Skip to content

Population in Malawi compared to the United Arab Emirates: Trends, Charts, Rankings

Updated on by Georank team

The latest officially reported population of Malawi was 21,655,286 in 2024 vs 10,986,400 people in the United Arab Emirates in 2024. In 2026, based on the adjusted UN estimation, the current Malawi's population is 22,949,294 people compared to 11,686,438 in the United Arab Emirates.

Population statistics:

  • Malawi's population is 1.96 times bigger than the United Arab Emirates'.
  • Malawi is ranked the 61st most populous country in the world, while the United Arab Emirates is the 84th.
  • The countries together account for 0.42% of the world: 0.28% for Malawi vs 0.14% for the United Arab Emirates.
  • For the last 10 years, Malawi has had an average growth rate of +2.7% per year vs +3.31% in the United Arab Emirates.
  • Since 2006, the population of Malawi has increased from 13.2M people to 22.9M (73.9% growth), while the United Arab Emirates has grown from 5.01M to 11.7M (133.3% growth).

Malawi vs United Arab Emirates: population by year and forecast

Malawi
Factual

Projection
United Arab Emirates
Factual

Projection
1x
Year Population
Malawi UAE
2100 59,786,744 26,368,750
2099 59,528,389 26,130,374
2098 59,275,876 25,894,010
2097 59,028,312 25,660,062
2096 58,761,888 25,427,961
2095 58,508,246 25,197,670
2094 58,240,422 24,968,891
2093 57,966,788 24,741,434
2092 57,672,738 24,515,086
2091 57,377,090 24,289,496
2090 57,060,476 24,064,404
2089 56,739,410 23,839,033
2088 56,397,330 23,613,963
2087 56,053,671 23,388,786
2086 55,706,928 23,163,641
2085 55,348,708 22,938,169
2084 54,997,097 22,711,804
2083 54,605,058 22,484,154
2082 54,206,477 22,255,625
2081 53,795,317 22,026,183
2080 53,372,779 21,796,073
2079 52,948,243 21,565,118
2078 52,521,908 21,333,574
2077 52,063,931 21,101,274
2076 51,600,404 20,868,733
2075 51,141,728 20,636,203
2074 50,684,368 20,404,044
2073 50,229,762 20,171,659
2072 49,769,904 19,940,853
2071 49,287,139 19,710,934
2070 48,797,935 19,483,026
2069 48,301,644 19,256,572
2068 47,792,308 19,032,681
2067 47,277,473 18,811,331
2066 46,752,024 18,593,017
2065 46,228,139 18,377,364
2064 45,701,844 18,164,584
2063 45,179,322 17,955,352
2062 44,638,764 17,749,596
2061 44,076,711 17,547,827
2060 43,508,702 17,349,620
2059 42,916,694 17,153,273
2058 42,344,863 16,959,263
2057 41,762,060 16,767,893
2056 41,184,161 16,579,195
2055 40,584,950 16,392,558
2054 39,994,696 16,207,309
2053 39,377,622 16,024,789
2052 38,766,890 15,844,357
2051 38,153,322 15,665,362
2050 37,545,865 15,487,008
2049 36,936,275 15,309,031
2048 36,339,833 15,132,784
2047 35,725,127 14,958,209
2046 35,107,179 14,788,046
2045 34,491,916 14,620,902
2044 33,862,279 14,454,466
2043 33,247,804 14,289,021
2042 32,636,511 14,124,515
2041 32,019,447 13,961,010
2040 31,402,305 13,798,651
2039 30,782,479 13,637,499
2038 30,166,708 13,477,450
2037 29,527,821 13,319,346
2036 28,896,515 13,163,073
2035 28,267,970 13,009,160
2034 27,643,367 12,857,729
2033 27,018,105 12,709,520
2032 26,404,071 12,564,906
2031 25,795,897 12,424,286
2030 25,181,820 12,288,186
2029 24,566,478 12,148,661
2028 23,968,071 11,999,549
2027 23,374,588 11,831,082
2026 22,791,601 11,632,806
2025 22,220,885 11,367,504
2024 21,655,286 10,986,400
2023 21,104,482 10,483,751
2022 20,568,728 10,074,977
2021 20,047,258 9,575,152
2020 19,533,888 9,401,038
2019 19,025,752 9,445,785
2018 18,528,081 9,346,701
2017 18,039,715 9,223,225
2016 17,557,739 8,935,095
2015 17,085,587 8,505,237
2014 16,621,538 8,059,440
2013 16,161,816 7,693,031
2012 15,709,577 7,391,448
2011 15,265,022 7,104,538
2010 14,826,463 6,869,838
2009 14,395,788 6,707,058
2008 13,976,417 6,302,664
2007 13,576,343 5,624,635
2006 13,198,701 5,009,100
2005 12,840,031 4,664,790
2004 12,500,737 4,428,967
2003 12,181,574 4,192,457
2002 11,880,440 3,956,826
2001 11,593,058 3,723,590
2000 11,315,942 3,493,575
1999 11,047,804 3,266,009
1998 10,792,876 3,040,421
1997 10,562,035 2,817,410
1996 10,352,228 2,597,564
1995 10,150,117 2,434,662
1994 10,164,894 2,328,188
1993 10,284,024 2,222,093
1992 10,135,079 2,114,730
1991 9,844,227 2,006,626
1990 9,545,852 1,898,220
1989 9,176,220 1,789,851
1988 8,753,262 1,681,788
1987 8,293,174 1,574,244
1986 7,906,480 1,467,383
1985 7,620,508 1,377,911
1984 7,332,810 1,305,996
1983 7,051,709 1,235,305
1982 6,778,879 1,166,370
1981 6,516,454 1,099,855
1980 6,265,529 1,015,700
1979 6,028,749 912,010
1978 5,810,132 809,274
1977 5,614,983 710,209
1976 5,443,384 615,866
1975 5,287,367 542,856
1974 5,141,337 489,087
1973 5,003,938 436,399
1972 4,874,475 385,014
1971 4,751,434 335,027
1970 4,633,944 286,536
1969 4,521,184 239,660
1968 4,411,054 199,416
1967 4,303,012 179,700
1966 4,197,926 173,976
1965 4,096,157 167,103
1964 3,997,305 159,692
1963 3,900,506 152,211
1962 3,806,307 144,946
1961 3,715,534 137,989
1960 3,628,134 131,334

