Updated
Overview
Mozambique has about 60% more people than Malawi: 35.63 million against 22.22 million (2025).
Mozambique's economy is about 50% larger than Malawi's, at $22.34B versus $14.92B.
Population
GDP (nominal)
GDP per capita
The full table
| Indicator | Mozambique | Malawi | Years | Factbook, Jan 2026 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Economy | ||||
| GDP (nominal) | Higher: $22.34B | $14.92B | 2025 | $22.42B / $11.01B |
| GDP per capita | $627 | Higher: $672 | 2025 | — / — |
| GDP growth | -0.5% | Higher: 1.9% | 2025 | — / — |
| Inflation | Lower: 4.4% | 28.4% | 2025 | 4.1% / 32.2% |
| Unemployment | 6.6% | Lower: 5.1% | 2025 | — / — |
| Price level (US=100) | 37 | 53 | 2024 / 2023 | — / — |
| Avg monthly earnings | $213 | — | 2022 | — / — |
| Minimum wage | Higher: $149 | $43 | 2024 / 2023 | — / — |
| People | ||||
| Population | 35.63 million | 22.22 million | 2025 | 34.21 million / 21.76 million |
| Population growth | 2.8% | 2.6% | 2025 | — / — |
| Median age | 16.5 yrs | 18.1 yrs | 2025 | — / — |
| Fertility rate | 4.62 | 3.53 | 2025 | — / — |
| Life expectancy | 63.8 yrs | Higher: 67.6 yrs | 2024 | — / — |
| Urban population | 37% | 18% | 2025 | — / — |
| Internet users | Higher: 21% | 19% | 2024 | — / — |
| Geography | ||||
| Area | 801,590 km² | 118,484 km² | — | — / — |
| Population density | 44.5/km² | 187.5/km² | 2025 | — / — |
| Environment | ||||
| CO2 emissions | 8.61 Mt | Lower: 1.88 Mt | 2024 | — / — |
| CO2 per capita | 0.2 t | Lower: 0.1 t | 2024 | — / — |
| Military | ||||
| Military spending | $450.45M | $117.59M | 2024 | — / — |
| Military spending (% GDP) | 2.0% | 1.0% | 2024 | — / — |
| Armed forces personnel | 11,000 | 15,000 | 2020 | — / — |
Sources by row: World Bank WDI, IMF WEO, UN WPP 2024, ILOSTAT, The Economist. Emphasis marks the stronger figure where one direction is meaningfully better.
Reading the numbers
Economy
Malawi grew while the other economy contracted: 1.9% against -0.5%.
Inflation is a serious concern in Malawi at 28.4%, while the other economy sits at 4.4%.
Day-to-day prices are noticeably lower in Mozambique: a price level of 37 versus 53 on a US=100 scale.
People and society
Demographically the two are similar, with median ages of 16.5 (Mozambique) and 18.1 (Malawi).
Life expectancy is 3.8 years longer in Malawi (67.6 vs 63.8).
Mozambique is considerably more urbanized: 37% of people live in cities, against 18%.
Geography
By land area, Mozambique is 6.8 times the size of Malawi: 801,590 km² versus 118,484 km².
The two share a land border, which shapes their trade, migration, and security relationship.
Malawi is far more densely settled: 188 people per km² against 44.
Military
Mozambique spends 3.8 times as much on defence as Malawi: $450.45M versus $117.59M (World Bank/SIPRI data).
Relative to its economy, Mozambique carries the heavier military burden: 2.0% of GDP versus 1.0%.
Malawi fields the larger armed forces: 15,000 personnel against 11,000 (note: personnel data lags; observation years shown in the table).
Frequently asked
- Is Mozambique bigger than Malawi?
- Mozambique is larger by land area. Mozambique covers 801,590 km² while Malawi covers 118,484 km², so Mozambique is 6.8 times the size of the other.
- Which has more people, Mozambique or Malawi?
- Mozambique has the larger population: 35.63 million versus 22.22 million (World Bank, 2025).
- Is Mozambique richer than Malawi?
- Measured by GDP per capita, Malawi is richer: $672 against $627. Total GDP tells a different story: $22.34B for Mozambique versus $14.92B for Malawi.
- Who spends more on their military, Mozambique or Malawi?
- Mozambique spends more: $450.45M versus $117.59M per year (World Bank, SIPRI-derived data; observation years vary).