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🇲🇼 Malawi

Overview

ISO 3166-1 alpha-3MWI
ISO 3166-1 alpha-2MW
UN M49 numeric454
IOC codeMAW
Official nameRepublic of Malawi
Native name(s)eng: official: Republic of Malawi; common: Malawi; nya: official: Chalo cha Malawi, Dziko la Malaŵi; common: Malaŵi
Alt spellingsMW, Republic of Malawi
Statusofficially-assigned
IndependentYes
UN memberYes

Geography

RegionAfrica
SubregionEastern Africa
UN regional groupAfrican Group
CapitalLilongwe
Area (km²)118,484
Lat / Lng-13.5000, 34.0000
LandlockedYes
Borders (ISO3)MOZ, TZA, ZMB
Top-level domain.mw
Calling coderoot: +2; suffixes: 65

Demographics

Population (World Bank)22,216,120 (2025)
Life expectancy (years, World Bank)67.561 (2024)
Languageseng: English; nya: Chewa
Demonymseng: f: Malawian; m: Malawian; fra: f: Malawienne; m: Malawien
Population time-series (UN WPP)74

Economy

GDP (current USD)14,918,276,698.303 (2025)
GDP per capita (current USD)671.507 (2025)
Unemployment rate (%)5.072 (2025)
CurrenciesMWK: name: Malawian kwacha; symbol: MK

Population by year (UN WPP)

74 yearly data points — click to expand
YearPopulation
19502,950,300
19513,002,885
19523,059,378
19533,119,235
19543,181,529
19553,246,543
19563,315,298
19573,387,738
19583,463,947
19593,544,159
19603,628,134
19613,715,534
19623,806,307
19633,900,506
19643,997,305
19654,096,157
19664,197,926
19674,303,012
19684,411,054
19694,521,184
19704,633,944
19714,751,434
19724,874,475
19735,003,938
19745,141,337
19755,287,367
19765,443,384
19775,614,983
19785,810,132
19796,028,749
19806,265,529
19816,516,454
19826,778,879
19837,051,709
19847,332,810
19857,620,508
19867,906,480
19878,293,174
19888,753,262
19899,176,220
19909,545,852
19919,844,227
199210,135,079
199310,284,024
199410,164,894
199510,150,117
199610,352,228
199710,562,035
199810,792,876
199911,047,804
200011,315,942
200111,593,058
200211,880,440
200312,181,574
200412,500,737
200512,840,031
200613,198,701
200713,576,343
200813,976,417
200914,395,788
201014,826,463
201115,265,022
201215,709,577
201316,161,816
201416,621,538
201517,085,587
201617,557,739
201718,039,715
201818,528,081
201919,025,752
202019,533,888
202120,047,258
202220,568,728
202321,104,482

Full raw record (JSON)

