Skip to content

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

Updated on by Georank team

The latest officially reported population of Malawi was 21,655,286 in 2024 vs 51,751,065 people in South Korea in 2024. In 2026, based on the adjusted UN estimation, the current Malawi's population is 22,949,294 people compared to 51,649,918 in South Korea.

Population statistics:

  • South Korea's population is 2.25 times bigger than Malawi's.
  • Malawi is ranked the 61st most populous country in the world, while South Korea is the 31st.
  • The countries together account for 0.9% of the world: 0.28% for Malawi vs 0.62% for South Korea.
  • For the last 10 years, Malawi has had an average growth rate of +2.7% per year vs +0.24% in South Korea.
  • Since 2006, the population of Malawi has increased from 13.2M people to 22.9M (73.9% growth), while South Korea has grown from 48.4M to 51.6M (6.63% growth).

Malawi vs South Korea: population by year and forecast

Malawi
Factual

Projection
South Korea
Factual

Projection
1x
Year Population
Malawi South Korea
2100 59,786,744 22,012,503
2099 59,528,389 22,335,528
2098 59,275,876 22,668,719
2097 59,028,312 23,009,661
2096 58,761,888 23,360,151
2095 58,508,246 23,722,747
2094 58,240,422 24,093,391
2093 57,966,788 24,473,038
2092 57,672,738 24,860,975
2091 57,377,090 25,255,379
2090 57,060,476 25,655,577
2089 56,739,410 26,060,945
2088 56,397,330 26,470,073
2087 56,053,671 26,884,813
2086 55,706,928 27,301,913
2085 55,348,708 27,723,736
2084 54,997,097 28,147,480
2083 54,605,058 28,578,182
2082 54,206,477 29,012,953
2081 53,795,317 29,456,022
2080 53,372,779 29,901,880
2079 52,948,243 30,352,062
2078 52,521,908 30,809,176
2077 52,063,931 31,273,700
2076 51,600,404 31,744,480
2075 51,141,728 32,221,226
2074 50,684,368 32,706,020
2073 50,229,762 33,196,556
2072 49,769,904 33,696,490
2071 49,287,139 34,203,935
2070 48,797,935 34,719,324
2069 48,301,644 35,241,850
2068 47,792,308 35,762,799
2067 47,277,473 36,292,307
2066 46,752,024 36,826,655
2065 46,228,139 37,368,086
2064 45,701,844 37,916,439
2063 45,179,322 38,469,051
2062 44,638,764 39,028,473
2061 44,076,711 39,584,621
2060 43,508,702 40,149,830
2059 42,916,694 40,712,514
2058 42,344,863 41,277,134
2057 41,762,060 41,833,887
2056 41,184,161 42,377,427
2055 40,584,950 42,909,302
2054 39,994,696 43,427,254
2053 39,377,622 43,938,741
2052 38,766,890 44,441,106
2051 38,153,322 44,923,604
2050 37,545,865 45,385,311
2049 36,936,275 45,832,153
2048 36,339,833 46,258,529
2047 35,725,127 46,668,898
2046 35,107,179 47,056,404
2045 34,491,916 47,433,205
2044 33,862,279 47,797,411
2043 33,247,804 48,144,730
2042 32,636,511 48,478,991
2041 32,019,447 48,806,273
2040 31,402,305 49,115,658
2039 30,782,479 49,412,830
2038 30,166,708 49,694,340
2037 29,527,821 49,957,504
2036 28,896,515 50,200,702
2035 28,267,970 50,426,000
2034 27,643,367 50,632,962
2033 27,018,105 50,821,090
2032 26,404,071 50,987,020
2031 25,795,897 51,134,940
2030 25,181,820 51,267,908
2029 24,566,478 51,385,868
2028 23,968,071 51,486,791
2027 23,374,588 51,576,746
2026 22,791,601 51,649,918
2025 22,220,885 51,710,062
2024 21,655,286 51,751,065
2023 21,104,482 51,712,619
2022 20,568,728 51,672,569
2021 20,047,258 51,769,539
2020 19,533,888 51,836,239
2019 19,025,752 51,764,822
2018 18,528,081 51,585,058
2017 18,039,715 51,361,911
2016 17,557,739 51,217,803
2015 17,085,587 51,014,947
2014 16,621,538 50,746,659
2013 16,161,816 50,428,893
2012 15,709,577 50,199,853
2011 15,265,022 49,936,638
2010 14,826,463 49,554,112
2009 14,395,788 49,307,835
2008 13,976,417 49,054,708
2007 13,576,343 48,683,638
2006 13,198,701 48,438,292
2005 12,840,031 48,184,561
2004 12,500,737 48,082,519
2003 12,181,574 47,892,330
2002 11,880,440 47,644,736
2001 11,593,058 47,370,164
2000 11,315,942 47,008,111
1999 11,047,804 46,616,677
1998 10,792,876 46,286,503
1997 10,562,035 45,953,580
1996 10,352,228 45,524,681
1995 10,150,117 45,092,991
1994 10,164,894 44,641,540
1993 10,284,024 44,194,628
1992 10,135,079 43,747,962
1991 9,844,227 43,295,704
1990 9,545,852 42,869,283
1989 9,176,220 42,449,038
1988 8,753,262 42,031,247
1987 8,293,174 41,621,690
1986 7,906,480 41,213,674
1985 7,620,508 40,805,744
1984 7,332,810 40,405,956
1983 7,051,709 39,910,403
1982 6,778,879 39,326,352
1981 6,516,454 38,723,248
1980 6,265,529 38,123,775
1979 6,028,749 37,534,236
1978 5,810,132 36,969,185
1977 5,614,983 36,411,795
1976 5,443,384 35,848,523
1975 5,287,367 35,280,725
1974 5,141,337 34,692,266
1973 5,003,938 34,103,149
1972 4,874,475 33,505,406
1971 4,751,434 32,882,704
1970 4,633,944 32,240,827
1969 4,521,184 31,544,266
1968 4,411,054 30,838,302
1967 4,303,012 30,130,983
1966 4,197,926 29,435,571
1965 4,096,157 28,704,674
1964 3,997,305 27,984,155
1963 3,900,506 27,261,747
1962 3,806,307 26,513,030
1961 3,715,534 25,765,673
1960 3,628,134 25,012,374

