Migrant populations in Malaysia
Malaysia: Migrant populations was 3.81 million in 2024. ▲ Rising
Latest (2024)
3.81 million
World rank
18th
of 228 countries
All-time high
3.81 million
in 2024
All-time low
1.03 million
in 1990
Years of data
8
1990–2024
Migrant populations in Malaysia, 1990–2024
Source: Our World in Data.
Analysis
The most recent figure for migrant populations in Malaysia is 3.81 million, measured in 2024. That is the highest value across all 8 years on record.
That represents a change of up 8.3% over ten years.
Over the whole period, migrant populations in Malaysia peaked at 3.81 million in 2024 and was at its lowest, 1.03 million, in 1990.
That places Malaysia 18th out of 228 countries with data for 2024, putting it in the top 10%.
Migrant populations in Malaysia, year by year
| Year | Value | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1990 | 1.03 million | — |
| 1995 | 1.31 million | +27.8% |
| 2000 | 1.61 million | +22.9% |
| 2005 | 2.17 million | +34.7% |
| 2010 | 3.09 million | +42.0% |
| 2015 | 3.51 million | +13.8% |
| 2020 | 3.72 million | +5.8% |
| 2024 | 3.81 million | +2.4% |
Malaysia compared with similar countries
- Malaysia's 3.81 million is above the median for upper middle income countries, which is 184,522, 20.6× the median. (58 countries reporting)
- Malaysia's 3.81 million is above the median for East Asia & Pacific, which is 51,446, 74.0× the median. (37 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1990s | 1.17 million | 1.03 million | 1.31 million | 2 |
| 2000s | 1.89 million | 1.61 million | 2.17 million | 2 |
| 2010s | 3.30 million | 3.09 million | 3.51 million | 2 |
| 2020s | 3.76 million | 3.72 million | 3.81 million | 2 |
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)
- Population growth rate -0.278 (2100)
- Population density 134 (2100)
- Projected population under age 5 1.91 million (2100)
Frequently asked questions
- What is migrant populations in Malaysia?
- Migrant populations in Malaysia was 3.81 million in 2024, according to Our World in Data.
- What is the highest migrant populations recorded in Malaysia?
- The highest recorded value was 3.81 million in 2024.
- What is the lowest migrant populations recorded in Malaysia?
- The lowest recorded value was 1.03 million in 1990.
- How does Malaysia rank for migrant populations?
- Malaysia ranks 18th out of 228 countries with data for 2024.
- Is migrant populations rising or falling in Malaysia?
- Over the last ten years it is up 8.3%. The long-run trend across the full record is rising.
- Where does this Malaysia data come from?
- The figures come from Our World in Data, published as part of Migrant populations. Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
Download this data
CSV · JSON — 8 observations, free to reuse under CC BY 4.0 (Our World in Data).