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

Updated on by Georank team

The latest officially reported population of Malawi was 21,655,286 in 2024 vs 9,005,582 people in Switzerland in 2024. In 2026, based on the adjusted UN estimation, the current Malawi's population is 22,949,294 people compared to 9,107,866 in Switzerland.

Population statistics:

  • Malawi's population is 2.52 times bigger than Switzerland's.
  • Malawi is ranked the 61st most populous country in the world, while Switzerland is the 100th.
  • The countries together account for 0.39% of the world: 0.28% for Malawi vs 0.11% for Switzerland.
  • For the last 10 years, Malawi has had an average growth rate of +2.7% per year vs +0.98% in Switzerland.
  • Since 2006, the population of Malawi has increased from 13.2M people to 22.9M (73.9% growth), while Switzerland has grown from 7.48M to 9.11M (21.7% growth).

Malawi vs Switzerland: population by year and forecast

Malawi
Factual

Projection
Switzerland
Factual

Projection
1x
Year Population
Malawi Switzerland
2100 59,786,744 9,234,296
2099 59,528,389 9,226,472
2098 59,275,876 9,220,109
2097 59,028,312 9,212,728
2096 58,761,888 9,208,997
2095 58,508,246 9,203,477
2094 58,240,422 9,199,095
2093 57,966,788 9,196,672
2092 57,672,738 9,194,082
2091 57,377,090 9,191,145
2090 57,060,476 9,189,122
2089 56,739,410 9,188,754
2088 56,397,330 9,190,102
2087 56,053,671 9,189,763
2086 55,706,928 9,191,494
2085 55,348,708 9,195,728
2084 54,997,097 9,199,983
2083 54,605,058 9,204,908
2082 54,206,477 9,210,695
2081 53,795,317 9,217,065
2080 53,372,779 9,223,475
2079 52,948,243 9,230,920
2078 52,521,908 9,237,649
2077 52,063,931 9,245,300
2076 51,600,404 9,250,248
2075 51,141,728 9,255,753
2074 50,684,368 9,266,455
2073 50,229,762 9,275,439
2072 49,769,904 9,283,185
2071 49,287,139 9,292,913
2070 48,797,935 9,303,843
2069 48,301,644 9,311,935
2068 47,792,308 9,320,335
2067 47,277,473 9,327,741
2066 46,752,024 9,339,455
2065 46,228,139 9,351,481
2064 45,701,844 9,362,413
2063 45,179,322 9,372,441
2062 44,638,764 9,383,258
2061 44,076,711 9,395,036
2060 43,508,702 9,403,920
2059 42,916,694 9,414,241
2058 42,344,863 9,422,560
2057 41,762,060 9,428,212
2056 41,184,161 9,435,441
2055 40,584,950 9,443,890
2054 39,994,696 9,451,268
2053 39,377,622 9,456,389
2052 38,766,890 9,456,418
2051 38,153,322 9,456,395
