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

Updated on by Georank team

The latest officially reported population of Malawi was 21,655,286 in 2024 vs 19,051,804 people in Romania in 2024. In 2026, based on the adjusted UN estimation, the current Malawi's population is 22,949,294 people compared to 18,839,108 in Romania.

Population statistics:

  • Malawi's population is 1.22 times bigger than Romania's.
  • Malawi is ranked the 61st most populous country in the world, while Romania is the 70th.
  • The countries together account for 0.5% of the world: 0.28% for Malawi vs 0.23% for Romania.
  • For the last 10 years, Malawi has had an average growth rate of +2.7% per year vs -0.43% in Romania.
  • Since 2006, the population of Malawi has increased from 13.2M people to 22.9M (73.9% growth), while Romania has declined from 21.2M to 18.8M (11.1% decline).

Malawi vs Romania: population by year and forecast

Malawi
Factual

Projection
Romania
Factual

Projection
1x
Year Population
Malawi Romania
2100 59,786,744 10,801,385
2099 59,528,389 10,885,505
2098 59,275,876 10,969,050
2097 59,028,312 11,052,086
2096 58,761,888 11,134,776
2095 58,508,246 11,217,462
2094 58,240,422 11,299,298
2093 57,966,788 11,382,352
2092 57,672,738 11,464,817
2091 57,377,090 11,546,872
2090 57,060,476 11,630,335
2089 56,739,410 11,713,468
2088 56,397,330 11,796,733
2087 56,053,671 11,880,373
2086 55,706,928 11,966,550
2085 55,348,708 12,052,744
2084 54,997,097 12,140,454
2083 54,605,058 12,229,714
2082 54,206,477 12,319,480
2081 53,795,317 12,412,385
2080 53,372,779 12,507,333
2079 52,948,243 12,603,302
2078 52,521,908 12,700,870
2077 52,063,931 12,799,985
2076 51,600,404 12,900,610
2075 51,141,728 13,002,848
2074 50,684,368 13,107,513
2073 50,229,762 13,213,407
2072 49,769,904 13,323,211
2071 49,287,139 13,435,661
2070 48,797,935 13,550,449
2069 48,301,644 13,667,892
2068 47,792,308 13,786,771
2067 47,277,473 13,909,141
2066 46,752,024 14,034,214
2065 46,228,139 14,163,381
2064 45,701,844 14,293,294
2063 45,179,322 14,424,068
2062 44,638,764 14,557,025
2061 44,076,711 14,689,897
2060 43,508,702 14,821,441
2059 42,916,694 14,952,855
2058 42,344,863 15,082,857
2057 41,762,060 15,211,914
2056 41,184,161 15,340,213
2055 40,584,950 15,467,019
2054 39,994,696 15,590,545
2053 39,377,622 15,712,155
2052 38,766,890 15,834,374
2051 38,153,322 15,954,507
2050 37,545,865 16,073,070
2049 36,936,275 16,192,498
2048 36,339,833 16,311,535
2047 35,725,127 16,430,565
2046 35,107,179 16,547,661
2045 34,491,916 16,665,026
2044 33,862,279 16,783,383
2043 33,247,804 16,900,955
2042 32,636,511 17,018,000
2041 32,019,447 17,136,818
2040 31,402,305 17,253,674
2039 30,782,479 17,370,310
2038 30,166,708 17,488,193
2037 29,527,821 17,604,853
2036 28,896,515 17,721,511
2035 28,267,970 17,837,396
2034 27,643,367 17,950,976
2033 27,018,105 18,064,449
2032 26,404,071 18,176,399
2031 25,795,897 18,288,437
2030 25,181,820 18,399,699
2029 24,566,478 18,511,331
2028 23,968,071 18,621,197
2027 23,374,588 18,730,482
2026 22,791,601 18,839,108
2025 22,220,885 18,946,392
2024 21,655,286 19,051,804
2023 21,104,482 19,061,062
2022 20,568,728 19,048,502
2021 20,047,258 19,122,059
2020 19,533,888 19,265,250
2019 19,025,752 19,371,648
2018 18,528,081 19,473,970
2017 18,039,715 19,588,715
2016 17,557,739 19,702,267
2015 17,085,587 19,815,616
2014 16,621,538 19,908,979
2013 16,161,816 19,983,693
2012 15,709,577 20,058,035
2011 15,265,022 20,147,528
2010 14,826,463 20,246,871
2009 14,395,788 20,367,487
2008 13,976,417 20,537,875
2007 13,576,343 20,882,982
2006 13,198,701 21,193,760
2005 12,840,031 21,319,685
2004 12,500,737 21,451,748
2003 12,181,574 21,574,326
2002 11,880,440 21,730,496
2001 11,593,058 22,131,970
2000 11,315,942 22,442,971
1999 11,047,804 22,472,040
1998 10,792,876 22,507,344
1997 10,562,035 22,553,978
1996 10,352,228 22,619,004
1995 10,150,117 22,684,270
1994 10,164,894 22,730,211
1993 10,284,024 22,763,280
1992 10,135,079 22,794,284
1991 9,844,227 23,001,155
1990 9,545,852 23,201,835
1989 9,176,220 23,161,458
1988 8,753,262 23,057,662
1987 8,293,174 22,949,430
1986 7,906,480 22,836,841
1985 7,620,508 22,732,999
1984 7,332,810 22,640,547
1983 7,051,709 22,560,478
1982 6,778,879 22,475,741
1981 6,516,454 22,353,070
1980 6,265,529 22,207,282
1979 6,028,749 22,090,488
1978 5,810,132 21,951,464
1977 5,614,983 21,756,096
1976 5,443,384 21,551,634
1975 5,287,367 21,293,583
1974 5,141,337 21,029,429
1973 5,003,938 20,835,681
1972 4,874,475 20,657,957
1971 4,751,434 20,461,567
1970 4,633,944 20,250,398
1969 4,521,184 20,009,141
1968 4,411,054 19,799,831
1967 4,303,012 19,534,242
1966 4,197,926 19,215,450
1965 4,096,157 19,031,576
1964 3,997,305 18,919,126
1963 3,900,506 18,797,850
1962 3,806,307 18,676,550
1961 3,715,534 18,555,250
1960 3,628,134 18,406,905

