Share of population living in urban and rural areas in Malaysia
Malaysia: Share of population living in urban and rural areas was 77.4% in 2025. ▲ Rising
Share of population living in urban and rural areas in Malaysia, 1950–2025
Source: United Nations Department of Economic and Social Affairs, Population Division (2025) – with minor processing by Our World in Data. Measured in %.
Analysis
In 2025, share of population living in urban and rural areas in Malaysia stood at 77.4%. That is the highest value across all 76 years on record.
The figure is up 0.6% on the previous year and up 5.4% over ten years.
Over the whole period, share of population living in urban and rural areas in Malaysia peaked at 77.4% in 2025 and was at its lowest, 20.6%, in 1950.
Malaysia ranks 81st of 236 countries on this measure, in the middle of the range.
The long-run direction has been consistently rising across the 76 years of available data.
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1950s | 23.3% | 20.6% | 25.7% | 10 |
| 1960s | 27.6% | 26.1% | 29.1% | 10 |
| 1970s | 31.3% | 29.4% | 33.6% | 10 |
| 1980s | 40.2% | 34.2% | 47.4% | 10 |
| 1990s | 55.1% | 49.0% | 60.9% | 10 |
| 2000s | 66.4% | 62.0% | 70.2% | 10 |
| 2010s | 73.1% | 70.9% | 74.8% | 10 |
| 2020s | 76.2% | 75.1% | 77.4% | 6 |
Countries ranked near Malaysia
More population data for Malaysia
- 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)
- Population growth rate, by level of development -0.3% (2100)
- Total fertility rate vs. contraceptive prevalence 1.54 births per woman (2024)
- Fertility rate vs. unmet need for contraception 1.54 births per woman (2024)
- Refugees by country of asylum 138,417 people (2024)
- Total fertility rate vs. wanted fertility rate 1.54 births per woman (2024)
- Fertility rate vs. Share of people who are religious 1.55 live births per woman (2023)
- Fertility rate accounting for survival until childbearing age 1.53 children per women (2023)
Frequently asked questions
- What is share of population living in urban and rural areas in Malaysia?
- Share of population living in urban and rural areas in Malaysia was 77.4% in 2025, according to United Nations Department of Economic and Social Affairs, Population Division (2025) – with minor processing by Our World in Data.
- What is the highest share of population living in urban and rural areas recorded in Malaysia?
- The highest recorded value was 77.4% in 2025.
- What is the lowest share of population living in urban and rural areas recorded in Malaysia?
- The lowest recorded value was 20.6% in 1950.
- How does Malaysia rank for share of population living in urban and rural areas?
- Malaysia ranks 81st out of 236 countries with data for 2025.
- Is share of population living in urban and rural areas rising or falling in Malaysia?
- Over the last ten years it is up 5.4%. The long-run trend across the full record is rising.
- Where does this Malaysia data come from?
- The figures come from United Nations Department of Economic and Social Affairs, Population Division (2025) – with minor processing by Our World in Data, published as part of Share of population living in urban and rural areas. Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
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About this data
Share of the population living in urban areas, based on each country's national definition.