Malawi vs South Africa

Malawi vs South Africa: Population

Population in 2023: 21.1 million people in Malawi and 63.2 million people in South Africa, by UN estimates. In 2023 the value was higher in South Africa, by 42.1 million people, or 3 times that in Malawi.

Watch it change on the map

people · UN

Malawi vs South Africa: PopulationPopulation in 2023: 21.1 million people in Malawi and 63.2 million people in South Africa, by UN estimates. In 2023 the value was higher in South Africa, by 42.1 million people, or 3 times that in Malawi.
MalawiSouth AfricaEstimates, HYDE and GapminderUN projection (medium variant)95% prediction intervalWorld

What the numbers say

  • South Africa has been higher in every year both have figures for since 1950.
  • In 2023, Malawi ranked 62 and South Africa ranked 24 of 229 countries, counting from the highest.
  • The UN projection (medium variant) puts Malawi at 59.1 million people and South Africa at 94.3 million people in 2100.
  • The world as a whole: 8.09 billion people in 2023.

Every year

people · UN

YearMalawiSouth AfricaWorld
202321.1 million63.2 million8.09 billion
202220.6 million62.4 million8.02 billion
202120.1 million61.5 million7.95 billion
202019.5 million60.6 million7.89 billion
201919 million59.6 million7.81 billion
201818.5 million58.6 million7.73 billion
201718 million57.6 million7.65 billion
201617.6 million57.3 million7.56 billion
201517.1 million56.7 million7.47 billion
201416.6 million55.6 million7.38 billion
201316.2 million54.7 million7.29 billion
201215.7 million53.8 million7.2 billion
201115.3 million53 million7.11 billion
201014.8 million52.3 million7.02 billion
200914.4 million51.7 million6.93 billion
200814 million51.1 million6.84 billion
200713.6 million50.5 million6.76 billion
200613.2 million50 million6.67 billion
200512.8 million49.5 million6.59 billion
200412.5 million49 million6.5 billion
200312.2 million48.5 million6.42 billion
200211.9 million48 million6.34 billion
200111.6 million47.6 million6.26 billion
200011.3 million47.2 million6.17 billion
199911.1 million46.7 million6.09 billion
199810.8 million46.2 million6.01 billion
199710.6 million45.7 million5.93 billion
199610.4 million45.1 million5.84 billion
199510.2 million44.5 million5.76 billion
199410.2 million44 million5.68 billion
199310.3 million43.3 million5.59 billion
199210.1 million42.4 million5.51 billion
19919.84 million41.7 million5.42 billion
19909.55 million40.8 million5.33 billion
19899.18 million39.6 million5.23 billion
19888.75 million38.5 million5.14 billion
19878.29 million37.3 million5.05 billion
19867.91 million36.2 million4.96 billion
19857.62 million35 million4.87 billion
19847.33 million33.9 million4.78 billion
19837.05 million32.7 million4.7 billion
19826.78 million31.6 million4.61 billion
19816.52 million30.5 million4.53 billion
19806.27 million29.5 million4.45 billion
19796.03 million28.6 million4.37 billion
19785.81 million27.9 million4.29 billion
19775.62 million27.1 million4.22 billion
19765.44 million26.4 million4.14 billion
19755.29 million25.7 million4.07 billion
19745.14 million25 million4 billion
19735 million24.3 million3.92 billion
19724.87 million23.6 million3.85 billion
19714.75 million22.9 million3.77 billion
19704.63 million22.3 million3.7 billion
19694.52 million21.6 million3.62 billion
19684.41 million21 million3.55 billion
19674.3 million20.3 million3.47 billion
19664.2 million19.7 million3.4 billion
19654.1 million19.1 million3.34 billion
19644 million18.5 million3.26 billion
19633.9 million18 million3.19 billion
19623.81 million17.4 million3.12 billion
19613.72 million16.9 million3.07 billion
19603.63 million16.4 million3.02 billion
19593.54 million16 million2.97 billion
19583.46 million15.6 million2.91 billion
19573.39 million15.2 million2.85 billion
19563.32 million14.9 million2.8 billion
19553.25 million14.5 million2.74 billion
19543.18 million14.2 million2.69 billion
19533.12 million13.9 million2.63 billion
19523.06 million13.6 million2.58 billion
19513 million13.3 million2.54 billion
