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Population in Bahrain compared to Malaysia: Trends, Charts, Rankings

Updated on by Georank team

The latest officially reported population of Bahrain was 1,588,670 in 2024 vs 35,557,673 people in Malaysia in 2024. In 2026, based on the adjusted UN estimation, the current Bahrain's population is 1,669,503 people compared to 36,512,221 in Malaysia.

Population statistics:

  • Malaysia's population is 21.9 times bigger than Bahrain's.
  • Bahrain is ranked the 151st most populous country in the world, while Malaysia is the 45th.
  • The countries together account for 0.46% of the world: 0.02% for Bahrain vs 0.44% for Malaysia.
  • For the last 10 years, Bahrain has had an average growth rate of +2.2% per year vs +1.5% in Malaysia.
  • Since 2006, the population of Bahrain has increased from 960K people to 1.67M (73.8% growth), while Malaysia has grown from 26.4M to 36.5M (38.2% growth).

Bahrain vs Malaysia: population by year and forecast

Bahrain
Factual

Projection
Malaysia
Factual

Projection
1x
Year Population
Bahrain Malaysia
2100 3,082,127 44,353,615
2099 3,062,381 44,467,475
2098 3,042,626 44,579,971
2097 3,022,907 44,695,979
2096 3,003,249 44,814,885
2095 2,983,633 44,932,404
2094 2,964,048 45,047,479
2093 2,944,524 45,165,126
2092 2,925,040 45,278,674
2091 2,905,580 45,390,002
2090 2,886,217 45,501,495
2089 2,866,951 45,610,046
2088 2,847,692 45,717,882
2087 2,828,537 45,823,085
2086 2,809,429 45,926,712
2085 2,790,308 46,020,742
2084 2,771,240 46,111,490
2083 2,752,172 46,202,286
2082 2,733,129 46,284,929
2081 2,714,131 46,359,700
2080 2,695,175 46,435,482
2079 2,676,229 46,496,102
2078 2,657,278 46,549,167
2077 2,638,324 46,594,188
2076 2,619,372 46,619,045
2075 2,600,364 46,643,115
2074 2,581,289 46,658,350
2073 2,562,193 46,670,848
2072 2,543,097 46,670,426
2071 2,523,937 46,660,436
2070 2,504,829 46,645,623
2069 2,485,696 46,623,238
2068 2,466,554 46,600,060
2067 2,447,412 46,569,264
2066 2,428,336 46,530,377
2065 2,409,347 46,481,890
2064 2,390,392 46,417,369
2063 2,371,501 46,350,674
2062 2,352,705 46,272,105
2061 2,334,013 46,178,092
2060 2,315,423 46,075,877
2059 2,296,883 45,958,718
2058 2,278,395 45,837,407
2057 2,260,013 45,707,213
2056 2,241,679 45,566,357
2055 2,223,337 45,418,953
2054 2,205,001 45,252,995
2053 2,186,627 45,069,089
2052 2,168,245 44,873,927
2051 2,149,857 44,668,767
2050 2,131,404 44,445,677
2049 2,112,930 44,217,593
2048 2,094,386 43,974,925
2047 2,075,759 43,712,325
2046 2,057,011 43,438,283
2045 2,038,165 43,157,909
2044 2,019,181 42,866,716
2043 2,000,134 42,557,941
2042 1,981,020 42,239,980
2041 1,961,864 41,922,379
2040 1,942,729 41,598,231
2039 1,923,661 41,270,953
2038 1,904,631 40,929,067
2037 1,885,711 40,584,773
2036 1,866,890 40,234,128
2035 1,848,209 39,876,375
2034 1,829,691 39,515,857
2033 1,811,344 39,152,086
2032 1,793,151 38,772,414
2031 1,775,117 38,386,293
2030 1,757,225 37,995,617
2029 1,738,388 37,606,753
2028 1,716,506 37,207,852
2027 1,691,696 36,806,585
2026 1,661,275 36,403,076
2025 1,627,179 35,987,113
2024 1,588,670 35,557,673
2023 1,577,059 35,126,298
2022 1,524,693 34,695,493
2021 1,504,365 34,282,399
2020 1,472,204 33,889,558
2019 1,483,756 33,440,596
2018 1,503,091 32,910,967
2017 1,501,116 32,355,644
2016 1,423,726 31,789,685
2015 1,370,322 31,232,798
2014 1,314,562 30,696,137
2013 1,253,191 30,174,265
2012 1,208,964 29,662,831
2011 1,195,020 29,162,039
2010 1,228,543 28,655,776
2009 1,178,415 28,124,778
2008 1,103,496 27,570,059
2007 1,039,295 26,998,389
2006 960,424 26,417,909
2005 888,822 25,836,071
2004 823,741 25,256,772
2003 764,517 24,679,602
2002 710,553 24,102,477
2001 661,316 23,526,538
2000 637,582 22,967,816
1999 620,989 22,435,531
1998 604,842 21,906,713
1997 589,115 21,375,218
1996 573,792 20,850,087
1995 558,879 20,330,599
1994 544,366 19,820,446
1993 530,225 19,322,664
1992 516,458 18,834,572
1991 503,052 18,342,464
1990 514,797 17,833,171
1989 497,327 17,314,997
1988 479,929 16,796,605
1987 462,854 16,276,737
1986 446,286 15,760,419
1985 430,358 15,252,258
1984 415,154 14,759,009
1983 400,707 14,285,907
1982 386,983 13,832,798
1981 373,524 13,399,203
1980 358,978 12,983,363
1979 343,457 12,627,862
1978 328,046 12,328,157
1977 312,823 12,035,713
1976 297,863 11,750,097
1975 283,243 11,471,914
1974 269,038 11,200,906
1973 255,320 10,935,621
1972 242,113 10,676,835
1971 230,733 10,423,453
1970 224,809 10,178,802
1969 222,469 9,947,597
1968 219,337 9,725,281
1967 214,189 9,507,099
1966 207,543 9,284,688
1965 200,866 9,056,408
1964 193,816 8,828,406
1963 186,501 8,602,160
1962 179,349 8,380,172
1961 172,346 8,164,443
1960 165,477 7,956,197

