Urban and rural population projected to 2050 in Malaysia
Malaysia: Urban and rural population projected to 2050 was 4.00 million people in 2050. ◆ Volatile
Latest (2050)
4.00 million people
Change on year
down 5.9%
World rank
82nd
of 238 countries
All-time high
9.11 million people
in 1988
All-time low
199,998 people
in 1000
Years of data
133
1000–2050
Urban and rural population projected to 2050 in Malaysia, 1000–2050
Source: HYDE (2023); United Nations Department of Economic and Social Affairs, Population Division (2025) – with minor processing by Our World in Data. Measured in people.
Analysis
The most recent figure for urban and rural population projected to 2050 in Malaysia is 4.00 million people, measured in 2050.
The figure is down 5.9% on the previous year and down 35.2% over ten years.
Over the whole period, urban and rural population projected to 2050 in Malaysia peaked at 9.11 million people in 1988 and was at its lowest, 199,998 people, in 1000.
That places Malaysia 82nd out of 238 countries with data for 2050, putting it in the middle of the range.
The series is highly variable year to year, so single readings are best treated with caution.
Urban and rural population projected to 2050 in Malaysia, year by year
| Year | people | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1000 | 199,998 people | — |
| 1100 | 239,193 people | +19.6% |
| 1200 | 278,377 people | +16.4% |
| 1300 | 317,520 people | +14.1% |
| 1400 | 356,531 people | +12.3% |
| 1500 | 395,104 people | +10.8% |
| 1600 | 491,640 people | +24.4% |
| 1700 | 581,906 people | +18.4% |
| 1710 | 600,501 people | +3.2% |
| 1720 | 619,241 people | +3.1% |
| 1730 | 637,754 people | +3.0% |
| 1740 | 656,014 people | +2.9% |
| 1750 | 673,993 people | +2.7% |
| 1760 | 691,657 people | +2.6% |
| 1770 | 708,971 people | +2.5% |
| 1780 | 725,894 people | +2.4% |
| 1790 | 742,381 people | +2.3% |
| 1800 | 758,384 people | +2.2% |
| 1810 | 792,142 people | +4.5% |
| 1820 | 825,088 people | +4.2% |
| 1830 | 857,124 people | +3.9% |
| 1840 | 888,142 people | +3.6% |
| 1850 | 918,019 people | +3.4% |
| 1860 | 1.18 million people | +28.9% |
| 1870 | 1.44 million people | +21.9% |
| 1880 | 1.70 million people | +17.5% |
| 1890 | 1.94 million people | +14.5% |
| 1900 | 2.14 million people | +10.2% |
| 1910 | 2.46 million people | +15.3% |
| 1920 | 3.02 million people | +22.5% |
| 1930 | 3.53 million people | +17.1% |
| 1940 | 4.53 million people | +28.3% |
| 1950 | 4.84 million people | +6.8% |
| 1951 | 4.93 million people | +1.8% |
| 1952 | 5.02 million people | +1.8% |
| 1953 | 5.11 million people | +1.9% |
| 1954 | 5.21 million people | +1.9% |
| 1955 | 5.31 million people | +2.0% |
| 1956 | 5.42 million people | +2.1% |
| 1957 | 5.54 million people | +2.2% |
| 1958 | 5.66 million people | +2.1% |
| 1959 | 5.77 million people | +1.9% |
| 1960 | 5.88 million people | +2.0% |
| 1961 | 6.00 million people | +2.1% |
| 1962 | 6.13 million people | +2.1% |
| 1963 | 6.26 million people | +2.2% |
| 1964 | 6.40 million people | +2.2% |
| 1965 | 6.54 million people | +2.1% |
| 1966 | 6.67 million people | +2.1% |
| 1967 | 6.80 million people | +1.9% |
| 1968 | 6.93 million people | +1.8% |
| 1969 | 7.05 million people | +1.8% |
| 1970 | 7.18 million people | +1.8% |
| 1971 | 7.32 million people | +1.9% |
| 1972 | 7.46 million people | +1.9% |
| 1973 | 7.60 million people | +1.9% |
| 1974 | 7.74 million people | +1.8% |
| 1975 | 7.87 million people | +1.8% |
| 1976 | 8.01 million people | +1.7% |
