Share of population living in urban areas projected to 2050 in Malaysia
Malaysia: Share of population living in urban areas projected to 2050 was 77.4% in 2025. ◆ Volatile
Share of population living in urban areas projected to 2050 in Malaysia, 1000–2025
Source: HYDE (2023); 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 areas projected to 2050 in Malaysia stood at 77.4%. That is the highest value across all 108 years on record.
Compared with earlier readings it 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 areas projected to 2050 in Malaysia peaked at 77.4% in 2025 and was at its lowest, 0.0%, in 1000.
Malaysia ranks 82nd of 238 countries on this measure, in the middle of the range.
The series is highly variable year to year, so single readings are best treated with caution.
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1000s | 0.0% | 0.0% | 0.0% | 1 |
| 1100s | 0.0% | 0.0% | 0.0% | 1 |
| 1200s | 0.0% | 0.0% | 0.0% | 1 |
| 1300s | 0.0% | 0.0% | 0.0% | 1 |
| 1400s | 0.1% | 0.1% | 0.1% | 1 |
| 1500s | 0.2% | 0.2% | 0.2% | 1 |
| 1600s | 0.7% | 0.7% | 0.7% | 1 |
| 1700s | 2.0% | 2.0% | 2.0% | 1 |
| 1710s | 2.3% | 2.3% | 2.3% | 1 |
| 1720s | 2.5% | 2.5% | 2.5% | 1 |
| 1730s | 2.8% | 2.8% | 2.8% | 1 |
| 1740s | 3.0% | 3.0% | 3.0% | 1 |
| 1750s | 3.3% | 3.3% | 3.3% | 1 |
| 1760s | 3.6% | 3.6% | 3.6% | 1 |
| 1770s | 4.0% | 4.0% | 4.0% | 1 |
| 1780s | 4.3% | 4.3% | 4.3% | 1 |
| 1790s | 4.7% | 4.7% | 4.7% | 1 |
| 1800s | 5.2% | 5.2% | 5.2% | 1 |
| 1810s | 5.7% | 5.7% | 5.7% | 1 |
| 1820s | 6.2% | 6.2% | 6.2% | 1 |
| 1830s | 6.8% | 6.8% | 6.8% | 1 |
| 1840s | 7.5% | 7.5% | 7.5% | 1 |
| 1850s | 8.2% | 8.2% | 8.2% | 1 |
| 1860s | 9.0% | 9.0% | 9.0% | 1 |
| 1870s | 9.8% | 9.8% | 9.8% | 1 |
| 1880s | 10.8% | 10.8% | 10.8% | 1 |
| 1890s | 11.8% | 11.8% | 11.8% | 1 |
| 1900s | 12.9% | 12.9% | 12.9% | 1 |
| 1910s | 14.2% | 14.2% | 14.2% | 1 |
| 1920s | 15.5% | 15.5% | 15.5% | 1 |
| 1930s | 17.0% | 17.0% | 17.0% | 1 |
| 1940s | 18.6% | 18.6% | 18.6% | 1 |
| 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
- 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)
- Total fertility rate vs. wanted fertility rate 1.54 births per woman (2024)
- Refugees by country of asylum 138,417 people (2024)
- Fertility rate vs. unmet need for contraception 1.54 births per woman (2024)
- Total fertility rate vs. contraceptive prevalence 1.54 births per woman (2024)
- Natural population growth rate 0.7% (2023)
- Fertility rate: births per woman 1.55 live births per woman (2023)
Frequently asked questions
- What is share of population living in urban areas projected to 2050 in Malaysia?
- Share of population living in urban areas projected to 2050 in Malaysia was 77.4% in 2025, 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 share of population living in urban areas projected to 2050 recorded in Malaysia?
- The highest recorded value was 77.4% in 2025.
- What is the lowest share of population living in urban areas projected to 2050 recorded in Malaysia?
- The lowest recorded value was 0.0% in 1000.
- How does Malaysia rank for share of population living in urban areas projected to 2050?
- Malaysia ranks 82nd out of 238 countries with data for 2025.
- Is share of population living in urban areas projected to 2050 rising or falling in Malaysia?
- Over the last ten years it is up 5.4%. 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 Share of population living in urban areas projected to 2050. Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
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About this data
Share of the population living in urban areas, combining UN estimates with modelled historical data.