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

Updated on by Georank

The latest officially reported population of Malaysia was 35,977,838 in 2025 vs 529,676 people in Maldives in 2025. In 2026, based on the adjusted UN estimation, the current Malaysia's population is 36,600,906 people compared to 532,468 in Maldives.

Population statistics:

  • Malaysia's population is 68.7 times bigger than Maldives'.
  • Malaysia is ranked the 45th most populous country in the world, while Maldives is the 168th.
  • The countries together account for 0.45% of the world: 0.44% for Malaysia vs 0.006% for Maldives.
  • For the last 10 years, Malaysia has had an average growth rate of +1.45% per year vs +2.28% in Maldives.
  • Since 2006, the population of Malaysia has increased from 26.4M people to 36.6M (38.5% growth), while Maldives has grown from 314K to 532K (69.7% growth).

Malaysia vs Maldives: population by year and forecast

Malaysia
Factual

Projection
Maldives
Factual

Projection
1x
Year Population
Malaysia Maldives
2100 44,342,183 476,472
2099 44,456,013 477,887
2098 44,568,480 479,384
2097 44,684,459 481,076
2096 44,803,334 482,932
2095 44,920,823 484,892
2094 45,035,868 487,026
2093 45,153,485 489,428
2092 45,267,003 492,103
2091 45,378,303 494,866
2090 45,489,767 498,019
2089 45,598,290 501,269
2088 45,706,098 504,943
2087 45,811,274 508,705
2086 45,914,874 512,717
2085 46,008,880 516,827
2084 46,099,604 521,029
2083 46,190,377 525,309
2082 46,272,999 529,594
2081 46,347,751 534,081
2080 46,423,514 538,531
2079 46,484,118 542,993
2078 46,537,169 547,515
2077 46,582,178 551,848
2076 46,607,029 555,977
2075 46,631,092 559,992
2074 46,646,324 563,823
2073 46,658,819 567,615
2072 46,658,396 571,139
2071 46,648,409 574,565
2070 46,633,600 577,779
2069 46,611,221 580,752
2068 46,588,049 583,540
2067 46,557,261 586,154
2066 46,518,384 588,472
2065 46,469,909 590,459
2064 46,405,405 592,304
2063 46,338,727 593,970
2062 46,260,178 595,364
2061 46,166,190 596,441
2060 46,064,001 597,010
2059 45,946,872 597,582
2058 45,825,593 597,833
2057 45,695,432 597,770
2056 45,554,612 597,319
2055 45,407,246 596,595
2054 45,241,331 595,791
2053 45,057,472 594,788
2052 44,862,361 593,417
2051 44,657,253 591,901
2050 44,434,221 590,081
2049 44,206,196 587,930
2048 43,963,591 585,552
2047 43,701,058 583,266
2046 43,427,087 580,802
2045 43,146,785 578,120
2044 42,855,667 575,506
2043 42,546,972 572,763
2042 42,229,093 569,981
2041 41,911,573 567,207
2040 41,587,509 564,359
2039 41,260,315 561,507
2038 40,918,517 558,901
2037 40,574,312 556,305
2036 40,223,758 553,800
2035 39,866,097 551,310
2034 39,505,672 548,914
2033 39,141,994 546,428
2032 38,762,420 544,034
2031 38,376,399 541,696
2030 37,985,824 539,519
2029 37,597,060 537,496
2028 37,198,261 535,357
2027 36,797,098 533,364
2026 36,393,693 531,523
2025 35,977,838 529,676
2024 35,557,673 527,799
2023 35,126,298 525,994
2022 34,695,493 524,106
2021 34,282,399 516,154
2020 33,889,558 502,118
2019 33,440,596 487,731
2018 32,910,967 473,099
2017 32,355,644 458,287
2016 31,789,685 443,308
2015 31,232,798 428,154
2014 30,696,137 413,617
2013 30,174,265 400,070
2012 29,662,831 386,818
2011 29,162,039 373,674
2010 28,655,776 360,792
2009 28,124,778 348,275
2008 27,570,059 336,170
2007 26,998,389 324,479
2006 26,417,909 313,851
2005 25,836,071 306,429
2004 25,256,772 301,413
2003 24,679,602 296,491
2002 24,102,477 291,616
2001 23,526,538 286,767
2000 22,967,816 282,019
1999 22,435,531 277,412
1998 21,906,713 272,723
1997 21,375,218 267,707
1996 20,850,087 262,347
1995 20,330,599 256,649
1994 19,820,446 250,822
1993 19,322,664 244,884
1992 18,834,572 238,543
1991 18,342,464 231,802
1990 17,833,171 224,762
1989 17,314,997 217,738
1988 16,796,605 210,885
1987 16,276,737 203,944
1986 15,760,419 196,935
1985 15,252,258 190,169
1984 14,759,009 184,198
1983 14,285,907 179,128
1982 13,832,798 174,333
1981 13,399,203 169,532
1980 12,983,363 164,835
1979 12,627,862 160,360
1978 12,328,157 156,159
1977 12,035,713 151,930
1976 11,750,097 147,525
1975 11,471,914 143,158
1974 11,200,906 138,978
1973 10,935,621 134,952
1972 10,676,835 130,968
1971 10,423,453 127,035
1970 10,178,802 123,219
1969 9,947,597 119,564
1968 9,725,281 116,075
1967 9,507,099 112,528
1966 9,284,688 108,507
1965 9,056,408 104,102
1964 8,828,406 100,662
1963 8,602,160 98,222
1962 8,380,172 95,802
1961 8,164,443 93,450
1960 7,956,197 91,189

