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

Updated on by Georank

The latest officially reported population of Malawi was 22,216,120 in 2025 vs 16,950,795 people in Zimbabwe in 2025. In 2026, based on the adjusted UN estimation, the current Malawi's population is 23,086,106 people compared to 17,443,108 in Zimbabwe.

Population statistics:

  • Malawi's population is 1.32 times bigger than Zimbabwe's.
  • Malawi is ranked the 61st most populous country in the world, while Zimbabwe is the 74th.
  • The countries together account for 0.49% of the world: 0.28% for Malawi vs 0.21% for Zimbabwe.
  • For the last 10 years, Malawi has had an average growth rate of +2.67% per year vs +1.62% in Zimbabwe.
  • Since 2006, the population of Malawi has increased from 13.2M people to 23.1M (74.9% growth), while Zimbabwe has grown from 12.6M to 17.4M (38% growth).

Malawi vs Zimbabwe: population by year and forecast

Malawi
Factual

Projection
Zimbabwe
Factual

Projection
1x
Year Population
Malawi Zimbabwe
2100 59,773,923 37,486,352
2099 59,515,624 37,415,690
2098 59,263,165 37,331,540
2097 59,015,654 37,238,819
2096 58,749,288 37,146,184
2095 58,495,699 37,035,388
2094 58,227,933 36,915,996
2093 57,954,358 36,814,133
2092 57,660,371 36,691,740
2091 57,364,786 36,570,481
2090 57,048,240 36,428,812
2089 56,727,243 36,284,166
2088 56,385,237 36,144,627
2087 56,041,651 35,980,805
2086 55,694,983 35,811,286
2085 55,336,839 35,640,228
2084 54,985,304 35,459,328
2083 54,593,349 35,271,139
2082 54,194,853 35,081,992
2081 53,783,781 34,876,198
2080 53,361,334 34,662,013
2079 52,936,889 34,442,751
2078 52,510,645 34,220,306
2077 52,052,767 33,985,899
2076 51,589,339 33,742,198
2075 51,130,762 33,498,815
2074 50,673,499 33,247,764
2073 50,218,991 32,981,390
2072 49,759,232 32,708,937
2071 49,276,570 32,448,602
2070 48,787,471 32,183,952
2069 48,291,287 31,909,601
2068 47,782,059 31,633,783
2067 47,267,335 31,348,096
2066 46,741,998 31,065,618
2065 46,218,226 30,769,538
2064 45,692,044 30,482,622
2063 45,169,634 30,178,760
2062 44,629,192 29,870,308
2061 44,067,259 29,559,670
2060 43,499,372 29,254,998
2059 42,907,491 28,947,636
2058 42,335,782 28,634,199
2057 41,753,105 28,309,796
2056 41,175,330 27,993,176
2055 40,576,247 27,661,321
2054 39,986,120 27,334,325
2053 39,369,178 26,989,310
2052 38,758,577 26,645,898
2051 38,145,141 26,289,905
2050 37,537,814 25,937,176
2049 36,928,354 25,587,491
2048 36,332,040 25,230,302
2047 35,717,466 24,876,838
2046 35,099,651 24,515,600
2045 34,484,520 24,149,762
2044 33,855,018 23,785,181
2043 33,240,675 23,404,024
2042 32,629,513 23,037,316
2041 32,012,581 22,649,943
2040 31,395,572 22,275,480
2039 30,775,878 21,904,908
2038 30,160,239 21,532,024
2037 29,521,489 21,161,527
2036 28,890,318 20,792,863
2035 28,261,909 20,415,452
2034 27,637,439 20,049,783
2033 27,012,311 19,678,070
2032 26,398,409 19,313,685
2031 25,790,366 18,960,968
2030 25,176,420 18,615,376
2029 24,561,210 18,271,657
2028 23,962,931 17,935,044
2027 23,369,575 17,602,533
2026 22,786,713 17,274,728
2025 22,216,120 16,950,795
2024 21,655,286 16,634,373
2023 21,104,482 16,340,822
2022 20,568,728 16,069,056
2021 20,047,258 15,797,210
2020 19,533,888 15,526,888
2019 19,025,752 15,271,368
2018 18,528,081 15,034,452
2017 18,039,715 14,812,482
2016 17,557,739 14,600,294
2015 17,085,587 14,399,013
2014 16,621,538 14,207,359
2013 16,161,816 14,013,808
2012 15,709,577 13,817,887
2011 15,265,022 13,595,424
2010 14,826,463 13,356,548
2009 14,395,788 13,142,790
2008 13,976,417 12,959,149
2007 13,576,343 12,804,058
2006 13,198,701 12,636,445
2005 12,840,031 12,483,432
2004 12,500,737 12,365,896
2003 12,181,574 12,232,323
2002 11,880,440 12,087,653
2001 11,593,058 11,971,901
2000 11,315,942 11,892,055
1999 11,047,804 11,783,458
1998 10,792,876 11,594,297
1997 10,562,035 11,369,827
1996 10,352,228 11,158,360
1995 10,150,117 10,974,599
1994 10,164,894 10,873,148
1993 10,284,024 10,860,288
1992 10,135,079 10,702,700
1991 9,844,227 10,404,816
1990 9,545,852 10,137,281
1989 9,176,220 9,864,798
1988 8,753,262 9,583,094
1987 8,293,174 9,284,644
1986 7,906,480 8,982,578
1985 7,620,508 8,686,813
1984 7,332,810 8,391,488
1983 7,051,709 8,098,404
1982 6,778,879 7,796,496
1981 6,516,454 7,498,635
1980 6,265,529 7,041,303
1979 6,028,749 6,647,556
1978 5,810,132 6,543,575
1977 5,614,983 6,449,512
1976 5,443,384 6,287,105
1975 5,287,367 6,098,658
1974 5,141,337 5,908,328
1973 5,003,938 5,720,404
1972 4,874,475 5,542,445
1971 4,751,434 5,374,712
1970 4,633,944 5,215,918
1969 4,521,184 5,058,181
1968 4,411,054 4,900,440
1967 4,303,012 4,748,307
1966 4,197,926 4,601,217
1965 4,096,157 4,458,462
1964 3,997,305 4,320,006
1963 3,900,506 4,185,877
1962 3,806,307 4,055,959
1961 3,715,534 3,930,401
1960 3,628,134 3,809,389

