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Population in Malawi compared to Sri Lanka: Trends, Charts, Rankings

Updated on by Georank team

The latest officially reported population of Malawi was 21,655,286 in 2024 vs 21,916,000 people in Sri Lanka in 2024. In 2026, based on the adjusted UN estimation, the current Malawi's population is 22,949,294 people compared to 22,185,425 in Sri Lanka.

Population statistics:

  • Malawi's population is 1.03 times bigger than Sri Lanka's.
  • Malawi is ranked the 61st most populous country in the world, while Sri Lanka is the 63rd.
  • The countries together account for 0.54% of the world: 0.28% for Malawi vs 0.27% for Sri Lanka.
  • For the last 10 years, Malawi has had an average growth rate of +2.7% per year vs +0.57% in Sri Lanka.
  • Since 2006, the population of Malawi has increased from 13.2M people to 22.9M (73.9% growth), while Sri Lanka has grown from 20.4M to 22.2M (9.01% growth).

Malawi vs Sri Lanka: population by year and forecast

Malawi
Factual

Projection
Sri Lanka
Factual

Projection
1x
Year Population
Malawi Sri Lanka
2100 59,786,744 20,270,496
2099 59,528,389 20,383,669
2098 59,275,876 20,498,567
2097 59,028,312 20,611,123
2096 58,761,888 20,723,560
2095 58,508,246 20,834,629
2094 58,240,422 20,943,809
2093 57,966,788 21,052,131
2092 57,672,738 21,158,833
2091 57,377,090 21,263,961
2090 57,060,476 21,371,263
2089 56,739,410 21,475,426
2088 56,397,330 21,577,177
2087 56,053,671 21,677,510
2086 55,706,928 21,777,420
2085 55,348,708 21,876,464
2084 54,997,097 21,970,336
2083 54,605,058 22,062,801
2082 54,206,477 22,151,745
2081 53,795,317 22,240,834
2080 53,372,779 22,326,555
2079 52,948,243 22,411,438
2078 52,521,908 22,489,772
2077 52,063,931 22,565,028
2076 51,600,404 22,637,463
2075 51,141,728 22,707,112
2074 50,684,368 22,778,489
2073 50,229,762 22,844,703
2072 49,769,904 22,905,707
2071 49,287,139 22,964,866
2070 48,797,935 23,022,515
2069 48,301,644 23,076,310
2068 47,792,308 23,129,541
2067 47,277,473 23,184,596
2066 46,752,024 23,234,419
2065 46,228,139 23,285,901
2064 45,701,844 23,331,390
2063 45,179,322 23,372,184
2062 44,638,764 23,409,522
2061 44,076,711 23,441,893
2060 43,508,702 23,474,032
2059 42,916,694 23,502,132
2058 42,344,863 23,528,076
2057 41,762,060 23,550,580
2056 41,184,161 23,570,923
2055 40,584,950 23,582,432
2054 39,994,696 23,591,414
2053 39,377,622 23,601,371
2052 38,766,890 23,605,361
