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

Updated on by Georank

The latest officially reported population of Malawi was 22,216,120 in 2025 vs 19,654,739 people in Somalia in 2025. In 2026, based on the adjusted UN estimation, the current Malawi's population is 23,086,106 people compared to 20,653,532 in Somalia.

Population statistics:

  • Malawi's population is 1.12 times bigger than Somalia's.
  • Malawi is ranked the 61st most populous country in the world, while Somalia is the 66th.
  • The countries together account for 0.53% of the world: 0.28% for Malawi vs 0.25% for Somalia.
  • For the last 10 years, Malawi has had an average growth rate of +2.67% per year vs +3.59% in Somalia.
  • Since 2006, the population of Malawi has increased from 13.2M people to 23.1M (74.9% growth), while Somalia has grown from 11M to 20.7M (88.2% growth).

Malawi vs Somalia: population by year and forecast

Malawi
Factual

Projection
Somalia
Factual

Projection
1x
Year Population
Malawi Somalia
2100 59,773,923 68,341,587
2099 59,515,624 67,997,987
2098 59,263,165 67,660,056
2097 59,015,654 67,320,374
2096 58,749,288 66,931,214
2095 58,495,699 66,544,181
2094 58,227,933 66,138,594
2093 57,954,358 65,719,626
2092 57,660,371 65,283,569
2091 57,364,786 64,812,444
2090 57,048,240 64,322,633
2089 56,727,243 63,882,977
2088 56,385,237 63,424,502
2087 56,041,651 62,947,792
2086 55,694,983 62,408,129
2085 55,336,839 61,835,054
2084 54,985,304 61,280,718
2083 54,593,349 60,723,949
2082 54,194,853 60,150,487
2081 53,783,781 59,639,547
2080 53,361,334 59,064,099
2079 52,936,889 58,441,001
2078 52,510,645 57,816,490
2077 52,052,767 57,176,183
2076 51,589,339 56,567,204
2075 51,130,762 55,970,712
2074 50,673,499 55,295,699
2073 50,218,991 54,617,874
2072 49,759,232 53,944,923
2071 49,276,570 53,250,824
2070 48,787,471 52,540,460
2069 48,291,287 51,845,897
2068 47,782,059 51,165,760
2067 47,267,335 50,461,574
2066 46,741,998 49,748,163
2065 46,218,226 48,994,126
2064 45,692,044 48,235,809
2063 45,169,634 47,492,758
2062 44,629,192 46,756,776
2061 44,067,259 46,008,848
2060 43,499,372 45,192,338
2059 42,907,491 44,370,279
2058 42,335,782 43,631,825
2057 41,753,105 42,870,700
2056 41,175,330 42,095,303
2055 40,576,247 41,292,441
2054 39,986,120 40,487,904
2053 39,369,178 39,720,236
2052 38,758,577 38,967,888
2051 38,145,141 38,205,058
