Population (Our World) in Malaysia
Malaysia: Population (Our World) was 35.13 million in 2023. ◆ Volatile
Latest (2023)
35.13 million
Change on year
up 1.2%
World rank
45th
of 239 countries
All-time high
35.13 million
in 2023
All-time low
200,000
in 1000
Years of data
241
1000–2023
Population in Malaysia, 1000–2023
Source: Our World in Data.
Analysis
Malaysia recorded 35.13 million for population in 2023. That is the highest value across all 241 years on record.
The figure is 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 in 2023 and was at its lowest, 200,000, in 1000.
Malaysia ranks 45th of 239 countries on this measure, in the top quarter.
The series is highly variable year to year, so single readings are best treated with caution.
Population (Our World) in Malaysia, year by year
| Year | Value | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1000 | 200,000 | — |
| 1100 | 239,200 | +19.6% |
| 1200 | 278,400 | +16.4% |
| 1300 | 317,600 | +14.1% |
| 1400 | 356,800 | +12.3% |
| 1500 | 396,000 | +11.0% |
| 1600 | 495,000 | +25.0% |
| 1700 | 594,000 | +20.0% |
| 1710 | 614,600 | +3.5% |
| 1720 | 635,200 | +3.4% |
| 1730 | 655,800 | +3.2% |
| 1740 | 676,400 | +3.1% |
| 1750 | 697,000 | +3.0% |
| 1760 | 717,600 | +3.0% |
| 1770 | 738,200 | +2.9% |
| 1780 | 758,800 | +2.8% |
| 1790 | 779,400 | +2.7% |
| 1800 | 287,000 | -63.2% |
| 1801 | 287,000 | +0.0% |
| 1802 | 287,000 | +0.0% |
| 1803 | 287,000 | +0.0% |
| 1804 | 287,000 | +0.0% |
| 1805 | 287,000 | +0.0% |
| 1806 | 287,000 | +0.0% |
| 1807 | 287,000 | +0.0% |
| 1808 | 287,000 | +0.0% |
| 1809 | 287,000 | +0.0% |
| 1810 | 287,000 | +0.0% |
| 1811 | 287,000 | +0.0% |
| 1812 | 287,000 | +0.0% |
| 1813 | 287,000 | +0.0% |
| 1814 | 287,000 | +0.0% |
| 1815 | 287,000 | +0.0% |
| 1816 | 287,000 | +0.0% |
| 1817 | 287,000 | +0.0% |
| 1818 | 287,000 | +0.0% |
| 1819 | 288,186 | +0.4% |
| 1820 | 290,582 | +0.8% |
| 1821 | 294,213 | +1.2% |
| 1822 | 299,105 | +1.7% |
| 1823 | 305,283 | +2.1% |
| 1824 | 311,589 | +2.1% |
| 1825 | 318,026 | +2.1% |
| 1826 | 324,595 | +2.1% |
| 1827 | 331,300 | +2.1% |
| 1828 | 338,144 | +2.1% |
| 1829 | 345,129 | +2.1% |
| 1830 | 352,258 | +2.1% |
| 1831 | 359,535 | +2.1% |
| 1832 | 366,962 | +2.1% |
| 1833 | 374,542 | +2.1% |
| 1834 | 382,279 | +2.1% |
| 1835 | 390,176 | +2.1% |
| 1836 | 398,236 | +2.1% |
| 1837 | 406,462 | +2.1% |
| 1838 | 414,858 | +2.1% |
| 1839 | 423,428 | +2.1% |
| 1840 | 432,175 | +2.1% |
| 1841 | 441,102 | +2.1% |
| 1842 | 450,214 | +2.1% |
| 1843 | 459,514 | +2.1% |
| 1844 | 469,006 | +2.1% |
| 1845 | 478,694 | +2.1% |
| 1846 | 488,583 | +2.1% |
| 1847 | 498,675 | +2.1% |
| 1848 | 508,977 | +2.1% |
| 1849 | 519,506 | +2.1% |
| 1850 | 530,268 | +2.1% |
| 1851 | 540,640 | +2.0% |
| 1852 | 551,230 | +2.0% |
| 1853 | 562,041 | +2.0% |
| 1854 | 573,064 | +2.0% |
| 1855 | 584,302 | +2.0% |
| 1856 | 595,760 | +2.0% |
| 1857 | 607,441 | +2.0% |
| 1858 | 619,351 | +2.0% |
| 1859 | 631,494 | +2.0% |
| 1860 | 643,873 | +2.0% |
