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

Updated on by Georank team

The latest officially reported population of Malawi was 21,655,286 in 2024 vs 68,560,157 people in Tanzania in 2024. In 2026, based on the adjusted UN estimation, the current Malawi's population is 22,949,294 people compared to 73,145,892 in Tanzania.

Population statistics:

  • Tanzania's population is 3.19 times bigger than Malawi's.
  • Malawi is ranked the 61st most populous country in the world, while Tanzania is the 20th.
  • The countries together account for 1.16% of the world: 0.28% for Malawi vs 0.88% for Tanzania.
  • For the last 10 years, Malawi has had an average growth rate of +2.7% per year vs +3.13% in Tanzania.
  • Since 2006, the population of Malawi has increased from 13.2M people to 22.9M (73.9% growth), while Tanzania has grown from 40.3M to 73.1M (81.5% growth).

Malawi vs Tanzania: population by year and forecast

Malawi
Factual

Projection
Tanzania
Factual

Projection
1x
Year Population
Malawi Tanzania
2100 59,786,744 265,496,854
2099 59,528,389 263,162,785
2098 59,275,876 260,809,535
2097 59,028,312 258,412,520
2096 58,761,888 255,996,677
2095 58,508,246 253,567,416
2094 58,240,422 251,119,386
2093 57,966,788 248,628,881
2092 57,672,738 246,107,108
2091 57,377,090 243,557,182
2090 57,060,476 241,002,065
2089 56,739,410 238,416,591
2088 56,397,330 235,797,530
2087 56,053,671 233,167,455
2086 55,706,928 230,496,041
2085 55,348,708 227,800,292
2084 54,997,097 225,111,530
2083 54,605,058 222,421,279
2082 54,206,477 219,718,263
2081 53,795,317 216,995,478
2080 53,372,779 214,255,926
2079 52,948,243 211,486,253
2078 52,521,908 208,708,063
2077 52,063,931 205,918,120
2076 51,600,404 203,106,125
2075 51,141,728 200,297,474
2074 50,684,368 197,468,017
2073 50,229,762 194,642,633
2072 49,769,904 191,824,103
2071 49,287,139 188,992,017
2070 48,797,935 186,152,377
2069 48,301,644 183,311,218
2068 47,792,308 180,475,586
2067 47,277,473 177,639,469
2066 46,752,024 174,803,090
2065 46,228,139 171,913,445
2064 45,701,844 169,064,549
2063 45,179,322 166,217,933
2062 44,638,764 163,370,044
2061 44,076,711 160,537,159
2060 43,508,702 157,722,273
2059 42,916,694 154,920,005
2058 42,344,863 152,120,539
2057 41,762,060 149,325,489
2056 41,184,161 146,519,472
2055 40,584,950 143,736,540
2054 39,994,696 140,983,905
2053 39,377,622 138,262,668
2052 38,766,890 135,553,723
2051 38,153,322 132,851,383
2050 37,545,865 130,157,751
2049 36,936,275 127,495,278
2048 36,339,833 124,821,109
2047 35,725,127 122,158,290
2046 35,107,179 119,522,516
2045 34,491,916 116,914,785
2044 33,862,279 114,329,740
2043 33,247,804 111,776,234
2042 32,636,511 109,241,835
2041 32,019,447 106,748,632
2040 31,402,305 104,272,418
2039 30,782,479 101,814,304
2038 30,166,708 99,380,232
2037 29,527,821 96,983,729
2036 28,896,515 94,601,865
2035 28,267,970 92,257,269
2034 27,643,367 89,929,444
2033 27,018,105 87,654,982
2032 26,404,071 85,409,993
2031 25,795,897 83,180,507
2030 25,181,820 80,997,163
2029 24,566,478 78,838,461
2028 23,968,071 76,730,649
2027 23,374,588 74,647,063
2026 22,791,601 72,589,279
2025 22,220,885 70,552,589
2024 21,655,286 68,560,157
2023 21,104,482 66,617,606
2022 20,568,728 64,711,821
2021 20,047,258 62,830,412
2020 19,533,888 60,972,798
2019 19,025,752 59,174,891
2018 18,528,081 57,437,145
2017 18,039,715 55,652,890
2016 17,557,739 53,824,013
2015 17,085,587 52,020,962
2014 16,621,538 50,351,512
2013 16,161,816 48,824,128
2012 15,709,577 47,374,260
2011 15,265,022 46,029,367
2010 14,826,463 44,758,488
2009 14,395,788 43,633,982
2008 13,976,417 42,570,728
2007 13,576,343 41,435,512
2006 13,198,701 40,294,902
2005 12,840,031 39,182,076
2004 12,500,737 38,109,668
2003 12,181,574 37,089,555
2002 11,880,440 36,121,304
2001 11,593,058 35,198,299
2000 11,315,942 34,260,139
1999 11,047,804 33,300,330
1998 10,792,876 32,420,458
1997 10,562,035 31,578,089
1996 10,352,228 30,945,762
1995 10,150,117 30,383,497
1994 10,164,894 29,442,356
1993 10,284,024 28,332,692
1992 10,135,079 27,457,588
1991 9,844,227 26,780,436
1990 9,545,852 26,110,207
1989 9,176,220 25,438,759
1988 8,753,262 24,769,686
1987 8,293,174 24,030,378
1986 7,906,480 23,258,959
1985 7,620,508 22,501,693
1984 7,332,810 21,779,066
1983 7,051,709 21,079,874
1982 6,778,879 20,398,571
1981 6,516,454 19,784,703
1980 6,265,529 19,189,769
1979 6,028,749 18,592,038
1978 5,810,132 17,976,566
1977 5,614,983 17,352,929
1976 5,443,384 16,736,211
1975 5,287,367 16,138,361
1974 5,141,337 15,561,630
1973 5,003,938 15,010,101
1972 4,874,475 14,479,308
1971 4,751,434 13,971,451
1970 4,633,944 13,492,677
1969 4,521,184 13,036,700
1968 4,411,054 12,602,076
1967 4,303,012 12,200,109
1966 4,197,926 11,827,459
1965 4,096,157 11,470,728
1964 3,997,305 11,127,826
1963 3,900,506 10,799,528
1962 3,806,307 10,487,756
1961 3,715,534 10,187,886
1960 3,628,134 9,901,419

