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

Updated on by Georank

The latest officially reported population of Malawi was 22,216,120 in 2025 vs 12,188,788 people in South Sudan in 2025. In 2026, based on the adjusted UN estimation, the current Malawi's population is 23,086,106 people compared to 12,565,048 in South Sudan.

Population statistics:

  • Malawi's population is 1.84 times bigger than South Sudan's.
  • Malawi is ranked the 61st most populous country in the world, while South Sudan is the 80th.
  • The countries together account for 0.43% of the world: 0.28% for Malawi vs 0.15% for South Sudan.
  • For the last 10 years, Malawi has had an average growth rate of +2.67% per year vs +0.78% in South Sudan.
  • Since 2006, the population of Malawi has increased from 13.2M people to 23.1M (74.9% growth), while South Sudan has grown from 7.98M to 12.6M (57.5% growth).

Malawi vs South Sudan: population by year and forecast

Malawi
Factual

Projection
South Sudan
Factual

Projection
1x
Year Population
Malawi South Sudan
2100 59,773,923 24,078,379
2099 59,515,624 24,072,957
2098 59,263,165 24,054,947
2097 59,015,654 24,056,753
2096 58,749,288 24,045,972
2095 58,495,699 24,037,837
2094 58,227,933 24,039,267
2093 57,954,358 24,030,512
2092 57,660,371 24,010,555
2091 57,364,786 23,991,816
2090 57,048,240 23,970,012
2089 56,727,243 23,929,017
2088 56,385,237 23,883,712
2087 56,041,651 23,848,809
2086 55,694,983 23,794,890
2085 55,336,839 23,750,772
2084 54,985,304 23,678,728
2083 54,593,349 23,609,290
2082 54,194,853 23,532,790
2081 53,783,781 23,458,146
2080 53,361,334 23,383,482
2079 52,936,889 23,286,011
2078 52,510,645 23,188,860
2077 52,052,767 23,078,416
2076 51,589,339 22,979,198
2075 51,130,762 22,860,496
2074 50,673,499 22,718,148
2073 50,218,991 22,575,682
2072 49,759,232 22,431,004
2071 49,276,570 22,280,140
2070 48,787,471 22,143,813
2069 48,291,287 21,995,874
2068 47,782,059 21,822,076
2067 47,267,335 21,654,546
2066 46,741,998 21,489,275
2065 46,218,226 21,309,913
2064 45,692,044 21,134,522
2063 45,169,634 20,957,705
2062 44,629,192 20,777,701
2061 44,067,259 20,601,672
2060 43,499,372 20,423,629
2059 42,907,491 20,227,862
2058 42,335,782 20,041,880
2057 41,753,105 19,846,671
2056 41,175,330 19,652,407
2055 40,576,247 19,457,411
2054 39,986,120 19,250,667
2053 39,369,178 19,053,773
2052 38,758,577 18,833,795
2051 38,145,141 18,626,605