| 1861 | 656,494 | +2.0% |
| 1862 | 669,362 | +2.0% |
| 1863 | 682,481 | +2.0% |
| 1864 | 695,857 | +2.0% |
| 1865 | 709,493 | +2.0% |
| 1866 | 723,396 | +2.0% |
| 1867 | 737,570 | +2.0% |
| 1868 | 752,020 | +2.0% |
| 1869 | 768,940 | +2.2% |
| 1870 | 788,448 | +2.5% |
| 1871 | 810,668 | +2.8% |
| 1872 | 835,729 | +3.1% |
| 1873 | 863,764 | +3.4% |
| 1874 | 892,739 | +3.4% |
| 1875 | 922,684 | +3.4% |
| 1876 | 953,632 | +3.4% |
| 1877 | 985,617 | +3.4% |
| 1878 | 1.02 million | +3.4% |
| 1879 | 1.05 million | +3.4% |
| 1880 | 1.09 million | +3.4% |
| 1881 | 1.12 million | +3.4% |
| 1882 | 1.16 million | +3.4% |
| 1883 | 1.20 million | +3.4% |
| 1884 | 1.24 million | +3.4% |
| 1885 | 1.28 million | +3.4% |
| 1886 | 1.33 million | +3.4% |
| 1887 | 1.37 million | +3.4% |
| 1888 | 1.42 million | +3.4% |
| 1889 | 1.46 million | +3.4% |
| 1890 | 1.51 million | +3.4% |
| 1891 | 1.56 million | +3.4% |
| 1892 | 1.62 million | +3.4% |
| 1893 | 1.67 million | +3.4% |
| 1894 | 1.73 million | +3.4% |
| 1895 | 1.78 million | +3.4% |
| 1896 | 1.84 million | +3.4% |
| 1897 | 1.91 million | +3.4% |
| 1898 | 1.97 million | +3.4% |
| 1899 | 2.03 million | +3.2% |
| 1900 | 2.09 million | +3.0% |
| 1901 | 2.15 million | +2.8% |
| 1902 | 2.21 million | +2.7% |
| 1903 | 2.27 million | +2.5% |
| 1904 | 2.32 million | +2.5% |
| 1905 | 2.38 million | +2.5% |
| 1906 | 2.44 million | +2.5% |
| 1907 | 2.50 million | +2.5% |
| 1908 | 2.56 million | +2.5% |
| 1909 | 2.62 million | +2.4% |
| 1910 | 2.68 million | +2.3% |
| 1911 | 2.74 million | +2.1% |
| 1912 | 2.80 million | +2.0% |
| 1913 | 2.85 million | +1.9% |
| 1914 | 2.91 million | +1.9% |
| 1915 | 2.96 million | +1.9% |
| 1916 | 3.02 million | +1.9% |
| 1917 | 3.08 million | +1.9% |
| 1918 | 3.14 million | +2.1% |
| 1919 | 3.21 million | +2.1% |
| 1920 | 3.27 million | +2.1% |
| 1921 | 3.34 million | +2.2% |
| 1922 | 3.42 million | +2.2% |
| 1923 | 3.49 million | +2.2% |
| 1924 | 3.57 million | +2.2% |
| 1925 | 3.65 million | +2.2% |
| 1926 | 3.73 million | +2.2% |
| 1927 | 3.81 million | +2.2% |
| 1928 | 3.90 million | +2.2% |
| 1929 | 3.98 million | +2.2% |
| 1930 | 4.07 million | +2.2% |
| 1931 | 4.16 million | +2.1% |
| 1932 | 4.24 million | +2.1% |
| 1933 | 4.33 million | +2.1% |
| 1934 | 4.43 million | +2.1% |
| 1935 | 4.52 million | +2.1% |
| 1936 | 4.61 million | +2.1% |
| 1937 | 4.71 million | +2.1% |
| 1938 | 4.81 million | +2.1% |
| 1939 | 4.91 million | +2.0% |
| 1940 | 5.00 million | +1.9% |
| 1941 | 5.09 million | +1.9% |
| 1942 | 5.19 million | +1.8% |
| 1943 | 5.27 million | +1.7% |
| 1944 | 5.36 million | +1.7% |
| 1945 | 5.45 million | +1.7% |
| 1946 | 5.55 million | +1.7% |
| 1947 | 5.64 million | +1.7% |
| 1948 | 5.74 million | +1.7% |
| 1949 | 5.85 million | +1.9% |
| 1950 | 6.10 million | +4.3% |
| 1951 | 6.26 million | +2.6% |
| 1952 | 6.42 million | +2.6% |
| 1953 | 6.59 million | +2.7% |
| 1954 | 6.77 million | +2.7% |
| 1955 | 6.96 million | +2.8% |
