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

Updated on by Georank

The latest officially reported population of Malawi was 22,216,120 in 2025 vs 103,742 people in Tonga in 2025. In 2026, based on the adjusted UN estimation, the current Malawi's population is 23,086,106 people compared to 103,283 in Tonga.

Population statistics:

  • Malawi's population is 223.5 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 +2.67% per year vs -0.25% in Tonga.
  • Since 2006, the population of Malawi has increased from 13.2M people to 23.1M (74.9% growth), while Tonga has declined from 106K to 103K (2.8% decline).

Malawi vs Tonga: population by year and forecast

Malawi
Factual

Projection
Tonga
Factual

Projection
1x
Year Population
Malawi Tonga
2100 59,773,923 117,617
2099 59,515,624 117,585
2098 59,263,165 117,530
2097 59,015,654 117,492
2096 58,749,288 117,461
2095 58,495,699 117,383
2094 58,227,933 117,290
2093 57,954,358 117,207
2092 57,660,371 117,097
2091 57,364,786 116,983
2090 57,048,240 116,838
2089 56,727,243 116,682
2088 56,385,237 116,481
2087 56,041,651 116,277
2086 55,694,983 116,088
2085 55,336,839 115,872
2084 54,985,304 115,628
2083 54,593,349 115,336
2082 54,194,853 115,041
2081 53,783,781 114,752
2080 53,361,334 114,424
2079 52,936,889 114,074
2078 52,510,645 113,710
2077 52,052,767 113,349
2076 51,589,339 112,945
2075 51,130,762 112,565
2074 50,673,499 112,179
2073 50,218,991 111,790
2072 49,759,232 111,377
2071 49,276,570 110,963
2070 48,787,471 110,576
2069 48,291,287 110,209
2068 47,782,059 109,825
2067 47,267,335 109,446
2066 46,741,998 109,062
2065 46,218,226 108,736
2064 45,692,044 108,377
2063 45,169,634 108,033
2062 44,629,192 107,710
2061 44,067,259 107,396
2060 43,499,372 107,117
2059 42,907,491 106,842
2058 42,335,782 106,589
2057 41,753,105 106,345
2056 41,175,330 106,130
2055 40,576,247 105,915
2054 39,986,120 105,698
2053 39,369,178 105,486
2052 38,758,577 105,286
2051 38,145,141 105,079
2050 37,537,814 104,844
2049 36,928,354 104,636
2048 36,332,040 104,387
2047 35,717,466 104,154
2046 35,099,651 103,852
2045 34,484,520 103,548
2044 33,855,018 103,215
2043 33,240,675 102,934
2042 32,629,513 102,692
2041 32,012,581 102,447
2040 31,395,572 102,228
2039 30,775,878 102,061
2038 30,160,239 101,835
2037 29,521,489 101,707
2036 28,890,318 101,627
2035 28,261,909 101,580
2034 27,637,439 101,571
2033 27,012,311 101,591
2032 26,398,409 101,633
2031 25,790,366 101,764
2030 25,176,420 101,928
2029 24,561,210 102,181
2028 23,962,931 102,494
2027 23,369,575 102,841
2026 22,786,713 103,283
2025 22,216,120 103,742
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 (2026–2100, retrieved 2026-07-08); World Bank | Health (1960–2025, retrieved 2026-07-08).

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 5,528,367 people (a 31.5% growth), while Tonga's population decreased by 2,241 people (a 2.12% 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 62.6% to 37,537,814 people with a rank change from 61st to 55th. The population of Tonga will increase by 1.51% to 104,844 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 2.59% -0.42%
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 (2026–2100, retrieved 2026-07-08); World Bank | Health (1961–2025, retrieved 2026-07-08).

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

In 2025, the population of Malawi grew by 2.59%, while Tonga's population declined by 0.42%.

Live population counters

Malawi Tonga
Current population
23086106
103283
Population rank 61/197 183/197
Percent of world population 0.28% 0.001%
One net population change
56.4 seconds
20.3 hours
One birth every
46.8 seconds
3.65 hours
One death every
4.59 minutes
13.1 hours
Daily growth/decline +1,537 -1
Annual growth/decline +560,834 -433
Annual growth/decline rate +2.59% -0.42%
Population growth rate rank 23/197 181/197
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 559,811 -1,507 1,729 -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 2026-07-08).

GeoRank.org/population/malawi/tonga | 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 Tonga 47% is from natural causes (a gain of 18,513 people) and 53% is from migration (a loss of 20,911 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
Mzimba 936K
Blantyre 800K
Mzuzu 150K
Zomba 101K
Mangochi 53.5K
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 (1960–2025, 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/tonga | 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. Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) (2000–2019, retrieved 2026-07-08)
  5. Wikidata (2026, retrieved 2026-07-08)

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