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

Updated on by Georank team

The latest officially reported population of Malawi was 21,655,286 in 2024 vs 104,175 people in Tonga in 2024. In 2026, based on the adjusted UN estimation, the current Malawi's population is 22,949,294 people compared to 103,309 in Tonga.

Population statistics:

  • Malawi's population is 222.1 times bigger than Tonga's.
  • Malawi is ranked the 61st most populous country in the world, while Tonga is the 183rd.
  • The countries together account for 0.28% of the world: 0.28% for Malawi vs 0.001% for Tonga.
  • For the last 10 years, Malawi has had an average growth rate of +2.7% per year vs -0.25% in Tonga.
  • Since 2006, the population of Malawi has increased from 13.2M people to 22.9M (73.9% growth), while Tonga has declined from 106K to 103K (2.77% decline).

Malawi vs Tonga: population by year and forecast

Malawi
Factual

Projection
Tonga
Factual

Projection
1x
Year Population
Malawi Tonga
2100 59,786,744 117,647
2099 59,528,389 117,615
2098 59,275,876 117,560
2097 59,028,312 117,522
2096 58,761,888 117,491
2095 58,508,246 117,414
2094 58,240,422 117,321
2093 57,966,788 117,237
2092 57,672,738 117,127
2091 57,377,090 117,013
2090 57,060,476 116,869
2089 56,739,410 116,712
2088 56,397,330 116,511
2087 56,053,671 116,307
2086 55,706,928 116,118
2085 55,348,708 115,902
2084 54,997,097 115,658
2083 54,605,058 115,366
2082 54,206,477 115,071
2081 53,795,317 114,782
2080 53,372,779 114,453
2079 52,948,243 114,103
2078 52,521,908 113,740
2077 52,063,931 113,378
2076 51,600,404 112,974
2075 51,141,728 112,594
2074 50,684,368 112,208
2073 50,229,762 111,819
2072 49,769,904 111,405
2071 49,287,139 110,992
2070 48,797,935 110,605
2069 48,301,644 110,238
2068 47,792,308 109,853
2067 47,277,473 109,474
2066 46,752,024 109,090
2065 46,228,139 108,765
2064 45,701,844 108,405
2063 45,179,322 108,061
2062 44,638,764 107,738
2061 44,076,711 107,424
2060 43,508,702 107,145
2059 42,916,694 106,869
2058 42,344,863 106,617
2057 41,762,060 106,372
2056 41,184,161 106,158
2055 40,584,950 105,942
2054 39,994,696 105,725
2053 39,377,622 105,513
2052 38,766,890 105,313
2051 38,153,322 105,106
2050 37,545,865 104,871
2049 36,936,275 104,663
2048 36,339,833 104,414
2047 35,725,127 104,180
2046 35,107,179 103,879
2045 34,491,916 103,575
2044 33,862,279 103,241
2043 33,247,804 102,961
2042 32,636,511 102,718
2041 32,019,447 102,474
2040 31,402,305 102,254
2039 30,782,479 102,088
2038 30,166,708 101,861
2037 29,527,821 101,733
2036 28,896,515 101,653
2035 28,267,970 101,607
2034 27,643,367 101,598
2033 27,018,105 101,618
2032 26,404,071 101,659
2031 25,795,897 101,790
2030 25,181,820 101,954
2029 24,566,478 102,207
2028 23,968,071 102,521
2027 23,374,588 102,868
2026 22,791,601 103,309
2025 22,220,885 103,768
2024 21,655,286 104,175
2023 21,104,482 104,597
2022 20,568,728 105,042
2021 20,047,258 105,490
2020 19,533,888 105,704
2019 19,025,752 105,669
2018 18,528,081 105,567
2017 18,039,715 105,356
2016 17,557,739 105,524
2015 17,085,587 106,095
2014 16,621,538 106,609
2013 16,161,816 107,078
2012 15,709,577 107,460
2011 15,265,022 107,570
2010 14,826,463 107,400
2009 14,395,788 107,203
2008 13,976,417 107,020
2007 13,576,343 106,726
2006 13,198,701 106,253
2005 12,840,031 105,671
2004 12,500,737 105,071
2003 12,181,574 104,464
2002 11,880,440 103,874
2001 11,593,058 103,288
2000 11,315,942 102,677
1999 11,047,804 102,046
1998 10,792,876 101,388
1997 10,562,035 100,674
1996 10,352,228 100,275
1995 10,150,117 100,225
1994 10,164,894 100,166
1993 10,284,024 100,103
1992 10,135,079 100,022
1991 9,844,227 99,895
1990 9,545,852 99,700
1989 9,176,220 99,403
1988 8,753,262 98,969
1987 8,293,174 98,376
1986 7,906,480 98,010
1985 7,620,508 97,984
1984 7,332,810 97,990
1983 7,051,709 97,998
1982 6,778,879 97,980
1981 6,516,454 97,909
1980 6,265,529 97,769
1979 6,028,749 97,544
1978 5,810,132 97,204
1977 5,614,983 96,725
1976 5,443,384 95,325
1975 5,287,367 93,017
1974 5,141,337 90,683
1973 5,003,938 88,805
1972 4,874,475 87,356
1971 4,751,434 85,896
1970 4,633,944 84,401
1969 4,521,184 82,885
1968 4,411,054 81,353
1967 4,303,012 79,814
1966 4,197,926 78,002
1965 4,096,157 75,924
1964 3,997,305 73,879
1963 3,900,506 71,885
1962 3,806,307 69,940
1961 3,715,534 68,037
1960 3,628,134 66,170

