Population in the largest city in Malaysia
Malaysia: Population in the largest city was 28.2 in 2020. ◆ Volatile
Population in the largest city in Malaysia, 1950–2020
Source: Our World in Data.
Analysis
The most recent figure for population in the largest city in Malaysia is 28.2, measured in 2020. That is the highest value across all 15 years on record.
Compared with earlier readings it is up 14.6% over ten years.
Over the whole period, population in the largest city in Malaysia peaked at 28.2 in 2020 and was at its lowest, 2.26, in 1950.
That places Malaysia 81st out of 179 countries with data for 2020, putting it in the middle of the range.
The series is highly variable year to year, so single readings are best treated with caution.
Population in the largest city in Malaysia, year by year
| Year | Value | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1950 | 2.26 | — |
| 1955 | 2.35 | +4.0% |
| 1960 | 2.67 | +13.8% |
| 1965 | 3.03 | +13.2% |
| 1970 | 3.41 | +12.5% |
| 1975 | 3.81 | +12.0% |
| 1980 | 7.99 | +109.3% |
| 1985 | 11.91 | +49.1% |
| 1990 | 16.83 | +41.4% |
| 1995 | 18.85 | +12.0% |
| 2000 | 23.43 | +24.3% |
| 2005 | 23.91 | +2.0% |
| 2010 | 24.61 | +3.0% |
| 2015 | 26.16 | +6.3% |
| 2020 | 28.2 | +7.8% |
Malaysia compared with similar countries
- Malaysia's 28.2 is above the median for upper middle income countries, which is 25.9, 1.1× the median. (47 countries reporting)
- Malaysia's 28.2 is above the median for East Asia & Pacific, which is 28.2, 1.0× the median. (23 countries reporting)
Biggest year-on-year movements
Years where Population in the largest city 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1980 | +109.3% | 3.81 | 7.99 |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1950s | 2.3 | 2.26 | 2.35 | 2 |
| 1960s | 2.85 | 2.67 | 3.03 | 2 |
| 1970s | 3.61 | 3.41 | 3.81 | 2 |
| 1980s | 9.95 | 7.99 | 11.91 | 2 |
| 1990s | 17.84 | 16.83 | 18.85 | 2 |
| 2000s | 23.67 | 23.43 | 23.91 | 2 |
| 2010s | 25.39 | 24.61 | 26.16 | 2 |
| 2020s | 28.2 | 28.2 | 28.2 | 1 |
Countries ranked near Malaysia
- 78 Belarus 28.62 compare
- 79 Tunisia 28.38 compare
- 80 Madagascar 28.35 compare
- 82 New Zealand 28.06 compare
- 83 Somalia 27.94 compare
- 84 Burkina Faso 27.7 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)
- Population growth rate -0.278 (2100)
- Population density 134 (2100)
- Projected population under age 5 1.91 million (2100)
Frequently asked questions
- What is population in the largest city in Malaysia?
- Population in the largest city in Malaysia was 28.2 in 2020, according to Our World in Data.
- What is the highest population in the largest city recorded in Malaysia?
- The highest recorded value was 28.2 in 2020.
- What is the lowest population in the largest city recorded in Malaysia?
- The lowest recorded value was 2.26 in 1950.
- How does Malaysia rank for population in the largest city?
- Malaysia ranks 81st out of 179 countries with data for 2020.
- Is population in the largest city rising or falling in Malaysia?
- Over the last ten years it is up 14.6%. The long-run trend across the full record is volatile.
- Where does this Malaysia data come from?
- The figures come from Our World in Data, published as part of Population in the largest city. Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
Download this data
CSV · JSON — 15 observations, free to reuse under CC BY 4.0 (Our World in Data).