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

Updated on by Georank team

The latest officially reported population of Iran was 91,567,738 in 2024 vs 35,557,673 people in Malaysia in 2024. In 2026, based on the adjusted UN estimation, the current Iran's population is 93,468,444 people compared to 36,512,221 in Malaysia.

Population statistics:

  • Iran's population is 2.56 times bigger than Malaysia's.
  • Iran is ranked the 17th most populous country in the world, while Malaysia is the 45th.
  • The countries together account for 1.57% of the world: 1.13% for Iran vs 0.44% for Malaysia.
  • For the last 10 years, Iran has had an average growth rate of +1.19% per year vs +1.5% in Malaysia.
  • Since 2006, the population of Iran has increased from 73.4M people to 93.5M (27.4% growth), while Malaysia has grown from 26.4M to 36.5M (38.2% growth).

Iran vs Malaysia: population by year and forecast

Iran
Factual

Projection
Malaysia
Factual

Projection
1x
Year Population
Iran Malaysia
2100 80,713,760 44,353,615
2099 81,246,718 44,467,475
2098 81,770,953 44,579,971
2097 82,295,714 44,695,979
2096 82,818,575 44,814,885
2095 83,338,446 44,932,404
2094 83,854,648 45,047,479
2093 84,371,569 45,165,126
2092 84,888,626 45,278,674
2091 85,410,099 45,390,002
2090 85,934,675 45,501,495
2089 86,466,409 45,610,046
2088 87,004,165 45,717,882
2087 87,549,685 45,823,085
2086 88,105,571 45,926,712
2085 88,668,329 46,020,742
2084 89,239,709 46,111,490
2083 89,817,194 46,202,286
2082 90,402,538 46,284,929
2081 90,995,822 46,359,700
2080 91,595,122 46,435,482
2079 92,196,842 46,496,102
2078 92,801,160 46,549,167
2077 93,405,954 46,594,188
2076 94,007,669 46,619,045
2075 94,606,607 46,643,115
2074 95,197,577 46,658,350
2073 95,783,994 46,670,848
2072 96,355,853 46,670,426
2071 96,915,335 46,660,436
2070 97,460,813 46,645,623
2069 97,988,897 46,623,238
2068 98,496,927 46,600,060
2067 98,978,509 46,569,264
2066 99,439,391 46,530,377
2065 99,877,457 46,481,890
2064 100,288,977 46,417,369
2063 100,668,199 46,350,674
2062 101,017,348 46,272,105
2061 101,332,810 46,178,092
2060 101,612,261 46,075,877
2059 101,858,931 45,958,718
2058 102,061,144 45,837,407
2057 102,228,085 45,707,213
2056 102,358,266 45,566,357
2055 102,449,092 45,418,953
2054 102,498,594 45,252,995
2053 102,508,245 45,069,089
2052 102,480,373 44,873,927
2051 102,417,847 44,668,767
2050 102,318,917 44,445,677
2049 102,189,816 44,217,593
2048 102,024,233 43,974,925
2047 101,832,213 43,712,325
2046 101,613,554 43,438,283
2045 101,371,784 43,157,909
2044 101,104,998 42,866,716
2043 100,818,045 42,557,941
2042 100,512,032 42,239,980
2041 100,188,214 41,922,379
2040 99,849,875 41,598,231
2039 99,501,869 41,270,953
2038 99,137,385 40,929,067
2037 98,759,167 40,584,773
2036 98,366,612 40,234,128
2035 97,963,082 39,876,375
2034 97,546,148 39,515,857
2033 97,118,106 39,152,086
2032 96,671,440 38,772,414
2031 96,204,118 38,386,293
2030 95,718,604 37,995,617
2029 95,195,996 37,606,753
2028 94,623,034 37,207,852
2027 93,987,260 36,806,585
2026 93,276,075 36,403,076
2025 92,478,162 35,987,113
2024 91,567,738 35,557,673
2023 90,608,707 35,126,298
2022 89,524,246 34,695,493
2021 88,455,488 34,282,399
2020 87,723,443 33,889,558
2019 87,051,648 33,440,596
2018 86,117,998 32,910,967
2017 85,026,754 32,355,644
2016 83,812,228 31,789,685
2015 82,619,362 31,232,798
2014 81,502,045 30,696,137
2013 80,414,686 30,174,265
2012 79,370,580 29,662,831
2011 78,383,598 29,162,039
2010 77,420,842 28,655,776
2009 76,457,825 28,124,778
2008 75,514,204 27,570,059
2007 74,602,648 26,998,389
2006 73,392,747 26,417,909
2005 71,828,455 25,836,071
2004 70,256,316 25,256,772
2003 68,769,340 24,679,602
2002 68,011,317 24,102,477
2001 67,452,005 23,526,538
2000 66,418,659 22,967,816
1999 65,445,391 22,435,531
1998 64,519,859 21,906,713
1997 63,639,638 21,375,218
1996 62,881,300 20,850,087
1995 62,205,567 20,330,599
1994 61,520,598 19,820,446
1993 61,403,543 19,322,664
1992 61,184,983 18,834,572
1991 59,986,931 18,342,464
1990 58,380,092 17,833,171
1989 56,704,914 17,314,997
1988 55,072,694 16,796,605
1987 53,323,493 16,276,737
1986 51,446,045 15,760,419
1985 49,582,289 15,252,258
1984 47,793,998 14,759,009
1983 46,029,535 14,285,907
1982 44,272,141 13,832,798
1981 41,989,312 13,399,203
1980 39,842,324 12,983,363
1979 38,424,952 12,627,862
1978 37,126,535 12,328,157
1977 35,933,181 12,035,713
1976 34,837,271 11,750,097
1975 33,802,973 11,471,914
1974 32,796,463 11,200,906
1973 31,839,838 10,935,621
1972 30,921,179 10,676,835
1971 30,029,071 10,423,453
1970 29,145,100 10,178,802
1969 28,273,482 9,947,597
1968 27,437,391 9,725,281
1967 26,628,432 9,507,099
1966 25,829,270 9,284,688
1965 25,036,978 9,056,408
1964 24,262,859 8,828,406
1963 23,519,005 8,602,160
1962 22,807,907 8,380,172
1961 22,125,726 8,164,443
1960 21,470,434 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/iran/malaysia | CC BY