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-korea | CC BY

From 2006 to 2016, the population of Malawi increased by 4,359,038 people (a 33% growth), while South Korea gained 2,779,511 people (a 5.74% growth).

For the next 10 years, from 2016 to 2026, Malawi gained 5,391,555 people (a 30.7% growth), while South Korea's population increased by 432,115 people (a 0.84% growth).

Malawi was ranked 69th most populous country in 2006 and is 61st in 2026. South Korea was ranked 25th in 2006 and ranked 31st 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 Korea will decrease by 12.1% to 45,385,311 people and rank change from 31st to 48th.

Malawi is projected to reach its peak in 2100 at 59.8M people, while South Korea's population already peaked in 2020 at 51.8M people and is projected to decrease to 22M people by 2100.

Population growth rate by year

Malawi
Factual

Projection
South Korea
Factual

Projection
1x
Year Growth rate
Malawi South Korea
2100 0.43% -1.45%
2099 0.43% -1.47%
2098 0.42% -1.48%
2097 0.45% -1.5%
2096 0.43% -1.53%
2095 0.46% -1.54%
2094 0.47% -1.55%
2093 0.51% -1.56%
2092 0.52% -1.56%
2091 0.55% -1.56%
2090 0.57% -1.56%
2089 0.61% -1.55%
2088 0.61% -1.54%
2087 0.62% -1.53%
2086 0.65% -1.52%
2085 0.64% -1.51%
2084 0.72% -1.51%
2083 0.74% -1.5%
2082 0.76% -1.5%
2081 0.79% -1.49%
2080 0.8% -1.48%
2079 0.81% -1.48%
2078 0.88% -1.49%
2077 0.9% -1.48%
2076 0.9% -1.48%
2075 0.9% -1.48%
2074 0.91% -1.48%
2073 0.92% -1.48%
2072 0.98% -1.48%
2071 1% -1.48%
2070 1.03% -1.48%
2069 1.07% -1.46%
2068 1.09% -1.46%
2067 1.12% -1.45%
2066 1.13% -1.45%
2065 1.15% -1.45%
2064 1.16% -1.44%
2063 1.21% -1.43%
2062 1.28% -1.4%
2061 1.31% -1.41%
2060 1.38% -1.38%
2059 1.35% -1.37%
2058 1.4% -1.33%
2057 1.4% -1.28%
2056 1.48% -1.24%
2055 1.48% -1.19%
2054 1.57% -1.16%
2053 1.58% -1.13%
2052 1.61% -1.07%
2051 1.62% -1.02%
2050 1.65% -0.97%
2049 1.64% -0.92%
2048 1.72% -0.88%
2047 1.76% -0.82%
2046 1.78% -0.79%
2045 1.86% -0.76%
2044 1.85% -0.72%
2043 1.87% -0.69%
2042 1.93% -0.67%
2041 1.97% -0.63%
2040 2.01% -0.6%
2039 2.04% -0.57%
2038 2.16% -0.53%
2037 2.18% -0.48%
2036 2.22% -0.45%
2035 2.26% -0.41%