2050 37,545,865 9,454,544
2049 36,936,275 9,451,083
2048 36,339,833 9,444,091
2047 35,725,127 9,437,061
2046 35,107,179 9,430,954
2045 34,491,916 9,425,155
2044 33,862,279 9,418,152
2043 33,247,804 9,410,763
2042 32,636,511 9,400,808
2041 32,019,447 9,393,857
2040 31,402,305 9,382,662
2039 30,782,479 9,373,984
2038 30,166,708 9,365,030
2037 29,527,821 9,354,254
2036 28,896,515 9,342,450
2035 28,267,970 9,328,907
2034 27,643,367 9,312,054
2033 27,018,105 9,294,881
2032 26,404,071 9,276,221
2031 25,795,897 9,253,034
2030 25,181,820 9,228,188
2029 24,566,478 9,201,743
2028 23,968,071 9,170,620
2027 23,374,588 9,135,740
2026 22,791,601 9,097,532
2025 22,220,885 9,053,983
2024 21,655,286 9,005,582
2023 21,104,482 8,888,822
2022 20,568,728 8,777,088
2021 20,047,258 8,704,546
2020 19,533,888 8,638,167
2019 19,025,752 8,575,280
2018 18,528,081 8,514,329
2017 18,039,715 8,451,840
2016 17,557,739 8,373,338
2015 17,085,587 8,282,396
2014 16,621,538 8,188,649
2013 16,161,816 8,089,346
2012 15,709,577 7,996,861
2011 15,265,022 7,912,398
2010 14,826,463 7,824,909
2009 14,395,788 7,743,831
2008 13,976,417 7,647,675
2007 13,576,343 7,551,117
2006 13,198,701 7,483,934
2005 12,840,031 7,437,115
2004 12,500,737 7,389,625
2003 12,181,574 7,339,001
2002 11,880,440 7,284,753
2001 11,593,058 7,229,854
2000 11,315,942 7,184,250
1999 11,047,804 7,143,991
1998 10,792,876 7,110,001
1997 10,562,035 7,088,906
1996 10,352,228 7,071,850
1995 10,150,117 7,040,687
1994 10,164,894 6,993,795
1993 10,284,024 6,938,265
1992 10,135,079 6,875,364
1991 9,844,227 6,799,978
1990 9,545,852 6,715,519
1989 9,176,220 6,646,912
1988 8,753,262 6,593,386
1987 8,293,174 6,545,106
1986 7,906,480 6,504,124
1985 7,620,508 6,470,365
1984 7,332,810 6,441,865
1983 7,051,709 6,418,773
1982 6,778,879 6,391,309
1981 6,516,454 6,354,074
1980 6,265,529 6,319,408
1979 6,028,749 6,294,365
1978 5,810,132 6,281,738
1977 5,614,983 6,281,174
1976 5,443,384 6,302,504
1975 5,287,367 6,338,632
1974 5,141,337 6,341,405
1973 5,003,938 6,307,347
1972 4,874,475 6,260,956
1971 4,751,434 6,213,399
1970 4,633,944 6,180,877
1969 4,521,184 6,136,387
1968 4,411,054 6,067,714
1967 4,303,012 5,991,785
1966 4,197,926 5,918,002
1965 4,096,157 5,856,472
1964 3,997,305 5,789,228
1963 3,900,506 5,694,247
1962 3,806,307 5,573,815
1961 3,715,534 5,434,294
1960 3,628,134 5,327,827

