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

Updated on by Georank team

The latest officially reported population of Malawi was 21,655,286 in 2024 vs 14,256,567 people in Rwanda in 2024. In 2026, based on the adjusted UN estimation, the current Malawi's population is 22,949,294 people compared to 14,975,051 in Rwanda.

Population statistics:

  • Malawi's population is 1.53 times bigger than Rwanda's.
  • Malawi is ranked the 61st most populous country in the world, while Rwanda is the 77th.
  • The countries together account for 0.46% of the world: 0.28% for Malawi vs 0.18% for Rwanda.
  • For the last 10 years, Malawi has had an average growth rate of +2.7% per year vs +2.31% in Rwanda.
  • Since 2006, the population of Malawi has increased from 13.2M people to 22.9M (73.9% growth), while Rwanda has grown from 9.3M to 15M (61% growth).

Malawi vs Rwanda: population by year and forecast

Malawi
Factual

Projection
Rwanda
Factual

Projection
1x
Year Population
Malawi Rwanda
2100 59,786,744 33,092,520
2099 59,528,389 32,987,847
2098 59,275,876 32,907,335
2097 59,028,312 32,832,706
2096 58,761,888 32,747,490
2095 58,508,246 32,615,044
2094 58,240,422 32,529,590
2093 57,966,788 32,396,544
2092 57,672,738 32,274,083
2091 57,377,090 32,171,077
2090 57,060,476 32,068,626
2089 56,739,410 31,872,593
2088 56,397,330 31,726,882
2087 56,053,671 31,533,364
2086 55,706,928 31,379,315
2085 55,348,708 31,235,000
2084 54,997,097 31,092,940
2083 54,605,058 30,917,707
2082 54,206,477 30,733,578
2081 53,795,317 30,557,819
2080 53,372,779 30,367,298
2079 52,948,243 30,176,627
2078 52,521,908 29,997,866
2077 52,063,931 29,800,561
2076 51,600,404 29,627,021
2075 51,141,728 29,423,503
2074 50,684,368 29,225,643
2073 50,229,762 29,007,777
2072 49,769,904 28,780,763
2071 49,287,139 28,560,382
2070 48,797,935 28,316,533
2069 48,301,644 28,103,541
2068 47,792,308 27,854,906
2067 47,277,473 27,591,747
2066 46,752,024 27,355,659
2065 46,228,139 27,084,704
2064 45,701,844 26,821,315
2063 45,179,322 26,543,184
2062 44,638,764 26,296,132
2061 44,076,711 25,985,356
2060 43,508,702 25,712,904
2059 42,916,694 25,437,446
2058 42,344,863 25,106,242
2057 41,762,060 24,837,928
2056 41,184,161 24,566,784
2055 40,584,950 24,266,669
2054 39,994,696 23,976,914
2053 39,377,622 23,690,426
2052 38,766,890 23,406,346
2051 38,153,322 23,099,207
2050 37,545,865 22,800,250
2049 36,936,275 22,484,698
2048 36,339,833 22,157,938
2047 35,725,127 21,834,786
2046 35,107,179 21,540,566
2045 34,491,916 21,215,262
2044 33,862,279 20,902,695
2043 33,247,804 20,535,605
2042 32,636,511 20,201,608
2041 32,019,447 19,832,577
2040 31,402,305 19,463,015
2039 30,782,479 19,096,860
2038 30,166,708 18,761,626
2037 29,527,821 18,421,864
2036 28,896,515 18,116,691
2035 28,267,970 17,753,910
2034 27,643,367 17,421,234
2033 27,018,105 17,089,349
2032 26,404,071 16,811,505
2031 25,795,897 16,485,559
2030 25,181,820 16,167,916
2029 24,566,478 15,858,862
2028 23,968,071 15,544,959
2027 23,374,588 15,207,733
2026 22,791,601 14,888,776
2025 22,220,885 14,560,205
2024 21,655,286 14,256,567
2023 21,104,482 13,954,471
2022 20,568,728 13,651,030
2021 20,047,258 13,355,260
2020 19,533,888 13,065,837
2019 19,025,752 12,776,103
2018 18,528,081 12,487,996
2017 18,039,715 12,202,060
2016 17,557,739 11,919,183
2015 17,085,587 11,640,022
2014 16,621,538 11,364,757
2013 16,161,816 11,093,340
2012 15,709,577 10,829,901
2011 15,265,022 10,573,733
2010 14,826,463 10,317,553
2009 14,395,788 10,060,432
2008 13,976,417 9,804,269
2007 13,576,343 9,549,933
2006 13,198,701 9,299,246
2005 12,840,031 9,054,528
2004 12,500,737 8,816,844
2003 12,181,574 8,586,875
2002 11,880,440 8,400,180
2001 11,593,058 8,287,094
2000 11,315,942 8,213,931
1999 11,047,804 8,147,912
1998 10,792,876 8,081,681
1997 10,562,035 7,755,238
1996 10,352,228 6,708,764
1995 10,150,117 5,674,118
1994 10,164,894 6,792,352
1993 10,284,024 7,981,132
1992 10,135,079 7,683,266
1991 9,844,227 7,526,966
1990 9,545,852 7,375,307
1989 9,176,220 7,184,706
1988 8,753,262 6,968,071
1987 8,293,174 6,749,493
1986 7,906,480 6,531,881
1985 7,620,508 6,317,228
1984 7,332,810 6,107,627
1983 7,051,709 5,905,311
1982 6,778,879 5,711,549
1981 6,516,454 5,527,230
1980 6,265,529 5,353,259
1979 6,028,749 5,189,541
1978 5,810,132 5,035,171
1977 5,614,983 4,888,240
1976 5,443,384 4,745,954
1975 5,287,367 4,607,728
1974 5,141,337 4,474,228
1973 5,003,938 4,345,047
1972 4,874,475 4,220,335
1971 4,751,434 4,100,044
1970 4,633,944 3,980,669
1969 4,521,184 3,861,271
1968 4,411,054 3,744,010
1967 4,303,012 3,629,577
1966 4,197,926 3,521,626
1965 4,096,157 3,423,210
1964 3,997,305 3,334,834
1963 3,900,506 3,258,890
1962 3,806,307 3,186,025
1961 3,715,534 3,106,779
1960 3,628,134 3,022,294