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/tanzania | CC BY

From 2006 to 2016, the population of Malawi increased by 4,359,038 people (a 33% growth), while Tanzania gained 13,529,111 people (a 33.6% growth).

For the next 10 years, from 2016 to 2026, Malawi gained 5,391,555 people (a 30.7% growth), while Tanzania's population increased by 19,321,879 people (a 35.9% growth).

Malawi was ranked 69th most populous country in 2006 and is 61st in 2026. Tanzania was ranked 30th in 2006 and ranked 20th 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 Tanzania will increase by 77.9% to 130,157,751 people and rank change from 20th to 15th.

Malawi is projected to reach its peak in 2100 at 59.8M people compared to the peak of 265M people in 2100 for Tanzania.

Population growth rate by year

Malawi
Factual

Projection
Tanzania
Factual

Projection
1x
Year Growth rate
Malawi Tanzania
2100 0.43% 0.89%
2099 0.43% 0.9%
2098 0.42% 0.93%
2097 0.45% 0.94%
2096 0.43% 0.96%
2095 0.46% 0.97%
2094 0.47% 1%
2093 0.51% 1.02%
2092 0.52% 1.05%
2091 0.55% 1.06%
2090 0.57% 1.08%
2089 0.61% 1.11%
2088 0.61% 1.13%
2087 0.62% 1.16%
2086 0.65% 1.18%
2085 0.64% 1.19%
2084 0.72% 1.21%
2083 0.74% 1.23%
2082 0.76% 1.25%
2081 0.79% 1.28%
2080 0.8% 1.31%
2079 0.81% 1.33%
2078 0.88% 1.35%
2077 0.9% 1.38%
2076 0.9% 1.4%
2075 0.9% 1.43%
2074 0.91% 1.45%
2073 0.92% 1.47%
2072 0.98% 1.5%
2071 1% 1.53%
2070 1.03% 1.55%
2069 1.07% 1.57%
2068 1.09% 1.6%
2067 1.12% 1.62%
2066 1.13% 1.68%
2065 1.15% 1.69%
2064 1.16% 1.71%
2063 1.21% 1.74%
2062 1.28% 1.76%
2061 1.31% 1.78%
2060 1.38% 1.81%
2059 1.35% 1.84%
2058 1.4% 1.87%
2057 1.4% 1.92%
2056 1.48% 1.94%
2055 1.48% 1.95%
2054 1.57% 1.97%
2053 1.58% 2%
2052 1.61% 2.03%
2051 1.62% 2.07%
2050 1.65% 2.09%
2049 1.64% 2.14%
2048 1.72% 2.18%
2047 1.76% 2.21%
2046 1.78% 2.23%
2045 1.86% 2.26%
2044 1.85% 2.28%
2043 1.87% 2.32%
2042 1.93% 2.34%
2041 1.97% 2.37%
2040 2.01% 2.41%
2039 2.04% 2.45%
2038 2.16% 2.47%
2037 2.18% 2.52%
2036 2.22% 2.54%
2035 2.26% 2.59%
2034 2.31% 2.59%
2033 2.33% 2.63%
2032 2.36% 2.68%
2031 2.44% 2.7%