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/switzerland | CC BY

From 2006 to 2016, the population of Malawi increased by 4,359,038 people (a 33% growth), while Switzerland gained 889,404 people (a 11.9% growth).

For the next 10 years, from 2016 to 2026, Malawi gained 5,391,555 people (a 30.7% growth), while Switzerland's population increased by 734,528 people (a 8.77% growth).

Malawi was ranked 69th most populous country in 2006 and is 61st in 2026. Switzerland was ranked 96th in 2006 and ranked 100th 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 Switzerland will increase by 3.81% to 9,454,544 people and rank change from 100th to 103rd.

Malawi is projected to reach its peak in 2100 at 59.8M people compared to the peak of 9.46M people in 2052 for Switzerland.

Population growth rate by year

Malawi
Factual

Projection
Switzerland
Factual

Projection
1x
Year Growth rate
Malawi Switzerland
2100 0.43% 0.08%
2099 0.43% 0.07%
2098 0.42% 0.08%
2097 0.45% 0.04%
2096 0.43% 0.06%
2095 0.46% 0.05%
2094 0.47% 0.03%
2093 0.51% 0.03%
2092 0.52% 0.03%
2091 0.55% 0.02%
2090 0.57% 0.004%
2089 0.61% -0.01%
2088 0.61% 0.004%
2087 0.62% -0.02%
2086 0.65% -0.05%
2085 0.64% -0.05%
2084 0.72% -0.05%
2083 0.74% -0.06%
2082 0.76% -0.07%
2081 0.79% -0.07%
2080 0.8% -0.08%
2079 0.81% -0.07%
2078 0.88% -0.08%
2077 0.9% -0.05%
2076 0.9% -0.06%
2075 0.9% -0.12%
2074 0.91% -0.1%
2073 0.92% -0.08%
2072 0.98% -0.1%
2071 1% -0.12%
2070 1.03% -0.09%
2069 1.07% -0.09%
2068 1.09% -0.08%
2067 1.12% -0.13%
2066 1.13% -0.13%
2065 1.15% -0.12%
2064 1.16% -0.11%
2063 1.21% -0.12%
2062 1.28% -0.13%
2061 1.31% -0.09%
2060 1.38% -0.11%
2059 1.35% -0.09%
2058 1.4% -0.06%
2057 1.4% -0.08%
2056 1.48% -0.09%
2055 1.48% -0.08%
2054 1.57% -0.05%
2053 1.58% -0%
2052 1.61% 0%
2051 1.62% 0.02%
2050 1.65% 0.04%
2049 1.64% 0.07%
2048 1.72% 0.07%
2047 1.76% 0.06%
2046 1.78% 0.06%
2045 1.86% 0.07%
2044 1.85% 0.08%
2043 1.87% 0.11%
2042 1.93% 0.07%
2041 1.97% 0.12%
2040 2.01% 0.09%
2039 2.04% 0.1%
2038 2.16% 0.12%
2037 2.18% 0.13%
2036 2.22% 0.15%
2035 2.26% 0.18%
2034 2.31% 0.18%
2033 2.33% 0.2%
2032 2.36% 0.25%
2031 2.44% 0.27%
2030 2.5% 0.29%
2029 2.5% 0.34%
2028 2.54% 0.38%
2027 2.56% 0.42%
2026 2.57% 0.48%
2025 2.61% 0.54%
2024 2.61% 1.31%
2023 2.6% 1.27%
2022 2.6% 0.83%
2021 2.63% 0.77%
2020 2.67% 0.73%
2019 2.69% 0.72%
2018 2.71% 0.74%
2017 2.75% 0.94%
2016 2.76% 1.1%
2015 2.79% 1.14%
2014 2.84% 1.23%
2013 2.88% 1.16%
2012 2.91% 1.07%
2011 2.96% 1.12%
2010 2.99% 1.05%
2009 3% 1.26%
2008 2.95% 1.28%
2007 2.86% 0.9%
2006 2.79% 0.63%
2005 2.71% 0.64%
2004 2.62% 0.69%
2003 2.53% 0.74%
2002 2.48% 0.76%
2001 2.45% 0.63%
2000 2.43% 0.56%
1999 2.36% 0.48%
1998 2.19% 0.3%
1997 2.03% 0.24%
1996 1.99% 0.44%
1995 -0.15% 0.67%
1994 -1.16% 0.8%
1993 1.47% 0.91%
1992 2.95% 1.11%
1991 3.13% 1.26%
1990 4.03% 1.03%
1989 4.83% 0.81%
1988 5.55% 0.74%
1987 4.89% 0.63%
1986 3.75% 0.52%
1985 3.92% 0.44%
1984 3.99% 0.36%
1983 4.02% 0.43%
1982 4.03% 0.59%
1981 4% 0.55%
1980 3.93% 0.4%
1979 3.76% 0.2%
1978 3.48% 0.009%
1977 3.15% -0.34%
1976 2.95% -0.57%
1975 2.84% -0.04%
1974 2.75% 0.54%
1973 2.66% 0.74%
1972 2.59% 0.77%
1971 2.54% 0.53%
1970 2.49% 0.73%
1969 2.5% 1.13%
1968 2.51% 1.27%
1967 2.5% 1.25%
1966 2.48% 1.05%
1965 2.47% 1.16%
1964 2.48% 1.67%
1963 2.47% 2.16%
1962 2.44% 2.57%
1961 2.41% 2%

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/switzerland | CC BY

In 2024, the population of Malawi grew by 2.61%, while Switzerland's population grew by 1.31%.