19502.95 million13 million2.49 billion
19492.9 million12.8 million–
19482.84 million12.5 million–
19472.79 million12.3 million–
19462.74 million12 million–
19452.69 million11.8 million–
19442.65 million11.6 million–
19432.6 million11.4 million–
19422.55 million11.2 million–
19412.51 million11 million–
19402.47 million10.7 million–
19392.43 million10.5 million–
19382.4 million10.3 million–
19372.36 million10.1 million–
19362.33 million9.92 million–
19352.3 million9.72 million–
19342.27 million9.53 million–
19332.24 million9.34 million–
19322.2 million9.16 million–
19312.17 million8.97 million–
19302.14 million8.79 million–
19292.11 million8.62 million–
19282.08 million8.44 million–
19272.05 million8.27 million–
19262.02 million8.1 million–
19251.99 million7.93 million–
19241.96 million7.77 million–
19231.93 million7.61 million–
19221.9 million7.45 million–
19211.88 million7.3 million–
19201.87 million7.17 million–
19191.86 million7.04 million–
19181.86 million6.93 million–
19171.87 million6.82 million–
19161.88 million6.71 million–
19151.88 million6.61 million–
19141.89 million6.5 million–
19131.9 million6.4 million–
19121.9 million6.3 million–
19111.91 million6.2 million–
19101.92 million6.09 million–
19091.94 million5.99 million–
19081.95 million5.89 million–
19071.96 million5.79 million–
19061.98 million5.7 million–
19051.99 million5.6 million–
19042.01 million5.51 million–
19032.03 million5.41 million–
19022.04 million5.32 million–
19012.06 million5.24 million–
19002.07 million5.16 million–
18992.08 million5.1 million–
18982.09 million5.04 million–
18972.1 million4.98 million–
18962.1 million4.93 million–
18952.11 million4.88 million–
18942.12 million4.82 million–
18932.13 million4.77 million–
18922.13 million4.72 million–
18912.14 million4.67 million–
18902.14 million4.62 million–
18892.14 million4.57 million–
18882.14 million4.52 million–
18872.14 million4.48 million–
18862.13 million4.43 million–
18852.13 million4.38 million–
18842.13 million4.33 million–
18832.12 million4.29 million–
18822.12 million4.24 million–
18812.12 million4.2 million–
18802.12 million4.15 million–
18792.12 million4.11 million–
18782.12 million4.06 million–
18772.12 million4.02 million–
18762.12 million3.98 million–
18752.12 million3.93 million–
18742.13 million3.89 million–
18732.13 million3.85 million–
18722.13 million3.81 million–
18712.13 million3.77 million–
18702.14 million3.73 million–
18692.14 million3.69 million–
18682.14 million3.65 million–
18672.14 million3.61 million–
18662.14 million3.57 million–
18652.14 million3.53 million–
18642.15 million3.5 million–
18632.15 million3.46 million–
18622.15 million3.42 million–
18612.15 million3.39 million–
18602.15 million3.35 million–
18592.15 million3.31 million–
18582.15 million3.28 million–
18572.15 million3.24 million–
18562.15 million3.21 million–
18552.15 million3.17 million–
18542.15 million3.14 million–
18532.15 million3.11 million–
18522.15 million3.07 million–
18512.15 million3.03 million–
18502.13 million2.99 million–
18492.1 million2.94 million–
18482.07 million2.88 million–
18472.02 million2.82 million–
18461.98 million2.75 million–
18451.94 million2.69 million–
18441.9 million2.64 million–
18431.86 million2.58 million–
18421.82 million2.52 million–
18411.78 million2.47 million–
18401.74 million2.41 million–
18391.7 million2.36 million–
18381.67 million2.31 million–
18371.63 million2.26 million–
18361.6 million2.21 million–
18351.56 million2.16 million–
18341.53 million2.11 million–
18331.5 million2.07 million–
18321.47 million2.02 million–
18311.43 million1.98 million–
18301.4 million1.93 million–
18291.37 million1.89 million–
18281.34 million1.85 million–
18271.32 million1.81 million–
18261.29 million1.77 million–
18251.26 million1.73 million–
18241.23 million1.69 million–
18231.21 million1.66 million–
18221.18 million1.62 million–
18211.16 million1.6 million–
18201.13 million1.59 million–
18191.11 million1.57 million–
18181.09 million1.56 million–
18171.06 million1.56 million–
18161.04 million1.55 million–
