The latest officially reported population of Brunei was 462,721 in 2024 vs 35,557,673 people in Malaysia in 2024. In 2026, based on the adjusted UN estimation, the current Brunei's population is 470,884 people compared to 36,512,221 in Malaysia.
Population statistics:
- Malaysia's population is 77.5 times bigger than Brunei's.
- Brunei is ranked the 170th most populous country in the world, while Malaysia is the 45th.
- The countries together account for 0.45% of the world: 0.006% for Brunei vs 0.44% for Malaysia.
- For the last 10 years, Brunei has had an average growth rate of +1.08% per year vs +1.5% in Malaysia.
- Since 2006, the population of Brunei has increased from 365K people to 471K (29.1% growth), while Malaysia has grown from 26.4M to 36.5M (38.2% growth).
Brunei vs Malaysia: population by year and forecast
| Year | Population | |
|---|---|---|
Brunei
|
Malaysia
|
|
| 2100 | 467,416 | 44,353,615 |
| 2099 | 468,955 | 44,467,475 |
| 2098 | 470,474 | 44,579,971 |
| 2097 | 471,886 | 44,695,979 |
| 2096 | 473,386 | 44,814,885 |
| 2095 | 474,822 | 44,932,404 |
| 2094 | 476,324 | 45,047,479 |
| 2093 | 477,804 | 45,165,126 |
| 2092 | 479,320 | 45,278,674 |
| 2091 | 480,794 | 45,390,002 |
| 2090 | 482,320 | 45,501,495 |
| 2089 | 483,944 | 45,610,046 |
| 2088 | 485,580 | 45,717,882 |
| 2087 | 487,128 | 45,823,085 |
| 2086 | 488,625 | 45,926,712 |
| 2085 | 490,259 | 46,020,742 |
| 2084 | 491,848 | 46,111,490 |
| 2083 | 493,523 | 46,202,286 |
| 2082 | 495,200 | 46,284,929 |
| 2081 | 496,840 | 46,359,700 |
| 2080 | 498,434 | 46,435,482 |
| 2079 | 500,007 | 46,496,102 |
| 2078 | 501,497 | 46,549,167 |
| 2077 | 503,086 | 46,594,188 |
| 2076 | 504,597 | 46,619,045 |
| 2075 | 506,394 | 46,643,115 |
| 2074 | 508,080 | 46,658,350 |
| 2073 | 509,613 | 46,670,848 |
| 2072 | 511,047 | 46,670,426 |
| 2071 | 512,261 | 46,660,436 |
| 2070 | 513,446 | 46,645,623 |
| 2069 | 514,716 | 46,623,238 |
| 2068 | 516,037 | 46,600,060 |
| 2067 | 517,358 | 46,569,264 |
| 2066 | 518,464 | 46,530,377 |
| 2065 | 519,443 | 46,481,890 |
| 2064 | 520,281 | 46,417,369 |
| 2063 | 520,990 | 46,350,674 |
| 2062 | 521,488 | 46,272,105 |
| 2061 | 522,004 | 46,178,092 |
| 2060 | 522,425 | 46,075,877 |
| 2059 | 522,802 | 45,958,718 |
| 2058 | 523,135 | 45,837,407 |
| 2057 | 523,377 | 45,707,213 |
| 2056 | 523,422 | 45,566,357 |
| 2055 | 523,432 | 45,418,953 |
| 2054 | 523,252 | 45,252,995 |
| 2053 | 523,048 | 45,069,089 |
| 2052 | 522,679 | 44,873,927 |
| 2051 | 522,034 | 44,668,767 |
| 2050 | 521,243 | 44,445,677 |
| 2049 | 520,307 | 44,217,593 |
| 2048 | 519,256 | 43,974,925 |
| 2047 | 518,107 | 43,712,325 |
| 2046 | 516,871 | 43,438,283 |
| 2045 | 515,363 | 43,157,909 |
| 2044 | 513,945 | 42,866,716 |
| 2043 | 512,420 | 42,557,941 |
| 2042 | 510,764 | 42,239,980 |
| 2041 | 508,923 | 41,922,379 |
