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

Updated on by Georank team

The latest officially reported population of Malawi was 21,655,286 in 2024 vs 11,943,408 people in South Sudan in 2024. In 2026, based on the adjusted UN estimation, the current Malawi's population is 22,949,294 people compared to 12,507,858 in South Sudan.

Population statistics:

  • Malawi's population is 1.83 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 +2.7% per year vs +0.65% in South Sudan.
  • Since 2006, the population of Malawi has increased from 13.2M people to 22.9M (73.9% growth), while South Sudan has grown from 7.98M to 12.5M (56.8% growth).

Malawi vs South Sudan: population by year and forecast

Malawi
Factual

Projection
South Sudan
Factual

Projection
1x
Year Population
Malawi South Sudan
2100 59,786,744 24,086,901
2099 59,528,389 24,081,477
2098 59,275,876 24,063,461
2097 59,028,312 24,065,268
2096 58,761,888 24,054,483
2095 58,508,246 24,046,345
2094 58,240,422 24,047,776
2093 57,966,788 24,039,017
2092 57,672,738 24,019,054
2091 57,377,090 24,000,308
2090 57,060,476 23,978,496
2089 56,739,410 23,937,487
2088 56,397,330 23,892,166
2087 56,053,671 23,857,250
2086 55,706,928 23,803,312
2085 55,348,708 23,759,178
2084 54,997,097 23,687,109
2083 54,605,058 23,617,646
2082 54,206,477 23,541,119
2081 53,795,317 23,466,449
2080 53,372,779 23,391,758
2079 52,948,243 23,294,252
2078 52,521,908 23,197,067
2077 52,063,931 23,086,584
2076 51,600,404 22,987,331
2075 51,141,728 22,868,587
2074 50,684,368 22,726,189
2073 50,229,762 22,583,672
2072 49,769,904 22,438,943
2071 49,287,139 22,288,026
2070 48,797,935 22,151,650
2069 48,301,644 22,003,659
2068 47,792,308 21,829,800
2067 47,277,473 21,662,211
2066 46,752,024 21,496,881
2065 46,228,139 21,317,455
2064 45,701,844 21,142,002
2063 45,179,322 20,965,122
2062 44,638,764 20,785,055
2061 44,076,711 20,608,964
2060 43,508,702 20,430,857
2059 42,916,694 20,235,022
2058 42,344,863 20,048,974
2057 41,762,060 19,853,696
2056 41,184,161 19,659,362
2055 40,584,950 19,464,297
2054 39,994,696 19,257,481
2053 39,377,622 19,060,517
2052 38,766,890 18,840,461
2051 38,153,322 18,633,198
2050 37,545,865 18,434,212
2049 36,936,275 18,230,881
2048 36,339,833 18,021,026
2047 35,725,127 17,806,282
2046 35,107,179 17,579,173
2045 34,491,916 17,355,041
2044 33,862,279 17,121,972
2043 33,247,804 16,888,278
2042 32,636,511 16,645,354
2041 32,019,447 16,396,768
2040 31,402,305 16,142,816
2039 30,782,479 15,889,952
2038 30,166,708 15,628,043
2037 29,527,821 15,363,975
2036 28,896,515 15,091,275
2035 28,267,970 14,815,307
2034 27,643,367 14,543,511
2033 27,018,105 14,278,180
2032 26,404,071 14,007,134
2031 25,795,897 13,730,637
2030 25,181,820 13,465,615
2029 24,566,478 13,206,477
2028 23,968,071 12,947,082
2027 23,374,588 12,692,769
2026 22,791,601 12,439,296
2025 22,220,885 12,193,102
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 (2025–2100, retrieved 2026-03-10); World Bank | Health (1960–2024, retrieved 2026-04-06).

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 5,391,555 people (a 30.7% growth), while South Sudan's population increased by 1,677,756 people (a 15.5% 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 63.6% to 37,545,865 people with a rank change from 61st to 55th. The population of South Sudan will increase by 47.4% to 18,434,212 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 2.61% 2.09%
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 (2025–2100, retrieved 2026-03-10); World Bank | Health (1961–2024, retrieved 2026-04-06).

GeoRank.org/population/malawi/south-sudan | CC BY

In 2024, the population of Malawi grew by 2.61%, while South Sudan's population grew by 4.01%.

Live population counters

Malawi South Sudan
Current population
22949294
12507858
Population rank 61/197 80/197
Percent of world population 0.28% 0.15%
One net population change
57.3 seconds
1.14 minutes
One birth every
47.6 seconds
1.6 minutes
One death every
4.64 minutes
4.76 minutes
Daily growth/decline +1,509 +1,260
Annual growth/decline +550,804 +460,034
Annual growth/decline rate +2.61% +4.01%
Population growth rate rank 26/197 7/197
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 - -1,507 - 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 2026-04-06).

GeoRank.org/population/malawi/south-sudan | 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 Sudan 57.4% is from natural causes (a gain of 1,792,135 people) and 42.6% is from migration (a loss of 1,329,606 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
Blantyre 800K
Mzuzu 150K
Zomba 101K
Mangochi 53.5K
Mzimba 26.1K
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 (1960–2024, 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-sudan | 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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