JSON
{
  "iso3": "MWI",
  "iso2": "MW",
  "ccn3": "454",
  "cioc": "MAW",
  "name": {
    "common": "Malawi",
    "official": "Republic of Malawi",
    "native": {
      "eng": {
        "official": "Republic of Malawi",
        "common": "Malawi"
      },
      "nya": {
        "official": "Chalo cha Malawi, Dziko la Malaŵi",
        "common": "Malaŵi"
      }
    }
  },
  "alt_spellings": [
    "MW",
    "Republic of Malawi"
  ],
  "translations": {
    "ara": {
      "official": "جمهورية مالاوي",
      "common": "مالاوي"
    },
    "bre": {
      "official": "Republik Malawi",
      "common": "Malawi"
    },
    "ces": {
      "official": "Malawiská republika",
      "common": "Malawi"
    },
    "deu": {
      "official": "Republik Malawi",
      "common": "Malawi"
    },
    "est": {
      "official": "Malawi Vabariik",
      "common": "Malawi"
    },
    "fin": {
      "official": "Malawin tasavalta",
      "common": "Malawi"
    },
    "fra": {
      "official": "République du Malawi",
      "common": "Malawi"
    },
    "hrv": {
      "official": "Republika Malavi",
      "common": "Malavi"
    },
    "hun": {
      "official": "Malawi Köztársaság",
      "common": "Malawi"
    },
    "ita": {
      "official": "Repubblica del Malawi",
      "common": "Malawi"
    },
    "jpn": {
      "official": "マラウイ共和国",
      "common": "マラウイ"
    },
    "kor": {
      "official": "말라위 공화국",
      "common": "말라위"
    },
    "nld": {
      "official": "Republiek Malawi",
      "common": "Malawi"
    },
    "per": {
      "official": "جمهوری مالاوی",
      "common": "مالاوی"
    },
    "pol": {
      "official": "Republika Malawi",
      "common": "Malawi"
    },
    "por": {
      "official": "República do Malawi",
      "common": "Malawi"
    },
    "rus": {
      "official": "Республика Малави",
      "common": "Малави"
    },
    "slk": {
      "official": "Malawijská republika",
      "common": "Malawi"
    },
    "spa": {
      "official": "República de Malawi",
      "common": "Malawi"
    },
    "srp": {
      "official": "Republika Malavi",
      "common": "Malavi"
    },
    "swe": {
      "official": "Republiken Malawi",
      "common": "Malawi"
    },
    "tur": {
      "official": "Malavi Cumhuriyeti",
      "common": "Malavi"
    },
    "urd": {
      "official": "جمہوریہ ملاوی",
      "common": "ملاوی"
    },
    "zho": {
      "official": "马拉维共和国",
      "common": "马拉维"
    }
  },
  "capital": [
    "Lilongwe"
  ],
  "region": "Africa",
  "subregion": "Eastern Africa",
  "un_regional_group": "African Group",
  "currencies": {
    "MWK": {
      "name": "Malawian kwacha",
      "symbol": "MK"
    }
  },
  "languages": {
    "eng": "English",
    "nya": "Chewa"
  },
  "idd": {
    "root": "+2",
    "suffixes": [
      "65"
    ]
  },
  "tld": [
    ".mw"
  ],
  "area_sq_km": 118484,
  "latlng": [
    -13.5,
    34
  ],
  "landlocked": true,
  "borders": [
    "MOZ",
    "TZA",
    "ZMB"
  ],
  "independent": true,
  "un_member": true,
  "status": "officially-assigned",
  "flag_emoji": "🇲🇼",
  "flag_png_url": "https://flagcdn.com/w320/mw.png",
  "demonyms": {
    "eng": {
      "f": "Malawian",
      "m": "Malawian"
    },
    "fra": {
      "f": "Malawienne",
      "m": "Malawien"
    }
  },
  "world_bank": {
    "population_total": {
      "value": 22216120,
      "year": 2025
    },
    "gdp_usd": {
      "value": 14918276698.303,
      "year": 2025
    },
    "gdp_per_capita_usd": {
      "value": 671.506847203876,
      "year": 2025
    },
    "unemployment_rate_pct": {
      "value": 5.072,
      "year": 2025
    },
    "life_expectancy_years": {
      "value": 67.561,
      "year": 2024
    }
  },
  "population_timeseries": [
    {
      "year": 1950,
      "population": 2950300
    },
    {
      "year": 1951,
      "population": 3002885
    },
    {
      "year": 1952,
      "population": 3059378
    },
    {
      "year": 1953,
      "population": 3119235
    },
    {
      "year": 1954,
      "population": 3181529
    },
    {
      "year": 1955,
      "population": 3246543
    },
    {
      "year": 1956,
      "population": 3315298
    },
    {
      "year": 1957,
      "population": 3387738
    },
    {
      "year": 1958,
      "population": 3463947
    },
    {
      "year": 1959,
      "population": 3544159
    },
    {
      "year": 1960,
      "population": 3628134
    },
    {
      "year": 1961,
      "population": 3715534
    },
    {
      "year": 1962,
      "population": 3806307
    },
    {
      "year": 1963,
      "population": 3900506
    },
    {
      "year": 1964,
      "population": 3997305
    },
    {
      "year": 1965,
      "population": 4096157
    },
    {
      "year": 1966,
      "population": 4197926
    },
    {
      "year": 1967,
      "population": 4303012
    },
    {
      "year": 1968,
      "population": 4411054
    },
    {
      "year": 1969,
      "population": 4521184
    },
    {
      "year": 1970,
      "population": 4633944
    },
    {
      "year": 1971,
      "population": 4751434
    },
    {
      "year": 1972,
      "population": 4874475
    },
    {
      "year": 1973,
      "population": 5003938
    },
    {
      "year": 1974,
      "population": 5141337
    },
    {
      "year": 1975,
      "population": 5287367
    },
    {
      "year": 1976,
      "population": 5443384
    },
    {
      "year": 1977,
      "population": 5614983
    },
    {
      "year": 1978,
      "population": 5810132
    },
    {
      "year": 1979,
      "population": 6028749
    },
    {
      "year": 1980,
      "population": 6265529
    },
    {
      "year": 1981,
      "population": 6516454
    },
    {
      "year": 1982,
      "population": 6778879
    },
    {
      "year": 1983,
      "population": 7051709
    },
    {
      "year": 1984,
      "population": 7332810
    },
    {
      "year": 1985,
      "population": 7620508
    },
    {
      "year": 1986,
      "population": 7906480
    },
    {
