Updated
Overview
Tanzania has 3.2 times the population of Malawi: 70.55 million people against 22.22 million (2025).
Tanzania's economy is 6.0 times the size of Malawi's, at $90.14B versus $14.92B.
Per person, Tanzania is the wealthier of the two: $1,319 against $672 in GDP per capita.
Population
GDP (nominal)
GDP per capita
The full table
| Indicator | Tanzania | Malawi | Years | Factbook, Jan 2026 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Economy | ||||
| GDP (nominal) | Higher: $90.14B | $14.92B | 2025 | $78.78B / $11.01B |
| GDP per capita | Higher: $1,319 | $672 | 2025 | — / — |
| GDP growth | Higher: 5.9% | 1.9% | 2025 | — / — |
| Inflation | Lower: 3.3% | 28.4% | 2025 | 3.1% / 32.2% |
| Unemployment | Lower: 1.6% | 5.1% | 2025 | — / — |
| Price level (US=100) | 29 | 53 | 2024 / 2023 | — / — |
| Avg monthly earnings | $212 | — | 2024 | — / — |
| Minimum wage | Higher: $58 | $43 | 2024 / 2023 | — / — |
| People | ||||
| Population | 70.55 million | 22.22 million | 2025 | 69.15 million / 21.76 million |
| Population growth | 2.9% | 2.6% | 2025 | — / — |
| Median age | 17.5 yrs | 18.1 yrs | 2025 | — / — |
| Fertility rate | 4.47 | 3.53 | 2025 | — / — |
| Life expectancy | 67.2 yrs | Higher: 67.6 yrs | 2024 | — / — |
| Urban population | 37% | 18% | 2025 | — / — |
| Internet users | Higher: 31% | 19% | 2024 | — / — |
| Geography | ||||
| Area | 945,087 km² | 118,484 km² | — | — / — |
| Population density | 74.6/km² | 187.5/km² | 2025 | — / — |
| Environment | ||||
| CO2 emissions | 20 Mt | Lower: 1.88 Mt | 2024 | — / — |
| CO2 per capita | 0.3 t | Lower: 0.1 t | 2024 | — / — |
| Military | ||||
| Military spending | $920.85M | $117.59M | 2024 | — / — |
| Military spending (% GDP) | 1.2% | 1.0% | 2024 | — / — |
| Armed forces personnel | 28,000 | 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
Tanzania is growing much faster: 5.9% annual GDP growth versus 1.9%.
Inflation is a serious concern in Malawi at 28.4%, while the other economy sits at 3.3%.
Day-to-day prices are noticeably lower in Tanzania: a price level of 29 versus 53 on a US=100 scale.
People and society
Demographically the two are similar, with median ages of 17.5 (Tanzania) and 18.1 (Malawi).
Tanzania is considerably more urbanized: 37% of people live in cities, against 18%.
Internet adoption is higher in Tanzania (31% vs 19% of the population).
Geography
By land area, Tanzania is 8.0 times the size of Malawi: 945,087 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 75.
Military
Tanzania spends 7.8 times as much on defence as Malawi: $920.85M versus $117.59M (World Bank/SIPRI data).
Tanzania fields the larger armed forces: 28,000 personnel against 15,000 (note: personnel data lags; observation years shown in the table).
Frequently asked
- Is Tanzania bigger than Malawi?
- Tanzania is larger by land area. Tanzania covers 945,087 km² while Malawi covers 118,484 km², so Tanzania is 8.0 times the size of the other.
- Which has more people, Tanzania or Malawi?
- Tanzania has the larger population: 70.55 million versus 22.22 million (World Bank, 2025).
- Is Tanzania richer than Malawi?
- Measured by GDP per capita, Tanzania is richer: $1,319 against $672. Total GDP tells the same story: $90.14B for Tanzania versus $14.92B for Malawi.
- Who spends more on their military, Tanzania or Malawi?
- Tanzania spends more: $920.85M versus $117.59M per year (World Bank, SIPRI-derived data; observation years vary).