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Population in Malawi compared to Saudi Arabia: Trends, Charts, Rankings

Updated on by Georank team

The latest officially reported population of Malawi was 21,655,286 in 2024 vs 35,300,280 people in Saudi Arabia in 2024. In 2026, based on the adjusted UN estimation, the current Malawi's population is 22,949,294 people compared to 36,734,925 in Saudi Arabia.

Population statistics:

  • Saudi Arabia's population is 1.6 times bigger than Malawi's.
  • Malawi is ranked the 61st most populous country in the world, while Saudi Arabia is the 44th.
  • The countries together account for 0.72% of the world: 0.28% for Malawi vs 0.44% for Saudi Arabia.
  • For the last 10 years, Malawi has had an average growth rate of +2.7% per year vs +2.3% in Saudi Arabia.
  • Since 2006, the population of Malawi has increased from 13.2M people to 22.9M (73.9% growth), while Saudi Arabia has grown from 21.5M to 36.7M (71.2% growth).

Malawi vs Saudi Arabia: population by year and forecast

Malawi
Factual

Projection
Saudi Arabia
Factual

Projection
1x
Year Population
Malawi Saudi Arabia
2100 59,786,744 74,230,118
2099 59,528,389 73,760,045
2098 59,275,876 73,287,526
2097 59,028,312 72,813,125
2096 58,761,888 72,336,039
2095 58,508,246 71,858,206
2094 58,240,422 71,379,928
2093 57,966,788 70,900,460
2092 57,672,738 70,420,464
2091 57,377,090 69,940,749
2090 57,060,476 69,462,214
2089 56,739,410 68,985,976
2088 56,397,330 68,510,277
2087 56,053,671 68,035,545
2086 55,706,928 67,562,521
2085 55,348,708 67,091,615
2084 54,997,097 66,621,667
2083 54,605,058 66,152,653
2082 54,206,477 65,684,321
2081 53,795,317 65,216,102
2080 53,372,779 64,749,128
2079 52,948,243 64,282,393
2078 52,521,908 63,815,918
2077 52,063,931 63,348,712
2076 51,600,404 62,880,120
2075 51,141,728 62,409,793
2074 50,684,368 61,937,628
2073 50,229,762 61,462,662
2072 49,769,904 60,984,202
2071 49,287,139 60,502,791
2070 48,797,935 60,018,216
2069 48,301,644 59,529,456
2068 47,792,308 59,036,086
2067 47,277,473 58,539,487
2066 46,752,024 58,039,687
2065 46,228,139 57,537,106
2064 45,701,844 57,032,172
2063 45,179,322 56,524,331
2062 44,638,764 56,014,549
2061 44,076,711 55,501,467
2060 43,508,702 54,986,901
2059 42,916,694 54,469,809
2058 42,344,863 53,950,469
2057 41,762,060 53,430,639
2056 41,184,161 52,909,061
2055 40,584,950 52,386,571
2054 39,994,696 51,862,312
2053 39,377,622 51,336,335
