Population in largest city in Malawi
Malawi: Population in largest city was 1.39 million in 2025. ◆ Volatile
Latest (2025)
1.39 million
Change on year
up 4.5%
World rank
108th
of 153 countries
All-time high
1.39 million
in 2025
All-time low
50,199
in 1960
Years of data
66
1960–2025
Population in largest city in Malawi, 1960–2025
Source: World Urbanization Prospects 2018, United Nations (UN).
Analysis
In 2025, population in largest city in Malawi stood at 1.39 million. That is the highest value across all 66 years on record.
The figure is up 4.5% on the previous year and up 53.8% over ten years.
Over the whole period, population in largest city in Malawi peaked at 1.39 million in 2025 and was at its lowest, 50,199, in 1960.
Malawi ranks 108th of 153 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.
Population in largest city in Malawi, year by year
| Year | Value | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1960 | 50,199 | — |
| 1961 | 57,026 | +13.6% |
| 1962 | 64,792 | +13.6% |
| 1963 | 73,617 | +13.6% |
| 1964 | 83,658 | +13.6% |
| 1965 | 95,035 | +13.6% |
| 1966 | 107,978 | +13.6% |
| 1967 | 115,735 | +7.2% |
| 1968 | 123,197 | +6.4% |
| 1969 | 131,118 | +6.4% |
| 1970 | 139,560 | +6.4% |
| 1971 | 148,545 | +6.4% |
| 1972 | 158,123 | +6.4% |
| 1973 | 168,289 | +6.4% |
| 1974 | 179,125 | +6.4% |
| 1975 | 190,658 | +6.4% |
| 1976 | 202,951 | +6.4% |
| 1977 | 215,999 | +6.4% |
| 1978 | 226,314 | +4.8% |
| 1979 | 236,059 | +4.3% |
| 1980 | 246,238 | +4.3% |
| 1981 | 256,825 | +4.3% |
| 1982 | 267,884 | +4.3% |
| 1983 | 279,419 | +4.3% |
| 1984 | 291,467 | +4.3% |
| 1985 | 304,000 | +4.3% |
| 1986 | 317,090 | +4.3% |
| 1987 | 330,743 | +4.3% |
| 1988 | 343,611 | +3.9% |
| 1989 | 356,649 | +3.8% |
| 1990 | 370,199 | +3.8% |
| 1991 | 384,265 | +3.8% |
| 1992 | 398,886 | +3.8% |
| 1993 | 414,020 | +3.8% |
| 1994 | 429,751 | +3.8% |
| 1995 | 446,080 | +3.8% |
| 1996 | 463,052 | +3.8% |
| 1997 | 480,622 | +3.8% |
| 1998 | 498,883 | +3.8% |
| 1999 | 513,955 | +3.0% |
| 2000 | 528,689 | +2.9% |
| 2001 | 543,802 | +2.9% |
| 2002 | 559,370 | +2.9% |
| 2003 | 575,383 | +2.9% |
| 2004 | 591,877 | +2.9% |
| 2005 | 608,797 | +2.9% |
| 2006 | 626,225 | +2.9% |
| 2007 | 644,152 | +2.9% |
| 2008 | 670,822 | +4.1% |
| 2009 | 700,189 | +4.4% |
| 2010 | 730,841 | +4.4% |
| 2011 | 762,835 | +4.4% |
| 2012 | 796,230 | +4.4% |
| 2013 | 831,086 | +4.4% |
| 2014 | 867,469 | +4.4% |
| 2015 | 905,444 | +4.4% |
| 2016 | 945,082 | +4.4% |
| 2017 | 986,455 | +4.4% |
| 2018 | 1.03 million | +4.4% |
| 2019 | 1.07 million | +4.4% |
| 2020 | 1.12 million | +4.4% |
| 2021 | 1.17 million | +4.4% |
| 2022 | 1.22 million | +4.4% |
| 2023 | 1.28 million | +4.4% |
| 2024 | 1.33 million | +4.4% |
| 2025 | 1.39 million | +4.5% |
Malawi compared with similar countries
- Malawi's 1.39 million is below the median for low income countries, which is 1.98 million, 70% of the median. (25 countries reporting)
- Malawi's 1.39 million is below the median for Sub-Saharan Africa, which is 2.18 million, 64% of the median. (40 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1960s | 90,236 | 50,199 | 131,118 | 10 |
| 1970s | 186,562 | 139,560 | 236,059 | 10 |
| 1980s | 299,393 | 246,238 | 356,649 | 10 |
| 1990s | 439,971 | 370,199 | 513,955 | 10 |
| 2000s | 604,931 | 528,689 | 700,189 | 10 |
| 2010s | 892,978 | 730,841 | 1.07 million | 10 |
| 2020s | 1.25 million | 1.12 million | 1.39 million | 6 |
Countries ranked near Malawi
More urban development data for Malawi
- Population in the largest city 35.6% (2025)
- Population density 223.85 people per sq. km of land area (2023)
- PM2.5 air pollution, mean annual exposure 16.72 micrograms per cubic meter (2023)
- Population in urban agglomerations of more than 1 million, per capita 0.0627 units per person (2025)
- Population in urban agglomerations of more than 1 million 1.39 million (2025)
- Population in urban agglomerations of more than 1 million, annual 4.49 % change on previous year (2025)
- Population in urban agglomerations of more than 1 million, per unit 0.0001 units per US$ of GDP (2025)
- Population in urban agglomerations of more than 1 million, per square 13.54 units per square kilometre (2023)
- Africa's Development Dynamics (AfDD) Table 23 - Ecological 34.7 Hectares (2020)
- PM2.5 air pollution, population exposed to levels exceeding WHO 100.0% (2017)
Frequently asked questions
- What is population in largest city in Malawi?
- Population in largest city in Malawi was 1.39 million in 2025, according to World Urbanization Prospects 2018, United Nations (UN).
- What is the highest population in largest city recorded in Malawi?
- The highest recorded value was 1.39 million in 2025.
- What is the lowest population in largest city recorded in Malawi?
- The lowest recorded value was 50,199 in 1960.
- How does Malawi rank for population in largest city?
- Malawi ranks 108th out of 153 countries with data for 2025.
- Is population in largest city rising or falling in Malawi?
- Over the last ten years it is up 53.8%. The long-run trend across the full record is volatile.
- Where does this Malawi data come from?
- The figures come from World Urbanization Prospects 2018, United Nations (UN), published as part of Population in largest city. Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
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CSV · JSON — 66 observations, free to reuse under CC BY 4.0 (World Bank Open Data).
About this data
Population in largest city is the urban population living in the country's largest metropolitan area.