Data sources: United Nations | World Population Prospects (2025–2100, retrieved 2026-03-10); World Bank | Health (1960–2024, retrieved 2026-04-06).

GeoRank.org/population/bahrain/malaysia | CC BY

From 2006 to 2016, the population of Bahrain increased by 463,302 people (a 48.2% growth), while Malaysia gained 5,371,776 people (a 20.3% growth).

For the next 10 years, from 2016 to 2026, Bahrain gained 245,777 people (a 17.3% growth), while Malaysia's population increased by 4,722,536 people (a 14.9% growth).

Bahrain was ranked 157th most populous country in 2006 and is 151st in 2026. Malaysia was ranked 44th in 2006 and ranked 45th now.

The UN's World Population Prospects forecasts that in 24 years (in 2050) Bahrain's population will grow by 27.7% to 2,131,404 people with a rank change from 151st to 146th. The population of Malaysia will increase by 21.7% to 44,445,677 people and rank change from 45th to 49th.

Bahrain is projected to reach its peak in 2100 at 3.08M people compared to the peak of 46.7M people in 2073 for Malaysia.

Population growth rate by year

Bahrain
Factual

Projection
Malaysia
Factual

Projection
1x
Year Growth rate
Bahrain Malaysia
2100 0.64% -0.26%
2099 0.65% -0.25%
2098 0.65% -0.26%
2097 0.65% -0.27%
2096 0.66% -0.26%
2095 0.66% -0.26%
2094 0.66% -0.26%
2093 0.67% -0.25%
2092 0.67% -0.25%
2091 0.67% -0.25%
2090 0.67% -0.24%
2089 0.68% -0.24%
2088 0.68% -0.23%
2087 0.68% -0.23%
2086 0.69% -0.2%
2085 0.69% -0.2%
2084 0.69% -0.2%
2083 0.7% -0.18%
2082 0.7% -0.16%
2081 0.7% -0.16%
2080 0.71% -0.13%
2079 0.71% -0.11%
2078 0.72% -0.1%
2077 0.72% -0.05%
2076 0.73% -0.05%
2075 0.74% -0.03%
2074 0.75% -0.03%
2073 0.75% 0.001%
2072 0.76% 0.02%
2071 0.76% 0.03%
2070 0.77% 0.05%
2069 0.78% 0.05%
2068 0.78% 0.07%
2067 0.79% 0.08%
2066 0.79% 0.1%
2065 0.79% 0.14%
2064 0.8% 0.14%
2063 0.8% 0.17%
2062 0.8% 0.2%
2061 0.8% 0.22%
2060 0.81% 0.25%
2059 0.81% 0.26%
2058 0.81% 0.28%
2057 0.82% 0.31%
2056 0.82% 0.32%
2055 0.83% 0.37%
2054 0.84% 0.41%
2053 0.85% 0.43%
2052 0.86% 0.46%
2051 0.87% 0.5%
2050 0.87% 0.52%
2049 0.89% 0.55%
2048 0.9% 0.6%
2047 0.91% 0.63%
2046 0.92% 0.65%
2045 0.94% 0.68%
2044 0.95% 0.73%
2043 0.96% 0.75%
2042 0.98% 0.76%
2041 0.98% 0.78%
2040 0.99% 0.79%
2039 1% 0.84%
2038 1% 0.85%
2037 1.01% 0.87%
2036 1.01% 0.9%
