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

Updated on by Georank team

The latest officially reported population of Malawi was 21,655,286 in 2024 vs 50,015,092 people in Uganda in 2024. In 2026, based on the adjusted UN estimation, the current Malawi's population is 22,949,294 people compared to 53,170,946 in Uganda.

Population statistics:

  • Uganda's population is 2.32 times bigger than Malawi's.
  • Malawi is ranked the 61st most populous country in the world, while Uganda is the 30th.
  • The countries together account for 0.92% of the world: 0.28% for Malawi vs 0.64% for Uganda.
  • For the last 10 years, Malawi has had an average growth rate of +2.7% per year vs +3.21% in Uganda.
  • Since 2006, the population of Malawi has increased from 13.2M people to 22.9M (73.9% growth), while Uganda has grown from 28.8M to 53.2M (84.7% growth).

Malawi vs Uganda: population by year and forecast

Malawi
Factual

Projection
Uganda
Factual

Projection
1x
Year Population
Malawi Uganda
2100 59,786,744 122,497,526
2099 59,528,389 122,436,109
2098 59,275,876 122,364,302
2097 59,028,312 122,266,255
2096 58,761,888 122,146,810
2095 58,508,246 121,976,411
2094 58,240,422 121,799,752
2093 57,966,788 121,584,860
2092 57,672,738 121,336,796
2091 57,377,090 121,070,447
2090 57,060,476 120,767,412
2089 56,739,410 120,427,771
2088 56,397,330 120,064,594
2087 56,053,671 119,668,549
2086 55,706,928 119,256,686
2085 55,348,708 118,815,763
2084 54,997,097 118,339,179
2083 54,605,058 117,821,938
2082 54,206,477 117,274,958
2081 53,795,317 116,707,394
2080 53,372,779 116,096,095
2079 52,948,243 115,474,153
2078 52,521,908 114,805,376
2077 52,063,931 114,118,687
2076 51,600,404 113,390,189
2075 51,141,728 112,637,851
2074 50,684,368 111,863,410
2073 50,229,762 111,070,771
2072 49,769,904 110,240,940
2071 49,287,139 109,392,890
2070 48,797,935 108,505,633
2069 48,301,644 107,607,659
2068 47,792,308 106,677,578
2067 47,277,473 105,722,829
2066 46,752,024 104,739,111
2065 46,228,139 103,737,893
2064 45,701,844 102,701,560
2063 45,179,322 101,646,533
2062 44,638,764 100,561,859
2061 44,076,711 99,450,764
2060 43,508,702 98,334,788
2059 42,916,694 97,187,498
2058 42,344,863 96,014,439
2057 41,762,060 94,821,765
2056 41,184,161 93,613,209
2055 40,584,950 92,385,049
2054 39,994,696 91,132,827
2053 39,377,622 89,857,705
2052 38,766,890 88,568,311
2051 38,153,322 87,270,603
2050 37,545,865 85,957,376
2049 36,936,275 84,632,277
2048 36,339,833 83,284,965
2047 35,725,127 81,928,165
2046 35,107,179 80,569,225
2045 34,491,916 79,208,662
2044 33,862,279 77,834,944
2043 33,247,804 76,453,982
2042 32,636,511 75,075,287
2041 32,019,447 73,701,695
2040 31,402,305 72,333,375
2039 30,782,479 70,963,211
2038 30,166,708 69,580,447
2037 29,527,821 68,186,136
2036 28,896,515 66,804,746
2035 28,267,970 65,411,934
2034 27,643,367 64,023,352
2033 27,018,105 62,634,483
2032 26,404,071 61,235,174
2031 25,795,897 59,825,075
2030 25,181,820 58,415,479
2029 24,566,478 57,006,283
2028 23,968,071 55,596,520
2027 23,374,588 54,191,271
2026 22,791,601 52,792,624
2025 22,220,885 51,400,003
2024 21,655,286 50,015,092
2023 21,104,482 48,656,601
2022 20,568,728 47,312,719
2021 20,047,258 45,910,930
2020 19,533,888 44,457,152
2019 19,025,752 42,999,637
2018 18,528,081 41,565,831
2017 18,039,715 40,177,388
2016 17,557,739 38,799,152
2015 17,085,587 37,531,446
2014 16,621,538 36,395,539
2013 16,161,816 35,337,042
2012 15,709,577 34,337,438
2011 15,265,022 33,354,543
2010 14,826,463 32,390,802
2009 14,395,788 31,451,151
2008 13,976,417 30,539,553
2007 13,576,343 29,653,430
2006 13,198,701 28,794,003
2005 12,840,031 27,963,289
2004 12,500,737 27,154,515
2003 12,181,574 26,352,124
2002 11,880,440 25,532,870
2001 11,593,058 24,745,676
2000 11,315,942 24,000,150
1999 11,047,804 23,257,281
1998 10,792,876 22,515,806
1997 10,562,035 21,856,046
1996 10,352,228 21,231,550
1995 10,150,117 20,665,667
1994 10,164,894 20,108,801
1993 10,284,024 19,445,161
1992 10,135,079 18,785,032
1991 9,844,227 18,155,901
1990 9,545,852 17,569,897
1989 9,176,220 17,010,698
1988 8,753,262 16,470,483
1987 8,293,174 15,954,170
1986 7,906,480 15,467,579
1985 7,620,508 15,023,681
1984 7,332,810 14,607,677
1983 7,051,709 14,221,881
1982 6,778,879 13,873,631
1981 6,516,454 13,556,452
1980 6,265,529 13,275,741
1979 6,028,749 13,002,163
1978 5,810,132 12,692,113
1977 5,614,983 12,359,669
1976 5,443,384 12,037,294
1975 5,287,367 11,725,240
1974 5,141,337 11,424,846
1973 5,003,938 11,144,236
1972 4,874,475 10,885,796
1971 4,751,434 10,618,206
1970 4,633,944 10,321,603
1969 4,521,184 10,014,858
1968 4,411,054 9,708,632
1967 4,303,012 9,408,924
1966 4,197,926 9,122,864
1965 4,096,157 8,849,203
1964 3,997,305 8,586,363
1963 3,900,506 8,333,663
1962 3,806,307 8,092,231
1961 3,715,534 7,862,217
1960 3,628,134 7,640,973