Data sources: United Nations | World Population Prospects (2026–2100, retrieved 2026-07-08); World Bank | Health (1960–2025, retrieved 2026-07-08).

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

From 2006 to 2016, the population of Malawi increased by 4,359,038 people (a 33% growth), while Zimbabwe gained 1,963,849 people (a 15.5% growth).

For the next 10 years, from 2016 to 2026, Malawi gained 5,528,367 people (a 31.5% growth), while Zimbabwe's population increased by 2,842,814 people (a 19.5% growth).

Malawi was ranked 69th most populous country in 2006 and is 61st in 2026. Zimbabwe was ranked 70th in 2006 and ranked 74th now.

The UN's World Population Prospects forecasts that in 24 years (in 2050) Malawi's population will grow by 62.6% to 37,537,814 people with a rank change from 61st to 55th. The population of Zimbabwe will increase by 48.7% to 25,937,176 people and rank change from 74th to 65th.

Malawi is projected to reach its peak in 2100 at 59.8M people compared to the peak of 37.5M people in 2100 for Zimbabwe.

Population growth rate by year

Malawi
Factual

Projection
Zimbabwe
Factual

Projection
1x
Year Growth rate
Malawi Zimbabwe
2100 0.43% 0.19%
2099 0.43% 0.23%
2098 0.42% 0.25%
2097 0.45% 0.25%
2096 0.43% 0.3%
2095 0.46% 0.32%
2094 0.47% 0.28%
2093 0.51% 0.33%
2092 0.52% 0.33%
2091 0.55% 0.39%
2090 0.57% 0.4%
2089 0.61% 0.39%
2088 0.61% 0.46%
2087 0.62% 0.47%
2086 0.65% 0.48%
2085 0.64% 0.51%
2084 0.72% 0.53%
2083 0.74% 0.54%
2082 0.76% 0.59%
2081 0.79% 0.62%
2080 0.8% 0.64%
2079 0.81% 0.65%
2078 0.88% 0.69%
2077 0.9% 0.72%
2076 0.9% 0.73%
2075 0.9% 0.76%
2074 0.91% 0.81%
2073 0.92% 0.83%
2072 0.98% 0.8%
2071 1% 0.82%
2070 1.03% 0.86%
2069 1.07% 0.87%
2068 1.09% 0.91%
2067 1.12% 0.91%
2066 1.13% 0.96%
2065 1.15% 0.94%
2064 1.16% 1.01%
2063 1.21% 1.03%
2062 1.28% 1.05%
2061 1.31% 1.04%
2060 1.38% 1.06%
2059 1.35% 1.09%
2058 1.4% 1.15%
2057 1.4% 1.13%
2056 1.48% 1.2%
2055 1.48% 1.2%
2054 1.57% 1.28%
2053 1.58% 1.29%
2052 1.61% 1.35%
2051 1.62% 1.36%
2050 1.65% 1.37%
2049 1.64% 1.42%
2048 1.72% 1.42%
2047 1.76% 1.47%
2046 1.78% 1.51%
2045 1.86% 1.53%
2044 1.85% 1.63%
2043 1.87% 1.59%
2042 1.93% 1.71%
2041 1.97% 1.68%
2040 2.01% 1.69%
2039 2.04% 1.73%
2038 2.16% 1.75%
2037 2.18% 1.77%
2036 2.22% 1.85%
2035 2.26% 1.82%