2051 38,153,322 23,606,194
2050 37,545,865 23,603,330
2049 36,936,275 23,597,604
2048 36,339,833 23,587,307
2047 35,725,127 23,570,881
2046 35,107,179 23,547,409
2045 34,491,916 23,515,133
2044 33,862,279 23,483,546
2043 33,247,804 23,446,242
2042 32,636,511 23,404,983
2041 32,019,447 23,357,358
2040 31,402,305 23,306,148
2039 30,782,479 23,248,341
2038 30,166,708 23,187,512
2037 29,527,821 23,120,775
2036 28,896,515 23,053,427
2035 28,267,970 22,981,808
2034 27,643,367 22,906,587
2033 27,018,105 22,826,414
2032 26,404,071 22,742,267
2031 25,795,897 22,655,907
2030 25,181,820 22,564,038
2029 24,566,478 22,470,759
2028 23,968,071 22,370,999
2027 23,374,588 22,266,017
2026 22,791,601 22,155,543
2025 22,220,885 22,039,908
2024 21,655,286 21,916,000
2023 21,104,482 22,037,000
2022 20,568,728 22,181,000
2021 20,047,258 22,156,000
2020 19,533,888 21,919,000
2019 19,025,752 21,803,000
2018 18,528,081 21,670,000
2017 18,039,715 21,453,000
2016 17,557,739 21,209,000
2015 17,085,587 20,970,000
2014 16,621,538 20,778,000
2013 16,161,816 20,585,000
2012 15,709,577 21,169,458
2011 15,265,022 21,009,048
2010 14,826,463 20,879,089
2009 14,395,788 20,756,435
2008 13,976,417 20,629,378
2007 13,576,343 20,492,545
2006 13,198,701 20,352,411
2005 12,840,031 20,216,524
2004 12,500,737 20,087,605
2003 12,181,574 19,951,521
2002 11,880,440 19,805,752
2001 11,593,058 19,600,362
2000 11,315,942 19,293,054
1999 11,047,804 18,944,731
1998 10,792,876 18,596,003
1997 10,562,035 18,248,200
1996 10,352,228 17,905,018
1995 10,150,117 17,564,068
1994 10,164,894 17,275,773
1993 10,284,024 17,025,918
1992 10,135,079 16,739,284
1991 9,844,227 16,475,354
1990 9,545,852 16,352,458
1989 9,176,220 16,248,557
1988 8,753,262 16,078,621
1987 8,293,174 15,916,576
1986 7,906,480 15,731,256
1985 7,620,508 15,544,154
1984 7,332,810 15,441,860
1983 7,051,709 15,388,794
1982 6,778,879 15,286,567
1981 6,516,454 15,099,414
1980 6,265,529 14,847,974
1979 6,028,749 14,579,614
1978 5,810,132 14,310,128
1977 5,614,983 14,049,371
1976 5,443,384 13,796,770
1975 5,287,367 13,548,984
1974 5,141,337 13,305,693
1973 5,003,938 13,060,916
1972 4,874,475 12,809,205
1971 4,751,434 12,551,910
1970 4,633,944 12,287,110
1969 4,521,184 12,013,858
1968 4,411,054 11,736,088
1967 4,303,012 11,457,328
1966 4,197,926 11,183,928
1965 4,096,157 10,916,965
1964 3,997,305 10,653,397
1963 3,900,506 10,395,040
1962 3,806,307 10,143,754
1961 3,715,534 9,899,372
1960 3,628,134 9,661,389

