Malaysia has a population density of 287 people per square mile, compared to the average of 144 people in other countries. Malaysia has 100,140 sq ft of land per person and ranks 85th out of 197 countries (most to least densely populated).
Malaysia has 0.44% of the world's population and 0.22% of the total land area of all countries.
Malaysia population density by year
people per square mile
| Year | Population density | Density rank |
|---|---|---|
| 2026 | 287 | 85 |
| 2025 | 283.7 | 85 |
| 2024 | 280.3 | 85 |
| 2023 | 276.9 | 85 |
| 2022 | 273.5 | 86 |
| 2021 | 270.3 | 89 |
| 2020 | 267.2 | 89 |
| 2019 | 263.6 | 89 |
| 2018 | 259.4 | 88 |
| 2017 | 255.1 | 88 |
| 2016 | 250.6 | 89 |
| 2015 | 246.2 | 89 |
| 2014 | 242 | 90 |
| 2013 | 237.9 | 91 |
| 2012 | 233.8 | 91 |
| 2011 | 229.9 | 90 |
| 2010 | 225.9 | 89 |
| 2009 | 221.7 | 91 |
| 2008 | 217.3 | 92 |
| 2007 | 212.8 | 91 |
| 2006 | 208.3 | 92 |
| 2005 | 203.7 | 92 |
| 2004 | 199.1 | 93 |
| 2003 | 194.6 | 93 |
| 2002 | 190 | 93 |
| 2001 | 185.5 | 95 |
| 2000 | 181.1 | 95 |
| 1999 | 176.9 | 94 |
| 1998 | 172.7 | 94 |
| 1997 | 168.5 | 95 |
| 1996 | 164.4 | 95 |
| 1995 | 160.3 | 95 |
| 1994 | 156.2 | 96 |
| 1993 | 152.3 | 96 |
| 1992 | 148.5 | 96 |
| 1991 | 144.6 | 86 |
| 1990 | 140.6 | 86 |
| 1989 | 136.5 | 86 |
| 1988 | 132.4 | 88 |
| 1987 | 128.3 | 88 |
| 1986 | 124.2 | 88 |
| 1985 | 120.2 | 89 |
| 1984 | 116.3 | 89 |
| 1983 | 112.6 | 89 |
| 1982 | 109 | 89 |
| 1981 | 105.6 | 89 |
| 1980 | 102.3 | 89 |
| 1979 | 99.5 | 89 |
| 1978 | 97.2 | 89 |
| 1977 | 94.9 | 89 |
| 1976 | 92.6 | 89 |
| 1975 | 90.4 | 90 |
| 1974 | 88.3 | 90 |
| 1973 | 86.2 | 90 |
| 1972 | 84.2 | 90 |
| 1971 | 82.2 | 90 |
| 1970 | 80.2 | 90 |
| 1969 | 78.4 | 90 |
| 1968 | 76.7 | 90 |
| 1967 | 74.9 | 90 |
| 1966 | 73.2 | 90 |
| 1965 | 71.4 | 90 |
| 1964 | 69.6 | 89 |
| 1963 | 67.8 | 88 |
| 1962 | 66.1 | 88 |
| 1961 | 64.4 | 88 |
Data sources: World Bank | Agriculture & Rural Development (1961–2026, retrieved 2026-04-06); United Nations | World Population Prospects (2025–2026, retrieved 2026-03-10).
GeoRank.org/population-density/malaysia | CC BY 
This chart shows how population density in Malaysia has changed over time. From 2006 to 2026, population density increased by 37.8%. Malaysia ranked 92nd by population density 20 years ago and ranks 85th today.