2034 2.31% -0.37%
2033 2.33% -0.33%
2032 2.36% -0.29%
2031 2.44% -0.26%
2030 2.5% -0.23%
2029 2.5% -0.2%
2028 2.54% -0.17%
2027 2.56% -0.14%
2026 2.57% -0.12%
2025 2.61% -0.08%
2024 2.61% 0.07%
2023 2.6% 0.08%
2022 2.6% -0.19%
2021 2.63% -0.13%
2020 2.67% 0.14%
2019 2.69% 0.35%
2018 2.71% 0.43%
2017 2.75% 0.28%
2016 2.76% 0.4%
2015 2.79% 0.53%
2014 2.84% 0.63%
2013 2.88% 0.46%
2012 2.91% 0.53%
2011 2.96% 0.77%
2010 2.99% 0.5%
2009 3% 0.52%
2008 2.95% 0.76%
2007 2.86% 0.51%
2006 2.79% 0.53%
2005 2.71% 0.21%
2004 2.62% 0.4%
2003 2.53% 0.52%
2002 2.48% 0.58%
2001 2.45% 0.77%
2000 2.43% 0.84%
1999 2.36% 0.71%
1998 2.19% 0.72%
1997 2.03% 0.94%
1996 1.99% 0.96%
1995 -0.15% 1.01%
1994 -1.16% 1.01%
1993 1.47% 1.02%
1992 2.95% 1.04%
1991 3.13% 0.99%
1990 4.03% 0.99%
1989 4.83% 0.99%
1988 5.55% 0.98%
1987 4.89% 0.99%
1986 3.75% 1%
1985 3.92% 0.99%
1984 3.99% 1.24%
1983 4.02% 1.49%
1982 4.03% 1.56%
1981 4% 1.57%
1980 3.93% 1.57%
1979 3.76% 1.53%
1978 3.48% 1.53%
1977 3.15% 1.57%
1976 2.95% 1.61%
1975 2.84% 1.7%
1974 2.75% 1.73%
1973 2.66% 1.78%
1972 2.59% 1.89%
1971 2.54% 1.99%
1970 2.49% 2.21%
1969 2.5% 2.29%
1968 2.51% 2.35%
1967 2.5% 2.36%
1966 2.48% 2.55%
1965 2.47% 2.57%
1964 2.48% 2.65%
1963 2.47% 2.82%
1962 2.44% 2.9%
1961 2.41% 3.01%

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-korea | CC BY

In 2024, the population of Malawi grew by 2.61%, while South Korea's population grew by 0.07%.

Live population counters

Malawi South Korea
Current population
22949294
51649918
Population rank 61/197 31/197
Percent of world population 0.28% 0.62%
One net population change
57.3 seconds
13.7 minutes
One birth every
47.6 seconds
2.26 minutes
One death every
4.64 minutes
1.69 minutes
Daily growth/decline +1,509 +105
Annual growth/decline +550,804 +38,446
Annual growth/decline rate +2.61% +0.07%
Population growth rate rank 26/197 160/197
One migration net change every
1.56 hours
8.02 minutes
Annual migration change -5,628 +65,731
Net migration rank 118/196 20/196
Foreign-born residents 186,719 1,811,507
Foreign-born residents rank 117/195 40/195
Foreign-born share of population 0.9% 3.5%
Foreign-born share rank 158/195 111/195

