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

Updated on by Georank team

The latest officially reported population of Malawi was 21,655,286 in 2024 vs 21,314,956 people in Zambia in 2024. In 2026, based on the adjusted UN estimation, the current Malawi's population is 22,949,294 people compared to 22,697,916 in Zambia.

Population statistics:

  • Malawi's population is 1.01 times bigger than Zambia's.
  • Malawi is ranked the 61st most populous country in the world, while Zambia is the 62nd.
  • The countries together account for 0.55% of the world: 0.28% for Malawi vs 0.27% for Zambia.
  • For the last 10 years, Malawi has had an average growth rate of +2.7% per year vs +3% in Zambia.
  • Since 2006, the population of Malawi has increased from 13.2M people to 22.9M (73.9% growth), while Zambia has grown from 12.1M to 22.7M (87.1% growth).

Malawi vs Zambia: population by year and forecast

Malawi
Factual

Projection
Zambia
Factual

Projection
1x
Year Population
Malawi Zambia
2100 59,786,744 65,217,429
2099 59,528,389 64,871,545
2098 59,275,876 64,515,891
2097 59,028,312 64,148,736
2096 58,761,888 63,777,313
2095 58,508,246 63,393,169
2094 58,240,422 62,992,652
2093 57,966,788 62,590,327
2092 57,672,738 62,175,930
2091 57,377,090 61,750,591
2090 57,060,476 61,321,399
2089 56,739,410 60,880,148
2088 56,397,330 60,434,676
2087 56,053,671 59,970,107
2086 55,706,928 59,499,234
2085 55,348,708 59,023,040
2084 54,997,097 58,535,857
2083 54,605,058 58,040,512
2082 54,206,477 57,538,672
2081 53,795,317 57,027,491
2080 53,372,779 56,506,421
2079 52,948,243 55,983,242
2078 52,521,908 55,449,777
2077 52,063,931 54,906,771
2076 51,600,404 54,361,075
2075 51,141,728 53,806,856
2074 50,684,368 53,246,777
2073 50,229,762 52,677,348
2072 49,769,904 52,101,139
2071 49,287,139 51,519,691
2070 48,797,935 50,931,614
2069 48,301,644 50,334,700
2068 47,792,308 49,737,479
2067 47,277,473 49,135,488
2066 46,752,024 48,530,443
2065 46,228,139 47,918,592
2064 45,701,844 47,299,740
2063 45,179,322 46,677,439
2062 44,638,764 46,048,819
2061 44,076,711 45,416,657
2060 43,508,702 44,777,347
2059 42,916,694 44,137,306
2058 42,344,863 43,494,451
2057 41,762,060 42,851,923
2056 41,184,161 42,206,898
2055 40,584,950 41,558,284
2054 39,994,696 40,906,492
2053 39,377,622 40,255,629
2052 38,766,890 39,603,888
2051 38,153,322 38,949,958
2050 37,545,865 38,294,607
2049 36,936,275 37,634,194
2048 36,339,833 36,971,309
2047 35,725,127 36,309,749
2046 35,107,179 35,645,868
2045 34,491,916 34,981,812
2044 33,862,279 34,316,981
2043 33,247,804 33,652,420
2042 32,636,511 32,990,657
2041 32,019,447 32,329,447
2040 31,402,305 31,664,262
2039 30,782,479 31,001,305
2038 30,166,708 30,335,662
2037 29,527,821 29,668,561
2036 28,896,515 29,000,264
2035 28,267,970 28,333,498
2034 27,643,367 27,671,195
2033 27,018,105 27,011,974
2032 26,404,071 26,356,580
2031 25,795,897 25,702,812
2030 25,181,820 25,055,216
2029 24,566,478 24,414,405
2028 23,968,071 23,780,809
2027 23,374,588 23,151,479
2026 22,791,601 22,529,742
2025 22,220,885 21,918,187
2024 21,655,286 21,314,956
2023 21,104,482 20,723,965
2022 20,568,728 20,152,938
2021 20,047,258 19,603,607
2020 19,533,888 19,059,395
2019 19,025,752 18,513,839
2018 18,528,081 17,973,569
2017 18,039,715 17,441,320
2016 17,557,739 16,914,423
2015 17,085,587 16,399,089
2014 16,621,538 15,895,315
2013 16,161,816 15,398,997
2012 15,709,577 14,913,629
2011 15,265,022 14,437,796
2010 14,826,463 13,965,594
2009 14,395,788 13,490,389
2008 13,976,417 13,021,324
2007 13,576,343 12,565,085
2006 13,198,701 12,129,553
2005 12,840,031 11,718,819
2004 12,500,737 11,338,198
2003 12,181,574 10,983,595
2002 11,880,440 10,647,949
2001 11,593,058 10,325,185
2000 11,315,942 10,017,631
1999 11,047,804 9,740,005
1998 10,792,876 9,482,408
1997 10,562,035 9,237,063
1996 10,352,228 9,004,053
1995 10,150,117 8,785,763
1994 10,164,894 8,576,269
1993 10,284,024 8,373,921
1992 10,135,079 8,176,680
1991 9,844,227 7,981,650
1990 9,545,852 7,786,169
1989 9,176,220 7,589,216
1988 8,753,262 7,391,440
1987 8,293,174 7,191,282
1986 7,906,480 6,986,471
1985 7,620,508 6,780,953
1984 7,332,810 6,580,490
1983 7,051,709 6,381,038
1982 6,778,879 6,178,637
1981 6,516,454 5,983,289
1980 6,265,529 5,802,833
1979 6,028,749 5,631,728
1978 5,810,132 5,465,374
1977 5,614,983 5,302,480
1976 5,443,384 5,143,842
1975 5,287,367 4,990,086
1974 5,141,337 4,842,746
1973 5,003,938 4,702,693
1972 4,874,475 4,569,309
1971 4,751,434 4,442,525
1970 4,633,944 4,321,718
1969 4,521,184 4,197,116
1968 4,411,054 4,065,593
1967 4,303,012 3,936,343
1966 4,197,926 3,812,003
1965 4,096,157 3,692,086
1964 3,997,305 3,577,017
1963 3,900,506 3,465,907
1962 3,806,307 3,358,099
1961 3,715,534 3,254,086
1960 3,628,134 3,153,729

