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Population in Malawi compared to South Africa: Trends, Charts, Rankings

Updated on by Georank team

The latest officially reported population of Malawi was 21,655,286 in 2024 vs 64,007,187 people in South Africa in 2024. In 2026, based on the adjusted UN estimation, the current Malawi's population is 22,949,294 people compared to 65,683,993 in South Africa.

Population statistics:

  • South Africa's population is 2.86 times bigger than Malawi's.
  • Malawi is ranked the 61st most populous country in the world, while South Africa is the 24th.
  • The countries together account for 1.07% of the world: 0.28% for Malawi vs 0.79% for South Africa.
  • For the last 10 years, Malawi has had an average growth rate of +2.7% per year vs +1.44% in South Africa.
  • Since 2006, the population of Malawi has increased from 13.2M people to 22.9M (73.9% growth), while South Africa has grown from 50M to 65.7M (31.4% growth).

Malawi vs South Africa: population by year and forecast

Malawi
Factual

Projection
South Africa
Factual

Projection
1x
Year Population
Malawi South Africa
2100 59,786,744 94,767,727
2099 59,528,389 94,556,931
2098 59,275,876 94,349,546
2097 59,028,312 94,158,472
2096 58,761,888 93,960,605
2095 58,508,246 93,752,736
2094 58,240,422 93,527,902
2093 57,966,788 93,300,398
2092 57,672,738 93,074,837
2091 57,377,090 92,826,204
2090 57,060,476 92,594,033
2089 56,739,410 92,355,184
2088 56,397,330 92,112,914
2087 56,053,671 91,866,024
2086 55,706,928 91,614,165
2085 55,348,708 91,385,350
2084 54,997,097 91,139,318
2083 54,605,058 90,877,425
2082 54,206,477 90,615,359
2081 53,795,317 90,345,492
2080 53,372,779 90,071,835
2079 52,948,243 89,801,998
2078 52,521,908 89,526,224
2077 52,063,931 89,249,206
2076 51,600,404 88,986,114
2075 51,141,728 88,713,215
2074 50,684,368 88,428,616
2073 50,229,762 88,149,885
2072 49,769,904 87,866,246
2071 49,287,139 87,540,177
2070 48,797,935 87,209,425
2069 48,301,644 86,901,512
2068 47,792,308 86,588,742
2067 47,277,473 86,268,392
2066 46,752,024 85,935,310
2065 46,228,139 85,604,376
2064 45,701,844 85,244,950
2063 45,179,322 84,875,503
2062 44,638,764 84,503,237
2061 44,076,711 84,132,885
2060 43,508,702 83,748,999
2059 42,916,694 83,354,923
2058 42,344,863 82,947,675
2057 41,762,060 82,538,045
2056 41,184,161 82,127,477
2055 40,584,950 81,698,196
2054 39,994,696 81,255,867
2053 39,377,622 80,818,632
2052 38,766,890 80,367,409
