Malawi

Country in Africa

In brief

Population growth per year: +2.6% (2025). World rank 22 of 216; in Africa, 13 of 54. Living in cities: 17.6% (2025). World rank 213 of 216; in Africa, 54 of 54. Aged 65 and over: 2.6% (2025). World rank 206 of 216; in Africa, 48 of 54. From 2015 to 2025: population 17.1M → 22.2M, population growth per year +2.8% → +2.6%, and living in cities 15.8% → 17.6%. Better than all its neighbours (Mozambique, Tanzania, and Zambia): life expectancy and life expectancy.

Population and migration

Population: 22,216,120 2025
Population density: 187.5 per km² 2025
Population growth per year: +2.6% 2025
Living in cities: 17.6% 2025
Net migration per year: -5.6K 2025
Born in another country: 0.9% 2024

Age and life expectancy

Aged 0–14: 40.1% 2025
Aged 15–64: 57.3% 2025
Aged 65 and over: 2.6% 2025
Life expectancy: 67.6 years 2024
Life expectancy, women: 70.8 years 2024
Life expectancy, men: 64.3 years 2024

Births and deaths

Children per woman: 3.6 2024
Births per 1,000 people: 31.1 2024
Deaths per 1,000 people: 5.3 2024

Society

Languages: English, Nyanja
Religions: Protestant 33.5%, other Christian 26.6%, Catholic 17.2%, Muslim 13.8%, and other 5.6% (2018)