Population Pyramids of the World from 1950 to 2100

Malawi Population Pyramid 1978

Malawi
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1978
Population: 5,810,131

Year

-5 -1   1978  +1 +5

Country

A B C D E F G H I J K L M N O P Q R S T U V W Y Z
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Summary

Malawi in 1978

As of 1978, Malawi counted 5,810,131 inhabitants. A decade earlier, in 1968, the population was 4,411,054; it has grown by 31.7% since.

Half of the population was younger than 17.4 years; 45.3% were children under 15 and 2.8% were 65 or older. This is an expansive pyramid — each cohort of children is larger than the one above it, the signature of high birth rates and rapid growth.

Ranks #81 of 201 by population Ranks #146 of 201 by median age Ranks #60 of 201 by growth

Share of the population by age group, 1950–2100

Data source: United Nations World Population Prospects, 2024 revision (medium variant) — last updated July 2024.

Key indicators for Malawi
Population
5,810,131
Median age
17.4
0-14 %
45.3%
65+ %
2.8%
Child dependency
87.3
Old-age dependency
5.4
Region
AFRICA
Pyramid shape
Expansive
Population 2050
37,361,683
Population 2100
59,141,258
What is driving the change
Births per woman
Total fertility rate, 1960–2023
12345678
1960Replacement level (2.1)2023 · 3.65

The fertility rate of Malawi was 3.65 births per woman in 2023, above the 2.1 needed to replace each generation.

Source: World Bank World Development Indicators, latest available year.

Life expectancy at birth
Years, 1960–2023
Total Women Men
304050607080
19602023 · 67.4

A child born there in 2023 could expect to live 67.4 years on average (70.6 years for girls, 64.1 for boys).

Source: World Bank World Development Indicators, latest available year.

People supported per 100 workers
Dependency ratios, 1950–2100
Children Older adults
255075100
19502100
Migration to and from Malawi
Where immigrants come from (2024)

156,059 immigrants live in Malawi, 0.7% of the population.

Mozambique39,156
Zambia30,614
D.R. Congo27,099
Zimbabwe26,561
Burundi9,834
Where emigrants live (2024)

427,573 people born in Malawi live in other countries.

South Africa220,437
Zimbabwe111,872
Mozambique65,284
Zambia17,796
Tanzania6,678
Explore
Immigration statistics Origin of migrant stocks map

Source: United Nations International Migrant Stock 2024.

How Malawi compares with its neighbours
Country Population Median age Relative size
Malawi 5,810,132 17.4
Zambia 5,465,374 15.3
Zimbabwe 6,543,575 15.7
Rwanda 5,035,171 16.6
Somalia 4,814,893 17.7
Frequently asked questions about Malawi's population
How many people lived in Malawi in 1978?
Malawi had a population of 5,810,131 in 1978.
Is Malawi's population growing or shrinking?
Yes, growing: up 31.7% from 1968, with a projected population of 37,361,683 in 2050.
How old is the population of Malawi?
The median age in Malawi is 17.4 years — half the population is younger, half older.
How many children and older people live in Malawi?
2.8% of Malawi's population is 65 or older, and 45.3% is under 15.
What type of population pyramid does Malawi have?
Malawi has an expansive pyramid: a wide base of young cohorts reflecting high fertility and continued population growth.

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