Malawi: Regions, Major Cities, Towns & Urban Localities - Population Statistics, Maps, Charts, Weather and Web Information

Regions

The population of the regions of Malawi according to census results and latest official projections.

Name	Abbr.	Capital	Area A (km²)	Population Census (Cf) 1977-09-20	Population Census (Cf) 1987-09-01	Population Census (Cf) 1998-09-01	Population Census (Cf) 2008-06-08	Population Census (C) 2018-09-03	Population Projection (P) 2023-09-03
Malawi	MWI	Lilongwe	94,552	5,547,460	7,988,507	9,933,868	13,029,498	17,563,749	19,809,500
Central	CEN	Lilongwe	35,641	2,143,716	3,110,986	4,066,340	5,497,252	7,523,340	8,533,900	3564100	→
Northern	NOR	Mzuzu	27,131	648,853	911,787	1,233,560	1,679,491	2,289,780	2,532,300	2713100	→
Southern	SOU	Blantyre	31,780	2,754,891	3,965,734	4,633,968	5,852,755	7,750,629	8,743,400	3178000	→

The total area excludes 24,208 km² of Lake Malawi. Population figures until 1998 are de facto, later figures are de jure.
(1977) The Statesman's Year-Book 1991/92.
(1987) (1998) (2008) (2018) (2023) National Statistical Office of Malawi (web).

Major Cities

	Name	Adm.	Population Projection (P) 2023-09-03
1	Lilongwe	CEN	1,162,500
2	Blantyre	SOU	871,800
3	Mzuzu	NOR	273,000
4	Zomba	SOU	116,800

Contents: Cities, Towns & Urban Localities

The population of all Malawian cities, towns and urban localities with more than 5,000 inhabitants according to census results.

Name	Status	Adm.	Population Census (Cp) 1977-09-20	Population Census (Cf) 1987-09-01	Population Census (Cf) 1998-09-01	Population Census (Cf) 2008-06-08	Population Census (C) 2018-09-03	Area
Balaka	Town	SOU	...	9,064	14,298	22,733	36,308	1224	→
Blantyre	City	SOU	222,153	333,120	502,053	661,256	800,264	24020	→
Chikwawa	USett	SOU	...	4,353	7,474	6,987	6,114	770	→
Chipoka	UA	CEN	...	...	3,986	5,476	6,395	1124	→
Chitipa	USett	NOR	...	4,925	7,636	14,753	17,743	851	→
Dedza	USett	CEN	5,448	16,899	15,408	20,241	30,928	2004	→
Dowa	USett	CEN	2,067	...	4,493	4,765	7,135	514	→
Karonga	Town	NOR	11,873	19,667	27,811	40,334	61,609	4427	→
Kasungu	USett	CEN	...	11,591	27,754	39,640	58,653	3666	→
Lilongwe	City	CEN	102,924	223,318	440,471	674,448	989,318	40355	→
Liwonde	Town	SOU	...	8,694	15,701	22,927	36,421	623	→
Luchenza	Town	SOU	...	4,728	8,842	10,896	12,600	1018	→
Mangochi	Town	SOU	3,341	14,758	26,570	39,575	53,498	1003	→
Mchinji	USett	CEN	1,962	4,921	11,408	17,881	28,011	1004	→
Monkey Bay	UA	SOU	...	5,649	10,749	11,246	14,955	1060	→
Mponela	UA	CEN	...	...	9,846	14,322	24,543	1028	→
Mulanje	USett	SOU	...	7,113	12,548	14,497	14,782	1364	→
Mwanza	USett	SOU	...	4,743	8,189	14,226	18,039	1244	→
Mzimba	USett	NOR	4,962	7,687	13,742	20,994	26,096	1056	→
Mzuzu	City	NOR	...	51,904	86,980	133,968	221,272	15780	→
Ngabu	UA	SOU	...	...	...	...	7,032	757	→
Nkhata Bay	USett	NOR	...	6,494	9,433	11,269	14,274	1236	→
Nkhotakota	USett	CEN	10,312	12,163	19,262	24,726	28,350	1239	→
Nsanje	USett	SOU	6,091	11,009	16,987	20,179	26,844	1527	→
Ntcheu	USett	CEN	...	5,814	8,783	14,642	21,241	931	→
Ntchisi	USett	CEN	...	3,073	5,773	7,918	9,357	446	→
Phalombe	USett	SOU	...	...	2,578	4,935	6,242	343	→
Rumphi	USett	NOR	3,998	7,156	14,069	17,845	22,358	1126	→
Salima	Town	CEN	4,646	10,606	20,355	27,852	36,789	1766	→
Thyolo	USett	SOU	4,186	4,449	5,313	7,693	7,843	372	→
Zomba	City	SOU	24,234	43,250	65,915	88,314	105,013	4180	→

Population figures until 2008 are de facto, the 2018 figures are de jure.
(1998) (2008) (2018) (2023) National Statistical Office of Malawi (web).