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

Updated on by Georank team

The latest officially reported population of China was 1,408,975,000 in 2024 vs 35,557,673 people in Malaysia in 2024. In 2026, based on the adjusted UN estimation, the current China's population is 1,402,578,808 people compared to 36,512,221 in Malaysia.

Population statistics:

  • China's population is 38.4 times bigger than Malaysia's.
  • China is ranked the 2nd most populous country in the world, while Malaysia is the 45th.
  • The countries together account for 17.4% of the world: 16.9% for China vs 0.44% for Malaysia.
  • For the last 10 years, China has had an average growth rate of +0.3% per year vs +1.5% in Malaysia.
  • Since 2006, the population of China has increased from 1.31B people to 1.4B (6.98% growth), while Malaysia has grown from 26.4M to 36.5M (38.2% growth).

China vs Malaysia: population by year and forecast

China
Factual

Projection
Malaysia
Factual

Projection
1x
Year Population
China Malaysia
2100 633,320,628 44,353,615
2099 643,959,697 44,467,475
2098 654,691,595 44,579,971
2097 665,517,335 44,695,979
2096 676,438,150 44,814,885
2095 687,457,915 44,932,404
2094 698,589,897 45,047,479
2093 709,852,629 45,165,126
2092 721,251,520 45,278,674
2091 732,791,748 45,390,002
2090 744,501,355 45,501,495
2089 756,404,299 45,610,046
2088 768,478,316 45,717,882
2087 780,707,622 45,823,085
2086 793,081,006 45,926,712
2085 805,608,315 46,020,742
2084 818,268,277 46,111,490
2083 830,972,107 46,202,286
2082 843,721,746 46,284,929
2081 856,534,631 46,359,700
2080 869,351,919 46,435,482
2079 882,146,959 46,496,102
2078 894,889,246 46,549,167
2077 907,592,919 46,594,188
2076 920,280,380 46,619,045
2075 932,956,157 46,643,115
2074 945,631,173 46,658,350
2073 958,352,980 46,670,848
2072 971,115,895 46,670,426
2071 983,938,054 46,660,436
2070 996,853,418 46,645,623
2069 1,009,905,851 46,623,238
2068 1,023,081,790 46,600,060
2067 1,036,420,010 46,569,264
2066 1,049,887,382 46,530,377
2065 1,063,477,623 46,481,890
2064 1,077,206,695 46,417,369
2063 1,090,982,303 46,350,674
2062 1,104,833,556 46,272,105
2061 1,118,682,849 46,178,092
2060 1,132,504,136 46,075,877
2059 1,146,199,736 45,958,718
2058 1,159,714,746 45,837,407
2057 1,172,963,523 45,707,213
2056 1,185,938,083 45,566,357
2055 1,198,550,408 45,418,953
2054 1,210,749,681 45,252,995
2053 1,222,500,569 45,069,089
2052 1,233,808,926 44,873,927
2051 1,244,584,333 44,668,767
2050 1,254,824,040 44,445,677
2049 1,264,598,914 44,217,593
2048 1,273,885,471 43,974,925
2047 1,282,701,271 43,712,325
2046 1,291,133,690 43,438,283
