The population of Malawi is expected to grow by 637,000 in 2026 and reach 24,564,000 in 2027. Migration (including immigration and emigration) decreases population by 6,000 people yearly. The population density of Malawi has changed from 65.4 in 1980 to 240.3 in 2024.
| Current population | 23,985,233 people at present (Monday 9th of February 2026) | |
| Median Age | 22.9 years |
| Population density | 253.7 per km2 |
| Year | Population | Year change | Migrants | Median age | Fertility rate | Density (Ppl/km2) | Urban population |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2026 | 23,914,000 | 637,000 (2.7%) | -6,000 | 22.9 | 254 | 4,544,000 (19.0%) | |
| 2025 | 23,277,000 | 623,000 (2.7%) | -6,000 | 22.7 | 3.99 | 247 | 4,348,000 (18.7%) |
| 2024 | 0 | 0 (0.0%) | -12,000 | 22.6 | 240 | 4,163,000 (18.4%) | |
| 2023 | 0 | 0 (0.0%) | -12,000 | 22.4 | 234 | 3,987,000 (18.1%) | |
| 2022 | 0 | 0 (0.0%) | -12,000 | 22.3 | 228 | 3,820,000 (17.8%) | |
| 2021 | 0 | 0 (0.0%) | -12,000 | 22.1 | 221 | 3,661,000 (17.6%) | |
| 2020 | 20,284,000 | 565,000 (2.8%) | -12,000 | 22.0 | 4.31 | 215 | 3,510,000 (17.3%) |
| 2019 | 0 | 0 (0.0%) | -12,000 | 21.9 | 4.38 | 209 | 3,367,000 (17.1%) |
| 2018 | 0 | 0 (0.0%) | -12,000 | 21.8 | 4.45 | 203 | 3,230,000 (16.9%) |
| 2017 | 0 | 0 (0.0%) | -12,000 | 21.7 | 4.51 | 198 | 3,100,000 (16.6%) |
| 2016 | 0 | 0 (0.0%) | -12,000 | 21.6 | 4.58 | 192 | 2,976,788 (16.5%) |
| 2015 | 17,573,607 | 504,769 (2.9%) | -12,000 | 21.5 | 4.65 | 186 | 2,859,577 (16.3%) |
| 2010 | 15,167,095 | 452,493 (3.0%) | -6,000 | 21.0 | 5.31 | 161 | 2,356,967 (15.5%) |
| 2005 | 13,039,711 | 363,673 (2.8%) | -7,364 | 21.0 | 5.90 | 138 | 1,962,998 (15.1%) |
| 2000 | 11,376,172 | 331,816 (2.9%) | -7,364 | 21.3 | 6.15 | 121 | 1,662,059 (14.6%) |
| 1995 | 9,909,088 | 112,112 (1.1%) | -7,364 | 21.6 | 6.42 | 105 | 1,314,242 (13.3%) |
| 1990 | 9,437,553 | 342,882 (3.6%) | -187,780 | 21.5 | 6.92 | 100 | 1,090,981 (11.6%) |
| 1985 | 7,211,105 | 315,177 (4.4%) | 178,639 | 21.0 | 7.47 | 76 | 732,865 (10.2%) |
| 1980 | 6,163,080 | 176,748 (2.9%) | -5,721 | 21.2 | 7.64 | 65 | 557,759 (9.1%) |
| 1975 | 5,292,808 | 151,606 (2.9%) | -6,670 | 21.3 | 7.52 | 56 | 405,006 (7.7%) |
| 1970 | 4,603,723 | 119,284 (2.6%) | -10,481 | 21.6 | 7.30 | 49 | 278,663 (6.1%) |
| 1965 | 4,058,673 | 95,256 (2.4%) | -12,386 | 21.8 | 7.10 | 43 | 199,200 (4.9%) |
| 1960 | 3,618,595 | 81,428 (2.2%) | -12,386 | 21.9 | 6.94 | 38 | 158,856 (4.4%) |
In 2025 the population of Malawi was 23,277,000 and the average age increased from 21.9 in 1960 to 22.7. Urban population has increased from 1,662,059 (14.6%) in 2000 to 4,544,000 (19.0%) in the current year. The population density of Malawi has changed from 65.4 in 1980 to 240.3 in 2024.
| Year | Population | Year change | Migrants | Median age | Fertility rate | Density (Ppl/km2) | Urban population |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2020 | 0 | 0 (0.0%) | -12,000 | 22.0 | 4.31 | 215 | 3,510,000 (17.3%) |
| 2025 | 0 | 0 (0.0%) | -6,000 | 22.7 | 3.99 | 247 | 4,348,000 (18.7%) |
| 2030 | 26,578,000 | 681,000 (2.6%) | -6,000 | 23.5 | 3.71 | 282 | 5,431,000 (20.4%) |
| 2035 | 30,110,000 | 723,000 (2.4%) | -6,000 | 24.5 | 3.47 | 319 | 6,800,000 (22.6%) |
| 2040 | 33,837,000 | 760,000 (2.3%) | -6,000 | 25.5 | 3.26 | 359 | 8,445,000 (25.0%) |
| 2045 | 37,719,000 | 786,000 (2.1%) | -6,000 | 26.6 | 3.08 | 400 | 10,371,000 (27.5%) |
| 2050 | 41,705,000 | 804,000 (1.9%) | -6,000 | 27.8 | 2.92 | 442 | 12,589,000 (30.2%) |
The life expectancy at birth should reach 74.0 (72.0 years for male and 76.2 years for females). Population density will go up to 442.4 people per square kilometer.
The demographics of Malawi constitutes of 12,040,000 women and 11,874,000 men, which means there are 986 men per 1000 women. As far as age distribution goes, 52.0% of population (12,432,889) is 19 or younger, 45.2% of population (10,801,954) is between age 20 and 64 and 2.8% of population (676,766) is over 65.