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/united-arab-emirates | CC BY

From 2006 to 2016, the population of Malawi increased by 4,359,038 people (a 33% growth), while the United Arab Emirates gained 3,925,995 people (a 78.4% growth).

For the next 10 years, from 2016 to 2026, Malawi gained 5,391,555 people (a 30.7% growth), while the United Arab Emirates' population increased by 2,751,343 people (a 30.8% growth).

Malawi was ranked 69th most populous country in 2006 and is 61st in 2026. The United Arab Emirates was ranked 114th in 2006 and ranked 84th 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 the United Arab Emirates will increase by 32.5% to 15,487,008 people and will still be ranked 84th.

Malawi is projected to reach its peak in 2100 at 59.8M people compared to the peak of 26.4M people in 2100 for the United Arab Emirates.

Population growth rate by year

Malawi
Factual

Projection
United Arab Emirates
Factual

Projection
1x
Year Growth rate
Malawi UAE
2100 0.43% 0.91%
2099 0.43% 0.91%
2098 0.42% 0.91%
2097 0.45% 0.91%
2096 0.43% 0.91%
2095 0.46% 0.92%
2094 0.47% 0.92%
2093 0.51% 0.92%
2092 0.52% 0.93%
2091 0.55% 0.94%
2090 0.57% 0.95%
2089 0.61% 0.95%
2088 0.61% 0.96%
2087 0.62% 0.97%
2086 0.65% 0.98%
2085 0.64% 1%
2084 0.72% 1.01%
2083 0.74% 1.03%
2082 0.76% 1.04%
2081 0.79% 1.06%
2080 0.8% 1.07%
2079 0.81% 1.09%
2078 0.88% 1.1%
2077 0.9% 1.11%
2076 0.9% 1.13%
2075 0.9% 1.14%
2074 0.91% 1.15%
2073 0.92% 1.16%
2072 0.98% 1.17%
2071 1% 1.17%
2070 1.03% 1.18%
2069 1.07% 1.18%
2068 1.09% 1.18%
2067 1.12% 1.17%
2066 1.13% 1.17%
2065 1.15% 1.17%
2064 1.16% 1.17%
2063 1.21% 1.16%
2062 1.28% 1.15%
2061 1.31% 1.14%
2060 1.38% 1.14%
2059 1.35% 1.14%
2058 1.4% 1.14%
2057 1.4% 1.14%
2056 1.48% 1.14%
2055 1.48% 1.14%
2054 1.57% 1.14%
2053 1.58% 1.14%
2052 1.61% 1.14%
2051 1.62% 1.15%
2050 1.65% 1.16%
2049 1.64% 1.16%
2048 1.72% 1.17%
2047 1.76% 1.15%
2046 1.78% 1.14%
2045 1.86% 1.15%
2044 1.85% 1.16%
2043 1.87% 1.16%
2042 1.93% 1.17%
2041 1.97% 1.18%
2040 2.01% 1.18%
2039 2.04% 1.19%
2038 2.16% 1.19%
2037 2.18% 1.19%
2036 2.22% 1.18%
2035 2.26% 1.18%
2034 2.31% 1.17%
2033 2.33% 1.15%
