Balaka Population 2026

Balaka has a population of 40,950, making it the #10 biggest city in 🇲🇼 Malawi, located in Southern Region. Roughly 0.2% of Malawi's population lives here. It is about 27× smaller than Lilongwe, the country's biggest city.

Location of Balaka (capital Lilongwe shown for reference). Boundaries: Natural Earth.

Population (city proper)

40,950

Rank in Malawi

#10

Coordinates

14.98°S, 34.96°E

~633 m elevation · Africa/Blantyre

Distance to capital (Lilongwe)

169 km

105 miles, straight line

Other big cities in Southern Region

City	Population	Rank in Malawi
Blantyre	902,588	#2
Zomba	118,440	#4
Mangochi	60,338	#7
Liwonde	41,077	#9
Nsanje	30,276	#14
Mwanza	20,345	#19
Monkey Bay	16,867	#21
Mulanje	16,672	#22

Cities near Balaka

Liwonde41,077 people · ~31 km away
Ntcheu23,956 people · ~39 km away
Zomba118,440 people · ~60 km away
Mangochi60,338 people · ~65 km away
Mwanza20,345 people · ~83 km away
Blantyre902,588 people · ~90 km away

FAQ

What is the population of Balaka?

Balaka has a population of 40,950 (city proper, latest official figure via GeoNames), making it the #10 biggest city in Malawi.

What region is Balaka in?

Balaka is located in Southern Region, Malawi.

Is Balaka the capital of Malawi?

No, the capital of Malawi is Lilongwe, about 169 km away.

Sources & notes

Population refers to the city proper (municipal boundaries), not the metropolitan area. Source: GeoNames (CC BY 4.0), retrieved 2026-07-07. Country data: UN World Population Prospects 2024.

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