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Population density: Malaysia vs Romania compared

Updated on by Georank team

Malaysia has a population density of 287 people per square mile compared to 212.1 people in Romania. Malaysia has 100,140 sq ft of land per person vs 134,690 sq ft in Romania. Malaysia and Romania rank 85th and 107th by population density, respectively.

Population density is calculated as the ratio of population to land area. Malaysia has 0.44% of the world's population and 0.22% of all countries' land area, compared to 0.23% of the population and 0.15% of the land area for Romania, making the population density in Malaysia 35.3% higher than in Romania.

Population density by year

Malaysia
Romania

people per square mile

1x
Year Population density
Malaysia Romania
2026 287 212.1
2025 283.7 213.3
2024 280.3 214.5
2023 276.9 214.6
2022 273.5 214.4
2021 270.3 215.3
2020 267.2 216.9
2019 263.6 218.1
2018 259.4 219.2
2017 255.1 220.5
2016 250.6 221.8
2015 246.2 223.1
2014 242 224.1
2013 237.9 225
2012 233.8 225.9
2011 229.9 226.7
2010 225.9 227.9
2009 221.7 229.3
2008 217.3 231.4
2007 212.8 235.3
2006 208.3 238.7
2005 203.7 240.1
2004 199.1 241.6
2003 194.6 243
2002 190 244.8
2001 185.5 249.5
2000 181.1 253
1999 176.9 253.5
1998 172.7 253.9
1997 168.5 254.5
1996 164.4 255.2
1995 160.3 256
1994 156.2 256.5
1993 152.3 256.9
1992 148.5 257.3
1991 144.6 259.6
1990 140.6 262
1989 136.5 261.6
1988 132.4 259.3
1987 128.3 258
1986 124.2 256.8
1985 120.2 255.6
1984 116.3 254.6
1983 112.6 253.7
1982 109 252.7
1981 105.6 251.3
1980 102.3 249.7
1979 99.5 248.4
1978 97.2 246.8
1977 94.9 244.6
1976 92.6 242.3
1975 90.4 239.4
1974 88.3 236.5
1973 86.2 234.3
1972 84.2 232.3
1971 82.2 230.1
1970 80.2 227.7
1969 78.4 225
1968 76.7 222.6
1967 74.9 219.6
1966 73.2 216.1
1965 71.4 214
1964 69.6 212.7
1963 67.8 211.4
1962 66.1 210
1961 64.4 208.6

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/romania | CC BY

From 2006 to 2026, population density in Malaysia increased by 37.8%, compared to a 11.1% decline in Romania.

In 2006, Malaysia ranked 92nd by population density and is 85th now. Romania was 81st in 2006 and ranks 107th out of 197 currently.

Share of urban population by year

Malaysia
Romania
1x
Year Urban population
Malaysia Romania
2024 76.9% 52.2%
2023 76.4% 52.2%
2022 76% 52.2%
2021 75.5% 52.2%
2020 75.1% 52.6%
2019 74.8% 52.9%
2018 74.6% 53.1%
2017 74.2% 53.4%
2016 73.9% 53.6%
2015 73.4% 53.7%
2014 73% 53.8%
2013 72.5% 53.9%
2012 72% 54%
2011 71.4% 54%
2010 70.9% 53.9%
2009 70.2% 53.8%
2008 69.5% 53.6%
2007 68.8% 53.4%
2006 67.9% 53.3%
2005 67% 53.1%
2004 66.1% 52.9%
2003 65.1% 52.8%
2002 64.1% 52.7%
2001 63% 52.8%
2000 62% 52.9%
1999 60.9% 53%
1998 59.7% 53.2%
1997 58.5% 53.4%
1996 57.2% 53.7%
1995 55.9% 53.9%
1994 54.6% 54.1%
1993 53.2% 54.2%
1992 51.9% 54.3%
1991 50.5% 54.3%
1990 49% 54.2%
1989 47.4% 54%
1988 45.8% 53.8%
1987 44% 53.4%
1986 42.3% 53%
1985 40.6% 52.5%
1984 39% 52%
1983 37.5% 51.5%
1982 36.2% 50.9%
1981 35.1% 50.3%
1980 34.2% 49.7%
1979 33.6% 49%
1978 33% 48.4%
1977 32.4% 47.8%
1976 31.9% 47.2%
1975 31.4% 46.5%
1974 30.9% 45.7%
1973 30.5% 44.8%
1972 30.1% 43.9%
1971 29.8% 43%
1970 29.4% 42%
1969 29.1% 41.1%
1968 28.8% 40.2%
1967 28.5% 39.3%
1966 28.1% 38.5%
1965 27.8% 37.7%
1964 27.5% 37%
1963 27.2% 36.3%
1962 26.8% 35.7%
1961 26.5% 35%
1960 26.1% 34.4%

Data sources: World Bank | Health (1960–2024, retrieved 2026-04-06).

GeoRank.org/population-density/malaysia/romania | CC BY

From 2004 to 2024, the share of urban population changed from 66.1% to 76.9% in Malaysia and from 52.9% to 52.2% in Romania.

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
Romania
City Population
Bucharest 1.72M
Cluj-Napoca 287K
Iasi 272K
Constanta 264K
Timisoara 251K
Brasov 238K
Craiova 234K
Galati 218K
Oradea 183K
Ploiesti 181K

Compare countries by 7 more topics

Population density in other countries

1x

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/romania | CC BY

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Data sources:

  1. World Bank | Agriculture & Rural Development (1961–2026, retrieved 2026-04-06)
  2. United Nations | World Population Prospects (1961–2026, retrieved 2026-03-10)
  3. U.S. Census Bureau (1961–2025, retrieved 2026-02-08)
  4. Wikidata (2010–2025, retrieved 2026-02-08)
  5. Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) (2000–2019, retrieved 2026-02-20)

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