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/tonga | CC BY

From 2006 to 2016, the population of Malawi increased by 4,359,038 people (a 33% growth), while Tonga lost 729 people (a 0.69% decline).

For the next 10 years, from 2016 to 2026, Malawi gained 5,391,555 people (a 30.7% growth), while Tonga's population decreased by 2,215 people (a 2.1% decline).

Malawi was ranked 69th most populous country in 2006 and is 61st in 2026. Tonga was ranked 182nd in 2006 and ranked 183rd 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 Tonga will increase by 1.51% to 104,871 people and will still be ranked 183rd.

Malawi is projected to reach its peak in 2100 at 59.8M people compared to the peak of 118K people in 2100 for Tonga.

Population growth rate by year

Malawi
Factual

Projection
Tonga
Factual

Projection
1x
Year Growth rate
Malawi Tonga
2100 0.43% 0.03%
2099 0.43% 0.05%
2098 0.42% 0.03%
2097 0.45% 0.03%
2096 0.43% 0.07%
2095 0.46% 0.08%
2094 0.47% 0.07%
2093 0.51% 0.09%
2092 0.52% 0.1%
2091 0.55% 0.12%
2090 0.57% 0.13%
2089 0.61% 0.17%
2088 0.61% 0.18%
2087 0.62% 0.16%
2086 0.65% 0.19%
2085 0.64% 0.21%
2084 0.72% 0.25%
2083 0.74% 0.26%
2082 0.76% 0.25%
2081 0.79% 0.29%
2080 0.8% 0.31%
2079 0.81% 0.32%
2078 0.88% 0.32%
2077 0.9% 0.36%
2076 0.9% 0.34%
2075 0.9% 0.34%
2074 0.91% 0.35%
2073 0.92% 0.37%
2072 0.98% 0.37%
2071 1% 0.35%
2070 1.03% 0.33%
2069 1.07% 0.35%
2068 1.09% 0.35%
2067 1.12% 0.35%
2066 1.13% 0.3%
2065 1.15% 0.33%
2064 1.16% 0.32%
2063 1.21% 0.3%
2062 1.28% 0.29%
2061 1.31% 0.26%
2060 1.38% 0.26%
2059 1.35% 0.24%
2058 1.4% 0.23%
2057 1.4% 0.2%
2056 1.48% 0.2%
2055 1.48% 0.2%
2054 1.57% 0.2%
2053 1.58% 0.19%
2052 1.61% 0.2%
2051 1.62% 0.22%
2050 1.65% 0.2%
2049 1.64% 0.24%
2048 1.72% 0.22%
2047 1.76% 0.29%
2046 1.78% 0.29%
2045 1.86% 0.32%
2044 1.85% 0.27%
2043 1.87% 0.24%
2042 1.93% 0.24%
2041 1.97% 0.21%
2040 2.01% 0.16%
2039 2.04% 0.22%
2038 2.16% 0.13%
2037 2.18% 0.08%
2036 2.22% 0.05%
2035 2.26% 0.009%
2034 2.31% -0.02%
2033 2.33% -0.04%
2032 2.36% -0.13%
2031 2.44% -0.16%
2030 2.5% -0.25%
