The share of urban population in Malawi amounted to 18.28 percent in 2023. In a steady upward trend, the share rose by 13.89 percentage points from 1960.

Malawi MW: Urban Population Growth data was reported at 4.062 % in 2017. This records an increase from the previous number of 4.017 % for 2016. Malawi MW: Urban Population Growth data is updated yearly, averaging 4.619 % from Dec 1960 (Median) to 2017, with 58 observations. The data reached an all-time high of 8.887 % in 1988 and a record low of 3.013 % in 1993. Malawi MW: Urban Population Growth data remains active status in CEIC and is reported by World Bank. The data is categorized under Global Database’s Malawi – Table MW.World Bank: Population and Urbanization Statistics. Urban population refers to people living in urban areas as defined by national statistical offices. It is calculated using World Bank population estimates and urban ratios from the United Nations World Urbanization Prospects.; ; World Bank staff estimates based on the United Nations Population Division's World Urbanization Prospects: 2014 Revision.; Weighted average;

Malawi MW: Population in Urban Agglomerations of More Than 1 Million data was reported at 986,455.000 Person in 2017. This records an increase from the previous number of 945,082.000 Person for 2016. Malawi MW: Population in Urban Agglomerations of More Than 1 Million data is updated yearly, averaging 242,560.500 Person from Dec 1960 (Median) to 2017, with 58 observations. The data reached an all-time high of 986,455.000 Person in 2017 and a record low of 10,578.000 Person in 1960. Malawi MW: Population in Urban Agglomerations of More Than 1 Million data remains active status in CEIC and is reported by World Bank. The data is categorized under Global Database’s Malawi – Table MW.World Bank: Population and Urbanization Statistics. Population in urban agglomerations of more than one million is the country's population living in metropolitan areas that in 2018 had a population of more than one million people.; ; United Nations, World Urbanization Prospects.; ;

The share of urban population in Malawi increased by 0.3 percentage points (+1.67 percent) compared to the previous year. Therefore, the share in Malawi reached a peak in 2023 with 18.28 percent. Notably, the share continuously increased over the last years.The urban population refers to the share of the total population living in urban centers. Each country has their own definition of what constitutes an urban center (based on population size, area, or space between dwellings, among others), therefore international comparisons may be inconsistent.Find more key insights for the share of urban population in countries like Burundi and Zambia.

Urban population growth (annual %) in Malawi was reported at 4.3011 % in 2024, according to the World Bank collection of development indicators, compiled from officially recognized sources. Malawi - Urban population growth (annual %) - actual values, historical data, forecasts and projections were sourced from the World Bank on July of 2025.

Malawi MW: Urban Population: % of Total Population data was reported at 16.714 % in 2017. This records an increase from the previous number of 16.506 % for 2016. Malawi MW: Urban Population: % of Total Population data is updated yearly, averaging 11.088 % from Dec 1960 (Median) to 2017, with 58 observations. The data reached an all-time high of 16.714 % in 2017 and a record low of 4.390 % in 1960. Malawi MW: Urban Population: % of Total Population data remains active status in CEIC and is reported by World Bank. The data is categorized under Global Database’s Malawi – Table MW.World Bank.WDI: Population and Urbanization Statistics. Urban population refers to people living in urban areas as defined by national statistical offices. The data are collected and smoothed by United Nations Population Division.; ; United Nations Population Division. World Urbanization Prospects: 2018 Revision.; Weighted average;