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/romania | CC BY

From 2006 to 2016, the population of Malawi increased by 4,359,038 people (a 33% growth), while Romania lost 1,491,493 people (a 7.04% decline).

For the next 10 years, from 2016 to 2026, Malawi gained 5,391,555 people (a 30.7% growth), while Romania's population decreased by 863,159 people (a 4.38% decline).

Malawi was ranked 69th most populous country in 2006 and is 61st in 2026. Romania was ranked 51st in 2006 and ranked 70th 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 Romania will decrease by 14.7% to 16,073,070 people and rank change from 70th to 81st.

Malawi is projected to reach its peak in 2100 at 59.8M people, while Romania's population already peaked in 1990 at 23.2M people and is projected to decrease to 10.8M people by 2100.

Population growth rate by year

Malawi
Factual

Projection
Romania
Factual

Projection
1x
Year Growth rate
Malawi Romania
2100 0.43% -0.77%
2099 0.43% -0.76%
2098 0.42% -0.75%
2097 0.45% -0.74%
2096 0.43% -0.74%
2095 0.46% -0.72%
2094 0.47% -0.73%
2093 0.51% -0.72%
2092 0.52% -0.71%
2091 0.55% -0.72%
2090 0.57% -0.71%
2089 0.61% -0.71%
2088 0.61% -0.7%
2087 0.62% -0.72%
2086 0.65% -0.72%
2085 0.64% -0.72%
2084 0.72% -0.73%
2083 0.74% -0.73%
2082 0.76% -0.75%
2081 0.79% -0.76%
2080 0.8% -0.76%
2079 0.81% -0.77%
2078 0.88% -0.77%
2077 0.9% -0.78%
2076 0.9% -0.79%
2075 0.9% -0.8%
2074 0.91% -0.8%
2073 0.92% -0.82%
2072 0.98% -0.84%
2071 1% -0.85%
2070 1.03% -0.86%
2069 1.07% -0.86%
2068 1.09% -0.88%
2067 1.12% -0.89%
2066 1.13% -0.91%
2065 1.15% -0.91%
2064 1.16% -0.91%
2063 1.21% -0.91%
2062 1.28% -0.9%
2061 1.31% -0.89%
2060 1.38% -0.88%
2059 1.35% -0.86%
2058 1.4% -0.85%
2057 1.4% -0.84%
2056 1.48% -0.82%
2055 1.48% -0.79%
2054 1.57% -0.77%
2053 1.58% -0.77%
2052 1.61% -0.75%
2051 1.62% -0.74%
2050 1.65% -0.74%
2049 1.64% -0.73%
2048 1.72% -0.72%
2047 1.76% -0.71%
2046 1.78% -0.7%
2045 1.86% -0.71%
2044 1.85% -0.7%
2043 1.87% -0.69%
2042 1.93% -0.69%
2041 1.97% -0.68%
2040 2.01% -0.67%
2039 2.04% -0.67%
2038 2.16% -0.66%
2037 2.18% -0.66%
2036 2.22% -0.65%
2035 2.26% -0.63%
2034 2.31% -0.63%
