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

Updated on by Georank team

The latest officially reported population of Malawi was 21,655,286 in 2024 vs 71,668,011 people in Thailand in 2024. In 2026, based on the adjusted UN estimation, the current Malawi's population is 22,949,294 people compared to 71,571,743 in Thailand.

Population statistics:

  • Thailand's population is 3.12 times bigger than Malawi's.
  • Malawi is ranked the 61st most populous country in the world, while Thailand is the 21st.
  • The countries together account for 1.14% of the world: 0.28% for Malawi vs 0.86% for Thailand.
  • For the last 10 years, Malawi has had an average growth rate of +2.7% per year vs +0.23% in Thailand.
  • Since 2006, the population of Malawi has increased from 13.2M people to 22.9M (73.9% growth), while Thailand has grown from 66.6M to 71.6M (7.52% growth).

Malawi vs Thailand: population by year and forecast

Malawi
Factual

Projection
Thailand
Factual

Projection
1x
Year Population
Malawi Thailand
2100 59,786,744 45,712,111
2099 59,528,389 46,056,854
2098 59,275,876 46,406,925
2097 59,028,312 46,761,683
2096 58,761,888 47,122,446
2095 58,508,246 47,487,866
2094 58,240,422 47,857,414
2093 57,966,788 48,230,566
2092 57,672,738 48,609,149
2091 57,377,090 48,988,448
2090 57,060,476 49,372,024
2089 56,739,410 49,760,635
2088 56,397,330 50,146,313
2087 56,053,671 50,536,233
2086 55,706,928 50,929,394
2085 55,348,708 51,326,092
2084 54,997,097 51,728,619
2083 54,605,058 52,131,789
2082 54,206,477 52,537,598
2081 53,795,317 52,942,608
2080 53,372,779 53,352,029
2079 52,948,243 53,766,821
2078 52,521,908 54,181,891
2077 52,063,931 54,599,508
2076 51,600,404 55,019,721
2075 51,141,728 55,442,571
2074 50,684,368 55,872,412
2073 50,229,762 56,304,891
2072 49,769,904 56,739,842
2071 49,287,139 57,177,118
2070 48,797,935 57,621,370
2069 48,301,644 58,066,637
2068 47,792,308 58,516,959
2067 47,277,473 58,967,738
2066 46,752,024 59,418,676
2065 46,228,139 59,878,082
2064 45,701,844 60,336,709
2063 45,179,322 60,797,201
2062 44,638,764 61,262,000
2061 44,076,711 61,724,999
2060 43,508,702 62,192,387
2059 42,916,694 62,656,203
2058 42,344,863 63,118,413
2057 41,762,060 63,577,864
2056 41,184,161 64,032,675
2055 40,584,950 64,478,337
2054 39,994,696 64,917,436
2053 39,377,622 65,343,383
2052 38,766,890 65,763,356
2051 38,153,322 66,167,939
2050 37,545,865 66,558,274
2049 36,936,275 66,936,876
2048 36,339,833 67,296,897
2047 35,725,127 67,641,907
2046 35,107,179 67,972,603
2045 34,491,916 68,287,399
2044 33,862,279 68,585,177
2043 33,247,804 68,870,333
2042 32,636,511 69,139,548
2041 32,019,447 69,396,419
2040 31,402,305 69,632,464
2039 30,782,479 69,854,146
2038 30,166,708 70,062,543
2037 29,527,821 70,256,027
2036 28,896,515 70,435,348
2035 28,267,970 70,604,705
2034 27,643,367 70,756,791
2033 27,018,105 70,897,217
2032 26,404,071 71,025,384
2031 25,795,897 71,140,609
2030 25,181,820 71,247,320
2029 24,566,478 71,342,891
2028 23,968,071 71,428,869
2027 23,374,588 71,505,168
2026 22,791,601 71,571,743
2025 22,220,885 71,625,629
2024 21,655,286 71,668,011
2023 21,104,482 71,702,435
2022 20,568,728 71,735,329
2021 20,047,258 71,727,332
2020 19,533,888 71,641,484
2019 19,025,752 71,522,271
2018 18,528,081 71,376,079
2017 18,039,715 71,160,187
2016 17,557,739 70,859,841
2015 17,085,587 70,540,795
2014 16,621,538 70,216,367
2013 16,161,816 69,845,114
2012 15,709,577 69,436,098
2011 15,265,022 69,007,208
2010 14,826,463 68,579,447
2009 14,395,788 68,121,080
2008 13,976,417 67,619,830
2007 13,576,343 67,102,394
2006 13,198,701 66,567,687
2005 12,840,031 66,017,420
2004 12,500,737 65,452,047
2003 12,181,574 64,868,166
2002 11,880,440 64,266,437
2001 11,593,058 63,651,141
2000 11,315,942 63,007,815
1999 11,047,804 62,299,043
1998 10,792,876 61,522,630
1997 10,562,035 60,724,584
1996 10,352,228 59,920,064
1995 10,150,117 59,098,232
1994 10,164,894 58,260,854
1993 10,284,024 57,408,198
1992 10,135,079 56,528,834
1991 9,844,227 55,637,434
1990 9,545,852 54,738,329
1989 9,176,220 53,848,956
1988 8,753,262 52,969,595
1987 8,293,174 52,074,105
1986 7,906,480 51,177,834
1985 7,620,508 50,270,753
1984 7,332,810 49,351,708
1983 7,051,709 48,423,309
1982 6,778,879 47,494,577
1981 6,516,454 46,575,855
1980 6,265,529 45,650,022
1979 6,028,749 44,718,434
1978 5,810,132 43,788,976
1977 5,614,983 42,843,974
1976 5,443,384 41,896,504
1975 5,287,367 40,940,005
1974 5,141,337 39,952,891
1973 5,003,938 38,947,787
1972 4,874,475 37,933,929
1971 4,751,434 36,937,387
1970 4,633,944 35,954,408
1969 4,521,184 34,973,782
1968 4,411,054 34,002,560
1967 4,303,012 33,037,801
1966 4,197,926 32,086,071
1965 4,096,157 31,149,337
1964 3,997,305 30,232,141
1963 3,900,506 29,342,322
1962 3,806,307 28,481,040
1961 3,715,534 27,650,334
1960 3,628,134 26,851,747

