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

Updated on by Georank

The latest officially reported population of Malawi was 22,216,120 in 2025 vs 10,596,620 people in Sweden in 2025. In 2026, based on the adjusted UN estimation, the current Malawi's population is 23,086,106 people compared to 10,665,077 in Sweden.

Population statistics:

  • Malawi's population is 2.16 times bigger than Sweden's.
  • Malawi is ranked the 61st most populous country in the world, while Sweden is the 93rd.
  • The countries together account for 0.41% of the world: 0.28% for Malawi vs 0.13% for Sweden.
  • For the last 10 years, Malawi has had an average growth rate of +2.67% per year vs +0.81% in Sweden.
  • Since 2006, the population of Malawi has increased from 13.2M people to 23.1M (74.9% growth), while Sweden has grown from 9.08M to 10.7M (17.5% growth).

Malawi vs Sweden: population by year and forecast

Malawi
Factual

Projection
Sweden
Factual

Projection
1x
Year Population
Malawi Sweden
2100 59,773,923 11,330,987
2099 59,515,624 11,334,835
2098 59,263,165 11,339,107
2097 59,015,654 11,340,268
2096 58,749,288 11,341,947
2095 58,495,699 11,344,893
2094 58,227,933 11,347,531
2093 57,954,358 11,349,412
2092 57,660,371 11,351,452
2091 57,364,786 11,352,899
2090 57,048,240 11,354,820
2089 56,727,243 11,357,746
2088 56,385,237 11,360,405
2087 56,041,651 11,364,197
2086 55,694,983 11,371,529
2085 55,336,839 11,376,573
2084 54,985,304 11,381,332
2083 54,593,349 11,384,862
2082 54,194,853 11,390,058
2081 53,783,781 11,391,696
2080 53,361,334 11,393,882
2079 52,936,889 11,393,412
2078 52,510,645 11,391,291
2077 52,052,767 11,389,212
2076 51,589,339 11,385,385
2075 51,130,762 11,381,261
2074 50,673,499 11,377,973
2073 50,218,991 11,375,051
2072 49,759,232 11,371,362
2071 49,276,570 11,366,451
2070 48,787,471 11,362,742
2069 48,291,287 11,358,895
2068 47,782,059 11,357,504
2067 47,267,335 11,356,672
2066 46,741,998 11,356,676
2065 46,218,226 11,355,953
2064 45,692,044 11,354,988
2063 45,169,634 11,354,834
2062 44,629,192 11,355,452
2061 44,067,259 11,353,198
2060 43,499,372 11,352,013
2059 42,907,491 11,349,674
2058 42,335,782 11,345,893
2057 41,753,105 11,340,487
2056 41,175,330 11,335,234
2055 40,576,247 11,328,291
2054 39,986,120 11,320,768
2053 39,369,178 11,310,127
2052 38,758,577 11,296,358
2051 38,145,141 11,280,503
2050 37,537,814 11,261,537
2049 36,928,354 11,242,070
2048 36,332,040 11,221,274
2047 35,717,466 11,199,365
2046 35,099,651 11,176,512
2045 34,484,520 11,152,739
2044 33,855,018 11,127,765
2043 33,240,675 11,102,354
2042 32,629,513 11,076,504
2041 32,012,581 11,052,951
2040 31,395,572 11,028,609
2039 30,775,878 11,005,487
2038 30,160,239 10,983,160
2037 29,521,489 10,961,591
2036 28,890,318 10,938,759
2035 28,261,909 10,916,327
2034 27,637,439 10,893,717
2033 27,012,311 10,869,588
2032 26,398,409 10,844,339
2031 25,790,366 10,819,037
2030 25,176,420 10,790,557
2029 24,561,210 10,759,017
2028 23,962,931 10,724,017
2027 23,369,575 10,685,143
2026 22,786,713 10,643,884
2025 22,216,120 10,596,620
2024 21,655,286 10,569,709
2023 21,104,482 10,536,632
2022 20,568,728 10,486,941
2021 20,047,258 10,415,811
2020 19,533,888 10,353,442
2019 19,025,752 10,278,887
2018 18,528,081 10,175,214
2017 18,039,715 10,057,698
2016 17,557,739 9,923,085
2015 17,085,587 9,799,186
2014 16,621,538 9,696,110
2013 16,161,816 9,600,379
2012 15,709,577 9,519,374
2011 15,265,022 9,449,213
2010 14,826,463 9,378,126
2009 14,395,788 9,298,515
2008 13,976,417 9,219,637
2007 13,576,343 9,148,092
2006 13,198,701 9,080,505
2005 12,840,031 9,029,572
2004 12,500,737 8,993,531
2003 12,181,574 8,958,229
2002 11,880,440 8,924,958
2001 11,593,058 8,895,960
2000 11,315,942 8,872,109
1999 11,047,804 8,857,874
1998 10,792,876 8,850,974
1997 10,562,035 8,846,062
1996 10,352,228 8,840,998
1995 10,150,117 8,826,939
1994 10,164,894 8,780,745
1993 10,284,024 8,718,561
1992 10,135,079 8,668,067
1991 9,844,227 8,617,375
1990 9,545,852 8,558,835
1989 9,176,220 8,492,964
1988 8,753,262 8,436,489
1987 8,293,174 8,397,804
1986 7,906,480 8,369,829
1985 7,620,508 8,350,386
1984 7,332,810 8,336,605
1983 7,051,709 8,329,033
1982 6,778,879 8,325,263
1981 6,516,454 8,320,503
1980 6,265,529 8,310,531
1979 6,028,749 8,293,678
1978 5,810,132 8,275,599
1977 5,614,983 8,251,540
1976 5,443,384 8,222,286
1975 5,287,367 8,192,437
1974 5,141,337 8,159,955
1973 5,003,938 8,136,312
1972 4,874,475 8,122,300
1971 4,751,434 8,098,334
1970 4,633,944 8,042,801
1969 4,521,184 7,968,072
1968 4,411,054 7,912,273
1967 4,303,012 7,867,931
1966 4,197,926 7,807,797
1965 4,096,157 7,733,853
1964 3,997,305 7,661,354
1963 3,900,506 7,604,328
1962 3,806,307 7,561,588
1961 3,715,534 7,519,998
1960 3,628,134 7,484,656

