Malaysia Population (LIVE)

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Malaysia Population (1950 - 2026)

Yearly Population Growth Rate (%)
  • The current population of Malaysia is 36,303,827 as of Tuesday, April 14, 2026, based on Worldometer's elaboration of the latest United Nations data1.
  • Malaysia 2026 population is estimated at 36,385,115 people at mid-year.
  • Malaysia population is equivalent to 0.44% of the total world population.
  • Malaysia ranks number 45 in the list of countries (and dependencies) by population.
  • The population density in Malaysia is 111 per Km² (287 people per mi²).
  • The total land area is 328,550 Km² (126,854 sq. miles).
  • 77.83% of the population is urban (28,318,717 people in 2026)
  • The median age in Malaysia is 31.4 years.
1. U.N. Dept. of Economic and Social Affairs - Population Division. World Population Prospects: The 2024 Revision. (Medium-fertility variant).

Population of Malaysia (2026 and historical)

Year Population Yearly % Change Yearly Change Migrants (net) Median Age Fertility Rate Density (P/Km²) Urban Pop % Urban Population Country's Share of World Pop World Population Malaysia Global Rank
2026 36,385,115 1.13% 407,277 159,001 31.4 1.52 111 77.8% 28,318,717 0.44% 8,300,678,395 45
2025 35,977,838 1.18% 420,165 166,615 31 1.53 110 77.4% 27,844,592 0.44% 8,231,613,070 44
2024 35,557,673 1.23% 431,375 174,770 30.5 1.54 108 76.9% 27,360,379 0.44% 8,161,972,572 44
2023 35,126,298 1.24% 430,805 181,071 30.1 1.55 107 76.5% 26,866,688 0.43% 8,091,734,930 44
2022 34,695,493 1.18% 402,968 188,154 29.6 1.55 106 76% 26,366,660 0.43% 8,021,407,192 44
2020 33,889,558 1.65% 531,352 101,907 28.6 1.68 103 74.8% 25,361,963 0.43% 7,887,001,292 42
2015 31,232,798 1.74% 515,404 187,663 26.8 2.01 95 73% 22,800,563 0.42% 7,470,491,872 41
2010 28,655,776 2.09% 563,941 157,164 25 2.14 87 69.6% 19,934,949 0.41% 7,021,732,148 42
2005 25,836,071 2.38% 573,651 225,864 23.2 2.39 79 66.1% 17,087,554 0.39% 6,586,970,132 44
2000 22,967,816 2.47% 527,443 125,499 22.5 2.94 70 62.6% 14,369,654 0.37% 6,171,702,993 45
1995 20,330,599 2.66% 499,486 72,393 21.5 3.32 62 56.1% 11,413,601 0.35% 5,758,878,982 47
1990 17,833,171 3.18% 516,183 135,020 20.4 3.3 54 50.4% 8,981,973 0.33% 5,327,803,110 45
1985 15,252,258 3.27% 453,779 120,215 19.7 3.8 46 46.9% 7,158,888 0.31% 4,868,943,465 49
1980 12,983,363 2.51% 302,290 80,617 18.7 4.04 40 44.7% 5,801,245 0.29% 4,447,606,236 52
1975 11,471,914 2.42% 258,622 −20,480 17.5 4.5 35 39.9% 4,579,380 0.28% 4,070,735,277 52
1970 10,178,802 2.36% 224,479 −31,839 16.3 5.04 31 35.5% 3,614,368 0.28% 3,694,683,794 52
1965 9,056,408 2.62% 220,042 −36,456 15.6 5.84 28 31.5% 2,849,667 0.27% 3,334,533,703 53
1960 7,956,197 2.71% 199,247 −46,948 16.5 6.41 24 27.3% 2,169,592 0.26% 3,015,470,894 56
1955 6,959,963 2.68% 172,336 −12,169 17.4 6.45 21 23.7% 1,648,504 0.25% 2,740,213,792 57

Source: Worldometer (www.Worldometers.info)

Elaboration of data by United Nations, Department of Economic and Social Affairs, Population Division. World Population Prospects: The 2024 Revision. (Medium-fertility variant).

Malaysia Population Forecast

Year Population Yearly % Change Yearly Change Migrants (net) Median Age Fertility Rate Density (P/Km²) Urban Pop % Urban Population Country's Share of World Pop World Population Malaysia Global Rank
2030 37,961,719 1.08% 396,776 160,776 33 1.51 116 79.3% 30,109,432 0.44% 8,569,124,911 45
2035 39,814,825 0.96% 370,621 149,605 35 1.5 121 80.5% 32,066,630 0.45% 8,885,210,181 47
2040 41,509,644 0.84% 338,964 139,587 36.8 1.51 126 81.2% 33,717,113 0.45% 9,177,190,203 49
2045 43,038,204 0.73% 305,712 133,195 38.6 1.52 131 81.6% 35,138,248 0.46% 9,439,639,668 48
2050 44,289,772 0.57% 250,314 129,149 40.1 1.53 135 82.3% 36,439,872 0.46% 9,664,378,587 49

Source: Worldometer (www.Worldometers.info)

Elaboration of data by United Nations, Department of Economic and Social Affairs, Population Division. World Population Prospects: The 2024 Revision. (Medium-fertility variant).

