Share of population living in urbanized areas in Malaysia
Malaysia: Share of population living in urbanized areas was 77.4% in 2025. ◆ Volatile
Latest (2025)
77.4%
Change on year
up 0.4%
World rank
62nd
of 202 countries
All-time high
77.4%
in 2025
All-time low
0.0%
in 1000
Years of data
108
1000–2025
Share of population living in urbanized areas in Malaysia, 1000–2025
Source: HYDE (2025) – with minor processing by Our World in Data. Measured in %.
Analysis
The most recent figure for share of population living in urbanized areas in Malaysia is 77.4%, measured in 2025. That is the highest value across all 108 years on record.
That represents a change of up 0.4% on the previous year and up 4.7% over ten years.
Over the whole period, share of population living in urbanized areas in Malaysia peaked at 77.4% in 2025 and was at its lowest, 0.0%, in 1000.
That places Malaysia 62nd out of 202 countries with data for 2025, putting it in the middle of the range.
The series is highly variable year to year, so single readings are best treated with caution.
Share of population living in urbanized areas in Malaysia, year by year
| Year | % | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1000 | 0.0% | — |
| 1100 | 0.0% | +200.0% |
| 1200 | 0.0% | +200.0% |
| 1300 | 0.0% | +200.0% |
| 1400 | 0.1% | +200.0% |
| 1500 | 0.2% | +200.0% |
| 1600 | 0.7% | +200.0% |
| 1700 | 2.0% | +200.0% |
| 1710 | 2.3% | +12.7% |
| 1720 | 2.5% | +9.5% |
| 1730 | 2.8% | +9.5% |
| 1740 | 3.0% | +9.5% |
| 1750 | 3.3% | +9.5% |
| 1760 | 3.6% | +9.5% |
| 1770 | 4.0% | +9.5% |
| 1780 | 4.3% | +9.5% |
| 1790 | 4.7% | +9.5% |
| 1800 | 5.2% | +9.5% |
| 1810 | 5.7% | +9.5% |
| 1820 | 6.2% | +9.5% |
| 1830 | 6.8% | +9.5% |
| 1840 | 7.5% | +9.5% |
| 1850 | 8.2% | +9.5% |
| 1860 | 9.0% | +9.5% |
| 1870 | 9.8% | +9.5% |
| 1880 | 10.8% | +9.5% |
| 1890 | 11.8% | +9.5% |
| 1900 | 12.9% | +9.5% |
| 1910 | 14.2% | +9.5% |
| 1920 | 15.5% | +9.5% |
| 1930 | 17.0% | +9.5% |
| 1940 | 18.6% | +9.5% |
| 1950 | 20.4% | +9.5% |
| 1951 | 20.9% | +2.7% |
| 1952 | 21.5% | +2.7% |
| 1953 | 22.0% | +2.7% |
| 1954 | 22.7% | +2.7% |
| 1955 | 23.3% | +2.8% |
| 1956 | 23.9% | +2.8% |
| 1957 | 24.6% | +2.8% |
| 1958 | 25.3% | +2.6% |
| 1959 | 25.9% | +2.5% |
