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Malawi: Urban population (% of total population)

In , Malawi's Urban population (% of total population) was 17.27.

That's up 1.7% from 2023, the highest value on record.

The global average for this indicator in 2024 was 62.87 . Malawi ranks #215 globally out of 217 reporting countries. Within Sub-Saharan Africa, it ranks #48 of 48.

Source: World Bank Open Data (SP.URB.TOTL.IN.ZS) • Data as of 2024

Trend (2005–2024)

Malawi Urban population (% of total population) trend 2020: COVID-19 pandemic
  • 2020 · COVID-19 pandemic

Highlights

Peak
17.27
Trough
15.10
1-year change
+1.7%
5-year change
+7.0%
+1.4% / yr
10-year change
+9.5%
+0.9% / yr

Historical Data — Last 10 Years

Year Urban population (% of total population)
17.2685
16.9749
16.7146
16.4882
16.2961
16.1384
16.0221
15.9634
15.8996
15.8339

About Urban population (% of total population)

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.

Indicator code: SP.URB.TOTL.IN.ZSCategory: Health & Population

Frequently asked questions

What was Malawi's Urban population (% of total population) in 2024?
In 2024, Malawi's Urban population (% of total population) was 17.27, according to World Bank Open Data.
Is Malawi's Urban population (% of total population) rising or falling?
Malawi's Urban population (% of total population) rose 1.7% from 2023 to 2024.
How does Malawi rank globally on Urban population (% of total population)?
In 2024, Malawi ranked #215 out of 217 countries reporting Urban population (% of total population).
How does Malawi's Urban population (% of total population) compare to the world average?
The global average for Urban population (% of total population) in 2024 was 62.87, so Malawi is below the world average. Within Sub-Saharan Africa, it ranks #48 of 48.
What is Urban population (% of total population) and how is it measured?
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.
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Source: World Bank Open Data (SP.URB.TOTL.IN.ZS), CC BY 4.0.