Urban population in Malawi
Malawi: Urban population was 3.91 million in 2025. ◆ Volatile
Urban population in Malawi, 1960–2025
Source: World Urbanization Prospects, United Nations (UN).
Analysis
The most recent figure for urban population in Malawi is 3.91 million, measured in 2025. That is the highest value across all 66 years on record.
The figure is up 4.5% on the previous year and up 44.5% over ten years.
Over the whole period, urban population in Malawi peaked at 3.91 million in 2025 and was at its lowest, 146,718, in 1960.
Malawi ranks 114th of 218 countries on this measure, in the middle of the range.
The series is highly variable year to year, so single readings are best treated with caution.
Urban population in Malawi, year by year
| Year | Value | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1960 | 146,718 | — |
| 1961 | 153,727 | +4.8% |
| 1962 | 161,271 | +4.9% |
| 1963 | 169,363 | +5.0% |
| 1964 | 177,978 | +5.1% |
| 1965 | 187,097 | +5.1% |
| 1966 | 196,707 | +5.1% |
| 1967 | 208,453 | +6.0% |
| 1968 | 224,094 | +7.5% |
| 1969 | 243,296 | +8.6% |
| 1970 | 265,665 | +9.2% |
| 1971 | 290,854 | +9.5% |
| 1972 | 318,406 | +9.5% |
| 1973 | 347,823 | +9.2% |
| 1974 | 378,596 | +8.8% |
| 1975 | 410,101 | +8.3% |
| 1976 | 441,687 | +7.7% |
| 1977 | 472,880 | +7.1% |
| 1978 | 504,473 | +6.7% |
| 1979 | 537,597 | +6.6% |
| 1980 | 572,276 | +6.5% |
| 1981 | 608,493 | +6.3% |
| 1982 | 646,375 | +6.2% |
| 1983 | 686,230 | +6.2% |
| 1984 | 728,314 | +6.1% |
| 1985 | 772,979 | +6.1% |
| 1986 | 819,942 | +6.1% |
| 1987 | 880,623 | +7.4% |
| 1988 | 954,578 | +8.4% |
| 1989 | 1.03 million | +8.1% |
| 1990 | 1.11 million | +7.5% |
| 1991 | 1.18 million | +6.7% |
| 1992 | 1.26 million | +6.5% |
| 1993 | 1.32 million | +4.9% |
| 1994 | 1.35 million | +1.9% |
| 1995 | 1.38 million | +2.6% |
| 1996 | 1.45 million | +4.4% |
| 1997 | 1.50 million | +4.0% |
| 1998 | 1.56 million | +3.6% |
| 1999 | 1.61 million | +3.3% |
| 2000 | 1.66 million | +3.3% |
| 2001 | 1.71 million | +3.2% |
| 2002 | 1.77 million | +3.1% |
| 2003 | 1.82 million | +3.1% |
| 2004 | 1.88 million | +3.1% |
| 2005 | 1.94 million | +3.2% |
| 2006 | 2.00 million | +3.3% |
| 2007 | 2.07 million | +3.4% |
| 2008 | 2.14 million | +3.5% |
| 2009 | 2.22 million | +3.5% |
| 2010 | 2.29 million | +3.5% |
| 2011 | 2.37 million | +3.5% |
| 2012 | 2.45 million | +3.4% |
| 2013 | 2.54 million | +3.3% |
| 2014 | 2.62 million | +3.3% |
| 2015 | 2.71 million | +3.2% |
| 2016 | 2.79 million | +3.2% |
| 2017 | 2.88 million | +3.2% |
| 2018 | 2.97 million | +3.1% |
| 2019 | 3.07 million | +3.4% |
| 2020 | 3.18 million | +3.7% |
| 2021 | 3.31 million | +3.8% |
| 2022 | 3.44 million | +4.0% |
| 2023 | 3.58 million | +4.2% |
| 2024 | 3.74 million | +4.4% |
| 2025 | 3.91 million | +4.5% |
Malawi compared with similar countries
- Malawi's 3.91 million is below the median for low income countries, which is 6.96 million, 56% of the median. (25 countries reporting)
- Malawi's 3.91 million is below the median for Sub-Saharan Africa, which is 4.82 million, 81% of the median. (48 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1960s | 186,870 | 146,718 | 243,296 | 10 |
| 1970s | 396,808 | 265,665 | 537,597 | 10 |
| 1980s | 770,168 | 572,276 | 1.03 million | 10 |
| 1990s | 1.37 million | 1.11 million | 1.61 million | 10 |
| 2000s | 1.92 million | 1.66 million | 2.22 million | 10 |
| 2010s | 2.67 million | 2.29 million | 3.07 million | 10 |
| 2020s | 3.53 million | 3.18 million | 3.91 million | 6 |
Countries ranked near Malawi
- 111 Costa Rica 4.11 million compare
- 112 Serbia 4.10 million compare
- 113 Sierra Leone 4.05 million compare
- 115 Togo 3.81 million compare
- 116 Burundi 3.70 million compare
- 117 Turkmenistan 3.59 million compare
More climate change data for Malawi
- Nutrient nitrogen N (total) — Synthetic fertilizers (Agricultural) 415.04 million kg (2050)
- Emissions from livestock — Emissions (CO2eq) 4,106 kt (2050)
- Emissions from livestock — Emissions (CO2eq) from N2O 1,605 kt (2050)
- Emissions from livestock — Emissions (CO2eq) from CH4 2,501 kt (2050)
- Emissions from livestock — Emissions 6.06 kt (2050)
- Emissions from livestock — Emissions 89.31 kt (2050)
- Emissions from crops — Emissions (CO2eq) 3,185 kt (2050)
- Emissions from crops — Emissions (CO2eq) from N2O 2,819 kt (2050)
- Emissions from crops — Emissions (CO2eq) from CH4 366.56 kt (2050)
- Emissions from crops — Emissions 10.64 kt (2050)
Frequently asked questions
- What is urban population in Malawi?
- Urban population in Malawi was 3.91 million in 2025, according to World Urbanization Prospects, United Nations (UN).
- What is the highest urban population recorded in Malawi?
- The highest recorded value was 3.91 million in 2025.
- What is the lowest urban population recorded in Malawi?
- The lowest recorded value was 146,718 in 1960.
- How does Malawi rank for urban population?
- Malawi ranks 114th out of 218 countries with data for 2025.
- Is urban population rising or falling in Malawi?
- Over the last ten years it is up 44.5%. The long-run trend across the full record is volatile.
- Where does this Malawi data come from?
- The figures come from World Urbanization Prospects, United Nations (UN), published as part of Urban population. Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
Download this data
CSV · JSON — 66 observations, free to reuse under CC BY 4.0 (World Bank Open Data).
About this data
Urban population refers to people living in urban areas as defined by national statistical offices. It is calculated using World Bank population estimates and urban ratios from the United Nations World Urbanization Prospects. Aggregation of urban and rural population may not add up to total population because of different country coverages.