Skip to content

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

Updated on by Georank team

The latest officially reported population of Malawi was 21,655,286 in 2024 vs 8,642,022 people in Sierra Leone in 2024. In 2026, based on the adjusted UN estimation, the current Malawi's population is 22,949,294 people compared to 9,049,533 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 101st.
  • 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 +2.7% per year vs +2.32% in Sierra Leone.
  • Since 2006, the population of Malawi has increased from 13.2M people to 22.9M (73.9% growth), while Sierra Leone has grown from 5.62M to 9.05M (60.9% growth).

Malawi vs Sierra Leone: population by year and forecast

Malawi
Factual

Projection
Sierra Leone
Factual

Projection
1x
Year Population
Malawi Sierra Leone
2100 59,786,744 16,111,324
2099 59,528,389 16,126,181
2098 59,275,876 16,139,280
2097 59,028,312 16,154,153
2096 58,761,888 16,164,923
2095 58,508,246 16,173,557
2094 58,240,422 16,173,155
2093 57,966,788 16,177,864
2092 57,672,738 16,175,032
2091 57,377,090 16,168,153
2090 57,060,476 16,158,415
2089 56,739,410 16,146,773
2088 56,397,330 16,133,018
2087 56,053,671 16,116,823
2086 55,706,928 16,089,780
2085 55,348,708 16,068,438
2084 54,997,097 16,044,782
2083 54,605,058 16,011,134
2082 54,206,477 15,975,073
2081 53,795,317 15,935,071
2080 53,372,779 15,896,846
2079 52,948,243 15,854,898
2078 52,521,908 15,805,607
2077 52,063,931 15,754,551
2076 51,600,404 15,699,439
2075 51,141,728 15,639,458
2074 50,684,368 15,584,377
2073 50,229,762 15,516,736
2072 49,769,904 15,446,543
2071 49,287,139 15,374,790
2070 48,797,935 15,297,449
2069 48,301,644 15,216,666
2068 47,792,308 15,128,048
2067 47,277,473 15,032,144
2066 46,752,024 14,935,222
2065 46,228,139 14,837,697
2064 45,701,844 14,740,749
2063 45,179,322 14,642,031
2062 44,638,764 14,529,557
2061 44,076,711 14,423,861
2060 43,508,702 14,311,215
2059 42,916,694 14,198,706
2058 42,344,863 14,080,827
2057 41,762,060 13,960,869
2056 41,184,161 13,836,132
2055 40,584,950 13,706,113
2054 39,994,696 13,579,802
2053 39,377,622 13,444,465
2052 38,766,890 13,303,409
2051 38,153,322 13,156,370
2050 37,545,865 13,010,109
2049 36,936,275 12,867,021
2048 36,339,833 12,716,015
2047 35,725,127 12,570,250
2046 35,107,179 12,414,307
2045 34,491,916 12,257,874
2044 33,862,279 12,092,075
2043 33,247,804 11,931,531
2042 32,636,511 11,770,467
2041 32,019,447 11,602,993
2040 31,402,305 11,431,337
2039 30,782,479 11,262,807
2038 30,166,708 11,100,099
2037 29,527,821 10,931,629
2036 28,896,515 10,760,758
2035 28,267,970 10,585,702
2034 27,643,367 10,413,826
2033 27,018,105 10,241,196
2032 26,404,071 10,062,575
2031 25,795,897 9,883,708
2030 25,181,820 9,708,038
2029 24,566,478 9,532,000
2028 23,968,071 9,360,873
2027 23,374,588 9,179,702
2026 22,791,601 9,001,269
2025 22,220,885 8,822,114
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 (2025–2100, retrieved 2026-03-10); World Bank | Health (1960–2024, retrieved 2026-04-06).

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 5,391,555 people (a 30.7% growth), while Sierra Leone's population increased by 1,844,205 people (a 25.6% growth).

Malawi was ranked 69th most populous country in 2006 and is 61st in 2026. Sierra Leone was ranked 106th in 2006 and ranked 101st 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 Sierra Leone will increase by 43.8% to 13,010,109 people and rank change from 101st 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 2.61% 2.08%
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 (2025–2100, retrieved 2026-03-10); World Bank | Health (1961–2024, retrieved 2026-04-06).

GeoRank.org/population/malawi/sierra-leone | CC BY

In 2024, the population of Malawi grew by 2.61%, while Sierra Leone's population grew by 2.15%.

Live population counters

Malawi Sierra Leone
Current population
22949294
9049533
Population rank 61/197 101/197
Percent of world population 0.28% 0.11%
One net population change
57.3 seconds
2.9 minutes
One birth every
47.6 seconds
2.03 minutes
One death every
4.64 minutes
7.5 minutes
Daily growth/decline +1,509 +497
Annual growth/decline +550,804 +181,510
Annual growth/decline rate +2.61% +2.15%
Population growth rate rank 26/197 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 - -1,507 - -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 2026-04-06).

GeoRank.org/population/malawi/sierra-leone | 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 Sierra Leone 99.6% is from natural causes (a gain of 1,764,049 people) and 0.41% is from migration (a loss of 7,211 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
Blantyre 800K
Mzuzu 150K
Zomba 101K
Mangochi 53.5K
Mzimba 26.1K
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 (1960–2024, 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/sierra-leone | CC BY

Help us show the world through your eyes

Share a photo of your city and help others discover what it looks like to live there. Your contribution makes our data come alive.

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)

Creative Commons Attribution (CC BY) — you’re free to copy, share, remix, adapt, and use even commercially as long as you give appropriate credit and clearly indicate if you made changes. Other sources may be subject to different license terms.