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/zambia | CC BY

From 2006 to 2016, the population of Malawi increased by 4,359,038 people (a 33% growth), while Zambia gained 4,784,870 people (a 39.4% growth).

For the next 10 years, from 2016 to 2026, Malawi gained 5,391,555 people (a 30.7% growth), while Zambia's population increased by 5,783,493 people (a 34.2% growth).

Malawi was ranked 69th most populous country in 2006 and is 61st in 2026. Zambia was ranked 71st in 2006 and ranked 62nd 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 Zambia will increase by 68.7% to 38,294,607 people and rank change from 62nd to 54th.

Malawi is projected to reach its peak in 2100 at 59.8M people compared to the peak of 65.2M people in 2100 for Zambia.

Population growth rate by year

Malawi
Factual

Projection
Zambia
Factual

Projection
1x
Year Growth rate
Malawi Zambia
2100 0.43% 0.53%
2099 0.43% 0.55%
2098 0.42% 0.57%
2097 0.45% 0.58%
2096 0.43% 0.61%
2095 0.46% 0.64%
2094 0.47% 0.64%
2093 0.51% 0.67%
2092 0.52% 0.69%
2091 0.55% 0.7%
2090 0.57% 0.72%
2089 0.61% 0.74%
2088 0.61% 0.77%
2087 0.62% 0.79%
2086 0.65% 0.81%
2085 0.64% 0.83%
2084 0.72% 0.85%
2083 0.74% 0.87%
2082 0.76% 0.9%
2081 0.79% 0.92%
2080 0.8% 0.93%
2079 0.81% 0.96%
2078 0.88% 0.99%
2077 0.9% 1%
2076 0.9% 1.03%
2075 0.9% 1.05%
2074 0.91% 1.08%
2073 0.92% 1.11%
2072 0.98% 1.13%
2071 1% 1.15%
2070 1.03% 1.19%
2069 1.07% 1.2%
2068 1.09% 1.23%
2067 1.12% 1.25%
2066 1.13% 1.28%
2065 1.15% 1.31%
2064 1.16% 1.33%
2063 1.21% 1.37%
2062 1.28% 1.39%
2061 1.31% 1.43%
2060 1.38% 1.45%
2059 1.35% 1.48%
2058 1.4% 1.5%
2057 1.4% 1.53%
2056 1.48% 1.56%
2055 1.48% 1.59%
2054 1.57% 1.62%
2053 1.58% 1.65%
2052 1.61% 1.68%
2051 1.62% 1.71%
2050 1.65% 1.75%
2049 1.64% 1.79%
2048 1.72% 1.82%
2047 1.76% 1.86%
2046 1.78% 1.9%
2045 1.86% 1.94%
2044 1.85% 1.97%
2043 1.87% 2.01%
2042 1.93% 2.05%
2041 1.97% 2.1%
2040 2.01% 2.14%
2039 2.04% 2.19%
2038 2.16% 2.25%
2037 2.18% 2.3%
2036 2.22% 2.35%
2035 2.26% 2.39%
2034 2.31% 2.44%
2033 2.33% 2.49%
2032 2.36% 2.54%
2031 2.44% 2.58%