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/thailand | CC BY

From 2006 to 2016, the population of Malawi increased by 4,359,038 people (a 33% growth), while Thailand gained 4,292,154 people (a 6.45% growth).

For the next 10 years, from 2016 to 2026, Malawi gained 5,391,555 people (a 30.7% growth), while Thailand's population increased by 711,902 people (a 1% growth).

Malawi was ranked 69th most populous country in 2006 and is 61st in 2026. Thailand was ranked 19th in 2006 and ranked 21st 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 Thailand will decrease by 7% to 66,558,274 people and rank change from 21st to 31st.

Malawi is projected to reach its peak in 2100 at 59.8M people, while Thailand's population already peaked in 2022 at 71.7M people and is projected to decrease to 45.7M people by 2100.

Population growth rate by year

Malawi
Factual

Projection
Thailand
Factual

Projection
1x
Year Growth rate
Malawi Thailand
2100 0.43% -0.75%
2099 0.43% -0.75%
2098 0.42% -0.76%
2097 0.45% -0.77%
2096 0.43% -0.77%
2095 0.46% -0.77%
2094 0.47% -0.77%
2093 0.51% -0.78%
2092 0.52% -0.77%
2091 0.55% -0.78%
2090 0.57% -0.78%
2089 0.61% -0.77%
2088 0.61% -0.77%
2087 0.62% -0.77%
2086 0.65% -0.77%
2085 0.64% -0.78%
2084 0.72% -0.77%
2083 0.74% -0.77%
2082 0.76% -0.76%
2081 0.79% -0.77%
2080 0.8% -0.77%
2079 0.81% -0.77%
2078 0.88% -0.76%
2077 0.9% -0.76%
2076 0.9% -0.76%
2075 0.9% -0.77%
2074 0.91% -0.77%
2073 0.92% -0.77%
2072 0.98% -0.76%
2071 1% -0.77%
2070 1.03% -0.77%
2069 1.07% -0.77%
2068 1.09% -0.76%
2067 1.12% -0.76%
2066 1.13% -0.77%
2065 1.15% -0.76%
2064 1.16% -0.76%
2063 1.21% -0.76%
2062 1.28% -0.75%
2061 1.31% -0.75%
2060 1.38% -0.74%
2059 1.35% -0.73%
2058 1.4% -0.72%
2057 1.4% -0.71%
2056 1.48% -0.69%
2055 1.48% -0.68%
2054 1.57% -0.65%
2053 1.58% -0.64%
2052 1.61% -0.61%
2051 1.62% -0.59%
2050 1.65% -0.57%
2049 1.64% -0.53%
2048 1.72% -0.51%
2047 1.76% -0.49%
2046 1.78% -0.46%
2045 1.86% -0.43%
2044 1.85% -0.41%
2043 1.87% -0.39%
2042 1.93% -0.37%
2041 1.97% -0.34%
2040 2.01% -0.32%
2039 2.04% -0.3%
2038 2.16% -0.28%
2037 2.18% -0.25%
2036 2.22% -0.24%
2035 2.26% -0.21%
2034 2.31% -0.2%