From 2006 to 2016, the population of Iran increased by 10,419,481 people (a 14.2% growth), while Malaysia gained 5,371,776 people (a 20.3% growth).

For the next 10 years, from 2016 to 2026, Iran gained 9,656,216 people (a 11.5% growth), while Malaysia's population increased by 4,722,536 people (a 14.9% growth).

Iran was ranked 17th most populous country in 2006 and is still 17th 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) Iran's population will grow by 9.47% to 102,318,917 people with a rank change from 17th to 18th. The population of Malaysia will increase by 21.7% to 44,445,677 people and rank change from 45th to 49th.

Iran is projected to reach its peak in 2053 at 103M people compared to the peak of 46.7M people in 2073 for Malaysia.

Population growth rate by year

Iran
Factual

Projection
Malaysia
Factual

Projection
1x
Year Growth rate
Iran Malaysia
2100 -0.66% -0.26%
2099 -0.64% -0.25%
2098 -0.64% -0.26%
2097 -0.63% -0.27%
2096 -0.62% -0.26%
2095 -0.62% -0.26%
2094 -0.61% -0.26%
2093 -0.61% -0.25%
2092 -0.61% -0.25%
2091 -0.61% -0.25%
2090 -0.61% -0.24%
2089 -0.62% -0.24%
2088 -0.62% -0.23%
2087 -0.63% -0.23%
2086 -0.63% -0.2%
2085 -0.64% -0.2%
2084 -0.64% -0.2%
2083 -0.65% -0.18%
2082 -0.65% -0.16%
2081 -0.65% -0.16%
2080 -0.65% -0.13%
2079 -0.65% -0.11%
2078 -0.65% -0.1%
2077 -0.64% -0.05%
2076 -0.63% -0.05%
2075 -0.62% -0.03%
2074 -0.61% -0.03%
2073 -0.59% 0.001%
2072 -0.58% 0.02%
2071 -0.56% 0.03%
2070 -0.54% 0.05%
2069 -0.52% 0.05%
2068 -0.49% 0.07%
2067 -0.46% 0.08%
2066 -0.44% 0.1%
2065 -0.41% 0.14%
2064 -0.38% 0.14%
2063 -0.35% 0.17%
2062 -0.31% 0.2%
2061 -0.28% 0.22%
2060 -0.24% 0.25%
2059 -0.2% 0.26%
2058 -0.16% 0.28%
2057 -0.13% 0.31%
2056 -0.09% 0.32%
2055 -0.05% 0.37%
2054 -0.009% 0.41%
2053 0.03% 0.43%
2052 0.06% 0.46%
2051 0.1% 0.5%
2050 0.13% 0.52%
2049 0.16% 0.55%
2048 0.19% 0.6%
2047 0.22% 0.63%
2046 0.24% 0.65%
2045 0.26% 0.68%
2044 0.28% 0.73%
2043 0.3% 0.75%
2042 0.32% 0.76%
2041 0.34% 0.78%
2040 0.35% 0.79%
2039 0.37% 0.84%
2038 0.38% 0.85%
2037 0.4% 0.87%
2036 0.41% 0.9%
2035 0.43% 0.91%
2034 0.44% 0.93%
2033 0.46% 0.98%