| 1960 | 26.5% | +2.5% |
| 1961 | 27.2% | +2.4% |
| 1962 | 27.8% | +2.4% |
| 1963 | 28.5% | +2.3% |
| 1964 | 29.1% | +2.3% |
| 1965 | 29.8% | +2.4% |
| 1966 | 30.6% | +2.4% |
| 1967 | 31.3% | +2.4% |
| 1968 | 32.1% | +2.4% |
| 1969 | 32.8% | +2.4% |
| 1970 | 33.6% | +2.4% |
| 1971 | 34.3% | +2.2% |
| 1972 | 35.1% | +2.2% |
| 1973 | 35.9% | +2.2% |
| 1974 | 36.7% | +2.2% |
| 1975 | 37.5% | +2.2% |
| 1976 | 38.3% | +2.2% |
| 1977 | 39.1% | +2.2% |
| 1978 | 40.0% | +2.2% |
| 1979 | 40.9% | +2.3% |
| 1980 | 41.8% | +2.3% |
| 1981 | 42.5% | +1.5% |
| 1982 | 43.2% | +1.6% |
| 1983 | 43.9% | +1.8% |
| 1984 | 44.7% | +1.9% |
| 1985 | 45.6% | +2.0% |
| 1986 | 46.3% | +1.5% |
| 1987 | 47.1% | +1.6% |
| 1988 | 47.9% | +1.7% |
| 1989 | 48.7% | +1.7% |
| 1990 | 49.5% | +1.7% |
| 1991 | 50.3% | +1.5% |
| 1992 | 51.5% | +2.4% |
| 1993 | 52.7% | +2.5% |
| 1994 | 54.0% | +2.4% |
| 1995 | 55.3% | +2.4% |
| 1996 | 56.6% | +2.3% |
| 1997 | 57.9% | +2.3% |
| 1998 | 59.2% | +2.2% |
| 1999 | 60.4% | +2.1% |
| 2000 | 61.6% | +2.0% |
| 2001 | 62.7% | +1.7% |
| 2002 | 63.7% | +1.7% |
| 2003 | 64.8% | +1.7% |
| 2004 | 65.8% | +1.6% |
| 2005 | 66.9% | +1.6% |
| 2006 | 67.9% | +1.6% |
| 2007 | 69.0% | +1.6% |
| 2008 | 70.1% | +1.5% |
| 2009 | 71.1% | +1.5% |
| 2010 | 72.2% | +1.5% |
| 2011 | 72.5% | +0.5% |
| 2012 | 72.9% | +0.5% |
| 2013 | 73.3% | +0.5% |
| 2014 | 73.6% | +0.5% |
| 2015 | 74.0% | +0.5% |
| 2016 | 74.3% | +0.5% |
| 2017 | 74.7% | +0.5% |
| 2018 | 75.1% | +0.5% |
| 2019 | 75.4% | +0.5% |
| 2020 | 75.8% | +0.5% |
| 2021 | 76.1% | +0.4% |
| 2022 | 76.5% | +0.4% |
| 2023 | 76.8% | +0.4% |
| 2024 | 77.1% | +0.4% |
| 2025 | 77.4% | +0.4% |
Malaysia compared with similar countries
- Malaysia's 77.4% is above the median for upper middle income countries, which is 69.2%, 1.1× the median. (52 countries reporting)
- Malaysia's 77.4% is above the median for East Asia & Pacific, which is 59.0%, 1.3× the median. (27 countries reporting)
Biggest year-on-year movements
Years where Share of population living in urbanized areas in Malaysia changed far more than this series normally does. A large move can be a real event or a change in how the figure was measured — the source note below says who published it.
