Population in urban agglomerations of more than 1 million in Malawi
Malawi: Population in urban agglomerations of more than 1 million was 1.39 million in 2025. ◆ Volatile
Population in urban agglomerations of more than 1 million in Malawi, 1960–2025
Source: World Urbanization Prospects 2018, United Nations (UN).
Analysis
The most recent figure for population in urban agglomerations of more than 1 million in Malawi is 1.39 million, measured in 2025. That is the highest value across all 66 years on record.
That represents a change of up 4.5% on the previous year and up 53.8% over ten years.
Over the whole period, population in urban agglomerations of more than 1 million in Malawi peaked at 1.39 million in 2025 and was at its lowest, 10,578, in 1960.
Malawi ranks 109th of 121 countries on this measure, in the bottom quarter.
The series is highly variable year to year, so single readings are best treated with caution.
Population in urban agglomerations of more than 1 million in Malawi, year by year
| Year | Value | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1960 | 10,578 | — |
| 1961 | 11,684 | +10.5% |
| 1962 | 12,907 | +10.5% |
| 1963 | 14,258 | +10.5% |
| 1964 | 15,752 | +10.5% |
| 1965 | 17,398 | +10.4% |
| 1966 | 19,219 | +10.5% |
| 1967 | 22,136 | +15.2% |
| 1968 | 25,627 | +15.8% |
| 1969 | 29,658 | +15.7% |
| 1970 | 34,329 | +15.7% |
| 1971 | 39,735 | +15.7% |
| 1972 | 46,003 | +15.8% |
| 1973 | 53,238 | +15.7% |
| 1974 | 61,622 | +15.7% |
| 1975 | 71,328 | +15.8% |
| 1976 | 82,578 | +15.8% |
| 1977 | 95,565 | +15.7% |
| 1978 | 105,227 | +10.1% |
| 1979 | 114,226 | +8.6% |
| 1980 | 124,008 | +8.6% |
| 1981 | 134,599 | +8.5% |
| 1982 | 146,110 | +8.6% |
| 1983 | 158,605 | +8.6% |
| 1984 | 172,189 | +8.6% |
| 1985 | 186,893 | +8.5% |
| 1986 | 202,877 | +8.6% |
| 1987 | 220,227 | +8.6% |
| 1988 | 235,084 | +6.7% |
| 1989 | 250,037 | +6.4% |
| 1990 | 265,963 | +6.4% |
| 1991 | 282,904 | +6.4% |
| 1992 | 300,949 | +6.4% |
| 1993 | 320,091 | +6.4% |
| 1994 | 340,480 | +6.4% |
| 1995 | 362,167 | +6.4% |
| 1996 | 385,269 | +6.4% |
| 1997 | 409,774 | +6.4% |
| 1998 | 435,875 | +6.4% |
| 1999 | 456,397 | +4.7% |
| 2000 | 476,377 | +4.4% |
| 2001 | 497,173 | +4.4% |
| 2002 | 518,907 | +4.4% |
| 2003 | 541,591 | +4.4% |
| 2004 | 565,300 | +4.4% |
| 2005 | 589,978 | +4.4% |
| 2006 | 615,769 | +4.4% |
| 2007 | 642,687 | +4.4% |
| 2008 | 670,822 | +4.4% |
| 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% |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1960s | 17,922 | 10,578 | 29,658 | 10 |
| 1970s | 70,385 | 34,329 | 114,226 | 10 |
| 1980s | 183,063 | 124,008 | 250,037 | 10 |
| 1990s | 355,987 | 265,963 | 456,397 | 10 |
| 2000s | 581,879 | 476,377 | 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, 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)
- Population in largest city 1.39 million (2025)
- 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 urban agglomerations of more than 1 million in Malawi?
- Population in urban agglomerations of more than 1 million in Malawi was 1.39 million in 2025, according to World Urbanization Prospects 2018, United Nations (UN).
- What is the highest population in urban agglomerations of more than 1 million recorded in Malawi?
- The highest recorded value was 1.39 million in 2025.
- What is the lowest population in urban agglomerations of more than 1 million recorded in Malawi?
- The lowest recorded value was 10,578 in 1960.
- How does Malawi rank for population in urban agglomerations of more than 1 million?
- Malawi ranks 109th out of 121 countries with data for 2025.
- Is population in urban agglomerations of more than 1 million 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 urban agglomerations of more than 1 million. Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
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About this data
Population in urban agglomerations of more than one million is the country's population living in metropolitan areas that in 2018 had a population of more than one million people.