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/uganda | CC BY

From 2006 to 2016, the population of Malawi increased by 4,359,038 people (a 33% growth), while Uganda gained 10,005,149 people (a 34.7% growth).

For the next 10 years, from 2016 to 2026, Malawi gained 5,391,555 people (a 30.7% growth), while Uganda's population increased by 14,371,794 people (a 37% growth).

Malawi was ranked 69th most populous country in 2006 and is 61st in 2026. Uganda was ranked 38th in 2006 and ranked 30th 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 Uganda will increase by 61.7% to 85,957,376 people and rank change from 30th to 20th.

Malawi is projected to reach its peak in 2100 at 59.8M people compared to the peak of 122M people in 2100 for Uganda.

Population growth rate by year

Malawi
Factual

Projection
Uganda
Factual

Projection
1x
Year Growth rate
Malawi Uganda
2100 0.43% 0.05%
2099 0.43% 0.06%
2098 0.42% 0.08%
2097 0.45% 0.1%
2096 0.43% 0.14%
2095 0.46% 0.15%
2094 0.47% 0.18%
2093 0.51% 0.2%
2092 0.52% 0.22%
2091 0.55% 0.25%
2090 0.57% 0.28%
2089 0.61% 0.3%
2088 0.61% 0.33%
2087 0.62% 0.35%
2086 0.65% 0.37%
2085 0.64% 0.4%
2084 0.72% 0.44%
2083 0.74% 0.47%
2082 0.76% 0.49%
2081 0.79% 0.53%
2080 0.8% 0.54%
2079 0.81% 0.58%
2078 0.88% 0.6%
2077 0.9% 0.64%
2076 0.9% 0.67%
2075 0.9% 0.69%
2074 0.91% 0.71%
2073 0.92% 0.75%
2072 0.98% 0.78%
2071 1% 0.82%
2070 1.03% 0.83%
2069 1.07% 0.87%
2068 1.09% 0.9%
2067 1.12% 0.94%
2066 1.13% 0.97%
2065 1.15% 1.01%
2064 1.16% 1.04%
2063 1.21% 1.08%
2062 1.28% 1.12%
2061 1.31% 1.13%
2060 1.38% 1.18%
2059 1.35% 1.22%
2058 1.4% 1.26%
2057 1.4% 1.29%
2056 1.48% 1.33%
2055 1.48% 1.37%
2054 1.57% 1.42%
2053 1.58% 1.46%
2052 1.61% 1.49%
2051 1.62% 1.53%
2050 1.65% 1.57%
2049 1.64% 1.62%
2048 1.72% 1.66%
2047 1.76% 1.69%
2046 1.78% 1.72%
2045 1.86% 1.76%
2044 1.85% 1.81%
2043 1.87% 1.84%
2042 1.93% 1.86%
2041 1.97% 1.89%
2040 2.01% 1.93%
2039 2.04% 1.99%
2038 2.16% 2.04%
2037 2.18% 2.07%
2036 2.22% 2.13%
2035 2.26% 2.17%
2034 2.31% 2.22%
2033 2.33% 2.29%
2032 2.36% 2.36%
2031 2.44% 2.41%
2030 2.5% 2.47%