2035 1.01% 0.91%
2034 1.01% 0.93%
2033 1.01% 0.98%
2032 1.02% 1.01%
2031 1.02% 1.03%
2030 1.08% 1.03%
2029 1.27% 1.07%
2028 1.47% 1.09%
2027 1.83% 1.11%
2026 2.1% 1.16%
2025 2.42% 1.21%
2024 0.74% 1.23%
2023 3.43% 1.24%
2022 1.35% 1.2%
2021 2.18% 1.16%
2020 -0.78% 1.34%
2019 -1.29% 1.61%
2018 0.13% 1.72%
2017 5.44% 1.78%
2016 3.9% 1.78%
2015 4.24% 1.75%
2014 4.9% 1.73%
2013 3.66% 1.72%
2012 1.17% 1.72%
2011 -2.73% 1.77%
2010 4.25% 1.89%
2009 6.79% 2.01%
2008 6.18% 2.12%
2007 8.21% 2.2%
2006 8.06% 2.25%
2005 7.9% 2.29%
2004 7.75% 2.34%
2003 7.59% 2.39%
2002 7.45% 2.45%
2001 3.72% 2.43%
2000 2.67% 2.37%
1999 2.67% 2.41%
1998 2.67% 2.49%
1997 2.67% 2.52%
1996 2.67% 2.56%
1995 2.67% 2.57%
1994 2.67% 2.58%
1993 2.67% 2.59%
1992 2.66% 2.68%
1991 -2.28% 2.86%
1990 3.51% 2.99%
1989 3.63% 3.09%
1988 3.69% 3.19%
1987 3.71% 3.28%
1986 3.7% 3.33%
1985 3.66% 3.34%
1984 3.61% 3.31%
1983 3.55% 3.28%
1982 3.6% 3.24%
1981 4.05% 3.2%
1980 4.52% 2.82%
1979 4.7% 2.43%
1978 4.87% 2.43%
1977 5.02% 2.43%
1976 5.16% 2.42%
1975 5.28% 2.42%
1974 5.37% 2.43%
1973 5.45% 2.42%
1972 4.93% 2.43%
1971 2.64% 2.4%
1970 1.05% 2.32%
1969 1.43% 2.29%
1968 2.4% 2.29%
1967 3.2% 2.4%
1966 3.32% 2.52%
1965 3.64% 2.58%
1964 3.92% 2.63%
1963 3.99% 2.65%
1962 4.06% 2.64%
1961 4.15% 2.62%

Data sources: United Nations | World Population Prospects (2025–2100, retrieved 2026-03-10); World Bank | Health (1961–2024, retrieved 2026-04-06).

GeoRank.org/population/bahrain/malaysia | CC BY

In 2024, the population of Bahrain grew by 0.74%, while Malaysia's population grew by 1.23%.

Live population counters

Bahrain Malaysia
Current population
1669503
36512221
Population rank 151/197 45/197
Percent of world population 0.02% 0.44%
One net population change
45.3 minutes
1.22 minutes
One birth every
26.7 minutes
1.21 minutes
One death every
2.66 hours
2.9 minutes
Daily growth/decline +32 +1,182
Annual growth/decline +11,611 +431,375
Annual growth/decline rate +0.74% +1.23%
Population growth rate rank 117/197 89/197
One migration net change every
29.1 minutes
3.16 minutes
Annual migration change +18,128 +166,615
Net migration rank 34/196 7/196
Foreign-born residents 840,202 3,806,514
Foreign-born residents rank 66/195 18/195
Foreign-born share of population 52.3% 10.7%
Foreign-born share rank 7/195 62/195

