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

Updated on by Georank team

The latest officially reported population of Malawi was 21,655,286 in 2024 vs 10,694,681 people in Portugal in 2024. In 2026, based on the adjusted UN estimation, the current Malawi's population is 22,949,294 people compared to 10,667,081 in Portugal.

Population statistics:

  • Malawi's population is 2.15 times bigger than Portugal's.
  • Malawi is ranked the 61st most populous country in the world, while Portugal is the 92nd.
  • 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 +2.7% per year vs +0.21% in Portugal.
  • Since 2006, the population of Malawi has increased from 13.2M people to 22.9M (73.9% growth), while Portugal has grown from 10.5M to 10.7M (1.38% growth).

Malawi vs Portugal: population by year and forecast

Malawi
Factual

Projection
Portugal
Factual

Projection
1x
Year Population
Malawi Portugal
2100 59,786,744 8,977,781
2099 59,528,389 8,983,042
2098 59,275,876 8,987,129
2097 59,028,312 8,992,549
2096 58,761,888 8,998,689
2095 58,508,246 9,006,394
2094 58,240,422 9,011,158
2093 57,966,788 9,016,023
2092 57,672,738 9,021,257
2091 57,377,090 9,025,345
2090 57,060,476 9,029,722
2089 56,739,410 9,034,399
2088 56,397,330 9,039,122
2087 56,053,671 9,045,400
2086 55,706,928 9,050,153
2085 55,348,708 9,055,552
2084 54,997,097 9,062,369
2083 54,605,058 9,068,714
2082 54,206,477 9,077,003
2081 53,795,317 9,087,394
2080 53,372,779 9,098,423
2079 52,948,243 9,111,057
2078 52,521,908 9,125,056
2077 52,063,931 9,140,039
2076 51,600,404 9,158,661
2075 51,141,728 9,178,289
2074 50,684,368 9,201,245
2073 50,229,762 9,225,478
2072 49,769,904 9,248,867
2071 49,287,139 9,275,782
2070 48,797,935 9,304,137
2069 48,301,644 9,334,425
2068 47,792,308 9,367,211
2067 47,277,473 9,399,389
2066 46,752,024 9,432,609
2065 46,228,139 9,466,860
2064 45,701,844 9,503,941
2063 45,179,322 9,540,829
2062 44,638,764 9,578,098
2061 44,076,711 9,614,549
2060 43,508,702 9,652,893
2059 42,916,694 9,691,151
2058 42,344,863 9,731,557
2057 41,762,060 9,769,285
2056 41,184,161 9,807,403
2055 40,584,950 9,847,280
2054 39,994,696 9,885,446
2053 39,377,622 9,924,814
2052 38,766,890 9,963,090
2051 38,153,322 9,999,372
2050 37,545,865 10,035,796
2049 36,936,275 10,072,922
2048 36,339,833 10,106,403
2047 35,725,127 10,140,325
2046 35,107,179 10,173,871
2045 34,491,916 10,206,046
2044 33,862,279 10,237,224
2043 33,247,804 10,268,090
2042 32,636,511 10,296,167
2041 32,019,447 10,322,968
2040 31,402,305 10,351,965
2039 30,782,479 10,379,824
2038 30,166,708 10,405,843
2037 29,527,821 10,430,143
2036 28,896,515 10,454,779
2035 28,267,970 10,478,501
2034 27,643,367 10,502,828
2033 27,018,105 10,525,638
2032 26,404,071 10,548,736
2031 25,795,897 10,569,489
2030 25,181,820 10,588,717
2029 24,566,478 10,609,556
2028 23,968,071 10,631,437
2027 23,374,588 10,649,916
2026 22,791,601 10,667,081
2025 22,220,885 10,683,692
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 (2025–2100, retrieved 2026-03-10); World Bank | Health (1960–2024, retrieved 2026-04-06).

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 5,391,555 people (a 30.7% growth), while Portugal's population increased by 341,629 people (a 3.31% growth).

Malawi was ranked 69th most populous country in 2006 and is 61st in 2026. Portugal was ranked 78th in 2006 and ranked 92nd 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 Portugal will decrease by 5.92% to 10,035,796 people and rank change from 92nd to 97th.

Malawi is projected to reach its peak in 2100 at 59.8M people, while Portugal's population already peaked in 2024 at 10.7M people and is projected to decrease to 8.98M 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 2.61% -0.1%
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 (2025–2100, retrieved 2026-03-10); World Bank | Health (1961–2024, retrieved 2026-04-06).

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

In 2024, the population of Malawi grew by 2.61%, while Portugal's population grew by 1.1%.

Live population counters

Malawi Portugal
Current population
22949294
10667081
Population rank 61/197 92/197
Percent of world population 0.28% 0.13%
One net population change
57.3 seconds
4.51 minutes
One birth every
47.6 seconds
6.13 minutes
One death every
4.64 minutes
4.44 minutes
Daily growth/decline +1,509 +319
Annual growth/decline +550,804 +116,507
Annual growth/decline rate +2.61% +1.1%
Population growth rate rank 26/197 94/197
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 - -1,507 - 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 2026-04-06).

GeoRank.org/population/malawi/portugal | 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 Portugal 51% is from natural causes (a loss of 302,748 people) and 49% is from migration (a gain of 290,554 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
Blantyre 800K
Mzuzu 150K
Zomba 101K
Mangochi 53.5K
Mzimba 26.1K
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 (1960–2024, 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/portugal | 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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