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

Updated on by Georank team

The latest officially reported population of Malawi was 21,655,286 in 2024 vs 69,226,000 people in the United Kingdom in 2024. In 2026, based on the adjusted UN estimation, the current Malawi's population is 22,949,294 people compared to 70,154,914 in the United Kingdom.

Population statistics:

  • The United Kingdom's population is 3.06 times bigger than Malawi's.
  • Malawi is ranked the 61st most populous country in the world, while the United Kingdom is the 22nd.
  • The countries together account for 1.12% of the world: 0.28% for Malawi vs 0.85% for the United Kingdom.
  • For the last 10 years, Malawi has had an average growth rate of +2.7% per year vs +0.7% in the United Kingdom.
  • Since 2006, the population of Malawi has increased from 13.2M people to 22.9M (73.9% growth), while the United Kingdom has grown from 60.8M to 70.2M (15.3% growth).

Malawi vs United Kingdom: population by year and forecast

Malawi
Factual

Projection
United Kingdom
Factual

Projection
1x
Year Population
Malawi United Kingdom
2100 59,786,744 74,700,585
2099 59,528,389 74,831,175
2098 59,275,876 74,950,267
2097 59,028,312 75,064,397
2096 58,761,888 75,176,691
2095 58,508,246 75,287,063
2094 58,240,422 75,383,856
2093 57,966,788 75,482,205
2092 57,672,738 75,575,769
2091 57,377,090 75,666,091
2090 57,060,476 75,753,129
2089 56,739,410 75,835,723
2088 56,397,330 75,907,614
2087 56,053,671 75,978,712
2086 55,706,928 76,046,742
2085 55,348,708 76,105,680
2084 54,997,097 76,156,223
2083 54,605,058 76,205,894
2082 54,206,477 76,246,844
2081 53,795,317 76,274,040
2080 53,372,779 76,306,205
2079 52,948,243 76,334,949
2078 52,521,908 76,353,484
2077 52,063,931 76,371,123
2076 51,600,404 76,373,520
2075 51,141,728 76,386,071
2074 50,684,368 76,397,426
2073 50,229,762 76,406,554
2072 49,769,904 76,398,941
2071 49,287,139 76,388,223
2070 48,797,935 76,378,505
2069 48,301,644 76,371,827
2068 47,792,308 76,370,973
2067 47,277,473 76,363,548
2066 46,752,024 76,356,638
2065 46,228,139 76,355,841
2064 45,701,844 76,352,770
2063 45,179,322 76,353,175
2062 44,638,764 76,346,535
2061 44,076,711 76,344,206
2060 43,508,702 76,344,725
2059 42,916,694 76,345,215
2058 42,344,863 76,326,961
2057 41,762,060 76,307,006
2056 41,184,161 76,274,247
2055 40,584,950 76,235,304
2054 39,994,696 76,167,710
2053 39,377,622 76,094,051
2052 38,766,890 76,001,979