2029 2.5% -0.31%
2028 2.54% -0.34%
2027 2.56% -0.43%
2026 2.57% -0.44%
2025 2.61% -0.39%
2024 2.61% -0.4%
2023 2.6% -0.42%
2022 2.6% -0.42%
2021 2.63% -0.2%
2020 2.67% 0.03%
2019 2.69% 0.1%
2018 2.71% 0.2%
2017 2.75% -0.16%
2016 2.76% -0.54%
2015 2.79% -0.48%
2014 2.84% -0.44%
2013 2.88% -0.36%
2012 2.91% -0.1%
2011 2.96% 0.16%
2010 2.99% 0.18%
2009 3% 0.17%
2008 2.95% 0.28%
2007 2.86% 0.45%
2006 2.79% 0.55%
2005 2.71% 0.57%
2004 2.62% 0.58%
2003 2.53% 0.57%
2002 2.48% 0.57%
2001 2.45% 0.6%
2000 2.43% 0.62%
1999 2.36% 0.65%
1998 2.19% 0.71%
1997 2.03% 0.4%
1996 1.99% 0.05%
1995 -0.15% 0.06%
1994 -1.16% 0.06%
1993 1.47% 0.08%
1992 2.95% 0.13%
1991 3.13% 0.2%
1990 4.03% 0.3%
1989 4.83% 0.44%
1988 5.55% 0.6%
1987 4.89% 0.37%
1986 3.75% 0.03%
1985 3.92% -0.006%
1984 3.99% -0.008%
1983 4.02% 0.02%
1982 4.03% 0.07%
1981 4% 0.14%
1980 3.93% 0.23%
1979 3.76% 0.35%
1978 3.48% 0.5%
1977 3.15% 1.47%
1976 2.95% 2.48%
1975 2.84% 2.57%
1974 2.75% 2.11%
1973 2.66% 1.66%
1972 2.59% 1.7%
1971 2.54% 1.77%
1970 2.49% 1.83%
1969 2.5% 1.88%
1968 2.51% 1.93%
1967 2.5% 2.32%
1966 2.48% 2.74%
1965 2.47% 2.77%
1964 2.48% 2.77%
1963 2.47% 2.78%
1962 2.44% 2.8%
1961 2.41% 2.82%

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/tonga | CC BY

In 2024, the population of Malawi grew by 2.61%, while Tonga's population declined by 0.4%.

Live population counters

Malawi Tonga
Current population
22949294
103309
Population rank 61/197 183/197
Percent of world population 0.28% 0.001%
One net population change
57.3 seconds
20.8 hours
One birth every
47.6 seconds
3.62 hours
One death every
4.64 minutes
13 hours
Daily growth/decline +1,509 -1
Annual growth/decline +550,804 -422
Annual growth/decline rate +2.61% -0.4%
Population growth rate rank 26/197 183/197
One migration net change every
1.56 hours
4.09 hours
Annual migration change -5,628 -2,150
Net migration rank 118/196 99/196
Foreign-born residents 186,719 3,581
Foreign-born residents rank 117/195 187/195
Foreign-born share of population 0.9% 3.4%
Foreign-born share rank 158/195 113/195