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/sweden | CC BY

From 2006 to 2016, the population of Malawi increased by 4,359,038 people (a 33% growth), while Sweden gained 842,580 people (a 9.28% growth).

For the next 10 years, from 2016 to 2026, Malawi gained 5,528,367 people (a 31.5% growth), while Sweden's population increased by 741,992 people (a 7.48% growth).

Malawi was ranked 69th most populous country in 2006 and is 61st in 2026. Sweden was ranked 88th in 2006 and ranked 93rd 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 Sweden will increase by 5.59% to 11,261,537 people and will still be ranked 93rd.

Malawi is projected to reach its peak in 2100 at 59.8M people compared to the peak of 11.4M people in 2080 for Sweden.

Population growth rate by year

Malawi
Factual

Projection
Sweden
Factual

Projection
1x
Year Growth rate
Malawi Sweden
2100 0.43% -0.03%
2099 0.43% -0.04%
2098 0.42% -0.01%
2097 0.45% -0.01%
2096 0.43% -0.03%
2095 0.46% -0.02%
2094 0.47% -0.02%
2093 0.51% -0.02%
2092 0.52% -0.01%
2091 0.55% -0.02%
2090 0.57% -0.03%
2089 0.61% -0.02%
2088 0.61% -0.03%
2087 0.62% -0.06%
2086 0.65% -0.04%
2085 0.64% -0.04%
2084 0.72% -0.03%
2083 0.74% -0.05%
2082 0.76% -0.01%
2081 0.79% -0.02%
2080 0.8% 0.004%
2079 0.81% 0.02%
2078 0.88% 0.02%
2077 0.9% 0.03%
2076 0.9% 0.04%
2075 0.9% 0.03%
2074 0.91% 0.03%
2073 0.92% 0.03%
2072 0.98% 0.04%
2071 1% 0.03%
2070 1.03% 0.03%
2069 1.07% 0.01%
2068 1.09% 0.007%
2067 1.12% -0%
2066 1.13% 0.006%
2065 1.15% 0.009%
2064 1.16% 0.001%
2063 1.21% -0.005%
2062 1.28% 0.02%
2061 1.31% 0.01%
2060 1.38% 0.02%
2059 1.35% 0.03%
2058 1.4% 0.05%
2057 1.4% 0.05%
2056 1.48% 0.06%
2055 1.48% 0.07%
2054 1.57% 0.09%
2053 1.58% 0.12%
2052 1.61% 0.14%
2051 1.62% 0.17%
2050 1.65% 0.17%
2049 1.64% 0.19%
2048 1.72% 0.2%
2047 1.76% 0.2%
2046 1.78% 0.21%
2045 1.86% 0.22%
2044 1.85% 0.23%
2043 1.87% 0.23%
2042 1.93% 0.21%
2041 1.97% 0.22%
2040 2.01% 0.21%
2039 2.04% 0.2%
2038 2.16% 0.2%
2037 2.18% 0.21%
2036 2.22% 0.21%
2035 2.26% 0.21%
2034 2.31% 0.22%
2033 2.33% 0.23%
2032 2.36% 0.23%
2031 2.44% 0.26%