| 1977 | 8.14 million people | +1.6% |
| 1978 | 8.26 million people | +1.6% |
| 1979 | 8.39 million people | +1.5% |
| 1980 | 8.54 million people | +1.8% |
| 1981 | 8.70 million people | +1.9% |
| 1982 | 8.83 million people | +1.5% |
| 1983 | 8.93 million people | +1.1% |
| 1984 | 9.00 million people | +0.9% |
| 1985 | 9.06 million people | +0.6% |
| 1986 | 9.10 million people | +0.4% |
| 1987 | 9.11 million people | +0.2% |
| 1988 | 9.11 million people | +0.0% |
| 1989 | 9.10 million people | -0.1% |
| 1990 | 9.09 million people | -0.1% |
| 1991 | 9.08 million people | -0.1% |
| 1992 | 9.07 million people | -0.2% |
| 1993 | 9.04 million people | -0.3% |
| 1994 | 9.00 million people | -0.4% |
| 1995 | 8.96 million people | -0.4% |
| 1996 | 8.92 million people | -0.5% |
| 1997 | 8.87 million people | -0.5% |
| 1998 | 8.82 million people | -0.5% |
| 1999 | 8.78 million people | -0.5% |
| 2000 | 8.73 million people | -0.5% |
| 2001 | 8.70 million people | -0.4% |
| 2002 | 8.66 million people | -0.4% |
| 2003 | 8.62 million people | -0.5% |
| 2004 | 8.57 million people | -0.6% |
| 2005 | 8.52 million people | -0.6% |
| 2006 | 8.48 million people | -0.5% |
| 2007 | 8.43 million people | -0.5% |
| 2008 | 8.40 million people | -0.4% |
| 2009 | 8.37 million people | -0.3% |
| 2010 | 8.35 million people | -0.2% |
| 2011 | 8.33 million people | -0.2% |
| 2012 | 8.32 million people | -0.2% |
| 2013 | 8.30 million people | -0.2% |
| 2014 | 8.29 million people | -0.1% |
| 2015 | 8.30 million people | +0.0% |
| 2016 | 8.31 million people | +0.2% |
| 2017 | 8.34 million people | +0.3% |
| 2018 | 8.37 million people | +0.4% |
| 2019 | 8.41 million people | +0.5% |
| 2020 | 8.46 million people | +0.5% |
| 2021 | 8.40 million people | -0.7% |
| 2022 | 8.34 million people | -0.7% |
| 2023 | 8.27 million people | -0.7% |
| 2024 | 8.21 million people | -0.8% |
| 2025 | 8.13 million people | -0.9% |
| 2026 | 8.05 million people | -1.0% |
| 2027 | 7.96 million people | -1.1% |
| 2028 | 7.86 million people | -1.2% |
| 2029 | 7.76 million people | -1.3% |
| 2030 | 7.65 million people | -1.4% |
| 2031 | 7.53 million people | -1.5% |
| 2032 | 7.41 million people | -1.6% |
| 2033 | 7.28 million people | -1.8% |
| 2034 | 7.14 million people | -1.9% |
| 2035 | 7.00 million people | -2.0% |
| 2036 | 6.85 million people | -2.2% |
| 2037 | 6.69 million people | -2.3% |
| 2038 | 6.52 million people | -2.5% |
| 2039 | 6.35 million people | -2.6% |
| 2040 | 6.17 million people | -2.8% |
| 2041 | 5.98 million people | -3.0% |
| 2042 | 5.79 million people | -3.2% |
| 2043 | 5.59 million people | -3.4% |
| 2044 | 5.39 million people | -3.7% |
| 2045 | 5.17 million people | -4.0% |
| 2046 | 4.95 million people | -4.3% |
| 2047 | 4.72 million people | -4.6% |
| 2048 | 4.49 million people | -5.0% |
| 2049 | 4.25 million people | -5.4% |
| 2050 | 4.00 million people | -5.9% |
Malaysia compared with similar countries
- Malaysia's 4.00 million people is above the median for upper middle income countries, which is 1.23 million people, 3.2× the median. (58 countries reporting)
- Malaysia's 4.00 million people is above the median for East Asia & Pacific, which is 306,014 people, 13.1× the median. (37 countries reporting)
Biggest year-on-year movements
Years where Urban and rural population projected to 2050 in Malaysia changed far more than this series normally does. A large move can be a real event or a change in how the figure was measured — the source note below says who published it.
