Number of children, working-age adults, and older people in Malaysia
Malaysia: Number of children, working-age adults, and older people was 2.62 million people in 2023. ◆ Volatile
Latest (2023)
2.62 million people
Change on year
up 5.0%
World rank
44th
of 236 countries
All-time high
2.62 million people
in 2023
All-time low
224,146 people
in 1960
Years of data
74
1950–2023
Number of children, working-age adults, and older people in Malaysia, 1950–2023
Source: UN, World Population Prospects (2024) – processed by Our World in Data. Measured in people.
Analysis
The most recent figure for number of children, working-age adults, and older people in Malaysia is 2.62 million people, measured in 2023. That is the highest value across all 74 years on record.
That represents a change of up 5.0% on the previous year and up 61.0% over ten years.
Over the whole period, number of children, working-age adults, and older people in Malaysia peaked at 2.62 million people in 2023 and was at its lowest, 224,146 people, in 1960.
That places Malaysia 44th out of 236 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.
Number of children, working-age adults, and older people in Malaysia, year by year
| Year | people | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1950 | 300,505 people | — |
| 1951 | 285,871 people | -4.9% |
| 1952 | 274,810 people | -3.9% |
| 1953 | 266,133 people | -3.2% |
| 1954 | 258,192 people | -3.0% |
| 1955 | 250,470 people | -3.0% |
| 1956 | 243,011 people | -3.0% |
| 1957 | 235,596 people | -3.1% |
| 1958 | 229,217 people | -2.7% |
| 1959 | 225,362 people | -1.7% |
| 1960 | 224,146 people | -0.5% |
| 1961 | 225,439 people | +0.6% |
| 1962 | 229,382 people | +1.7% |
| 1963 | 235,079 people | +2.5% |
| 1964 | 241,171 people | +2.6% |
| 1965 | 247,225 people | +2.5% |
| 1966 | 252,990 people | +2.3% |
| 1967 | 258,172 people | +2.0% |
| 1968 | 263,701 people | +2.1% |
| 1969 | 271,362 people | +2.9% |
| 1970 | 281,683 people | +3.8% |
| 1971 | 295,118 people | +4.8% |
| 1972 | 311,950 people | +5.7% |
| 1973 | 330,528 people | +6.0% |
| 1974 | 348,699 people | +5.5% |
| 1975 | 365,662 people | +4.9% |
| 1976 | 381,424 people | +4.3% |
| 1977 | 395,939 people | +3.8% |
| 1978 | 409,931 people | +3.5% |
| 1979 | 424,744 people | +3.6% |
| 1980 | 441,219 people | +3.9% |
| 1981 | 459,089 people | +4.1% |
| 1982 | 478,087 people | +4.1% |
| 1983 | 498,000 people | +4.2% |
| 1984 | 518,123 people | +4.0% |
| 1985 | 538,171 people | +3.9% |
| 1986 | 558,265 people | +3.7% |
| 1987 | 578,208 people | +3.6% |
| 1988 | 597,992 people | +3.4% |
| 1989 | 617,307 people | +3.2% |
| 1990 | 636,089 people | +3.0% |
| 1991 | 655,493 people | +3.1% |
| 1992 | 676,226 people | +3.2% |
| 1993 | 699,634 people | +3.5% |
| 1994 | 725,213 people | +3.7% |
| 1995 | 750,701 people | +3.5% |
| 1996 | 776,574 people | +3.4% |
| 1997 | 803,968 people | +3.5% |
| 1998 | 831,936 people | +3.5% |
| 1999 | 859,576 people | +3.3% |
| 2000 | 890,145 people | +3.6% |
| 2001 | 927,428 people | +4.2% |
| 2002 | 971,369 people | +4.7% |
| 2003 | 1.02 million people | +4.9% |
| 2004 | 1.07 million people | +4.8% |
| 2005 | 1.12 million people | +4.7% |
| 2006 | 1.17 million people | +4.7% |
| 2007 | 1.23 million people | +4.8% |
| 2008 | 1.29 million people | +4.8% |
| 2009 | 1.35 million people | +4.9% |
| 2010 | 1.42 million people | +5.0% |
| 2011 | 1.48 million people | +4.8% |
| 2012 | 1.55 million people | +4.6% |
| 2013 | 1.62 million people | +4.6% |
| 2014 | 1.70 million people | +4.7% |
| 2015 | 1.78 million people | +4.7% |
| 2016 | 1.87 million people | +4.8% |
| 2017 | 1.96 million people | +5.0% |
| 2018 | 2.06 million people | +5.1% |
| 2019 | 2.17 million people | +5.1% |
| 2020 | 2.28 million people | +5.1% |
| 2021 | 2.38 million people | +4.7% |
| 2022 | 2.49 million people | +4.5% |
| 2023 | 2.62 million people | +5.0% |
Malaysia compared with similar countries
- Malaysia's 2.62 million people is above the median for upper middle income countries, which is 499,572 people, 5.2× the median. (58 countries reporting)
- Malaysia's 2.62 million people is above the median for East Asia & Pacific, which is 96,191 people, 27.2× the median. (37 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1950s | 256,917 people | 225,362 people | 300,505 people | 10 |
| 1960s | 244,867 people | 224,146 people | 271,362 people | 10 |
| 1970s | 354,568 people | 281,683 people | 424,744 people | 10 |
| 1980s | 528,446 people | 441,219 people | 617,307 people | 10 |
| 1990s | 741,541 people | 636,089 people | 859,576 people | 10 |
| 2000s | 1.10 million people | 890,145 people | 1.35 million people | 10 |
| 2010s | 1.76 million people | 1.42 million people | 2.17 million people | 10 |
| 2020s | 2.44 million people | 2.28 million people | 2.62 million people | 4 |
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 number of children, working-age adults, and older people in Malaysia?
- Number of children, working-age adults, and older people in Malaysia was 2.62 million people in 2023, according to UN, World Population Prospects (2024) – processed by Our World in Data.
- What is the highest number of children, working-age adults, and older people recorded in Malaysia?
- The highest recorded value was 2.62 million people in 2023.
- What is the lowest number of children, working-age adults, and older people recorded in Malaysia?
- The lowest recorded value was 224,146 people in 1960.
- How does Malaysia rank for number of children, working-age adults, and older people?
- Malaysia ranks 44th out of 236 countries with data for 2023.
- Is number of children, working-age adults, and older people rising or falling in Malaysia?
- Over the last ten years it is up 61.0%. The long-run trend across the full record is volatile.
- Where does this Malaysia data come from?
- The figures come from UN, World Population Prospects (2024) – processed by Our World in Data, published as part of Number of children, working-age adults, and older people. Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
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About this data
Total population, measured on 1 July of the year shown. This only includes people aged 65+.