Nkhotakota Population 2026

Nkhotakota has a population of 31,974, making it the #12 biggest city in 🇲🇼 Malawi, located in Central Region. Roughly 0.1% of Malawi's population lives here. It is about 35× smaller than Lilongwe, the country's biggest city.

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

Population (city proper)

31,974

Rank in Malawi

#12

Coordinates

12.93°S, 34.30°E

~497 m elevation · Africa/Blantyre

Distance to capital (Lilongwe)

128 km

79 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
Mchinji	31,592	#13
Mponela	27,681	#16
Ntcheu	23,956	#18

Cities near Nkhotakota

Kasungu66,152 people · ~89 km away
Mponela27,681 people · ~90 km away
Salima41,492 people · ~96 km away
Lilongwe1,115,815 people · ~128 km away
Mzimba29,432 people · ~137 km away
Monkey Bay16,867 people · ~145 km away

FAQ

What is the population of Nkhotakota?

Nkhotakota has a population of 31,974 (city proper, latest official figure via GeoNames), making it the #12 biggest city in Malawi.

What region is Nkhotakota in?

Nkhotakota is located in Central Region, Malawi.

Is Nkhotakota the capital of Malawi?

No, the capital of Malawi is Lilongwe, about 128 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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