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Population in Malawi compared to the Vatican: Trends, Charts, Rankings

Updated on by Georank team

The latest officially reported population of Malawi was 21,655,286 in 2024 vs 1,000 people in the Vatican in 2019. In 2026, based on the adjusted UN estimation, the current Malawi's population is 22,949,294 people compared to 936 in the Vatican.

Population statistics:

  • Malawi's population is 24,518 times bigger than the Vatican's.
  • Malawi is ranked the 61st most populous country in the world, while the Vatican is the 197th.
  • The countries together account for 0.28% of the world: 0.28% for Malawi vs 0.00001% for the Vatican.
  • For the last 10 years, Malawi has had an average growth rate of +2.7% per year vs +1.9% in the Vatican.
  • Since 2006, the population of Malawi has increased from 13.2M people to 22.9M (73.9% growth), while the Vatican has grown from 932 to 936 (0.43% growth).

Malawi vs Vatican: population by year and forecast

Malawi
Factual

Projection
Vatican
Factual

Projection
1x
Year Population
Malawi Vatican
2100 59,786,744 2,521
2099 59,528,389 2,506
2098 59,275,876 2,497
2097 59,028,312 2,482
2096 58,761,888 2,469
2095 58,508,246 2,452
2094 58,240,422 2,435
2093 57,966,788 2,421
2092 57,672,738 2,400
2091 57,377,090 2,384
2090 57,060,476 2,359
2089 56,739,410 2,337
2088 56,397,330 2,319
2087 56,053,671 2,291
2086 55,706,928 2,269
2085 55,348,708 2,248
2084 54,997,097 2,217
2083 54,605,058 2,183
2082 54,206,477 2,159
2081 53,795,317 2,129
2080 53,372,779 2,105
2079 52,948,243 2,089
2078 52,521,908 2,068
2077 52,063,931 2,050
2076 51,600,404 2,025
2075 51,141,728 2,001
2074 50,684,368 1,970
2073 50,229,762 1,944
2072 49,769,904 1,912
2071 49,287,139 1,866
2070 48,797,935 1,829
2069 48,301,644 1,795
2068 47,792,308 1,777
2067 47,277,473 1,755
2066 46,752,024 1,729
2065 46,228,139 1,701
2064 45,701,844 1,679
2063 45,179,322 1,651
2062 44,638,764 1,623
2061 44,076,711 1,595
2060 43,508,702 1,556
2059 42,916,694 1,530
2058 42,344,863 1,512
2057 41,762,060 1,493
2056 41,184,161 1,469
2055 40,584,950 1,441
2054 39,994,696 1,419
2053 39,377,622 1,382
2052 38,766,890 1,358
2051 38,153,322 1,335
2050 37,545,865 1,311
2049 36,936,275 1,283
2048 36,339,833 1,256
2047 35,725,127 1,237
2046 35,107,179 1,215
2045 34,491,916 1,192
2044 33,862,279 1,174
2043 33,247,804 1,152
2042 32,636,511 1,135
2041 32,019,447 1,105
2040 31,402,305 1,070
2039 30,782,479 1,033
2038 30,166,708 1,001
2037 29,527,821 996
2036 28,896,515 1,001
2035 28,267,970 988
2034 27,643,367 988
2033 27,018,105 974
2032 26,404,071 964
2031 25,795,897 977
2030 25,181,820 979
2029 24,566,478 985
2028 23,968,071 983
2027 23,374,588 946
2026 22,791,601 933
2025 22,220,885 927
2024 21,655,286 910
2023 21,104,482 927
2022 20,568,728 951
2021 20,047,258 972
2020 19,533,888 987
2019 19,025,752 1,000
2018 18,528,081 -
2017 18,039,715 1,000
2016 17,557,739 -
2015 17,085,587 1,000
2014 16,621,538 842
2013 16,161,816 839
2012 15,709,577 836
2011 15,265,022 832
2010 14,826,463 829
2009 14,395,788 826
2008 13,976,417 824
2007 13,576,343 821
2006 13,198,701 932
2005 12,840,031 921
2004 12,500,737 921
2003 12,181,574 911
2002 11,880,440 900
2001 11,593,058 890
2000 11,315,942 880
1999 11,047,804 -
1998 10,792,876 -
1997 10,562,035 -
1996 10,352,228 -
1995 10,150,117 -
1994 10,164,894 -
1993 10,284,024 -
1992 10,135,079 -
1991 9,844,227 -
1990 9,545,852 -
1989 9,176,220 -
1988 8,753,262 -
1987 8,293,174 -
1986 7,906,480 -
1985 7,620,508 -
1984 7,332,810 -
1983 7,051,709 -
1982 6,778,879 -
1981 6,516,454 -
1980 6,265,529 -
1979 6,028,749 -
1978 5,810,132 -
1977 5,614,983 -
1976 5,443,384 -
1975 5,287,367 -
1974 5,141,337 -
1973 5,003,938 -
1972 4,874,475 -
1971 4,751,434 -
1970 4,633,944 -
1969 4,521,184 -
1968 4,411,054 -
1967 4,303,012 -
1966 4,197,926 -
1965 4,096,157 -
1964 3,997,305 -
1963 3,900,506 -
1962 3,806,307 -
1961 3,715,534 -
1960 3,628,134 -