2033 2.33% -0.18%
2032 2.36% -0.16%
2031 2.44% -0.15%
2030 2.5% -0.13%
2029 2.5% -0.12%
2028 2.54% -0.11%
2027 2.56% -0.09%
2026 2.57% -0.08%
2025 2.61% -0.06%
2024 2.61% -0.05%
2023 2.6% -0.05%
2022 2.6% 0.01%
2021 2.63% 0.12%
2020 2.67% 0.17%
2019 2.69% 0.2%
2018 2.71% 0.3%
2017 2.75% 0.42%
2016 2.76% 0.45%
2015 2.79% 0.46%
2014 2.84% 0.53%
2013 2.88% 0.59%
2012 2.91% 0.62%
2011 2.96% 0.62%
2010 2.99% 0.67%
2009 3% 0.74%
2008 2.95% 0.77%
2007 2.86% 0.8%
2006 2.79% 0.83%
2005 2.71% 0.86%
2004 2.62% 0.9%
2003 2.53% 0.94%
2002 2.48% 0.97%
2001 2.45% 1.02%
2000 2.43% 1.14%
1999 2.36% 1.26%
1998 2.19% 1.31%
1997 2.03% 1.34%
1996 1.99% 1.39%
1995 -0.15% 1.44%
1994 -1.16% 1.49%
1993 1.47% 1.56%
1992 2.95% 1.6%
1991 3.13% 1.64%
1990 4.03% 1.65%
1989 4.83% 1.66%
1988 5.55% 1.72%
1987 4.89% 1.75%
1986 3.75% 1.8%
1985 3.92% 1.86%
1984 3.99% 1.92%
1983 4.02% 1.96%
1982 4.03% 1.97%
1981 4% 2.03%
1980 3.93% 2.08%
1979 3.76% 2.12%
1978 3.48% 2.21%
1977 3.15% 2.26%
1976 2.95% 2.34%
1975 2.84% 2.47%
1974 2.75% 2.58%
1973 2.66% 2.67%
1972 2.59% 2.7%
1971 2.54% 2.73%
1970 2.49% 2.8%
1969 2.5% 2.86%
1968 2.51% 2.92%
1967 2.5% 2.97%
1966 2.48% 3.01%
1965 2.47% 3.03%
1964 2.48% 3.03%
1963 2.47% 3.02%
1962 2.44% 3%
1961 2.41% 2.97%

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/thailand | CC BY

In 2024, the population of Malawi grew by 2.61%, while Thailand's population declined by 0.05%.

Live population counters

Malawi Thailand
Current population
22949294
71571743
Population rank 61/197 21/197
Percent of world population 0.28% 0.86%
One net population change
57.3 seconds
15.3 minutes
One birth every
47.6 seconds
53.3 seconds
One death every
4.64 minutes
49.5 seconds
Daily growth/decline +1,509 -94
Annual growth/decline +550,804 -34,424
Annual growth/decline rate +2.61% -0.05%
Population growth rate rank 26/197 168/197
One migration net change every
1.56 hours
19.2 minutes
Annual migration change -5,628 +27,509
Net migration rank 118/196 30/196
Foreign-born residents 186,719 3,179,399
Foreign-born residents rank 117/195 21/195
Foreign-born share of population 0.9% 4.4%
Foreign-born share rank 158/195 100/195

