Malawi vs Zimbabwe
Malawi vs Zimbabwe: Fertility rate
Fertility rate in 2023: 3.65 births per woman in Malawi and 3.72 births per woman in Zimbabwe, by UN estimates. In 2023 the value was higher in Zimbabwe, by 0.08 births per woman, or 1.02 times that in Malawi.
births per woman · UN
What the numbers say
- Zimbabwe has been higher since 2022, when it overtook Malawi.
- In 2023, Malawi ranked 39 and Zimbabwe ranked 36 of 229 countries, counting from the highest.
- The UN projection (medium variant) puts Malawi at 1.95 births per woman and Zimbabwe at 1.98 births per woman in 2100.
- The world as a whole: 2.25 births per woman in 2023.
Every year
births per woman · UN
| Year | Malawi | Zimbabwe | World |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2023 | 3.65 | 3.72 | 2.25 |
| 2022 | 3.72 | 3.77 | 2.27 |
| 2021 | 3.79 | 3.77 | 2.29 |
| 2020 | 3.88 | 3.75 | 2.32 |
| 2019 | 3.95 | 3.75 | 2.4 |
| 2018 | 4.02 | 3.74 | 2.44 |
| 2017 | 4.11 | 3.77 | 2.5 |
| 2016 | 4.22 | 3.83 | 2.54 |
| 2015 | 4.38 | 3.91 | 2.54 |
| 2014 | 4.57 | 4.01 | 2.56 |
| 2013 | 4.76 | 4.11 | 2.57 |
| 2012 | 4.9 | 4.13 | 2.61 |
| 2011 | 5.08 | 4.13 | 2.59 |
| 2010 | 5.26 | 4.04 | 2.6 |
| 2009 | 5.45 | 3.95 | 2.62 |
| 2008 | 5.61 | 3.78 | 2.63 |
| 2007 | 5.72 | 3.68 | 2.62 |
| 2006 | 5.8 | 3.64 | 2.63 |
| 2005 | 5.85 | 3.69 | 2.63 |
| 2004 | 5.86 | 3.78 | 2.65 |
| 2003 | 5.88 | 3.86 | 2.66 |
| 2002 | 5.9 | 3.93 | 2.68 |
| 2001 | 5.94 | 3.98 | 2.71 |
| 2000 | 6 | 4.01 | 2.75 |
| 1999 | 6.12 | 4.06 | 2.75 |
| 1998 | 6.21 | 4.07 | 2.78 |
| 1997 | 6.23 | 4.08 | 2.81 |
| 1996 | 6.29 | 4.11 | 2.85 |
| 1995 | 6.39 | 4.15 | 2.89 |
| 1994 | 6.49 | 4.28 | 2.93 |
| 1993 | 6.57 | 4.39 | 2.98 |
| 1992 | 6.63 | 4.57 | 3.04 |
| 1991 | 6.68 | 4.72 | 3.13 |
| 1990 | 6.74 | 4.88 | 3.31 |
| 1989 | 6.8 | 5.07 | 3.35 |
| 1988 | 6.88 | 5.28 | 3.39 |
| 1987 | 6.97 | 5.5 | 3.48 |
| 1986 | 7.07 | 5.69 | 3.5 |
| 1985 | 7.17 | 5.87 | 3.51 |
| 1984 | 7.27 | 6.04 | 3.55 |
| 1983 | 7.36 | 6.2 | 3.58 |
| 1982 | 7.45 | 6.33 | 3.71 |
| 1981 | 7.49 | 6.45 | 3.71 |
| 1980 | 7.52 | 6.52 | 3.74 |
| 1979 | 7.47 | 6.59 | 3.77 |
| 1978 | 7.43 | 6.66 | 3.79 |
| 1977 | 7.41 | 6.71 | 3.85 |
| 1976 | 7.39 | 6.77 | 3.97 |
| 1975 | 7.36 | 6.83 | 4.08 |
| 1974 | 7.34 | 6.88 | 4.26 |
| 1973 | 7.34 | 6.94 | 4.42 |
| 1972 | 7.33 | 6.94 | 4.55 |
| 1971 | 7.31 | 6.94 | 4.68 |
| 1970 | 7.3 | 6.98 | 4.83 |
| 1969 | 7.27 | 7.04 | 4.87 |
| 1968 | 7.26 | 7.11 | 4.96 |
| 1967 | 7.21 | 7.16 | 4.85 |
| 1966 | 7.17 | 7.2 | 4.96 |
| 1965 | 7.13 | 7.23 | 5.07 |
| 1964 | 7.11 | 7.23 | 5.12 |
| 1963 | 7.13 | 7.23 | 5.31 |
| 1962 | 7.1 | 7.23 | 5.02 |
| 1961 | 7.07 | 7.21 | 4.57 |
| 1960 | 7.04 | 7.19 | 4.7 |
| 1959 | 7.01 | 7.17 | 4.74 |
| 1958 | 6.97 | 7.16 | 4.93 |
| 1957 | 6.92 | 7.14 | 5.07 |
| 1956 | 6.89 | 7.12 | 4.93 |
| 1955 | 6.84 | 7.1 | 5 |
| 1954 | 6.81 | 7.09 | 5 |
| 1953 | 6.85 | 7.08 | 4.92 |
| 1952 | 6.85 | 7.07 | 5 |
| 1951 | 6.84 | 7.06 | 4.82 |