2030 2.5% 2.74%
2029 2.5% 2.75%
2028 2.54% 2.79%
2027 2.56% 2.83%
2026 2.57% 2.89%
2025 2.61% 2.91%
2024 2.61% 2.92%
2023 2.6% 2.95%
2022 2.6% 2.99%
2021 2.63% 3.05%
2020 2.67% 3.04%
2019 2.69% 3.03%
2018 2.71% 3.21%
2017 2.75% 3.4%
2016 2.76% 3.47%
2015 2.79% 3.32%
2014 2.84% 3.13%
2013 2.88% 3.06%
2012 2.91% 2.92%
2011 2.96% 2.84%
2010 2.99% 2.58%
2009 3% 2.5%
2008 2.95% 2.74%
2007 2.86% 2.83%
2006 2.79% 2.84%
2005 2.71% 2.81%
2004 2.62% 2.75%
2003 2.53% 2.68%
2002 2.48% 2.62%
2001 2.45% 2.74%
2000 2.43% 2.88%
1999 2.36% 2.71%
1998 2.19% 2.67%
1997 2.03% 2.04%
1996 1.99% 1.85%
1995 -0.15% 3.2%
1994 -1.16% 3.92%
1993 1.47% 3.19%
1992 2.95% 2.53%
1991 3.13% 2.57%
1990 4.03% 2.64%
1989 4.83% 2.7%
1988 5.55% 3.08%
1987 4.89% 3.32%
1986 3.75% 3.37%
1985 3.92% 3.32%
1984 3.99% 3.32%
1983 4.02% 3.34%
1982 4.03% 3.1%
1981 4% 3.1%
1980 3.93% 3.21%
1979 3.76% 3.42%
1978 3.48% 3.59%
1977 3.15% 3.68%
1976 2.95% 3.7%
1975 2.84% 3.71%
1974 2.75% 3.67%
1973 2.66% 3.67%
1972 2.59% 3.63%
1971 2.54% 3.55%
1970 2.49% 3.5%
1969 2.5% 3.45%
1968 2.51% 3.29%
1967 2.5% 3.15%
1966 2.48% 3.11%
1965 2.47% 3.08%
1964 2.48% 3.04%
1963 2.47% 2.97%
1962 2.44% 2.94%
1961 2.41% 2.89%

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/tanzania | CC BY

In 2024, the population of Malawi grew by 2.61%, while Tanzania's population grew by 2.92%.

Live population counters

Malawi Tanzania
Current population
22949294
73145892
Population rank 61/197 20/197
Percent of world population 0.28% 0.88%
One net population change
57.3 seconds
16.2 seconds
One birth every
47.6 seconds
13.4 seconds
One death every
4.64 minutes
1.36 minutes
Daily growth/decline +1,509 +5,322
Annual growth/decline +550,804 +1,942,551
Annual growth/decline rate +2.61% +2.92%
Population growth rate rank 26/197 18/197
One migration net change every
1.56 hours
41.4 minutes
Annual migration change -5,628 -12,730
Net migration rank 118/196 139/196
Foreign-born residents 186,719 462,371
Foreign-born residents rank 117/195 83/195
Foreign-born share of population 0.9% 0.7%
Foreign-born share rank 158/195 167/195

