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Population in Malawi compared to Spain: Trends, Charts, Rankings

Updated on by Georank team

The latest officially reported population of Malawi was 21,655,286 in 2024 vs 48,848,840 people in Spain in 2024. In 2026, based on the adjusted UN estimation, the current Malawi's population is 22,949,294 people compared to 48,806,901 in Spain.

Population statistics:

  • Spain's population is 2.13 times bigger than Malawi's.
  • Malawi is ranked the 61st most populous country in the world, while Spain is the 32nd.
  • The countries together account for 0.87% of the world: 0.28% for Malawi vs 0.59% for Spain.
  • For the last 10 years, Malawi has had an average growth rate of +2.7% per year vs +0.43% in Spain.
  • Since 2006, the population of Malawi has increased from 13.2M people to 22.9M (73.9% growth), while Spain has grown from 44.4M to 48.8M (9.93% growth).

Malawi vs Spain: population by year and forecast

Malawi
Factual

Projection
Spain
Factual

Projection
1x
Year Population
Malawi Spain
2100 59,786,744 33,862,981
2099 59,528,389 34,039,965
2098 59,275,876 34,215,187
2097 59,028,312 34,387,116
2096 58,761,888 34,552,002
2095 58,508,246 34,719,411
2094 58,240,422 34,882,039
2093 57,966,788 35,044,043
2092 57,672,738 35,204,657
2091 57,377,090 35,366,895
2090 57,060,476 35,535,838
2089 56,739,410 35,707,942
2088 56,397,330 35,877,681
2087 56,053,671 36,043,209
2086 55,706,928 36,210,710
2085 55,348,708 36,386,207
2084 54,997,097 36,564,622
2083 54,605,058 36,749,680
2082 54,206,477 36,936,644
2081 53,795,317 37,133,976
2080 53,372,779 37,337,517
2079 52,948,243 37,551,557
2078 52,521,908 37,771,135
2077 52,063,931 38,002,963
2076 51,600,404 38,249,247
2075 51,141,728 38,506,040
2074 50,684,368 38,777,715
2073 50,229,762 39,056,249
2072 49,769,904 39,348,447
2071 49,287,139 39,642,346
2070 48,797,935 39,949,413
2069 48,301,644 40,256,590
2068 47,792,308 40,575,543
2067 47,277,473 40,893,798
2066 46,752,024 41,218,263
2065 46,228,139 41,543,254
2064 45,701,844 41,878,338
2063 45,179,322 42,208,320
2062 44,638,764 42,542,893
2061 44,076,711 42,874,096
2060 43,508,702 43,191,452
2059 42,916,694 43,506,737
2058 42,344,863 43,809,907
2057 41,762,060 44,112,668
2056 41,184,161 44,415,689
2055 40,584,950 44,691,749
2054 39,994,696 44,958,971
2053 39,377,622 45,223,225
2052 38,766,890 45,470,541
2051 38,153,322 45,695,307