2045 1,299,154,327 43,157,909
2044 1,306,805,350 42,866,716
2043 1,314,176,710 42,557,941
2042 1,321,319,298 42,239,980
2041 1,328,219,755 41,922,379
2040 1,334,857,481 41,598,231
2039 1,341,265,381 41,270,953
2038 1,347,407,165 40,929,067
2037 1,353,377,505 40,584,773
2036 1,359,133,287 40,234,128
2035 1,364,651,508 39,876,375
2034 1,369,940,557 39,515,857
2033 1,375,003,005 39,152,086
2032 1,379,784,204 38,772,414
2031 1,384,301,522 38,386,293
2030 1,388,520,533 37,995,617
2029 1,392,490,007 37,606,753
2028 1,396,163,778 37,207,852
2027 1,399,515,824 36,806,585
2026 1,402,578,808 36,403,076
2025 1,405,826,385 35,987,113
2024 1,408,975,000 35,557,673
2023 1,410,710,000 35,126,298
2022 1,412,175,000 34,695,493
2021 1,412,360,000 34,282,399
2020 1,411,100,000 33,889,558
2019 1,407,745,000 33,440,596
2018 1,402,760,000 32,910,967
2017 1,396,215,000 32,355,644
2016 1,387,790,000 31,789,685
2015 1,379,860,000 31,232,798
2014 1,371,860,000 30,696,137
2013 1,363,240,000 30,174,265
2012 1,354,190,000 29,662,831
2011 1,345,035,000 29,162,039
2010 1,337,705,000 28,655,776
2009 1,331,260,000 28,124,778
2008 1,324,655,000 27,570,059
2007 1,317,885,000 26,998,389
2006 1,311,020,000 26,417,909
2005 1,303,720,000 25,836,071
2004 1,296,075,000 25,256,772
2003 1,288,400,000 24,679,602
2002 1,280,400,000 24,102,477
2001 1,271,850,000 23,526,538
2000 1,262,645,000 22,967,816
1999 1,252,735,000 22,435,531
1998 1,241,935,000 21,906,713
1997 1,230,075,000 21,375,218
1996 1,217,550,000 20,850,087
1995 1,204,855,000 20,330,599
1994 1,191,835,000 19,820,446
1993 1,178,440,000 19,322,664
1992 1,164,970,000 18,834,572
1991 1,150,780,000 18,342,464
1990 1,135,185,000 17,833,171
1989 1,118,650,000 17,314,997
1988 1,101,630,000 16,796,605
1987 1,084,035,000 16,276,737
1986 1,066,790,000 15,760,419
1985 1,051,040,000 15,252,258
1984 1,036,825,000 14,759,009
1983 1,023,310,000 14,285,907
1982 1,008,630,000 13,832,798
1981 993,885,000 13,399,203
1980 981,235,000 12,983,363
1979 969,005,000 12,627,862
1978 956,165,000 12,328,157
1977 943,455,000 12,035,713
1976 930,685,000 11,750,097
1975 916,395,000 11,471,914
1974 900,350,000 11,200,906
1973 881,940,000 10,935,621
1972 862,030,000 10,676,835
1971 841,105,000 10,423,453
1970 818,315,000 10,178,802
1969 796,025,000 9,947,597
1968 774,510,000 9,725,281
1967 754,550,000 9,507,099
1966 735,400,000 9,284,688
1965 715,185,000 9,056,408
1964 698,355,000 8,828,406
1963 682,335,000 8,602,160
1962 665,770,000 8,380,172
1961 660,330,000 8,164,443
1960 667,070,000 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/china/malaysia | CC BY