2050 37,537,814 18,427,690
2049 36,928,354 18,224,430
2048 36,332,040 18,014,650
2047 35,717,466 17,799,982
2046 35,099,651 17,572,953
2045 34,484,520 17,348,901
2044 33,855,018 17,115,914
2043 33,240,675 16,882,303
2042 32,629,513 16,639,465
2041 32,012,581 16,390,966
2040 31,395,572 16,137,104
2039 30,775,878 15,884,330
2038 30,160,239 15,622,514
2037 29,521,489 15,358,539
2036 28,890,318 15,085,936
2035 28,261,909 14,810,066
2034 27,637,439 14,538,365
2033 27,012,311 14,273,128
2032 26,398,409 14,002,178
2031 25,790,366 13,725,779
2030 25,176,420 13,460,850
2029 24,561,210 13,201,804
2028 23,962,931 12,942,501
2027 23,369,575 12,688,278
2026 22,786,713 12,434,895
2025 22,216,120 12,188,788
2024 21,655,286 11,943,408
2023 21,104,482 11,483,374
2022 20,568,728 11,021,177
2021 20,047,258 10,865,780
2020 19,533,888 10,698,467
2019 19,025,752 10,423,384
2018 18,528,081 10,122,977
2017 18,039,715 10,259,154
2016 17,557,739 10,830,102
2015 17,085,587 11,107,561
2014 16,621,538 11,235,073
2013 16,161,816 11,166,275
2012 15,709,577 10,756,240
2011 15,265,022 10,288,109
2010 14,826,463 9,745,953
2009 14,395,788 9,243,556
2008 13,976,417 8,817,647
2007 13,576,343 8,388,788
2006 13,198,701 7,976,526
2005 12,840,031 7,590,143
2004 12,500,737 7,233,041
2003 12,181,574 6,903,127
2002 11,880,440 6,596,806
2001 11,593,058 6,308,391
2000 11,315,942 6,032,267
1999 11,047,804 5,771,628
1998 10,792,876 5,620,068
1997 10,562,035 5,509,136
1996 10,352,228 5,356,925
1995 10,150,117 5,225,836
1994 10,164,894 5,071,184
1993 10,284,024 4,956,002
1992 10,135,079 4,909,749
1991 9,844,227 4,836,677
1990 9,545,852 4,737,633
1989 9,176,220 4,713,229
1988 8,753,262 4,848,029
1987 8,293,174 4,962,395
1986 7,906,480 4,921,240
1985 7,620,508 4,834,296
1984 7,332,810 4,750,627
1983 7,051,709 4,661,574
1982 6,778,879 4,557,686
1981 6,516,454 4,447,272
1980 6,265,529 4,339,030
1979 6,028,749 4,232,605
1978 5,810,132 4,127,657
1977 5,614,983 4,024,032
1976 5,443,384 3,921,910
1975 5,287,367 3,821,494
1974 5,141,337 3,723,259
1973 5,003,938 3,627,383
1972 4,874,475 3,542,497
1971 4,751,434 3,468,646
1970 4,633,944 3,409,614
1969 4,521,184 3,365,533
1968 4,411,054 3,321,528
1967 4,303,012 3,277,648
1966 4,197,926 3,236,423
1965 4,096,157 3,189,835
1964 3,997,305 3,129,918
1963 3,900,506 3,072,669
1962 3,806,307 3,024,308
1961 3,715,534 2,976,724
1960 3,628,134 2,931,559

