Population in Malaysia
Malaysia: Population was 35.13 million people in 2023. ◆ Volatile
Latest (2023)
35.13 million people
Change on year
up 1.2%
World rank
45th
of 239 countries
All-time high
35.13 million people
in 2023
All-time low
200,000 people
in 1000
Years of data
241
1000–2023
Population in Malaysia, 1000–2023
Source: HYDE (2023); Gapminder (2022); UN WPP (2024) – with major processing by Our World in Data. Measured in people.
Analysis
The most recent figure for population in Malaysia is 35.13 million people, measured in 2023. That is the highest value across all 241 years on record.
That represents a change of up 1.2% on the previous year and up 16.4% over ten years.
Over the whole period, population in Malaysia peaked at 35.13 million people in 2023 and was at its lowest, 200,000 people, in 1000.
That places Malaysia 45th out of 239 countries with data for 2023, putting it in the top quarter.
The series is highly variable year to year, so single readings are best treated with caution.
Population in Malaysia, year by year
| Year | people | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1000 | 200,000 people | — |
| 1100 | 239,200 people | +19.6% |
| 1200 | 278,400 people | +16.4% |
| 1300 | 317,600 people | +14.1% |
| 1400 | 356,800 people | +12.3% |
| 1500 | 396,000 people | +11.0% |
| 1600 | 495,000 people | +25.0% |
| 1700 | 594,000 people | +20.0% |
| 1710 | 614,600 people | +3.5% |
| 1720 | 635,200 people | +3.4% |
| 1730 | 655,800 people | +3.2% |
| 1740 | 676,400 people | +3.1% |
| 1750 | 697,000 people | +3.0% |
| 1760 | 717,600 people | +3.0% |
| 1770 | 738,200 people | +2.9% |
| 1780 | 758,800 people | +2.8% |
| 1790 | 779,400 people | +2.7% |
| 1800 | 287,000 people | -63.2% |
| 1801 | 287,000 people | +0.0% |
| 1802 | 287,000 people | +0.0% |
| 1803 | 287,000 people | +0.0% |
| 1804 | 287,000 people | +0.0% |
| 1805 | 287,000 people | +0.0% |
| 1806 | 287,000 people | +0.0% |
| 1807 | 287,000 people | +0.0% |
| 1808 | 287,000 people | +0.0% |
| 1809 | 287,000 people | +0.0% |
| 1810 | 287,000 people | +0.0% |
| 1811 | 287,000 people | +0.0% |
| 1812 | 287,000 people | +0.0% |
| 1813 | 287,000 people | +0.0% |
| 1814 | 287,000 people | +0.0% |
| 1815 | 287,000 people | +0.0% |
| 1816 | 287,000 people | +0.0% |
| 1817 | 287,000 people | +0.0% |
| 1818 | 287,000 people | +0.0% |
| 1819 | 288,186 people | +0.4% |
| 1820 | 290,582 people | +0.8% |
| 1821 | 294,213 people | +1.2% |
| 1822 | 299,105 people | +1.7% |
| 1823 | 305,283 people | +2.1% |
| 1824 | 311,589 people | +2.1% |
| 1825 | 318,026 people | +2.1% |
| 1826 | 324,595 people | +2.1% |
| 1827 | 331,300 people | +2.1% |
| 1828 | 338,144 people | +2.1% |
| 1829 | 345,129 people | +2.1% |
| 1830 | 352,258 people | +2.1% |
| 1831 | 359,535 people | +2.1% |
| 1832 | 366,962 people | +2.1% |
| 1833 | 374,542 people | +2.1% |
| 1834 | 382,279 people | +2.1% |
| 1835 | 390,176 people | +2.1% |
| 1836 | 398,236 people | +2.1% |
| 1837 | 406,462 people | +2.1% |
| 1838 | 414,858 people | +2.1% |
| 1839 | 423,428 people | +2.1% |
| 1840 | 432,175 people | +2.1% |
| 1841 | 441,102 people | +2.1% |
| 1842 | 450,214 people | +2.1% |
| 1843 | 459,514 people | +2.1% |
| 1844 | 469,006 people | +2.1% |
| 1845 | 478,694 people | +2.1% |
| 1846 | 488,583 people | +2.1% |
| 1847 | 498,675 people | +2.1% |
| 1848 | 508,977 people | +2.1% |
| 1849 | 519,506 people | +2.1% |
| 1850 | 530,268 people | +2.1% |
| 1851 | 540,640 people | +2.0% |
| 1852 | 551,230 people | +2.0% |
| 1853 | 562,041 people | +2.0% |
| 1854 | 573,064 people | +2.0% |
| 1855 | 584,302 people | +2.0% |
| 1856 | 595,760 people | +2.0% |
| 1857 | 607,441 people | +2.0% |
| 1858 | 619,351 people | +2.0% |
| 1859 | 631,494 people | +2.0% |
| 1860 | 643,873 people | +2.0% |
| 1861 | 656,494 people | +2.0% |
| 1862 | 669,362 people | +2.0% |
| 1863 | 682,481 people | +2.0% |