Data sources: United Nations | World Population Prospects (2020–2100, retrieved 2026-03-10); World Bank | Health (1960–2024, retrieved 2026-04-06); Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) (2000–2019, retrieved 2026-02-20).

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

From 2006 to 2016, the population of Malawi increased by 4,359,038 people (a 33% growth), while the Vatican gained 68 people (a 7.3% growth).

For the next 10 years, from 2016 to 2026, Malawi gained 5,391,555 people (a 30.7% growth), while the Vatican's population decreased by 64 people (a 6.4% decline).

Malawi was ranked 69th most populous country in 2006 and is 61st in 2026. The Vatican was ranked 197th in 2006 and still ranked 197th 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 Vatican will increase by 40.1% to 1,311 people and will still be ranked 197th.

Malawi is projected to reach its peak in 2100 at 59.8M people compared to the peak of 2.52K people in 2100 for the Vatican.

Population growth rate by year

Malawi
Factual

Projection
Vatican
Factual

Projection
1x
Year Growth rate
Malawi Vatican
2100 0.43% 0.59%
2099 0.43% 0.37%
2098 0.42% 0.6%
2097 0.45% 0.53%
2096 0.43% 0.68%
2095 0.46% 0.69%
2094 0.47% 0.61%
2093 0.51% 0.85%
2092 0.52% 0.7%
2091 0.55% 1.02%
2090 0.57% 0.95%
2089 0.61% 0.8%
2088 0.61% 1.21%
2087 0.62% 0.98%
2086 0.65% 0.91%
2085 0.64% 1.42%
2084 0.72% 1.53%
2083 0.74% 1.12%
2082 0.76% 1.39%
2081 0.79% 1.15%
2080 0.8% 0.8%
2079 0.81% 0.99%
2078 0.88% 0.9%
2077 0.9% 1.19%
2076 0.9% 1.2%
2075 0.9% 1.6%
2074 0.91% 1.34%
2073 0.92% 1.65%
2072 0.98% 2.49%
2071 1% 2.03%
2070 1.03% 1.86%
2069 1.07% 1.04%
2068 1.09% 1.27%
2067 1.12% 1.5%
2066 1.13% 1.64%
2065 1.15% 1.33%
2064 1.16% 1.69%
2063 1.21% 1.71%
2062 1.28% 1.74%
2061 1.31% 2.5%
2060 1.38% 1.7%
2059 1.35% 1.23%
2058 1.4% 1.24%
2057 1.4% 1.64%
2056 1.48% 1.93%
2055 1.48% 1.57%
2054 1.57% 2.68%
2053 1.58% 1.78%
2052 1.61% 1.67%
2051 1.62% 1.84%
2050 1.65% 2.17%
2049 1.64% 2.22%
2048 1.72% 1.5%
2047 1.76% 1.83%
2046 1.78% 1.87%
2045 1.86% 1.58%
2044 1.85% 1.93%
2043 1.87% 1.47%
2042 1.93% 2.68%
2041 1.97% 3.29%
2040 2.01% 3.59%
2039 2.04% 3.15%
2038 2.16% 0.56%
2037 2.18% -0.56%
2036 2.22% 1.31%
2035 2.26% 0%
2034 2.31% 1.52%
2033 2.33% 0.96%
2032 2.36% -1.33%
2031 2.44% -0.19%
2030 2.5% -0.56%
2029 2.5% 0.19%
2028 2.54% 3.92%
2027 2.56% 1.39%
2026 2.57% 0.6%
2025 2.61% 1.83%
2024 2.61% -1.8%
2023 2.6% -2.53%
2022 2.6% -2.1%
2021 2.63% -1.5%
2020 2.67% -1.3%
2019 2.69% 0%
2018 2.71% 0%
2017 2.75% 0%
2016 2.76% 0%
2015 2.79% 18.8%
2014 2.84% 0.36%
2013 2.88% 0.36%
2012 2.91% 0.48%
2011 2.96% 0.36%
2010 2.99% 0.36%
2009 3% 0.24%
2008 2.95% 0.37%
2007 2.86% -11.9%
2006 2.79% 1.19%
2005 2.71% 0%
2004 2.62% 1.1%
2003 2.53% 1.22%
2002 2.48% 1.12%
2001 2.45% 1.14%
2000 2.43% -
1999 2.36% -
1998 2.19% -
1997 2.03% -
1996 1.99% -
1995 -0.15% -
1994 -1.16% -
1993 1.47% -
1992 2.95% -
1991 3.13% -
1990 4.03% -
1989 4.83% -
1988 5.55% -
1987 4.89% -
1986 3.75% -
1985 3.92% -
1984 3.99% -
1983 4.02% -
1982 4.03% -
1981 4% -
1980 3.93% -
1979 3.76% -
1978 3.48% -
1977 3.15% -
1976 2.95% -
1975 2.84% -
1974 2.75% -
1973 2.66% -
1972 2.59% -
1971 2.54% -
1970 2.49% -
1969 2.5% -
1968 2.51% -
1967 2.5% -
1966 2.48% -
1965 2.47% -
1964 2.48% -
1963 2.47% -
1962 2.44% -
1961 2.41% -