2034 2.31% 1.89%
2033 2.33% 1.89%
2032 2.36% 1.86%
2031 2.44% 1.86%
2030 2.5% 1.88%
2029 2.5% 1.88%
2028 2.54% 1.89%
2027 2.56% 1.9%
2026 2.57% 1.91%
2025 2.59% 1.9%
2024 2.61% 1.8%
2023 2.6% 1.69%
2022 2.6% 1.72%
2021 2.63% 1.74%
2020 2.67% 1.67%
2019 2.69% 1.58%
2018 2.71% 1.5%
2017 2.75% 1.45%
2016 2.76% 1.4%
2015 2.79% 1.35%
2014 2.84% 1.38%
2013 2.88% 1.42%
2012 2.91% 1.64%
2011 2.96% 1.79%
2010 2.99% 1.63%
2009 3% 1.42%
2008 2.95% 1.21%
2007 2.86% 1.33%
2006 2.79% 1.23%
2005 2.71% 0.95%
2004 2.62% 1.09%
2003 2.53% 1.2%
2002 2.48% 0.97%
2001 2.45% 0.67%
2000 2.43% 0.92%
1999 2.36% 1.63%
1998 2.19% 1.97%
1997 2.03% 1.9%
1996 1.99% 1.67%
1995 -0.15% 0.93%
1994 -1.16% 0.12%
1993 1.47% 1.47%
1992 2.95% 2.86%
1991 3.13% 2.64%
1990 4.03% 2.76%
1989 4.83% 2.94%
1988 5.55% 3.21%
1987 4.89% 3.36%
1986 3.75% 3.4%
1985 3.92% 3.52%
1984 3.99% 3.62%
1983 4.02% 3.87%
1982 4.03% 3.97%
1981 4% 6.49%
1980 3.93% 5.92%
1979 3.76% 1.59%
1978 3.48% 1.46%
1977 3.15% 2.58%
1976 2.95% 3.09%
1975 2.84% 3.22%
1974 2.75% 3.29%
1973 2.66% 3.21%
1972 2.59% 3.12%
1971 2.54% 3.04%
1970 2.49% 3.12%
1969 2.5% 3.22%
1968 2.51% 3.2%
1967 2.5% 3.2%
1966 2.48% 3.2%
1965 2.47% 3.2%
1964 2.48% 3.2%
1963 2.47% 3.2%
1962 2.44% 3.19%
1961 2.41% 3.18%

Data sources: United Nations | World Population Prospects (2026–2100, retrieved 2026-07-08); World Bank | Health (1961–2025, retrieved 2026-07-08).

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

In 2025, the population of Malawi grew by 2.59%, while Zimbabwe's population grew by 1.9%.

Live population counters

Malawi Zimbabwe
Current population
23086106
17443108
Population rank 61/197 74/197
Percent of world population 0.28% 0.21%
One net population change
56.4 seconds
1.67 minutes
One birth every
46.8 seconds
1.06 minutes
One death every
4.59 minutes
4.21 minutes
Daily growth/decline +1,537 +867
Annual growth/decline +560,834 +316,422
Annual growth/decline rate +2.59% +1.9%
Population growth rate rank 23/197 53/197
One migration net change every
1.56 hours
9.66 minutes
Annual migration change -5,628 -54,555
Net migration rank 118/196 175/196
Foreign-born residents 186,719 429,108
Foreign-born residents rank 117/195 87/195
Foreign-born share of population 0.9% 2.6%
Foreign-born share rank 158/195 127/195