2030 2.5% 2.62%
2029 2.5% 2.66%
2028 2.54% 2.72%
2027 2.56% 2.76%
2026 2.57% 2.79%
2025 2.61% 2.83%
2024 2.61% 2.85%
2023 2.6% 2.83%
2022 2.6% 2.8%
2021 2.63% 2.86%
2020 2.67% 2.95%
2019 2.69% 3.01%
2018 2.71% 3.05%
2017 2.75% 3.12%
2016 2.76% 3.14%
2015 2.79% 3.17%
2014 2.84% 3.22%
2013 2.88% 3.25%
2012 2.91% 3.3%
2011 2.96% 3.38%
2010 2.99% 3.52%
2009 3% 3.6%
2008 2.95% 3.63%
2007 2.86% 3.59%
2006 2.79% 3.5%
2005 2.71% 3.36%
2004 2.62% 3.23%
2003 2.53% 3.15%
2002 2.48% 3.13%
2001 2.45% 3.07%
2000 2.43% 2.85%
1999 2.36% 2.72%
1998 2.19% 2.66%
1997 2.03% 2.59%
1996 1.99% 2.48%
1995 -0.15% 2.44%
1994 -1.16% 2.42%
1993 1.47% 2.41%
1992 2.95% 2.44%
1991 3.13% 2.51%
1990 4.03% 2.6%
1989 4.83% 2.68%
1988 5.55% 2.78%
1987 4.89% 2.93%
1986 3.75% 3.03%
1985 3.92% 3.05%
1984 3.99% 3.13%
1983 4.02% 3.28%
1982 4.03% 3.26%
1981 4% 3.11%
1980 3.93% 3.04%
1979 3.76% 3.04%
1978 3.48% 3.07%
1977 3.15% 3.08%
1976 2.95% 3.08%
1975 2.84% 3.04%
1974 2.75% 2.98%
1973 2.66% 2.92%
1972 2.59% 2.85%
1971 2.54% 2.8%
1970 2.49% 2.97%
1969 2.5% 3.24%
1968 2.51% 3.28%
1967 2.5% 3.26%
1966 2.48% 3.25%
1965 2.47% 3.22%
1964 2.48% 3.21%
1963 2.47% 3.21%
1962 2.44% 3.2%
1961 2.41% 3.18%

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/zambia | CC BY

In 2024, the population of Malawi grew by 2.61%, while Zambia's population grew by 2.85%.

Live population counters

Malawi Zambia
Current population
22949294
22697916
Population rank 61/197 62/197
Percent of world population 0.28% 0.27%
One net population change
57.3 seconds
53.4 seconds
One birth every
47.6 seconds
46 seconds
One death every
4.64 minutes
4.87 minutes
Daily growth/decline +1,509 +1,619
Annual growth/decline +550,804 +590,991
Annual growth/decline rate +2.61% +2.85%
Population growth rate rank 26/197 21/197
One migration net change every
1.56 hours
1.34 hours
Annual migration change -5,628 +6,562
Net migration rank 118/196 47/196
Foreign-born residents 186,719 249,205
Foreign-born residents rank 117/195 105/195
Foreign-born share of population 0.9% 1.2%
Foreign-born share rank 158/195 150/195