| Year | Change | From | To |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1100 | +200.0% | 0.0% | 0.0% |
| 1200 | +200.0% | 0.0% | 0.0% |
| 1300 | +200.0% | 0.0% | 0.0% |
| 1400 | +200.0% | 0.0% | 0.1% |
| 1500 | +200.0% | 0.1% | 0.2% |
| 1600 | +200.0% | 0.2% | 0.7% |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1000s | 0.0% | 0.0% | 0.0% | 1 |
| 1100s | 0.0% | 0.0% | 0.0% | 1 |
| 1200s | 0.0% | 0.0% | 0.0% | 1 |
| 1300s | 0.0% | 0.0% | 0.0% | 1 |
| 1400s | 0.1% | 0.1% | 0.1% | 1 |
| 1500s | 0.2% | 0.2% | 0.2% | 1 |
| 1600s | 0.7% | 0.7% | 0.7% | 1 |
| 1700s | 2.0% | 2.0% | 2.0% | 1 |
| 1710s | 2.3% | 2.3% | 2.3% | 1 |
| 1720s | 2.5% | 2.5% | 2.5% | 1 |
| 1730s | 2.8% | 2.8% | 2.8% | 1 |
| 1740s | 3.0% | 3.0% | 3.0% | 1 |
| 1750s | 3.3% | 3.3% | 3.3% | 1 |
| 1760s | 3.6% | 3.6% | 3.6% | 1 |
| 1770s | 4.0% | 4.0% | 4.0% | 1 |
| 1780s | 4.3% | 4.3% | 4.3% | 1 |
| 1790s | 4.7% | 4.7% | 4.7% | 1 |
| 1800s | 5.2% | 5.2% | 5.2% | 1 |
| 1810s | 5.7% | 5.7% | 5.7% | 1 |
| 1820s | 6.2% | 6.2% | 6.2% | 1 |
| 1830s | 6.8% | 6.8% | 6.8% | 1 |
| 1840s | 7.5% | 7.5% | 7.5% | 1 |
| 1850s | 8.2% | 8.2% | 8.2% | 1 |
| 1860s | 9.0% | 9.0% | 9.0% | 1 |
| 1870s | 9.8% | 9.8% | 9.8% | 1 |
| 1880s | 10.8% | 10.8% | 10.8% | 1 |
| 1890s | 11.8% | 11.8% | 11.8% | 1 |
| 1900s | 12.9% | 12.9% | 12.9% | 1 |
| 1910s | 14.2% | 14.2% | 14.2% | 1 |
| 1920s | 15.5% | 15.5% | 15.5% | 1 |
| 1930s | 17.0% | 17.0% | 17.0% | 1 |
| 1940s | 18.6% | 18.6% | 18.6% | 1 |
| 1950s | 23.0% | 20.4% | 25.9% | 10 |
| 1960s | 29.6% | 26.5% | 32.8% | 10 |
| 1970s | 37.1% | 33.6% | 40.9% | 10 |
| 1980s | 45.2% | 41.8% | 48.7% | 10 |
| 1990s | 54.7% | 49.5% | 60.4% | 10 |
| 2000s | 66.4% | 61.6% | 71.1% | 10 |
| 2010s | 73.8% | 72.2% | 75.4% | 10 |
| 2020s | 76.6% | 75.8% | 77.4% | 6 |
Countries ranked near Malaysia
More population data for Malaysia
- Population regions with projections, annual growth rate -0.2671 % change on previous year (2100)
- Urban and rural population 2050, annual growth rate -5.88 % change on previous year (2050)
- Population long run with projections, annual growth rate -0.2671 % change on previous year (2100)
- Un population 2024 vs 2022, annual growth rate -0.2686 % change on previous year (2100)
- Africa's Development Dynamics (AfDD) Table 05 - Demographic estimates 41,032 Persons (2050)
- Africa's Development Dynamics (AfDD) Table 03 - Annual population 0.8625 Percent per annum (2030)
- Projected population under age 5, annual growth rate -0.1472 % change on previous year (2100)
- World population growth -0.3% (2100)
- Population density 134 people per km² (2100)
- Number of children under 5, by world region 1.91 million people (2100)
Frequently asked questions
- What is share of population living in urbanized areas in Malaysia?
- Share of population living in urbanized areas in Malaysia was 77.4% in 2025, according to HYDE (2025) – with minor processing by Our World in Data.
- What is the highest share of population living in urbanized areas recorded in Malaysia?
- The highest recorded value was 77.4% in 2025.
- What is the lowest share of population living in urbanized areas recorded in Malaysia?
- The lowest recorded value was 0.0% in 1000.
- How does Malaysia rank for share of population living in urbanized areas?
- Malaysia ranks 62nd out of 202 countries with data for 2025.
- Is share of population living in urbanized areas rising or falling in Malaysia?
- Over the last ten years it is up 4.7%. The long-run trend across the full record is volatile.
- Where does this Malaysia data come from?
- The figures come from HYDE (2025) – with minor processing by Our World in Data, published as part of Share of population living in urbanized areas. Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
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About this data
Share of population living in urban areas in a country over time.