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/rwanda | CC BY

From 2006 to 2016, the population of Malawi increased by 4,359,038 people (a 33% growth), while Rwanda gained 2,619,937 people (a 28.2% growth).

For the next 10 years, from 2016 to 2026, Malawi gained 5,391,555 people (a 30.7% growth), while Rwanda's population increased by 3,055,868 people (a 25.6% growth).

Malawi was ranked 69th most populous country in 2006 and is 61st in 2026. Rwanda was ranked 86th in 2006 and ranked 77th 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 Rwanda will increase by 52.3% to 22,800,250 people and rank change from 77th to 72nd.

Malawi is projected to reach its peak in 2100 at 59.8M people compared to the peak of 33.1M people in 2100 for Rwanda.

Population growth rate by year

Malawi
Factual

Projection
Rwanda
Factual

Projection
1x
Year Growth rate
Malawi Rwanda
2100 0.43% 0.32%
2099 0.43% 0.24%
2098 0.42% 0.23%
2097 0.45% 0.26%
2096 0.43% 0.41%
2095 0.46% 0.26%
2094 0.47% 0.41%
2093 0.51% 0.38%
2092 0.52% 0.32%
2091 0.55% 0.32%
2090 0.57% 0.62%
2089 0.61% 0.46%
2088 0.61% 0.61%
2087 0.62% 0.49%
2086 0.65% 0.46%
2085 0.64% 0.46%
2084 0.72% 0.57%
2083 0.74% 0.6%
2082 0.76% 0.58%
2081 0.79% 0.63%
2080 0.8% 0.63%
2079 0.81% 0.6%
2078 0.88% 0.66%
2077 0.9% 0.59%
2076 0.9% 0.69%
2075 0.9% 0.68%
2074 0.91% 0.75%
2073 0.92% 0.79%
2072 0.98% 0.77%
2071 1% 0.86%
2070 1.03% 0.76%
2069 1.07% 0.89%
2068 1.09% 0.95%
2067 1.12% 0.86%
2066 1.13% 1%
2065 1.15% 0.98%
2064 1.16% 1.05%
2063 1.21% 0.94%
2062 1.28% 1.2%
2061 1.31% 1.06%
2060 1.38% 1.08%
2059 1.35% 1.32%
2058 1.4% 1.08%
2057 1.4% 1.1%
2056 1.48% 1.24%
2055 1.48% 1.21%
2054 1.57% 1.21%
2053 1.58% 1.21%
2052 1.61% 1.33%
2051 1.62% 1.31%
2050 1.65% 1.4%
2049 1.64% 1.47%
2048 1.72% 1.48%
2047 1.76% 1.37%
2046 1.78% 1.53%
2045 1.86% 1.5%
2044 1.85% 1.79%
2043 1.87% 1.65%
2042 1.93% 1.86%
2041 1.97% 1.9%
2040 2.01% 1.92%
2039 2.04% 1.79%
2038 2.16% 1.84%
2037 2.18% 1.68%
2036 2.22% 2.04%
2035 2.26% 1.91%
2034 2.31% 1.94%
2033 2.33% 1.65%
2032 2.36% 1.98%
2031 2.44% 1.96%