Small towns are growing in size and number, but compared to the big cities that fuel economies, or rural areas that feed nations, small towns are generally less prioritized by governments and donors, both because they appear less immediately troublesome and because they defy easy classification. As such, growth has largely been unplanned for and remains unregulated, which means that responsible governments lack the commensurate tax base and political might to plan for and aquire the services they need to handle the changes that they face. For exactly these reasons, the Community-Led Urban Environmental Sanitation (CLUES) tool was developed to assist small towns with the planning and implementation of environmental sanitation infrastructure and services but we found no documented cases of it being used or evaluated. The goals of this work were to first, document the information obtained from the CLUES process as a case study for the condition of environmental sanitation in a small town in Malawi; and secondly, to evaluate the technical, political, and financial feasibility of the CLUES manual in a Malawian context. As facilitators, we guided the community and government through each of the 7 CLUES steps over the course of 2 years to understand the actual demands of the guidelines from the perspective of the user. Once the process was completed, we were able to critically reflect on our stated objectives and present those results here. The results of the process revealed that water quality was good (no measured E. coli at 45 water points) as was access to a sanitation facility, though water quantity was insufficient and fecal sludge management and solid waste collection required Council attention. However, because baseline data were outdated or non-existent, the data collection activities required to determine the status consumed unexpected amounts of time, and the results were, because of internal movement and politics, difficult to disseminate and leverage. Most importantly, stakeholder participation was limited and relied on participation and transportation payments, which have become a permanent feature of community development in Malawi. Following the CLUES process was expensive, time consuming and politically fraught; it is unlikely that any small town in Malawi would be able to follow the process as outlined. A simplified version, conducted by an in-house planning department should focus on identifying gaps, needs, and priorities, as a way of not only addressing environmental sanitation issues, but as a way to kick-start better data collection and management that can underscore long-term planning activities.

In 2024, Gabon had the highest urbanization rate in Africa, with over 90 percent of the population living in urban areas. Libya and Djibouti followed at around 82 percent and 79 percent, respectively. On the other hand, many countries on the continent had the majority of the population residing in rural areas. As of 2023, urbanization in Malawi, Rwanda, Niger, and Burundi was below 20 percent. A growing urban population On average, the African urbanization rate stood at approximately 45 percent in 2023. The number of people living in urban areas has been growing steadily since 2000 and is forecast to increase further in the coming years. The urbanization process is particularly rapid in Burundi, Uganda, and Tanzania. In these countries, the urban population grew by over five percent in 2023 compared to the previous year. However, in 39 countries on the continent, the urban population growth was over three percent. The most populous cities in Africa Africa’s largest city is Lagos in Nigeria, counting around nine million people. It is followed by Kinshasa in the Democratic Republic of the Congo and Cairo in Egypt, each with over seven million inhabitants. Moreover, other cities on the continent are growing rapidly. The population of Bujumbura in Burundi will increase by 123 percent between 2020 and 2035, registering the highest growth rate on the continent. Other fast-growing cities are Zinder in Niger, Kampala in Uganda, and Kabinda in the Democratic Republic of the Congo.

Malawi MW: Rural Population data was reported at 15,509,606.000 Person in 2017. This records an increase from the previous number of 15,105,380.000 Person for 2016. Malawi MW: Rural Population data is updated yearly, averaging 7,882,365.000 Person from Dec 1960 (Median) to 2017, with 58 observations. The data reached an all-time high of 15,509,606.000 Person in 2017 and a record low of 3,459,739.000 Person in 1960. Malawi MW: Rural Population data remains active status in CEIC and is reported by World Bank. The data is categorized under Global Database’s Malawi – Table MW.World Bank.WDI: Population and Urbanization Statistics. Rural population refers to people living in rural areas as defined by national statistical offices. It is calculated as the difference between total population and urban population. Aggregation of urban and rural population may not add up to total population because of different country coverages.; ; World Bank staff estimates based on the United Nations Population Division's World Urbanization Prospects: 2018 Revision.; Sum;

Malawi MW: Urban Population data was reported at 3,112,498.000 Person in 2017. This records an increase from the previous number of 2,986,195.000 Person for 2016. Malawi MW: Urban Population data is updated yearly, averaging 983,438.000 Person from Dec 1960 (Median) to 2017, with 58 observations. The data reached an all-time high of 3,112,498.000 Person in 2017 and a record low of 158,856.000 Person in 1960. Malawi MW: Urban Population data remains active status in CEIC and is reported by World Bank. The data is categorized under Global Database’s Malawi – Table MW.World Bank.WDI: Population and Urbanization Statistics. Urban population refers to people living in urban areas as defined by national statistical offices. It is calculated using World Bank population estimates and urban ratios from the United Nations World Urbanization Prospects. Aggregation of urban and rural population may not add up to total population because of different country coverages.; ; World Bank staff estimates based on the United Nations Population Division's World Urbanization Prospects: 2018 Revision.; Sum;