Natural population change vs migration

Malawi
Natural

Migration
South Korea
Natural

Migration
1x
Year Population change
Malawi South Korea
Natural Migration Natural Migration
2025 - -5,628 - 65,731
2024 - -1,507 - 75,963
2023 549,096 -5,811 -77,569 87,800
2022 533,450 -5,231 -124,014 87,800
2021 517,400 -2,666 -56,947 -16,778
2020 514,659 -2,655 -31,101 112,631
2019 506,104 -1,837 10,353 128,622
2018 494,348 -3,267 30,951 118,220
2017 484,655 982 71,907 104,029
2016 474,779 3,505 122,923 91,568
2015 472,484 -6,471 163,248 276,427
2014 472,418 -10,317 167,464 308,037
2013 470,293 -12,934 166,415 301,926
2012 460,684 -13,561 215,859 281,866
2011 454,149 -12,170 214,728 269,958
2010 444,468 -9,327 213,083 52,042
2009 434,811 -8,590 197,231 5,308
2008 421,781 -9,264 215,841 -19,630
2007 410,290 -22,680 248,286 -42,293
2006 397,123 -29,450 203,441 -28,434
2005 381,130 -31,462 187,920 -47,821
2004 361,133 -32,221 225,988 -42,549
2003 341,133 -31,729 244,251 -31,994
2002 322,863 -30,013 247,752 -18,105
2001 310,833 -28,933 312,643 -28,006
2000 300,439 -28,098 390,167 -84,960
1999 295,629 -31,686 368,272 -107,448
1998 285,407 -39,491 393,436 -98,044
1997 277,433 -61,646 422,773 -109,130
1996 270,048 -66,212 446,142 -115,705
1995 266,745 -66,366 468,967 -208,491
1994 275,439 -505,365 473,200 -208,309
1993 276,538 -284,867 477,302 -222,802
1992 269,066 37,142 494,352 -265,849
1991 260,193 15,291 467,594 -270,754
1990 250,159 71,111 411,546 79,294
1989 237,967 180,031 403,266 186,120
1988 226,911 201,011 399,297 192,534
1987 220,566 271,693 378,758 198,057
1986 218,519 62,615 395,651 189,782
1985 216,179 74,625 416,219 97,949
1984 212,146 72,435 436,384 101,394
1983 209,422 68,197 514,844 102,167
1982 205,386 62,661 605,626 48,638
1981 199,436 57,376 631,189 18,442
1980 192,746 52,294 583,294 -148,341
1979 182,123 46,388 623,068 -139,566
1978 172,503 36,225 499,084 -85,721
1977 161,930 19,638 578,947 -90,737
1976 153,422 8,206 530,558 -92,314
1975 145,254 5,162 603,300 -52,332
1974 137,819 3,833 673,030 27,005
1973 131,529 1,623 699,115 35,779
1972 125,728 48 740,469 25,382
1971 121,015 -710 789,185 -6,326
1970 116,822 -2,147 747,987 -27,999
1969 113,120 -2,266 694,227 -21,175
1968 110,329 -924 684,487 -16,868
1967 106,668 0 692,169 -16,484
1966 103,512 0 623,534 -16,688
1965 100,040 0 641,090 -146,386
1964 97,658 0 655,501 -102,284
1963 95,933 0 685,824 -80,226
1962 92,463 0 712,590 -94,606
1961 89,091 0 730,173 -93,179
1960 85,718 0 728,010 47,245

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

GeoRank.org/population/malawi/south-korea | 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 Korea 17.6% is from natural causes (a gain of 277,215 people) and 82.4% is from migration (a gain of 1,298,356 people).

As of 2024, 186,719 residents or 0.9% of the population were not native-born in Malawi, compared to 1,811,507 people or 3.5% in South Korea.

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 Korea
City Population
Seoul 9.67M
Busan 3.45M
Incheon 3.05M
Daegu 2.38M
Daejeon 1.48M
Gwangju 1.41M
Suwon 1.23M
Ulsan 1.13M
Yongin 1.08M
Goyang 1.06M

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-korea | 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.