2052 38,766,890 50,809,100
2051 38,153,322 50,280,719
2050 37,545,865 49,751,739
2049 36,936,275 49,221,828
2048 36,339,833 48,690,143
2047 35,725,127 48,157,605
2046 35,107,179 47,623,246
2045 34,491,916 47,087,215
2044 33,862,279 46,550,306
2043 33,247,804 46,013,232
2042 32,636,511 45,475,200
2041 32,019,447 44,936,131
2040 31,402,305 44,396,093
2039 30,782,479 43,856,006
2038 30,166,708 43,314,707
2037 29,527,821 42,773,375
2036 28,896,515 42,231,639
2035 28,267,970 41,690,245
2034 27,643,367 41,150,029
2033 27,018,105 40,611,021
2032 26,404,071 40,073,144
2031 25,795,897 39,535,357
2030 25,181,820 38,998,581
2029 24,566,478 38,417,447
2028 23,968,071 37,810,902
2027 23,374,588 37,189,969
2026 22,791,601 36,566,201
2025 22,220,885 35,932,673
2024 21,655,286 35,300,280
2023 21,104,482 33,702,731
2022 20,568,728 32,175,224
2021 20,047,258 30,784,383
2020 19,533,888 31,552,510
2019 19,025,752 30,063,799
2018 18,528,081 30,196,281
2017 18,039,715 30,977,355
2016 17,557,739 30,954,198
2015 17,085,587 29,816,382
2014 16,621,538 28,309,273
2013 16,161,816 27,624,004
2012 15,709,577 26,168,861
2011 15,265,022 25,091,867
2010 14,826,463 23,978,487
2009 14,395,788 24,217,654
2008 13,976,417 23,287,877
2007 13,576,343 22,368,313
2006 13,198,701 21,459,144
2005 12,840,031 20,559,890
2004 12,500,737 19,669,480
2003 12,181,574 18,786,767
2002 11,880,440 17,910,910
2001 11,593,058 17,041,397
2000 11,315,942 16,177,722
1999 11,047,804 15,472,075
1998 10,792,876 14,922,185
1997 10,562,035 14,374,943
1996 10,352,228 13,831,009
1995 10,150,117 13,289,245
1994 10,164,894 12,750,040
1993 10,284,024 12,215,862
1992 10,135,079 11,686,676
1991 9,844,227 11,160,744
1990 9,545,852 10,640,691
1989 9,176,220 10,128,394
1988 8,753,262 9,629,165
1987 8,293,174 9,130,194
1986 7,906,480 8,628,639
1985 7,620,508 8,151,779
1984 7,332,810 7,697,307
1983 7,051,709 7,252,941
1982 6,778,879 6,824,486
1981 6,516,454 6,420,551
1980 6,265,529 6,047,997
1979 6,028,749 5,703,698
1978 5,810,132 5,381,902
1977 5,614,983 5,083,048
1976 5,443,384 4,807,933
1975 5,287,367 4,556,287
1974 5,141,337 4,323,632
1973 5,003,938 4,106,344
1972 4,874,475 3,905,722
1971 4,751,434 3,724,031
1970 4,633,944 3,562,470
1969 4,521,184 3,417,114
1968 4,411,054 3,282,711
1967 4,303,012 3,157,242
1966 4,197,926 3,039,887
1965 4,096,157 2,928,771
1964 3,997,305 2,821,968
1963 3,900,506 2,719,341
1962 3,806,307 2,620,910
1961 3,715,534 2,526,347
1960 3,628,134 2,435,403