2051 38,153,322 75,895,690
2050 37,545,865 75,777,445
2049 36,936,275 75,646,044
2048 36,339,833 75,499,380
2047 35,725,127 75,338,951
2046 35,107,179 75,171,300
2045 34,491,916 74,993,186
2044 33,862,279 74,807,530
2043 33,247,804 74,607,485
2042 32,636,511 74,407,783
2041 32,019,447 74,203,292
2040 31,402,305 73,994,525
2039 30,782,479 73,782,112
2038 30,166,708 73,559,085
2037 29,527,821 73,335,723
2036 28,896,515 73,101,646
2035 28,267,970 72,850,722
2034 27,643,367 72,597,177
2033 27,018,105 72,322,802
2032 26,404,071 72,046,316
2031 25,795,897 71,757,868
2030 25,181,820 71,442,811
2029 24,566,478 71,123,782
2028 23,968,071 70,783,199
2027 23,374,588 70,421,923
2026 22,791,601 70,055,911
2025 22,220,885 69,658,188
2024 21,655,286 69,226,000
2023 21,104,482 68,492,000
2022 20,568,728 67,604,000
2021 20,047,258 66,984,000
2020 19,533,888 66,744,000
2019 19,025,752 66,631,000
2018 18,528,081 66,289,000
2017 18,039,715 65,966,000
2016 17,557,739 65,607,000
2015 17,085,587 65,088,000
2014 16,621,538 64,620,000
2013 16,161,816 64,139,000
2012 15,709,577 63,711,000
2011 15,265,022 63,258,810
2010 14,826,463 62,766,365
2009 14,395,788 62,276,270
2008 13,976,417 61,806,995
2007 13,576,343 61,322,463
2006 13,198,701 60,846,820
2005 12,840,031 60,401,206
2004 12,500,737 59,987,905
2003 12,181,574 59,647,577
2002 11,880,440 59,370,479
2001 11,593,058 59,119,673
2000 11,315,942 58,892,514
1999 11,047,804 58,682,466
1998 10,792,876 58,487,141
1997 10,562,035 58,316,954
1996 10,352,228 58,166,950
1995 10,150,117 58,019,030
1994 10,164,894 57,865,745
1993 10,284,024 57,718,614
1992 10,135,079 57,580,402
1991 9,844,227 57,424,897
1990 9,545,852 57,247,586
1989 9,176,220 57,076,711
1988 8,753,262 56,928,327
1987 8,293,174 56,802,050
1986 7,906,480 56,681,396
1985 7,620,508 56,550,268
1984 7,332,810 56,422,072
1983 7,051,709 56,332,848
1982 6,778,879 56,313,641
1981 6,516,454 56,333,829
1980 6,265,529 56,314,216
1979 6,028,749 56,246,951
1978 5,810,132 56,196,504
1977 5,614,983 56,193,492
1976 5,443,384 56,211,968
1975 5,287,367 56,225,800
1974 5,141,337 56,229,974
1973 5,003,938 56,194,527
1972 4,874,475 56,086,065
1971 4,751,434 55,896,223
1970 4,633,944 55,663,250
1969 4,521,184 55,441,750
1968 4,411,054 55,211,700
1967 4,303,012 54,943,600
1966 4,197,926 54,648,500
1965 4,096,157 54,348,050
1964 3,997,305 54,000,000
1963 3,900,506 53,650,000
1962 3,806,307 53,250,000
1961 3,715,534 52,800,000
1960 3,628,134 52,400,000