2050 37,537,814 37,448,393
2049 36,928,354 36,717,019
2048 36,332,040 35,962,583
2047 35,717,466 35,196,924
2046 35,099,651 34,440,935
2045 34,484,520 33,696,593
2044 33,855,018 32,957,131
2043 33,240,675 32,227,622
2042 32,629,513 31,517,627
2041 32,012,581 30,775,671
2040 31,395,572 30,013,616
2039 30,775,878 29,294,623
2038 30,160,239 28,565,580
2037 29,521,489 27,821,304
2036 28,890,318 27,097,563
2035 28,261,909 26,368,985
2034 27,637,439 25,671,628
2033 27,012,311 25,002,924
2032 26,398,409 24,323,435
2031 25,790,366 23,642,617
2030 25,176,420 22,951,436
2029 24,561,210 22,285,719
2028 23,962,931 21,638,095
2027 23,369,575 20,978,784
2026 22,786,713 20,310,008
2025 22,216,120 19,654,739
2024 21,655,286 19,009,151
2023 21,104,482 18,358,615
2022 20,568,728 17,801,897
2021 20,047,258 17,271,431
2020 19,533,888 16,651,191
2019 19,025,752 16,030,971
2018 18,528,081 15,452,487
2017 18,039,715 14,916,629
2016 17,557,739 14,348,740
2015 17,085,587 13,806,963
2014 16,621,538 13,339,491
2013 16,161,816 12,869,594
2012 15,709,577 12,461,160
2011 15,265,022 12,348,830
2010 14,826,463 12,261,756
2009 14,395,788 11,961,201
2008 13,976,417 11,663,084
2007 13,576,343 11,322,582
2006 13,198,701 10,975,502
2005 12,840,031 10,644,228
2004 12,500,737 10,280,998
2003 12,181,574 9,909,157
2002 11,880,440 9,550,063
2001 11,593,058 9,198,493
2000 11,315,942 8,838,713
1999 11,047,804 8,492,059
1998 10,792,876 8,155,417
1997 10,562,035 7,824,525
1996 10,352,228 7,554,474
1995 10,150,117 7,285,007
1994 10,164,894 7,026,797
1993 10,284,024 6,681,399
1992 10,135,079 6,495,107
1991 9,844,227 6,813,760
1990 9,545,852 7,082,811
1989 9,176,220 7,114,817
1988 8,753,262 7,235,360
1987 8,293,174 7,228,302
1986 7,906,480 6,974,788
1985 7,620,508 6,693,289
1984 7,332,810 6,428,389
1983 7,051,709 6,198,430
1982 6,778,879 6,003,840
1981 6,516,454 5,982,849
1980 6,265,529 5,936,154
1979 6,028,749 5,449,117
1978 5,810,132 4,814,892
1977 5,614,983 4,484,050
1976 5,443,384 4,365,812
1975 5,287,367 4,257,535
1974 5,141,337 4,151,842
1973 5,003,938 4,045,592
1972 4,874,475 3,939,436
1971 4,751,434 3,837,691
1970 4,633,944 3,738,448
1969 4,521,184 3,641,015
1968 4,411,054 3,546,590
1967 4,303,012 3,454,537
1966 4,197,926 3,365,106
1965 4,096,157 3,277,874
1964 3,997,305 3,192,796
1963 3,900,506 3,110,361
1962 3,806,307 3,030,091
1961 3,715,534 2,952,054
1960 3,628,134 2,876,331

