Rural population in Malaysia
Malaysia: Rural population was 20.8% in 2024. ▼ Falling
Rural population in Malaysia, 1970–2024
Source: UNESCO Institute for Statistics. Measured in % of total population.
Analysis
The most recent figure for rural population in Malaysia is 20.8%, measured in 2024. That is the lowest value across all 55 years on record.
The figure is down 2.3% on the previous year and down 21.3% over ten years.
Over the whole period, rural population in Malaysia peaked at 66.5% in 1970 and was at its lowest, 20.8%, in 2024.
Malaysia ranks 151st of 214 countries on this measure, in the middle of the range.
The long-run direction has been consistently falling across the 55 years of available data.
Rural population in Malaysia, year by year
| Year | % of total population | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1970 | 66.5% | — |
| 1971 | 65.7% | -1.2% |
| 1972 | 64.9% | -1.3% |
| 1973 | 64.1% | -1.3% |
| 1974 | 63.2% | -1.3% |
| 1975 | 62.3% | -1.4% |
| 1976 | 61.5% | -1.4% |
| 1977 | 60.6% | -1.4% |
| 1978 | 59.7% | -1.5% |
| 1979 | 58.8% | -1.5% |
| 1980 | 58.0% | -1.5% |
| 1981 | 57.2% | -1.3% |
| 1982 | 56.4% | -1.3% |
| 1983 | 55.7% | -1.4% |
| 1984 | 54.9% | -1.4% |
| 1985 | 54.1% | -1.4% |
| 1986 | 53.3% | -1.4% |
| 1987 | 52.5% | -1.5% |
| 1988 | 51.8% | -1.5% |
| 1989 | 51.0% | -1.5% |
| 1990 | 50.2% | -1.5% |
| 1991 | 49.4% | -1.6% |
| 1992 | 48.2% | -2.5% |
| 1993 | 46.9% | -2.7% |
| 1994 | 45.6% | -2.8% |
| 1995 | 44.3% | -2.8% |
| 1996 | 43.0% | -2.9% |
| 1997 | 41.8% | -2.9% |
| 1998 | 40.5% | -3.0% |
| 1999 | 39.3% | -3.1% |
| 2000 | 38.0% | -3.1% |
| 2001 | 37.1% | -2.5% |
| 2002 | 36.1% | -2.5% |
| 2003 | 35.2% | -2.6% |
| 2004 | 34.3% | -2.6% |
| 2005 | 33.4% | -2.6% |
| 2006 | 32.5% | -2.7% |
| 2007 | 31.6% | -2.7% |
| 2008 | 30.8% | -2.7% |
| 2009 | 29.9% | -2.8% |
| 2010 | 29.1% | -2.8% |
| 2011 | 28.4% | -2.4% |
| 2012 | 27.7% | -2.3% |
| 2013 | 27.1% | -2.4% |
| 2014 | 26.4% | -2.4% |
| 2015 | 25.8% | -2.4% |
| 2016 | 25.2% | -2.4% |
| 2017 | 24.6% | -2.4% |
| 2018 | 24.0% | -2.4% |
| 2019 | 23.4% | -2.4% |
| 2020 | 22.8% | -2.4% |
| 2021 | 22.3% | -2.3% |
| 2022 | 21.8% | -2.3% |
| 2023 | 21.3% | -2.3% |
| 2024 | 20.8% | -2.3% |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1970s | 62.7% | 58.8% | 66.5% | 10 |
| 1980s | 54.5% | 51.0% | 58.0% | 10 |
| 1990s | 44.9% | 39.3% | 50.2% | 10 |
| 2000s | 33.9% | 29.9% | 38.0% | 10 |
| 2010s | 26.2% | 23.4% | 29.1% | 10 |
| 2020s | 21.8% | 20.8% | 22.8% | 5 |
Countries ranked near Malaysia
More population data for Malaysia
- 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)
- Population growth rate by level of development -0.278 (2100)
- Africa's Development Dynamics (AfDD) Table 05 - Demographic estimates 0.8627 % change on previous year (2030)
- Fertility and wanted fertility, annual growth rate -0.4516 % change on previous year (2024)
Frequently asked questions
- What is rural population in Malaysia?
- Rural population in Malaysia was 20.8% in 2024, according to UNESCO Institute for Statistics.
- What is the highest rural population recorded in Malaysia?
- The highest recorded value was 66.5% in 1970.
- What is the lowest rural population recorded in Malaysia?
- The lowest recorded value was 20.8% in 2024.
- How does Malaysia rank for rural population?
- Malaysia ranks 151st out of 214 countries with data for 2024.
- Is rural population rising or falling in Malaysia?
- Over the last ten years it is down 21.3%. The long-run trend across the full record is falling.
- Where does this Malaysia data come from?
- The figures come from UNESCO Institute for Statistics, published as part of Rural population (% of total population). Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
Download this data
CSV · JSON — 55 observations, free to reuse under CC BY-SA 3.0 IGO (UNESCO Institute for Statistics).
About this data
February 2026 Data Release