2050 37,545,865 45,911,520
2049 36,936,275 46,127,777
2048 36,339,833 46,322,244
2047 35,725,127 46,510,152
2046 35,107,179 46,687,914
2045 34,491,916 46,858,778
2044 33,862,279 47,016,278
2043 33,247,804 47,158,325
2042 32,636,511 47,301,091
2041 32,019,447 47,434,593
2040 31,402,305 47,563,236
2039 30,782,479 47,685,343
2038 30,166,708 47,798,797
2037 29,527,821 47,910,899
2036 28,896,515 48,020,350
2035 28,267,970 48,124,430
2034 27,643,367 48,220,051
2033 27,018,105 48,311,842
2032 26,404,071 48,402,470
2031 25,795,897 48,495,278
2030 25,181,820 48,579,920
2029 24,566,478 48,648,699
2028 23,968,071 48,707,969
2027 23,374,588 48,758,200
2026 22,791,601 48,806,901
2025 22,220,885 48,838,057
2024 21,655,286 48,848,840
2023 21,104,482 48,352,528
2022 20,568,728 47,786,102
2021 20,047,258 47,443,821
2020 19,533,888 47,359,424
2019 19,025,752 47,118,501
2018 18,528,081 46,782,011
2017 18,039,715 46,571,232
2016 17,557,739 46,458,139
2015 17,085,587 46,422,303
2014 16,621,538 46,460,733
2013 16,161,816 46,604,197
2012 15,709,577 46,773,055
2011 15,265,022 46,742,697
2010 14,826,463 46,576,897
2009 14,395,788 46,362,946
2008 13,976,417 45,954,106
2007 13,576,343 45,226,803
2006 13,198,701 44,397,319
2005 12,840,031 43,653,155
2004 12,500,737 42,921,895
2003 12,181,574 42,187,645
2002 11,880,440 41,431,558
2001 11,593,058 40,850,412
2000 11,315,942 40,567,864
1999 11,047,804 40,386,875
1998 10,792,876 40,223,509
1997 10,562,035 40,057,389
1996 10,352,228 39,889,852
1995 10,150,117 39,724,050
1994 10,164,894 39,549,108
1993 10,284,024 39,361,262
1992 10,135,079 39,157,685
1991 9,844,227 38,966,376
1990 9,545,852 38,867,322
1989 9,176,220 38,827,764
1988 8,753,262 38,766,939
1987 8,293,174 38,684,815
1986 7,906,480 38,584,624
1985 7,620,508 38,469,512
1984 7,332,810 38,330,364
1983 7,051,709 38,171,525
1982 6,778,879 37,986,012
1981 6,516,454 37,758,631
1980 6,265,529 37,491,165
1979 6,028,749 37,191,330
1978 5,810,132 36,864,898
1977 5,614,983 36,511,638
1976 5,443,384 36,137,812
1975 5,287,367 35,757,900
1974 5,141,337 35,373,335
1973 5,003,938 34,988,947
1972 4,874,475 34,604,469
1971 4,751,434 34,224,490
1970 4,633,944 33,814,531
1969 4,521,184 33,441,054
1968 4,411,054 33,113,134
1967 4,303,012 32,682,947
1966 4,197,926 32,283,194
1965 4,096,157 31,954,292
1964 3,997,305 31,609,195
1963 3,900,506 31,296,651
1962 3,806,307 31,023,366
1961 3,715,534 30,739,250
1960 3,628,134 30,455,000

