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

Updated on by Georank team

The latest officially reported population of Malawi was 21,655,286 in 2024 vs 341,784,857 people in the United States in 2025. In 2026, based on the adjusted UN estimation, the current Malawi's population is 22,949,294 people compared to 344,023,146 in the United States.

Population statistics:

  • The United States' population is 15 times bigger than Malawi's.
  • Malawi is ranked the 61st most populous country in the world, while the United States is the 3rd.
  • The countries together account for 4.43% of the world: 0.28% for Malawi vs 4.15% for the United States.
  • For the last 10 years, Malawi has had an average growth rate of +2.7% per year vs +0.65% in the United States.
  • Since 2006, the population of Malawi has increased from 13.2M people to 22.9M (73.9% growth), while the United States has grown from 298M to 344M (15.3% growth).

Malawi vs United States: population by year and forecast

Malawi
Factual

Projection
United States
Factual

Projection
1x
Year Population
Malawi United States
2100 59,786,744 415,429,771
2099 59,528,389 414,829,167
2098 59,275,876 414,231,720
2097 59,028,312 413,576,381
2096 58,761,888 412,927,393
2095 58,508,246 412,225,379
2094 58,240,422 411,498,749
2093 57,966,788 410,785,729
2092 57,672,738 410,051,921
2091 57,377,090 409,320,183
2090 57,060,476 408,613,732
2089 56,739,410 407,885,645
2088 56,397,330 407,129,733
2087 56,053,671 406,421,298
2086 55,706,928 405,715,343
2085 55,348,708 405,059,379
2084 54,997,097 404,343,130
2083 54,605,058 403,612,785
2082 54,206,477 402,871,293
2081 53,795,317 402,054,554
2080 53,372,779 401,319,194
2079 52,948,243 400,554,914
2078 52,521,908 399,737,968
2077 52,063,931 398,906,565
2076 51,600,404 398,035,750
2075 51,141,728 397,109,170
2074 50,684,368 396,226,412
2073 50,229,762 395,307,725
2072 49,769,904 394,393,561
2071 49,287,139 393,415,363
2070 48,797,935 392,469,727
2069 48,301,644 391,479,981
2068 47,792,308 390,517,695
2067 47,277,473 389,543,856
2066 46,752,024 388,597,719
2065 46,228,139 387,685,327
2064 45,701,844 386,805,026
2063 45,179,322 385,911,917
2062 44,638,764 385,032,627
2061 44,076,711 384,170,837
2060 43,508,702 383,361,269
2059 42,916,694 382,542,030
2058 42,344,863 381,704,804
2057 41,762,060 380,907,023
2056 41,184,161 380,159,777
2055 40,584,950 379,430,756
2054 39,994,696 378,682,851
2053 39,377,622 377,878,421
2052 38,766,890 377,073,303
2051 38,153,322 376,229,840
2050 37,545,865 375,373,155
2049 36,936,275 374,493,150
2048 36,339,833 373,590,762
2047 35,725,127 372,626,259
2046 35,107,179 371,644,809
2045 34,491,916 370,602,914
2044 33,862,279 369,518,897
2043 33,247,804 368,375,680
2042 32,636,511 367,158,772
2041 32,019,447 365,937,822
2040 31,402,305 364,671,837
2039 30,782,479 363,367,337
2038 30,166,708 361,997,023
2037 29,527,821 360,606,236
2036 28,896,515 359,193,245
2035 28,267,970 357,750,686
2034 27,643,367 356,266,726
2033 27,018,105 354,775,032
2032 26,404,071 353,259,037
2031 25,795,897 351,721,511
2030 25,181,820 350,155,042
2029 24,566,478 348,564,667
2028 23,968,071 346,906,294
2027 23,374,588 345,257,605
2026 22,791,601 343,565,426
2025 22,220,885 341,784,857
2024 21,655,286 340,110,988
2023 21,104,482 334,914,895
2022 20,568,728 333,271,411
2021 20,047,258 331,893,745
2020 19,533,888 331,526,933
2019 19,025,752 328,329,953
2018 18,528,081 326,838,199
2017 18,039,715 325,122,128
2016 17,557,739 323,071,755
2015 17,085,587 320,738,994
2014 16,621,538 318,386,329
2013 16,161,816 316,059,947
2012 15,709,577 313,877,662
2011 15,265,022 311,583,481
2010 14,826,463 309,327,143
2009 14,395,788 306,771,529
2008 13,976,417 304,093,966
2007 13,576,343 301,231,207
2006 13,198,701 298,379,912
2005 12,840,031 295,516,599
2004 12,500,737 292,805,298
2003 12,181,574 290,107,933
2002 11,880,440 287,625,193
2001 11,593,058 284,968,955
2000 11,315,942 282,162,411
1999 11,047,804 279,294,713
1998 10,792,876 276,115,288
1997 10,562,035 272,911,760
1996 10,352,228 269,667,391
1995 10,150,117 266,557,091
1994 10,164,894 263,435,673
1993 10,284,024 260,255,352
1992 10,135,079 256,894,189
1991 9,844,227 253,492,503
1990 9,545,852 250,131,894
1989 9,176,220 246,819,222
1988 8,753,262 244,499,004
1987 8,293,174 242,288,936
1986 7,906,480 240,132,831
1985 7,620,508 237,923,734
1984 7,332,810 235,824,908
1983 7,051,709 233,792,014
1982 6,778,879 231,664,432
1981 6,516,454 229,465,744
1980 6,265,529 226,542,250
1979 6,028,749 225,055,487
1978 5,810,132 222,584,545
1977 5,614,983 220,239,425
1976 5,443,384 218,035,164
1975 5,287,367 215,973,199
1974 5,141,337 213,853,928
1973 5,003,938 211,908,788
1972 4,874,475 209,896,021
1971 4,751,434 207,660,677
1970 4,633,944 205,052,174
1969 4,521,184 202,676,946
1968 4,411,054 200,706,052
1967 4,303,012 198,712,056
1966 4,197,926 196,560,338
1965 4,096,157 194,302,963
1964 3,997,305 191,888,791
1963 3,900,506 189,241,798
1962 3,806,307 186,537,737
1961 3,715,534 183,691,481
1960 3,628,134 180,671,158

