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

Updated on by Georank team

The latest officially reported population of Iceland was 386,506 in 2024 vs 35,557,673 people in Malaysia in 2024. In 2026, based on the adjusted UN estimation, the current Iceland's population is 397,129 people compared to 36,512,221 in Malaysia.

Population statistics:

  • Malaysia's population is 91.9 times bigger than Iceland's.
  • Iceland is ranked the 173rd most populous country in the world, while Malaysia is the 45th.
  • The countries together account for 0.45% of the world: 0.005% for Iceland vs 0.44% for Malaysia.
  • For the last 10 years, Iceland has had an average growth rate of +1.63% per year vs +1.5% in Malaysia.
  • Since 2006, the population of Iceland has increased from 304K people to 397K (30.7% growth), while Malaysia has grown from 26.4M to 36.5M (38.2% growth).

Iceland vs Malaysia: population by year and forecast

Iceland
Factual

Projection
Malaysia
Factual

Projection
1x
Year Population
Iceland Malaysia
2100 359,553 44,353,615
2099 361,331 44,467,475
2098 363,133 44,579,971
2097 364,957 44,695,979
2096 366,850 44,814,885
2095 368,746 44,932,404
2094 370,650 45,047,479
2093 372,614 45,165,126
2092 374,717 45,278,674
2091 376,803 45,390,002
2090 378,807 45,501,495
2089 380,812 45,610,046
2088 382,997 45,717,882
2087 385,164 45,823,085
2086 387,257 45,926,712
2085 389,362 46,020,742
2084 391,416 46,111,490
2083 393,481 46,202,286
2082 395,438 46,284,929
2081 397,470 46,359,700
2080 399,499 46,435,482
2079 401,462 46,496,102
2078 403,324 46,549,167
2077 405,255 46,594,188
2076 406,954 46,619,045
2075 408,546 46,643,115
2074 410,015 46,658,350
2073 411,402 46,670,848
2072 412,903 46,670,426
2071 414,245 46,660,436
2070 415,521 46,645,623
2069 416,683 46,623,238
2068 417,749 46,600,060
2067 418,899 46,569,264
2066 419,918 46,530,377
2065 420,941 46,481,890
2064 421,814 46,417,369
2063 422,695 46,350,674
2062 423,614 46,272,105
2061 424,319 46,178,092
2060 425,096 46,075,877
2059 425,721 45,958,718
2058 426,288 45,837,407
2057 426,844 45,707,213
2056 427,304 45,566,357
2055 427,695 45,418,953
2054 427,915 45,252,995
2053 428,108 45,069,089
2052 428,300 44,873,927
2051 428,278 44,668,767
2050 428,323 44,445,677
2049 428,289 44,217,593
2048 428,213 43,974,925
2047 428,102 43,712,325
2046 427,911 43,438,283
2045 427,683 43,157,909
2044 427,236 42,866,716
2043 426,580 42,557,941
2042 425,915 42,239,980
2041 425,212 41,922,379
2040 424,385 41,598,231
2039 423,407 41,270,953
2038 422,302 40,929,067
2037 421,094 40,584,773
2036 419,738 40,234,128
2035 418,238 39,876,375
2034 416,721 39,515,857
2033 415,006 39,152,086
2032 413,150 38,772,414
2031 411,039 38,386,293
2030 408,677 37,995,617
2029 406,109 37,606,753
2028 403,085 37,207,852
2027 399,797 36,806,585
2026 396,141 36,403,076
2025 391,759 35,987,113
2024 386,506 35,557,673
2023 385,663 35,126,298
2022 382,003 34,695,493
2021 372,520 34,282,399
2020 366,463 33,889,558
2019 360,563 33,440,596
2018 352,721 32,910,967
2017 343,400 32,355,644
2016 335,439 31,789,685
2015 330,815 31,232,798
2014 327,386 30,696,137
2013 323,764 30,174,265
2012 320,716 29,662,831
2011 319,014 29,162,039
2010 318,041 28,655,776
2009 318,499 28,124,778
2008 317,414 27,570,059
2007 311,566 26,998,389
2006 303,782 26,417,909
2005 296,734 25,836,071
2004 292,074 25,256,772
2003 289,521 24,679,602
2002 287,523 24,102,477
2001 284,968 23,526,538
2000 281,205 22,967,816
1999 277,381 22,435,531
1998 274,047 21,906,713
1997 271,128 21,375,218
1996 268,916 20,850,087
1995 267,468 20,330,599
1994 266,021 19,820,446
1993 263,725 19,322,664
1992 261,057 18,834,572
1991 257,797 18,342,464
1990 254,826 17,833,171
1989 252,852 17,314,997
1988 249,740 16,796,605
1987 245,859 16,276,737
1986 243,180 15,760,419
1985 241,405 15,252,258
1984 239,511 14,759,009
1983 236,977 14,285,907
1982 233,860 13,832,798
1981 230,755 13,399,203
1980 228,138 12,983,363
1979 225,735 12,627,862
1978 223,537 12,328,157
1977 221,799 12,035,713
1976 220,154 11,750,097
1975 217,979 11,471,914
1974 215,209 11,200,906
1973 212,317 10,935,621
1972 209,137 10,676,835
1971 206,098 10,423,453
1970 204,438 10,178,802
1969 203,369 9,947,597
1968 201,488 9,725,281
1967 198,751 9,507,099
1966 195,570 9,284,688
1965 192,286 9,056,408
1964 188,983 8,828,406
1963 185,653 8,602,160
1962 182,378 8,380,172
1961 179,029 8,164,443
1960 175,574 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/iceland/malaysia | CC BY