2051 38,153,322 79,886,672
2050 37,545,865 79,411,977
2049 36,936,275 78,925,493
2048 36,339,833 78,437,677
2047 35,725,127 77,922,211
2046 35,107,179 77,397,298
2045 34,491,916 76,879,838
2044 33,862,279 76,357,155
2043 33,247,804 75,827,709
2042 32,636,511 75,291,615
2041 32,019,447 74,748,408
2040 31,402,305 74,205,530
2039 30,782,479 73,663,047
2038 30,166,708 73,105,930
2037 29,527,821 72,532,742
2036 28,896,515 71,956,247
2035 28,267,970 71,362,555
2034 27,643,367 70,762,815
2033 27,018,105 70,153,205
2032 26,404,071 69,527,410
2031 25,795,897 68,890,002
2030 25,181,820 68,245,372
2029 24,566,478 67,573,179
2028 23,968,071 66,884,377
2027 23,374,588 66,190,258
2026 22,791,601 65,496,277
2025 22,220,885 64,770,314
2024 21,655,286 64,007,187
2023 21,104,482 63,212,384
2022 20,568,728 62,378,410
2021 20,047,258 61,502,603
2020 19,533,888 60,562,381
2019 19,025,752 59,587,885
2018 18,528,081 58,613,001
2017 18,039,715 57,635,162
2016 17,557,739 57,259,551
2015 17,085,587 56,723,537
2014 16,621,538 55,594,838
2013 16,161,816 54,678,791
2012 15,709,577 53,782,567
2011 15,265,022 52,995,205
2010 14,826,463 52,344,051
2009 14,395,788 51,728,516
2008 13,976,417 51,114,599
2007 13,576,343 50,528,584
2006 13,198,701 49,998,277
2005 12,840,031 49,490,033
2004 12,500,737 48,991,421
2003 12,181,574 48,500,348
2002 11,880,440 48,019,415
2001 11,593,058 47,566,800
2000 11,315,942 47,159,719
1999 11,047,804 46,730,335
1998 10,792,876 46,223,880
1997 10,562,035 45,666,838
1996 10,352,228 45,123,018
1995 10,150,117 44,541,554
1994 10,164,894 44,004,139
1993 10,284,024 43,297,156
1992 10,135,079 42,443,509
1991 9,844,227 41,687,898
1990 9,545,852 40,746,268
1989 9,176,220 39,628,575
1988 8,753,262 38,480,649
1987 8,293,174 37,326,190
1986 7,906,480 36,180,515
1985 7,620,508 35,042,093
1984 7,332,810 33,892,788
1983 7,051,709 32,739,304
1982 6,778,879 31,615,339
1981 6,516,454 30,541,044
1980 6,265,529 29,518,857
1979 6,028,749 28,634,162
1978 5,810,132 27,869,507
1977 5,614,983 27,118,952
1976 5,443,384 26,395,450
1975 5,287,367 25,690,940
1974 5,141,337 24,989,108
1973 5,003,938 24,294,263
1972 4,874,475 23,609,456
1971 4,751,434 22,942,143
1970 4,633,944 22,279,984
1969 4,521,184 21,614,676
1968 4,411,054 20,957,287
1967 4,303,012 20,314,066
1966 4,197,926 19,690,087
1965 4,096,157 19,089,380
1964 3,997,305 18,511,361
1963 3,900,506 17,954,564
1962 3,806,307 17,418,522
1961 3,715,534 16,908,035
1960 3,628,134 16,440,172