2032 0.49% 1.01%
2031 0.51% 1.03%
2030 0.55% 1.03%
2029 0.61% 1.07%
2028 0.68% 1.09%
2027 0.76% 1.11%
2026 0.86% 1.16%
2025 0.99% 1.21%
2024 1.06% 1.23%
2023 1.21% 1.24%
2022 1.21% 1.2%
2021 0.83% 1.16%
2020 0.77% 1.34%
2019 1.08% 1.61%
2018 1.28% 1.72%
2017 1.45% 1.78%
2016 1.44% 1.78%
2015 1.37% 1.75%
2014 1.35% 1.73%
2013 1.32% 1.72%
2012 1.26% 1.72%
2011 1.24% 1.77%
2010 1.26% 1.89%
2009 1.25% 2.01%
2008 1.22% 2.12%
2007 1.65% 2.2%
2006 2.18% 2.25%
2005 2.24% 2.29%
2004 2.16% 2.34%
2003 1.11% 2.39%
2002 0.83% 2.45%
2001 1.56% 2.43%
2000 1.49% 2.37%
1999 1.43% 2.41%
1998 1.38% 2.49%
1997 1.21% 2.52%
1996 1.09% 2.56%
1995 1.11% 2.57%
1994 0.19% 2.58%
1993 0.36% 2.59%
1992 2% 2.68%
1991 2.75% 2.86%
1990 2.95% 2.99%
1989 2.96% 3.09%
1988 3.28% 3.19%
1987 3.65% 3.28%
1986 3.76% 3.33%
1985 3.74% 3.34%
1984 3.83% 3.31%
1983 3.97% 3.28%
1982 5.44% 3.24%
1981 5.39% 3.2%
1980 3.69% 2.82%
1979 3.5% 2.43%
1978 3.32% 2.43%
1977 3.15% 2.43%
1976 3.06% 2.42%
1975 3.07% 2.42%
1974 3% 2.43%
1973 2.97% 2.42%
1972 2.97% 2.43%
1971 3.03% 2.4%
1970 3.08% 2.32%
1969 3.05% 2.29%
1968 3.04% 2.29%
1967 3.09% 2.4%
1966 3.16% 2.52%
1965 3.19% 2.58%
1964 3.16% 2.63%
1963 3.12% 2.65%
1962 3.08% 2.64%
1961 3.05% 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/iran/malaysia | CC BY

In 2024, the population of Iran grew by 1.06%, while Malaysia's population grew by 1.23%.

Live population counters

Iran Malaysia
Current population
93468444
36512221
Population rank 17/197 45/197
Percent of world population 1.13% 0.44%
One net population change
32.9 seconds
1.22 minutes
One birth every
26.9 seconds
1.21 minutes
One death every
1.24 minutes
2.9 minutes
Daily growth/decline +2,627 +1,182
Annual growth/decline +959,031 +431,375
Annual growth/decline rate +1.06% +1.23%
Population growth rate rank 98/197 89/197
One migration net change every
4.51 minutes
3.16 minutes
Annual migration change +116,786 +166,615
Net migration rank 14/196 7/196
Foreign-born residents 3,840,654 3,806,514
Foreign-born residents rank 17/195 18/195
Foreign-born share of population 4.2% 10.7%
Foreign-born share rank 103/195 62/195