From 2006 to 2016, the population of Iceland increased by 31,657 people (a 10.4% growth), while Malaysia gained 5,371,776 people (a 20.3% growth).

For the next 10 years, from 2016 to 2026, Iceland gained 61,690 people (a 18.4% growth), while Malaysia's population increased by 4,722,536 people (a 14.9% growth).

Iceland was ranked 172nd most populous country in 2006 and is 173rd 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) Iceland's population will grow by 7.85% to 428,323 people and will still be ranked 173rd. The population of Malaysia will increase by 21.7% to 44,445,677 people and rank change from 45th to 49th.

Iceland is projected to reach its peak in 2050 at 428K people compared to the peak of 46.7M people in 2073 for Malaysia.

Population growth rate by year

Iceland
Factual

Projection
Malaysia
Factual

Projection
1x
Year Growth rate
Iceland Malaysia
2100 -0.49% -0.26%
2099 -0.5% -0.25%
2098 -0.5% -0.26%
2097 -0.52% -0.27%
2096 -0.51% -0.26%
2095 -0.51% -0.26%
2094 -0.53% -0.26%
2093 -0.56% -0.25%
2092 -0.55% -0.25%
2091 -0.53% -0.25%
2090 -0.53% -0.24%
2089 -0.57% -0.24%
2088 -0.56% -0.23%
2087 -0.54% -0.23%
2086 -0.54% -0.2%
2085 -0.52% -0.2%
2084 -0.52% -0.2%
2083 -0.49% -0.18%
2082 -0.51% -0.16%
2081 -0.51% -0.16%
2080 -0.49% -0.13%
2079 -0.46% -0.11%
2078 -0.48% -0.1%
2077 -0.42% -0.05%
2076 -0.39% -0.05%
2075 -0.36% -0.03%
2074 -0.34% -0.03%
2073 -0.36% 0.001%
2072 -0.32% 0.02%
2071 -0.31% 0.03%
2070 -0.28% 0.05%
2069 -0.26% 0.05%
2068 -0.27% 0.07%
2067 -0.24% 0.08%
2066 -0.24% 0.1%
2065 -0.21% 0.14%
2064 -0.21% 0.14%
2063 -0.22% 0.17%
2062 -0.17% 0.2%
2061 -0.18% 0.22%
2060 -0.15% 0.25%
2059 -0.13% 0.26%
2058 -0.13% 0.28%
2057 -0.11% 0.31%
2056 -0.09% 0.32%
2055 -0.05% 0.37%
2054 -0.05% 0.41%
