Malaysia vs Saudi Arabia: Urban and rural population
Malaysia
27.84 million
in 2025
Saudi Arabia
29.25 million
in 2025
Malaysia rank
35th
Saudi Arabia rank
33rd
Urban and rural population over time
- Malaysia
- Saudi Arabia
How they compare
Saudi Arabia currently reports 29.25 million against 27.84 million in Malaysia, a difference of 1.40 million.
That makes Saudi Arabia's figure about 1.1 times Malaysia's.
The two have swapped places 1 time across 76 shared years of data; in 1950 it was Malaysia ahead.
Malaysia ranks 35th and Saudi Arabia ranks 33rd of 229 countries.
Across the 8 decades both report, Malaysia averaged higher in 6 and Saudi Arabia in 2.
Head to head by decade
| Decade | Malaysia | Saudi Arabia | Difference | Ahead |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1950s | 1.61 million | 514,778 | 1.10 million | Malaysia |
| 1960s | 2.48 million | 1.13 million | 1.34 million | Malaysia |
| 1970s | 3.57 million | 2.62 million | 942,274 | Malaysia |
| 1980s | 6.12 million | 5.79 million | 326,529 | Malaysia |
| 1990s | 11.14 million | 10.26 million | 879,162 | Malaysia |
| 2000s | 17.00 million | 16.31 million | 686,870 | Malaysia |
| 2010s | 22.68 million | 23.85 million | 1.17 million | Saudi Arabia |
| 2020s | 26.62 million | 27.55 million | 932,433 | Saudi Arabia |
Averages of every year both report within each decade.
Frequently asked questions
- Which has higher urban and rural population, Malaysia or Saudi Arabia?
- Saudi Arabia, at 29.25 million against 27.84 million in Malaysia as of 2025.
- What is the difference in urban and rural population between Malaysia and Saudi Arabia?
- 1.40 million, with Saudi Arabia ahead.
- How many years of comparable data are there for Malaysia and Saudi Arabia?
- 76 years are reported by both, from 1950 to 2025.
- How do Malaysia and Saudi Arabia rank globally for urban and rural population?
- Malaysia ranks 35th and Saudi Arabia ranks 33rd of 229 countries.
- Where does this data come from?
- Our World in Data, published as Urban and rural population. Statizoid refreshes it automatically from the source and publishes the full history for both places.