Malawi vs South Sudan: Urban population
Urban population in 2025: 17.6% in Malawi and 21.7% in South Sudan, by UN estimates. In 2025 the value was higher in South Sudan, by 4.1 percentage points, or 1.23 times that in Malawi.
MalawiSouth Sudan
Watch it change on the mapChange since 1950, percentage points · UN
Latest figures
% of people · UN
| Country | Latest | 10 years before | Rank in 2025 | Projected |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Malawi | 17.6 2025 | 15.8 | 224 of 229 | 35 2050 |
| South Sudan | 21.7 2025 | 18.8 | 220 of 229 | 30.9 2050 |
What the numbers say
- South Sudan has been higher since 1988, when it overtook Malawi.
- In 2025, Malawi ranked 224 and South Sudan ranked 220 of 229 countries, counting from the highest.
- The UN projection (World Urbanization Prospects 2025) puts Malawi at 35% and South Sudan at 30.9% in 2050.
Every year
% of people · UN
| Year | Malawi | South Sudan |
|---|---|---|
| 2025 | 17.6 | 21.7 |
| 2024 | 17.3 | 21.4 |
| 2023 | 17 | 21.1 |
| 2022 | 16.7 | 20.8 |
| 2021 | 16.5 | 20.5 |
| 2020 | 16.3 | 20.2 |
| 2019 | 16.1 | 19.9 |
| 2018 | 16 | 19.6 |
| 2017 | 16 | 19.4 |
| 2016 | 15.9 | 19.1 |
| 2015 | 15.8 | 18.8 |
| 2014 | 15.8 | 18.6 |
| 2013 | 15.7 | 18.3 |
| 2012 | 15.6 | 18 |
| 2011 | 15.6 | 17.8 |
| 2010 | 15.5 | 17.5 |
| 2009 | 15.4 | 17.3 |
| 2008 | 15.3 | 17 |
| 2007 | 15.3 | 17 |
| 2006 | 15.2 | 17 |
| 2005 | 15.1 | 16.9 |
| 2004 | 15 | 16.8 |
| 2003 | 15 | 16.6 |
| 2002 | 14.9 | 16.5 |
| 2001 | 14.8 | 16.3 |
| 2000 | 14.7 | 16 |
| 1999 | 14.6 | 15.8 |
| 1998 | 14.4 | 15.6 |
| 1997 | 14.2 | 15.3 |
| 1996 | 14 | 15 |
| 1995 | 13.6 | 14.7 |
| 1994 | 13.3 | 14.5 |
| 1993 | 12.9 | 14.2 |
| 1992 | 12.5 | 13.8 |
| 1991 | 12 | 13.3 |
| 1990 | 11.6 | 12.6 |
| 1989 | 11.3 | 11.9 |
| 1988 | 10.9 | 11.2 |
| 1987 | 10.6 | 10.4 |
| 1986 | 10.4 | 9.7 |
| 1985 | 10.1 | 9.2 |
| 1984 | 9.9 | 8.7 |
| 1983 | 9.7 | 8.5 |
| 1982 | 9.5 | 8.5 |
| 1981 | 9.3 | 8.5 |
| 1980 | 9.1 | 8.5 |
| 1979 | 8.9 | 8.5 |
| 1978 | 8.7 | 8.5 |
| 1977 | 8.4 | 8.5 |
| 1976 | 8.1 | 8.5 |
| 1975 | 7.8 | 8.5 |
| 1974 | 7.4 | 8.5 |
| 1973 | 7 | 8.5 |
| 1972 | 6.5 | 8.5 |
| 1971 | 6.1 | 8.5 |
| 1970 | 5.7 | 8.5 |
| 1969 | 5.4 | 8.5 |
| 1968 | 5.1 | 8.5 |
| 1967 | 4.8 | 8.5 |
| 1966 | 4.7 | 8.6 |
| 1965 | 4.6 | 8.6 |
| 1964 | 4.5 | 8.6 |
| 1963 | 4.3 | 8.6 |
| 1962 | 4.2 | 8.6 |
| 1961 | 4.1 | 8.6 |
| 1960 | 4 | 8.7 |
| 1959 | 4 | 8.7 |
| 1958 | 3.9 | 8.7 |
| 1957 | 3.8 | 8.7 |
| 1956 | 3.7 | 8.8 |
| 1955 | 3.7 | 8.8 |
| 1954 | 3.6 | 8.6 |
| 1953 | 3.6 | 8.3 |
| 1952 | 3.6 | 7.7 |
| 1951 | 3.5 | 7.1 |
| 1950 | 3.5 | 6.5 |
UN projection (World Urbanization Prospects 2025) · 2026–2050
| Year | Malawi | South Sudan |
|---|---|---|
| 2026 | 18 | 22 |
| 2027 | 18.3 | 22.3 |
| 2028 | 18.8 | 22.6 |
| 2029 | 19.2 | 23 |
| 2030 | 19.7 | 23.3 |
| 2031 | 20.2 | 23.6 |
| 2032 | 20.8 | 24 |
| 2033 | 21.3 | 24.3 |
| 2034 | 21.9 | 24.7 |
| 2035 | 22.6 | 25 |
| 2036 | 23.2 | 25.4 |
| 2037 | 23.9 | 25.7 |
| 2038 | 24.6 | 26.1 |
| 2039 | 25.3 | 26.5 |
| 2040 | 26.1 | 26.9 |
| 2041 | 26.9 | 27.2 |
| 2042 | 27.7 | 27.6 |
| 2043 | 28.5 | 28 |
| 2044 | 29.4 | 28.4 |
| 2045 | 30.3 | 28.8 |
| 2046 | 31.2 | 29.2 |
| 2047 | 32.1 | 29.6 |
| 2048 | 33 | 30 |
| 2049 | 34 | 30.5 |
| 2050 | 35 | 30.9 |
Each country on its own
Good to know
- The share of people living in places the country itself counts as urban.
- Source: UN DESA, World Urbanization Prospects 2025.
- The dashed line is the UN projection (World Urbanization Prospects 2025), a scenario rather than a forecast.
- Ranks count the 229 countries with a value in 2025, highest first.
How the layers work, where their data comes from and what they can’t tell you: Countries through time