2053 -0.04% 0.43%
2052 0.005% 0.46%
2051 -0.01% 0.5%
2050 0.008% 0.52%
2049 0.02% 0.55%
2048 0.03% 0.6%
2047 0.04% 0.63%
2046 0.05% 0.65%
2045 0.1% 0.68%
2044 0.15% 0.73%
2043 0.16% 0.75%
2042 0.17% 0.76%
2041 0.2% 0.78%
2040 0.23% 0.79%
2039 0.26% 0.84%
2038 0.29% 0.85%
2037 0.32% 0.87%
2036 0.36% 0.9%
2035 0.36% 0.91%
2034 0.41% 0.93%
2033 0.45% 0.98%
2032 0.51% 1.01%
2031 0.58% 1.03%
2030 0.63% 1.03%
2029 0.75% 1.07%
2028 0.82% 1.09%
2027 0.92% 1.11%
2026 1.12% 1.16%
2025 1.36% 1.21%
2024 0.22% 1.23%
2023 0.96% 1.24%
2022 2.55% 1.2%
2021 1.65% 1.16%
2020 1.64% 1.34%
2019 2.22% 1.61%
2018 2.71% 1.72%
2017 2.37% 1.78%
2016 1.4% 1.78%
2015 1.05% 1.75%
2014 1.12% 1.73%
2013 0.95% 1.72%
2012 0.53% 1.72%
2011 0.31% 1.77%
2010 -0.14% 1.89%
2009 0.34% 2.01%
2008 1.88% 2.12%
2007 2.56% 2.2%
2006 2.38% 2.25%
2005 1.6% 2.29%
2004 0.88% 2.34%
2003 0.69% 2.39%
2002 0.9% 2.45%
2001 1.34% 2.43%
2000 1.38% 2.37%
1999 1.22% 2.41%
1998 1.08% 2.49%
1997 0.82% 2.52%
1996 0.54% 2.56%
1995 0.54% 2.57%
1994 0.87% 2.58%
1993 1.02% 2.59%
1992 1.26% 2.68%
1991 1.17% 2.86%
1990 0.78% 2.99%
1989 1.25% 3.09%
1988 1.58% 3.19%
1987 1.1% 3.28%
1986 0.74% 3.33%
1985 0.79% 3.34%
1984 1.07% 3.31%
1983 1.33% 3.28%
1982 1.35% 3.24%
1981 1.15% 3.2%
1980 1.06% 2.82%
1979 0.98% 2.43%
1978 0.78% 2.43%
1977 0.75% 2.43%
1976 1% 2.42%
1975 1.29% 2.42%
1974 1.36% 2.43%
1973 1.52% 2.42%
1972 1.47% 2.43%
1971 0.81% 2.4%
1970 0.53% 2.32%
1969 0.93% 2.29%
1968 1.38% 2.29%
1967 1.63% 2.4%
1966 1.71% 2.52%
1965 1.75% 2.58%
1964 1.79% 2.63%
1963 1.8% 2.65%
1962 1.87% 2.64%
1961 1.97% 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/iceland/malaysia | CC BY

In 2024, the population of Iceland grew by 0.22%, while Malaysia's population grew by 1.23%.