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-kingdom | CC BY

From 2006 to 2016, the population of Malawi increased by 4,359,038 people (a 33% growth), while the United Kingdom gained 4,760,180 people (a 7.82% growth).

For the next 10 years, from 2016 to 2026, Malawi gained 5,391,555 people (a 30.7% growth), while the United Kingdom's population increased by 4,547,914 people (a 6.93% growth).

Malawi was ranked 69th most populous country in 2006 and is 61st in 2026. The United Kingdom was ranked 21st in 2006 and ranked 22nd 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 Kingdom will increase by 8.01% to 75,777,445 people and rank change from 22nd to 26th.

Malawi is projected to reach its peak in 2100 at 59.8M people compared to the peak of 76.4M people in 2073 for the United Kingdom.

Population growth rate by year

Malawi
Factual

Projection
United Kingdom
Factual

Projection
1x
Year Growth rate
Malawi United Kingdom
2100 0.43% -0.17%
2099 0.43% -0.16%
2098 0.42% -0.15%
2097 0.45% -0.15%
2096 0.43% -0.15%
2095 0.46% -0.13%
2094 0.47% -0.13%
2093 0.51% -0.12%
2092 0.52% -0.12%
2091 0.55% -0.11%
2090 0.57% -0.11%
2089 0.61% -0.09%
2088 0.61% -0.09%
2087 0.62% -0.09%
2086 0.65% -0.08%
2085 0.64% -0.07%
2084 0.72% -0.07%
2083 0.74% -0.05%
2082 0.76% -0.04%
2081 0.79% -0.04%
2080 0.8% -0.04%
2079 0.81% -0.02%
2078 0.88% -0.02%
2077 0.9% -0.003%
2076 0.9% -0.02%
2075 0.9% -0.01%
2074 0.91% -0.01%
2073 0.92% 0.01%
2072 0.98% 0.01%
2071 1% 0.01%
2070 1.03% 0.009%
2069 1.07% 0.001%
2068 1.09% 0.01%
2067 1.12% 0.009%
2066 1.13% 0.001%
2065 1.15% 0.004%
2064 1.16% -0%
2063 1.21% 0.009%
2062 1.28% 0.003%
2061 1.31% -0.001%
2060 1.38% -0.001%
2059 1.35% 0.02%
2058 1.4% 0.03%
2057 1.4% 0.04%
2056 1.48% 0.05%
2055 1.48% 0.09%
2054 1.57% 0.1%
2053 1.58% 0.12%
2052 1.61% 0.14%
2051 1.62% 0.16%
2050 1.65% 0.17%
2049 1.64% 0.19%
2048 1.72% 0.21%
2047 1.76% 0.22%
2046 1.78% 0.24%
2045 1.86% 0.25%
2044 1.85% 0.27%
2043 1.87% 0.27%
2042 1.93% 0.28%
2041 1.97% 0.28%
2040 2.01% 0.29%
2039 2.04% 0.3%
2038 2.16% 0.3%
2037 2.18% 0.32%
2036 2.22% 0.34%
2035 2.26% 0.35%
2034 2.31% 0.38%
2033 2.33% 0.38%
2032 2.36% 0.4%
2031 2.44% 0.44%
2030 2.5% 0.45%
2029 2.5% 0.48%
2028 2.54% 0.51%
2027 2.56% 0.52%
2026 2.57% 0.57%
2025 2.61% 0.62%
2024 2.61% 1.07%
2023 2.6% 1.31%
2022 2.6% 0.93%
2021 2.63% 0.36%
2020 2.67% 0.17%
2019 2.69% 0.52%
2018 2.71% 0.49%
2017 2.75% 0.55%
2016 2.76% 0.8%
2015 2.79% 0.72%
2014 2.84% 0.75%
2013 2.88% 0.67%
2012 2.91% 0.71%
2011 2.96% 0.78%
2010 2.99% 0.79%
2009 3% 0.76%
2008 2.95% 0.79%
2007 2.86% 0.78%
2006 2.79% 0.74%
2005 2.71% 0.69%
2004 2.62% 0.57%
2003 2.53% 0.47%
2002 2.48% 0.42%
2001 2.45% 0.39%
2000 2.43% 0.36%
1999 2.36% 0.33%
1998 2.19% 0.29%
1997 2.03% 0.26%
1996 1.99% 0.25%
1995 -0.15% 0.26%
1994 -1.16% 0.25%
1993 1.47% 0.24%
1992 2.95% 0.27%
1991 3.13% 0.31%
1990 4.03% 0.3%
1989 4.83% 0.26%
1988 5.55% 0.22%
1987 4.89% 0.21%
1986 3.75% 0.23%
1985 3.92% 0.23%
1984 3.99% 0.16%
1983 4.02% 0.03%
1982 4.03% -0.04%
1981 4% 0.03%
1980 3.93% 0.12%
1979 3.76% 0.09%
1978 3.48% 0.005%
1977 3.15% -0.03%
1976 2.95% -0.02%
1975 2.84% -0.007%
1974 2.75% 0.06%
1973 2.66% 0.19%
1972 2.59% 0.34%
1971 2.54% 0.42%
1970 2.49% 0.4%
1969 2.5% 0.42%
1968 2.51% 0.49%
1967 2.5% 0.54%
1966 2.48% 0.55%
1965 2.47% 0.64%
1964 2.48% 0.65%
1963 2.47% 0.75%
1962 2.44% 0.85%
1961 2.41% 0.76%

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-kingdom | CC BY

In 2024, the population of Malawi grew by 2.61%, while the United Kingdom's population grew by 1.07%.