| 1864 | 695,857 people | +2.0% |
| 1865 | 709,493 people | +2.0% |
| 1866 | 723,396 people | +2.0% |
| 1867 | 737,570 people | +2.0% |
| 1868 | 752,020 people | +2.0% |
| 1869 | 768,940 people | +2.2% |
| 1870 | 788,448 people | +2.5% |
| 1871 | 810,668 people | +2.8% |
| 1872 | 835,729 people | +3.1% |
| 1873 | 863,764 people | +3.4% |
| 1874 | 892,739 people | +3.4% |
| 1875 | 922,684 people | +3.4% |
| 1876 | 953,632 people | +3.4% |
| 1877 | 985,617 people | +3.4% |
| 1878 | 1.02 million people | +3.4% |
| 1879 | 1.05 million people | +3.4% |
| 1880 | 1.09 million people | +3.4% |
| 1881 | 1.12 million people | +3.4% |
| 1882 | 1.16 million people | +3.4% |
| 1883 | 1.20 million people | +3.4% |
| 1884 | 1.24 million people | +3.4% |
| 1885 | 1.28 million people | +3.4% |
| 1886 | 1.33 million people | +3.4% |
| 1887 | 1.37 million people | +3.4% |
| 1888 | 1.42 million people | +3.4% |
| 1889 | 1.46 million people | +3.4% |
| 1890 | 1.51 million people | +3.4% |
| 1891 | 1.56 million people | +3.4% |
| 1892 | 1.62 million people | +3.4% |
| 1893 | 1.67 million people | +3.4% |
| 1894 | 1.73 million people | +3.4% |
| 1895 | 1.78 million people | +3.4% |
| 1896 | 1.84 million people | +3.4% |
| 1897 | 1.91 million people | +3.4% |
| 1898 | 1.97 million people | +3.4% |
| 1899 | 2.03 million people | +3.2% |
| 1900 | 2.09 million people | +3.0% |
| 1901 | 2.15 million people | +2.8% |
| 1902 | 2.21 million people | +2.7% |
| 1903 | 2.27 million people | +2.5% |
| 1904 | 2.32 million people | +2.5% |
| 1905 | 2.38 million people | +2.5% |
| 1906 | 2.44 million people | +2.5% |
| 1907 | 2.50 million people | +2.5% |
| 1908 | 2.56 million people | +2.5% |
| 1909 | 2.62 million people | +2.4% |
| 1910 | 2.68 million people | +2.3% |
| 1911 | 2.74 million people | +2.1% |
| 1912 | 2.80 million people | +2.0% |
| 1913 | 2.85 million people | +1.9% |
| 1914 | 2.91 million people | +1.9% |
| 1915 | 2.96 million people | +1.9% |
| 1916 | 3.02 million people | +1.9% |
| 1917 | 3.08 million people | +1.9% |
| 1918 | 3.14 million people | +2.1% |
| 1919 | 3.21 million people | +2.1% |
| 1920 | 3.27 million people | +2.1% |
| 1921 | 3.34 million people | +2.2% |
| 1922 | 3.42 million people | +2.2% |
| 1923 | 3.49 million people | +2.2% |
| 1924 | 3.57 million people | +2.2% |
| 1925 | 3.65 million people | +2.2% |
| 1926 | 3.73 million people | +2.2% |
| 1927 | 3.81 million people | +2.2% |
| 1928 | 3.90 million people | +2.2% |
| 1929 | 3.98 million people | +2.2% |
| 1930 | 4.07 million people | +2.2% |
| 1931 | 4.16 million people | +2.1% |
| 1932 | 4.24 million people | +2.1% |
| 1933 | 4.33 million people | +2.1% |
| 1934 | 4.43 million people | +2.1% |
| 1935 | 4.52 million people | +2.1% |
| 1936 | 4.61 million people | +2.1% |
| 1937 | 4.71 million people | +2.1% |
| 1938 | 4.81 million people | +2.1% |
| 1939 | 4.91 million people | +2.0% |
| 1940 | 5.00 million people | +1.9% |
| 1941 | 5.09 million people | +1.9% |
| 1942 | 5.19 million people | +1.8% |
| 1943 | 5.27 million people | +1.7% |
| 1944 | 5.36 million people | +1.7% |
| 1945 | 5.45 million people | +1.7% |
| 1946 | 5.55 million people | +1.7% |
| 1947 | 5.64 million people | +1.7% |
| 1948 | 5.74 million people | +1.7% |
| 1949 | 5.85 million people | +1.9% |
| 1950 | 6.10 million people | +4.3% |
| 1951 | 6.26 million people | +2.6% |
| 1952 | 6.42 million people | +2.6% |
| 1953 | 6.59 million people | +2.7% |
| 1954 | 6.77 million people | +2.7% |
| 1955 | 6.96 million people | +2.8% |
| 1956 | 7.16 million people | +2.8% |
| 1957 | 7.36 million people | +2.9% |
| 1958 | 7.56 million people | +2.7% |
| 1959 | 7.76 million people | +2.6% |
| 1960 | 7.96 million people | +2.6% |
| 1961 | 8.16 million people | +2.6% |
| 1962 | 8.38 million people | +2.6% |
| 1963 | 8.60 million people | +2.6% |
| 1964 | 8.83 million people | +2.6% |
