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Population in Malawi compared to Sierra Leone: Trends, Charts, Rankings

Updated on by Georank

The latest officially reported population of Malawi was 22,216,120 in 2025 vs 8,819,794 people in Sierra Leone in 2025. In 2026, based on the adjusted UN estimation, the current Malawi's population is 23,086,106 people compared to 9,090,531 in Sierra Leone.

Population statistics:

  • Malawi's population is 2.54 times bigger than Sierra Leone's.
  • Malawi is ranked the 61st most populous country in the world, while Sierra Leone is the 100th.
  • The countries together account for 0.39% of the world: 0.28% for Malawi vs 0.11% for Sierra Leone.
  • For the last 10 years, Malawi has had an average growth rate of +2.67% per year vs +2.29% in Sierra Leone.
  • Since 2006, the population of Malawi has increased from 13.2M people to 23.1M (74.9% growth), while Sierra Leone has grown from 5.62M to 9.09M (61.6% growth).

Malawi vs Sierra Leone: population by year and forecast

Malawi
Factual

Projection
Sierra Leone
Factual

Projection
1x
Year Population
Malawi Sierra Leone
2100 59,773,923 16,107,087
2099 59,515,624 16,121,940
2098 59,263,165 16,135,035
2097 59,015,654 16,149,905
2096 58,749,288 16,160,672
2095 58,495,699 16,169,304
2094 58,227,933 16,168,902
2093 57,954,358 16,173,609
2092 57,660,371 16,170,778
2091 57,364,786 16,163,901
2090 57,048,240 16,154,165
2089 56,727,243 16,142,526
2088 56,385,237 16,128,775
2087 56,041,651 16,112,585
2086 55,694,983 16,085,549
2085 55,336,839 16,064,212
2084 54,985,304 16,040,563
2083 54,593,349 16,006,923
2082 54,194,853 15,970,872
2081 53,783,781 15,930,880
2080 53,361,334 15,892,665
2079 52,936,889 15,850,728
2078 52,510,645 15,801,450
2077 52,052,767 15,750,408
2076 51,589,339 15,695,310
2075 51,130,762 15,635,345
2074 50,673,499 15,580,279
2073 50,218,991 15,512,655
2072 49,759,232 15,442,481
2071 49,276,570 15,370,747
2070 48,787,471 15,293,426
2069 48,291,287 15,212,664
2068 47,782,059 15,124,069
2067 47,267,335 15,028,190
2066 46,741,998 14,931,295
2065 46,218,226 14,833,794
2064 45,692,044 14,736,872
2063 45,169,634 14,638,180
2062 44,629,192 14,525,736
2061 44,067,259 14,420,068
2060 43,499,372 14,307,451
2059 42,907,491 14,194,972
2058 42,335,782 14,077,124
2057 41,753,105 13,957,197
2056 41,175,330 13,832,494
2055 40,576,247 13,702,508
2054 39,986,120 13,576,231
2053 39,369,178 13,440,929
