Zomba Population 2026

Zomba has a population of 118,440, making it the #4 biggest city in 🇲🇼 Malawi, located in Southern Region. Roughly 0.5% of Malawi's population lives here. It is about 9.4× smaller than Lilongwe, the country's biggest city.

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

Population (city proper)

118,440

Rank in Malawi

Coordinates

15.39°S, 35.32°E

~949 m elevation · Africa/Blantyre

Distance to capital (Lilongwe)

228 km

142 miles, straight line

Other big cities in Southern Region

City	Population	Rank in Malawi
Blantyre	902,588	#2
Mangochi	60,338	#7
Liwonde	41,077	#9
Balaka	40,950	#10
Nsanje	30,276	#14
Mwanza	20,345	#19
Monkey Bay	16,867	#21
Mulanje	16,672	#22

Cities near Zomba

Liwonde41,077 people · ~37 km away
Blantyre902,588 people · ~55 km away
Balaka40,950 people · ~60 km away
Mulanje16,672 people · ~74 km away
Mwanza20,345 people · ~88 km away
Ntcheu23,956 people · ~97 km away

FAQ

What is the population of Zomba?

Zomba has a population of 118,440 (city proper, latest official figure via GeoNames), making it the #4 biggest city in Malawi.

What region is Zomba in?

Zomba is located in Southern Region, Malawi.

Is Zomba the capital of Malawi?

No, the capital of Malawi is Lilongwe, about 228 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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