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/south-sudan | CC BY

From 2006 to 2016, the population of Malawi increased by 4,359,038 people (a 33% growth), while South Sudan gained 2,853,576 people (a 35.8% growth).

For the next 10 years, from 2016 to 2026, Malawi gained 5,528,367 people (a 31.5% growth), while South Sudan's population increased by 1,734,946 people (a 16% growth).

Malawi was ranked 69th most populous country in 2006 and is 61st in 2026. South Sudan was ranked 92nd in 2006 and ranked 80th 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 South Sudan will increase by 46.7% to 18,427,690 people and rank change from 80th to 78th.

Malawi is projected to reach its peak in 2100 at 59.8M people compared to the peak of 24.1M people in 2100 for South Sudan.

Population growth rate by year

Malawi
Factual

Projection
South Sudan
Factual

Projection
1x
Year Growth rate
Malawi South Sudan
2100 0.43% 0.02%
2099 0.43% 0.07%
2098 0.42% -0.008%
2097 0.45% 0.04%
2096 0.43% 0.03%
2095 0.46% -0.006%
2094 0.47% 0.04%
2093 0.51% 0.08%
2092 0.52% 0.08%
2091 0.55% 0.09%
2090 0.57% 0.17%
2089 0.61% 0.19%
2088 0.61% 0.15%
2087 0.62% 0.23%
2086 0.65% 0.19%
2085 0.64% 0.3%
2084 0.72% 0.29%
2083 0.74% 0.33%
2082 0.76% 0.32%
2081 0.79% 0.32%
2080 0.8% 0.42%
2079 0.81% 0.42%
2078 0.88% 0.48%
2077 0.9% 0.43%
2076 0.9% 0.52%
2075 0.9% 0.63%
2074 0.91% 0.63%
2073 0.92% 0.64%
2072 0.98% 0.68%
2071 1% 0.62%
2070 1.03% 0.67%
2069 1.07% 0.8%
2068 1.09% 0.77%
2067 1.12% 0.77%
2066 1.13% 0.84%
2065 1.15% 0.83%
2064 1.16% 0.84%
2063 1.21% 0.87%
2062 1.28% 0.85%
2061 1.31% 0.87%
2060 1.38% 0.97%
2059 1.35% 0.93%
2058 1.4% 0.98%
2057 1.4% 0.99%
2056 1.48% 1%
2055 1.48% 1.07%
2054 1.57% 1.03%
2053 1.58% 1.17%
2052 1.61% 1.11%
2051 1.62% 1.08%
2050 1.65% 1.12%
2049 1.64% 1.16%
2048 1.72% 1.21%
2047 1.76% 1.29%
2046 1.78% 1.29%
2045 1.86% 1.36%
2044 1.85% 1.38%
2043 1.87% 1.46%
2042 1.93% 1.52%
2041 1.97% 1.57%
2040 2.01% 1.59%
2039 2.04% 1.68%
2038 2.16% 1.72%
2037 2.18% 1.81%
2036 2.22% 1.86%
2035 2.26% 1.87%
2034 2.31% 1.86%
2033 2.33% 1.94%
2032 2.36% 2.01%
2031 2.44% 1.97%
2030 2.5% 1.96%
2029 2.5% 2%
2028 2.54% 2%
2027 2.56% 2.04%
2026 2.57% 2.02%
2025 2.59% 2.05%
2024 2.61% 4.01%
2023 2.6% 4.19%
2022 2.6% 1.43%
2021 2.63% 1.56%
2020 2.67% 2.64%
2019 2.69% 2.97%
2018 2.71% -1.33%
2017 2.75% -5.27%
2016 2.76% -2.5%
2015 2.79% -1.13%
2014 2.84% 0.62%
2013 2.88% 3.81%
2012 2.91% 4.55%
2011 2.96% 5.56%
2010 2.99% 5.44%
2009 3% 4.83%
2008 2.95% 5.11%
2007 2.86% 5.17%
2006 2.79% 5.09%
2005 2.71% 4.94%
2004 2.62% 4.78%
2003 2.53% 4.64%
2002 2.48% 4.57%
2001 2.45% 4.58%
2000 2.43% 4.52%
1999 2.36% 2.7%
1998 2.19% 2.01%
1997 2.03% 2.84%
1996 1.99% 2.51%
1995 -0.15% 3.05%
1994 -1.16% 2.32%
1993 1.47% 0.94%
1992 2.95% 1.51%
1991 3.13% 2.09%
1990 4.03% 0.52%
1989 4.83% -2.78%
1988 5.55% -2.3%
1987 4.89% 0.84%
1986 3.75% 1.8%
1985 3.92% 1.76%
1984 3.99% 1.91%
1983 4.02% 2.28%
1982 4.03% 2.48%
1981 4% 2.49%
1980 3.93% 2.51%
1979 3.76% 2.54%
1978 3.48% 2.58%
1977 3.15% 2.6%
1976 2.95% 2.63%
1975 2.84% 2.64%
1974 2.75% 2.64%
1973 2.66% 2.4%
1972 2.59% 2.13%
1971 2.54% 1.73%
1970 2.49% 1.31%
1969 2.5% 1.32%
1968 2.51% 1.34%
1967 2.5% 1.27%
1966 2.48% 1.46%
1965 2.47% 1.91%
1964 2.48% 1.86%
1963 2.47% 1.6%
1962 2.44% 1.6%
1961 2.41% 1.54%

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/south-sudan | CC BY

In 2025, the population of Malawi grew by 2.59%, while South Sudan's population grew by 2.05%.