2052 38,758,577 13,299,910
2051 38,145,141 13,152,910
2050 37,537,814 13,006,688
2049 36,928,354 12,863,637
2048 36,332,040 12,712,671
2047 35,717,466 12,566,944
2046 35,099,651 12,411,042
2045 34,484,520 12,254,651
2044 33,855,018 12,088,895
2043 33,240,675 11,928,393
2042 32,629,513 11,767,372
2041 32,012,581 11,599,942
2040 31,395,572 11,428,331
2039 30,775,878 11,259,845
2038 30,160,239 11,097,180
2037 29,521,489 10,928,754
2036 28,890,318 10,757,928
2035 28,261,909 10,582,918
2034 27,637,439 10,411,088
2033 27,012,311 10,238,503
2032 26,398,409 10,059,929
2031 25,790,366 9,881,109
2030 25,176,420 9,705,485
2029 24,561,210 9,529,493
2028 23,962,931 9,358,412
2027 23,369,575 9,177,288
2026 22,786,713 8,998,902
2025 22,216,120 8,819,794
2024 21,655,286 8,642,022
2023 21,104,482 8,460,512
2022 20,568,728 8,276,807
2021 20,047,258 8,094,602
2020 19,533,888 7,912,558
2019 19,025,752 7,731,991
2018 18,528,081 7,554,563
2017 18,039,715 7,379,299
2016 17,557,739 7,205,328
2015 17,085,587 7,037,655
2014 16,621,538 6,876,385
2013 16,161,816 6,714,051
2012 15,709,577 6,551,080
2011 15,265,022 6,387,251
2010 14,826,463 6,222,714
2009 14,395,788 6,055,646
2008 13,976,417 5,894,722
2007 13,576,343 5,749,352
2006 13,198,701 5,624,466
2005 12,840,031 5,501,712
2004 12,500,737 5,355,717
2003 12,181,574 5,177,687
2002 11,880,440 4,971,435
2001 11,593,058 4,692,716
2000 11,315,942 4,423,611
1999 11,047,804 4,318,043
1998 10,792,876 4,295,785
1997 10,562,035 4,253,716
1996 10,352,228 4,199,210
1995 10,150,117 4,179,179
1994 10,164,894 4,173,105
1993 10,284,024 4,157,130
1992 10,135,079 4,166,366
1991 9,844,227 4,246,267
1990 9,545,852 4,196,828
1989 9,176,220 4,034,037
1988 8,753,262 3,934,517
1987 8,293,174 3,829,718
1986 7,906,480 3,728,380
1985 7,620,508 3,638,438
1984 7,332,810 3,558,758
1983 7,051,709 3,481,646
1982 6,778,879 3,408,183
1981 6,516,454 3,338,940
1980 6,265,529 3,272,089
1979 6,028,749 3,207,499
1978 5,810,132 3,145,517
1977 5,614,983 3,085,354
1976 5,443,384 3,028,820
1975 5,287,367 2,974,657
1974 5,141,337 2,920,459
1973 5,003,938 2,866,955
1972 4,874,475 2,814,388
1971 4,751,434 2,763,222
1970 4,633,944 2,712,286
1969 4,521,184 2,661,365
1968 4,411,054 2,611,532
1967 4,303,012 2,562,384
1966 4,197,926 2,514,638
1965 4,096,157 2,468,666
1964 3,997,305 2,424,390
1963 3,900,506 2,382,258
1962 3,806,307 2,342,242
1961 3,715,534 2,304,227
1960 3,628,134 2,268,356