2029 2.5% 2.54%
2028 2.54% 2.59%
2027 2.56% 2.65%
2026 2.57% 2.71%
2025 2.61% 2.77%
2024 2.61% 2.79%
2023 2.6% 2.84%
2022 2.6% 3.05%
2021 2.63% 3.27%
2020 2.67% 3.39%
2019 2.69% 3.45%
2018 2.71% 3.46%
2017 2.75% 3.55%
2016 2.76% 3.38%
2015 2.79% 3.12%
2014 2.84% 3%
2013 2.88% 2.91%
2012 2.91% 2.95%
2011 2.96% 2.98%
2010 2.99% 2.99%
2009 3% 2.98%
2008 2.95% 2.99%
2007 2.86% 2.98%
2006 2.79% 2.97%
2005 2.71% 2.98%
2004 2.62% 3.04%
2003 2.53% 3.21%
2002 2.48% 3.18%
2001 2.45% 3.11%
2000 2.43% 3.19%
1999 2.36% 3.29%
1998 2.19% 3.02%
1997 2.03% 2.94%
1996 1.99% 2.74%
1995 -0.15% 2.77%
1994 -1.16% 3.41%
1993 1.47% 3.51%
1992 2.95% 3.47%
1991 3.13% 3.34%
1990 4.03% 3.29%
1989 4.83% 3.28%
1988 5.55% 3.24%
1987 4.89% 3.15%
1986 3.75% 2.95%
1985 3.92% 2.85%
1984 3.99% 2.71%
1983 4.02% 2.51%
1982 4.03% 2.34%
1981 4% 2.11%
1980 3.93% 2.1%
1979 3.76% 2.44%
1978 3.48% 2.69%
1977 3.15% 2.68%
1976 2.95% 2.66%
1975 2.84% 2.63%
1974 2.75% 2.52%
1973 2.66% 2.37%
1972 2.59% 2.52%
1971 2.54% 2.87%
1970 2.49% 3.06%
1969 2.5% 3.15%
1968 2.51% 3.19%
1967 2.5% 3.14%
1966 2.48% 3.09%
1965 2.47% 3.06%
1964 2.48% 3.03%
1963 2.47% 2.98%
1962 2.44% 2.93%
1961 2.41% 2.9%

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/uganda | CC BY

In 2024, the population of Malawi grew by 2.61%, while Uganda's population grew by 2.79%.

Live population counters

Malawi Uganda
Current population
22949294
53170946
Population rank 61/197 30/197
Percent of world population 0.28% 0.64%
One net population change
57.3 seconds
23.2 seconds
One birth every
47.6 seconds
18.4 seconds
One death every
4.64 minutes
2.23 minutes
Daily growth/decline +1,509 +3,722
Annual growth/decline +550,804 +1,358,491
Annual growth/decline rate +2.61% +2.79%
Population growth rate rank 26/197 22/197
One migration net change every
1.56 hours
4.43 minutes
Annual migration change -5,628 -119,059
Net migration rank 118/196 183/196
Foreign-born residents 186,719 2,057,759
Foreign-born residents rank 117/195 37/195
Foreign-born share of population 0.9% 4.1%
Foreign-born share rank 158/195 106/195

