,031 10,503,330
2004 12,500,737 10,483,861
2003 12,181,574 10,458,821
2002 11,880,440 10,419,631
2001 11,593,058 10,362,722
2000 11,315,942 10,289,898
1999 11,047,804 10,217,828
1998 10,792,876 10,160,196
1997 10,562,035 10,108,977
1996 10,352,228 10,063,945
1995 10,150,117 10,026,176
1994 10,164,894 9,991,525
1993 10,284,024 9,964,675
1992 10,135,079 9,952,494
1991 9,844,227 9,960,235
1990 9,545,852 9,983,218
1989 9,176,220 10,005,000
1988 8,753,262 10,019,610
1987 8,293,174 10,030,031
1986 7,906,480 10,032,734
1985 7,620,508 10,023,613
1984 7,332,810 9,996,232
1983 7,051,709 9,957,865
1982 6,778,879 9,911,771
1981 6,516,454 9,851,362
1980 6,265,529 9,766,312
1979 6,028,749 9,661,265
1978 5,810,132 9,558,250
1977 5,614,983 9,455,675
1976 5,443,384 9,355,810
1975 5,287,367 9,093,470
1974 5,141,337 8,754,365
1973 5,003,938 8,633,100
1972 4,874,475 8,630,430
1971 4,751,434 8,643,756
1970 4,633,944 8,680,431
1969 4,521,184 8,757,705
1968 4,411,054 8,836,650
1967 4,303,012 8,874,520
1966 4,197,926 8,930,990
1965 4,096,157 8,998,595
1964 3,997,305 9,035,365
1963 3,900,506 9,030,355
1962 3,806,307 8,993,985
1961 3,715,534 8,929,316
1960 3,628,134 8,857,716

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/portugal | CC BY

From 2006 to 2016, the population of Malawi increased by 4,359,038 people (a 33% growth), while Portugal lost 196,836 people (a 1.87% decline).

For the next 10 years, from 2016 to 2026, Malawi gained 5,528,367 people (a 31.5% growth), while Portugal's population increased by 462,619 people (a 4.48% growth).

Malawi was ranked 69th most populous country in 2006 and is 61st in 2026. Portugal was ranked 78th in 2006 and ranked 91st 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 Portugal will decrease by 5.92% to 10,149,626 people and rank change from 91st to 97th.

Malawi is projected to reach its peak in 2100 at 59.8M people, while Portugal's population already peaked in 2025 at 10.8M people and is projected to decrease to 9.08M people by 2100.