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/sierra-leone | CC BY

From 2006 to 2016, the population of Malawi increased by 4,359,038 people (a 33% growth), while Sierra Leone gained 1,580,862 people (a 28.1% growth).

For the next 10 years, from 2016 to 2026, Malawi gained 5,528,367 people (a 31.5% growth), while Sierra Leone's population increased by 1,885,203 people (a 26.2% growth).

Malawi was ranked 69th most populous country in 2006 and is 61st in 2026. Sierra Leone was ranked 105th in 2006 and ranked 100th 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 Sierra Leone will increase by 43.1% to 13,006,688 people and rank change from 100th to 91st.

Malawi is projected to reach its peak in 2100 at 59.8M people compared to the peak of 16.2M people in 2093 for Sierra Leone.

Population growth rate by year

Malawi
Factual

Projection
Sierra Leone
Factual

Projection
1x
Year Growth rate
Malawi Sierra Leone
2100 0.43% -0.09%
2099 0.43% -0.08%
2098 0.42% -0.09%
2097 0.45% -0.07%
2096 0.43% -0.05%
2095 0.46% 0.002%
2094 0.47% -0.03%
2093 0.51% 0.02%
2092 0.52% 0.04%
2091 0.55% 0.06%
2090 0.57% 0.07%
2089 0.61% 0.09%
2088 0.61% 0.1%
2087 0.62% 0.17%
2086 0.65% 0.13%
2085 0.64% 0.15%
2084 0.72% 0.21%
2083 0.74% 0.23%
2082 0.76% 0.25%
2081 0.79% 0.24%
2080 0.8% 0.26%
2079 0.81% 0.31%
2078 0.88% 0.32%
2077 0.9% 0.35%
2076 0.9% 0.38%
2075 0.9% 0.35%
2074 0.91% 0.44%
2073 0.92% 0.45%
2072 0.98% 0.47%
2071 1% 0.51%
2070 1.03% 0.53%
2069 1.07% 0.59%
2068 1.09% 0.64%
2067 1.12% 0.65%
2066 1.13% 0.66%
2065 1.15% 0.66%
2064 1.16% 0.67%
2063 1.21% 0.77%
2062 1.28% 0.73%
2061 1.31% 0.79%
2060 1.38% 0.79%
2059 1.35% 0.84%
2058 1.4% 0.86%
2057 1.4% 0.9%
2056 1.48% 0.95%
2055 1.48% 0.93%
2054 1.57% 1.01%
2053 1.58% 1.06%
2052 1.61% 1.12%
2051 1.62% 1.12%
2050 1.65% 1.11%
2049 1.64% 1.19%
2048 1.72% 1.16%
2047 1.76% 1.26%
2046 1.78% 1.28%
2045 1.86% 1.37%
2044 1.85% 1.35%
2043 1.87% 1.37%
2042 1.93% 1.44%
2041 1.97% 1.5%
2040 2.01% 1.5%
2039 2.04% 1.47%
2038 2.16% 1.54%
2037 2.18% 1.59%
2036 2.22% 1.65%
2035 2.26% 1.65%
2034 2.31% 1.69%
2033 2.33% 1.78%
2032 2.36% 1.81%
2031 2.44% 1.81%
2030 2.5% 1.85%
2029 2.5% 1.83%
2028 2.54% 1.97%
2027 2.56% 1.98%
2026 2.57% 2.03%
2025 2.59% 2.06%
2024 2.61% 2.15%
2023 2.6% 2.22%
2022 2.6% 2.25%
2021 2.63% 2.3%
2020 2.67% 2.34%
2019 2.69% 2.35%
2018 2.71% 2.38%
2017 2.75% 2.41%
2016 2.76% 2.38%
2015 2.79% 2.35%
2014 2.84% 2.42%
2013 2.88% 2.49%
2012 2.91% 2.56%
2011 2.96% 2.64%
2010 2.99% 2.76%
2009 3% 2.73%
2008 2.95% 2.53%
2007 2.86% 2.22%
2006 2.79% 2.23%
2005 2.71% 2.73%
2004 2.62% 3.44%
2003 2.53% 4.15%
2002 2.48% 5.94%
2001 2.45% 6.08%
2000 2.43% 2.44%
1999 2.36% 0.52%
1998 2.19% 0.99%
1997 2.03% 1.3%
1996 1.99% 0.48%
1995 -0.15% 0.15%
1994 -1.16% 0.38%
1993 1.47% -0.22%
1992 2.95% -1.88%
1991 3.13% 1.18%
1990 4.03% 4.04%
1989 4.83% 2.53%
1988 5.55% 2.74%
1987 4.89% 2.72%
1986 3.75% 2.47%
1985 3.92% 2.24%
1984 3.99% 2.21%
1983 4.02% 2.16%
1982 4.03% 2.07%
1981 4% 2.04%
1980 3.93% 2.01%
1979 3.76% 1.97%
1978 3.48% 1.95%
1977 3.15% 1.87%
1976 2.95% 1.82%
1975 2.84% 1.86%
1974 2.75% 1.87%
1973 2.66% 1.87%
1972 2.59% 1.85%
1971 2.54% 1.88%
1970 2.49% 1.91%
1969 2.5% 1.91%
1968 2.51% 1.92%
1967 2.5% 1.9%
1966 2.48% 1.86%
1965 2.47% 1.83%
1964 2.48% 1.77%
1963 2.47% 1.71%
1962 2.44% 1.65%
1961 2.41% 1.58%

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/sierra-leone | CC BY

In 2025, the population of Malawi grew by 2.59%, while Sierra Leone's population grew by 2.06%.