Natural population change vs migration

Malawi
Natural

Migration
Tonga
Natural

Migration
1x
Year Population change
Malawi Tonga
Natural Migration Natural Migration
2025 - -5,628 - -2,150
2024 - -1,507 - -2,149
2023 549,096 -5,811 1,744 -2,173
2022 533,450 -5,231 1,772 -2,218
2021 517,400 -2,666 1,773 -2,220
2020 514,659 -2,655 1,816 -1,807
2019 506,104 -1,837 1,841 -1,778
2018 494,348 -3,267 1,873 -1,723
2017 484,655 982 1,912 -1,642
2016 474,779 3,505 1,989 -2,591
2015 472,484 -6,471 2,064 -2,610
2014 472,418 -10,317 2,135 -2,622
2013 470,293 -12,934 2,199 -2,637
2012 460,684 -13,561 2,255 -2,578
2011 454,149 -12,170 2,298 -2,198
2010 444,468 -9,327 2,332 -2,097
2009 434,811 -8,590 2,358 -2,204
2008 421,781 -9,264 2,397 -2,177
2007 410,290 -22,680 2,423 -2,057
2006 397,123 -29,450 2,459 -1,875
2005 381,130 -31,462 2,495 -1,906
2004 361,133 -32,221 2,478 -1,876
2003 341,133 -31,729 2,448 -1,844
2002 322,863 -30,013 2,396 -1,815
2001 310,833 -28,933 2,358 -1,766
2000 300,439 -28,098 2,346 -1,721
1999 295,629 -31,686 2,352 -1,710
1998 285,407 -39,491 2,344 -1,665
1997 277,433 -61,646 2,332 -1,589
1996 270,048 -66,212 2,393 -2,338
1995 266,745 -66,366 2,476 -2,422
1994 275,439 -505,365 2,547 -2,484
1993 276,538 -284,867 2,594 -2,532
1992 269,066 37,142 2,622 -2,524
1991 260,193 15,291 2,637 -2,484
1990 250,159 71,111 2,641 -2,409
1989 237,967 180,031 2,644 -2,280
1988 226,911 201,011 2,649 -2,138
1987 220,566 271,693 2,646 -1,970
1986 218,519 62,615 2,704 -2,650
1985 216,179 74,625 2,762 -2,775
1984 212,146 72,435 2,814 -2,823
1983 209,422 68,197 2,840 -2,840
1982 205,386 62,661 2,853 -2,814
1981 199,436 57,376 2,882 -2,778
1980 192,746 52,294 2,885 -2,708
1979 182,123 46,388 2,884 -2,604
1978 172,503 36,225 2,862 -2,457
1977 161,930 19,638 2,822 -2,273
1976 153,422 8,206 2,769 -523
1975 145,254 5,162 2,709 -346
1974 137,819 3,833 2,650 -344
1973 131,529 1,623 2,617 -1,168
1972 125,728 48 2,605 -1,153
1971 121,015 -710 2,611 -1,138
1970 116,822 -2,147 2,628 -1,122
1969 113,120 -2,266 2,632 -1,101
1968 110,329 -924 2,614 -1,078
1967 106,668 0 2,603 -1,060
1966 103,512 0 2,550 -465
1965 100,040 0 2,498 -426
1964 97,658 0 2,445 -428
1963 95,933 0 2,394 -426
1962 92,463 0 2,343 -420
1961 89,091 0 2,284 -401
1960 85,718 0 2,230 -384

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

GeoRank.org/population/malawi/tonga | 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 Tonga 46.9% is from natural causes (a gain of 18,919 people) and 53.1% is from migration (a loss of 21,384 people).

As of 2024, 186,719 residents or 0.9% of the population were not native-born in Malawi, compared to 3,581 people or 3.4% in Tonga.

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
Tonga
City Population
Nukualofa 23.2K
Mua 5K

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/tonga | 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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