| 1965 | 9.06 million people | +2.6% |
| 1966 | 9.28 million people | +2.5% |
| 1967 | 9.51 million people | +2.4% |
| 1968 | 9.73 million people | +2.3% |
| 1969 | 9.95 million people | +2.3% |
| 1970 | 10.18 million people | +2.3% |
| 1971 | 10.42 million people | +2.4% |
| 1972 | 10.68 million people | +2.4% |
| 1973 | 10.94 million people | +2.4% |
| 1974 | 11.20 million people | +2.4% |
| 1975 | 11.47 million people | +2.4% |
| 1976 | 11.75 million people | +2.4% |
| 1977 | 12.04 million people | +2.4% |
| 1978 | 12.33 million people | +2.4% |
| 1979 | 12.63 million people | +2.4% |
| 1980 | 12.98 million people | +2.8% |
| 1981 | 13.40 million people | +3.2% |
| 1982 | 13.83 million people | +3.2% |
| 1983 | 14.29 million people | +3.3% |
| 1984 | 14.76 million people | +3.3% |
| 1985 | 15.25 million people | +3.3% |
| 1986 | 15.76 million people | +3.3% |
| 1987 | 16.28 million people | +3.3% |
| 1988 | 16.80 million people | +3.2% |
| 1989 | 17.32 million people | +3.1% |
| 1990 | 17.83 million people | +3.0% |
| 1991 | 18.34 million people | +2.9% |
| 1992 | 18.83 million people | +2.7% |
| 1993 | 19.32 million people | +2.6% |
| 1994 | 19.82 million people | +2.6% |
| 1995 | 20.33 million people | +2.6% |
| 1996 | 20.85 million people | +2.6% |
| 1997 | 21.38 million people | +2.5% |
| 1998 | 21.91 million people | +2.5% |
| 1999 | 22.44 million people | +2.4% |
| 2000 | 22.97 million people | +2.4% |
| 2001 | 23.53 million people | +2.4% |
| 2002 | 24.10 million people | +2.4% |
| 2003 | 24.68 million people | +2.4% |
| 2004 | 25.26 million people | +2.3% |
| 2005 | 25.84 million people | +2.3% |
| 2006 | 26.42 million people | +2.3% |
| 2007 | 27.00 million people | +2.2% |
| 2008 | 27.57 million people | +2.1% |
| 2009 | 28.12 million people | +2.0% |
| 2010 | 28.66 million people | +1.9% |
| 2011 | 29.16 million people | +1.8% |
| 2012 | 29.66 million people | +1.7% |
| 2013 | 30.17 million people | +1.7% |
| 2014 | 30.70 million people | +1.7% |
| 2015 | 31.23 million people | +1.7% |
| 2016 | 31.79 million people | +1.8% |
| 2017 | 32.36 million people | +1.8% |
| 2018 | 32.91 million people | +1.7% |
| 2019 | 33.44 million people | +1.6% |
| 2020 | 33.89 million people | +1.3% |
| 2021 | 34.28 million people | +1.2% |
| 2022 | 34.70 million people | +1.2% |
| 2023 | 35.13 million people | +1.2% |
Malaysia compared with similar countries
- Malaysia's 35.13 million people is above the median for upper middle income countries, which is 6.81 million people, 5.2× the median. (58 countries reporting)
- Malaysia's 35.13 million people is above the median for East Asia & Pacific, which is 1.38 million people, 25.4× the median. (37 countries reporting)
Biggest year-on-year movements
Years where Population 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1800 | -63.2% | 779,400 people | 287,000 people |
| 1600 | +25.0% | 396,000 people | 495,000 people |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1000s | 200,000 people | 200,000 people | 200,000 people | 1 |
| 1100s | 239,200 people | 239,200 people | 239,200 people | 1 |
| 1200s | 278,400 people | 278,400 people | 278,400 people | 1 |
| 1300s | 317,600 people | 317,600 people | 317,600 people | 1 |
| 1400s | 356,800 people | 356,800 people | 356,800 people | 1 |
| 1500s | 396,000 people | 396,000 people | 396,000 people | 1 |
| 1600s | 495,000 people | 495,000 people | 495,000 people | 1 |
| 1700s | 594,000 people | 594,000 people | 594,000 people | 1 |
| 1710s | 614,600 people | 614,600 people | 614,600 people | 1 |
| 1720s | 635,200 people | 635,200 people | 635,200 people | 1 |
| 1730s | 655,800 people | 655,800 people | 655,800 people | 1 |
| 1740s | 676,400 people | 676,400 people | 676,400 people | 1 |
| 1750s | 697,000 people | 697,000 people | 697,000 people | 1 |
| 1760s | 717,600 people | 717,600 people | 717,600 people | 1 |