Data sources: United Nations | World Population Prospects (2020–2100, retrieved 2026-03-10); World Bank | Health (1961–2024, retrieved 2026-04-06); Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) (2001–2019, retrieved 2026-02-20).

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

In 2024, the population of Malawi grew by 2.61%, while the Vatican's population declined by 0%.

Live population counters

Malawi Vatican
Current population
22949294
936
Population rank 61/197 197/197
Percent of world population 0.28% 0.00001%
One net population change
57.3 seconds
1 month
One birth every
47.6 seconds
n/a
One death every
4.64 minutes
n/a
Daily growth/decline +1,509 +0
Annual growth/decline +550,804 +0
Annual growth/decline rate +2.61% +0%
Population growth rate rank 26/197 163/197
One migration net change every
1.56 hours
n/a
Annual migration change -5,628 n/a
Net migration rank 118/196
Foreign-born residents 186,719 n/a
Foreign-born residents rank 117/195
Foreign-born share of population 0.9% n/a
Foreign-born share rank 158/195

Natural population change vs migration

Malawi
Natural

Migration
Vatican
Natural

Migration
1x
Year Population change
Malawi Vatican
Natural Migration Natural Migration
2025 - -5,628 - -
2024 - -1,507 - -
2023 549,096 -5,811 - -
2022 533,450 -5,231 - -
2021 517,400 -2,666 - -
2020 514,659 -2,655 - -
2019 506,104 -1,837 - -
2018 494,348 -3,267 - -
2017 484,655 982 - -
2016 474,779 3,505 - -
2015 472,484 -6,471 - -
2014 472,418 -10,317 - -
2013 470,293 -12,934 - -
2012 460,684 -13,561 - -
2011 454,149 -12,170 - -
2010 444,468 -9,327 - -
2009 434,811 -8,590 - -
2008 421,781 -9,264 - -
2007 410,290 -22,680 - -
2006 397,123 -29,450 - -
2005 381,130 -31,462 - -
2004 361,133 -32,221 - -
2003 341,133 -31,729 - -
2002 322,863 -30,013 - -
2001 310,833 -28,933 - -
2000 300,439 -28,098 - -
1999 295,629 -31,686 - -
1998 285,407 -39,491 - -
1997 277,433 -61,646 - -
1996 270,048 -66,212 - -
1995 266,745 -66,366 - -
1994 275,439 -505,365 - -
1993 276,538 -284,867 - -
1992 269,066 37,142 - -
1991 260,193 15,291 - -
1990 250,159 71,111 - -
1989 237,967 180,031 - -
1988 226,911 201,011 - -
1987 220,566 271,693 - -
1986 218,519 62,615 - -
1985 216,179 74,625 - -
1984 212,146 72,435 - -
1983 209,422 68,197 - -
1982 205,386 62,661 - -
1981 199,436 57,376 - -
1980 192,746 52,294 - -
1979 182,123 46,388 - -
1978 172,503 36,225 - -
1977 161,930 19,638 - -
1976 153,422 8,206 - -
1975 145,254 5,162 - -
1974 137,819 3,833 - -
1973 131,529 1,623 - -
1972 125,728 48 - -
1971 121,015 -710 - -
1970 116,822 -2,147 - -
1969 113,120 -2,266 - -
1968 110,329 -924 - -
1967 106,668 0 - -
1966 103,512 0 - -
1965 100,040 0 - -
1964 97,658 0 - -
1963 95,933 0 - -
1962 92,463 0 - -
1961 89,091 0 - -
1960 85,718 0 - -

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

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

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
Vatican
City Population
Vatican City 882

Compare countries by 7 more topics

Population differences between Malawi and the Vatican

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/vatican | 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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