2030 2.5% 1.95%
2029 2.5% 2.02%
2028 2.54% 2.22%
2027 2.56% 2.14%
2026 2.57% 2.26%
2025 2.61% 2.13%
2024 2.61% 2.16%
2023 2.6% 2.22%
2022 2.6% 2.21%
2021 2.63% 2.22%
2020 2.67% 2.27%
2019 2.69% 2.31%
2018 2.71% 2.34%
2017 2.75% 2.37%
2016 2.76% 2.4%
2015 2.79% 2.42%
2014 2.84% 2.45%
2013 2.88% 2.43%
2012 2.91% 2.42%
2011 2.96% 2.48%
2010 2.99% 2.56%
2009 3% 2.61%
2008 2.95% 2.66%
2007 2.86% 2.7%
2006 2.79% 2.7%
2005 2.71% 2.7%
2004 2.62% 2.68%
2003 2.53% 2.22%
2002 2.48% 1.36%
2001 2.45% 0.89%
2000 2.43% 0.81%
1999 2.36% 0.82%
1998 2.19% 4.21%
1997 2.03% 15.6%
1996 1.99% 18.2%
1995 -0.15% -16.5%
1994 -1.16% -14.9%
1993 1.47% 3.88%
1992 2.95% 2.08%
1991 3.13% 2.06%
1990 4.03% 2.65%
1989 4.83% 3.11%
1988 5.55% 3.24%
1987 4.89% 3.33%
1986 3.75% 3.4%
1985 3.92% 3.43%
1984 3.99% 3.43%
1983 4.02% 3.39%
1982 4.03% 3.33%
1981 4% 3.25%
1980 3.93% 3.15%
1979 3.76% 3.07%
1978 3.48% 3.01%
1977 3.15% 3%
1976 2.95% 3%
1975 2.84% 2.98%
1974 2.75% 2.97%
1973 2.66% 2.96%
1972 2.59% 2.93%
1971 2.54% 3%
1970 2.49% 3.09%
1969 2.5% 3.13%
1968 2.51% 3.15%
1967 2.5% 3.07%
1966 2.48% 2.87%
1965 2.47% 2.65%
1964 2.48% 2.33%
1963 2.47% 2.29%
1962 2.44% 2.55%
1961 2.41% 2.8%

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/rwanda | CC BY

In 2024, the population of Malawi grew by 2.61%, while Rwanda's population grew by 2.16%.

Live population counters

Malawi Rwanda
Current population
22949294
14975051
Population rank 61/197 77/197
Percent of world population 0.28% 0.18%
One net population change
57.3 seconds
1.74 minutes
One birth every
47.6 seconds
1.33 minutes
One death every
4.64 minutes
6.35 minutes
Daily growth/decline +1,509 +828
Annual growth/decline +550,804 +302,096
Annual growth/decline rate +2.61% +2.16%
Population growth rate rank 26/197 45/197
One migration net change every
1.56 hours
1.4 hours
Annual migration change -5,628 +6,282
Net migration rank 118/196 48/196
Foreign-born residents 186,719 513,316
Foreign-born residents rank 117/195 80/195
Foreign-born share of population 0.9% 3.6%
Foreign-born share rank 158/195 109/195