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/south-africa | CC BY

From 2006 to 2016, the population of Malawi increased by 4,359,038 people (a 33% growth), while South Africa gained 7,261,274 people (a 14.5% growth).

For the next 10 years, from 2016 to 2026, Malawi gained 5,391,555 people (a 30.7% growth), while South Africa's population increased by 8,424,442 people (a 14.7% growth).

Malawi was ranked 69th most populous country in 2006 and is 61st in 2026. South Africa was ranked 24th in 2006 and still ranked 24th 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 South Africa will increase by 20.9% to 79,411,977 people and rank change from 24th to 23rd.

Malawi is projected to reach its peak in 2100 at 59.8M people compared to the peak of 94.8M people in 2100 for South Africa.

Population growth rate by year

Malawi
Factual

Projection
South Africa
Factual

Projection
1x
Year Growth rate
Malawi South Africa
2100 0.43% 0.22%
2099 0.43% 0.22%
2098 0.42% 0.2%
2097 0.45% 0.21%
2096 0.43% 0.22%
2095 0.46% 0.24%
2094 0.47% 0.24%
2093 0.51% 0.24%
2092 0.52% 0.27%
2091 0.55% 0.25%
2090 0.57% 0.26%
2089 0.61% 0.26%
2088 0.61% 0.27%
2087 0.62% 0.27%
2086 0.65% 0.25%
2085 0.64% 0.27%
2084 0.72% 0.29%
2083 0.74% 0.29%
2082 0.76% 0.3%
2081 0.79% 0.3%
2080 0.8% 0.3%
2079 0.81% 0.31%
2078 0.88% 0.31%
2077 0.9% 0.3%
2076 0.9% 0.31%
2075 0.9% 0.32%
2074 0.91% 0.32%
2073 0.92% 0.32%
2072 0.98% 0.37%
2071 1% 0.38%
2070 1.03% 0.35%
2069 1.07% 0.36%
2068 1.09% 0.37%
2067 1.12% 0.39%
2066 1.13% 0.39%
2065 1.15% 0.42%
2064 1.16% 0.44%
2063 1.21% 0.44%
2062 1.28% 0.44%
2061 1.31% 0.46%
2060 1.38% 0.47%
2059 1.35% 0.49%
2058 1.4% 0.5%
2057 1.4% 0.5%
2056 1.48% 0.53%
2055 1.48% 0.54%
2054 1.57% 0.54%
2053 1.58% 0.56%
2052 1.61% 0.6%
2051 1.62% 0.6%
2050 1.65% 0.62%
2049 1.64% 0.62%
2048 1.72% 0.66%
2047 1.76% 0.68%
2046 1.78% 0.67%
2045 1.86% 0.68%
2044 1.85% 0.7%
2043 1.87% 0.71%
2042 1.93% 0.73%
2041 1.97% 0.73%
2040 2.01% 0.74%
2039 2.04% 0.76%
2038 2.16% 0.79%
2037 2.18% 0.8%
2036 2.22% 0.83%
2035 2.26% 0.85%
2034 2.31% 0.87%
2033 2.33% 0.9%
2032 2.36% 0.93%
2031 2.44% 0.94%
2030 2.5% 0.99%
2029 2.5% 1.03%
2028 2.54% 1.05%
2027 2.56% 1.06%
2026 2.57% 1.12%
2025 2.61% 1.19%
2024 2.61% 1.26%
2023 2.6% 1.34%
2022 2.6% 1.42%
2021 2.63% 1.55%
2020 2.67% 1.64%
2019 2.69% 1.66%
2018 2.71% 1.7%
2017 2.75% 0.66%
2016 2.76% 0.94%
2015 2.79% 2.03%
2014 2.84% 1.68%
2013 2.88% 1.67%
2012 2.91% 1.49%
2011 2.96% 1.24%
2010 2.99% 1.19%
2009 3% 1.2%
2008 2.95% 1.16%
2007 2.86% 1.06%
2006 2.79% 1.03%
2005 2.71% 1.02%
2004 2.62% 1.01%
2003 2.53% 1%
2002 2.48% 0.95%
2001 2.45% 0.86%
2000 2.43% 0.92%
1999 2.36% 1.1%
1998 2.19% 1.22%
1997 2.03% 1.21%
1996 1.99% 1.31%
1995 -0.15% 1.22%
1994 -1.16% 1.63%
1993 1.47% 2.01%
1992 2.95% 1.81%
1991 3.13% 2.31%
1990 4.03% 2.82%
1989 4.83% 2.98%
1988 5.55% 3.09%
1987 4.89% 3.17%
1986 3.75% 3.25%
1985 3.92% 3.39%
1984 3.99% 3.52%
1983 4.02% 3.56%
1982 4.03% 3.52%
1981 4% 3.46%
1980 3.93% 3.09%
1979 3.76% 2.74%
1978 3.48% 2.77%
1977 3.15% 2.74%
1976 2.95% 2.74%
1975 2.84% 2.81%
1974 2.75% 2.86%
1973 2.66% 2.9%
1972 2.59% 2.91%
1971 2.54% 2.97%
1970 2.49% 3.08%
1969 2.5% 3.14%
1968 2.51% 3.17%
1967 2.5% 3.17%
1966 2.48% 3.15%
1965 2.47% 3.12%
1964 2.48% 3.1%
1963 2.47% 3.08%
1962 2.44% 3.02%
1961 2.41% 2.85%

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/south-africa | CC BY

In 2024, the population of Malawi grew by 2.61%, while South Africa's population grew by 1.26%.

