Malawi Population History
1960 - 2026
Malawi's population has grown from 3,628,134 in 1960 to 21,104,482 in 2023, a total increase of 481.7% (5.82x). The population reached its all-time recorded high in 2023.
1960 Population
3.6M
2023 Population
21.1M
Total Growth
481.7%
Peak Year
2023
Population by Decade
1960
3.6M
1970
4.6M
1980
6.3M
1990
9.5M
2000
11.3M
2010
14.8M
2020
19.5M
2023
21.1M
Growth Rate by Period
1960-1965
+2.46%
1965-1970
+2.50%
1970-1975
+2.67%
1975-1980
+3.45%
1980-1985
+3.99%
1985-1990
+4.61%
1990-1995
+1.24%
1995-2000
+2.20%
2000-2005
+2.56%
2005-2010
+2.92%
2010-2015
+2.88%
2015-2020
+2.71%
Year-by-Year Population
| Year | Population | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 2023 | 21,104,482 | +535,754 |
| 2022 | 20,568,728 | +521,470 |
| 2021 | 20,047,258 | +513,370 |
| 2020 | 19,533,888 | +508,136 |
| 2019 | 19,025,752 | +497,671 |
| 2018 | 18,528,081 | +488,366 |
| 2017 | 18,039,715 | +481,976 |
| 2016 | 17,557,739 | +472,152 |
| 2015 | 17,085,587 | +464,049 |
| 2014 | 16,621,538 | +459,722 |
| 2013 | 16,161,816 | +452,239 |
| 2012 | 15,709,577 | +444,555 |
| 2011 | 15,265,022 | +438,559 |
| 2010 | 14,826,463 | +430,675 |
| 2009 | 14,395,788 | +419,371 |
| 2008 | 13,976,417 | +400,074 |
| 2007 | 13,576,343 | +377,642 |
| 2006 | 13,198,701 | +358,670 |
| 2005 | 12,840,031 | +339,294 |
| 2004 | 12,500,737 | +319,163 |
| 2003 | 12,181,574 | +301,134 |
| 2002 | 11,880,440 | +287,382 |
| 2001 | 11,593,058 | +277,116 |
| 2000 | 11,315,942 | +268,138 |
| 1999 | 11,047,804 | +254,928 |
| 1998 | 10,792,876 | +230,841 |
| 1997 | 10,562,035 | +209,807 |
| 1996 | 10,352,228 | +202,111 |
| 1995 | 10,150,117 | -14,777 |
| 1994 | 10,164,894 | -119,130 |
| 1993 | 10,284,024 | +148,945 |
| 1992 | 10,135,079 | +290,852 |
| 1991 | 9,844,227 | +298,375 |
| 1990 | 9,545,852 | +369,632 |
| 1989 | 9,176,220 | +422,958 |
| 1988 | 8,753,262 | +460,088 |
| 1987 | 8,293,174 | +386,694 |
| 1986 | 7,906,480 | +285,972 |
| 1985 | 7,620,508 | +287,698 |
| 1984 | 7,332,810 | +281,101 |
| 1983 | 7,051,709 | +272,830 |
| 1982 | 6,778,879 | +262,425 |
| 1981 | 6,516,454 | +250,925 |
| 1980 | 6,265,529 | +236,780 |
| 1979 | 6,028,749 | +218,617 |
| 1978 | 5,810,132 | +195,149 |
| 1977 | 5,614,983 | +171,599 |
| 1976 | 5,443,384 | +156,017 |
| 1975 | 5,287,367 | +146,030 |
| 1974 | 5,141,337 | +137,399 |
| 1973 | 5,003,938 | +129,463 |
| 1972 | 4,874,475 | +123,041 |
| 1971 | 4,751,434 | +117,490 |
| 1970 | 4,633,944 | +112,760 |
| 1969 | 4,521,184 | +110,130 |
| 1968 | 4,411,054 | +108,042 |
| 1967 | 4,303,012 | +105,086 |
| 1966 | 4,197,926 | +101,769 |
| 1965 | 4,096,157 | +98,852 |
| 1964 | 3,997,305 | +96,799 |
| 1963 | 3,900,506 | +94,199 |
| 1962 | 3,806,307 | +90,773 |
| 1961 | 3,715,534 | +87,400 |
| 1960 | 3,628,134 | — |