Share of the population living in cities in Malaysia
Malaysia: Share of the population living in cities was 55.03 in 2020. ◆ Volatile
Latest (2020)
55.03
World rank
40th
of 236 countries
All-time high
55.03
in 2020
All-time low
4.57
in 1950
Years of data
15
1950–2020
Share of the population living in cities in Malaysia, 1950–2020
Source: Our World in Data.
Analysis
In 2020, share of the population living in cities in Malaysia stood at 55.03. That is the highest value across all 15 years on record.
The figure is up 12.8% over ten years.
Over the whole period, share of the population living in cities in Malaysia peaked at 55.03 in 2020 and was at its lowest, 4.57, in 1950.
That places Malaysia 40th out of 236 countries with data for 2020, putting it in the top quarter.
The series is highly variable year to year, so single readings are best treated with caution.
Share of the population living in cities in Malaysia, year by year
| Year | Value | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1950 | 4.57 | — |
| 1955 | 6.53 | +43.0% |
| 1960 | 8.02 | +22.8% |
| 1965 | 10.91 | +36.1% |
| 1970 | 13.24 | +21.3% |
| 1975 | 18.52 | +39.9% |
| 1980 | 24.67 | +33.2% |
| 1985 | 30.84 | +25.0% |
| 1990 | 35.81 | +16.1% |
| 1995 | 39.28 | +9.7% |
| 2000 | 44.05 | +12.2% |
| 2005 | 46.58 | +5.7% |
| 2010 | 48.79 | +4.7% |
| 2015 | 52.54 | +7.7% |
| 2020 | 55.03 | +4.7% |
Malaysia compared with similar countries
- Malaysia's 55.03 is above the median for upper middle income countries, which is 42.27, 1.3× the median. (58 countries reporting)
- Malaysia's 55.03 is above the median for East Asia & Pacific, which is 30.69, 1.8× the median. (37 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1950s | 5.55 | 4.57 | 6.53 | 2 |
| 1960s | 9.46 | 8.02 | 10.91 | 2 |
| 1970s | 15.88 | 13.24 | 18.52 | 2 |
| 1980s | 27.76 | 24.67 | 30.84 | 2 |
| 1990s | 37.55 | 35.81 | 39.28 | 2 |
| 2000s | 45.32 | 44.05 | 46.58 | 2 |
| 2010s | 50.67 | 48.79 | 52.54 | 2 |
| 2020s | 55.03 | 55.03 | 55.03 | 1 |
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 share of the population living in cities in Malaysia?
- Share of the population living in cities in Malaysia was 55.03 in 2020, according to Our World in Data.
- What is the highest share of the population living in cities recorded in Malaysia?
- The highest recorded value was 55.03 in 2020.
- What is the lowest share of the population living in cities recorded in Malaysia?
- The lowest recorded value was 4.57 in 1950.
- How does Malaysia rank for share of the population living in cities?
- Malaysia ranks 40th out of 236 countries with data for 2020.
- Is share of the population living in cities rising or falling in Malaysia?
- Over the last ten years it is up 12.8%. 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 Share of the population living in cities. 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).