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

Updated on by Georank

The latest officially reported population of Malawi was 22,216,120 in 2025 vs 14,569,341 people in Rwanda in 2025. In 2026, based on the adjusted UN estimation, the current Malawi's population is 23,086,106 people compared to 15,062,056 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 +2.67% per year vs +2.28% in Rwanda.
  • Since 2006, the population of Malawi has increased from 13.2M people to 23.1M (74.9% growth), while Rwanda has grown from 9.3M to 15.1M (62% growth).

Malawi vs Rwanda: population by year and forecast

Malawi
Factual

Projection
Rwanda
Factual

Projection
1x
Year Population
Malawi Rwanda
2100 59,773,923 33,113,283
2099 59,515,624 33,008,545
2098 59,263,165 32,927,982
2097 59,015,654 32,853,307
2096 58,749,288 32,768,037
2095 58,495,699 32,635,508
2094 58,227,933 32,550,001
2093 57,954,358 32,416,870
2092 57,660,371 32,294,333
2091 57,364,786 32,191,262
2090 57,048,240 32,088,747
2089 56,727,243 31,892,591
2088 56,385,237 31,746,789
2087 56,041,651 31,553,150
2086 55,694,983 31,399,004
2085 55,336,839 31,254,597
2084 54,985,304 31,112,448
2083 54,593,349 30,937,106
2082 54,194,853 30,752,861
2081 53,783,781 30,576,992
2080 53,361,334 30,386,351
2079 52,936,889 30,195,560
2078 52,510,645 30,016,688
2077 52,052,767 29,819,259
2076 51,589,339 29,645,610
2075 51,130,762 29,441,964
2074 50,673,499 29,243,980
2073 50,218,991 29,025,977
2072 49,759,232 28,798,822
2071 49,276,570 28,578,302
2070 48,787,471 28,334,300
2069 48,291,287 28,121,174
2068 47,782,059 27,872,383
2067 47,267,335 27,609,059
2066 46,741,998 27,372,823
2065 46,218,226 27,101,698
2064 45,692,044 26,838,144
2063 45,169,634 26,559,838
2062 44,629,192 26,312,631
2061 44,067,259 26,001,660
2060 43,499,372 25,729,037
2059 42,907,491 25,453,407
2058 42,335,782 25,121,995
2057 41,753,105 24,853,512
2056 41,175,330 24,582,198
2055 40,576,247 24,281,895
2054 39,986,120 23,991,958
2053 39,369,178 23,705,290
2052 38,758,577 23,421,032
2051 38,145,141 23,113,700
2050 37,537,814 22,814,556
2049 36,928,354 22,498,806
2048 36,332,040 22,171,841
2047 35,717,466 21,848,486
2046 35,099,651 21,554,082
2045 34,484,520 21,228,573
2044 33,855,018 20,915,810
2043 33,240,675 20,548,490
2042 32,629,513 20,214,283
2041 32,012,581 19,845,021
2040 31,395,572 19,475,227
2039 30,775,878 19,108,842
2038 30,160,239 18,773,398
2037 29,521,489 18,433,422
2036 28,890,318 18,128,058
2035 28,261,909 17,765,049
2034 27,637,439 17,432,165
2033 27,012,311 17,100,072
2032 26,398,409 16,822,053
2031 25,790,366 16,495,903
2030 25,176,420 16,178,061
2029 24,561,210 15,868,812
2028 23,962,931 15,554,713
2027 23,369,575 15,217,275
2026 22,786,713 14,898,118
2025 22,216,120 14,569,341
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 (2026–2100, retrieved 2026-07-08); World Bank | Health (1960–2025, retrieved 2026-07-08).

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 5,528,367 people (a 31.5% growth), while Rwanda's population increased by 3,142,873 people (a 26.4% 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 62.6% to 37,537,814 people with a rank change from 61st to 55th. The population of Rwanda will increase by 51.5% to 22,814,556 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 2.59% 2.19%
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 (2026–2100, retrieved 2026-07-08); World Bank | Health (1961–2025, retrieved 2026-07-08).

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

In 2025, the population of Malawi grew by 2.59%, while Rwanda's population grew by 2.19%.

Live population counters

Malawi Rwanda
Current population
23086106
15062056
Population rank 61/197 77/197
Percent of world population 0.28% 0.18%
One net population change
56.4 seconds
1.69 minutes
One birth every
46.8 seconds
1.31 minutes
One death every
4.59 minutes
6.25 minutes
Daily growth/decline +1,537 +857
Annual growth/decline +560,834 +312,774
Annual growth/decline rate +2.59% +2.19%
Population growth rate rank 23/197 40/197
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 559,811 -1,507 316,025 -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 2026-07-08).

GeoRank.org/population/malawi/rwanda | 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 Rwanda 94% is from natural causes (a gain of 3,104,542 people) and 6.03% is from migration (a loss of 199,112 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
Mzimba 936K
Blantyre 800K
Mzuzu 150K
Zomba 101K
Mangochi 53.5K
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 (1960–2025, 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/rwanda | 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. Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) (2000–2019, retrieved 2026-07-08)
  5. Wikidata (2026, retrieved 2026-07-08)

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