Natural population change vs migration

Bahrain
Natural

Migration
Malaysia
Natural

Migration
1x
Year Population change
Bahrain Malaysia
Natural Migration Natural Migration
2025 - 18,128 - 166,615
2024 - 22,699 - 174,770
2023 16,356 20,002 254,806 181,071
2022 17,058 18,975 237,560 188,154
2021 15,401 11,882 212,002 188,506
2020 15,056 -5,048 283,282 101,907
2019 16,639 -31,967 309,426 203,284
2018 17,445 -25,978 324,568 221,965
2017 18,140 21,958 336,434 227,677
2016 17,996 46,833 345,681 222,141
2015 18,193 36,809 358,302 187,663
2014 17,826 40,815 367,587 159,791
2013 17,044 35,574 366,738 149,637
2012 16,219 12,801 371,497 134,975
2011 15,990 -26,107 372,836 122,269
2010 16,474 -19,329 360,260 157,164
2009 15,795 46,467 366,157 178,410
2008 15,541 47,674 362,380 202,481
2007 15,393 47,500 348,711 229,784
2006 15,248 46,615 349,509 232,971
2005 15,196 45,682 355,324 225,864
2004 14,454 45,413 365,138 212,278
2003 13,243 45,571 377,425 199,510
2002 11,875 45,952 381,084 196,227
2001 10,948 34,371 400,939 173,613
2000 11,339 2,886 417,371 125,499
1999 11,397 3,130 432,355 89,335
1998 10,970 3,733 436,316 99,639
1997 10,739 4,036 447,768 79,266
1996 10,607 4,162 450,174 73,040
1995 10,824 3,842 443,349 72,393
1994 11,133 3,387 437,873 66,685
1993 11,521 2,850 429,910 61,079
1992 11,577 2,768 418,900 66,286
1991 11,491 4,562 401,938 97,111
1990 12,337 5,090 384,518 135,020
1989 12,293 5,220 373,277 143,544
1988 11,995 5,294 386,507 133,478
1987 11,709 5,152 381,999 137,759
1986 11,455 4,822 385,799 127,081
1985 10,924 4,657 383,243 120,215
1984 10,269 4,557 376,797 106,248
1983 9,821 4,252 365,290 97,862
1982 9,396 3,980 353,138 89,942
1981 9,020 4,523 339,991 84,142
1980 8,802 6,741 326,947 80,617
1979 8,587 6,908 317,439 -13,980
1978 8,358 6,974 311,027 -15,059
1977 8,093 7,017 305,515 -16,601
1976 7,818 6,993 300,615 -18,316
1975 7,535 6,900 294,541 -20,480
1974 7,265 6,711 289,880 -21,919
1973 7,012 6,450 284,611 -21,995
1972 6,763 6,190 276,263 -21,305
1971 6,650 3,159 272,323 -20,535
1970 6,973 -4,939 269,341 -31,839
1969 7,277 -4,638 264,327 -39,420
1968 7,584 -3,952 260,705 -40,996
1967 7,492 -829 258,764 -42,108
1966 7,342 -718 262,162 -33,993
1965 7,148 -415 264,836 -36,456
1964 6,873 491 266,406 -38,785
1963 6,557 714 265,815 -40,952
1962 6,232 810 262,140 -43,033
1961 5,882 1,076 257,270 -44,916
1960 5,513 1,266 251,090 -46,948

Data sources: World Bank | Health (1960–2025, retrieved 2026-04-06).

GeoRank.org/population/bahrain/malaysia | CC BY

Over the last 10 years, 55.9% of the population change in Bahrain is from natural causes (a gain of 170,110 people) and 44.1% is from migration (a gain of 134,281 people). In Malaysia 61.7% is from natural causes (a gain of 3,029,648 people) and 38.3% is from migration (a gain of 1,882,159 people).

As of 2024, 840,202 residents or 52.3% of the population were not native-born in Bahrain, compared to 3,806,514 people or 10.7% in Malaysia.

Biggest cities by population

Bahrain
City Population
Manama 298K
Riffa 115K
Isa Town 61.3K
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 map with other countries

1x

Data sources: World Bank | Health (1960–2024, retrieved 2026-04-06); United Nations | World Population Prospects (1960–2026, retrieved 2026-03-10); U.S. Census Bureau (1960–2025, retrieved 2026-02-08); Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) (2000–2019, retrieved 2026-02-20).

GeoRank.org/population/bahrain/malaysia | CC BY

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Data sources:

  1. World Bank | Health (1960–2025, retrieved 2026-04-06)
  2. United Nations | World Population Prospects (1960–2100, retrieved 2026-03-10)
  3. U.S. Census Bureau (1960–2025, retrieved 2026-02-08)
  4. Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) (2000–2019, retrieved 2026-02-20)
  5. Wikidata (2026, retrieved 2026-02-08)

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