Natural population change vs migration

Iran
Natural

Migration
Malaysia
Natural

Migration
1x
Year Population change
Iran Malaysia
Natural Migration Natural Migration
2025 - 116,786 - 166,615
2024 - 190,156 - 174,770
2023 750,150 262,044 254,806 181,071
2022 753,525 403,190 237,560 188,154
2021 645,725 334,967 212,002 188,506
2020 663,978 -180,680 283,282 101,907
2019 893,063 -32,794 309,426 203,284
2018 1,035,052 -27,946 324,568 221,965
2017 1,140,549 34,849 336,434 227,677
2016 1,186,949 66,630 345,681 222,141
2015 1,178,317 -46,239 358,302 187,663
2014 1,158,552 -56,042 367,587 159,791
2013 1,119,533 -47,322 366,738 149,637
2012 1,073,804 -57,823 371,497 134,975
2011 1,023,925 -65,924 372,836 122,269
2010 980,380 -12,849 360,260 157,164
2009 958,322 211 366,157 178,410
2008 940,983 -12,184 362,380 202,481
2007 919,254 -24,950 348,711 229,784
2006 884,529 640,932 349,509 232,971
2005 837,305 765,873 355,324 225,864
2004 801,203 739,996 365,138 212,278
2003 732,600 700,222 377,425 199,510
2002 752,205 -668,962 381,084 196,227
2001 743,658 291,692 400,939 173,613
2000 731,203 300,133 417,371 125,499
1999 723,237 191,988 432,355 89,335
1998 717,655 218,171 436,316 99,639
1997 726,574 98,009 447,768 79,266
1996 784,508 -92,435 450,174 73,040
1995 879,648 -220,258 443,349 72,393
1994 1,008,076 -297,487 437,873 66,685
1993 1,219,658 -1,696,091 429,910 61,079
1992 1,365,466 -451,945 418,900 66,286
1991 1,495,594 -13,059 401,938 97,111
1990 1,530,434 200,711 384,518 135,020
1989 1,609,739 9,460 373,277 143,544
1988 1,614,512 30,688 386,507 133,478
1987 1,639,644 213,524 381,999 137,759
1986 1,659,289 242,411 385,799 127,081
1985 1,661,750 163,999 383,243 120,215
1984 1,653,051 97,748 376,797 106,248
1983 1,573,612 204,544 365,290 97,862
1982 1,514,240 222,390 353,138 89,942
1981 1,376,830 1,452,169 339,991 84,142
1980 1,361,293 103,674 326,947 80,617
1979 1,294,306 75,451 317,439 -13,980
1978 1,156,974 70,088 311,027 -15,059
1977 1,091,542 68,093 305,515 -16,601
1976 1,013,347 18,825 300,615 -18,316
1975 929,481 106,921 294,541 -20,480
1974 873,369 103,252 289,880 -21,919
1973 831,880 104,779 284,611 -21,995
1972 804,043 96,614 276,263 -21,305
1971 805,830 77,717 272,323 -20,535
1970 794,612 89,757 269,341 -31,839
1969 780,660 78,196 264,327 -39,420
1968 743,992 69,342 260,705 -40,996
1967 727,276 77,313 258,764 -42,108
1966 695,040 98,709 262,162 -33,993
1965 663,029 127,808 264,836 -36,456
1964 635,589 121,817 266,406 -38,785
1963 620,126 110,190 265,815 -40,952
1962 595,538 96,332 262,140 -43,033
1961 594,674 77,811 257,270 -44,916
1960 584,060 54,041 251,090 -46,948

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

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

Over the last 10 years, 92.5% of the population change in Iran is from natural causes (a gain of 9,405,860 people) and 7.46% is from migration (a gain of 757,979 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, 3,840,654 residents or 4.2% of the population were not native-born in Iran, compared to 3,806,514 people or 10.7% in Malaysia.

Biggest cities by population

Iran
City Population
Tehran 8.69M
Mashhad 3M
Isfahan 1.96M
Karaj 1.59M
Shiraz 1.57M
Tabriz 1.56M
Qom 1.2M
Ahvaz 1.18M
Kermanshah 947K
Urmia 736K
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/iran/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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