From 2006 to 2016, the population of China increased by 76,770,000 people (a 5.86% growth), while Malaysia gained 5,371,776 people (a 20.3% growth).

For the next 10 years, from 2016 to 2026, China gained 14,788,808 people (a 1.07% growth), while Malaysia's population increased by 4,722,536 people (a 14.9% growth).

China was ranked 1st most populous country in 2006 and is 2nd 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) China's population will shrink by 10.5% to 1,254,824,040 people and will still be ranked 2nd. The population of Malaysia will increase by 21.7% to 44,445,677 people and rank change from 45th to 49th.

Malaysia is projected to reach its peak in 2073 at 46.7M people, while China's population already peaked in 2021 at 1.41B people and is projected to decrease to 633M people by 2100.

Population growth rate by year

China
Factual

Projection
Malaysia
Factual

Projection
1x
Year Growth rate
China Malaysia
2100 -1.65% -0.26%
2099 -1.64% -0.25%
2098 -1.63% -0.26%
2097 -1.61% -0.27%
2096 -1.6% -0.26%
2095 -1.59% -0.26%
2094 -1.59% -0.26%
2093 -1.58% -0.25%
2092 -1.57% -0.25%
2091 -1.57% -0.25%
2090 -1.57% -0.24%
2089 -1.57% -0.24%
2088 -1.57% -0.23%
2087 -1.56% -0.23%
2086 -1.56% -0.2%
2085 -1.55% -0.2%
2084 -1.53% -0.2%
2083 -1.51% -0.18%
2082 -1.5% -0.16%
2081 -1.47% -0.16%
2080 -1.45% -0.13%
2079 -1.42% -0.11%
2078 -1.4% -0.1%
2077 -1.38% -0.05%
2076 -1.36% -0.05%
2075 -1.34% -0.03%
2074 -1.33% -0.03%
2073 -1.31% 0.001%
2072 -1.3% 0.02%
2071 -1.3% 0.03%
2070 -1.29% 0.05%
2069 -1.29% 0.05%
2068 -1.29% 0.07%
2067 -1.28% 0.08%
2066 -1.28% 0.1%
2065 -1.27% 0.14%
2064 -1.26% 0.14%
2063 -1.25% 0.17%
2062 -1.24% 0.2%
2061 -1.22% 0.22%
2060 -1.19% 0.25%
2059 -1.17% 0.26%
2058 -1.13% 0.28%
2057 -1.09% 0.31%
2056 -1.05% 0.32%
2055 -1.01% 0.37%
2054 -0.96% 0.41%
2053 -0.92% 0.43%
2052 -0.87% 0.46%
2051 -0.82% 0.5%
2050 -0.77% 0.52%
2049 -0.73% 0.55%
2048 -0.69% 0.6%
2047 -0.65% 0.63%
2046 -0.62% 0.65%
2045 -0.59% 0.68%
2044 -0.56% 0.73%
2043 -0.54% 0.75%
2042 -0.52% 0.76%
2041 -0.5% 0.78%
2040 -0.48% 0.79%
2039 -0.46% 0.84%
2038 -0.44% 0.85%
2037 -0.42% 0.87%
2036 -0.4% 0.9%
2035 -0.39% 0.91%
2034 -0.37% 0.93%
2033 -0.35% 0.98%
2032 -0.33% 1.01%
2031 -0.3% 1.03%
2030 -0.29% 1.03%
2029 -0.26% 1.07%
2028 -0.24% 1.09%
2027 -0.22% 1.11%
2026 -0.23% 1.16%
2025 -0.22% 1.21%
2024 -0.12% 1.23%
2023 -0.1% 1.24%
2022 -0.01% 1.2%
2021 0.09% 1.16%
2020 0.24% 1.34%
2019 0.36% 1.61%
2018 0.47% 1.72%
2017 0.61% 1.78%
2016 0.57% 1.78%
2015 0.58% 1.75%
2014 0.63% 1.73%
2013 0.67% 1.72%
2012 0.68% 1.72%
2011 0.55% 1.77%
2010 0.48% 1.89%
2009 0.5% 2.01%
2008 0.51% 2.12%
2007 0.52% 2.2%
2006 0.56% 2.25%
2005 0.59% 2.29%
2004 0.6% 2.34%
2003 0.62% 2.39%
2002 0.67% 2.45%
2001 0.73% 2.43%
2000 0.79% 2.37%
1999 0.87% 2.41%
1998 0.96% 2.49%
1997 1.03% 2.52%
1996 1.05% 2.56%
1995 1.09% 2.57%
1994 1.14% 2.58%
1993 1.16% 2.59%
1992 1.23% 2.68%
1991 1.37% 2.86%
1990 1.48% 2.99%
1989 1.54% 3.09%
1988 1.62% 3.19%
1987 1.62% 3.28%
1986 1.5% 3.33%
1985 1.37% 3.34%
1984 1.32% 3.31%
1983 1.46% 3.28%
1982 1.48% 3.24%
1981 1.29% 3.2%
1980 1.26% 2.82%
1979 1.34% 2.43%
1978 1.35% 2.43%
1977 1.37% 2.43%
1976 1.56% 2.42%
1975 1.78% 2.42%
1974 2.09% 2.43%
1973 2.31% 2.42%
1972 2.49% 2.43%
1971 2.78% 2.4%
1970 2.8% 2.32%
1969 2.78% 2.29%
1968 2.65% 2.29%
1967 2.6% 2.4%
1966 2.83% 2.52%
1965 2.41% 2.58%
1964 2.35% 2.63%
1963 2.49% 2.65%
1962 0.82% 2.64%
1961 -1.01% 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/china/malaysia | CC BY

In 2024, the population of China declined by 0.12%, while Malaysia's population grew by 1.23%.

Live population counters

China Malaysia
Current population
1402578808
36512221
Population rank 2/197 45/197
Percent of world population 16.9% 0.44%
One net population change
18.2 seconds
1.22 minutes
One birth every
3.5 seconds
1.21 minutes
One death every
2.84 seconds
2.9 minutes
Daily growth/decline -4,753 +1,182
Annual growth/decline -1,735,000 +431,375
Annual growth/decline rate -0.12% +1.23%
Population growth rate rank 173/197 89/197
One migration net change every
1.97 minutes
3.16 minutes
Annual migration change -268,126 +166,615
Net migration rank 189/196 7/196
Foreign-born residents 1,638,718 3,806,514
Foreign-born residents rank 43/195 18/195
Foreign-born share of population 0.1% 10.7%
Foreign-born share rank 192/195 62/195