Data sources: United Nations | World Population Prospects (2025–2100, retrieved 2026-03-10); U.S. Census Bureau (1960–2025, retrieved 2026-02-08); World Bank | Health (1960–2024, retrieved 2026-04-06).

GeoRank.org/population/malawi/united-states | CC BY

From 2006 to 2016, the population of Malawi increased by 4,359,038 people (a 33% growth), while the United States gained 24,691,843 people (a 8.28% growth).

For the next 10 years, from 2016 to 2026, Malawi gained 5,391,555 people (a 30.7% growth), while the United States' population increased by 20,951,391 people (a 6.49% growth).

Malawi was ranked 69th most populous country in 2006 and is 61st in 2026. The United States was ranked 3rd in 2006 and still ranked 3rd 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 States will increase by 9.11% to 375,373,155 people and will still be ranked 3rd.

Malawi is projected to reach its peak in 2100 at 59.8M people compared to the peak of 415M people in 2100 for the United States.

Population growth rate by year

Malawi
Factual

Projection
United States
Factual

Projection
1x
Year Growth rate
Malawi United States
2100 0.43% 0.14%
2099 0.43% 0.14%
2098 0.42% 0.16%
2097 0.45% 0.16%
2096 0.43% 0.17%
2095 0.46% 0.18%
2094 0.47% 0.17%
2093 0.51% 0.18%
2092 0.52% 0.18%
2091 0.55% 0.17%
2090 0.57% 0.18%
2089 0.61% 0.19%
2088 0.61% 0.17%
2087 0.62% 0.17%
2086 0.65% 0.16%
2085 0.64% 0.18%
2084 0.72% 0.18%
2083 0.74% 0.18%
2082 0.76% 0.2%
2081 0.79% 0.18%
2080 0.8% 0.19%
2079 0.81% 0.2%
2078 0.88% 0.21%
2077 0.9% 0.22%
2076 0.9% 0.23%
2075 0.9% 0.22%
2074 0.91% 0.23%
2073 0.92% 0.23%
2072 0.98% 0.25%
2071 1% 0.24%
2070 1.03% 0.25%
2069 1.07% 0.25%
2068 1.09% 0.25%
2067 1.12% 0.24%
2066 1.13% 0.24%
2065 1.15% 0.23%
2064 1.16% 0.23%
2063 1.21% 0.23%
2062 1.28% 0.22%
2061 1.31% 0.21%
2060 1.38% 0.21%
2059 1.35% 0.22%
2058 1.4% 0.21%
2057 1.4% 0.2%
2056 1.48% 0.19%
2055 1.48% 0.2%
2054 1.57% 0.21%
2053 1.58% 0.21%
2052 1.61% 0.22%
2051 1.62% 0.23%
2050 1.65% 0.23%
2049 1.64% 0.24%
2048 1.72% 0.26%
2047 1.76% 0.26%
2046 1.78% 0.28%
2045 1.86% 0.29%
2044 1.85% 0.31%
2043 1.87% 0.33%
2042 1.93% 0.33%
2041 1.97% 0.35%
2040 2.01% 0.36%
2039 2.04% 0.38%
2038 2.16% 0.39%
2037 2.18% 0.39%
2036 2.22% 0.4%
2035 2.26% 0.42%
2034 2.31% 0.42%
2033 2.33% 0.43%
2032 2.36% 0.44%
2031 2.44% 0.45%