Live population counters

Malawi South Africa
Current population
22949294
65683993
Population rank 61/197 24/197
Percent of world population 0.28% 0.79%
One net population change
57.3 seconds
39.7 seconds
One birth every
47.6 seconds
26.6 seconds
One death every
4.64 minutes
54 seconds
Daily growth/decline +1,509 +2,178
Annual growth/decline +550,804 +794,803
Annual growth/decline rate +2.61% +1.26%
Population growth rate rank 26/197 85/197
One migration net change every
1.56 hours
3.6 minutes
Annual migration change -5,628 +146,370
Net migration rank 118/196 9/196
Foreign-born residents 186,719 2,631,100
Foreign-born residents rank 117/195 28/195
Foreign-born share of population 0.9% 4.1%
Foreign-born share rank 158/195 105/195

Natural population change vs migration

Malawi
Natural

Migration
South Africa
Natural

Migration
1x
Year Population change
Malawi South Africa
Natural Migration Natural Migration
2025 - -5,628 - 146,370
2024 - -1,507 - 166,972
2023 549,096 -5,811 602,793 228,222
2022 533,450 -5,231 603,636 233,284
2021 517,400 -2,666 456,411 458,246
2020 514,659 -2,655 595,873 369,901
2019 506,104 -1,837 652,130 331,124
2018 494,348 -3,267 648,319 318,260
2017 484,655 982 645,975 343,146
2016 474,779 3,505 641,365 -879,235
2015 472,484 -6,471 668,771 641,150
2014 472,418 -10,317 674,754 272,697
2013 470,293 -12,934 652,427 232,230
2012 460,684 -13,561 643,723 264,091
2011 454,149 -12,170 601,708 65,166
2010 444,468 -9,327 566,834 68,563
2009 434,811 -8,590 554,115 41,528
2008 421,781 -9,264 595,332 36,869
2007 410,290 -22,680 503,567 36,339
2006 397,123 -29,450 487,584 33,159
2005 381,130 -31,462 464,464 31,286
2004 361,133 -32,221 442,540 58,924
2003 341,133 -31,729 415,018 65,604
2002 322,863 -30,013 430,926 50,313
2001 310,833 -28,933 484,801 -60,793
2000 300,439 -28,098 526,963 -136,794
1999 295,629 -31,686 594,643 -126,011
1998 285,407 -39,491 627,027 -82,722
1997 277,433 -61,646 667,969 -98,181
1996 270,048 -66,212 710,868 -193,007
1995 266,745 -66,366 743,488 -98,403
1994 275,439 -505,365 698,609 -268,849
1993 276,538 -284,867 789,220 194,977
1992 269,066 37,142 794,415 -71,342
1991 260,193 15,291 827,296 -39,131
1990 250,159 71,111 835,421 259,718
1989 237,967 180,031 884,629 255,605
1988 226,911 201,011 909,221 246,382
1987 220,566 271,693 922,330 231,009
1986 218,519 62,615 903,644 234,378
1985 216,179 74,625 893,889 244,940
1984 212,146 72,435 869,011 290,789
1983 209,422 68,197 837,013 310,172
1982 205,386 62,661 807,550 293,195
1981 199,436 57,376 767,833 279,985
1980 192,746 52,294 738,415 258,127
1979 182,123 46,388 716,541 56,323
1978 172,503 36,225 694,341 62,121
1977 161,930 19,638 680,929 63,739
1976 153,422 8,206 675,011 27,333
1975 145,254 5,162 667,862 38,809
1974 137,819 3,833 658,438 38,518
1973 131,529 1,623 651,596 41,125
1972 125,728 48 638,754 38,163
1971 121,015 -710 624,761 32,961
1970 116,822 -2,147 605,102 61,514
1969 113,120 -2,266 590,794 73,225
1968 110,329 -924 571,841 78,932
1967 106,668 0 553,741 81,932
1966 103,512 0 534,862 77,417
1965 100,040 0 506,632 82,514
1964 97,658 0 490,606 76,298
1963 95,933 0 473,821 72,844
1962 92,463 0 455,634 69,771
1961 89,091 0 437,851 57,728
1960 85,718 0 421,263 18,891

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

GeoRank.org/population/malawi/south-africa | 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 South Africa 72.8% is from natural causes (a gain of 6,190,027 people) and 27.2% is from migration (a gain of 2,316,795 people).

As of 2024, 186,719 residents or 0.9% of the population were not native-born in Malawi, compared to 2,631,100 people or 4.1% in South Africa.

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
South Africa
City Population
Johannesburg 4.8M
Cape Town 3.78M
Soweto 1.27M
Pietermaritzburg 839K
Pretoria 742K
Durban 595K
Rustenburg 550K
Randburg 337K
Port Elizabeth 312K
East London 267K

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/south-africa | 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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