Net migration in Malawi
Malawi: Net migration was -5,628 in 2025. ◆ Volatile
Net migration in Malawi, 1960–2025
Source: World Population Prospects, United Nations (UN), publisher: UN Population Division.
Analysis
In 2025, net migration in Malawi stood at -5,628.
The figure is down 273.5% on the previous year and up 13.0% over ten years.
Over the whole period, net migration in Malawi peaked at 271,693 in 1987 and was at its lowest, -505,365, in 1994.
That places Malawi 138th out of 218 countries with data for 2025, putting it in the middle of the range.
The series is highly variable year to year, so single readings are best treated with caution.
Net migration in Malawi, year by year
| Year | Value | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1960 | 0 | — |
| 1961 | 0 | — |
| 1962 | 0 | — |
| 1963 | 0 | — |
| 1964 | 0 | — |
| 1965 | 0 | — |
| 1966 | 0 | — |
| 1967 | 0 | — |
| 1968 | -924 | — |
| 1969 | -2,266 | +145.2% |
| 1970 | -2,147 | -5.3% |
| 1971 | -710 | -66.9% |
| 1972 | 48 | -106.8% |
| 1973 | 1,623 | +3281.2% |
| 1974 | 3,833 | +136.2% |
| 1975 | 5,162 | +34.7% |
| 1976 | 8,206 | +59.0% |
| 1977 | 19,638 | +139.3% |
| 1978 | 36,225 | +84.5% |
| 1979 | 46,388 | +28.1% |
| 1980 | 52,294 | +12.7% |
| 1981 | 57,376 | +9.7% |
| 1982 | 62,661 | +9.2% |
| 1983 | 68,197 | +8.8% |
| 1984 | 72,435 | +6.2% |
| 1985 | 74,625 | +3.0% |
| 1986 | 62,615 | -16.1% |
| 1987 | 271,693 | +333.9% |
| 1988 | 201,011 | -26.0% |
| 1989 | 180,031 | -10.4% |
| 1990 | 71,111 | -60.5% |
| 1991 | 15,291 | -78.5% |
| 1992 | 37,142 | +142.9% |
| 1993 | -284,867 | -867.0% |
| 1994 | -505,365 | +77.4% |
| 1995 | -66,366 | -86.9% |
| 1996 | -66,212 | -0.2% |
| 1997 | -61,646 | -6.9% |
| 1998 | -39,491 | -35.9% |
| 1999 | -31,686 | -19.8% |
| 2000 | -28,098 | -11.3% |
| 2001 | -28,933 | +3.0% |
| 2002 | -30,013 | +3.7% |
| 2003 | -31,729 | +5.7% |
| 2004 | -32,221 | +1.6% |
| 2005 | -31,462 | -2.4% |
| 2006 | -29,450 | -6.4% |
| 2007 | -22,680 | -23.0% |
| 2008 | -9,264 | -59.2% |
| 2009 | -8,590 | -7.3% |
| 2010 | -9,327 | +8.6% |
| 2011 | -12,170 | +30.5% |
| 2012 | -13,561 | +11.4% |
| 2013 | -12,934 | -4.6% |
| 2014 | -10,317 | -20.2% |
| 2015 | -6,471 | -37.3% |
| 2016 | 3,505 | -154.2% |
| 2017 | 982 | -72.0% |
| 2018 | -3,267 | -432.7% |
| 2019 | -1,837 | -43.8% |
| 2020 | -2,655 | +44.5% |
| 2021 | -2,666 | +0.4% |
| 2022 | -5,231 | +96.2% |
| 2023 | -5,811 | +11.1% |
| 2024 | -1,507 | -74.1% |
| 2025 | -5,628 | +273.5% |
Malawi compared with similar countries
- Malawi's -5,628 is above the median for low income countries, which is -7,704, 73% of the median. (25 countries reporting)
- Malawi's -5,628 is above the median for Sub-Saharan Africa, which is -5,646, 100% of the median. (48 countries reporting)
Biggest year-on-year movements
Years where Net migration in Malawi changed far more than this series normally does. A large move can be a real event or a change in how the figure was measured — the source note below says who published it.
| Year | Change | From | To |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1973 | +3281.2% | 48 | 1,623 |
| 1993 | -867.0% | 37,142 | -284,867 |
| 2018 | -432.7% | 982 | -3,267 |
| 1987 | +333.9% | 62,615 | 271,693 |
| 2025 | -273.5% | -1,507 | -5,628 |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1960s | -319 | -2,266 | 0 | 10 |
| 1970s | 11,827 | -2,147 | 46,388 | 10 |
| 1980s | 110,294 | 52,294 | 271,693 | 10 |
| 1990s | -93,209 | -505,365 | 71,111 | 10 |
| 2000s | -25,244 | -32,221 | -8,590 | 10 |
| 2010s | -6,540 | -13,561 | 3,505 | 10 |
| 2020s | -3,916 | -5,811 | -1,507 | 6 |
Countries ranked near Malawi
More financial sector data for Malawi
- Reserve position in the IMF, US dollar, annual growth rate 5.01 % change on previous year (2025)
- Reserve position in the IMF, US dollar, per unit of GDP 0.0002 units per US$ of GDP (2025)
- Reserve position in the IMF, US dollar, per capita 0.1505 units per person (2025)
- Reserve position in the IMF, SDR, annual growth rate 0 % change on previous year (2025)
- Reserve position in the IMF, SDR, per unit of GDP 0.0002 units per US$ of GDP (2025)
- Reserve position in the IMF, SDR, per capita 0.1099 units per person (2025)
- Reserve tranche position, US dollar, annual growth rate 5.01 % change on previous year (2025)
- Reserve tranche position, US dollar, per unit of GDP 0.0002 units per US$ of GDP (2025)
- Reserve tranche position, US dollar, per capita 0.1505 units per person (2025)
- Reserve tranche position, SDR, annual growth rate 0 % change on previous year (2025)
Frequently asked questions
- What is net migration in Malawi?
- Net migration in Malawi was -5,628 in 2025, according to World Population Prospects, United Nations (UN), publisher: UN Population Division.
- What is the highest net migration recorded in Malawi?
- The highest recorded value was 271,693 in 1987.
- What is the lowest net migration recorded in Malawi?
- The lowest recorded value was -505,365 in 1994.
- How does Malawi rank for net migration?
- Malawi ranks 138th out of 218 countries with data for 2025.
- Is net migration rising or falling in Malawi?
- Over the last ten years it is up 13.0%. The long-run trend across the full record is volatile.
- Where does this Malawi data come from?
- The figures come from World Population Prospects, United Nations (UN), publisher: UN Population Division, published as part of Net migration. Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
Download this data
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About this data
Net migration is the net total of migrants during the period, that is, the number of immigrants minus the number of emigrants, including both citizens and noncitizens.