Population · Africa · 2025 data
Malawi Population
Malawi had a population of 22.22 million in 2025, ranking #60 of 216 countries and territories (0.27% of the world). The population grew by 30.0% over the past ten years.
Population of Malawi, 1960–2025
Values in millions · World Bank Open Data (CC BY 4.0)
Population by year (table)
| Year | Population | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 2025 | 22,216,120 | +2.59% |
| 2024 | 21,655,286 | +2.61% |
| 2023 | 21,104,482 | +2.60% |
| 2022 | 20,568,728 | +2.60% |
| 2021 | 20,047,258 | +2.63% |
| 2020 | 19,533,888 | +2.67% |
| 2019 | 19,025,752 | +2.69% |
| 2018 | 18,528,081 | +2.71% |
| 2017 | 18,039,715 | +2.75% |
| 2016 | 17,557,739 | +2.76% |
| 2015 | 17,085,587 | +2.79% |
| 2014 | 16,621,538 | +2.84% |
| 2013 | 16,161,816 | +2.88% |
| 2012 | 15,709,577 | +2.91% |
| 2011 | 15,265,022 | +2.96% |
| 2010 | 14,826,463 | +2.99% |
| 2009 | 14,395,788 | +3.00% |
| 2008 | 13,976,417 | +2.95% |
| 2007 | 13,576,343 | +2.86% |
| 2006 | 13,198,701 | +2.79% |
| 2005 | 12,840,031 | +2.71% |
| 2004 | 12,500,737 | +2.62% |
| 2003 | 12,181,574 | +2.53% |
| 2002 | 11,880,440 | +2.48% |
| 2001 | 11,593,058 | +2.45% |
| 2000 | 11,315,942 | +2.43% |
| 1999 | 11,047,804 | +2.36% |
| 1998 | 10,792,876 | +2.19% |
| 1997 | 10,562,035 | +2.03% |
| 1996 | 10,352,228 | +1.99% |
| 1995 | 10,150,117 | -0.15% |
| 1994 | 10,164,894 | -1.16% |
| 1993 | 10,284,024 | +1.47% |
| 1992 | 10,135,079 | +2.95% |
| 1991 | 9,844,227 | +3.13% |
| 1990 | 9,545,852 | +4.03% |
| 1989 | 9,176,220 | +4.83% |
| 1988 | 8,753,262 | +5.55% |
| 1987 | 8,293,174 | +4.89% |
| 1986 | 7,906,480 | +3.75% |
| 1985 | 7,620,508 | +3.92% |
| 1984 | 7,332,810 | +3.99% |
| 1983 | 7,051,709 | +4.02% |
| 1982 | 6,778,879 | +4.03% |
| 1981 | 6,516,454 | +4.00% |
| 1980 | 6,265,529 | +3.93% |
| 1979 | 6,028,749 | +3.76% |
| 1978 | 5,810,132 | +3.48% |
| 1977 | 5,614,983 | +3.15% |
| 1976 | 5,443,384 | +2.95% |
| 1975 | 5,287,367 | +2.84% |
| 1974 | 5,141,337 | +2.75% |
| 1973 | 5,003,938 | +2.66% |
| 1972 | 4,874,475 | +2.59% |
| 1971 | 4,751,434 | +2.54% |
| 1970 | 4,633,944 | +2.49% |
| 1969 | 4,521,184 | +2.50% |
| 1968 | 4,411,054 | +2.51% |
| 1967 | 4,303,012 | +2.50% |
| 1966 | 4,197,926 | +2.48% |
| 1965 | 4,096,157 | +2.47% |
| 1964 | 3,997,305 | +2.48% |
| 1963 | 3,900,506 | +2.47% |
| 1962 | 3,806,307 | +2.44% |
| 1961 | 3,715,534 | +2.41% |
| 1960 | 3,628,134 | — |
Demographics of Malawi
Ethnic groups
Chewa 34.3%, Lomwe 18.8%, Yao 13.2%, Ngoni 10.4%, Tumbuka 9.2%, Sena 3.8%, Mang'anja 3.2%, Tonga 1.8%, Nyanja 1.8%, Nkhonde 1%, other 2.2%, foreign 0.3% (2018 est.)
Languages
English (official), Chewa (dominant), Lambya, Lomwe, Ngoni, Nkhonde, Nyakyusa, Nyanja, Sena, Tonga, Tumbuka, Yao
Religions
Protestant 33.5% (includes Church of Central Africa Presbyterian 14.2%, Seventh Day Adventist/Baptist 9.4%, Pentecostal 7.6%, Anglican 2.3%), Roman Catholic 17.2%, other Christian 26.6%, Muslim 13.8%, traditionalist 1.1%, other 5.6%, none 2.1% (2018 est.)
Where people live
Urban population: 18.3% of total population (2023).
Largest cities
Malawi and its neighbours
Frequently asked questions about the population of Malawi
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Population and demographics: World Bank Open Data (CC BY 4.0). Cities, ethnic groups, languages and religions: CIA World Factbook (public domain).