Population growth rate by year

Malawi
Factual

Projection
Portugal
Factual

Projection
1x
Year Growth rate
Malawi Portugal
2100 0.43% -0.06%
2099 0.43% -0.05%
2098 0.42% -0.06%
2097 0.45% -0.07%
2096 0.43% -0.09%
2095 0.46% -0.05%
2094 0.47% -0.05%
2093 0.51% -0.06%
2092 0.52% -0.05%
2091 0.55% -0.05%
2090 0.57% -0.05%
2089 0.61% -0.05%
2088 0.61% -0.07%
2087 0.62% -0.05%
2086 0.65% -0.06%
2085 0.64% -0.08%
2084 0.72% -0.07%
2083 0.74% -0.09%
2082 0.76% -0.11%
2081 0.79% -0.12%
2080 0.8% -0.14%
2079 0.81% -0.15%
2078 0.88% -0.16%
2077 0.9% -0.2%
2076 0.9% -0.21%
2075 0.9% -0.25%
2074 0.91% -0.26%
2073 0.92% -0.25%
2072 0.98% -0.29%
2071 1% -0.3%
2070 1.03% -0.32%
2069 1.07% -0.35%
2068 1.09% -0.34%
2067 1.12% -0.35%
2066 1.13% -0.36%
2065 1.15% -0.39%
2064 1.16% -0.39%
2063 1.21% -0.39%
2062 1.28% -0.38%
2061 1.31% -0.4%
2060 1.38% -0.39%
2059 1.35% -0.42%
2058 1.4% -0.39%
2057 1.4% -0.39%
2056 1.48% -0.4%
2055 1.48% -0.39%
2054 1.57% -0.4%
2053 1.58% -0.38%
2052 1.61% -0.36%
2051 1.62% -0.36%
2050 1.65% -0.37%
2049 1.64% -0.33%
2048 1.72% -0.33%
2047 1.76% -0.33%
2046 1.78% -0.32%
2045 1.86% -0.3%
2044 1.85% -0.3%
2043 1.87% -0.27%
2042 1.93% -0.26%
2041 1.97% -0.28%
2040 2.01% -0.27%
2039 2.04% -0.25%
2038 2.16% -0.23%
2037 2.18% -0.24%
2036 2.22% -0.23%
2035 2.26% -0.23%
2034 2.31% -0.22%
2033 2.33% -0.22%
2032 2.36% -0.2%
2031 2.44% -0.18%
2030 2.5% -0.2%
2029 2.5% -0.21%
2028 2.54% -0.17%
2027 2.56% -0.16%
2026 2.57% -0.16%
2025 2.59% 1.03%
2024 2.61% 1.1%
2023 2.6% 1.38%
2022 2.6% 0.7%
2021 2.63% 0.63%
2020 2.67% 0.11%
2019 2.69% 0.02%
2018 2.71% -0.16%
2017 2.75% -0.24%
2016 2.76% -0.31%
2015 2.79% -0.41%
2014 2.84% -0.54%
2013 2.88% -0.55%
2012 2.91% -0.4%
2011 2.96% -0.15%
2010 2.99% 0.05%
2009 3% 0.1%
2008 2.95% 0.14%
2007 2.86% 0.2%
2006 2.79% 0.18%
2005 2.71% 0.19%
2004 2.62% 0.24%
2003 2.53% 0.38%
2002 2.48% 0.55%
2001 2.45% 0.71%
2000 2.43% 0.71%
1999 2.36% 0.57%
1998 2.19% 0.51%
1997 2.03% 0.45%
1996 1.99% 0.38%
1995 -0.15% 0.35%
1994 -1.16% 0.27%
1993 1.47% 0.12%
1992 2.95% -0.08%
1991 3.13% -0.23%
1990 4.03% -0.22%
1989 4.83% -0.15%
1988 5.55% -0.1%
1987 4.89% -0.03%
1986 3.75% 0.09%
1985 3.92% 0.27%
1984 3.99% 0.39%
1983 4.02% 0.47%
1982 4.03% 0.61%
1981 4% 0.87%
1980 3.93% 1.09%
1979 3.76% 1.08%
1978 3.48% 1.08%
1977 3.15% 1.07%
1976 2.95% 2.88%
1975 2.84% 3.87%
1974 2.75% 1.4%
1973 2.66% 0.03%
1972 2.59% -0.15%
1971 2.54% -0.42%
1970 2.49% -0.88%
1969 2.5% -0.89%
1968 2.51% -0.43%
1967 2.5% -0.63%
1966 2.48% -0.75%
1965 2.47% -0.41%
1964 2.48% 0.06%
1963 2.47% 0.4%
1962 2.44% 0.72%
1961 2.41% 0.81%

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/portugal | CC BY

In 2025, the population of Malawi grew by 2.59%, while Portugal's population grew by 1.03%.

Live population counters

Malawi Portugal
Current population
23086106
10788071
Population rank 61/197 91/197
Percent of world population 0.28% 0.13%
One net population change
56.4 seconds
4.78 minutes
One birth every
46.8 seconds
6.22 minutes
One death every
4.59 minutes
4.43 minutes
Daily growth/decline +1,537 +302
Annual growth/decline +560,834 +110,190
Annual growth/decline rate +2.59% +1.03%
Population growth rate rank 23/197 99/197
One migration net change every
1.56 hours
32 minutes
Annual migration change -5,628 +16,472
Net migration rank 118/196 38/196
Foreign-born residents 186,719 1,127,184
Foreign-born residents rank 117/195 56/195
Foreign-born share of population 0.9% 10.8%
Foreign-born share rank 158/195 61/195

