The latest officially reported population of Malawi was 21,655,286 in 2024 vs 19,009,151 people in Somalia in 2024. In 2026, based on the adjusted UN estimation, the current Malawi's population is 22,949,294 people compared to 20,503,678 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 0.52% 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 +2.7% per year vs +3.61% in Somalia.
- Since 2006, the population of Malawi has increased from 13.2M people to 22.9M (73.9% growth), while Somalia has grown from 11M to 20.5M (86.8% growth).
Malawi vs Somalia: population by year and forecast
| Year | Population | |
|---|---|---|
Malawi
|
Somalia
|
|
| 2100 | 59,786,744 | 68,384,185 |
| 2099 | 59,528,389 | 68,040,371 |
| 2098 | 59,275,876 | 67,702,230 |
| 2097 | 59,028,312 | 67,362,336 |
| 2096 | 58,761,888 | 66,972,933 |
| 2095 | 58,508,246 | 66,585,659 |
| 2094 | 58,240,422 | 66,179,819 |
| 2093 | 57,966,788 | 65,760,590 |
| 2092 | 57,672,738 | 65,324,261 |
| 2091 | 57,377,090 | 64,852,843 |
| 2090 | 57,060,476 | 64,362,727 |
| 2089 | 56,739,410 | 63,922,797 |
| 2088 | 56,397,330 | 63,464,036 |
| 2087 | 56,053,671 | 62,987,028 |
| 2086 | 55,706,928 | 62,447,029 |
| 2085 | 55,348,708 | 61,873,597 |
| 2084 | 54,997,097 | 61,318,916 |
| 2083 | 54,605,058 | 60,761,800 |
| 2082 | 54,206,477 | 60,187,980 |
| 2081 | 53,795,317 | 59,676,722 |
| 2080 | 53,372,779 | 59,100,915 |
| 2079 | 52,948,243 | 58,477,428 |
| 2078 | 52,521,908 | 57,852,528 |
| 2077 | 52,063,931 | 57,211,821 |
| 2076 | 51,600,404 | 56,602,463 |
| 2075 | 51,141,728 | 56,005,600 |
| 2074 | 50,684,368 | 55,330,165 |
| 2073 | 50,229,762 | 54,651,918 |
| 2072 | 49,769,904 | 53,978,548 |
| 2071 | 49,287,139 | 53,284,016 |
| 2070 | 48,797,935 | 52,573,210 |
| 2069 | 48,301,644 | 51,878,214 |
| 2068 | 47,792,308 | 51,197,653 |
| 2067 | 47,277,473 | 50,493,028 |
| 2066 | 46,752,024 | 49,779,172 |
| 2065 | 46,228,139 | 49,024,665 |
| 2064 | 45,701,844 | 48,265,876 |
| 2063 | 45,179,322 | 47,522,361 |
| 2062 | 44,638,764 | 46,785,920 |
| 2061 | 44,076,711 | 46,037,526 |
| 2060 | 43,508,702 | 45,220,507 |
| 2059 | 42,916,694 | 44,397,936 |
| 2058 | 42,344,863 | 43,659,021 |
| 2057 | 41,762,060 | 42,897,422 |
| 2056 | 41,184,161 | 42,121,542 |
| 2055 | 40,584,950 | 41,318,179 |
| 2054 | 39,994,696 | 40,513,141 |
| 2053 | 39,377,622 | 39,744,995 |
| 2052 | 38,766,890 | 38,992,177 |
| 2051 | 38,153,322 | 38,228,872 |
| 2050 | 37,545,865 | 37,471,735 |
| 2049 | 36,936,275 | 36,739,905 |
| 2048 | 36,339,833 | 35,984,999 |
| 2047 | 35,725,127 | 35,218,863 |
| 2046 | 35,107,179 | 34,462,403 |
| 2045 | 34,491,916 | 33,717,596 |
| 2044 | 33,862,279 | 32,977,674 |
| 2043 | 33,247,804 | 32,247,710 |
| 2042 | 32,636,511 | 31,537,272 |
| 2041 | 32,019,447 | 30,794,853 |
| 2040 | 31,402,305 | 30,032,324 |
| 2039 | 30,782,479 | 29,312,883 |
| 2038 | 30,166,708 | 28,583,386 |
| 2037 | 29,527,821 | 27,838,646 |
| 2036 | 28,896,515 | 27,114,453 |
| 2035 | 28,267,970 | 26,385,421 |
| 2034 | 27,643,367 | 25,687,629 |
| 2033 | 27,018,105 | 25,018,509 |
| 2032 | 26,404,071 | 24,338,597 |
| 2031 | 25,795,897 | 23,657,353 |
| 2030 | 25,181,820 | 22,965,742 |
| 2029 | 24,566,478 | 22,299,610 |
| 2028 | 23,968,071 | 21,651,582 |