| 2040 | 507,093 | 41,598,231 |
| 2039 | 505,089 | 41,270,953 |
| 2038 | 502,784 | 40,929,067 |
| 2037 | 500,639 | 40,584,773 |
| 2036 | 498,469 | 40,234,128 |
| 2035 | 496,091 | 39,876,375 |
| 2034 | 493,656 | 39,515,857 |
| 2033 | 491,157 | 39,152,086 |
| 2032 | 488,666 | 38,772,414 |
| 2031 | 485,865 | 38,386,293 |
| 2030 | 482,904 | 37,995,617 |
| 2029 | 479,937 | 37,606,753 |
| 2028 | 476,756 | 37,207,852 |
| 2027 | 473,357 | 36,806,585 |
| 2026 | 469,968 | 36,403,076 |
| 2025 | 466,440 | 35,987,113 |
| 2024 | 462,721 | 35,557,673 |
| 2023 | 458,949 | 35,126,298 |
| 2022 | 455,370 | 34,695,493 |
| 2021 | 451,721 | 34,282,399 |
| 2020 | 447,404 | 33,889,558 |
| 2019 | 442,680 | 33,440,596 |
| 2018 | 437,810 | 32,910,967 |
| 2017 | 432,772 | 32,355,644 |
| 2016 | 427,564 | 31,789,685 |
| 2015 | 422,212 | 31,232,798 |
| 2014 | 416,750 | 30,696,137 |
| 2013 | 411,202 | 30,174,265 |
| 2012 | 405,557 | 29,662,831 |
| 2011 | 399,389 | 29,162,039 |
| 2010 | 392,332 | 28,655,776 |
| 2009 | 384,952 | 28,124,778 |
| 2008 | 377,793 | 27,570,059 |
| 2007 | 370,873 | 26,998,389 |
| 2006 | 364,663 | 26,417,909 |
| 2005 | 358,916 | 25,836,071 |
| 2004 | 352,911 | 25,256,772 |
| 2003 | 346,637 | 24,679,602 |
| 2002 | 340,099 | 24,102,477 |
| 2001 | 333,345 | 23,526,538 |
| 2000 | 326,424 | 22,967,816 |
| 1999 | 319,411 | 22,435,531 |
| 1998 | 312,385 | 21,906,713 |
| 1997 | 305,341 | 21,375,218 |
| 1996 | 298,276 | 20,850,087 |
| 1995 | 291,195 | 20,330,599 |
| 1994 | 284,091 | 19,820,446 |
| 1993 | 276,971 | 19,322,664 |
| 1992 | 269,839 | 18,834,572 |
| 1991 | 262,596 | 18,342,464 |
| 1990 | 255,292 | 17,833,171 |
| 1989 | 248,064 | 17,314,997 |
| 1988 | 240,913 | 16,796,605 |
| 1987 | 233,860 | 16,276,737 |
| 1986 | 226,495 | 15,760,419 |
| 1985 | 218,919 | 15,252,258 |
| 1984 | 211,661 | 14,759,009 |
| 1983 | 204,741 | 14,285,907 |
| 1982 | 198,165 | 13,832,798 |
| 1981 | 191,977 | 13,399,203 |
| 1980 | 186,111 | 12,983,363 |
| 1979 | 180,422 | 12,627,862 |
| 1978 | 174,884 | 12,328,157 |
| 1977 | 169,277 | 12,035,713 |
| 1976 | 163,607 | 11,750,097 |
| 1975 | 158,070 | 11,471,914 |
| 1974 | 152,656 | 11,200,906 |
| 1973 | 147,369 | 10,935,621 |
| 1972 | 142,189 | 10,676,835 |
| 1971 | 137,921 | 10,423,453 |
| 1970 | 135,138 | 10,178,802 |
| 1969 | 131,446 | 9,947,597 |
| 1968 | 126,222 | 9,725,281 |
| 1967 | 121,017 | 9,507,099 |
| 1966 | 115,874 | 9,284,688 |
| 1965 | 110,838 | 9,056,408 |
| 1964 | 105,922 | 8,828,406 |
| 1963 | 101,159 | 8,602,160 |
| 1962 | 96,719 | 8,380,172 |
| 1961 | 92,517 | 8,164,443 |
| 1960 | 88,347 | 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/brunei/malaysia | CC BY 
From 2006 to 2016, the population of Brunei increased by 62,901 people (a 17.2% growth), while Malaysia gained 5,371,776 people (a 20.3% growth).