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/spain | CC BY

From 2006 to 2016, the population of Malawi increased by 4,359,038 people (a 33% growth), while Spain gained 2,060,820 people (a 4.64% growth).

For the next 10 years, from 2016 to 2026, Malawi gained 5,391,555 people (a 30.7% growth), while Spain's population increased by 2,348,762 people (a 5.06% growth).

Malawi was ranked 69th most populous country in 2006 and is 61st in 2026. Spain was ranked 28th in 2006 and ranked 32nd 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 Spain will decrease by 5.93% to 45,911,520 people and rank change from 32nd to 47th.

Malawi is projected to reach its peak in 2100 at 59.8M people, while Spain's population already peaked in 2024 at 48.8M people and is projected to decrease to 33.9M people by 2100.

Population growth rate by year

Malawi
Factual

Projection
Spain
Factual

Projection
1x
Year Growth rate
Malawi Spain
2100 0.43% -0.52%
2099 0.43% -0.51%
2098 0.42% -0.5%
2097 0.45% -0.48%
2096 0.43% -0.48%
2095 0.46% -0.47%
2094 0.47% -0.46%
2093 0.51% -0.46%
2092 0.52% -0.46%
2091 0.55% -0.48%
2090 0.57% -0.48%
2089 0.61% -0.47%
2088 0.61% -0.46%
2087 0.62% -0.46%
2086 0.65% -0.48%
2085 0.64% -0.49%
2084 0.72% -0.5%
2083 0.74% -0.51%
2082 0.76% -0.53%
2081 0.79% -0.55%
2080 0.8% -0.57%
2079 0.81% -0.58%
2078 0.88% -0.61%
2077 0.9% -0.64%
2076 0.9% -0.67%
2075 0.9% -0.7%
2074 0.91% -0.71%
2073 0.92% -0.74%
2072 0.98% -0.74%
2071 1% -0.77%
2070 1.03% -0.76%
2069 1.07% -0.79%
2068 1.09% -0.78%
2067 1.12% -0.79%
2066 1.13% -0.78%
2065 1.15% -0.8%
2064 1.16% -0.78%
2063 1.21% -0.79%
2062 1.28% -0.77%
2061 1.31% -0.73%
2060 1.38% -0.72%
2059 1.35% -0.69%
2058 1.4% -0.69%
2057 1.4% -0.68%
2056 1.48% -0.62%
2055 1.48% -0.59%
2054 1.57% -0.58%
2053 1.58% -0.54%
2052 1.61% -0.49%
2051 1.62% -0.47%
2050 1.65% -0.47%
2049 1.64% -0.42%
2048 1.72% -0.4%
2047 1.76% -0.38%
2046 1.78% -0.36%
2045 1.86% -0.33%
2044 1.85% -0.3%
2043 1.87% -0.3%
2042 1.93% -0.28%
2041 1.97% -0.27%
2040 2.01% -0.26%
2039 2.04% -0.24%
2038 2.16% -0.23%
2037 2.18% -0.23%
2036 2.22% -0.22%
2035 2.26% -0.2%
2034 2.31% -0.19%
2033 2.33% -0.19%
2032 2.36% -0.19%
2031 2.44% -0.17%
2030 2.5% -0.14%
2029 2.5% -0.12%
2028 2.54% -0.1%
2027 2.56% -0.1%
2026 2.57% -0.06%
2025 2.61% -0.02%
2024 2.61% 1.03%
2023 2.6% 1.19%
2022 2.6% 0.72%
2021 2.63% 0.18%
2020 2.67% 0.51%
2019 2.69% 0.72%
2018 2.71% 0.45%
2017 2.75% 0.24%
2016 2.76% 0.08%
2015 2.79% -0.08%
2014 2.84% -0.31%
2013 2.88% -0.36%
2012 2.91% 0.06%
2011 2.96% 0.36%
2010 2.99% 0.46%
2009 3% 0.89%
2008 2.95% 1.61%
2007 2.86% 1.87%
2006 2.79% 1.7%
2005 2.71% 1.7%
2004 2.62% 1.74%
2003 2.53% 1.82%
2002 2.48% 1.42%
2001 2.45% 0.7%
2000 2.43% 0.45%
1999 2.36% 0.41%
1998 2.19% 0.41%
1997 2.03% 0.42%
1996 1.99% 0.42%
1995 -0.15% 0.44%
1994 -1.16% 0.48%
1993 1.47% 0.52%
1992 2.95% 0.49%
1991 3.13% 0.25%
1990 4.03% 0.1%
1989 4.83% 0.16%
1988 5.55% 0.21%
1987 4.89% 0.26%
1986 3.75% 0.3%
1985 3.92% 0.36%
1984 3.99% 0.42%
1983 4.02% 0.49%
1982 4.03% 0.6%
1981 4% 0.71%
1980 3.93% 0.81%
1979 3.76% 0.89%
1978 3.48% 0.97%
1977 3.15% 1.03%
1976 2.95% 1.06%
1975 2.84% 1.09%
1974 2.75% 1.1%
1973 2.66% 1.11%
1972 2.59% 1.11%
1971 2.54% 1.21%
1970 2.49% 1.12%
1969 2.5% 0.99%
1968 2.51% 1.32%
1967 2.5% 1.24%
1966 2.48% 1.03%
1965 2.47% 1.09%
1964 2.48% 1%
1963 2.47% 0.88%
1962 2.44% 0.92%
1961 2.41% 0.93%

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/spain | CC BY

In 2024, the population of Malawi grew by 2.61%, while Spain's population grew by 1.03%.