2033 2.33% -0.62%
2032 2.36% -0.61%
2031 2.44% -0.6%
2030 2.5% -0.6%
2029 2.5% -0.59%
2028 2.54% -0.58%
2027 2.56% -0.58%
2026 2.57% -0.57%
2025 2.61% -0.55%
2024 2.61% -0.05%
2023 2.6% 0.07%
2022 2.6% -0.38%
2021 2.63% -0.74%
2020 2.67% -0.55%
2019 2.69% -0.53%
2018 2.71% -0.59%
2017 2.75% -0.58%
2016 2.76% -0.57%
2015 2.79% -0.47%
2014 2.84% -0.37%
2013 2.88% -0.37%
2012 2.91% -0.44%
2011 2.96% -0.49%
2010 2.99% -0.59%
2009 3% -0.83%
2008 2.95% -1.65%
2007 2.86% -1.47%
2006 2.79% -0.59%
2005 2.71% -0.62%
2004 2.62% -0.57%
2003 2.53% -0.72%
2002 2.48% -1.81%
2001 2.45% -1.39%
2000 2.43% -0.13%
1999 2.36% -0.16%
1998 2.19% -0.21%
1997 2.03% -0.29%
1996 1.99% -0.29%
1995 -0.15% -0.2%
1994 -1.16% -0.15%
1993 1.47% -0.14%
1992 2.95% -0.9%
1991 3.13% -0.86%
1990 4.03% 0.17%
1989 4.83% 0.45%
1988 5.55% 0.47%
1987 4.89% 0.49%
1986 3.75% 0.46%
1985 3.92% 0.41%
1984 3.99% 0.35%
1983 4.02% 0.38%
1982 4.03% 0.55%
1981 4% 0.66%
1980 3.93% 0.53%
1979 3.76% 0.63%
1978 3.48% 0.9%
1977 3.15% 0.95%
1976 2.95% 1.21%
1975 2.84% 1.26%
1974 2.75% 0.93%
1973 2.66% 0.86%
1972 2.59% 0.96%
1971 2.54% 1.04%
1970 2.49% 1.21%
1969 2.5% 1.06%
1968 2.51% 1.36%
1967 2.5% 1.66%
1966 2.48% 0.97%
1965 2.47% 0.59%
1964 2.48% 0.65%
1963 2.47% 0.65%
1962 2.44% 0.65%
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/romania | CC BY

In 2024, the population of Malawi grew by 2.61%, while Romania's population declined by 0.05%.

Live population counters

Malawi Romania
Current population
22949294
18839108
Population rank 61/197 70/197
Percent of world population 0.28% 0.23%
One net population change
57.3 seconds
56.8 minutes
One birth every
47.6 seconds
3.45 minutes
One death every
4.64 minutes
2.17 minutes
Daily growth/decline +1,509 -25
Annual growth/decline +550,804 -9,258
Annual growth/decline rate +2.61% -0.05%
Population growth rate rank 26/197 169/197
One migration net change every
1.56 hours
18.1 minutes
Annual migration change -5,628 -29,041
Net migration rank 118/196 163/196
Foreign-born residents 186,719 655,579
Foreign-born residents rank 117/195 73/195
Foreign-born share of population 0.9% 3.4%
Foreign-born share rank 158/195 112/195