For the next 10 years, from 2016 to 2026, Brunei gained 43,320 people (a 10.1% growth), while Malaysia's population increased by 4,722,536 people (a 14.9% growth).
Brunei was ranked 169th most populous country in 2006 and is 170th 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) Brunei's population will grow by 10.7% to 521,243 people with a rank change from 170th to 171st. The population of Malaysia will increase by 21.7% to 44,445,677 people and rank change from 45th to 49th.
Brunei is projected to reach its peak in 2055 at 523K people compared to the peak of 46.7M people in 2073 for Malaysia.
Population growth rate by year
| Year | Growth rate | |
|---|---|---|
|
Brunei
|
Malaysia
|
|
| 2100 | -0.33% | -0.26% |
| 2099 | -0.32% | -0.25% |
| 2098 | -0.3% | -0.26% |
| 2097 | -0.32% | -0.27% |
| 2096 | -0.3% | -0.26% |
| 2095 | -0.32% | -0.26% |
| 2094 | -0.31% | -0.26% |
| 2093 | -0.32% | -0.25% |
| 2092 | -0.31% | -0.25% |
| 2091 | -0.32% | -0.25% |
| 2090 | -0.34% | -0.24% |
| 2089 | -0.34% | -0.24% |
| 2088 | -0.32% | -0.23% |
| 2087 | -0.31% | -0.23% |
| 2086 | -0.33% | -0.2% |
| 2085 | -0.32% | -0.2% |
| 2084 | -0.34% | -0.2% |
| 2083 | -0.34% | -0.18% |
| 2082 | -0.33% | -0.16% |
| 2081 | -0.32% | -0.16% |
| 2080 | -0.31% | -0.13% |
| 2079 | -0.3% | -0.11% |
| 2078 | -0.32% | -0.1% |
| 2077 | -0.3% | -0.05% |
| 2076 | -0.35% | -0.05% |
| 2075 | -0.33% | -0.03% |
| 2074 | -0.3% | -0.03% |
| 2073 | -0.28% | 0.001% |
| 2072 | -0.24% | 0.02% |
| 2071 | -0.23% | 0.03% |
| 2070 | -0.25% | 0.05% |
| 2069 | -0.26% | 0.05% |
| 2068 | -0.26% | 0.07% |
| 2067 | -0.21% | 0.08% |
| 2066 | -0.19% | 0.1% |
| 2065 | -0.16% | 0.14% |
| 2064 | -0.14% | 0.14% |
| 2063 | -0.1% | 0.17% |
| 2062 | -0.1% | 0.2% |
| 2061 | -0.08% | 0.22% |
| 2060 | -0.07% | 0.25% |
| 2059 | -0.06% | 0.26% |
| 2058 | -0.05% | 0.28% |
| 2057 | -0.009% | 0.31% |
| 2056 | -0.002% | 0.32% |
| 2055 | 0.03% | 0.37% |
| 2054 | 0.04% | 0.41% |
| 2053 | 0.07% | 0.43% |
| 2052 | 0.12% | 0.46% |
| 2051 | 0.15% | 0.5% |
| 2050 | 0.18% | 0.52% |
| 2049 | 0.2% | 0.55% |
| 2048 | 0.22% | 0.6% |
| 2047 | 0.24% | 0.63% |
| 2046 | 0.29% | 0.65% |
| 2045 | 0.28% | 0.68% |
| 2044 | 0.3% | 0.73% |
| 2043 | 0.32% | 0.75% |