2032 2.36% 1.13%
2031 2.44% 1.11%
2030 2.5% 1.15%
2029 2.5% 1.24%
2028 2.54% 1.42%
2027 2.56% 1.7%
2026 2.57% 2.33%
2025 2.61% 3.47%
2024 2.61% 4.79%
2023 2.6% 4.06%
2022 2.6% 5.22%
2021 2.63% 1.85%
2020 2.67% -0.47%
2019 2.69% 1.06%
2018 2.71% 1.34%
2017 2.75% 3.22%
2016 2.76% 5.05%
2015 2.79% 5.53%
2014 2.84% 4.76%
2013 2.88% 4.08%
2012 2.91% 4.04%
2011 2.96% 3.42%
2010 2.99% 2.43%
2009 3% 6.42%
2008 2.95% 12.1%
2007 2.86% 12.3%
2006 2.79% 7.38%
2005 2.71% 5.32%
2004 2.62% 5.64%
2003 2.53% 5.96%
2002 2.48% 6.26%
2001 2.45% 6.58%
2000 2.43% 6.97%
1999 2.36% 7.42%
1998 2.19% 7.92%
1997 2.03% 8.46%
1996 1.99% 6.69%
1995 -0.15% 4.57%
1994 -1.16% 4.77%
1993 1.47% 5.08%
1992 2.95% 5.39%
1991 3.13% 5.71%
1990 4.03% 6.05%
1989 4.83% 6.43%
1988 5.55% 6.83%
1987 4.89% 7.28%
1986 3.75% 6.49%
1985 3.92% 5.51%
1984 3.99% 5.72%
1983 4.02% 5.91%
1982 4.03% 6.05%
1981 4% 8.29%
1980 3.93% 11.4%
1979 3.76% 12.7%
1978 3.48% 13.9%
1977 3.15% 15.3%
1976 2.95% 13.4%
1975 2.84% 11%
1974 2.75% 12.1%
1973 2.66% 13.3%
1972 2.59% 14.9%
1971 2.54% 16.9%
1970 2.49% 19.6%
1969 2.5% 20.2%
1968 2.51% 11%
1967 2.5% 3.29%
1966 2.48% 4.11%
1965 2.47% 4.64%
1964 2.48% 4.91%
1963 2.47% 5.01%
1962 2.44% 5.04%
1961 2.41% 5.07%

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/united-arab-emirates | CC BY

In 2024, the population of Malawi grew by 2.61%, while the United Arab Emirates' population grew by 4.79%.

Live population counters

Malawi UAE
Current population
22949294
11686438
Population rank 61/197 84/197
Percent of world population 0.28% 0.14%
One net population change
57.3 seconds
1.05 minutes
One birth every
47.6 seconds
5.13 minutes
One death every
4.64 minutes
53.8 minutes
Daily growth/decline +1,509 +1,377
Annual growth/decline +550,804 +502,649
Annual growth/decline rate +2.61% +4.79%
Population growth rate rank 26/197 3/197
One migration net change every
1.56 hours
3.32 minutes
Annual migration change -5,628 +158,634
Net migration rank 118/196 8/196
Foreign-born residents 186,719 8,157,000
Foreign-born residents rank 117/195 8/195
Foreign-born share of population 0.9% 74%
Foreign-born share rank 158/195 2/195

