Rural population (% of total population) (Rural World Urbanization) in Malawi
Malawi: Rural population (% of total population) (Rural World Urbanization) was 82.4% in 2025. ▼ Falling
Rural population in Malawi, 1960–2025
Source: World Urbanization Prospects, United Nations (UN). Measured in % of total population.
Analysis
Malawi recorded 82.4% for rural population in 2025. That is the lowest value across all 66 years on record.
That represents a change of down 0.4% on the previous year and down 2.1% over ten years.
Over the whole period, rural population in Malawi peaked at 96.0% in 1960 and was at its lowest, 82.4%, in 2025.
That places Malawi 4th out of 218 countries with data for 2025, putting it in the top 10%.
The long-run direction has been consistently falling across the 66 years of available data.
Rural population (% of total population) (Rural World Urbanization) in Malawi, year by year
| Year | % of total population | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1960 | 96.0% | — |
| 1961 | 95.9% | -0.1% |
| 1962 | 95.8% | -0.1% |
| 1963 | 95.7% | -0.1% |
| 1964 | 95.5% | -0.1% |
| 1965 | 95.4% | -0.1% |
| 1966 | 95.3% | -0.1% |
| 1967 | 95.2% | -0.2% |
| 1968 | 94.9% | -0.2% |
| 1969 | 94.6% | -0.3% |
| 1970 | 94.3% | -0.4% |
| 1971 | 93.9% | -0.4% |
| 1972 | 93.5% | -0.4% |
| 1973 | 93.0% | -0.4% |
| 1974 | 92.6% | -0.4% |
| 1975 | 92.2% | -0.4% |
| 1976 | 91.9% | -0.4% |
| 1977 | 91.6% | -0.3% |
| 1978 | 91.3% | -0.3% |
| 1979 | 91.1% | -0.3% |
| 1980 | 90.9% | -0.2% |
| 1981 | 90.7% | -0.2% |
| 1982 | 90.5% | -0.2% |
| 1983 | 90.3% | -0.2% |
| 1984 | 90.1% | -0.2% |
| 1985 | 89.9% | -0.2% |
| 1986 | 89.6% | -0.3% |
| 1987 | 89.4% | -0.3% |
| 1988 | 89.1% | -0.3% |
| 1989 | 88.8% | -0.4% |
| 1990 | 88.4% | -0.4% |
| 1991 | 88.0% | -0.5% |
| 1992 | 87.6% | -0.5% |
| 1993 | 87.1% | -0.5% |
| 1994 | 86.7% | -0.5% |
| 1995 | 86.4% | -0.4% |
| 1996 | 86.0% | -0.4% |
| 1997 | 85.8% | -0.3% |
| 1998 | 85.6% | -0.2% |
| 1999 | 85.4% | -0.2% |
| 2000 | 85.3% | -0.1% |
| 2001 | 85.2% | -0.1% |
| 2002 | 85.1% | -0.1% |
| 2003 | 85.0% | -0.1% |
| 2004 | 85.0% | -0.1% |
| 2005 | 84.9% | -0.1% |
| 2006 | 84.8% | -0.1% |
| 2007 | 84.8% | -0.1% |
| 2008 | 84.7% | -0.1% |
| 2009 | 84.6% | -0.1% |
| 2010 | 84.5% | -0.1% |
| 2011 | 84.4% | -0.1% |
| 2012 | 84.4% | -0.1% |
| 2013 | 84.3% | -0.1% |
| 2014 | 84.2% | -0.1% |
| 2015 | 84.2% | -0.1% |
| 2016 | 84.1% | -0.1% |
| 2017 | 84.0% | -0.1% |
| 2018 | 84.0% | -0.1% |
| 2019 | 83.9% | -0.1% |
| 2020 | 83.7% | -0.2% |
| 2021 | 83.5% | -0.2% |
| 2022 | 83.3% | -0.3% |
| 2023 | 83.0% | -0.3% |
| 2024 | 82.7% | -0.4% |
| 2025 | 82.4% | -0.4% |
Malawi compared with similar countries
- Malawi's 82.4% is above the median for low income countries, which is 65.5%, 1.3× the median. (25 countries reporting)
- Malawi's 82.4% is above the median for Sub-Saharan Africa, which is 55.1%, 1.5× the median. (48 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1960s | 95.4% | 94.6% | 96.0% | 10 |
| 1970s | 92.5% | 91.1% | 94.3% | 10 |
| 1980s | 89.9% | 88.8% | 90.9% | 10 |
| 1990s | 86.7% | 85.4% | 88.4% | 10 |
| 2000s | 84.9% | 84.6% | 85.3% | 10 |
| 2010s | 84.2% | 83.9% | 84.5% | 10 |
| 2020s | 83.1% | 82.4% | 83.7% | 6 |
Countries ranked near Malawi
More agriculture & rural data for Malawi
- Cropland extent over the long-term, annual growth rate 1.1 % change on previous year (2025)
- Cropland extent over the long-term, per unit of GDP 0.0003 hectares per US$ of GDP (2025)
- Cropland extent over the long-term, per capita 0.1965 hectares per person (2025)
- Agricultural area over the long-term, annual growth rate 0.7718 % change on previous year (2025)
- Agricultural area over the long-term, per unit of GDP 0.0004 hectares per US$ of GDP (2025)
- Agricultural area over the long-term, per capita 0.2798 hectares per person (2025)
- Agriculture, forestry, and fishing, value added (current US$), annual 24.6 % change on previous year (2025)
- Agriculture, forestry, and fishing, value added (current US$), per 0.3003 current US$ per US$ of GDP (2025)
- Agriculture, forestry, and fishing, value added (current US$), per 201.66 current US$ per person (2025)
- Rural population, annual growth rate 2.19 % change on previous year (2025)
Frequently asked questions
- What is rural population in Malawi?
- Rural population in Malawi was 82.4% in 2025, according to World Urbanization Prospects, United Nations (UN).
- What is the highest rural population recorded in Malawi?
- The highest recorded value was 96.0% in 1960.
- What is the lowest rural population recorded in Malawi?
- The lowest recorded value was 82.4% in 2025.
- How does Malawi rank for rural population?
- Malawi ranks 4th out of 218 countries with data for 2025.
- Is rural population rising or falling in Malawi?
- Over the last ten years it is down 2.1%. The long-run trend across the full record is falling.
- Where does this Malawi data come from?
- The figures come from World Urbanization Prospects, United Nations (UN), published as part of Rural population (% of total population). Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
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About this data
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.