| 2042 | 0.36% | 0.76% |
| 2041 | 0.36% | 0.78% |
| 2040 | 0.4% | 0.79% |
| 2039 | 0.46% | 0.84% |
| 2038 | 0.43% | 0.85% |
| 2037 | 0.44% | 0.87% |
| 2036 | 0.48% | 0.9% |
| 2035 | 0.49% | 0.91% |
| 2034 | 0.51% | 0.93% |
| 2033 | 0.51% | 0.98% |
| 2032 | 0.58% | 1.01% |
| 2031 | 0.61% | 1.03% |
| 2030 | 0.62% | 1.03% |
| 2029 | 0.67% | 1.07% |
| 2028 | 0.72% | 1.09% |
| 2027 | 0.72% | 1.11% |
| 2026 | 0.76% | 1.16% |
| 2025 | 0.8% | 1.21% |
| 2024 | 0.82% | 1.23% |
| 2023 | 0.79% | 1.24% |
| 2022 | 0.81% | 1.2% |
| 2021 | 0.96% | 1.16% |
| 2020 | 1.07% | 1.34% |
| 2019 | 1.11% | 1.61% |
| 2018 | 1.16% | 1.72% |
| 2017 | 1.22% | 1.78% |
| 2016 | 1.27% | 1.78% |
| 2015 | 1.31% | 1.75% |
| 2014 | 1.35% | 1.73% |
| 2013 | 1.39% | 1.72% |
| 2012 | 1.54% | 1.72% |
| 2011 | 1.8% | 1.77% |
| 2010 | 1.92% | 1.89% |
| 2009 | 1.89% | 2.01% |
| 2008 | 1.87% | 2.12% |
| 2007 | 1.7% | 2.2% |
| 2006 | 1.6% | 2.25% |
| 2005 | 1.7% | 2.29% |
| 2004 | 1.81% | 2.34% |
| 2003 | 1.92% | 2.39% |
| 2002 | 2.03% | 2.45% |
| 2001 | 2.12% | 2.43% |
| 2000 | 2.2% | 2.37% |
| 1999 | 2.25% | 2.41% |
| 1998 | 2.31% | 2.49% |
| 1997 | 2.37% | 2.52% |
| 1996 | 2.43% | 2.56% |
| 1995 | 2.5% | 2.57% |
| 1994 | 2.57% | 2.58% |
| 1993 | 2.64% | 2.59% |
| 1992 | 2.76% | 2.68% |
| 1991 | 2.86% | 2.86% |
| 1990 | 2.91% | 2.99% |
| 1989 | 2.97% | 3.09% |
| 1988 | 3.02% | 3.19% |
| 1987 | 3.25% | 3.28% |
| 1986 | 3.46% | 3.33% |
| 1985 | 3.43% | 3.34% |
| 1984 | 3.38% | 3.31% |
| 1983 | 3.32% | 3.28% |
| 1982 | 3.22% | 3.24% |
| 1981 | 3.15% | 3.2% |
| 1980 | 3.15% | 2.82% |
| 1979 | 3.17% | 2.43% |
| 1978 | 3.31% | 2.43% |
| 1977 | 3.47% | 2.43% |
| 1976 | 3.5% | 2.42% |
| 1975 | 3.55% | 2.42% |
| 1974 | 3.59% | 2.43% |
| 1973 | 3.64% | 2.42% |
| 1972 | 3.09% | 2.43% |
| 1971 | 2.06% | 2.4% |
| 1970 | 2.81% | 2.32% |
| 1969 | 4.14% | 2.29% |
| 1968 | 4.3% | 2.29% |
| 1967 | 4.44% | 2.4% |
| 1966 | 4.54% | 2.52% |
| 1965 | 4.64% | 2.58% |
| 1964 | 4.71% | 2.63% |
| 1963 | 4.59% | 2.65% |
| 1962 | 4.54% | 2.64% |
| 1961 | 4.72% | 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/brunei/malaysia | CC BY
In 2024, the population of Brunei grew by 0.82%, while Malaysia's population grew by 1.23%.