Natural population change vs migration

Malawi
Natural

Migration
United Arab Emirates
Natural

Migration
1x
Year Population change
Malawi UAE
Natural Migration Natural Migration
2025 - -5,628 - 158,634
2024 - -1,507 - 278,439
2023 549,096 -5,811 92,698 300,004
2022 533,450 -5,231 81,758 322,773
2021 517,400 -2,666 76,802 421,663
2020 514,659 -2,655 87,871 92,541
2019 506,104 -1,837 86,296 -125,186
2018 494,348 -3,267 86,840 14,611
2017 484,655 982 89,382 34,155
2016 474,779 3,505 87,028 195,317
2015 472,484 -6,471 85,044 342,468
2014 472,418 -10,317 84,277 360,174
2013 470,293 -12,934 82,977 279,269
2012 460,684 -13,561 78,682 225,921
2011 454,149 -12,170 73,496 215,183
2010 444,468 -9,327 69,907 161,842
2009 434,811 -8,590 66,521 163,643
2008 421,781 -9,264 55,426 523,207
2007 410,290 -22,680 55,048 722,380
2006 397,123 -29,450 54,338 399,306
2005 381,130 -31,462 60,046 174,926
2004 361,133 -32,221 60,344 176,319
2003 341,133 -31,729 59,118 177,237
2002 322,863 -30,013 55,922 178,988
2001 310,833 -28,933 52,789 178,779
2000 300,439 -28,098 49,993 178,469
1999 295,629 -31,686 46,198 180,469
1998 285,407 -39,491 41,176 183,329
1997 277,433 -61,646 38,207 183,310
1996 270,048 -66,212 37,886 180,296
1995 266,745 -66,366 38,685 68,938
1994 275,439 -505,365 42,976 62,352
1993 276,538 -284,867 41,324 65,545
1992 269,066 37,142 42,119 65,739
1991 260,193 15,291 41,409 66,943
1990 250,159 71,111 41,339 67,118
1989 237,967 180,031 40,148 68,132
1988 226,911 201,011 38,861 68,991
1987 220,566 271,693 37,741 69,493
1986 218,519 62,615 36,829 69,655
1985 216,179 74,625 34,855 37,605
1984 212,146 72,435 33,250 38,124
1983 209,422 68,197 31,480 38,536
1982 205,386 62,661 29,585 38,276
1981 199,436 57,376 27,560 37,600
1980 192,746 52,294 25,005 78,148
1979 182,123 46,388 21,987 82,238
1978 172,503 36,225 18,879 82,359
1977 161,930 19,638 15,787 81,111
1976 153,422 8,206 12,876 78,903
1975 145,254 5,162 11,859 42,380
1974 137,819 3,833 10,835 42,474
1973 131,529 1,623 9,822 42,243
1972 125,728 48 8,818 41,888
1971 121,015 -710 7,839 41,425
1970 116,822 -2,147 6,922 40,792
1969 113,120 -2,266 6,138 39,902
1968 110,329 -924 5,588 28,866
1967 106,668 0 5,264 -283
1966 103,512 0 4,955 1,516
1965 100,040 0 4,675 2,598
1964 97,658 0 4,410 3,126
1963 95,933 0 4,157 3,264
1962 92,463 0 3,901 3,212
1961 89,091 0 3,657 3,141
1960 85,718 0 3,418 3,102

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

GeoRank.org/population/malawi/united-arab-emirates | 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 the United Arab Emirates 30.5% is from natural causes (a gain of 857,996 people) and 69.5% is from migration (a gain of 1,958,520 people).

As of 2024, 186,719 residents or 0.9% of the population were not native-born in Malawi, compared to 8,157,000 people or 74% in the United Arab Emirates.

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
UAE
City Population
Dubai 3.94M
Abu Dhabi 1.57M
Sharjah 1.25M
Al Ain 767K
Ajman 490K
Ras al-Khaimah 116K
Fujairah 93.7K
Umm al-Quwain 44.4K
Madinat Zayed 29.1K

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/united-arab-emirates | CC BY

Help us show the world through your eyes

Share a photo of your city and help others discover what it looks like to live there. Your contribution makes our data come alive.

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)

Creative Commons Attribution (CC BY) — you’re free to copy, share, remix, adapt, and use even commercially as long as you give appropriate credit and clearly indicate if you made changes. Other sources may be subject to different license terms.