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/saudi-arabia | CC BY

From 2006 to 2016, the population of Malawi increased by 4,359,038 people (a 33% growth), while Saudi Arabia gained 9,495,054 people (a 44.2% growth).

For the next 10 years, from 2016 to 2026, Malawi gained 5,391,555 people (a 30.7% growth), while Saudi Arabia's population increased by 5,780,727 people (a 18.7% growth).

Malawi was ranked 69th most populous country in 2006 and is 61st in 2026. Saudi Arabia was ranked 50th in 2006 and ranked 44th 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 Saudi Arabia will increase by 35.4% to 49,751,739 people and rank change from 44th to 43rd.

Malawi is projected to reach its peak in 2100 at 59.8M people compared to the peak of 74.2M people in 2100 for Saudi Arabia.

Population growth rate by year

Malawi
Factual

Projection
Saudi Arabia
Factual

Projection
1x
Year Growth rate
Malawi Saudi Arabia
2100 0.43% 0.64%
2099 0.43% 0.64%
2098 0.42% 0.65%
2097 0.45% 0.66%
2096 0.43% 0.66%
2095 0.46% 0.67%
2094 0.47% 0.68%
2093 0.51% 0.68%
2092 0.52% 0.69%
2091 0.55% 0.69%
2090 0.57% 0.69%
2089 0.61% 0.69%
2088 0.61% 0.7%
2087 0.62% 0.7%
2086 0.65% 0.7%
2085 0.64% 0.71%
2084 0.72% 0.71%
2083 0.74% 0.71%
2082 0.76% 0.72%
2081 0.79% 0.72%
2080 0.8% 0.73%
2079 0.81% 0.73%
2078 0.88% 0.74%
2077 0.9% 0.75%
2076 0.9% 0.75%
2075 0.9% 0.76%
2074 0.91% 0.77%
2073 0.92% 0.78%
2072 0.98% 0.8%
2071 1% 0.81%
2070 1.03% 0.82%
2069 1.07% 0.84%
2068 1.09% 0.85%
2067 1.12% 0.86%
2066 1.13% 0.87%
2065 1.15% 0.89%
2064 1.16% 0.9%
2063 1.21% 0.91%
2062 1.28% 0.92%
2061 1.31% 0.94%
2060 1.38% 0.95%
2059 1.35% 0.96%
2058 1.4% 0.97%
2057 1.4% 0.99%
2056 1.48% 1%
2055 1.48% 1.01%
2054 1.57% 1.02%
2053 1.58% 1.04%
2052 1.61% 1.05%
2051 1.62% 1.06%
2050 1.65% 1.08%
2049 1.64% 1.09%
2048 1.72% 1.11%
2047 1.76% 1.12%
2046 1.78% 1.14%
2045 1.86% 1.15%
2044 1.85% 1.17%
2043 1.87% 1.18%
2042 1.93% 1.2%
2041 1.97% 1.22%
2040 2.01% 1.23%
2039 2.04% 1.25%
2038 2.16% 1.27%
2037 2.18% 1.28%
2036 2.22% 1.3%
2035 2.26% 1.31%
2034 2.31% 1.33%
2033 2.33% 1.34%
2032 2.36% 1.36%
2031 2.44% 1.38%
2030 2.5% 1.51%
2029 2.5% 1.6%
2028 2.54% 1.67%
2027 2.56% 1.71%
2026 2.57% 1.76%
2025 2.61% 1.79%
2024 2.61% 4.74%
2023 2.6% 4.75%
2022 2.6% 4.52%
2021 2.63% -2.43%
2020 2.67% 4.95%
2019 2.69% -0.44%
2018 2.71% -2.52%
2017 2.75% 0.07%
2016 2.76% 3.82%
2015 2.79% 5.32%
2014 2.84% 2.48%
2013 2.88% 5.56%
2012 2.91% 4.29%
2011 2.96% 4.64%
2010 2.99% -0.99%
2009 3% 3.99%
2008 2.95% 4.11%
2007 2.86% 4.24%
2006 2.79% 4.37%
2005 2.71% 4.53%
2004 2.62% 4.7%
2003 2.53% 4.89%
2002 2.48% 5.1%
2001 2.45% 5.34%
2000 2.43% 4.56%
1999 2.36% 3.69%
1998 2.19% 3.81%
1997 2.03% 3.93%
1996 1.99% 4.08%
1995 -0.15% 4.23%
1994 -1.16% 4.37%
1993 1.47% 4.53%
1992 2.95% 4.71%
1991 3.13% 4.89%
1990 4.03% 5.06%
1989 4.83% 5.18%
1988 5.55% 5.47%
1987 4.89% 5.81%
1986 3.75% 5.85%
1985 3.92% 5.9%
1984 3.99% 6.13%
1983 4.02% 6.28%
1982 4.03% 6.29%
1981 4% 6.16%
1980 3.93% 6.04%
1979 3.76% 5.98%
1978 3.48% 5.88%
1977 3.15% 5.72%
1976 2.95% 5.52%
1975 2.84% 5.38%
1974 2.75% 5.29%
1973 2.66% 5.14%
1972 2.59% 4.88%
1971 2.54% 4.54%
1970 2.49% 4.25%
1969 2.5% 4.09%
1968 2.51% 3.97%
1967 2.5% 3.86%
1966 2.48% 3.79%
1965 2.47% 3.78%
1964 2.48% 3.77%
1963 2.47% 3.76%
1962 2.44% 3.74%
1961 2.41% 3.73%

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/saudi-arabia | CC BY

In 2024, the population of Malawi grew by 2.61%, while Saudi Arabia's population grew by 4.74%.