Live population counters
|
Brunei
|
Malaysia
|
|
|---|---|---|
| Current population |
470884
|
36512221
|
| Population rank | 170/197 | 45/197 |
| Percent of world population | 0.006% | 0.44% |
| One net population change |
2.32 hours
|
1.22 minutes
|
| One birth every |
1.4 hours
|
1.21 minutes
|
| One death every |
3.65 hours
|
2.9 minutes
|
| Daily growth/decline | +10 | +1,182 |
| Annual growth/decline | +3,772 | +431,375 |
| Annual growth/decline rate | +0.82% | +1.23% |
| Population growth rate rank | 114/197 | 89/197 |
| One migration net change every |
1.08 years
|
3.16 minutes
|
| Annual migration change | +0 | +166,615 |
| Net migration rank | 77/196 | 7/196 |
| Foreign-born residents | 119,933 | 3,806,514 |
| Foreign-born residents rank | 124/195 | 18/195 |
| Foreign-born share of population | 25.9% | 10.7% |
| Foreign-born share rank | 21/195 | 62/195 |
Natural population change vs migration
| Year | Population change | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|
|
Brunei
|
Malaysia
|
|||
| Natural | Migration | Natural | Migration | |
| 2025 | - | 0 | - | 166,615 |
| 2024 | - | 0 | - | 174,770 |
| 2023 | 3,837 | 0 | 254,806 | 181,071 |
| 2022 | 3,319 | 0 | 237,560 | 188,154 |
| 2021 | 3,985 | 0 | 212,002 | 188,506 |
| 2020 | 4,188 | 462 | 283,282 | 101,907 |
| 2019 | 4,335 | 456 | 309,426 | 203,284 |
| 2018 | 4,502 | 450 | 324,568 | 221,965 |
| 2017 | 4,685 | 440 | 336,434 | 227,677 |
| 2016 | 4,876 | 415 | 345,681 | 222,141 |
| 2015 | 5,060 | 356 | 358,302 | 187,663 |
| 2014 | 5,206 | 303 | 367,587 | 159,791 |
| 2013 | 5,302 | 285 | 366,738 | 149,637 |
| 2012 | 5,349 | 346 | 371,497 | 134,975 |
| 2011 | 5,242 | 1,399 | 372,836 | 122,269 |
| 2010 | 5,003 | 2,479 | 360,260 | 157,164 |
| 2009 | 4,789 | 2,489 | 366,157 | 178,410 |
| 2008 | 4,624 | 2,409 | 362,380 | 202,481 |
| 2007 | 4,521 | 2,291 | 348,711 | 229,784 |
| 2006 | 4,590 | 1,030 | 349,509 | 232,971 |
| 2005 | 4,703 | 1,163 | 355,324 | 225,864 |
| 2004 | 4,874 | 1,261 | 365,138 | 212,278 |
| 2003 | 5,034 | 1,383 | 377,425 | 199,510 |
| 2002 | 5,169 | 1,499 | 381,084 | 196,227 |
| 2001 | 5,275 | 1,569 | 400,939 | 173,613 |
| 2000 | 5,331 | 1,660 | 417,371 | 125,499 |
| 1999 | 5,388 | 1,639 | 432,355 | 89,335 |
| 1998 | 5,466 | 1,566 | 436,316 | 99,639 |
| 1997 | 5,518 | 1,533 | 447,768 | 79,266 |
| 1996 | 5,606 | 1,464 | 450,174 | 73,040 |
| 1995 | 5,750 | 1,348 | 443,349 | 72,393 |
| 1994 | 5,907 | 1,206 | 437,873 | 66,685 |
| 1993 | 6,045 | 1,082 | 429,910 | 61,079 |
| 1992 | 6,169 | 969 | 418,900 | 66,286 |
| 1991 | 6,259 | 1,087 | 401,938 | 97,111 |
| 1990 | 6,265 | 992 | 384,518 | 135,020 |
| 1989 | 6,202 | 1,002 | 373,277 | 143,544 |
| 1988 | 6,135 | 962 | 386,507 | 133,478 |
| 1987 | 6,017 | 994 | 381,999 | 137,759 |
| 1986 | 5,826 | 1,897 | 385,799 | 127,081 |