Natural population change vs migration

Malawi
Natural

Migration
Rwanda
Natural

Migration
1x
Year Population change
Malawi Rwanda
Natural Migration Natural Migration
2025 - -5,628 - 6,282
2024 - -1,507 - -15,582
2023 549,096 -5,811 312,762 -9,001
2022 533,450 -5,231 312,145 -9,001
2021 517,400 -2,666 309,895 -21,492
2020 514,659 -2,655 312,692 -22,251
2019 506,104 -1,837 313,525 -24,492
2018 494,348 -3,267 312,512 -25,323
2017 484,655 982 310,323 -25,634
2016 474,779 3,505 305,549 -24,474
2015 472,484 -6,471 299,114 -21,862
2014 472,418 -10,317 292,779 -19,505
2013 470,293 -12,934 286,331 -16,779
2012 460,684 -13,561 282,584 -25,260
2011 454,149 -12,170 282,922 -27,915
2010 444,468 -9,327 286,848 -29,501
2009 434,811 -8,590 287,034 -30,128
2008 421,781 -9,264 287,334 -31,913
2007 410,290 -22,680 285,791 -32,537
2006 397,123 -29,450 282,149 -34,008
2005 381,130 -31,462 275,121 -33,830
2004 361,133 -32,221 265,273 -31,214
2003 341,133 -31,729 251,243 -25,355
2002 322,863 -30,013 239,036 -91,518
2001 310,833 -28,933 230,845 -152,197
2000 300,439 -28,098 221,276 -153,588
1999 295,629 -31,686 210,518 -146,162
1998 285,407 -39,491 197,185 -129,089
1997 277,433 -61,646 174,687 410,106
1996 270,048 -66,212 140,455 1,367,700
1995 266,745 -66,366 121,137 439,995
1994 275,439 -505,365 -719,479 -2,078,111
1993 276,538 -284,867 183,926 236,110
1992 269,066 37,142 188,025 -12,334
1991 260,193 15,291 196,431 -59,519
1990 250,159 71,111 207,895 -41,483
1989 237,967 180,031 217,632 -2,826
1988 226,911 201,011 223,759 -5,285
1987 220,566 271,693 225,744 -7,062
1986 218,519 62,615 225,526 -8,982
1985 216,179 74,625 223,794 -11,031
1984 212,146 72,435 219,337 -12,899
1983 209,422 68,197 212,750 -14,560
1982 205,386 62,661 205,147 -15,818
1981 199,436 57,376 195,769 -16,453
1980 192,746 52,294 184,988 -16,359
1979 182,123 46,388 174,477 -15,669
1978 172,503 36,225 163,779 -13,838
1977 161,930 19,638 155,011 -11,084
1976 153,422 8,206 147,665 -7,027
1975 145,254 5,162 140,596 -4,791
1974 137,819 3,833 135,743 -4,535
1973 131,529 1,623 131,021 -3,862
1972 125,728 48 126,403 -4,156
1971 121,015 -710 122,567 -4,230
1970 116,822 -2,147 119,273 1,149
1969 113,120 -2,266 115,394 2,983
1968 110,329 -924 111,422 4,728
1967 106,668 0 108,053 4,655
1966 103,512 0 105,128 -1,930
1965 100,040 0 103,422 -9,774
1964 97,658 0 102,562 -19,458
1963 95,933 0 94,296 -25,524
1962 92,463 0 102,548 -25,594
1961 89,091 0 102,051 -20,508
1960 85,718 0 100,627 -13,198

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

GeoRank.org/population/malawi/rwanda | 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 Rwanda 93.8% is from natural causes (a gain of 3,081,296 people) and 6.18% is from migration (a loss of 203,035 people).

As of 2024, 186,719 residents or 0.9% of the population were not native-born in Malawi, compared to 513,316 people or 3.6% in Rwanda.

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
Rwanda
City Population
Kigali 1.75M
Ruhengeri 153K
Gisenyi 53.6K
Byumba 36.4K
Cyangugu 27.4K
Nyanza 25.4K
Butare 19.9K
Kibuye 12.3K

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/rwanda | 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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