2030 2.5% 0.46%
2029 2.5% 0.48%
2028 2.54% 0.48%
2027 2.56% 0.49%
2026 2.57% 0.52%
2025 2.61% 0.49%
2024 2.61% 1.55%
2023 2.6% 0.49%
2022 2.6% 0.42%
2021 2.63% 0.11%
2020 2.67% 0.97%
2019 2.69% 0.46%
2018 2.71% 0.53%
2017 2.75% 0.63%
2016 2.76% 0.73%
2015 2.79% 0.74%
2014 2.84% 0.74%
2013 2.88% 0.7%
2012 2.91% 0.74%
2011 2.96% 0.73%
2010 2.99% 0.83%
2009 3% 0.88%
2008 2.95% 0.95%
2007 2.86% 0.96%
2006 2.79% 0.97%
2005 2.71% 0.93%
2004 2.62% 0.93%
2003 2.53% 0.86%
2002 2.48% 0.93%
2001 2.45% 0.99%
2000 2.43% 1.03%
1999 2.36% 1.15%
1998 2.19% 1.17%
1997 2.03% 1.2%
1996 1.99% 1.17%
1995 -0.15% 1.18%
1994 -1.16% 1.22%
1993 1.47% 1.31%
1992 2.95% 1.34%
1991 3.13% 1.34%
1990 4.03% 1.34%
1989 4.83% 0.95%
1988 5.55% 0.91%
1987 4.89% 0.9%
1986 3.75% 0.93%
1985 3.92% 0.89%
1984 3.99% 0.87%
1983 4.02% 0.92%
1982 4.03% 0.96%
1981 4% 1.29%
1980 3.93% 0.66%
1979 3.76% 1.11%
1978 3.48% 1.06%
1977 3.15% 1.01%
1976 2.95% 0.95%
1975 2.84% 0.99%
1974 2.75% 0.92%
1973 2.66% 0.96%
1972 2.59% 1.08%
1971 2.54% 1.27%
1970 2.49% 1.17%
1969 2.5% 0.98%
1968 2.51% 1%
1967 2.5% 1.09%
1966 2.48% 1.16%
1965 2.47% 1.26%
1964 2.48% 1.4%
1963 2.47% 1.45%
1962 2.44% 1.55%
1961 2.41% 1.67%
1960 - 1.6%

Data sources: United Nations | World Population Prospects (2025–2100, retrieved 2026-03-10); U.S. Census Bureau (1960–2025, retrieved 2026-02-08); World Bank | Health (1961–2024, retrieved 2026-04-06).

GeoRank.org/population/malawi/united-states | CC BY

In 2025, the population of Malawi grew by 2.61%, while the United States' population grew by 0.49%.

Live population counters

Malawi United States
Current population
22949294
344023146
Population rank 61/197 3/197
Percent of world population 0.28% 4.15%
One net population change
57.3 seconds
18.9 seconds
One birth every
47.6 seconds
8.8 seconds
One death every
4.64 minutes
10.2 seconds
Daily growth/decline +1,509 +4,586
Annual growth/decline +550,804 +1,673,869
Annual growth/decline rate +2.61% +0.49%
Population growth rate rank 26/197 134/197
One migration net change every
1.56 hours
25.7 seconds
Annual migration change -5,628 +1,230,663
Net migration rank 118/196 2/196
Foreign-born residents 186,719 52,375,047
Foreign-born residents rank 117/195 1/195
Foreign-born share of population 0.9% 15.2%
Foreign-born share rank 158/195 41/195