| 2027 | 23,374,588 | 20,991,860 |
| 2026 | 22,791,601 | 20,322,668 |
| 2025 | 22,220,885 | 19,666,990 |
| 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 (2025–2100, retrieved 2026-03-10); World Bank | Health (1960–2024, retrieved 2026-04-06).
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 5,391,555 people (a 30.7% growth), while Somalia's population increased by 6,154,938 people (a 42.9% 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 63.6% to 37,545,865 people with a rank change from 61st to 55th. The population of Somalia will increase by 82.8% to 37,471,735 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 68.4M people in 2100 for Somalia.
Population growth rate by year
| 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 | 2.61% | 3.46% |
| 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 (2025–2100, retrieved 2026-03-10); World Bank | Health (1961–2024, retrieved 2026-04-06).
GeoRank.org/population/malawi/somalia | CC BY
In 2024, the population of Malawi grew by 2.61%, while Somalia's population grew by 3.54%.
Live population counters
|
Malawi
|
Somalia
|
|
|---|---|---|
| Current population |
22949294
|
20503678
|
| Population rank | 61/197 | 66/197 |
| Percent of world population | 0.28% | 0.25% |
| One net population change |
57.3 seconds
|
48.5 seconds
|
| One birth every |
47.6 seconds
|
40 seconds
|
| One death every |
4.64 minutes
|
2.91 minutes
|
| Daily growth/decline | +1,509 | +1,782 |
| Annual growth/decline | +550,804 | +650,536 |
| Annual growth/decline rate | +2.61% | +3.54% |
| Population growth rate rank | 26/197 | 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
| Year | Population change | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|
|
Malawi
|
Somalia
|
|||
| Natural | Migration | Natural | Migration | |
| 2025 | - | -5,628 | - | 12,077 |
| 2024 | - | -1,507 | - | 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 2026-04-06).
GeoRank.org/population/malawi/somalia | 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 Somalia 94.4% is from natural causes (a gain of 5,270,105 people) and 5.58% is from migration (a gain of 311,487 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
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Population differences between Malawi and Somalia
|
Malawi
|
Somalia
|
|
|---|---|---|
| Life expectancy | 67.9 years | 59.3 years |
| Average age | 22.8 years | 21.2 years |
| Median age | 18.9 years | 16.6 years |
| Male:Female ratio | 48.8:51.2 | 50.1:49.9 |
| Fertility rate | 3.65 births per woman | 6.13 births per woman |
| Population density | 626 ppl/mi² | 83.9 ppl/mi² |
Population map with other countries
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/somalia | CC BY
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Data sources:
- World Bank | Health (1960–2025, retrieved 2026-04-06)
- United Nations | World Population Prospects (1960–2100, retrieved 2026-03-10)
- U.S. Census Bureau (1960–2025, retrieved 2026-02-08)
- Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) (2000–2019, retrieved 2026-02-20)
- Wikidata (2026, retrieved 2026-02-08)
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