Malaysia Demographics (2026)

Life Expectancy
77.2 years

(life expectancy at birth, both sexes)

View by sex and historical chart

Infant Mortality Rate
4.8

(infant deaths per 1,000 live births)

View historical chart

Deaths under age 5
5.9

(per 1,000 live births)

View historical chart

Main Cities by Population in Malaysia

(includes boroughs, districts, urban agglomerations, etc.)

Rank Urban Area Population Estimate (2025)
1 Kuala Lumpur 8,443,731
2 Johor Bahru 1,695,838
3 Ipoh 823,097
4 Kota Kinabalu 789,885
5 George Town 765,884
6 Kuching 586,880
7 Malacca City 555,703
8 Bukit Mertajam 517,326
9 Kota Bharu 460,445
10 Seremban 434,530
11 Sandakan 400,980
12 Tawau 375,573
13 Kuantan 373,353
14 Kuala Terengganu 326,615
15 Sungai Petani 310,566
16 Alor Setar 264,051
17 Taiping 222,522
18 Kulim 207,980
19 Rawang 193,810
20 Sibu 189,927
21 Kulai 164,961
22 Kluang 162,807
23 Batu Pahat 154,683
24 Kampong Pulau Melayu 150,819
25 Muar 131,389
26 Lahad Datu 120,676
27 Bintulu 113,441
28 Putrajaya 112,672
29 Sitiawan 94,438
30 Keningau 89,612
31 Semporna 84,117
32 Teluk Intan 82,359
33 Kampung Rinching Hulu 73,895
34 Dungun 68,872
35 Chukai 65,980
36 Bandar Armada Putra 65,735
37 Miri 64,666
38 Bukit Sentosa 61,823
39 Segamat 61,698
40 Simpang Ampat 55,053
41 Parit Buntar 54,404
42 Nilai 53,353
More info

See also


Notes

The Malaysia Population (Live) counter shows a continuously updated estimate of the current population of Malaysia delivered by Worldometer's RTS algorithm, which processes data collected from the United Nations Population Division.

The Population of Malaysia (1950 - 2026) chart plots the total population count as of July 1 of each year, from 1950 to 2026.

The Yearly Population Growth Rate chart plots the annual percentage changes in population registered on July 1 of each year, from 1951 to 2026. This value can differ from the Yearly % Change shown in the historical table, which shows the last year equivalent percentage change assuming homogeneous change in the preceding five year period.

Definitions

Year: as of July 1 of the year indicated.

Population: Overall total population (both sexes and all ages) in the country as of July 1 of the year indicated, as estimated by the United Nations, Department of Economic and Social Affairs, Population Division. World Population Prospects: The 2024 Revision. For forecasted years, the U.N. medium-fertility variant is used.

Yearly % Change: For 2026: percentage change in total population over the last year (from July 1, 2025 to June 30, 2026). For all other years: latest year annual percentage change equivalent assuming homogeneous change in the preceding five year period, calculated through reverse compounding.

Yearly Change: For 2026: absolute change in total population (increase or decrease in number of people) over the last year (from July 1, 2025 to June 30, 2026). For all other years: average annual numerical change over the preceding five year period.

Migrants (net): The average annual number of immigrants minus the number of emigrants over the preceding five year period (running from July 1 to June 30 of the initial and final years), or subsequent five year period (for 2016 data). A negative number means that there are more emigrants than immigrants.

Median Age: age that divides the population into two numerically equal groups: half of the people are older than the median age indicated and half are younger. This parameter provides an indication of age distribution.

Fertility Rate: (Total Fertility Rate, or TFR), it is expressed as children per woman. It is calculated as the average number of children an average woman will have during her reproductive period (15 to 49 years old) based on the current fertility rates of every age group in the country, and assuming she is not subject to mortality.

Density (P/Km²): (Population Density) Population per square Kilometer (Km²).

Urban Pop % : Urban population as a percentage of total population.

Urban Population: Population living in areas classified as urban according to the criteria used by each country.

Country's Share of World Pop: Total population in the country as a percentage of total World Population as of July 1 of the year indicated.

World Population: Total World Population as of July 1 of the year indicated.

Global Rank: Position held by Malaysia in the list of all countries worldwide ranked by population (from the highest population to the lowest population) as of July 1 of the year indicated.