Share of population living in cities, towns and suburbs vs. GDP per capita in Malaysia
Malaysia: Share of population living in cities, towns and suburbs vs. GDP per capita was 82.3% in 2020. ▲ Rising
Share of population living in cities, towns and suburbs vs. GDP per capita in Malaysia, 1950–2020
Source: European Commission, Joint Research Centre (JRC) (2025) – with major processing by Our World in Data. Measured in %.
Analysis
Malaysia recorded 82.3% for share of population living in cities, towns and suburbs vs. gdp per capita in 2020. That is the highest value across all 15 years on record.
That represents a change of up 2.6% over ten years.
Over the whole period, share of population living in cities, towns and suburbs vs. gdp per capita in Malaysia peaked at 82.3% in 2020 and was at its lowest, 57.8%, in 1950.
Malaysia ranks 71st of 236 countries on this measure, in the middle of the range.
The long-run direction has been consistently rising across the 15 years of available data.
Share of population living in cities, towns and suburbs vs. GDP per capita in Malaysia, year by year
| Year | % | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1950 | 57.8% | — |
| 1955 | 59.6% | +3.2% |
| 1960 | 61.6% | +3.3% |
| 1965 | 63.6% | +3.1% |
| 1970 | 65.3% | +2.7% |
| 1975 | 67.1% | +2.7% |
| 1980 | 68.2% | +1.7% |
| 1985 | 69.9% | +2.4% |
| 1990 | 71.8% | +2.8% |
| 1995 | 74.5% | +3.8% |
| 2000 | 77.0% | +3.3% |
| 2005 | 78.6% | +2.1% |
| 2010 | 80.2% | +2.0% |
| 2015 | 81.5% | +1.6% |
| 2020 | 82.3% | +1.0% |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1950s | 58.7% | 57.8% | 59.6% | 2 |
| 1960s | 62.6% | 61.6% | 63.6% | 2 |
| 1970s | 66.2% | 65.3% | 67.1% | 2 |
| 1980s | 69.0% | 68.2% | 69.9% | 2 |
| 1990s | 73.2% | 71.8% | 74.5% | 2 |
| 2000s | 77.8% | 77.0% | 78.6% | 2 |
| 2010s | 80.8% | 80.2% | 81.5% | 2 |
| 2020s | 82.3% | 82.3% | 82.3% | 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)
- 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 share of population living in cities, towns and suburbs vs. gdp per capita in Malaysia?
- Share of population living in cities, towns and suburbs vs. gdp per capita in Malaysia was 82.3% in 2020, according to European Commission, Joint Research Centre (JRC) (2025) – with major processing by Our World in Data.
- What is the highest share of population living in cities, towns and suburbs vs. gdp per capita recorded in Malaysia?
- The highest recorded value was 82.3% in 2020.
- What is the lowest share of population living in cities, towns and suburbs vs. gdp per capita recorded in Malaysia?
- The lowest recorded value was 57.8% in 1950.
- How does Malaysia rank for share of population living in cities, towns and suburbs vs. gdp per capita?
- Malaysia ranks 71st out of 236 countries with data for 2020.
- Is share of population living in cities, towns and suburbs vs. gdp per capita rising or falling in Malaysia?
- Over the last ten years it is up 2.6%. The long-run trend across the full record is rising.
- Where does this Malaysia data come from?
- The figures come from European Commission, Joint Research Centre (JRC) (2025) – with major processing by Our World in Data, published as part of Share of population living in cities, towns and suburbs vs. GDP per capita. Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
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About this data
Estimated share of the population living in urban areas (the sum of cities and towns and suburbs). Urban areas are identified using satellite imagery and population data, applying the same definitions across countries.