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/sri-lanka | CC BY

From 2006 to 2016, the population of Malawi increased by 4,359,038 people (a 33% growth), while Sri Lanka gained 856,589 people (a 4.21% growth).

For the next 10 years, from 2016 to 2026, Malawi gained 5,391,555 people (a 30.7% growth), while Sri Lanka's population increased by 976,425 people (a 4.6% growth).

Malawi was ranked 69th most populous country in 2006 and is 61st in 2026. Sri Lanka was ranked 55th in 2006 and ranked 63rd 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 Sri Lanka will increase by 6.39% to 23,603,330 people and rank change from 63rd to 70th.

Malawi is projected to reach its peak in 2100 at 59.8M people compared to the peak of 23.6M people in 2051 for Sri Lanka.

Population growth rate by year

Malawi
Factual

Projection
Sri Lanka
Factual

Projection
1x
Year Growth rate
Malawi Sri Lanka
2100 0.43% -0.56%
2099 0.43% -0.56%
2098 0.42% -0.55%
2097 0.45% -0.54%
2096 0.43% -0.53%
2095 0.46% -0.52%
2094 0.47% -0.51%
2093 0.51% -0.5%
2092 0.52% -0.49%
2091 0.55% -0.5%
2090 0.57% -0.49%
2089 0.61% -0.47%
2088 0.61% -0.46%
2087 0.62% -0.46%
2086 0.65% -0.45%
2085 0.64% -0.43%
2084 0.72% -0.42%
2083 0.74% -0.4%
2082 0.76% -0.4%
2081 0.79% -0.38%
2080 0.8% -0.38%
2079 0.81% -0.35%
2078 0.88% -0.33%
2077 0.9% -0.32%
2076 0.9% -0.31%
2075 0.9% -0.31%
2074 0.91% -0.29%
2073 0.92% -0.27%
2072 0.98% -0.26%
2071 1% -0.25%
2070 1.03% -0.23%
2069 1.07% -0.23%
2068 1.09% -0.24%
2067 1.12% -0.21%
2066 1.13% -0.22%
2065 1.15% -0.19%
2064 1.16% -0.17%
2063 1.21% -0.16%
2062 1.28% -0.14%
2061 1.31% -0.14%
2060 1.38% -0.12%
2059 1.35% -0.11%
2058 1.4% -0.1%
2057 1.4% -0.09%
2056 1.48% -0.05%
2055 1.48% -0.04%
2054 1.57% -0.04%
2053 1.58% -0.02%
2052 1.61% -0.004%
2051 1.62% 0.01%
2050 1.65% 0.02%
2049 1.64% 0.04%
2048 1.72% 0.07%
2047 1.76% 0.1%
2046 1.78% 0.14%
2045 1.86% 0.13%
2044 1.85% 0.16%
2043 1.87% 0.18%
2042 1.93% 0.2%
2041 1.97% 0.22%
2040 2.01% 0.25%
2039 2.04% 0.26%
2038 2.16% 0.29%
2037 2.18% 0.29%
2036 2.22% 0.31%
2035 2.26% 0.33%
2034 2.31% 0.35%
2033 2.33% 0.37%
2032 2.36% 0.38%
2031 2.44% 0.41%
2030 2.5% 0.42%
2029 2.5% 0.45%
2028 2.54% 0.47%
2027 2.56% 0.5%
2026 2.57% 0.52%
2025 2.61% 0.57%
2024 2.61% -0.55%
2023 2.6% -0.65%
2022 2.6% 0.11%
2021 2.63% 1.08%
2020 2.67% 0.53%
2019 2.69% 0.61%
2018 2.71% 1.01%
2017 2.75% 1.15%
2016 2.76% 1.14%
2015 2.79% 0.92%
2014 2.84% 0.94%
2013 2.88% -2.76%
2012 2.91% 0.76%
2011 2.96% 0.62%
2010 2.99% 0.59%
2009 3% 0.62%
2008 2.95% 0.67%
2007 2.86% 0.69%
2006 2.79% 0.67%
2005 2.71% 0.64%
2004 2.62% 0.68%
2003 2.53% 0.74%
2002 2.48% 1.05%
2001 2.45% 1.59%
2000 2.43% 1.84%
1999 2.36% 1.88%
1998 2.19% 1.91%
1997 2.03% 1.92%
1996 1.99% 1.94%
1995 -0.15% 1.67%
1994 -1.16% 1.47%
1993 1.47% 1.71%
1992 2.95% 1.6%
1991 3.13% 0.75%
1990 4.03% 0.64%
1989 4.83% 1.06%
1988 5.55% 1.02%
1987 4.89% 1.18%
1986 3.75% 1.2%
1985 3.92% 0.66%
1984 3.99% 0.34%
1983 4.02% 0.67%
1982 4.03% 1.24%
1981 4% 1.69%
1980 3.93% 1.84%
1979 3.76% 1.88%
1978 3.48% 1.86%
1977 3.15% 1.83%
1976 2.95% 1.83%
1975 2.84% 1.83%
1974 2.75% 1.87%
1973 2.66% 1.97%
1972 2.59% 2.05%
1971 2.54% 2.16%
1970 2.49% 2.27%
1969 2.5% 2.37%
1968 2.51% 2.43%
1967 2.5% 2.44%
1966 2.48% 2.45%
1965 2.47% 2.47%
1964 2.48% 2.49%
1963 2.47% 2.48%
1962 2.44% 2.47%
1961 2.41% 2.46%

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/sri-lanka | CC BY

In 2024, the population of Malawi grew by 2.61%, while Sri Lanka's population declined by 0.55%.

Live population counters

Malawi Sri Lanka
Current population
22949294
22185425
Population rank 61/197 63/197
Percent of world population 0.28% 0.27%
One net population change
57.3 seconds
4.34 minutes
One birth every
47.6 seconds
2.13 minutes
One death every
4.64 minutes
2.91 minutes
Daily growth/decline +1,509 -332
Annual growth/decline +550,804 -121,000
Annual growth/decline rate +2.61% -0.55%
Population growth rate rank 26/197 188/197
One migration net change every
1.56 hours
17.2 minutes
Annual migration change -5,628 -30,724
Net migration rank 118/196 165/196
Foreign-born residents 186,719 40,698
Foreign-born residents rank 117/195 156/195
Foreign-born share of population 0.9% 0.2%
Foreign-born share rank 158/195 190/195