Malawi MW: Population Living in Slums: % of Urban Population data was reported at 66.700 % in 2014. This records a decrease from the previous number of 68.900 % for 2009. Malawi MW: Population Living in Slums: % of Urban Population data is updated yearly, averaging 66.400 % from Dec 1990 (Median) to 2014, with 7 observations. The data reached an all-time high of 68.900 % in 2009 and a record low of 66.400 % in 2005. Malawi MW: Population Living in Slums: % of Urban Population data remains active status in CEIC and is reported by World Bank. The data is categorized under Global Database’s Malawi – Table MW.World Bank.WDI: Population and Urbanization Statistics. Population living in slums is the proportion of the urban population living in slum households. A slum household is defined as a group of individuals living under the same roof lacking one or more of the following conditions: access to improved water, access to improved sanitation, sufficient living area, and durability of housing.; ; UN HABITAT, retrieved from the United Nation's Millennium Development Goals database. Data are available at : http://mdgs.un.org/; Weighted average;

The urban indicators data available here are analyzed, compiled and published by UN-Habitat’s Global Urban Observatory which supports governments, local authorities and civil society organizations to develop urban indicators, data and statistics. Urban statistics are collected through household surveys and censuses conducted by national statistics authorities. Global Urban Observatory team analyses and compiles urban indicators statistics from surveys and censuses. Additionally, Local urban observatories collect, compile and analyze urban data for national policy development. Population statistics are produced by the United Nations Department of Economic and Social Affairs, World Urbanization Prospects.

The world population data sourced from Facebook Data for Good is some of the most accurate population density data in the world. The data is accumulated using highly accurate technology to identify buildings from satellite imagery and can be viewed at up to 30-meter resolution. This building data is combined with publicly available census data to create the most accurate population estimates. This data is used by a wide range of nonprofit and humanitarian organizations, for example, to examine trends in urbanization and climate migration or discover the impact of a natural disaster on a region. This can help to inform aid distribution to reach communities most in need. There is both country and region-specific data available. The data also includes demographic estimates in addition to the population density information. This population data can be accessed via the Humanitarian Data Exchange website.

Malawi MW: Population in Largest City: as % of Urban Population data was reported at 31.693 % in 2017. This records an increase from the previous number of 31.648 % for 2016. Malawi MW: Population in Largest City: as % of Urban Population data is updated yearly, averaging 34.160 % from Dec 1960 (Median) to 2017, with 58 observations. The data reached an all-time high of 51.750 % in 1966 and a record low of 30.548 % in 2007. Malawi MW: Population in Largest City: as % of Urban Population data remains active status in CEIC and is reported by World Bank. The data is categorized under Global Database’s Malawi – Table MW.World Bank.WDI: Population and Urbanization Statistics. Population in largest city is the percentage of a country's urban population living in that country's largest metropolitan area.; ; United Nations, World Urbanization Prospects.; Weighted average;

Malawi MW: Rural Population: % of Total Population data was reported at 83.286 % in 2017. This records a decrease from the previous number of 83.494 % for 2016. Malawi MW: Rural Population: % of Total Population data is updated yearly, averaging 88.912 % from Dec 1960 (Median) to 2017, with 58 observations. The data reached an all-time high of 95.610 % in 1960 and a record low of 83.286 % in 2017. Malawi MW: Rural Population: % of Total Population data remains active status in CEIC and is reported by World Bank. The data is categorized under Global Database’s Malawi – Table MW.World Bank.WDI: Population and Urbanization Statistics. Rural population refers to people living in rural areas as defined by national statistical offices. It is calculated as the difference between total population and urban population.; ; World Bank staff estimates based on the United Nations Population Division's World Urbanization Prospects: 2018 Revision.; Weighted average;

Distribution of participants by urban residence and unhealthy bodyweight association with individual- and community-level characteristics.