| 1950 | 6.82 | 7.04 | 4.85 |
UN projection (medium variant) · 2024–2100
| Year | Malawi | Zimbabwe | World |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2024 | 3.592.8–4.33 | 3.673.18–4.21 | 2.25 |
| 2025 | 3.532.64–4.33 | 3.623.07–4.21 | 2.24 |
| 2026 | 3.452.5–4.33 | 3.572.97–4.22 | 2.23 |
| 2027 | 3.392.36–4.33 | 3.522.87–4.24 | 2.22 |
| 2028 | 3.332.27–4.35 | 3.472.79–4.21 | 2.21 |
| 2029 | 3.292.16–4.38 | 3.432.7–4.23 | 2.2 |
| 2030 | 3.232.07–4.34 | 3.382.59–4.24 | 2.2 |
| 2031 | 3.182.02–4.36 | 3.332.52–4.23 | 2.19 |
| 2032 | 3.131.95–4.32 | 3.292.44–4.23 | 2.18 |
| 2033 | 3.091.9–4.31 | 3.252.37–4.22 | 2.17 |
| 2034 | 3.051.84–4.33 | 3.212.29–4.18 | 2.16 |
| 2035 | 3.011.8–4.32 | 3.172.23–4.19 | 2.15 |
| 2036 | 2.971.74–4.31 | 3.132.16–4.15 | 2.15 |
| 2037 | 2.931.73–4.3 | 3.092.12–4.1 | 2.14 |
| 2038 | 2.91.71–4.25 | 3.062.07–4.08 | 2.13 |
| 2039 | 2.861.66–4.2 | 3.022.02–4.1 | 2.13 |
| 2040 | 2.821.66–4.17 | 2.991.98–4.07 | 2.13 |
| 2041 | 2.791.63–4.17 | 2.961.95–4.05 | 2.12 |
| 2042 | 2.761.59–4.16 | 2.931.92–4.05 | 2.12 |
| 2043 | 2.731.56–4.08 | 2.91.88–4.07 | 2.12 |
| 2044 | 2.71.54–4.04 | 2.871.85–4.03 | 2.12 |
| 2045 | 2.671.5–4.05 | 2.841.83–4 | 2.12 |
| 2046 | 2.641.5–4.03 | 2.811.81–4.02 | 2.11 |
| 2047 | 2.611.46–4.04 | 2.781.78–3.99 | 2.11 |
| 2048 | 2.591.44–4.01 | 2.751.76–3.97 | 2.11 |
| 2049 | 2.571.43–3.99 | 2.721.73–4 | 2.1 |
| 2050 | 2.551.4–4.01 | 2.71.66–3.96 | 2.1 |
| 2051 | 2.521.4–4.02 | 2.671.67–3.91 | 2.09 |
| 2052 | 2.51.38–4 | 2.641.67–3.9 | 2.09 |
| 2053 | 2.481.36–3.95 | 2.621.62–3.83 | 2.08 |
| 2054 | 2.461.37–3.96 | 2.591.62–3.83 | 2.07 |
| 2055 | 2.441.35–3.91 | 2.571.59–3.79 | 2.07 |
| 2056 | 2.421.34–3.92 | 2.551.55–3.79 | 2.06 |
| 2057 | 2.411.35–3.92 | 2.531.53–3.78 | 2.05 |
| 2058 | 2.391.32–3.9 | 2.511.51–3.76 | 2.04 |
| 2059 | 2.381.3–3.87 | 2.481.5–3.78 | 2.04 |
| 2060 | 2.361.27–3.82 | 2.461.47–3.74 | 2.03 |
| 2061 | 2.341.27–3.81 | 2.441.49–3.69 | 2.02 |
| 2062 | 2.321.28–3.8 | 2.421.48–3.7 | 2.02 |
| 2063 | 2.311.26–3.79 | 2.41.44–3.68 | 2.01 |
| 2064 | 2.291.27–3.76 | 2.381.44–3.68 | 2 |
| 2065 | 2.281.25–3.76 | 2.371.42–3.64 | 2 |
| 2066 | 2.261.23–3.68 | 2.351.41–3.6 | 1.99 |
| 2067 | 2.251.25–3.66 | 2.331.39–3.61 | 1.98 |
| 2068 | 2.241.24–3.64 | 2.311.37–3.62 | 1.98 |
| 2069 | 2.231.24–3.64 | 2.31.38–3.58 | 1.97 |
| 2070 | 2.221.23–3.62 | 2.281.36–3.55 | 1.97 |
| 2071 | 2.21.23–3.63 | 2.271.37–3.53 | 1.96 |
| 2072 | 2.191.22–3.62 | 2.251.35–3.5 | 1.96 |
| 2073 | 2.181.2–3.59 | 2.241.35–3.5 | 1.95 |
| 2074 | 2.171.2–3.61 | 2.231.35–3.48 | 1.95 |
| 2075 | 2.161.2–3.57 | 2.221.34–3.44 | 1.94 |
| 2076 | 2.151.22–3.54 | 2.21.31–3.46 | 1.94 |
| 2077 | 2.141.2–3.55 | 2.191.29–3.41 | 1.94 |
| 2078 | 2.131.21–3.55 | 2.181.31–3.4 | 1.93 |
| 2079 | 2.121.22–3.55 | 2.161.29–3.37 | 1.93 |
| 2080 | 2.11.2–3.54 | 2.151.27–3.4 | 1.92 |
| 2081 | 2.091.19–3.52 | 2.141.25–3.39 | 1.92 |
| 2082 | 2.081.18–3.51 | 2.131.25–3.37 | 1.91 |