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/somalia | CC BY

From 2006 to 2016, the population of Malawi increased by 4,359,038 people (a 33% growth), while Somalia gained 3,373,238 people (a 30.7% growth).

For the next 10 years, from 2016 to 2026, Malawi gained 5,528,367 people (a 31.5% growth), while Somalia's population increased by 6,304,792 people (a 43.9% growth).

Malawi was ranked 69th most populous country in 2006 and is 61st in 2026. Somalia was ranked 75th in 2006 and ranked 66th 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 Somalia will increase by 81.3% to 37,448,393 people and rank change from 66th to 57th.

Malawi is projected to reach its peak in 2100 at 59.8M people compared to the peak of 68.3M people in 2100 for Somalia.

Population growth rate by year

Malawi
Factual

Projection
Somalia
Factual

Projection
1x
Year Growth rate
Malawi Somalia
2100 0.43% 0.51%
2099 0.43% 0.5%
2098 0.42% 0.5%
2097 0.45% 0.58%
2096 0.43% 0.58%
2095 0.46% 0.61%
2094 0.47% 0.64%
2093 0.51% 0.67%
2092 0.52% 0.73%
2091 0.55% 0.76%
2090 0.57% 0.69%
2089 0.61% 0.72%
2088 0.61% 0.76%
2087 0.62% 0.86%
2086 0.65% 0.93%
2085 0.64% 0.9%
2084 0.72% 0.92%
2083 0.74% 0.95%
2082 0.76% 0.86%
2081 0.79% 0.97%
2080 0.8% 1.07%
2079 0.81% 1.08%
2078 0.88% 1.12%
2077 0.9% 1.08%
2076 0.9% 1.07%
2075 0.9% 1.22%
2074 0.91% 1.24%
2073 0.92% 1.25%
2072 0.98% 1.3%
2071 1% 1.35%
2070 1.03% 1.34%
2069 1.07% 1.33%
2068 1.09% 1.4%
2067 1.12% 1.43%
2066 1.13% 1.54%
2065 1.15% 1.57%
2064 1.16% 1.56%
2063 1.21% 1.57%
2062 1.28% 1.63%
2061 1.31% 1.81%
2060 1.38% 1.85%
2059 1.35% 1.69%
2058 1.4% 1.78%
2057 1.4% 1.84%
2056 1.48% 1.94%
2055 1.48% 1.99%
2054 1.57% 1.93%
2053 1.58% 1.93%
2052 1.61% 2%
2051 1.62% 2.02%
2050 1.65% 1.99%
2049 1.64% 2.1%
2048 1.72% 2.18%
2047 1.76% 2.2%
2046 1.78% 2.21%
2045 1.86% 2.24%
2044 1.85% 2.26%
2043 1.87% 2.25%
2042 1.93% 2.41%
2041 1.97% 2.54%
2040 2.01% 2.45%
2039 2.04% 2.55%
2038 2.16% 2.68%
2037 2.18% 2.67%
2036 2.22% 2.76%
2035 2.26% 2.72%
2034 2.31% 2.67%
2033 2.33% 2.79%
2032 2.36% 2.88%
2031 2.44% 3.01%
2030 2.5% 2.99%
2029 2.5% 2.99%
2028 2.54% 3.14%
2027 2.56% 3.29%
2026 2.57% 3.33%
2025 2.59% 3.4%
2024 2.61% 3.54%
2023 2.6% 3.13%
2022 2.6% 3.07%
2021 2.63% 3.72%
2020 2.67% 3.87%
2019 2.69% 3.74%
2018 2.71% 3.59%
2017 2.75% 3.96%
2016 2.76% 3.92%
2015 2.79% 3.5%
2014 2.84% 3.65%
2013 2.88% 3.28%
2012 2.91% 0.91%
2011 2.96% 0.71%
2010 2.99% 2.51%
2009 3% 2.56%
2008 2.95% 3.01%
2007 2.86% 3.16%
2006 2.79% 3.11%
2005 2.71% 3.53%
2004 2.62% 3.75%
2003 2.53% 3.76%
2002 2.48% 3.82%
2001 2.45% 4.07%
2000 2.43% 4.08%
1999 2.36% 4.13%
1998 2.19% 4.23%
1997 2.03% 3.57%
1996 1.99% 3.7%
1995 -0.15% 3.67%
1994 -1.16% 5.17%
1993 1.47% 2.87%
1992 2.95% -4.68%
1991 3.13% -3.8%
1990 4.03% -0.45%
1989 4.83% -1.67%
1988 5.55% 0.1%
1987 4.89% 3.63%
1986 3.75% 4.21%
1985 3.92% 4.12%
1984 3.99% 3.71%
1983 4.02% 3.24%
1982 4.03% 0.35%
1981 4% 0.79%
1980 3.93% 8.94%
1979 3.76% 13.2%
1978 3.48% 7.38%
1977 3.15% 2.71%
1976 2.95% 2.54%
1975 2.84% 2.55%
1974 2.75% 2.63%
1973 2.66% 2.69%
1972 2.59% 2.65%
1971 2.54% 2.65%
1970 2.49% 2.68%
1969 2.5% 2.66%
1968 2.51% 2.66%
1967 2.5% 2.66%
1966 2.48% 2.66%
1965 2.47% 2.66%
1964 2.48% 2.65%
1963 2.47% 2.65%
1962 2.44% 2.64%
1961 2.41% 2.63%

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/somalia | CC BY

In 2025, the population of Malawi grew by 2.59%, while Somalia's population grew by 3.4%.