2030 2.5% 0.29%
2029 2.5% 0.33%
2028 2.54% 0.36%
2027 2.56% 0.39%
2026 2.57% 0.45%
2025 2.59% 0.25%
2024 2.61% 0.31%
2023 2.6% 0.47%
2022 2.6% 0.68%
2021 2.63% 0.6%
2020 2.67% 0.73%
2019 2.69% 1.02%
2018 2.71% 1.17%
2017 2.75% 1.36%
2016 2.76% 1.26%
2015 2.79% 1.06%
2014 2.84% 1%
2013 2.88% 0.85%
2012 2.91% 0.74%
2011 2.96% 0.76%
2010 2.99% 0.86%
2009 3% 0.86%
2008 2.95% 0.78%
2007 2.86% 0.74%
2006 2.79% 0.56%
2005 2.71% 0.4%
2004 2.62% 0.39%
2003 2.53% 0.37%
2002 2.48% 0.33%
2001 2.45% 0.27%
2000 2.43% 0.16%
1999 2.36% 0.08%
1998 2.19% 0.06%
1997 2.03% 0.06%
1996 1.99% 0.16%
1995 -0.15% 0.53%
1994 -1.16% 0.71%
1993 1.47% 0.58%
1992 2.95% 0.59%
1991 3.13% 0.68%
1990 4.03% 0.78%
1989 4.83% 0.67%
1988 5.55% 0.46%
1987 4.89% 0.33%
1986 3.75% 0.23%
1985 3.92% 0.17%
1984 3.99% 0.09%
1983 4.02% 0.05%
1982 4.03% 0.06%
1981 4% 0.12%
1980 3.93% 0.2%
1979 3.76% 0.22%
1978 3.48% 0.29%
1977 3.15% 0.36%
1976 2.95% 0.36%
1975 2.84% 0.4%
1974 2.75% 0.29%
1973 2.66% 0.17%
1972 2.59% 0.3%
1971 2.54% 0.69%
1970 2.49% 0.94%
1969 2.5% 0.71%
1968 2.51% 0.56%
1967 2.5% 0.77%
1966 2.48% 0.96%
1965 2.47% 0.95%
1964 2.48% 0.75%
1963 2.47% 0.57%
1962 2.44% 0.55%
1961 2.41% 0.47%

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/sweden | CC BY

In 2025, the population of Malawi grew by 2.59%, while Sweden's population grew by 0.25%.

Live population counters

Malawi Sweden
Current population
23086106
10665077
Population rank 61/197 93/197
Percent of world population 0.28% 0.13%
One net population change
56.4 seconds
19.6 minutes
One birth every
46.8 seconds
5.35 minutes
One death every
4.59 minutes
5.78 minutes
Daily growth/decline +1,537 +74
Annual growth/decline +560,834 +26,911
Annual growth/decline rate +2.59% +0.25%
Population growth rate rank 23/197 148/197
One migration net change every
1.56 hours
11.2 minutes
Annual migration change -5,628 +47,079
Net migration rank 118/196 22/196
Foreign-born residents 186,719 2,272,158
Foreign-born residents rank 117/195 34/195
Foreign-born share of population 0.9% 21.4%
Foreign-born share rank 158/195 28/195