| 2083 | 2.071.19–3.46 | 2.121.26–3.36 | 1.91 |
| 2084 | 2.071.18–3.43 | 2.111.25–3.35 | 1.91 |
| 2085 | 2.061.2–3.42 | 2.11.25–3.33 | 1.9 |
| 2086 | 2.051.18–3.41 | 2.091.24–3.34 | 1.9 |
| 2087 | 2.041.16–3.43 | 2.081.23–3.3 | 1.89 |
| 2088 | 2.041.17–3.43 | 2.071.24–3.29 | 1.89 |
| 2089 | 2.031.15–3.4 | 2.061.24–3.31 | 1.88 |
| 2090 | 2.021.15–3.45 | 2.051.23–3.35 | 1.88 |
| 2091 | 2.011.15–3.4 | 2.041.23–3.33 | 1.88 |
| 2092 | 21.11–3.37 | 2.031.22–3.32 | 1.87 |
| 2093 | 1.991.13–3.32 | 2.021.19–3.26 | 1.87 |
| 2094 | 1.991.14–3.33 | 2.021.19–3.29 | 1.86 |
| 2095 | 1.981.13–3.35 | 2.011.17–3.26 | 1.86 |
| 2096 | 1.971.11–3.32 | 21.17–3.21 | 1.85 |
| 2097 | 1.971.11–3.31 | 21.18–3.22 | 1.85 |
| 2098 | 1.961.13–3.28 | 1.991.19–3.2 | 1.85 |
| 2099 | 1.961.14–3.28 | 1.981.18–3.17 | 1.84 |
| 2100 | 1.951.12–3.21 | 1.981.2–3.17 | 1.84 |
Each country on its own
Good to know
- The children a woman would have over her life at the year’s birth rates for each age.
- Source: UN DESA, World Population Prospects 2024.
- 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
Malawi vs Zimbabwe
Health
- Life expectancyMalawi: 67.4 years in 2023Zimbabwe: 62.8 years in 2023
- Child mortalityMalawi: 4.9 per 100 live births in 2024Zimbabwe: 6.5 per 100 live births in 2024
- Infant mortalityMalawi: 29.6 per 1,000 live births in 2023Zimbabwe: 33.2 per 1,000 live births in 2023
- Safe drinking waterMalawi: 17.8% in 2022Zimbabwe: 26.5% in 2022
- DepressionMalawi: 3.45% in 2017Zimbabwe: 3.19% in 2017
- Suicide rateMalawi: 12.1 per 100,000 people in 2017Zimbabwe: 26.4 per 100,000 people in 2017
People
- PopulationMalawi: 21.1 million people in 2023Zimbabwe: 16.3 million people in 2023
- Population growthMalawi: 2.57% a year in 2023Zimbabwe: 1.68% a year in 2023
- Urban populationMalawi: 17.6% in 2025Zimbabwe: 40.5% in 2025
- Median ageMalawi: 17.6 years in 2023Zimbabwe: 17.8 years in 2023
- People aged 65 and overMalawi: 2.6% in 2023Zimbabwe: 3.6% in 2023
- Net migration rateMalawi: -0.3 per 1,000 people in 2023Zimbabwe: -6 per 1,000 people in 2023
Economy
Education
Politics
Conflict
Military
- Military spendingMalawi: 1.15% of GDP in 2025Zimbabwe: 0.56% of GDP in 2025
- Military spending in US dollarsMalawi: $128M in 2025Zimbabwe: $134M in 2025
- Military spending per personMalawi: $7 in 2025Zimbabwe: $10 in 2025
- Military share of state spendingMalawi: 3.8% of government spending in 2025Zimbabwe: 5.3% of government spending in 2005
- Armed forces personnelMalawi: 15,000 people in 2020Zimbabwe: 51,000 people in 2020
- National powerMalawi: 0.07% of world capability in 2022Zimbabwe: 0.08% of world capability in 2022
- Armed forces, share of workersMalawi: 0.2% of the labour force in 2020Zimbabwe: 0.88% of the labour force in 2020
- Arms importsMalawi: 2 million TIV in 2024Zimbabwe: 20 million TIV in 2023
- Arms exportsMalawi: 1 million TIV in 2000Zimbabwe: 4 million TIV in 2001