Malaysia Population Clock
Malaysia has an estimated population of about 36.0 million, which makes it the 45th most populous of the 115 countries tracked here.
Its population is growing steadily, at 1.17% a year.
The capital is Kuala Lumpur.
The counter below is a live estimate interpolated from the World Bank's latest annual figures — not a real-time measurement. It links to its source, base year and method via the ⓘ next to it.
Statistics
Population trend
Population 2016–2025 (World Bank)
How Malaysia's population is changing
Malaysia records about 1,218 births and 519 deaths a day. That is a natural increase of roughly 699 people per day, or about 255,310 a year before migration is counted.
Net migration runs at about 166,615 over the reported period, with more people arriving than leaving. That is equivalent to about 65% of its natural change.
If the current rate held indefinitely, Malaysia would take roughly 59 years to double in size — a projection of today's rate, not a forecast.
Over the 9 years from 2016 to 2025, the population rose from 31.8 million to 36.0 million — a gain of 4.19 million, or 13.2%.
Where people live in Malaysia
With about 107 people per square kilometre, Malaysia is moderately populated, roughly 1.7× the world average of 62. That ranks 50th of the 115 countries here. Its closest comparisons on density are Cuba and Hungary.
Malaysia covers about 328,550 km² of land, which is what turns a population of 36.0 million into that density figure.
About 77.4% of people live in urban areas, making Malaysia highly urbanised, above the world average of 57.8%. That works out to roughly 27.8 million town and city dwellers and 8.13 million living rurally.
Age, fertility and life expectancy in Malaysia
Malaysia has a broadly balanced age structure: about 21.3% are under 15 and 8.0% are 65 or older. Children outnumber over-65s by roughly 2.7 to one.
The total fertility rate is about 1.54 births per woman, below the ~2.1 replacement level, so without net immigration the population would eventually decline. The world figure is about 2.19.
Life expectancy at birth is about 76.8 years, roughly 3.3 years above the global average of 73.5.
Malaysia at a glance
| Indicator | Value | Year |
|---|---|---|
| Population | 36.0 million | 2025 |
| World rank by population | #45 | 2025 |
| Annual growth rate | 1.17% | 2025 |
| Population density | 107 /km² | 2023 |
| Land area | 328,550 km² | 2023 |
| Urban population | 77.4% | 2025 |
| Life expectancy at birth | 76.8 years | 2024 |
| Fertility rate | 1.54 births per woman | 2024 |
| Population under 15 | 21.3% | 2025 |
| Population 65 and over | 8.0% | 2025 |
| Net migration | 166,615 | 2025 |
| Births per day | 1,218 | 2025 |
| Deaths per day | 519 | 2025 |
Frequently asked questions
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Where do these Malaysia figures come from?
Current local time in Malaysia
Methodology & sources
Data: World Bank (CC BY 4.0), base year 2025. The live counter animates the latest annual growth rate per second; it is an estimate, not a real-time measurement. No figures are invented — every number traces back to the World Bank indicators listed above.
Source: World Bank