Natural population change vs migration

Malawi
Natural

Migration
Uganda
Natural

Migration
1x
Year Population change
Malawi Uganda
Natural Migration Natural Migration
2025 - -5,628 - -119,059
2024 - -1,507 - -117,924
2023 549,096 -5,811 1,477,166 -126,181
2022 533,450 -5,231 1,455,576 -118,843
2021 517,400 -2,666 1,423,377 43,464
2020 514,659 -2,655 1,397,288 43,464
2019 506,104 -1,837 1,367,044 107,210
2018 494,348 -3,267 1,332,600 60,724
2017 484,655 982 1,290,658 92,879
2016 474,779 3,505 1,249,565 123,379
2015 472,484 -6,471 1,224,839 -62,366
2014 472,418 -10,317 1,201,599 -92,273
2013 470,293 -12,934 1,184,250 -176,579
2012 460,684 -13,561 1,167,473 -175,936
2011 454,149 -12,170 1,147,263 -173,005
2010 444,468 -9,327 1,121,564 -168,322
2009 434,811 -8,590 1,090,600 -164,553
2008 421,781 -9,264 1,055,935 -158,790
2007 410,290 -22,680 1,029,893 -154,773
2006 397,123 -29,450 999,958 -156,232
2005 381,130 -31,462 969,096 -151,386
2004 361,133 -32,221 938,623 -138,770
2003 341,133 -31,729 901,374 -96,429
2002 322,863 -30,013 868,756 -35,149
2001 310,833 -28,933 836,751 -95,956
2000 300,439 -28,098 803,069 -52,824
1999 295,629 -31,686 775,166 -39,695
1998 285,407 -39,491 741,175 6,277
1997 277,433 -61,646 727,523 -155,461
1996 270,048 -66,212 699,707 -22,795
1995 266,745 -66,366 697,218 -242,378
1994 275,439 -505,365 675,092 -16,198
1993 276,538 -284,867 650,032 18,349
1992 269,066 37,142 627,139 24,723
1991 260,193 15,291 602,740 3,643
1990 250,159 71,111 587,291 -21,688
1989 237,967 180,031 565,367 -12,576
1988 226,911 201,011 547,759 -20,113
1987 220,566 271,693 527,397 -22,415
1986 218,519 62,615 487,693 -19,485
1985 216,179 74,625 462,534 -42,942
1984 212,146 72,435 421,241 -8,818
1983 209,422 68,197 404,940 -45,776
1982 205,386 62,661 390,820 -53,497
1981 199,436 57,376 380,028 -83,010
1980 192,746 52,294 370,287 -105,900
1979 182,123 46,388 381,626 -98,863
1978 172,503 36,225 371,930 -34,606
1977 161,930 19,638 365,216 -37,671
1976 153,422 8,206 359,458 -42,259
1975 145,254 5,162 354,278 -47,359
1974 137,819 3,833 345,773 -51,910
1973 131,529 1,623 340,780 -73,439
1972 125,728 48 335,935 -86,409
1971 121,015 -710 328,294 -42,642
1970 116,822 -2,147 333,202 -25,646
1969 113,120 -2,266 320,486 -14,548
1968 110,329 -924 309,725 -3,214
1967 106,668 0 296,692 -3,773
1966 103,512 0 282,225 -3,021
1965 100,040 0 271,830 -3,716
1964 97,658 0 260,733 -3,169
1963 95,933 0 250,885 -3,058
1962 92,463 0 241,513 -6,470
1961 89,091 0 232,894 -7,893
1960 85,718 0 225,080 -7,586

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

GeoRank.org/population/malawi/uganda | 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 Uganda 99.5% is from natural causes (a gain of 13,419,712 people) and 0.53% is from migration (a gain of 71,457 people).

As of 2024, 186,719 residents or 0.9% of the population were not native-born in Malawi, compared to 2,057,759 people or 4.1% in Uganda.

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
Uganda
City Population
Kampala 1.68M
Mbale 586K
Arua 385K
Kira Town 317K
Jinja 279K
Gulu 177K
Kasese 101K
Entebbe 70K
Tororo 41.9K

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/uganda | 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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