Live population counters

Malawi United Kingdom
Current population
22949294
70154914
Population rank 61/197 22/197
Percent of world population 0.28% 0.85%
One net population change
57.3 seconds
43 seconds
One birth every
47.6 seconds
45.9 seconds
One death every
4.64 minutes
48.4 seconds
Daily growth/decline +1,509 +2,011
Annual growth/decline +550,804 +734,000
Annual growth/decline rate +2.61% +1.07%
Population growth rate rank 26/197 97/197
One migration net change every
1.56 hours
1.35 minutes
Annual migration change -5,628 +389,911
Net migration rank 118/196 4/196
Foreign-born residents 186,719 11,845,479
Foreign-born residents rank 117/195 4/195
Foreign-born share of population 0.9% 17.1%
Foreign-born share rank 158/195 36/195

Natural population change vs migration

Malawi
Natural

Migration
United Kingdom
Natural

Migration
1x
Year Population change
Malawi United Kingdom
Natural Migration Natural Migration
2025 - -5,628 - 389,911
2024 - -1,507 - 417,114
2023 549,096 -5,811 34,589 445,523
2022 533,450 -5,231 39,751 487,029
2021 517,400 -2,666 30,612 462,967
2020 514,659 -2,655 -4,272 144,221
2019 506,104 -1,837 108,342 232,727
2018 494,348 -3,267 119,321 259,744
2017 484,655 982 145,125 272,311
2016 474,779 3,505 177,139 324,649
2015 472,484 -6,471 175,738 347,839
2014 472,418 -10,317 206,784 306,091
2013 470,293 -12,934 198,830 237,272
2012 460,684 -13,561 248,473 172,088
2011 454,149 -12,170 259,361 228,773
2010 444,468 -9,327 251,066 274,811
2009 434,811 -8,590 230,422 249,639
2008 421,781 -9,264 216,325 263,390
2007 410,290 -22,680 196,232 309,385
2006 397,123 -29,450 176,455 288,923
2005 381,130 -31,462 144,963 308,279
2004 361,133 -32,221 131,974 276,077
2003 341,133 -31,729 89,471 211,846
2002 322,863 -30,013 65,308 203,577
2001 310,833 -28,933 65,032 175,133
2000 300,439 -28,098 70,671 153,917
1999 295,629 -31,686 64,551 152,653
1998 285,407 -39,491 87,730 125,541
1997 277,433 -61,646 99,138 59,723
1996 270,048 -66,212 98,884 54,964
1995 266,745 -66,366 87,028 61,385
1994 275,439 -505,365 127,304 45,339
1993 276,538 -284,867 103,893 27,403
1992 269,066 37,142 149,709 17,846
1991 260,193 15,291 143,562 27,601
1990 250,159 71,111 154,569 57,132
1989 237,967 180,031 119,861 49,586
1988 226,911 201,011 136,628 13,952
1987 220,566 271,693 136,325 8,266
1986 218,519 62,615 90,690 41,836
1985 216,179 74,625 79,170 83,164
1984 212,146 72,435 84,633 71,107
1983 209,422 68,197 61,966 27,063
1982 205,386 62,661 56,314 -61,152
1981 199,436 57,376 73,234 -83,876
1980 192,746 52,294 95,734 -25,187
1979 182,123 46,388 61,872 11,255
1978 172,503 36,225 16,859 3,783
1977 161,930 19,638 0 -21,636
1976 153,422 8,206 -5,621 -19,135
1975 145,254 5,162 33,735 -40,241
1974 137,819 3,833 67,476 -65,710
1973 131,529 1,623 112,389 -33,840
1972 125,728 48 162,650 -1,406
1971 121,015 -710 257,123 1,175
1970 116,822 -2,147 244,918 -15,254
1969 113,120 -2,266 260,577 -60,655
1968 110,329 -924 292,622 -38,852
1967 106,668 0 346,145 -39,659
1966 103,512 0 333,356 -27,935
1965 100,040 0 364,132 -24,955
1964 97,658 0 405,000 -23,885
1963 95,933 0 337,995 8,271
1962 92,463 0 340,800 76,443
1961 89,091 0 311,519 52,295
1960 85,718 0 314,400 19,953

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

GeoRank.org/population/malawi/united-kingdom | 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 Kingdom 23.9% is from natural causes (a gain of 1,033,129 people) and 76.1% is from migration (a gain of 3,283,101 people).

As of 2024, 186,719 residents or 0.9% of the population were not native-born in Malawi, compared to 11,845,479 people or 17.1% in the United Kingdom.

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
United Kingdom
City Population
London 8.8M
Birmingham 1.14M
Glasgow 626K
Manchester 548K
Leeds 536K
Sheffield 518K
Liverpool 513K
Edinburgh 488K
Bristol 472K
Cardiff 384K

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-kingdom | 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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