Live population counters

Malawi Switzerland
Current population
22949294
9107866
Population rank 61/197 100/197
Percent of world population 0.28% 0.11%
One net population change
57.3 seconds
4.5 minutes
One birth every
47.6 seconds
6.57 minutes
One death every
4.64 minutes
7.3 minutes
Daily growth/decline +1,509 +320
Annual growth/decline +550,804 +116,760
Annual growth/decline rate +2.61% +1.31%
Population growth rate rank 26/197 81/197
One migration net change every
1.56 hours
14.1 minutes
Annual migration change -5,628 +37,253
Net migration rank 118/196 25/196
Foreign-born residents 186,719 2,773,840
Foreign-born residents rank 117/195 27/195
Foreign-born share of population 0.9% 31.1%
Foreign-born share rank 158/195 17/195

Natural population change vs migration

Malawi
Natural

Migration
Switzerland
Natural

Migration
1x
Year Population change
Malawi Switzerland
Natural Migration Natural Migration
2025 - -5,628 - 37,253
2024 - -1,507 - 40,099
2023 549,096 -5,811 8,000 45,098
2022 533,450 -5,231 7,899 96,424
2021 517,400 -2,666 18,279 50,665
2020 514,659 -2,655 9,502 55,523
2019 506,104 -1,837 18,008 44,517
2018 494,348 -3,267 20,434 41,253
2017 484,655 982 20,284 45,658
2016 474,779 3,505 22,608 71,009
2015 472,484 -6,471 19,050 71,876
2014 472,418 -10,317 21,290 78,122
2013 470,293 -12,934 17,797 83,823
2012 460,684 -13,561 18,393 67,840
2011 454,149 -12,170 18,990 67,194
2010 444,468 -9,327 17,997 76,388
2009 434,811 -8,590 15,487 69,324
2008 421,781 -9,264 15,295 94,430
2007 410,290 -22,680 13,592 72,475
2006 397,123 -29,450 12,723 37,308
2005 381,130 -31,462 11,899 33,203
2004 361,133 -32,221 13,302 39,484
2003 341,133 -31,729 8,807 42,567
2002 322,863 -30,013 10,199 49,650
2001 310,833 -28,933 10,845 35,420
2000 300,439 -28,098 15,806 24,463
1999 295,629 -31,686 16,431 25,599
1998 285,407 -39,491 16,353 11,325
1997 277,433 -61,646 17,722 -1,939
1996 270,048 -66,212 19,801 -131
1995 266,745 -66,366 19,010 25,343
1994 275,439 -505,365 20,982 30,274
1993 276,538 -284,867 21,509 40,267
1992 269,066 37,142 24,064 42,014
1991 260,193 15,291 23,800 69,738
1990 250,159 71,111 20,146 58,428
1989 237,967 180,031 19,941 34,432
1988 226,911 201,011 21,099 34,602
1987 220,566 271,693 15,708 27,081
1986 218,519 62,615 16,261 23,242
1985 216,179 74,625 14,882 14,402
1984 212,146 72,435 16,105 12,532
1983 209,422 68,197 12,837 5,663
1982 205,386 62,661 15,339 21,929
1981 199,436 57,376 13,979 24,229
1980 192,746 52,294 14,535 17,841
1979 182,123 46,388 14,477 4,262
1978 172,503 36,225 13,820 -6,552
1977 161,930 19,638 16,959 -22,516
1976 153,422 8,206 17,017 -54,255
1975 145,254 5,162 22,820 -58,187
1974 137,819 3,833 27,902 2,008
1973 131,529 1,623 30,906 8,158
1972 125,728 48 35,061 19,991
1971 121,015 -710 38,523 2,636
1970 116,822 -2,147 42,648 -18,326
1969 113,120 -2,266 44,182 20,754
1968 110,329 -924 47,328 25,828
1967 106,668 0 52,128 27,697
1966 103,512 0 53,854 14,979
1965 100,040 0 56,222 -1,351
1964 97,658 0 59,050 21,455
1963 95,933 0 52,956 58,415
1962 92,463 0 49,050 82,798
1961 89,091 0 48,365 101,278
1960 85,718 0 42,090 22,313

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

GeoRank.org/population/malawi/switzerland | 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 Switzerland 21.6% is from natural causes (a gain of 165,354 people) and 78.4% is from migration (a gain of 600,145 people).

As of 2024, 186,719 residents or 0.9% of the population were not native-born in Malawi, compared to 2,773,840 people or 31.1% in Switzerland.

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
Switzerland
City Population
Zurich 449K
Geneva 209K
Basel 176K
Bern 146K
Lausanne 145K
Winterthur 110K
Lucerne 86.2K
St. Gallen 78.9K
Lugano 63.5K
Biel/Bienne 55.9K

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/switzerland | 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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