Quick facts
Blantyre overview
Blantyre (orange) and the other large cities of Malawi
Blantyre lies in Southern Region in Malawi at 15.79°S, 35.01°E, about 1,041 m above sea level. The local time zone is Africa/Blantyre (UTC+2); GeoNames classifies it as a regional capital.
It is smaller than Lilongwe (1,115,815) and larger than Mzuzu (249,564). The largest city in Malawi is Lilongwe with 1,115,815 people; the capital, Lilongwe, has 1,115,815.
The national capital, Lilongwe, is about 241 km away; the nearest large city is Zomba, 55 km from Blantyre.
Malawi as a whole has a live population of 22,954,228 (+2.5% a year) and ranks #62 of 238 countries — see the Malawi population page for the full statistics and the Malawi atlas for provinces, terrain and society maps.
Cities near Blantyre
| City | Distance | Population |
|---|---|---|
| Zomba Southern Region | 55 km | 118,440 |
| Mwanza Southern Region | 56 km | 20,345 |
| Mulanje Southern Region | 59 km | 16,672 |
| Liwonde Southern Region | 83 km | 41,077 |
| Balaka Southern Region | 90 km | 40,950 |
| Ntcheu Central Region | 114 km | 23,956 |
| Nsanje Southern Region | 129 km | 30,276 |
| Mangochi Southern Region | 148 km | 60,338 |
Largest cities in Malawi
| # | City | Region | Population |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | LilongweCapital | Central Region | 1,115,815 |
| 2 | Blantyre | Southern Region | 902,588 |
| 3 | Mzuzu | Northern Region | 249,564 |
| 4 | Zomba | Southern Region | 118,440 |
| 5 | Karonga | Northern Region | 69,486 |
| 6 | Kasungu | Central Region | 66,152 |
| 7 | Mangochi | Southern Region | 60,338 |
| 8 | Salima | Central Region | 41,492 |
| 9 | Liwonde | Southern Region | 41,077 |
| 10 | Balaka | Southern Region | 40,950 |
Frequently asked questions
What is the population of Blantyre?
Blantyre has about 902,588 inhabitants according to the latest official census or estimate compiled by GeoNames. This is the city proper; the metropolitan area is larger.
Is Blantyre the capital of Malawi?
No. The capital of Malawi is Lilongwe (1,115,815 people), about 241 km away. Blantyre is the 2nd largest city of the country and a regional capital.
How big is Blantyre compared with the rest of Malawi?
Its 902,588 residents are 3.9% of the 22,954,228 people living in Malawi today. Lilongwe is larger with 1,115,815 people.
Where is Blantyre?
In Southern Region, Malawi, at latitude -15.78 and longitude 35.01, 1,041 m above sea level. Nearby large cities include Zomba (55 km), Mwanza (56 km), Mulanje (59 km).
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Cite or link to this page
Glostats. (2026). Blantyre Population 2026 — Malawi. Retrieved October 20, 2026, from https://glostats.com/cities/malawi/blantyre/<a href="https://glostats.com/cities/malawi/blantyre/">Blantyre Population 2026 — Malawi</a> — GlostatsFigures on this page may be quoted, charted or republished as long as the page is credited with a link. Terms · Download the data as CSV · Embed a live counter.
City populations are GeoNames figures (CC BY 4.0): the latest official census or estimate for the city proper — the municipality, not the wider metropolitan area — so they can differ from "metro area" numbers you see elsewhere. Country populations are live Glostats estimates from the UN World Population Prospects. Distances are great-circle distances between city centres. Page generated 2026-10-20. More about our data.