Natural population change vs migration

Malawi
Natural

Migration
Zimbabwe
Natural

Migration
1x
Year Population change
Malawi Zimbabwe
Natural Migration Natural Migration
2025 - -5,628 - -54,555
2024 559,811 -1,507 372,494 -60,528
2023 549,096 -5,811 372,505 -97,380
2022 533,450 -5,231 371,243 -102,828
2021 517,400 -2,666 349,908 -74,623
2020 514,659 -2,655 354,790 -89,440
2019 506,104 -1,837 348,798 -103,107
2018 494,348 -3,267 345,883 -117,758
2017 484,655 982 344,035 -128,241
2016 474,779 3,505 348,772 -140,181
2015 472,484 -6,471 356,203 -162,220
2014 472,418 -10,317 366,350 -177,029
2013 470,293 -12,934 374,757 -176,972
2012 460,684 -13,561 371,135 -177,061
2011 454,149 -12,170 359,572 -108,714
2010 444,468 -9,327 335,570 -108,671
2009 434,811 -8,590 309,316 -108,689
2008 421,781 -9,264 280,527 -113,858
2007 410,290 -22,680 261,805 -118,299
2006 397,123 -29,450 248,963 -57,257
2005 381,130 -31,462 248,545 -134,212
2004 361,133 -32,221 248,307 -127,550
2003 341,133 -31,729 243,057 -96,667
2002 322,863 -30,013 244,170 -101,212
2001 310,833 -28,933 227,909 -139,361
2000 300,439 -28,098 236,343 -165,181
1999 295,629 -31,686 232,393 -86,343
1998 285,407 -39,491 225,614 6,645
1997 277,433 -61,646 216,288 395
1996 270,048 -66,212 205,269 978
1995 266,745 -66,366 206,695 -45,428
1994 275,439 -505,365 216,343 -174,723
1993 276,538 -284,867 228,045 -243,947
1992 269,066 37,142 255,291 75,788
1991 260,193 15,291 260,943 3,749
1990 250,159 71,111 265,444 4,948
1989 237,967 180,031 270,838 3,736
1988 226,911 201,011 277,498 11,327
1987 220,566 271,693 286,766 21,308
1986 218,519 62,615 289,894 6,154
1985 216,179 74,625 290,756 4,718
1984 212,146 72,435 290,052 5,124
1983 209,422 68,197 286,545 4,456
1982 205,386 62,661 279,934 32,899
1981 199,436 57,376 271,361 11,523
1980 192,746 52,294 241,179 390,593
1979 182,123 46,388 223,657 -67,937
1978 172,503 36,225 222,979 -170,727
1977 161,930 19,638 225,139 -89,270
1976 153,422 8,206 221,419 -32,495
1975 145,254 5,162 216,947 -28,988
1974 137,819 3,833 208,806 -16,105
1973 131,529 1,623 201,885 -18,733
1972 125,728 48 193,725 -20,959
1971 121,015 -710 185,427 -22,719
1970 116,822 -2,147 178,979 -24,102
1969 113,120 -2,266 172,626 -12,028
1968 110,329 -924 166,865 -11,997
1967 106,668 0 161,205 -11,814
1966 103,512 0 156,014 -11,211
1965 100,040 0 151,164 -10,465
1964 97,658 0 145,848 -9,631
1963 95,933 0 140,984 -8,936
1962 92,463 0 136,317 -8,529
1961 89,091 0 131,531 -8,204
1960 85,718 0 126,959 -8,260

Data sources: World Bank | Health (1960–2025, retrieved 2026-07-08).

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

Over the last 10 years, 99.5% of the population change in Malawi is from natural causes (a gain of 5,106,786 people) and 0.49% is from migration (a loss of 24,958 people). In Zimbabwe 76.8% is from natural causes (a gain of 3,564,631 people) and 23.2% is from migration (a loss of 1,076,306 people).

As of 2024, 186,719 residents or 0.9% of the population were not native-born in Malawi, compared to 429,108 people or 2.6% in Zimbabwe.

Biggest cities by population

Malawi
City Population
Lilongwe 989K
Mzimba 936K
Blantyre 800K
Mzuzu 150K
Zomba 101K
Mangochi 53.5K
Mulanje 14.8K
Ntcheu 14.6K
Monkey Bay 14.6K
Zimbabwe
City Population
Harare 2.15M
Masvingo 1.64M
Bulawayo 666K
Chitungwiza 371K
Mutare 225K
Gweru 141K
Kadoma 116K
Kwekwe 93.1K
Chinhoyi 56.8K
Marondera 52.3K

Compare countries by 7 more topics

Population map with other countries

1x

Data sources: World Bank | Health (1960–2025, retrieved 2026-07-08); United Nations | World Population Prospects (1960–2026, retrieved 2026-07-08); U.S. Census Bureau (1960–2025, retrieved 2026-07-08); Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) (2000–2019, retrieved 2026-07-08).

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

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Data sources:

  1. World Bank | Health (1960–2025, retrieved 2026-07-08)
  2. United Nations | World Population Prospects (1960–2100, retrieved 2026-07-08)
  3. U.S. Census Bureau (1960–2025, retrieved 2026-07-08)
  4. Wikidata (2026, retrieved 2026-07-08)
  5. Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) (2000–2019, retrieved 2026-07-08)

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