      "year": 1987,
      "population": 8293174
    },
    {
      "year": 1988,
      "population": 8753262
    },
    {
      "year": 1989,
      "population": 9176220
    },
    {
      "year": 1990,
      "population": 9545852
    },
    {
      "year": 1991,
      "population": 9844227
    },
    {
      "year": 1992,
      "population": 10135079
    },
    {
      "year": 1993,
      "population": 10284024
    },
    {
      "year": 1994,
      "population": 10164894
    },
    {
      "year": 1995,
      "population": 10150117
    },
    {
      "year": 1996,
      "population": 10352228
    },
    {
      "year": 1997,
      "population": 10562035
    },
    {
      "year": 1998,
      "population": 10792876
    },
    {
      "year": 1999,
      "population": 11047804
    },
    {
      "year": 2000,
      "population": 11315942
    },
    {
      "year": 2001,
      "population": 11593058
    },
    {
      "year": 2002,
      "population": 11880440
    },
    {
      "year": 2003,
      "population": 12181574
    },
    {
      "year": 2004,
      "population": 12500737
    },
    {
      "year": 2005,
      "population": 12840031
    },
    {
      "year": 2006,
      "population": 13198701
    },
    {
      "year": 2007,
      "population": 13576343
    },
    {
      "year": 2008,
      "population": 13976417
    },
    {
      "year": 2009,
      "population": 14395788
    },
    {
      "year": 2010,
      "population": 14826463
    },
    {
      "year": 2011,
      "population": 15265022
    },
    {
      "year": 2012,
      "population": 15709577
    },
    {
      "year": 2013,
      "population": 16161816
    },
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      "year": 2014,
      "population": 16621538
    },
    {
      "year": 2015,
      "population": 17085587
    },
    {
      "year": 2016,
      "population": 17557739
    },
    {
      "year": 2017,
      "population": 18039715
    },
    {
      "year": 2018,
      "population": 18528081
    },
    {
      "year": 2019,
      "population": 19025752
    },
    {
      "year": 2020,
      "population": 19533888
    },
    {
      "year": 2021,
      "population": 20047258
    },
    {
      "year": 2022,
      "population": 20568728
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    {
      "year": 2023,
      "population": 21104482
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  ],
  "reference_raw": {
    "cca3": "MWI",
    "name": {
      "common": "Malawi",
      "official": "Republic of Malawi",
      "native": {
        "eng": {
          "official": "Republic of Malawi",
          "common": "Malawi"
        },
        "nya": {
          "official": "Chalo cha Malawi, Dziko la Malaŵi",
          "common": "Malaŵi"
        }
      }
    },
    "tld": [
      ".mw"
    ],
    "cca2": "MW",
    "ccn3": "454",
    "cioc": "MAW",
    "independent": true,
    "status": "officially-assigned",
    "unMember": true,
    "unRegionalGroup": "African Group",
    "currencies": {
      "MWK": {
        "name": "Malawian kwacha",
        "symbol": "MK"
      }
    },
    "idd": {
      "root": "+2",
      "suffixes": [
        "65"
      ]
    },
    "capital": [
      "Lilongwe"
    ],
    "altSpellings": [
      "MW",
      "Republic of Malawi"
    ],
    "region": "Africa",
    "subregion": "Eastern Africa",
    "languages": {
      "eng": "English",
      "nya": "Chewa"
    },
    "translations": {
      "ara": {
        "official": "جمهورية مالاوي",
        "common": "مالاوي"
      },
      "bre": {
        "official": "Republik Malawi",
        "common": "Malawi"
      },
      "ces": {
        "official": "Malawiská republika",
        "common": "Malawi"
      },
      "deu": {
        "official": "Republik Malawi",
        "common": "Malawi"
      },
      "est": {
        "official": "Malawi Vabariik",
        "common": "Malawi"
      },
      "fin": {
        "official": "Malawin tasavalta",
        "common": "Malawi"
      },
      "fra": {
        "official": "République du Malawi",
        "common": "Malawi"
      },
      "hrv": {
        "official": "Republika Malavi",
        "common": "Malavi"
      },
      "hun": {
        "official": "Malawi Köztársaság",
        "common": "Malawi"
      },
      "ita": {
        "official": "Repubblica del Malawi",
        "common": "Malawi"
      },
      "jpn": {
        "official": "マラウイ共和国",
        "common": "マラウイ"
      },
      "kor": {
        "official": "말라위 공화국",
        "common": "말라위"
      },
      "nld": {
        "official": "Republiek Malawi",
        "common": "Malawi"
      },
      "per": {
        "official": "جمهوری مالاوی",
        "common": "مالاوی"
      },
      "pol": {
        "official": "Republika Malawi",
        "common": "Malawi"
      },
      "por": {
        "official": "República do Malawi",
        "common": "Malawi"
      },
      "rus": {
        "official": "Республика Малави",
        "common": "Малави"
      },
      "slk": {
        "official": "Malawijská republika",
        "common": "Malawi"
      },
      "spa": {
        "official": "República de Malawi",
        "common": "Malawi"
      },
      "srp": {
        "official": "Republika Malavi",
        "common": "Malavi"
      },
      "swe": {
        "official": "Republiken Malawi",
        "common": "Malawi"
      },
      "tur": {
        "official": "Malavi Cumhuriyeti",
        "common": "Malavi"
      },
      "urd": {
        "official": "جمہوریہ ملاوی",
        "common": "ملاوی"
      },
      "zho": {
        "official": "马拉维共和国",
        "common": "马拉维"
      }
    },
    "latlng": [
      -13.5,
      34
    ],
    "landlocked": true,
    "borders": [
      "MOZ",
      "TZA",
      "ZMB"
    ],
    "area": 118484,
    "flag": "🇲🇼",
    "demonyms": {
      "eng": {
        "f": "Malawian",
        "m": "Malawian"
      },
      "fra": {
        "f": "Malawienne",
        "m": "Malawien"
      }
    }
  }
}