Natural population change vs migration

Malawi
Natural

Migration
Thailand
Natural

Migration
1x
Year Population change
Malawi Thailand
Natural Migration Natural Migration
2025 - -5,628 - 27,509
2024 - -1,507 - 23,321
2023 549,096 -5,811 -46,105 19,648
2022 533,450 -5,231 -61,046 21,683
2021 517,400 -2,666 57,382 -2,093
2020 514,659 -2,655 84,107 32,277
2019 506,104 -1,837 116,867 5,221
2018 494,348 -3,267 159,383 10,984
2017 484,655 982 194,695 66,805
2016 474,779 3,505 226,255 112,978
2015 472,484 -6,471 266,362 32,500
2014 472,418 -10,317 294,628 55,358
2013 470,293 -12,934 325,059 67,452
2012 460,684 -13,561 351,485 74,033
2011 454,149 -12,170 365,670 66,607
2010 444,468 -9,327 370,466 52,791
2009 434,811 -8,590 382,636 110,883
2008 421,781 -9,264 401,730 107,333
2007 410,290 -22,680 425,362 100,486
2006 397,123 -29,450 441,211 102,362
2005 381,130 -31,462 456,378 100,542
2004 361,133 -32,221 466,542 107,199
2003 341,133 -31,729 488,003 105,917
2002 322,863 -30,013 504,299 105,215
2001 310,833 -28,933 524,230 96,817
2000 300,439 -28,098 543,884 121,640
1999 295,629 -31,686 578,073 173,924
1998 285,407 -39,491 617,318 183,471
1997 277,433 -61,646 644,834 150,411
1996 270,048 -66,212 661,397 152,397
1995 266,745 -66,366 682,703 147,226
1994 275,439 -505,365 712,589 132,271
1993 276,538 -284,867 737,696 122,746
1992 269,066 37,142 754,999 143,318
1991 260,193 15,291 760,508 124,034
1990 250,159 71,111 760,808 152,916
1989 237,967 180,031 774,563 90,497
1988 226,911 201,011 765,252 128,469
1987 220,566 271,693 774,498 122,791
1986 218,519 62,615 783,430 111,820
1985 216,179 74,625 776,935 141,963
1984 212,146 72,435 779,856 139,345
1983 209,422 68,197 794,239 143,393
1982 205,386 62,661 817,951 101,885
1981 199,436 57,376 839,297 78,337
1980 192,746 52,294 845,575 88,478
1979 182,123 46,388 843,434 85,693
1978 172,503 36,225 847,799 82,011
1977 161,930 19,638 871,232 88,937
1976 153,422 8,206 894,072 40,656
1975 145,254 5,162 911,980 66,306
1974 137,819 3,833 923,151 72,801
1973 131,529 1,623 933,540 80,704
1972 125,728 48 940,420 73,082
1971 121,015 -710 936,215 43,400
1970 116,822 -2,147 937,116 49,221
1969 113,120 -2,266 948,314 26,551
1968 110,329 -924 953,806 13,718
1967 106,668 0 944,980 17,005
1966 103,512 0 929,469 12,016
1965 100,040 0 909,000 22,995
1964 97,658 0 885,137 17,249
1963 95,933 0 860,728 16,494
1962 92,463 0 828,741 16,605
1961 89,091 0 801,140 14,968
1960 85,718 0 774,190 6,886

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

GeoRank.org/population/malawi/thailand | 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 Thailand 78.4% is from natural causes (a gain of 1,292,528 people) and 21.6% is from migration (a gain of 355,361 people).

As of 2024, 186,719 residents or 0.9% of the population were not native-born in Malawi, compared to 3,179,399 people or 4.4% in Thailand.

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
Thailand
City Population
Bangkok 5.68M
Chiang Mai 1.2M
Nonthaburi 256K
Pak Kret 190K
Hat Yai 159K
Nakhon Ratchasima 134K
Chaophraya Surasak 133K
Surat Thani 131K
Udon Thani 130K
Klaeng 130K

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/thailand | 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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