Live population counters

Malawi Sierra Leone
Current population
23086106
9090531
Population rank 61/197 100/197
Percent of world population 0.28% 0.11%
One net population change
56.4 seconds
2.96 minutes
One birth every
46.8 seconds
2.02 minutes
One death every
4.59 minutes
7.41 minutes
Daily growth/decline +1,537 +487
Annual growth/decline +560,834 +177,772
Annual growth/decline rate +2.59% +2.06%
Population growth rate rank 23/197 47/197
One migration net change every
1.56 hours
46.6 minutes
Annual migration change -5,628 -11,309
Net migration rank 118/196 136/196
Foreign-born residents 186,719 49,997
Foreign-born residents rank 117/195 151/195
Foreign-born share of population 0.9% 0.6%
Foreign-born share rank 158/195 174/195

Natural population change vs migration

Malawi
Natural

Migration
Sierra Leone
Natural

Migration
1x
Year Population change
Malawi Sierra Leone
Natural Migration Natural Migration
2025 - -5,628 - -11,309
2024 559,811 -1,507 189,234 -11,000
2023 549,096 -5,811 188,788 -4,000
2022 533,450 -5,231 186,625 -4,000
2021 517,400 -2,666 183,326 -1,544
2020 514,659 -2,655 181,015 1,292
2019 506,104 -1,837 181,068 -2,238
2018 494,348 -3,267 178,772 -2,741
2017 484,655 982 173,259 1,234
2016 474,779 3,505 168,784 4,657
2015 472,484 -6,471 162,275 -356
2014 472,418 -10,317 160,137 485
2013 470,293 -12,934 161,265 2,773
2012 460,684 -13,561 160,915 988
2011 454,149 -12,170 158,858 6,895
2010 444,468 -9,327 155,338 7,983
2009 434,811 -8,590 152,669 18,145
2008 421,781 -9,264 149,855 1,182
2007 410,290 -22,680 145,740 -6,042
2006 397,123 -29,450 144,127 -34,052
2005 381,130 -31,462 137,234 -1,805
2004 361,133 -32,221 132,661 23,897
2003 341,133 -31,729 130,312 69,185
2002 322,863 -30,013 126,429 86,578
2001 310,833 -28,933 116,647 227,791
2000 300,439 -28,098 110,754 83,013
1999 295,629 -31,686 102,295 -84,926
1998 285,407 -39,491 103,906 -76,766
1997 277,433 -61,646 105,433 -48,437
1996 270,048 -66,212 104,140 -52,110
1995 266,745 -66,366 100,885 -112,857
1994 275,439 -505,365 101,486 -77,371
1993 276,538 -284,867 103,317 -95,476
1992 269,066 37,142 103,251 -129,565
1991 260,193 15,291 105,477 -238,965
1990 250,159 71,111 100,778 131,587
1989 237,967 180,031 98,298 -5,079
1988 226,911 201,011 96,344 9,470
1987 220,566 271,693 94,235 9,558
1986 218,519 62,615 90,902 7,992
1985 216,179 74,625 88,869 -7,873
1984 212,146 72,435 87,072 -8,708
1983 209,422 68,197 84,628 -8,783
1982 205,386 62,661 82,457 -11,379
1981 199,436 57,376 80,111 -12,699
1980 192,746 52,294 77,932 -11,641
1979 182,123 46,388 75,992 -13,095
1978 172,503 36,225 74,130 -13,073
1977 161,930 19,638 71,663 -12,399
1976 153,422 8,206 69,506 -15,686
1975 145,254 5,162 67,560 -13,058
1974 137,819 3,833 65,357 -11,473
1973 131,529 1,623 62,443 -9,322
1972 125,728 48 60,279 -8,267
1971 121,015 -710 58,484 -8,162
1970 116,822 -2,147 56,513 -4,957
1969 113,120 -2,266 54,768 -4,485
1968 110,329 -924 53,126 -3,743
1967 106,668 0 51,734 -2,819
1966 103,512 0 49,486 -2,911
1965 100,040 0 47,223 -1,851
1964 97,658 0 45,487 -2,308
1963 95,933 0 43,569 -2,480
1962 92,463 0 41,603 -2,658
1961 89,091 0 40,022 -2,947
1960 85,718 0 38,192 -3,528

Data sources: World Bank | Health (1960–2025, retrieved 2026-07-08).

GeoRank.org/population/malawi/sierra-leone | 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 Sierra Leone 99% is from natural causes (a gain of 1,793,146 people) and 1.03% is from migration (a loss of 18,696 people).

As of 2024, 186,719 residents or 0.9% of the population were not native-born in Malawi, compared to 49,997 people or 0.6% in Sierra Leone.

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
Sierra Leone
City Population
Freetown 951K
Bo 234K
Kenema 188K

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/sierra-leone | 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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