Natural population change vs migration

Malawi
Natural

Migration
Sweden
Natural

Migration
1x
Year Population change
Malawi Sweden
Natural Migration Natural Migration
2025 - -5,628 - 47,079
2024 559,811 -1,507 7,399 50,115
2023 549,096 -5,811 5,269 55,209
2022 533,450 -5,231 10,487 58,955
2021 517,400 -2,666 22,914 51,947
2020 514,659 -2,655 14,495 37,302
2019 506,104 -1,837 25,697 72,619
2018 494,348 -3,267 23,403 87,517
2017 484,655 982 24,138 102,671
2016 474,779 3,505 25,800 119,234
2015 472,484 -6,471 23,518 80,534
2014 472,418 -10,317 26,179 77,654
2013 470,293 -12,934 23,041 66,760
2012 460,684 -13,561 20,943 52,879
2011 454,149 -12,170 21,733 46,049
2010 444,468 -9,327 25,320 51,175
2009 434,811 -8,590 21,387 63,638
2008 421,781 -9,264 18,439 56,452
2007 410,290 -22,680 15,552 54,907
2006 397,123 -29,450 15,436 51,675
2005 381,130 -31,462 9,030 27,030
2004 361,133 -32,221 9,893 25,842
2003 341,133 -31,729 6,271 29,161
2002 322,863 -30,013 893 31,364
2001 310,833 -28,933 -1,779 28,856
2000 300,439 -28,098 -2,662 24,900
1999 295,629 -31,686 -6,201 13,940
1998 285,407 -39,491 -3,541 11,325
1997 277,433 -61,646 -3,539 6,047
1996 270,048 -66,212 1,768 5,773
1995 266,745 -66,366 9,710 11,621
1994 275,439 -505,365 20,196 51,545
1993 276,538 -284,867 20,924 32,725
1992 269,066 37,142 28,605 20,507
1991 260,193 15,291 29,299 25,314
1990 250,159 71,111 29,100 35,668
1989 237,967 180,031 24,629 44,565
1988 226,911 201,011 15,186 30,064
1987 220,566 271,693 11,757 21,335
1986 218,519 62,615 9,206 15,211
1985 216,179 74,625 4,175 11,464
1984 212,146 72,435 3,335 8,668
1983 209,422 68,197 833 2,105
1982 205,386 62,661 1,665 2,524
1981 199,436 57,376 1,664 3,209
1980 192,746 52,294 5,818 10,040
1979 182,123 46,388 4,976 13,895
1978 172,503 36,225 4,138 13,807
1977 161,930 19,638 7,426 23,528
1976 153,422 8,206 8,222 20,324
1975 145,254 5,162 14,746 16,564
1974 137,819 3,833 23,664 9,217
1973 131,529 1,623 24,409 -9,551
1972 125,728 48 28,428 -13,519
1971 121,015 -710 31,583 2,334
1970 116,822 -2,147 30,563 47,242
1969 113,120 -2,266 23,904 48,824
1968 110,329 -924 30,858 8,545
1967 106,668 0 41,700 11,075
1966 103,512 0 45,286 24,920
1965 100,040 0 44,857 32,444
1964 97,658 0 45,968 23,581
1963 95,933 0 35,741 11,009
1962 92,463 0 30,246 9,627
1961 89,091 0 30,832 14,401
1960 85,718 0 27,693 1,080

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

GeoRank.org/population/malawi/sweden | 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 Sweden 20.4% is from natural causes (a gain of 183,120 people) and 79.6% is from migration (a gain of 716,103 people).

As of 2024, 186,719 residents or 0.9% of the population were not native-born in Malawi, compared to 2,272,158 people or 21.4% in Sweden.

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
Sweden
City Population
Stockholm 985K
Gothenburg 675K
Malmo 339K
Uppsala 175K
Vasteras 132K
Orebro 129K
Linkoping 117K
Helsingborg 116K
Jonkoping 103K
Lund 98.3K

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/sweden | 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. Wikidata (2026, retrieved 2026-07-08)
  5. Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) (2000–2019, retrieved 2026-07-08)

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