Malawi MW: Rural Population Growth data was reported at 2.641 % in 2017. This records a decrease from the previous number of 2.674 % for 2016. Malawi MW: Rural Population Growth data is updated yearly, averaging 2.613 % from Dec 1960 (Median) to 2017, with 58 observations. The data reached an all-time high of 6.018 % in 1987 and a record low of -0.120 % in 1993. Malawi MW: Rural Population Growth data remains active status in CEIC and is reported by World Bank. The data is categorized under Global Database’s Malawi – Table MW.World Bank.WDI: Population and Urbanization Statistics. Rural population refers to people living in rural areas as defined by national statistical offices. It is calculated as the difference between total population and urban population.; ; World Bank staff estimates based on the United Nations Population Division's World Urbanization Prospects: 2018 Revision.; Weighted average;

Malawi MW: Population: Growth data was reported at 2.890 % in 2017. This records a decrease from the previous number of 2.905 % for 2016. Malawi MW: Population: Growth data is updated yearly, averaging 2.837 % from Dec 1960 (Median) to 2017, with 58 observations. The data reached an all-time high of 6.287 % in 1987 and a record low of 0.268 % in 1993. Malawi MW: Population: Growth data remains active status in CEIC and is reported by World Bank. The data is categorized under Global Database’s Malawi – Table MW.World Bank.WDI: Population and Urbanization Statistics. Annual population growth rate for year t is the exponential rate of growth of midyear population from year t-1 to t, expressed as a percentage . Population is based on the de facto definition of population, which counts all residents regardless of legal status or citizenship.; ; Derived from total population. Population source: (1) United Nations Population Division. World Population Prospects: 2017 Revision, (2) Census reports and other statistical publications from national statistical offices, (3) Eurostat: Demographic Statistics, (4) United Nations Statistical Division. Population and Vital Statistics Reprot (various years), (5) U.S. Census Bureau: International Database, and (6) Secretariat of the Pacific Community: Statistics and Demography Programme.; Weighted average;

Malawi MW: Population: Female: Ages 5-9: % of Female Population data was reported at 14.695 % in 2017. This records a decrease from the previous number of 14.901 % for 2016. Malawi MW: Population: Female: Ages 5-9: % of Female Population data is updated yearly, averaging 14.864 % from Dec 1960 (Median) to 2017, with 58 observations. The data reached an all-time high of 15.398 % in 1997 and a record low of 12.972 % in 1961. Malawi MW: Population: Female: Ages 5-9: % of Female Population data remains active status in CEIC and is reported by World Bank. The data is categorized under Global Database’s Malawi – Table MW.World Bank: Population and Urbanization Statistics. Female population between the ages 5 to 9 as a percentage of the total female population.; ; World Bank staff estimates based on age/sex distributions of United Nations Population Division's World Population Prospects: 2017 Revision.; ;

Malawi MW: Population: Male: Ages 15-19: % of Male Population data was reported at 11.325 % in 2017. This records a decrease from the previous number of 11.372 % for 2016. Malawi MW: Population: Male: Ages 15-19: % of Male Population data is updated yearly, averaging 10.706 % from Dec 1960 (Median) to 2017, with 58 observations. The data reached an all-time high of 11.538 % in 2006 and a record low of 10.257 % in 1972. Malawi MW: Population: Male: Ages 15-19: % of Male Population data remains active status in CEIC and is reported by World Bank. The data is categorized under Global Database’s Malawi – Table MW.World Bank: Population and Urbanization Statistics. Male population between the ages 15 to 19 as a percentage of the total male population.; ; World Bank staff estimates based on age/sex distributions of United Nations Population Division's World Population Prospects: 2017 Revision.; ;