Natural population change vs migration

Malawi
Natural

Migration
Portugal
Natural

Migration
1x
Year Population change
Malawi Portugal
Natural Migration Natural Migration
2025 - -5,628 - 16,472
2024 559,811 -1,507 -34,223 20,648
2023 549,096 -5,811 -32,792 29,102
2022 533,450 -5,231 -40,694 68,696
2021 517,400 -2,666 -45,592 69,606
2020 514,659 -2,655 -39,129 54,076
2019 506,104 -1,837 -24,687 63,031
2018 494,348 -3,267 -25,709 22,495
2017 484,655 982 -23,691 13,979
2016 474,779 3,505 -23,749 -775
2015 472,484 -6,471 -23,823 -3,209
2014 472,418 -10,317 -22,882 -26,447
2013 470,293 -12,934 -24,052 -36,342
2012 460,684 -13,561 -17,875 -37,083
2011 454,149 -12,170 -5,279 -31,513
2010 444,468 -9,327 -4,230 -5,627
2009 434,811 -8,590 -5,284 14,532
2008 421,781 -9,264 0 9,478
2007 410,290 -22,680 -1,055 21,064
2006 397,123 -29,450 3,156 16,754
2005 381,130 -31,462 2,101 15,537
2004 361,133 -32,221 7,339 13,928
2003 341,133 -31,729 4,184 24,740
2002 322,863 -30,013 8,335 42,169
2001 310,833 -28,933 8,290 55,565
2000 300,439 -28,098 15,435 60,586
1999 295,629 -31,686 8,175 49,572
1998 285,407 -39,491 7,112 40,931
1997 277,433 -61,646 8,087 36,922
1996 270,048 -66,212 4,026 32,640
1995 266,745 -66,366 4,011 26,971
1994 275,439 -505,365 9,991 20,761
1993 276,538 -284,867 7,972 8,561
1992 269,066 37,142 13,933 -11,847
1991 260,193 15,291 12,948 -37,914
1990 250,159 71,111 13,976 -34,855
1989 237,967 180,031 22,011 -30,615
1988 226,911 201,011 24,047 -26,595
1987 220,566 271,693 28,084 -23,142
1986 218,519 62,615 31,102 -20,000
1985 216,179 74,625 33,077 -19,183
1984 212,146 72,435 45,983 -16,658
1983 209,422 68,197 47,798 -16,568
1982 205,386 62,661 58,479 -15,006
1981 199,436 57,376 56,152 -7,938
1980 192,746 52,294 63,481 29,881
1979 182,123 46,388 67,628 32,434
1978 172,503 36,225 70,731 34,345
1977 161,930 19,638 84,156 37,779
1976 153,422 8,206 85,138 40,490
1975 145,254 5,162 81,841 42,262
1974 137,819 3,833 74,412 41,254
1973 131,529 1,623 76,835 39,748
1972 125,728 48 83,715 39,058
1971 121,015 -710 82,980 48,944
1970 116,822 -2,147 87,672 -191,862
1969 113,120 -2,266 89,329 -161,114
1968 110,329 -924 100,737 -145,200
1967 106,668 0 106,495 -136,232
1966 103,512 0 107,171 -129,233
1965 100,040 0 115,182 -123,855
1964 97,658 0 120,170 -118,763
1963 95,933 0 113,783 -116,874
1962 92,463 0 123,217 -113,947
1961 89,091 0 117,867 -112,768
1960 85,718 0 118,693 -95,886

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

GeoRank.org/population/malawi/portugal | 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 Portugal 48.2% is from natural causes (a loss of 314,089 people) and 51.8% is from migration (a gain of 337,649 people).

As of 2024, 186,719 residents or 0.9% of the population were not native-born in Malawi, compared to 1,127,184 people or 10.8% in Portugal.

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
Portugal
City Population
Lisbon 546K
Sintra 386K
Vila Nova de Gaia 304K
Porto 232K
Cascais 214K
Loures 202K
Braga 193K
Almada 177K
Matosinhos 173K
Oeiras 172K

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/portugal | CC BY

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

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