Population by income level in Malaysia
Malaysia: Population by income level was 35.98 million in 2025. ▲ Rising
Latest (2025)
35.98 million
Change on year
up 1.2%
World rank
45th
of 215 countries
All-time high
35.98 million
in 2025
All-time low
7.96 million
in 1960
Years of data
66
1960–2025
Population by income level in Malaysia, 1960–2025
Source: United Nations Population Division, national statistical offices, and Eurostat, via World Bank (2026) – processed by Our World in Data.
Analysis
In 2025, population by income level in Malaysia stood at 35.98 million. That is the highest value across all 66 years on record.
The figure is up 1.2% on the previous year and up 15.2% over ten years.
Over the whole period, population by income level in Malaysia peaked at 35.98 million in 2025 and was at its lowest, 7.96 million, in 1960.
That places Malaysia 45th out of 215 countries with data for 2025, putting it in the top quarter.
The long-run direction has been consistently rising across the 66 years of available data.
Population by income level in Malaysia, year by year
| Year | Value | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1960 | 7.96 million | — |
| 1961 | 8.16 million | +2.6% |
| 1962 | 8.38 million | +2.6% |
| 1963 | 8.60 million | +2.6% |
| 1964 | 8.83 million | +2.6% |
| 1965 | 9.06 million | +2.6% |
| 1966 | 9.28 million | +2.5% |
| 1967 | 9.51 million | +2.4% |
| 1968 | 9.73 million | +2.3% |
| 1969 | 9.95 million | +2.3% |
| 1970 | 10.18 million | +2.3% |
| 1971 | 10.42 million | +2.4% |
| 1972 | 10.68 million | +2.4% |
| 1973 | 10.94 million | +2.4% |
| 1974 | 11.20 million | +2.4% |
| 1975 | 11.47 million | +2.4% |
| 1976 | 11.75 million | +2.4% |
| 1977 | 12.04 million | +2.4% |
| 1978 | 12.33 million | +2.4% |
| 1979 | 12.63 million | +2.4% |
| 1980 | 12.98 million | +2.8% |
| 1981 | 13.40 million | +3.2% |
| 1982 | 13.83 million | +3.2% |
| 1983 | 14.29 million | +3.3% |
| 1984 | 14.76 million | +3.3% |
| 1985 | 15.25 million | +3.3% |
| 1986 | 15.76 million | +3.3% |
| 1987 | 16.28 million | +3.3% |
| 1988 | 16.80 million | +3.2% |
| 1989 | 17.32 million | +3.1% |
| 1990 | 17.83 million | +3.0% |
| 1991 | 18.34 million | +2.9% |
| 1992 | 18.83 million | +2.7% |
| 1993 | 19.32 million | +2.6% |
| 1994 | 19.82 million | +2.6% |
| 1995 | 20.33 million | +2.6% |
| 1996 | 20.85 million | +2.6% |
| 1997 | 21.38 million | +2.5% |
| 1998 | 21.91 million | +2.5% |
| 1999 | 22.44 million | +2.4% |
| 2000 | 22.97 million | +2.4% |
| 2001 | 23.53 million | +2.4% |
| 2002 | 24.10 million | +2.4% |
| 2003 | 24.68 million | +2.4% |
| 2004 | 25.26 million | +2.3% |
| 2005 | 25.84 million | +2.3% |
| 2006 | 26.42 million | +2.3% |
| 2007 | 27.00 million | +2.2% |
| 2008 | 27.57 million | +2.1% |
| 2009 | 28.12 million | +2.0% |
| 2010 | 28.66 million | +1.9% |
| 2011 | 29.16 million | +1.8% |
| 2012 | 29.66 million | +1.7% |
| 2013 | 30.17 million | +1.7% |
| 2014 | 30.70 million | +1.7% |
| 2015 | 31.23 million | +1.7% |
| 2016 | 31.79 million | +1.8% |
| 2017 | 32.36 million | +1.8% |
| 2018 | 32.91 million | +1.7% |
| 2019 | 33.44 million | +1.6% |
| 2020 | 33.89 million | +1.3% |
| 2021 | 34.28 million | +1.2% |
| 2022 | 34.70 million | +1.2% |
| 2023 | 35.13 million | +1.2% |
| 2024 | 35.56 million | +1.2% |
| 2025 | 35.98 million | +1.2% |
Malaysia compared with similar countries
- Malaysia's 35.98 million is above the median for upper middle income countries, which is 6.78 million, 5.3× the median. (58 countries reporting)
- Malaysia's 35.98 million is above the median for East Asia & Pacific, which is 1.42 million, 25.4× the median. (37 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1960s | 8.95 million | 7.96 million | 9.95 million | 10 |
| 1970s | 11.36 million | 10.18 million | 12.63 million | 10 |
| 1980s | 15.07 million | 12.98 million | 17.32 million | 10 |
| 1990s | 20.11 million | 17.83 million | 22.44 million | 10 |
| 2000s | 25.55 million | 22.97 million | 28.12 million | 10 |
| 2010s | 31.01 million | 28.66 million | 33.44 million | 10 |
| 2020s | 34.92 million | 33.89 million | 35.98 million | 6 |
Countries ranked near Malaysia
- 42 Uzbekistan 37.05 million compare
- 43 Saudi Arabia 36.97 million compare
- 44 Poland 36.44 million compare
- 46 Mozambique 35.63 million compare
- 47 Ghana 35.06 million compare
- 48 Peru 34.58 million compare
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 population by income level in Malaysia?
- Population by income level in Malaysia was 35.98 million in 2025, according to United Nations Population Division, national statistical offices, and Eurostat, via World Bank (2026) – processed by Our World in Data.
- What is the highest population by income level recorded in Malaysia?
- The highest recorded value was 35.98 million in 2025.
- What is the lowest population by income level recorded in Malaysia?
- The lowest recorded value was 7.96 million in 1960.
- How does Malaysia rank for population by income level?
- Malaysia ranks 45th out of 215 countries with data for 2025.
- Is population by income level rising or falling in Malaysia?
- Over the last ten years it is up 15.2%. The long-run trend across the full record is rising.
- Where does this Malaysia data come from?
- The figures come from United Nations Population Division, national statistical offices, and Eurostat, via World Bank (2026) – processed by Our World in Data, published as part of Population by income level. Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
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About this data
Total population, differentiated by World Bank income level.