| 1956 | 7.16 million | +2.8% |
| 1957 | 7.36 million | +2.9% |
| 1958 | 7.56 million | +2.7% |
| 1959 | 7.76 million | +2.6% |
| 1960 | 7.96 million | +2.6% |
| 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% |
Malaysia compared with similar countries
- Malaysia's 35.13 million is above the median for upper middle income countries, which is 6.81 million, 5.2× the median. (58 countries reporting)
- Malaysia's 35.13 million is above the median for East Asia & Pacific, which is 1.38 million, 25.4× the median. (37 countries reporting)
Biggest year-on-year movements
Years where Population (Our World) 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 | 287,000 |
| 1600 | +25.0% | 396,000 | 495,000 |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1000s | 200,000 | 200,000 | 200,000 | 1 |
| 1100s | 239,200 | 239,200 | 239,200 | 1 |
| 1200s | 278,400 | 278,400 | 278,400 | 1 |
| 1300s | 317,600 | 317,600 | 317,600 | 1 |
| 1400s | 356,800 | 356,800 | 356,800 | 1 |
| 1500s | 396,000 | 396,000 | 396,000 | 1 |
| 1600s | 495,000 | 495,000 | 495,000 | 1 |
| 1700s | 594,000 | 594,000 | 594,000 | 1 |
| 1710s | 614,600 | 614,600 | 614,600 | 1 |
| 1720s | 635,200 | 635,200 | 635,200 | 1 |
| 1730s | 655,800 | 655,800 | 655,800 | 1 |
| 1740s | 676,400 | 676,400 | 676,400 | 1 |
| 1750s | 697,000 | 697,000 | 697,000 | 1 |
| 1760s | 717,600 | 717,600 | 717,600 | 1 |
| 1770s | 738,200 | 738,200 | 738,200 | 1 |
| 1780s | 758,800 | 758,800 | 758,800 | 1 |
| 1790s | 779,400 | 779,400 | 779,400 | 1 |
| 1800s | 287,000 | 287,000 | 287,000 | 10 |
| 1810s | 287,119 | 287,000 | 288,186 | 10 |
| 1820s | 315,797 | 290,582 | 345,129 | 10 |
| 1830s | 386,874 | 352,258 | 423,428 | 10 |
| 1840s | 474,645 | 432,175 | 519,506 | 10 |
| 1850s | 579,559 | 530,268 | 631,494 | 10 |
| 1860s | 703,949 | 643,873 | 768,940 | 10 |
| 1870s | 912,479 | 788,448 | 1.05 million | 10 |
| 1880s | 1.27 million | 1.09 million | 1.46 million | 10 |
| 1890s | 1.76 million | 1.51 million | 2.03 million | 10 |
| 1900s | 2.36 million | 2.09 million | 2.62 million | 10 |
| 1910s | 2.94 million | 2.68 million | 3.21 million | 10 |
| 1920s | 3.62 million | 3.27 million | 3.98 million | 10 |
| 1930s | 4.48 million | 4.07 million | 4.91 million | 10 |
| 1940s | 5.42 million | 5.00 million | 5.85 million | 10 |
| 1950s | 6.89 million | 6.10 million | 7.76 million | 10 |
| 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 | 34.50 million | 33.89 million | 35.13 million | 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)
- 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 Malaysia?
- Population in Malaysia was 35.13 million in 2023, according to Our World in Data.
- What is the highest population recorded in Malaysia?
- The highest recorded value was 35.13 million in 2023.
- What is the lowest population recorded in Malaysia?
- The lowest recorded value was 200,000 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 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).