Live population counters

Malawi Somalia
Current population
23086106
20653532
Population rank 61/197 66/197
Percent of world population 0.28% 0.25%
One net population change
56.4 seconds
49 seconds
One birth every
46.8 seconds
39.2 seconds
One death every
4.59 minutes
2.84 minutes
Daily growth/decline +1,537 +1,769
Annual growth/decline +560,834 +645,588
Annual growth/decline rate +2.59% +3.4%
Population growth rate rank 23/197 8/197
One migration net change every
1.56 hours
43.6 minutes
Annual migration change -5,628 +12,077
Net migration rank 118/196 40/196
Foreign-born residents 186,719 77,972
Foreign-born residents rank 117/195 140/195
Foreign-born share of population 0.9% 0.4%
Foreign-born share rank 158/195 180/195

Natural population change vs migration

Malawi
Natural

Migration
Somalia
Natural

Migration
1x
Year Population change
Malawi Somalia
Natural Migration Natural Migration
2025 - -5,628 - 12,077
2024 559,811 -1,507 619,793 26,859
2023 549,096 -5,811 608,203 46,217
2022 533,450 -5,231 551,450 -92,434
2021 517,400 -2,666 566,399 35,506
2020 514,659 -2,655 561,311 77,259
2019 506,104 -1,837 548,756 53,124
2018 494,348 -3,267 514,244 40,844
2017 484,655 982 478,556 38,067
2016 474,779 3,505 495,132 124,017
2015 472,484 -6,471 481,573 -17,178
2014 472,418 -10,317 464,481 6,065
2013 470,293 -12,934 448,518 20,723
2012 460,684 -13,561 399,468 -51,833
2011 454,149 -12,170 203,213 -326,192
2010 444,468 -9,327 385,571 -88,448
2009 434,811 -8,590 405,784 -101,795
2008 421,781 -9,264 394,258 -102,035
2007 410,290 -22,680 380,303 8,476
2006 397,123 -29,450 372,597 -67,200
2005 381,130 -31,462 363,117 -5,955
2004 361,133 -32,221 351,959 17,353
2003 341,133 -31,729 341,192 33,174
2002 322,863 -30,013 331,215 12,603
2001 310,833 -28,933 319,059 40,274
2000 300,439 -28,098 306,651 53,580
1999 295,629 -31,686 295,523 37,548
1998 285,407 -39,491 284,779 55,426
1997 277,433 -61,646 271,894 49,692
1996 270,048 -66,212 264,807 -46,291
1995 266,745 -66,366 254,509 65,888
1994 275,439 -505,365 246,950 -50,921
1993 276,538 -284,867 232,960 261,815
1992 269,066 37,142 57,495 -179,675
1991 260,193 15,291 53,052 -568,166
1990 250,159 71,111 225,162 -248,155
1989 237,967 180,031 225,255 -266,281
1988 226,911 201,011 215,599 -415,660
1987 220,566 271,693 231,580 -17,391
1986 218,519 62,615 218,416 74,424
1985 216,179 74,625 207,960 62,183
1984 212,146 72,435 199,017 60,630
1983 209,422 68,197 190,775 9,505
1982 205,386 62,661 182,793 6,115
1981 199,436 57,376 185,211 -332,129
1980 192,746 52,294 174,790 65,519
1979 182,123 46,388 151,016 582,746
1978 172,503 36,225 132,689 402,005
1977 161,930 19,638 124,818 2,170
1976 153,422 8,206 113,319 -3,831
1975 145,254 5,162 108,998 -1,934
1974 137,819 3,833 104,813 -495
1973 131,529 1,623 108,038 143
1972 125,728 48 104,493 -351
1971 121,015 -710 101,196 -1,850
1970 116,822 -2,147 98,025 1,104
1969 113,120 -2,266 95,045 690
1968 110,329 -924 92,208 906
1967 106,668 0 89,497 1,498
1966 103,512 0 86,930 941
1965 100,040 0 84,448 2,142
1964 97,658 0 82,042 1,518
1963 95,933 0 79,859 1,449
1962 92,463 0 77,737 1,496
1961 89,091 0 75,513 1,336
1960 85,718 0 73,850 750

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

GeoRank.org/population/malawi/somalia | 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 Somalia 94.2% is from natural causes (a gain of 5,425,417 people) and 5.77% is from migration (a gain of 332,281 people).

As of 2024, 186,719 residents or 0.9% of the population were not native-born in Malawi, compared to 77,972 people or 0.4% in Somalia.

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
Somalia
City Population
Mogadishu 2.12M
Hargeisa 1.23M
Baidoa 1.2M
Borama 68.1K

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/somalia | 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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