Malaysia vs South Africa: Total population (thousands), annual growth rate
Malaysia
1.21 % change on previous year
in 2025
South Africa
1.19 % change on previous year
in 2025
Malaysia rank
91st
South Africa rank
94th
Total population (thousands), annual growth rate over time
- Malaysia
- South Africa
How they compare
Malaysia currently reports 1.21 % change on previous year against 1.19 % change on previous year in South Africa, a difference of 0.02 % change on previous year.
The two have swapped places 5 times across 55 shared years of data; in 1971 it was South Africa ahead.
Malaysia ranks 91st and South Africa ranks 94th of 233 countries.
Across the 6 decades both report, Malaysia averaged higher in 3 and South Africa in 3.
Head to head by decade
| Decade | Malaysia | South Africa | Difference | Ahead |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1970s | 2.42 % change on previous year | 2.84 % change on previous year | 0.4238 % change on previous year | South Africa |
| 1980s | 3.18 % change on previous year | 3.29 % change on previous year | 0.1169 % change on previous year | South Africa |
| 1990s | 2.66 % change on previous year | 1.76 % change on previous year | 0.8986 % change on previous year | Malaysia |
| 2000s | 2.31 % change on previous year | 1.01 % change on previous year | 1.29 % change on previous year | Malaysia |
| 2010s | 1.77 % change on previous year | 1.4 % change on previous year | 0.3656 % change on previous year | Malaysia |
| 2020s | 1.26 % change on previous year | 1.44 % change on previous year | 0.1803 % change on previous year | South Africa |
Averages of every year both report within each decade.
Frequently asked questions
- Which has higher total population (thousands), annual growth rate, Malaysia or South Africa?
- Malaysia, at 1.21 % change on previous year against 1.19 % change on previous year in South Africa as of 2025.
- What is the difference in total population (thousands), annual growth rate between Malaysia and South Africa?
- 0.02 % change on previous year, with Malaysia ahead.
- How many years of comparable data are there for Malaysia and South Africa?
- 55 years are reported by both, from 1971 to 2025.
- How do Malaysia and South Africa rank globally for total population (thousands), annual growth rate?
- Malaysia ranks 91st and South Africa ranks 94th of 233 countries.
- Where does this data come from?
- Statizoid (derived), published as Total population (thousands), annual growth rate. Statizoid refreshes it automatically from the source and publishes the full history for both places.
Individual pages
About this data
The year-on-year percentage change in Total population (thousands). Computed from consecutive annual observations; years either side of a gap are skipped rather than bridged.