18151.02 million1.54 million–
1814995,6001.53 million–
1813974,5001.52 million–
1812953,8001.52 million–
1811933,6001.51 million–
1810913,8001.5 million–
1809894,0001.5 million–
1808875,0001.49 million–
1807856,4001.49 million–
1806838,2001.48 million–
1805820,4001.48 million–
1804803,0001.47 million–
1803786,0001.46 million–
1802769,3001.46 million–
1801753,0001.45 million–
1800737,0001.45 million–
  • 12.3Estimates, HYDE and Gapminder
UN projection (medium variant) · 2024–2100
YearMalawiSouth AfricaWorld
202421.7 million21.5 million–21.8 million64 million63.7 million–64.3 million8.16 billion
202522.2 million21.7 million–22.7 million64.8 million64 million–65.5 million8.23 billion
202622.8 million21.9 million–23.6 million65.5 million64.3 million–66.7 million8.3 billion
202723.4 million22.1 million–24.6 million66.1 million64.6 million–67.8 million8.37 billion
202824 million22.3 million–25.5 million66.8 million64.9 million–69 million8.44 billion
202924.6 million22.5 million–26.6 million67.5 million65.2 million–70.1 million8.5 billion
203025.2 million22.7 million–27.7 million68.2 million65.5 million–71.2 million8.57 billion
203125.8 million23 million–28.7 million68.8 million65.8 million–72.3 million8.63 billion
203226.4 million23.2 million–29.8 million69.4 million66 million–73.4 million8.7 billion
203327 million23.4 million–30.9 million70 million66.3 million–74.5 million8.76 billion
203427.6 million23.6 million–31.9 million70.6 million66.5 million–75.5 million8.82 billion
203528.2 million23.9 million–33 million71.2 million66.7 million–76.4 million8.89 billion
203628.8 million24.2 million–34.2 million71.8 million67 million–77.5 million8.95 billion
203729.5 million24.6 million–35.3 million72.4 million67.2 million–78.5 million9.01 billion
203830.1 million24.8 million–36.5 million73 million67.3 million–79.5 million9.06 billion
203930.7 million25 million–37.6 million73.5 million67.4 million–80.5 million9.12 billion
204031.3 million25.3 million–38.7 million74 million67.5 million–81.5 million9.18 billion
204131.9 million25.5 million–39.9 million74.6 million67.6 million–82.4 million9.23 billion
204232.5 million25.7 million–41.1 million75.1 million67.8 million–83.5 million9.29 billion
204333.1 million26 million–42.5 million75.6 million67.9 million–84.6 million9.34 billion
204433.7 million26.3 million–43.8 million76.2 million67.9 million–85.7 million9.39 billion
204534.4 million26.7 million–45 million76.7 million68 million–86.9 million9.44 billion
204635 million27 million–46.1 million77.2 million68.1 million–88 million9.49 billion
204735.6 million27.2 million–47.4 million77.7 million68.1 million–89.1 million9.54 billion
204836.2 million27.3 million–48.7 million78.2 million68.1 million–90.4 million9.58 billion
204936.8 million27.5 million–50.1 million78.7 million68.2 million–91.6 million9.62 billion
205037.4 million27.6 million–51.5 million79.2 million68.3 million–92.7 million9.66 billion
205138 million27.7 million–52.7 million79.7 million68.4 million–93.8 million9.7 billion
205238.6 million27.9 million–53.8 million80.1 million68.4 million–95.1 million9.74 billion
205339.2 million27.9 million–54.9 million80.6 million68.4 million–96.4 million9.78 billion
205439.8 million28 million–56.5 million81 million68.4 million–97.2 million9.81 billion
205540.4 million28.1 million–58.2 million81.4 million68.3 million–98.2 million9.85 billion
205640.9 million28.3 million–59.9 million81.8 million68.2 million–99.4 million9.88 billion
205741.5 million28.4 million–61.7 million82.3 million68 million–101 million9.91 billion
205842.1 million28.4 million–63.3 million82.7 million67.9 million–102 million9.94 billion
205942.7 million28.5 million–64.6 million83.1 million67.8 million–103 million9.96 billion
206043.2 million28.5 million–66.3 million83.4 million67.5 million–104 million9.99 billion
206143.8 million28.4 million–68.3 million83.8 million67.2 million–106 million10 billion
206244.3 million28.4 million–69.7 million84.2 million67.1 million–107 million10 billion
