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

Updated on by Georank

The latest officially reported population of Malawi was 22,216,120 in 2025 vs 71,619,863 people in Thailand in 2025. In 2026, based on the adjusted UN estimation, the current Malawi's population is 23,086,106 people compared to 71,565,981 in Thailand.

Population statistics:

  • Thailand's population is 3.1 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 +2.67% per year vs +0.18% in Thailand.
  • Since 2006, the population of Malawi has increased from 13.2M people to 23.1M (74.9% growth), while Thailand has grown from 66.6M to 71.6M (7.51% growth).

Malawi vs Thailand: population by year and forecast

Malawi
Factual

Projection
Thailand
Factual

Projection
1x
Year Population
Malawi Thailand
2100 59,773,923 45,708,431
2099 59,515,624 46,053,146
2098 59,263,165 46,403,189
2097 59,015,654 46,757,918
2096 58,749,288 47,118,652
2095 58,495,699 47,484,043
2094 58,227,933 47,853,561
2093 57,954,358 48,226,682
2092 57,660,371 48,605,235
2091 57,364,786 48,984,504
2090 57,048,240 49,368,049
2089 56,727,243 49,756,629
2088 56,385,237 50,142,276
2087 56,041,651 50,532,164
2086 55,694,983 50,925,294
2085 55,336,839 51,321,960
2084 54,985,304 51,724,454
2083 54,593,349 52,127,592
2082 54,194,853 52,533,368
2081 53,783,781 52,938,345
2080 53,361,334 53,347,733
2079 52,936,889 53,762,492
2078 52,510,645 54,177,529
2077 52,052,767 54,595,112
2076 51,589,339 55,015,291
2075 51,130,762 55,438,108
2074 50,673,499 55,867,914
2073 50,218,991 56,300,358
2072 49,759,232 56,735,274
2071 49,276,570 57,172,515
2070 48,787,471 57,616,731
2069 48,291,287 58,061,962
2068 47,782,059 58,512,248
2067 47,267,335 58,962,990
2066 46,741,998 59,413,893
2065 46,218,226 59,873,261
2064 45,692,044 60,331,851
2063 45,169,634 60,792,306
2062 44,629,192 61,257,068
2061 44,067,259 61,720,030
2060 43,499,372 62,187,380
2059 42,907,491 62,651,158
2058 42,335,782 63,113,332
2057 41,753,105 63,572,746
2056 41,175,330 64,027,520
2055 40,576,247 64,473,146
2054 39,986,120 64,912,210
2053 39,369,178 65,338,122
2052 38,758,577 65,758,061
2051 38,145,141 66,162,612
2050 37,537,814 66,552,915
2049 36,928,354 66,931,487
2048 36,332,040 67,291,479
2047 35,717,466 67,636,461
2046 35,099,651 67,967,131
2045 34,484,520 68,281,902
2044 33,855,018 68,579,656
2043 33,240,675 68,864,788
2042 32,629,513 69,133,982
2041 32,012,581 69,390,832
2040 31,395,572 69,626,857
2039 30,775,878 69,848,522
2038 30,160,239 70,056,903
2037 29,521,489 70,250,371
2036 28,890,318 70,429,677
2035 28,261,909 70,599,021
2034 27,637,439 70,751,094
2033 27,012,311 70,891,510
2032 26,398,409 71,019,665
2031 25,790,366 71,134,882
2030 25,176,420 71,241,584
2029 24,561,210 71,337,147
2028 23,962,931 71,423,119
2027 23,369,575 71,499,411
2026 22,786,713 71,565,981
2025 22,216,120 71,619,863
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 (2026–2100, retrieved 2026-07-08); World Bank | Health (1960–2025, retrieved 2026-07-08).

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 5,528,367 people (a 31.5% growth), while Thailand's population increased by 706,140 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 62.6% to 37,537,814 people with a rank change from 61st to 55th. The population of Thailand will decrease by 7% to 66,552,915 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 2.59% -0.07%
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 (2026–2100, retrieved 2026-07-08); World Bank | Health (1961–2025, retrieved 2026-07-08).

GeoRank.org/population/malawi/thailand | CC BY

In 2025, the population of Malawi grew by 2.59%, while Thailand's population declined by 0.07%.

Live population counters

Malawi Thailand
Current population
23086106
71565981
Population rank 61/197 21/197
Percent of world population 0.28% 0.86%
One net population change
56.4 seconds
10.9 minutes
One birth every
46.8 seconds
54.2 seconds
One death every
4.59 minutes
48.7 seconds
Daily growth/decline +1,537 -132
Annual growth/decline +560,834 -48,148
Annual growth/decline rate +2.59% -0.07%
Population growth rate rank 23/197 164/197
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 559,811 -1,507 -65,720 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 2026-07-08).

GeoRank.org/population/malawi/thailand | 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 Thailand 74.2% is from natural causes (a gain of 932,180 people) and 25.8% is from migration (a gain of 323,324 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
Mzimba 936K
Blantyre 800K
Mzuzu 150K
Zomba 101K
Mangochi 53.5K
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 (1960–2025, 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/thailand | 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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