| 1770s | 738,200 people | 738,200 people | 738,200 people | 1 |
| 1780s | 758,800 people | 758,800 people | 758,800 people | 1 |
| 1790s | 779,400 people | 779,400 people | 779,400 people | 1 |
| 1800s | 287,000 people | 287,000 people | 287,000 people | 10 |
| 1810s | 287,119 people | 287,000 people | 288,186 people | 10 |
| 1820s | 315,797 people | 290,582 people | 345,129 people | 10 |
| 1830s | 386,874 people | 352,258 people | 423,428 people | 10 |
| 1840s | 474,645 people | 432,175 people | 519,506 people | 10 |
| 1850s | 579,559 people | 530,268 people | 631,494 people | 10 |
| 1860s | 703,949 people | 643,873 people | 768,940 people | 10 |
| 1870s | 912,479 people | 788,448 people | 1.05 million people | 10 |
| 1880s | 1.27 million people | 1.09 million people | 1.46 million people | 10 |
| 1890s | 1.76 million people | 1.51 million people | 2.03 million people | 10 |
| 1900s | 2.36 million people | 2.09 million people | 2.62 million people | 10 |
| 1910s | 2.94 million people | 2.68 million people | 3.21 million people | 10 |
| 1920s | 3.62 million people | 3.27 million people | 3.98 million people | 10 |
| 1930s | 4.48 million people | 4.07 million people | 4.91 million people | 10 |
| 1940s | 5.42 million people | 5.00 million people | 5.85 million people | 10 |
| 1950s | 6.89 million people | 6.10 million people | 7.76 million people | 10 |
| 1960s | 8.95 million people | 7.96 million people | 9.95 million people | 10 |
| 1970s | 11.36 million people | 10.18 million people | 12.63 million people | 10 |
| 1980s | 15.07 million people | 12.98 million people | 17.32 million people | 10 |
| 1990s | 20.11 million people | 17.83 million people | 22.44 million people | 10 |
| 2000s | 25.55 million people | 22.97 million people | 28.12 million people | 10 |
| 2010s | 31.01 million people | 28.66 million people | 33.44 million people | 10 |
| 2020s | 34.50 million people | 33.89 million people | 35.13 million people | 4 |
Countries ranked near Malaysia
More population data for Malaysia
- Un population 2024 vs 2022, annual growth rate -0.2686 % change on previous year (2100)
- Population long run 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 regions with projections, annual growth rate -0.2671 % change on previous year (2100)
- Population growth rate, by level of development -0.3% (2100)
- Number of children under 5, by world region 1.91 million people (2100)
- Population density 134 people per km² (2100)
- World population growth -0.3% (2100)
- Projected population under age 5, annual growth rate -0.1472 % change on previous year (2100)
- Africa's Development Dynamics (AfDD) Table 03 - Annual population 0.8625 Percent per annum (2030)
Frequently asked questions
- What is population in Malaysia?
- Population in Malaysia was 35.13 million people in 2023, according to HYDE (2023); Gapminder (2022); UN WPP (2024) – with major processing by Our World in Data.
- What is the highest population recorded in Malaysia?
- The highest recorded value was 35.13 million people in 2023.
- What is the lowest population recorded in Malaysia?
- The lowest recorded value was 200,000 people in 1000.
- How does Malaysia rank for population?
- Malaysia ranks 45th out of 239 countries with data for 2023.
- Is population rising or falling in Malaysia?
- Over the last ten years it is up 16.4%. The long-run trend across the full record is volatile.
- Where does this Malaysia data come from?
- The figures come from HYDE (2023); Gapminder (2022); UN WPP (2024) – with major processing by Our World in Data, published as part of Population. Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
Download this data
CSV · JSON — 241 observations, free to reuse under CC BY 4.0 (Our World in Data).
About this data
Population by country, available from 10,000 BCE to 2023, based on data and estimates from different sources.