Live population counters

Malawi Spain
Current population
22949294
48806901
Population rank 61/197 32/197
Percent of world population 0.28% 0.59%
One net population change
57.3 seconds
1.06 minutes
One birth every
47.6 seconds
1.62 minutes
One death every
4.64 minutes
1.21 minutes
Daily growth/decline +1,509 +1,360
Annual growth/decline +550,804 +496,312
Annual growth/decline rate +2.61% +1.03%
Population growth rate rank 26/197 100/197
One migration net change every
1.56 hours
5.45 minutes
Annual migration change -5,628 +96,630
Net migration rank 118/196 17/196
Foreign-born residents 186,719 8,870,527
Foreign-born residents rank 117/195 6/195
Foreign-born share of population 0.9% 18.5%
Foreign-born share rank 158/195 32/195

Natural population change vs migration

Malawi
Natural

Migration
Spain
Natural

Migration
1x
Year Population change
Malawi Spain
Natural Migration Natural Migration
2025 - -5,628 - 96,630
2024 - -1,507 - 111,674
2023 549,096 -5,811 -111,211 119,099
2022 533,450 -5,231 -133,801 299,779
2021 517,400 -2,666 -113,865 144,385
2020 514,659 -2,655 -151,551 236,854
2019 506,104 -1,837 -56,542 464,783
2018 494,348 -3,267 -56,139 337,467
2017 484,655 982 -32,600 201,135
2016 474,779 3,505 0 106,474
2015 472,484 -6,471 -4,642 -1,979
2014 472,418 -10,317 32,522 -97,870
2013 470,293 -12,934 37,284 -250,741
2012 460,684 -13,561 51,450 -153,486
2011 454,149 -12,170 84,137 60,761
2010 444,468 -9,327 102,469 69,406
2009 434,811 -8,590 106,635 129,557
2008 421,781 -9,264 133,267 434,135
2007 410,290 -22,680 108,545 772,317
2006 397,123 -29,450 110,994 659,720
2005 381,130 -31,462 78,576 629,803
2004 361,133 -32,221 85,844 661,158
2003 341,133 -31,729 54,844 658,428
2002 322,863 -30,013 53,861 737,880
2001 310,833 -28,933 44,936 181,307
2000 300,439 -28,098 36,512 176,269
1999 295,629 -31,686 8,077 178,559
1998 285,407 -39,491 4,022 182,926
1997 277,433 -61,646 20,028 165,345
1996 270,048 -66,212 11,967 162,704
1995 266,745 -66,366 15,889 162,434
1994 275,439 -505,365 31,639 160,407
1993 276,538 -284,867 47,234 160,907
1992 269,066 37,142 62,652 177,544
1991 260,193 15,291 58,450 122,841
1990 250,159 71,111 66,075 -30,684
1989 237,967 180,031 81,538 -25,892
1988 226,911 201,011 100,794 -17,663
1987 220,566 271,693 116,054 -12,681
1986 218,519 62,615 131,188 -13,540
1985 216,179 74,625 146,184 -589
1984 212,146 72,435 172,487 2,754
1983 209,422 68,197 183,223 1,241
1982 205,386 62,661 231,714 -7,384
1981 199,436 57,376 237,879 2,563
1980 192,746 52,294 281,184 20,166
1979 182,123 46,388 312,407 -5,929
1978 172,503 36,225 339,157 -2,504
1977 161,930 19,638 361,465 -1,332
1976 153,422 8,206 375,834 2,804
1975 145,254 5,162 371,882 -218
1974 137,819 3,833 396,182 105,838
1973 131,529 1,623 374,381 8,624
1972 125,728 48 391,030 7,935
1971 121,015 -710 369,625 7,363
1970 116,822 -2,147 378,723 -60,580
1969 113,120 -2,266 367,851 -49,956
1968 110,329 -924 387,423 -46,088
1967 106,668 0 402,001 -42,344
1966 103,512 0 397,084 -41,467
1965 100,040 0 405,819 -42,476
1964 97,658 0 429,885 -41,461
1963 95,933 0 394,338 -44,446
1962 92,463 0 384,690 -45,211
1961 89,091 0 396,537 -46,517
1960 85,718 0 398,960 -154,869

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

GeoRank.org/population/malawi/spain | 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 Spain 25.8% is from natural causes (a loss of 627,829 people) and 74.2% is from migration (a gain of 1,810,127 people).

As of 2024, 186,719 residents or 0.9% of the population were not native-born in Malawi, compared to 8,870,527 people or 18.5% in Spain.

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
Spain
City Population
Madrid 3.51M
Barcelona 1.73M
Tenerife 955K
Valencia 841K
Zaragoza 693K
Seville 689K
Malaga 599K
Palma de Mallorca 435K
Las Palmas 382K
Alicante 366K

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/spain | 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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