Mwanza Population 2026

Mwanza has a population of 20,345, making it the #19 biggest city in 🇲🇼 Malawi, located in Southern Region. Roughly 0.1% of Malawi's population lives here. It is about 55× smaller than Lilongwe, the country's biggest city.

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

Population (city proper)

20,345

Rank in Malawi

#19

Coordinates

15.60°S, 34.52°E

~654 m elevation · Africa/Blantyre

Distance to capital (Lilongwe)

198 km

123 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
Balaka	40,950	#10
Nsanje	30,276	#14
Monkey Bay	16,867	#21
Mulanje	16,672	#22

Cities near Mwanza

Blantyre902,588 people · ~56 km away
Balaka40,950 people · ~83 km away
Ntcheu23,956 people · ~88 km away
Zomba118,440 people · ~88 km away
Liwonde41,077 people · ~96 km away
Mulanje16,672 people · ~115 km away

FAQ

What is the population of Mwanza?

Mwanza has a population of 20,345 (city proper, latest official figure via GeoNames), making it the #19 biggest city in Malawi.

What region is Mwanza in?

Mwanza is located in Southern Region, Malawi.

Is Mwanza the capital of Malawi?

No, the capital of Malawi is Lilongwe, about 198 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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