Malawi Population Pyramid 2017

Malawi
2017
Population: 18,039,715

Year

-5 -1   2017  +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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Malawi in 2017

In 2017, Malawi had a total population of 18,039,715 people. Over the previous ten years the population grew by 32.9%, up from 13,576,343 in 2007.

Half of the population was younger than 17.4 years; 44.6% were children under 15 and 2.9% 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.

Share of the population by age group, 1950–2100

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

Population
18,039,715
Median age
17.4
0-14 %
44.6%
65+ %
2.9%
Child dependency
85.1
Old-age dependency
5.5
Region
Pyramid shape
Population 2050
37,361,683
Population 2100
59,141,258
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
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.

Country Population Median age Relative size
Malawi 18,039,715 17.4
Zambia 17,441,320 17.5
Somalia 14,916,630 16.2
Zimbabwe 14,812,482 18.1
Rwanda 12,202,061 19.6
How many people lived in Malawi in 2017?
Malawi had a population of 18,039,715 in 2017.
Is Malawi's population growing or shrinking?
Malawi's population grew 32.9% over the previous ten years, and is projected to reach 37,361,683 by 2050.
What is the median age in 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?
In Malawi, 44.6% of people are under 15 and 2.9% are 65 or older.
What shape is Malawi's population pyramid, and what does it mean?
Malawi's pyramid is expansive — broad at the bottom, the signature of high birth rates and a growing population.

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