Total population (thousands) in Malaysia
Malaysia: Total population (thousands) was 35,771 thousands in 2025. ▲ Rising
Latest (2025)
35,771 thousands
Change on year
up 1.2%
World rank
44th
of 233 countries
All-time high
35,771 thousands
in 2025
All-time low
10,060 thousands
in 1970
Years of data
56
1970–2025
Total population in Malaysia, 1970–2025
Source: UNESCO Institute for Statistics. Measured in thousands.
Analysis
In 2025, total population in Malaysia stood at 35,771 thousands. That is the highest value across all 56 years on record.
Compared with earlier readings it is up 1.2% on the previous year and up 15.5% over ten years.
Over the whole period, total population in Malaysia peaked at 35,771 thousands in 2025 and was at its lowest, 10,060 thousands, in 1970.
Malaysia ranks 44th of 233 countries on this measure, in the top quarter.
The long-run direction has been consistently rising across the 56 years of available data.
Total population (thousands) in Malaysia, year by year
| Year | thousands | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1970 | 10,060 thousands | — |
| 1971 | 10,298 thousands | +2.4% |
| 1972 | 10,549 thousands | +2.4% |
| 1973 | 10,804 thousands | +2.4% |
| 1974 | 11,067 thousands | +2.4% |
| 1975 | 11,335 thousands | +2.4% |
| 1976 | 11,609 thousands | +2.4% |
| 1977 | 11,891 thousands | +2.4% |
| 1978 | 12,180 thousands | +2.4% |
| 1979 | 12,476 thousands | +2.4% |
| 1980 | 12,780 thousands | +2.4% |
| 1981 | 13,187 thousands | +3.2% |
| 1982 | 13,611 thousands | +3.2% |
| 1983 | 14,054 thousands | +3.3% |
| 1984 | 14,518 thousands | +3.3% |
| 1985 | 15,000 thousands | +3.3% |
| 1986 | 15,504 thousands | +3.4% |
| 1987 | 16,017 thousands | +3.3% |
| 1988 | 16,537 thousands | +3.2% |
| 1989 | 17,057 thousands | +3.1% |
| 1990 | 17,573 thousands | +3.0% |
| 1991 | 18,093 thousands | +3.0% |
| 1992 | 18,592 thousands | +2.8% |
| 1993 | 19,077 thousands | +2.6% |
| 1994 | 19,568 thousands | +2.6% |
| 1995 | 20,073 thousands | +2.6% |
| 1996 | 20,588 thousands | +2.6% |
| 1997 | 21,112 thousands | +2.5% |
| 1998 | 21,639 thousands | +2.5% |
| 1999 | 22,175 thousands | +2.5% |
| 2000 | 22,696 thousands | +2.4% |
| 2001 | 23,239 thousands | +2.4% |
| 2002 | 23,814 thousands | +2.5% |
| 2003 | 24,391 thousands | +2.4% |
| 2004 | 24,968 thousands | +2.4% |
| 2005 | 25,546 thousands | +2.3% |
| 2006 | 26,127 thousands | +2.3% |
| 2007 | 26,709 thousands | +2.2% |
| 2008 | 27,288 thousands | +2.2% |
| 2009 | 27,852 thousands | +2.1% |
| 2010 | 28,397 thousands | +2.0% |
| 2011 | 28,914 thousands | +1.8% |
| 2012 | 29,410 thousands | +1.7% |
| 2013 | 29,916 thousands | +1.7% |
| 2014 | 30,432 thousands | +1.7% |
| 2015 | 30,960 thousands | +1.7% |
| 2016 | 31,506 thousands | +1.8% |
| 2017 | 32,074 thousands | +1.8% |
| 2018 | 32,638 thousands | +1.8% |
| 2019 | 33,184 thousands | +1.7% |
| 2020 | 33,697 thousands | +1.5% |
| 2021 | 34,082 thousands | +1.1% |
| 2022 | 34,483 thousands | +1.2% |
| 2023 | 34,908 thousands | +1.2% |
| 2024 | 35,344 thousands | +1.2% |
| 2025 | 35,771 thousands | +1.2% |
Malaysia compared with similar countries
- Malaysia's 35,771 thousands is above the median for upper middle income countries, which is 6,843 thousands, 5.2× the median. (58 countries reporting)
- Malaysia's 35,771 thousands is above the median for East Asia & Pacific, which is 1,410 thousands, 25.4× the median. (37 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1970s | 11,227 thousands | 10,060 thousands | 12,476 thousands | 10 |
| 1980s | 14,826 thousands | 12,780 thousands | 17,057 thousands | 10 |
| 1990s | 19,849 thousands | 17,573 thousands | 22,175 thousands | 10 |
| 2000s | 25,263 thousands | 22,696 thousands | 27,852 thousands | 10 |
| 2010s | 30,743 thousands | 28,397 thousands | 33,184 thousands | 10 |
| 2020s | 34,714 thousands | 33,697 thousands | 35,771 thousands | 6 |
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 total population in Malaysia?
- Total population in Malaysia was 35,771 thousands in 2025, according to UNESCO Institute for Statistics.
- What is the highest total population recorded in Malaysia?
- The highest recorded value was 35,771 thousands in 2025.
- What is the lowest total population recorded in Malaysia?
- The lowest recorded value was 10,060 thousands in 1970.
- How does Malaysia rank for total population?
- Malaysia ranks 44th out of 233 countries with data for 2025.
- Is total population rising or falling in Malaysia?
- Over the last ten years it is up 15.5%. The long-run trend across the full record is rising.
- Where does this Malaysia data come from?
- The figures come from UNESCO Institute for Statistics, published as part of Total population (thousands). Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
Download this data
CSV · JSON — 56 observations, free to reuse under CC BY-SA 3.0 IGO (UNESCO Institute for Statistics).
About this data
February 2026 Data Release