Live population counters

Malawi South Sudan
Current population
23086106
12565048
Population rank 61/197 80/197
Percent of world population 0.28% 0.15%
One net population change
56.4 seconds
2.15 minutes
One birth every
46.8 seconds
1.51 minutes
One death every
4.59 minutes
4.48 minutes
Daily growth/decline +1,537 +672
Annual growth/decline +560,834 +245,380
Annual growth/decline rate +2.59% +2.05%
Population growth rate rank 23/197 48/197
One migration net change every
1.56 hours
1.43 hours
Annual migration change -5,628 +6,145
Net migration rank 118/196 50/196
Foreign-born residents 186,719 914,001
Foreign-born residents rank 117/195 62/195
Foreign-born share of population 0.9% 7.7%
Foreign-born share rank 158/195 77/195

Natural population change vs migration

Malawi
Natural

Migration
South Sudan
Natural

Migration
1x
Year Population change
Malawi South Sudan
Natural Migration Natural Migration
2025 - -5,628 - 6,145
2024 559,811 -1,507 231,714 15,374
2023 549,096 -5,811 217,966 455,000
2022 533,450 -5,231 211,166 40,259
2021 517,400 -2,666 213,567 -154,359
2020 514,659 -2,655 212,332 62,935
2019 506,104 -1,837 209,708 65,198
2018 494,348 -3,267 168,497 157,408
2017 484,655 982 72,193 -670,477
2016 474,779 3,505 110,553 -654,225
2015 472,484 -6,471 148,542 -159,822
2014 472,418 -10,317 227,611 -471,523
2013 470,293 -12,934 315,983 65,337
2012 460,684 -13,561 312,974 125,771
2011 454,149 -12,170 303,181 194,325
2010 444,468 -9,327 287,409 299,402
2009 434,811 -8,590 278,859 139,129
2008 421,781 -9,264 268,268 165,557
2007 410,290 -22,680 256,546 167,350
2006 397,123 -29,450 246,706 153,926
2005 381,130 -31,462 239,272 132,869
2004 361,133 -32,221 231,877 110,182
2003 341,133 -31,729 225,822 91,951
2002 322,863 -30,013 212,014 82,847
2001 310,833 -28,933 204,108 77,856
2000 300,439 -28,098 196,055 74,227
1999 295,629 -31,686 180,721 70,271
1998 285,407 -39,491 -12,157 64,285
1997 277,433 -61,646 121,454 48,280
1996 270,048 -66,212 116,728 17,953
1995 266,745 -66,366 110,417 17,077
1994 275,439 -505,365 165,407 16,407
1993 276,538 -284,867 32,779 15,772
1992 269,066 37,142 28,874 15,077
1991 260,193 15,291 87,873 14,327
1990 250,159 71,111 82,900 12,988
1989 237,967 180,031 83,735 -130,821
1988 226,911 201,011 -125,447 -97,065
1987 220,566 271,693 5,756 -11,976
1986 218,519 62,615 99,502 -10,973
1985 216,179 74,625 95,342 -9,986
1984 212,146 72,435 90,970 -8,984
1983 209,422 68,197 104,107 -7,986
1982 205,386 62,661 118,641 -6,983
1981 199,436 57,376 115,163 -5,994
1980 192,746 52,294 112,307 -4,997
1979 182,123 46,388 109,540 -3,997
1978 172,503 36,225 107,352 -2,998
1977 161,930 19,638 104,886 -1,997
1976 153,422 8,206 102,346 -995
1975 145,254 5,162 99,882 -395
1974 137,819 3,833 97,181 -192
1973 131,529 1,623 94,765 0
1972 125,728 48 74,803 193
1971 121,015 -710 72,308 394
1970 116,822 -2,147 44,776 587
1969 113,120 -2,266 42,015 786
1968 110,329 -924 44,213 995
1967 106,668 0 41,357 1,194
1966 103,512 0 38,523 1,386
1965 100,040 0 51,682 1,591
1964 97,658 0 64,786 1,785
1963 95,933 0 46,333 1,591
1962 92,463 0 47,406 1,386
1961 89,091 0 45,186 1,194
1960 85,718 0 42,945 995

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

GeoRank.org/population/malawi/south-sudan | 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 South Sudan 68.1% is from natural causes (a gain of 1,796,238 people) and 31.9% is from migration (a loss of 842,709 people).

As of 2024, 186,719 residents or 0.9% of the population were not native-born in Malawi, compared to 914,001 people or 7.7% in South Sudan.

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
South Sudan
City Population
Juba 500K
Wau 321K
Bor 315K
Malakal 147K
Yambio 130K

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/south-sudan | 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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