Live population counters

Malawi Saudi Arabia
Current population
22949294
36734925
Population rank 61/197 44/197
Percent of world population 0.28% 0.44%
One net population change
57.3 seconds
19.7 seconds
One birth every
47.6 seconds
57 seconds
One death every
4.64 minutes
6.66 minutes
Daily growth/decline +1,509 +4,377
Annual growth/decline +550,804 +1,597,549
Annual growth/decline rate +2.61% +4.74%
Population growth rate rank 26/197 4/197
One migration net change every
1.56 hours
4.4 minutes
Annual migration change -5,628 +119,738
Net migration rank 118/196 13/196
Foreign-born residents 186,719 13,683,841
Foreign-born residents rank 117/195 3/195
Foreign-born share of population 0.9% 40.3%
Foreign-born share rank 158/195 14/195

Natural population change vs migration

Malawi
Natural

Migration
Saudi Arabia
Natural

Migration
1x
Year Population change
Malawi Saudi Arabia
Natural Migration Natural Migration
2025 - -5,628 - 119,738
2024 - -1,507 - 122,170
2023 549,096 -5,811 474,366 325,691
2022 533,450 -5,231 406,920 977,072
2021 517,400 -2,666 409,032 -106,287
2020 514,659 -2,655 447,036 -74,725
2019 506,104 -1,837 474,407 191,582
2018 494,348 -3,267 528,767 -988,751
2017 484,655 982 546,751 -920,812
2016 474,779 3,505 537,829 -26,997
2015 472,484 -6,471 511,023 465,292
2014 472,418 -10,317 493,431 469,144
2013 470,293 -12,934 475,299 485,794
2012 460,684 -13,561 465,649 479,206
2011 454,149 -12,170 443,675 491,253
2010 444,468 -9,327 418,641 504,955
2009 434,811 -8,590 438,557 496,229
2008 421,781 -9,264 433,457 491,337
2007 410,290 -22,680 425,199 489,136
2006 397,123 -29,450 399,333 504,661
2005 381,130 -31,462 375,938 518,565
2004 361,133 -32,221 362,843 523,472
2003 341,133 -31,729 364,520 514,606
2002 322,863 -30,013 372,099 500,508
2001 310,833 -28,933 382,153 484,252
2000 300,439 -28,098 392,407 468,515
1999 295,629 -31,686 390,112 160,263
1998 285,407 -39,491 389,499 159,898
1997 277,433 -61,646 385,033 160,066
1996 270,048 -66,212 382,248 160,532
1995 266,745 -66,366 380,231 160,512
1994 275,439 -505,365 377,351 160,306
1993 276,538 -284,867 372,621 158,074
1992 269,066 37,142 366,763 160,908
1991 260,193 15,291 361,329 162,857
1990 250,159 71,111 355,495 160,416
1989 237,967 180,031 349,399 159,273
1988 226,911 201,011 342,865 146,918
1987 220,566 271,693 333,088 175,075
1986 218,519 62,615 322,340 172,606
1985 216,179 74,625 310,558 148,208
1984 212,146 72,435 296,615 153,562
1983 209,422 68,197 280,616 157,930
1982 205,386 62,661 264,831 153,528
1981 199,436 57,376 249,156 140,355
1980 192,746 52,294 234,372 121,220
1979 182,123 46,388 220,186 112,826
1978 172,503 36,225 205,331 105,263
1977 161,930 19,638 191,103 96,015
1976 153,422 8,206 178,024 85,083
1975 145,254 5,162 166,223 73,960
1974 137,819 3,833 155,478 69,653
1973 131,529 1,623 145,450 63,995
1972 125,728 48 136,360 55,439
1971 121,015 -710 127,600 43,989
1970 116,822 -2,147 120,440 31,097
1969 113,120 -2,266 113,859 25,312
1968 110,329 -924 108,281 21,366
1967 106,668 0 103,343 17,947
1966 103,512 0 98,361 15,054
1965 100,040 0 93,820 15,000
1964 97,658 0 89,776 15,000
1963 95,933 0 85,480 15,000
1962 92,463 0 81,393 15,000
1961 89,091 0 77,743 15,000
1960 85,718 0 74,143 15,000

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

GeoRank.org/population/malawi/saudi-arabia | 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 Saudi Arabia 93.9% is from natural causes (a gain of 4,829,562 people) and 6.05% is from migration (a gain of 311,209 people).

As of 2024, 186,719 residents or 0.9% of the population were not native-born in Malawi, compared to 13,683,841 people or 40.3% in Saudi Arabia.

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
Saudi Arabia
City Population
Riyadh 7.01M
Jeddah 4.7M
Mecca 2.43M
Medina 1.41M
Dammam 903K
Tabuk 886K
Qatif 625K
Jubail 379K
Ha'il 311K
Yanbu 299K

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/saudi-arabia | 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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