Population · Asia · 2025 data
Malaysia Population
Malaysia had a population of 35.98 million in 2025, ranking #45 of 216 countries and territories (0.44% of the world). The population grew by 15.2% over the past ten years.
Population of Malaysia, 1960–2025
Values in millions · World Bank Open Data (CC BY 4.0)
Population by year (table)
| Year | Population | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 2025 | 35,977,838 | +1.18% |
| 2024 | 35,557,673 | +1.23% |
| 2023 | 35,126,298 | +1.24% |
| 2022 | 34,695,493 | +1.20% |
| 2021 | 34,282,399 | +1.16% |
| 2020 | 33,889,558 | +1.34% |
| 2019 | 33,440,596 | +1.61% |
| 2018 | 32,910,967 | +1.72% |
| 2017 | 32,355,644 | +1.78% |
| 2016 | 31,789,685 | +1.78% |
| 2015 | 31,232,798 | +1.75% |
| 2014 | 30,696,137 | +1.73% |
| 2013 | 30,174,265 | +1.72% |
| 2012 | 29,662,831 | +1.72% |
| 2011 | 29,162,039 | +1.77% |
| 2010 | 28,655,776 | +1.89% |
| 2009 | 28,124,778 | +2.01% |
| 2008 | 27,570,059 | +2.12% |
| 2007 | 26,998,389 | +2.20% |
| 2006 | 26,417,909 | +2.25% |
| 2005 | 25,836,071 | +2.29% |
| 2004 | 25,256,772 | +2.34% |
| 2003 | 24,679,602 | +2.39% |
| 2002 | 24,102,477 | +2.45% |
| 2001 | 23,526,538 | +2.43% |
| 2000 | 22,967,816 | +2.37% |
| 1999 | 22,435,531 | +2.41% |
| 1998 | 21,906,713 | +2.49% |
| 1997 | 21,375,218 | +2.52% |
| 1996 | 20,850,087 | +2.56% |
| 1995 | 20,330,599 | +2.57% |
| 1994 | 19,820,446 | +2.58% |
| 1993 | 19,322,664 | +2.59% |
| 1992 | 18,834,572 | +2.68% |
| 1991 | 18,342,464 | +2.86% |
| 1990 | 17,833,171 | +2.99% |
| 1989 | 17,314,997 | +3.09% |
| 1988 | 16,796,605 | +3.19% |
| 1987 | 16,276,737 | +3.28% |
| 1986 | 15,760,419 | +3.33% |
| 1985 | 15,252,258 | +3.34% |
| 1984 | 14,759,009 | +3.31% |
| 1983 | 14,285,907 | +3.28% |
| 1982 | 13,832,798 | +3.24% |
| 1981 | 13,399,203 | +3.20% |
| 1980 | 12,983,363 | +2.82% |
| 1979 | 12,627,862 | +2.43% |
| 1978 | 12,328,157 | +2.43% |
| 1977 | 12,035,713 | +2.43% |
| 1976 | 11,750,097 | +2.42% |
| 1975 | 11,471,914 | +2.42% |
| 1974 | 11,200,906 | +2.43% |
| 1973 | 10,935,621 | +2.42% |
| 1972 | 10,676,835 | +2.43% |
| 1971 | 10,423,453 | +2.40% |
| 1970 | 10,178,802 | +2.32% |
| 1969 | 9,947,597 | +2.29% |
| 1968 | 9,725,281 | +2.29% |
| 1967 | 9,507,099 | +2.40% |
| 1966 | 9,284,688 | +2.52% |
| 1965 | 9,056,408 | +2.58% |
| 1964 | 8,828,406 | +2.63% |
| 1963 | 8,602,160 | +2.65% |
| 1962 | 8,380,172 | +2.64% |
| 1961 | 8,164,443 | +2.62% |
| 1960 | 7,956,197 | — |
Demographics of Malaysia
Ethnic groups
Bumiputera 63.8% (Malay 52.8% and indigenous peoples, including Orang Asli, Dayak, Anak Negeri, 11%), Chinese 20.6%, Indian 6%, other 0.6%, non-citizens 9% (2023 est.)
Languages
Bahasa Malaysia (official), English, Chinese (Cantonese, Mandarin, Hokkien, Hakka, Hainan, Foochow), Tamil, Telugu, Malayalam, Panjabi, Thai
Religions
Muslim (official) 63.5%, Buddhist 18.7%, Christian 9.1%, Hindu 6.1%, other (Confucianism, Taoism, other traditional Chinese religions) 0.9%, none/unspecified 1.8% (2020 est.)
Where people live
Urban population: 78.7% of total population (2023).
Frequently asked questions about the population of Malaysia
What is the population of Malaysia?
Is the population of Malaysia growing?
How has the population of Malaysia changed since 1960?
How densely populated is Malaysia?
What is the largest city in Malaysia?
Population and demographics: World Bank Open Data (CC BY 4.0). Cities, ethnic groups, languages and religions: CIA World Factbook (public domain).