Natural population change vs migration

Malawi
Natural

Migration
United States
Natural

Migration
1x
Year Population change
Malawi United States
Natural Migration Natural Migration
2025 - -5,628 - 1,230,663
2024 - -1,507 - 1,286,132
2023 549,096 -5,811 502,372 1,322,668
2022 533,450 -5,231 399,926 1,319,009
2021 517,400 -2,666 199,137 674,787
2020 514,659 -2,655 208,862 329,769
2019 506,104 -1,837 887,476 1,774,500
2018 494,348 -3,267 955,022 1,764,961
2017 484,655 982 1,028,037 1,864,738
2016 474,779 3,505 1,197,627 1,889,129
2015 472,484 -6,471 1,270,126 1,722,127
2014 472,418 -10,317 1,357,281 1,672,598
2013 470,293 -12,934 1,322,711 1,663,885
2012 460,684 -13,561 1,411,822 1,632,007
2011 454,149 -12,170 1,441,697 1,624,033
2010 444,468 -9,327 1,548,182 1,594,453
2009 434,811 -8,590 1,717,920 1,387,306
2008 421,781 -9,264 1,794,154 1,416,841
2007 410,290 -22,680 1,897,757 1,371,353
2006 397,123 -29,450 1,849,955 1,347,750
2005 381,130 -31,462 1,684,445 1,369,224
2004 361,133 -32,221 1,698,271 1,313,467
2003 341,133 -31,729 1,653,615 1,331,376
2002 322,863 -30,013 1,581,938 1,336,518
2001 310,833 -28,933 1,595,826 1,312,455
2000 300,439 -28,098 1,664,758 1,248,392
1999 295,629 -31,686 1,564,050 1,156,311
1998 285,407 -39,491 1,573,857 1,225,134
1997 277,433 -61,646 1,501,014 1,116,922
1996 270,048 -66,212 1,510,137 1,141,648
1995 266,745 -66,366 1,546,031 1,173,016
1994 275,439 -505,365 1,633,302 1,179,309
1993 276,538 -284,867 1,717,685 1,228,478
1992 269,066 37,142 1,875,328 1,304,880
1991 260,193 15,291 1,926,543 1,202,426
1990 250,159 71,111 2,026,068 1,084,720
1989 237,967 180,031 1,875,826 400,998
1988 226,911 201,011 1,735,943 460,778
1987 220,566 271,693 1,720,252 480,815
1986 218,519 62,615 1,656,917 493,082
1985 216,179 74,625 1,689,258 598,777
1984 212,146 72,435 1,627,192 622,793
1983 209,422 68,197 1,636,544 662,840
1982 205,386 62,661 1,714,317 600,149
1981 199,436 57,376 1,652,153 583,070
1980 192,746 52,294 1,608,450 595,916
1979 182,123 46,388 1,597,894 503,559
1978 172,503 36,225 1,402,283 556,521
1977 161,930 19,638 1,431,556 577,060
1976 153,422 8,206 1,264,604 635,590
1975 145,254 5,162 1,252,644 655,078
1974 137,819 3,833 1,218,968 706,978
1973 131,529 1,623 1,165,499 783,163
1972 125,728 48 1,301,355 833,543
1971 121,015 -710 1,640,519 833,549
1970 116,822 -2,147 1,824,965 744,902
1969 113,120 -2,266 1,702,487 523,740
1968 110,329 -924 1,565,507 594,514
1967 106,668 0 1,669,181 585,410
1966 103,512 0 1,749,387 637,692
1965 100,040 0 1,943,030 644,902
1964 97,658 0 2,245,099 618,635
1963 95,933 0 2,289,826 639,495
1962 92,463 0 2,406,337 625,617
1961 89,091 0 2,571,681 580,333
1960 85,718 0 2,565,530 422,708

Data sources: World Bank | Health (1960–2025, retrieved 2026-04-06); U.S. Census Bureau (1960–2023, retrieved 2026-02-08).

GeoRank.org/population/malawi/united-states | 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 States 35.8% is from natural causes (a gain of 8,005,866 people) and 64.2% is from migration (a gain of 14,334,286 people).

As of 2024, 186,719 residents or 0.9% of the population were not native-born in Malawi, compared to 52,375,047 people or 15.2% in the United States.

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 States
City Population
New York 8.8M
Los Angeles 3.9M
Chicago 2.75M
Houston 2.3M
Phoenix 1.61M
Philadelphia 1.6M
San Antonio 1.43M
San Diego 1.39M
Dallas 1.3M
San Jose 1.01M

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-states | 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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