Natural population change vs migration

Malawi
Natural

Migration
Romania
Natural

Migration
1x
Year Population change
Malawi Romania
Natural Migration Natural Migration
2025 - -5,628 - -29,041
2024 - -1,507 - -28,466
2023 549,096 -5,811 -89,587 -27,780
2022 533,450 -5,231 -93,338 89,076
2021 517,400 -2,666 -141,504 -17,731
2020 514,659 -2,655 -100,179 -13,202
2019 506,104 -1,837 -60,053 -27,909
2018 494,348 -3,267 -62,316 -33,018
2017 484,655 982 -50,930 -33,081
2016 474,779 3,505 -53,196 -33,073
2015 472,484 -6,471 -59,447 -35,751
2014 472,418 -10,317 -55,745 -35,448
2013 470,293 -12,934 -59,951 -34,910
2012 460,684 -13,561 -54,157 -37,589
2011 454,149 -12,170 -56,413 -102,769
2010 444,468 -9,327 -46,567 -122,364
2009 434,811 -8,590 -34,625 -137,953
2008 421,781 -9,264 -30,806 -144,368
2007 410,290 -22,680 -37,590 -133,089
2006 397,123 -29,450 -38,148 -132,777
2005 381,130 -31,462 -40,508 -131,176
2004 361,133 -32,221 -42,904 -117,432
2003 341,133 -31,729 -56,093 -107,139
2002 322,863 -30,013 -58,673 -106,585
2001 310,833 -28,933 -37,625 -91,154
2000 300,439 -28,098 -22,443 -92,451
1999 295,629 -31,686 -31,461 -82,590
1998 285,407 -39,491 -33,761 -81,366
1997 277,433 -61,646 -42,853 -88,734
1996 270,048 -66,212 -56,548 -70,799
1995 266,745 -66,366 -36,295 -73,779
1994 275,439 -505,365 -18,184 -76,246
1993 276,538 -284,867 -13,658 -73,475
1992 269,066 37,142 -4,559 -63,200
1991 260,193 15,291 25,301 -36,824
1990 250,159 71,111 69,605 -38,157
1989 237,967 180,031 122,756 -33,866
1988 226,911 201,011 126,817 -48,911
1987 220,566 271,693 128,517 -42,868
1986 218,519 62,615 134,737 -50,450
1985 216,179 74,625 111,392 -28,108
1984 212,146 72,435 117,731 -24,629
1983 209,422 68,197 87,986 3,093
1982 205,386 62,661 119,121 -4,725
1981 199,436 57,376 156,472 -20,870
1980 192,746 52,294 168,776 -16,668
1979 182,123 46,388 194,397 -29,600
1978 172,503 36,225 204,148 -31,427
1977 161,930 19,638 215,385 -28,135
1976 153,422 8,206 213,361 18,748
1975 145,254 5,162 219,324 9,125
1974 137,819 3,833 235,530 6,725
1973 131,529 1,623 175,020 58,651
1972 125,728 48 198,316 61,920
1971 121,015 -710 206,662 74,473
1970 116,822 -2,147 234,905 71,919
1969 113,120 -2,266 264,120 74,851
1968 110,329 -924 338,577 33,601
1967 106,668 0 347,709 37,282
1966 103,512 0 115,293 -25,458
1965 100,040 0 114,190 -60,430
1964 97,658 0 134,326 -59,500
1963 95,933 0 139,104 -58,076
1962 92,463 0 130,736 -56,152
1961 89,091 0 163,286 -54,642
1960 85,718 0 191,431 -55,397

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

GeoRank.org/population/malawi/romania | 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 Romania 82% is from natural causes (a loss of 766,295 people) and 18% is from migration (a loss of 167,917 people).

As of 2024, 186,719 residents or 0.9% of the population were not native-born in Malawi, compared to 655,579 people or 3.4% in Romania.

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
Romania
City Population
Bucharest 1.72M
Cluj-Napoca 287K
Iasi 272K
Constanta 264K
Timisoara 251K
Brasov 238K
Craiova 234K
Galati 218K
Oradea 183K
Ploiesti 181K

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/romania | 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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