Natural population change vs migration

Malawi
Natural

Migration
Zambia
Natural

Migration
1x
Year Population change
Malawi Zambia
Natural Migration Natural Migration
2025 - -5,628 - 6,562
2024 - -1,507 - 7,381
2023 549,096 -5,811 577,660 9,521
2022 533,450 -5,231 563,456 -8,566
2021 517,400 -2,666 535,629 8,143
2020 514,659 -2,655 536,484 8,156
2019 506,104 -1,837 528,089 18,385
2018 494,348 -3,267 515,644 18,431
2017 484,655 982 504,630 25,789
2016 474,779 3,505 497,521 25,860
2015 472,484 -6,471 491,021 16,261
2014 472,418 -10,317 483,663 16,574
2013 470,293 -12,934 476,846 15,542
2012 460,684 -13,561 469,406 8,958
2011 454,149 -12,170 459,743 13,569
2010 444,468 -9,327 448,337 22,761
2009 434,811 -8,590 434,458 44,867
2008 421,781 -9,264 419,560 39,249
2007 410,290 -22,680 403,729 49,945
2006 397,123 -29,450 387,891 29,517
2005 381,130 -31,462 368,756 35,316
2004 361,133 -32,221 349,352 7,819
2003 341,133 -31,729 331,189 20,845
2002 322,863 -30,013 316,041 3,206
2001 310,833 -28,933 302,682 23,582
2000 300,439 -28,098 293,186 -4,338
1999 295,629 -31,686 283,297 -16,888
1998 285,407 -39,491 275,568 -26,796
1997 277,433 -61,646 268,198 -26,276
1996 270,048 -66,212 262,468 -38,358
1995 266,745 -66,366 257,897 -45,423
1994 275,439 -505,365 252,023 -45,504
1993 276,538 -284,867 245,917 -47,739
1992 269,066 37,142 239,953 -43,656
1991 260,193 15,291 237,957 -44,203
1990 250,159 71,111 235,835 -38,619
1989 237,967 180,031 233,429 -36,736
1988 226,911 201,011 230,118 -31,270
1987 220,566 271,693 227,813 -26,338
1986 218,519 62,615 224,768 -16,610
1985 216,179 74,625 221,351 -18,474
1984 212,146 72,435 216,695 -18,652
1983 209,422 68,197 212,712 -11,849
1982 205,386 62,661 207,621 -3,676
1981 199,436 57,376 202,822 -16,072
1980 192,746 52,294 198,817 -24,664
1979 182,123 46,388 197,578 -29,515
1978 172,503 36,225 194,933 -30,284
1977 161,930 19,638 191,557 -30,423
1976 153,422 8,206 186,762 -30,612
1975 145,254 5,162 182,258 -30,886
1974 137,819 3,833 174,484 -31,178
1973 131,529 1,623 168,258 -31,472
1972 125,728 48 161,648 -31,672
1971 121,015 -710 155,249 -31,651
1970 116,822 -2,147 149,380 -31,370
1969 113,120 -2,266 142,660 -11,469
1968 110,329 -924 137,315 -5,447
1967 106,668 0 131,938 -5,298
1966 103,512 0 127,164 -5,129
1965 100,040 0 122,814 -5,023
1964 97,658 0 117,197 -4,851
1963 95,933 0 114,555 -4,676
1962 92,463 0 110,173 -4,428
1961 89,091 0 106,318 -4,043
1960 85,718 0 102,335 -3,898

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

GeoRank.org/population/malawi/zambia | 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 Zambia 97.4% is from natural causes (a gain of 5,233,797 people) and 2.58% is from migration (a gain of 138,554 people).

As of 2024, 186,719 residents or 0.9% of the population were not native-born in Malawi, compared to 249,205 people or 1.2% in Zambia.

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
Zambia
City Population
Lusaka 2.47M
Kitwe 625K
Ndola 528K
Chingola 255K
Mufulira 182K
Livingstone 177K
Kasama 158K
Kapiri Mposhi 65.2K
Choma 51.8K
Mansa 45.4K

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/zambia | 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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