| 1985 | 5,620 | 1,808 | 383,243 | 120,215 |
| 1984 | 5,373 | 1,722 | 376,797 | 106,248 |
| 1983 | 5,138 | 1,602 | 365,290 | 97,862 |
| 1982 | 4,931 | 1,475 | 353,138 | 89,942 |
| 1981 | 4,839 | 1,124 | 339,991 | 84,142 |
| 1980 | 4,775 | 995 | 326,947 | 80,617 |
| 1979 | 4,717 | 899 | 317,439 | -13,980 |
| 1978 | 4,668 | 791 | 311,027 | -15,059 |
| 1977 | 4,594 | 1,157 | 305,515 | -16,601 |
| 1976 | 4,518 | 1,080 | 300,615 | -18,316 |
| 1975 | 4,431 | 1,047 | 294,541 | -20,480 |
| 1974 | 4,334 | 1,011 | 289,880 | -21,919 |
| 1973 | 4,216 | 1,007 | 284,611 | -21,995 |
| 1972 | 4,085 | 1,053 | 276,263 | -21,305 |
| 1971 | 3,880 | -476 | 272,323 | -20,535 |
| 1970 | 3,694 | -1,538 | 269,341 | -31,839 |
| 1969 | 3,618 | 1,608 | 264,327 | -39,420 |
| 1968 | 3,551 | 1,677 | 260,705 | -40,996 |
| 1967 | 3,477 | 1,703 | 258,764 | -42,108 |
| 1966 | 3,403 | 1,697 | 262,162 | -33,993 |
| 1965 | 3,326 | 1,655 | 264,836 | -36,456 |
| 1964 | 3,264 | 1,595 | 266,406 | -38,785 |
| 1963 | 3,195 | 1,469 | 265,815 | -40,952 |
| 1962 | 3,128 | 1,088 | 262,140 | -43,033 |
| 1961 | 3,175 | 1,014 | 257,270 | -44,916 |
| 1960 | 3,168 | 982 | 251,090 | -46,948 |
Data sources: World Bank | Health (1960–2025, retrieved 2026-04-06).
GeoRank.org/population/brunei/malaysia | CC BY
Over the last 10 years, 93.9% of the population change in Brunei is from natural causes (a gain of 43,993 people) and 6.15% is from migration (a gain of 2,882 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, 119,933 residents or 25.9% of the population were not native-born in Brunei, compared to 3,806,514 people or 10.7% in Malaysia.
Biggest cities by population
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Population differences between Brunei and Malaysia
|
Brunei
|
Malaysia
|
|
|---|---|---|
| Life expectancy | 75.8 years | 77.2 years |
| Average age | 33.9 years | 33.2 years |
| Median age | 33.2 years | 31.5 years |
| Male:Female ratio | 53.1:46.9 | 52.4:47.6 |
| Fertility rate | 1.75 births per woman | 1.55 births per woman |
| Population density | 231 ppl/mi² | 287 ppl/mi² |
Population map with other countries
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/brunei/malaysia | CC BY
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Data sources:
- World Bank | Health (1960–2025, retrieved 2026-04-06)
- United Nations | World Population Prospects (1960–2100, retrieved 2026-03-10)
- U.S. Census Bureau (1960–2025, retrieved 2026-02-08)
- Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) (2000–2019, retrieved 2026-02-20)
- Wikidata (2026, retrieved 2026-02-08)
Creative Commons Attribution (CC BY) — you’re free to copy, share, remix, adapt, and use even commercially as long as you give appropriate credit and clearly indicate if you made changes. Other sources may be subject to different license terms.