Natural population change vs migration

Malawi
Natural

Migration
Sri Lanka
Natural

Migration
1x
Year Population change
Malawi Sri Lanka
Natural Migration Natural Migration
2025 - -5,628 - -30,724
2024 - -1,507 - -27,245
2023 549,096 -5,811 66,111 -28,011
2022 533,450 -5,231 95,378 -27,435
2021 517,400 -2,666 121,858 -29,586
2020 514,659 -2,655 170,968 -29,875
2019 506,104 -1,837 172,243 -28,426
2018 494,348 -3,267 183,610 -28,607
2017 484,655 982 187,993 -22,324
2016 474,779 3,505 194,232 -18,388
2015 472,484 -6,471 201,815 -29,797
2014 472,418 -10,317 211,541 -33,672
2013 470,293 -12,934 221,021 -37,754
2012 460,684 -13,561 229,138 -41,955
2011 454,149 -12,170 224,461 -90,839
2010 444,468 -9,327 224,325 -98,060
2009 434,811 -8,590 200,175 -81,130
2008 421,781 -9,264 232,225 -97,144
2007 410,290 -22,680 248,287 -109,695
2006 397,123 -29,450 248,706 -107,045
2005 381,130 -31,462 248,683 -118,594
2004 361,133 -32,221 212,527 -84,795
2003 341,133 -31,729 252,008 -107,573
2002 322,863 -30,013 252,840 -105,718
2001 310,833 -28,933 244,377 19,273
2000 300,439 -28,098 227,060 123,894
1999 295,629 -31,686 206,876 138,799
1998 285,407 -39,491 201,059 150,724
1997 277,433 -61,646 208,193 135,636
1996 270,048 -66,212 215,290 127,236
1995 266,745 -66,366 221,957 117,416
1994 275,439 -505,365 228,904 8,323
1993 276,538 -284,867 226,257 36,232
1992 269,066 37,142 222,230 88,542
1991 260,193 15,291 218,117 -1,047
1990 250,159 71,111 224,454 -195,736
1989 237,967 180,031 212,401 -33,305
1988 226,911 201,011 219,184 -58,415
1987 220,566 271,693 226,414 -63,105
1986 218,519 62,615 233,782 -26,460
1985 216,179 74,625 247,836 -80,950
1984 212,146 72,435 263,175 -225,450
1983 209,422 68,197 277,768 -209,362
1982 205,386 62,661 300,030 -163,987
1981 199,436 57,376 328,096 -89,824
1980 192,746 52,294 328,155 -63,541
1979 182,123 46,388 329,791 -57,683
1978 172,503 36,225 317,055 -50,189
1977 161,930 19,638 300,038 -45,383
1976 153,422 8,206 291,816 -41,258
1975 145,254 5,162 282,496 -37,475
1974 137,819 3,833 275,521 -33,979
1973 131,529 1,623 278,577 -30,582
1972 125,728 48 282,494 -27,071
1971 121,015 -710 281,200 -22,021
1970 116,822 -2,147 286,719 -16,299
1969 113,120 -2,266 286,218 -10,152
1968 110,329 -924 286,642 -7,163
1967 106,668 0 284,738 -6,696
1966 103,512 0 275,549 -6,794
1965 100,040 0 272,422 -7,249
1964 97,658 0 269,584 -7,614
1963 95,933 0 262,880 -8,118
1962 92,463 0 256,719 -8,909
1961 89,091 0 251,087 -10,144
1960 85,718 0 247,631 -12,610

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

GeoRank.org/population/malawi/sri-lanka | 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 Sri Lanka 85.3% is from natural causes (a gain of 1,605,749 people) and 14.7% is from migration (a loss of 276,121 people).

As of 2024, 186,719 residents or 0.9% of the population were not native-born in Malawi, compared to 40,698 people or 0.2% in Sri Lanka.

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
Sri Lanka
City Population
Colombo 648K
Gampaha 191K
Beruwala 165K
Negombo 142K
Kandy 120K
Sri Jayawardenepura Kotte 116K
Trincomalee 99.1K
Galle 93.1K
Matara 68.2K
Anuradhapura 63.2K

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/sri-lanka | 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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