206344.9 million28.5 million–71.3 million84.6 million67 million–108 million10.1 billion
206445.4 million28.4 million–73 million84.9 million66.9 million–109 million10.1 billion
206545.9 million28.5 million–74.4 million85.3 million66.6 million–110 million10.1 billion
206646.4 million28.6 million–75.8 million85.6 million66.3 million–112 million10.1 billion
206746.9 million28.6 million–77.5 million85.9 million66.1 million–113 million10.1 billion
206847.4 million28.6 million–79.2 million86.2 million65.7 million–115 million10.2 billion
206947.9 million28.5 million–80.8 million86.5 million65.3 million–116 million10.2 billion
207048.4 million28.4 million–82.8 million86.9 million65 million–117 million10.2 billion
207148.9 million28.5 million–84.7 million87.2 million64.8 million–118 million10.2 billion
207249.4 million28.5 million–86.3 million87.5 million64.6 million–119 million10.2 billion
207349.8 million28.6 million–87.9 million87.8 million64.3 million–120 million10.2 billion
207450.3 million28.6 million–90.1 million88.1 million63.9 million–121 million10.2 billion
207550.7 million28.4 million–92.1 million88.3 million63.6 million–123 million10.3 billion
207651.2 million28.3 million–94.1 million88.6 million63.3 million–124 million10.3 billion
207751.6 million28.2 million–96.6 million88.9 million63.2 million–125 million10.3 billion
207852.1 million28 million–98.9 million89.1 million62.8 million–126 million10.3 billion
207952.5 million27.8 million–101 million89.4 million62.4 million–128 million10.3 billion
208052.9 million27.8 million–102 million89.7 million62 million–129 million10.3 billion
208153.3 million27.7 million–104 million89.9 million61.6 million–130 million10.3 billion
208253.7 million27.6 million–107 million90.2 million61.5 million–132 million10.3 billion
208354.1 million27.4 million–110 million90.5 million61.3 million–133 million10.3 billion
208454.5 million27.1 million–112 million90.7 million60.9 million–135 million10.3 billion
208554.8 million27 million–114 million91 million60.6 million–136 million10.3 billion
208655.2 million26.8 million–117 million91.2 million60.1 million–138 million10.3 billion
208755.5 million26.6 million–119 million91.4 million59.8 million–139 million10.3 billion
208855.8 million26.6 million–121 million91.7 million59.3 million–141 million10.3 billion
208956.2 million26.5 million–124 million91.9 million58.6 million–142 million10.3 billion
209056.5 million26.2 million–126 million92.2 million58.1 million–144 million10.3 billion
209156.8 million25.9 million–128 million92.4 million57.7 million–146 million10.3 billion
209257.1 million25.7 million–131 million92.6 million57.2 million–147 million10.3 billion
209357.4 million25.4 million–133 million92.9 million56.8 million–148 million10.3 billion
209457.6 million25.1 million–135 million93.1 million56.4 million–150 million10.2 billion
209557.9 million24.9 million–137 million93.3 million55.9 million–152 million10.2 billion
209658.1 million24.6 million–139 million93.5 million55.5 million–153 million10.2 billion
209758.4 million24.1 million–142 million93.7 million55 million–155 million10.2 billion
209858.6 million23.7 million–144 million93.9 million54.2 million–156 million10.2 billion
209958.9 million23.5 million–146 million94.1 million53.5 million–158 million10.2 billion
210059.1 million23.3 million–149 million94.3 million53.3 million–159 million10.2 billion

Each country on its own

Good to know

  • Everyone living in the country on 1 July of each year.
  • Source: UN DESA, World Population Prospects 2024.
  • Before 1950: HYDE (2023), Gapminder (2022) and UN WPP (2024), via Our World in Data.
  • The dashed line is the UN projection (medium variant), a scenario rather than a forecast; the band is its 95% prediction interval.
  • Ranks count the 229 countries with a value in 2023, highest first.
  • The faint line is the world as a whole, as the same source counts it.

How the layers work, where their data comes from and what they can’t tell you: Countries through time

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