ATLAS · COUNTRY PROFILE
Malawi
According to the World Bank, Malawi was home to 21.7 million people in 2024 — the 61st most populous of 217 countries, 0.27% of everyone on Earth.
REGIONSub-Saharan Africa
INCOME GROUP · WORLD BANKLow income
CAPITALLilongwe
Malawi by the numbers
| METRIC | VALUE | WORLD RANK | SHARE |
|---|---|---|---|
| PopulationWorld Bank, 2024 | 21.7 million | 61st of 217 | 0.27% |
| People | |||
| Population GrowthWorld Bank, 2024 | 2.6% | 26th of 217 | — |
| Birth RateWorld Bank, 2024 | 31.1 / 1,000 | 26th of 217 | — |
| Death RateWorld Bank, 2024 | 5.3 / 1,000 | 185th of 217 | — |
| Fertility RateWorld Bank, 2024 | 3.59 | 41st of 217 | — |
| Urban PopulationWorld Bank, 2024 | 17.3% | 215th of 217 | — |
| Economy | |||
| GDP (current US$)World Bank, 2024 | $11.3B | 153rd of 214 | 0.01% |
| GDP per capitaWorld Bank, 2024 | $523 | 211th of 214 | — |
| GNI per capitaWorld Bank, 2024 | $570 | 202nd of 207 | — |
| InflationWorld Bank, 2024 | 32.2% | 11th of 193 | — |
| UnemploymentWorld Bank, 2025 | 5.1% | 99th of 187 | — |
| Health | |||
| Life ExpectancyWorld Bank, 2024 | 67.6 yrs | 171st of 217 | — |
| Infant MortalityWorld Bank, 2024 | 38.0 / 1,000 | 29th of 196 | — |
| Health SpendingWorld Bank, 2024 | 6.5% | 96th of 193 | — |
| PhysiciansWorld Bank, 2023 | 0.1 / 1,000 | 205th of 208 | — |
| Environment | |||
| CO₂ per capitaWorld Bank, 2024 | 0.22 | 179th of 203 | — |
| Forest CoverWorld Bank, 2023 | 22.4% | 127th of 214 | — |
| Renewable EnergyWorld Bank, 2022 | 62.9% | 33rd of 212 | — |
| Society | |||
| Internet UsersWorld Bank, 2025 | 19.0% | 195th of 213 | — |
| Mobile SubscriptionsWorld Bank, 2024 | 69.3 / 1,000 | 184th of 214 | — |
| Literacy RateWorld Bank, 2024 | 70.2% | 139th of 170 | — |
| Land | |||
| Population DensityWorld Bank, 2023 | 224 | 62nd of 216 | — |
| Arable LandWorld Bank, 2023 | 42.4% | 11th of 206 | — |
23 live measures for Malawi, each linking to its world map and ranking. Every figure carries its source and year; where the source has no value for Malawi, the table says so in words rather than inventing a number.
See Malawi live
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THE WORLD, BY THE NUMBERS
See where Malawi sits on the live population map.