Density metrics
Malaysia
|
Rank | |
|---|---|---|
| Population density | 287 ppl/mi² | 85/197 |
| Population |
36512221
|
44/197 |
| Land area | 126,854 sq mi | 65/197 |
| Land area per capita | 99,458 sq ft | 113/197 |
| Rural population | 23.1% | 140/195 |
| Urban population | 76.9% | 56/195 |
| Living in agglomerations of 1M+ people | 24.7% | 29/197 |
Share of urban population by year
| Year | Urban population | Rank |
|---|---|---|
| 2024 | 76.9% | 56 |
| 2023 | 76.4% | 56 |
| 2022 | 76% | 56 |
| 2021 | 75.5% | 56 |
| 2020 | 75.1% | 56 |
| 2019 | 74.8% | 56 |
| 2018 | 74.6% | 57 |
| 2017 | 74.2% | 59 |
| 2016 | 73.9% | 60 |
| 2015 | 73.4% | 59 |
| 2014 | 73% | 61 |
| 2013 | 72.5% | 61 |
| 2012 | 72% | 60 |
| 2011 | 71.4% | 59 |
| 2010 | 70.9% | 59 |
| 2009 | 70.2% | 59 |
| 2008 | 69.5% | 59 |
| 2007 | 68.8% | 61 |
| 2006 | 67.9% | 64 |
| 2005 | 67% | 67 |
| 2004 | 66.1% | 69 |
| 2003 | 65.1% | 70 |
| 2002 | 64.1% | 73 |
| 2001 | 63% | 73 |
| 2000 | 62% | 75 |
| 1999 | 60.9% | 77 |
| 1998 | 59.7% | 78 |
| 1997 | 58.5% | 81 |
| 1996 | 57.2% | 82 |
| 1995 | 55.9% | 87 |
| 1994 | 54.6% | 89 |
| 1993 | 53.2% | 93 |
| 1992 | 51.9% | 96 |
| 1991 | 50.5% | 99 |
| 1990 | 49% | 99 |
| 1989 | 47.4% | 105 |
| 1988 | 45.8% | 107 |
| 1987 | 44% | 108 |
| 1986 | 42.3% | 111 |
| 1985 | 40.6% | 112 |
| 1984 | 39% | 114 |
| 1983 | 37.5% | 117 |
| 1982 | 36.2% | 121 |
| 1981 | 35.1% | 122 |
| 1980 | 34.2% | 124 |
| 1979 | 33.6% | 125 |
| 1978 | 33% | 127 |
| 1977 | 32.4% | 128 |
| 1976 | 31.9% | 128 |
| 1975 | 31.4% | 128 |
| 1974 | 30.9% | 127 |
| 1973 | 30.5% | 127 |
| 1972 | 30.1% | 126 |
| 1971 | 29.8% | 125 |
| 1970 | 29.4% | 125 |
| 1969 | 29.1% | 124 |
| 1968 | 28.8% | 121 |
| 1967 | 28.5% | 119 |
| 1966 | 28.1% | 119 |
| 1965 | 27.8% | 116 |
| 1964 | 27.5% | 116 |
| 1963 | 27.2% | 116 |
| 1962 | 26.8% | 115 |
| 1961 | 26.5% | 115 |
| 1960 | 26.1% | 114 |
Data sources: World Bank | Health (1960–2024, retrieved 2026-04-06).
GeoRank.org/population-density/malaysia | CC BY
This chart shows the share of urban population in Malaysia from 1960 to 2024: 26.1% lived in urban areas in 1960, 62% in 2000, and 76.9% in 2024.
Densely populated cities
|
Malaysia
|
|
|---|---|
| City | Population |
| Kuala Lumpur | 9M |
| Klang | 878K |
| Ipoh | 867K |
| Johor Bahru | 798K |
| George Town | 794K |
| Shah Alam | 741K |
| Subang Jaya | 708K |
| Petaling Jaya | 639K |
| Kuantan | 608K |
| Sungai Petani | 545K |
Compare countries by 7 more topics
Population density in other countries
Data sources: World Bank | Agriculture & Rural Development (1961–2026, retrieved 2026-04-06); United Nations | World Population Prospects (1961–2026, retrieved 2026-03-10); U.S. Census Bureau (1961–2025, retrieved 2026-02-08); Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) (2000–2019, retrieved 2026-02-20).
GeoRank.org/population-density/malaysia | CC BY
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Data sources:
- World Bank | Agriculture & Rural Development (1961–2026, retrieved 2026-04-06)
- United Nations | World Population Prospects (1961–2026, retrieved 2026-03-10)
- U.S. Census Bureau (1961–2025, retrieved 2026-02-08)
- Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) (2000–2024, retrieved 2026-02-20)
- Wikidata (2010–2025, retrieved 2026-02-08)
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