Natural population change vs migration

China
Natural

Migration
Malaysia
Natural

Migration
1x
Year Population change
China Malaysia
Natural Migration Natural Migration
2025 - -268,126 - 166,615
2024 - -318,992 - 174,770
2023 -2,087,851 -567,724 254,806 181,071
2022 -847,305 -293,846 237,560 188,154
2021 480,203 -379,749 212,002 188,506
2020 2,046,095 -91,577 283,282 101,907
2019 4,673,713 -656,091 309,426 203,284
2018 5,302,433 -198,206 324,568 221,965
2017 7,790,880 -94,625 336,434 227,677
2016 9,062,269 -153,056 345,681 222,141
2015 6,788,911 -646,941 358,302 187,663
2014 9,205,180 -371,108 367,587 159,791
2013 8,043,116 -188,951 366,738 149,637
2012 10,075,174 -58,864 371,497 134,975
2011 8,245,065 -416,189 372,836 122,269
2010 6,407,607 -184,144 360,260 157,164
2009 6,483,236 -177,135 366,157 178,410
2008 6,729,247 -764,370 362,380 202,481
2007 6,813,465 -1,042,019 348,711 229,784
2006 6,922,185 -759,559 349,509 232,971
2005 7,678,911 -103,701 355,324 225,864
2004 7,607,960 -770,977 365,138 212,278
2003 7,743,284 -613,223 377,425 199,510
2002 8,258,580 -761,291 381,084 196,227
2001 8,839,358 -176,419 400,939 173,613
2000 9,570,849 -62,622 417,371 125,499
1999 10,247,372 -96,102 432,355 89,335
1998 11,351,286 -40,472 436,316 99,639
1997 12,374,554 -279,251 447,768 79,266
1996 12,686,872 -250,750 450,174 73,040
1995 12,711,220 -365,986 443,349 72,393
1994 13,360,470 -723,641 437,873 66,685
1993 13,493,138 -373,316 429,910 61,079
1992 13,548,601 -142,985 418,900 66,286
1991 14,937,124 -544,650 401,938 97,111
1990 16,335,313 -11,187 384,518 135,020
1989 16,824,495 -313,476 373,277 143,544
1988 17,328,640 -282,194 386,507 133,478
1987 18,005,821 -169,170 381,999 137,759
1986 16,609,920 -79,190 385,799 127,081
1985 14,987,830 -60,929 383,243 120,215
1984 13,561,671 -51,961 376,797 106,248
1983 13,599,789 -43,756 365,290 97,862
1982 15,815,318 -36,181 353,138 89,942
1981 14,461,027 -28,016 339,991 84,142
1980 11,647,260 -20,129 326,947 80,617
1979 11,250,148 -13,704 317,439 -13,980
1978 11,473,980 -9,916 311,027 -15,059
1977 11,378,068 -15,323 305,515 -16,601
1976 11,782,472 -55,109 300,615 -18,316
1975 14,378,237 -115,173 294,541 -20,480
1974 15,738,118 -175,239 289,880 -21,919
1973 18,423,727 -214,997 284,611 -21,995
1972 19,102,585 -215,650 276,263 -21,305
1971 19,622,980 -180,153 272,323 -20,535
1970 21,137,076 -126,510 269,341 -31,839
1969 20,760,332 -72,836 264,327 -39,420
1968 21,206,083 -37,290 260,705 -40,996
1967 19,263,662 1,246,654 258,764 -42,108
1966 19,282,187 4,165 262,162 -33,993
1965 20,296,950 -130,900 264,836 -36,456
1964 19,302,532 -1,250,441 266,406 -38,785
1963 22,742,225 -31,383 265,815 -40,952
1962 17,969,132 -31,305 262,140 -43,033
1961 2,496,047 -25,578 257,270 -44,916
1960 -3,048,510 -16,927 251,090 -46,948

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

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

Over the last 10 years, 92.5% of the population change in China is from natural causes (a gain of 42,414,528 people) and 7.53% is from migration (a loss of 3,452,923 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, 1,638,718 residents or 0.1% of the population were not native-born in China, compared to 3,806,514 people or 10.7% in Malaysia.

Biggest cities by population

China
City Population
Chongqing 32.1M
Shanghai 24.9M
Beijing 21.9M
Chengdu 20.9M
Guangzhou 18.7M
Shenzhen 17.5M
Tianjin 13.9M
Xi'an 13M
Suzhou 12.7M
Zhengzhou 12.6M
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/china/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. Wikidata (2026, retrieved 2026-02-08)
  5. Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) (2000–2019, retrieved 2026-02-20)

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