Read our Privacy Policy for more information about how we process your data.
You can change your preferences at any time by clicking the cookie icon in the footer.
In 2026, Malawi's population is projected at 22,785,535. That is an 8-fold increase on the 2,950,300 recorded in 1950. It is growing at +2.53% a year, one of the faster rates globally, adding about 575.6K people a year. Settlement is fairly dense, at 241 people/km². Half the population is younger than 18.4 years, and the age structure is steadily tilting older: the median is projected to reach 24.6 by 2050. Women outnumber men, at 95 males per 100 females. By 2100, UN projections see it rising to 59,141,258, up 160% from 2026.
Total population
22,785,535
Density
241 people/km²
Median age
18.4 years
Growth rate
+2.53%
Malawi is experiencing rapid population growth, adding hundreds of thousands of people each year. The population is aging rapidly; median age will rise from 18 in 2026 to 25 by 2050. Looking ahead, UN projections show the population reaching 59.1M by 2100, more than double 2026's level.