Urban and rural population in Malaysia
Malaysia: Urban and rural population was 27.84 million in 2025. ◆ Volatile
Latest (2025)
27.84 million
Change on year
up 1.8%
World rank
35th
of 236 countries
All-time high
27.84 million
in 2025
All-time low
1.26 million
in 1950
Years of data
76
1950–2025
Urban and rural population in Malaysia, 1950–2025
Source: Our World in Data.
Analysis
The most recent figure for urban and rural population in Malaysia is 27.84 million, measured in 2025. That is the highest value across all 76 years on record.
Compared with earlier readings it is up 1.8% on the previous year and up 21.4% over ten years.
Over the whole period, urban and rural population in Malaysia peaked at 27.84 million in 2025 and was at its lowest, 1.26 million, in 1950.
Malaysia ranks 35th of 236 countries on this measure, in the top quarter.
The series is highly variable year to year, so single readings are best treated with caution.
Urban and rural population in Malaysia, year by year
| Year | Value | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1950 | 1.26 million | — |
| 1951 | 1.33 million | +5.8% |
| 1952 | 1.41 million | +5.7% |
| 1953 | 1.48 million | +5.5% |
| 1954 | 1.56 million | +5.4% |
| 1955 | 1.65 million | +5.3% |
| 1956 | 1.73 million | +5.2% |
| 1957 | 1.82 million | +5.1% |
| 1958 | 1.91 million | +4.7% |
| 1959 | 1.99 million | +4.4% |
| 1960 | 2.07 million | +4.3% |
| 1961 | 2.16 million | +4.2% |
| 1962 | 2.25 million | +4.1% |
| 1963 | 2.34 million | +4.0% |
| 1964 | 2.43 million | +3.9% |
| 1965 | 2.52 million | +3.8% |
| 1966 | 2.61 million | +3.7% |
| 1967 | 2.71 million | +3.5% |
| 1968 | 2.80 million | +3.4% |
| 1969 | 2.89 million | +3.4% |
| 1970 | 3.00 million | +3.5% |
| 1971 | 3.10 million | +3.6% |
| 1972 | 3.22 million | +3.7% |
| 1973 | 3.34 million | +3.7% |
| 1974 | 3.47 million | +3.8% |
| 1975 | 3.60 million | +3.9% |
| 1976 | 3.74 million | +4.0% |
| 1977 | 3.90 million | +4.1% |
| 1978 | 4.06 million | +4.2% |
| 1979 | 4.24 million | +4.3% |
| 1980 | 4.45 million | +4.9% |
| 1981 | 4.70 million | +5.8% |
| 1982 | 5.01 million | +6.5% |
| 1983 | 5.36 million | +7.0% |
| 1984 | 5.75 million | +7.4% |
| 1985 | 6.19 million | +7.6% |
| 1986 | 6.67 million | +7.6% |
| 1987 | 7.17 million | +7.5% |
| 1988 | 7.69 million | +7.2% |
| 1989 | 8.21 million | +6.9% |
| 1990 | 8.74 million | +6.5% |
| 1991 | 9.26 million | +5.9% |
| 1992 | 9.77 million | +5.5% |
| 1993 | 10.29 million | +5.3% |
| 1994 | 10.82 million | +5.2% |
| 1995 | 11.37 million | +5.1% |
| 1996 | 11.93 million | +5.0% |
| 1997 | 12.50 million | +4.8% |
| 1998 | 13.08 million | +4.6% |
| 1999 | 13.66 million | +4.4% |
| 2000 | 14.23 million | +4.2% |
| 2001 | 14.83 million | +4.2% |
| 2002 | 15.44 million | +4.1% |
| 2003 | 16.06 million | +4.0% |
| 2004 | 16.69 million | +3.9% |
| 2005 | 17.31 million | +3.8% |
| 2006 | 17.94 million | +3.6% |
| 2007 | 18.57 million | +3.5% |
| 2008 | 19.17 million | +3.3% |
| 2009 | 19.76 million | +3.0% |
| 2010 | 20.31 million | +2.8% |
| 2011 | 20.83 million | +2.6% |
| 2012 | 21.35 million | +2.5% |
| 2013 | 21.87 million | +2.5% |
| 2014 | 22.40 million | +2.4% |
| 2015 | 22.94 million | +2.4% |
| 2016 | 23.48 million | +2.4% |
| 2017 | 24.02 million | +2.3% |
| 2018 | 24.54 million | +2.2% |
| 2019 | 25.03 million | +2.0% |
| 2020 | 25.43 million | +1.6% |
| 2021 | 25.89 million | +1.8% |
| 2022 | 26.36 million | +1.8% |
| 2023 | 26.85 million | +1.9% |
| 2024 | 27.35 million | +1.9% |
| 2025 | 27.84 million | +1.8% |
Malaysia compared with similar countries
- Malaysia's 27.84 million is above the median for upper middle income countries, which is 4.47 million, 6.2× the median. (58 countries reporting)
- Malaysia's 27.84 million is above the median for East Asia & Pacific, which is 722,007, 38.6× the median. (37 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1950s | 1.61 million | 1.26 million | 1.99 million | 10 |
| 1960s | 2.48 million | 2.07 million | 2.89 million | 10 |
| 1970s | 3.57 million | 3.00 million | 4.24 million | 10 |
| 1980s | 6.12 million | 4.45 million | 8.21 million | 10 |
| 1990s | 11.14 million | 8.74 million | 13.66 million | 10 |
| 2000s | 17.00 million | 14.23 million | 19.76 million | 10 |
| 2010s | 22.68 million | 20.31 million | 25.03 million | 10 |
| 2020s | 26.62 million | 25.43 million | 27.84 million | 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)
- Population growth rate -0.278 (2100)
- Population density 134 (2100)
- Projected population under age 5 1.91 million (2100)
Frequently asked questions
- What is urban and rural population in Malaysia?
- Urban and rural population in Malaysia was 27.84 million in 2025, according to Our World in Data.
- What is the highest urban and rural population recorded in Malaysia?
- The highest recorded value was 27.84 million in 2025.
- What is the lowest urban and rural population recorded in Malaysia?
- The lowest recorded value was 1.26 million in 1950.
- How does Malaysia rank for urban and rural population?
- Malaysia ranks 35th out of 236 countries with data for 2025.
- Is urban and rural population rising or falling in Malaysia?
- Over the last ten years it is up 21.4%. 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 Urban and rural population. Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
Download this data
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