| Year | Change | From | To |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1860 | +28.9% | 918,019 people | 1.18 million people |
| 1940 | +28.3% | 3.53 million people | 4.53 million people |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1000s | 199,998 people | 199,998 people | 199,998 people | 1 |
| 1100s | 239,193 people | 239,193 people | 239,193 people | 1 |
| 1200s | 278,377 people | 278,377 people | 278,377 people | 1 |
| 1300s | 317,520 people | 317,520 people | 317,520 people | 1 |
| 1400s | 356,531 people | 356,531 people | 356,531 people | 1 |
| 1500s | 395,104 people | 395,104 people | 395,104 people | 1 |
| 1600s | 491,640 people | 491,640 people | 491,640 people | 1 |
| 1700s | 581,906 people | 581,906 people | 581,906 people | 1 |
| 1710s | 600,501 people | 600,501 people | 600,501 people | 1 |
| 1720s | 619,241 people | 619,241 people | 619,241 people | 1 |
| 1730s | 637,754 people | 637,754 people | 637,754 people | 1 |
| 1740s | 656,014 people | 656,014 people | 656,014 people | 1 |
| 1750s | 673,993 people | 673,993 people | 673,993 people | 1 |
| 1760s | 691,657 people | 691,657 people | 691,657 people | 1 |
| 1770s | 708,971 people | 708,971 people | 708,971 people | 1 |
| 1780s | 725,894 people | 725,894 people | 725,894 people | 1 |
| 1790s | 742,381 people | 742,381 people | 742,381 people | 1 |
| 1800s | 758,384 people | 758,384 people | 758,384 people | 1 |
| 1810s | 792,142 people | 792,142 people | 792,142 people | 1 |
| 1820s | 825,088 people | 825,088 people | 825,088 people | 1 |
| 1830s | 857,124 people | 857,124 people | 857,124 people | 1 |
| 1840s | 888,142 people | 888,142 people | 888,142 people | 1 |
| 1850s | 918,019 people | 918,019 people | 918,019 people | 1 |
| 1860s | 1.18 million people | 1.18 million people | 1.18 million people | 1 |
| 1870s | 1.44 million people | 1.44 million people | 1.44 million people | 1 |
| 1880s | 1.70 million people | 1.70 million people | 1.70 million people | 1 |
| 1890s | 1.94 million people | 1.94 million people | 1.94 million people | 1 |
| 1900s | 2.14 million people | 2.14 million people | 2.14 million people | 1 |
| 1910s | 2.46 million people | 2.46 million people | 2.46 million people | 1 |
| 1920s | 3.02 million people | 3.02 million people | 3.02 million people | 1 |
| 1930s | 3.53 million people | 3.53 million people | 3.53 million people | 1 |
| 1940s | 4.53 million people | 4.53 million people | 4.53 million people | 1 |
| 1950s | 5.28 million people | 4.84 million people | 5.77 million people | 10 |
| 1960s | 6.47 million people | 5.88 million people | 7.05 million people | 10 |
| 1970s | 7.80 million people | 7.18 million people | 8.39 million people | 10 |
| 1980s | 8.95 million people | 8.54 million people | 9.11 million people | 10 |
| 1990s | 8.96 million people | 8.78 million people | 9.09 million people | 10 |
| 2000s | 8.55 million people | 8.37 million people | 8.73 million people | 10 |
| 2010s | 8.33 million people | 8.29 million people | 8.41 million people | 10 |
| 2020s | 8.14 million people | 7.76 million people | 8.46 million people | 10 |
| 2030s | 7.04 million people | 6.35 million people | 7.65 million people | 10 |
| 2040s | 5.25 million people | 4.25 million people | 6.17 million people | 10 |
| 2050s | 4.00 million people | 4.00 million people | 4.00 million people | 1 |
Countries ranked near Malaysia
More population data for Malaysia
- Un population 2024 vs 2022, annual growth rate -0.2686 % change on previous year (2100)
- Population long run 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 regions with projections, annual growth rate -0.2671 % change on previous year (2100)
- Population growth rate, by level of development -0.3% (2100)
- Number of children under 5, by world region 1.91 million people (2100)
- Population density 134 people per km² (2100)
- World population growth -0.3% (2100)
- Projected population under age 5, annual growth rate -0.1472 % change on previous year (2100)
- Africa's Development Dynamics (AfDD) Table 03 - Annual population 0.8625 Percent per annum (2030)
Frequently asked questions
- What is urban and rural population projected to 2050 in Malaysia?
- Urban and rural population projected to 2050 in Malaysia was 4.00 million people in 2050, according to HYDE (2023); United Nations Department of Economic and Social Affairs, Population Division (2025) – with minor processing by Our World in Data.
- What is the highest urban and rural population projected to 2050 recorded in Malaysia?
- The highest recorded value was 9.11 million people in 1988.
- What is the lowest urban and rural population projected to 2050 recorded in Malaysia?
- The lowest recorded value was 199,998 people in 1000.
- How does Malaysia rank for urban and rural population projected to 2050?
- Malaysia ranks 82nd out of 238 countries with data for 2050.
- Is urban and rural population projected to 2050 rising or falling in Malaysia?
- Over the last ten years it is down 35.2%. The long-run trend across the full record is volatile.
- Where does this Malaysia data come from?
- The figures come from HYDE (2023); United Nations Department of Economic and Social Affairs, Population Division (2025) – with minor processing by Our World in Data, published as part of Urban and rural population projected to 2050. Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
Download this data
CSV · JSON — 133 observations, free to reuse under CC BY 4.0 (Our World in Data).
About this data
Number of people living in rural areas, combining UN estimates and projections with modeled historical data.