Live population counters

Iceland Malaysia
Current population
397129
36512221
Population rank 173/197 45/197
Percent of world population 0.005% 0.44%
One net population change
10.4 hours
1.22 minutes
One birth every
2.07 hours
1.21 minutes
One death every
3.44 hours
2.9 minutes
Daily growth/decline +2 +1,182
Annual growth/decline +843 +431,375
Annual growth/decline rate +0.22% +1.23%
Population growth rate rank 155/197 89/197
One migration net change every
3.24 hours
3.16 minutes
Annual migration change +2,709 +166,615
Net migration rank 56/196 7/196
Foreign-born residents 98,818 3,806,514
Foreign-born residents rank 130/195 18/195
Foreign-born share of population 25.1% 10.7%
Foreign-born share rank 23/195 62/195

Natural population change vs migration

Iceland
Natural

Migration
Malaysia
Natural

Migration
1x
Year Population change
Iceland Malaysia
Natural Migration Natural Migration
2025 - 2,709 - 166,615
2024 - 3,543 - 174,770
2023 1,697 4,630 254,806 181,071
2022 1,719 6,535 237,560 188,154
2021 2,534 4,911 212,002 188,506
2020 2,199 2,498 283,282 101,907
2019 2,163 5,030 309,426 203,284
2018 1,975 6,638 324,568 221,965
2017 1,854 8,348 336,434 227,677
2016 1,711 4,128 345,681 222,141
2015 1,952 1,499 358,302 187,663
2014 2,324 1,139 367,587 159,791
2013 2,169 1,666 366,738 149,637
2012 2,566 -277 371,497 134,975
2011 2,521 -1,393 372,836 122,269
2010 2,862 -2,055 360,260 157,164
2009 3,026 -4,785 366,157 178,410
2008 2,825 1,138 362,380 202,481
2007 2,617 5,254 348,711 229,784
2006 2,491 5,300 349,509 232,971
2005 2,433 3,925 355,324 225,864
2004 2,425 610 365,138 212,278
2003 2,317 -204 377,425 199,510
2002 2,243 -333 381,084 196,227
2001 2,365 867 400,939 173,613
2000 2,475 1,877 417,371 125,499
1999 2,192 1,165 432,355 89,335
1998 2,357 1,014 436,316 99,639
1997 2,305 225 447,768 79,266
1996 2,447 -511 450,174 73,040
1995 2,354 -1,354 443,349 72,393
1994 2,713 -804 437,873 66,685
1993 2,875 -194 429,910 61,079
1992 2,898 -225 418,900 66,286
1991 2,733 1,145 401,938 97,111
1990 3,058 -971 384,518 135,020
1989 2,832 -994 373,277 143,544
1988 2,847 1,572 386,507 133,478
1987 2,360 944 381,999 137,759
1986 2,384 -335 385,799 127,081
1985 2,221 -628 383,243 120,215
1984 2,539 -328 376,797 106,248
1983 2,702 170 365,290 97,862
1982 2,736 616 353,138 89,942
1981 2,677 157 339,991 84,142
1980 2,966 -629 326,947 80,617
1979 2,980 -572 317,439 -13,980
1978 2,727 -781 311,027 -15,059
1977 2,551 -1,079 305,515 -16,601
1976 2,951 -1,181 300,615 -18,316
1975 2,965 -388 294,541 -20,480
1974 2,776 209 289,880 -21,919
1973 3,121 -310 284,611 -21,995
1972 3,241 362 276,263 -21,305
1971 2,782 -231 272,323 -20,535
1970 2,576 -1,754 269,341 -31,839
1969 2,766 -1,414 264,327 -39,420
1968 2,841 -448 260,705 -40,996
1967 3,021 47 258,764 -42,108
1966 3,305 39 262,162 -33,993
1965 3,442 -194 264,836 -36,456
1964 3,459 -67 266,406 -38,785
1963 3,490 -113 265,815 -40,952
1962 3,465 -228 262,140 -43,033
1961 3,312 164 257,270 -44,916
1960 3,758 -269 251,090 -46,948

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

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

Over the last 10 years, 30.7% of the population change in Iceland is from natural causes (a gain of 20,128 people) and 69.3% is from migration (a gain of 45,356 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, 98,818 residents or 25.1% of the population were not native-born in Iceland, compared to 3,806,514 people or 10.7% in Malaysia.

Biggest cities by population

Iceland
City Population
Reykjavik 139K
Kopavogur 40K
Hafnarfjorur 31.5K
Keflavik 23.3K
Akureyri 20K
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/iceland/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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