Natural population change vs migration

Malawi
Natural

Migration
Tanzania
Natural

Migration
1x
Year Population change
Malawi Tanzania
Natural Migration Natural Migration
2025 - -5,628 - -12,730
2024 - -1,507 - -29,865
2023 549,096 -5,811 1,960,623 -39,388
2022 533,450 -5,231 1,927,960 -37,557
2021 517,400 -2,666 1,880,137 -7,704
2020 514,659 -2,655 1,861,377 -18,587
2019 506,104 -1,837 1,816,669 -63,602
2018 494,348 -3,267 1,777,852 -55,444
2017 484,655 982 1,726,909 119,142
2016 474,779 3,505 1,659,502 152,194
2015 472,484 -6,471 1,592,882 201,495
2014 472,418 -10,317 1,565,630 -21,083
2013 470,293 -12,934 1,509,008 1,241
2012 460,684 -13,561 1,439,325 -49,875
2011 454,149 -12,170 1,384,886 -84,546
2010 444,468 -9,327 1,363,477 -122,020
2009 434,811 -8,590 1,332,015 -324,478
2008 421,781 -9,264 1,303,728 -184,816
2007 410,290 -22,680 1,278,285 -126,793
2006 397,123 -29,450 1,257,927 -128,231
2005 381,130 -31,462 1,224,165 -128,251
2004 361,133 -32,221 1,175,379 -126,490
2003 341,133 -31,729 1,118,435 -127,101
2002 322,863 -30,013 1,063,195 -118,047
2001 310,833 -28,933 1,026,242 -125,375
2000 300,439 -28,098 985,185 -9,701
1999 295,629 -31,686 948,659 -4,489
1998 285,407 -39,491 920,806 -105,184
1997 277,433 -61,646 882,544 -13,400
1996 270,048 -66,212 868,524 -473,007
1995 266,745 -66,366 838,980 -109,971
1994 275,439 -505,365 803,953 349,348
1993 276,538 -284,867 778,044 288,004
1992 269,066 37,142 767,961 -83,825
1991 260,193 15,291 762,011 -91,851
1990 250,159 71,111 750,825 -80,529
1989 237,967 180,031 743,854 -71,268
1988 226,911 201,011 736,551 -71,012
1987 220,566 271,693 718,580 94,498
1986 218,519 62,615 705,677 24,101
1985 216,179 74,625 697,867 86,864
1984 212,146 72,435 687,435 -26,938
1983 209,422 68,197 679,720 58,161
1982 205,386 62,661 662,627 -37,883
1981 199,436 57,376 645,496 -42,485
1980 192,746 52,294 629,444 -42,588
1979 182,123 46,388 613,388 -4,792
1978 172,503 36,225 595,024 27,307
1977 161,930 19,638 574,938 49,997
1976 153,422 8,206 553,617 54,875
1975 145,254 5,162 533,906 53,290
1974 137,819 3,833 515,152 51,127
1973 131,529 1,623 488,429 48,363
1972 125,728 48 467,305 57,489
1971 121,015 -710 449,014 41,900
1970 116,822 -2,147 427,988 38,635
1969 113,120 -2,266 408,322 37,006
1968 110,329 -924 389,467 34,455
1967 106,668 0 374,763 5,265
1966 103,512 0 360,229 5,049
1965 100,040 0 343,456 4,742
1964 97,658 0 328,527 9,090
1963 95,933 0 314,644 4,333
1962 92,463 0 300,663 3,916
1961 89,091 0 286,839 8,338
1960 85,718 0 275,814 1,946

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

GeoRank.org/population/malawi/tanzania | 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 Tanzania 98.7% is from natural causes (a gain of 17,769,541 people) and 1.27% is from migration (a gain of 229,466 people).

As of 2024, 186,719 residents or 0.9% of the population were not native-born in Malawi, compared to 462,371 people or 0.7% in Tanzania.

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
Tanzania
City Population
Dar es Salaam 4.72M
Zanzibar 710K
Mwanza 706K
Mbeya 542K
Arusha 416K
Tanga 221K
Dodoma 214K
Morogoro 207K
Moshi 145K
Stone Town 18K

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/tanzania | 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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