Mponela Population 2026

Mponela has a population of 27,681, making it the #16 biggest city in 🇲🇼 Malawi, located in Central Region. Roughly 0.1% of Malawi's population lives here. It is about 40× smaller than Lilongwe, the country's biggest city.

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

Population (city proper)

27,681

Rank in Malawi

#16

Coordinates

13.53°S, 33.74°E

~1,218 m elevation · Africa/Blantyre

Distance to capital (Lilongwe)

49 km

30 miles, straight line

Other big cities in Central Region

City	Population	Rank in Malawi
Lilongwe	1,115,815	#1
Kasungu	66,152	#6
Salima	41,492	#8
Dedza	34,882	#11
Nkhotakota	31,974	#12
Mchinji	31,592	#13
Ntcheu	23,956	#18

Cities near Mponela

Lilongwe1,115,815 people · ~49 km away
Kasungu66,152 people · ~62 km away
Salima41,492 people · ~83 km away
Nkhotakota31,974 people · ~90 km away
Mchinji31,592 people · ~97 km away
Dedza34,882 people · ~114 km away

FAQ

What is the population of Mponela?

Mponela has a population of 27,681 (city proper, latest official figure via GeoNames), making it the #16 biggest city in Malawi.

What region is Mponela in?

Mponela is located in Central Region, Malawi.

Is Mponela the capital of Malawi?

No, the capital of Malawi is Lilongwe, about 49 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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