Data sources: United Nations | World Population Prospects (2026–2100, retrieved 2026-07-08); World Bank | Health (1960–2025, retrieved 2026-07-08).

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

From 2006 to 2016, the population of Malaysia increased by 5,371,776 people (a 20.3% growth), while Maldives gained 129,457 people (a 41.2% growth).

For the next 10 years, from 2016 to 2026, Malaysia gained 4,811,221 people (a 15.1% growth), while Maldives' population increased by 89,160 people (a 20.1% growth).

Malaysia was ranked 44th most populous country in 2006 and is 45th in 2026. Maldives was ranked 171st in 2006 and ranked 168th now.

The UN's World Population Prospects forecasts that in 24 years (in 2050) Malaysia's population will grow by 21.4% to 44,434,221 people with a rank change from 45th to 49th. The population of Maldives will increase by 10.8% to 590,081 people and rank change from 168th to 166th.

Malaysia is projected to reach its peak in 2073 at 46.7M people compared to the peak of 598K people in 2058 for Maldives.

Population growth rate by year

Malaysia
Factual

Projection
Maldives
Factual

Projection
1x
Year Growth rate
Malaysia Maldives
2100 -0.26% -0.3%
2099 -0.25% -0.31%
2098 -0.26% -0.35%
2097 -0.27% -0.38%
2096 -0.26% -0.4%
2095 -0.26% -0.44%
2094 -0.26% -0.49%
2093 -0.25% -0.54%
2092 -0.25% -0.56%
2091 -0.25% -0.63%
2090 -0.24% -0.65%
2089 -0.24% -0.73%
2088 -0.23% -0.74%
2087 -0.23% -0.78%
2086 -0.2% -0.8%
2085 -0.2% -0.81%
2084 -0.2% -0.81%
2083 -0.18% -0.81%
2082 -0.16% -0.84%
2081 -0.16% -0.83%
2080 -0.13% -0.82%
2079 -0.11% -0.83%
2078 -0.1% -0.79%
2077 -0.05% -0.74%
2076 -0.05% -0.72%
2075 -0.03% -0.68%
2074 -0.03% -0.67%
2073 0.001% -0.62%
2072 0.02% -0.6%
2071 0.03% -0.56%
2070 0.05% -0.51%
2069 0.05% -0.48%
2068 0.07% -0.45%
2067 0.08% -0.39%
2066 0.1% -0.34%
2065 0.14% -0.31%
2064 0.14% -0.28%
2063 0.17% -0.23%
2062 0.2% -0.18%
2061 0.22% -0.1%
2060 0.25% -0.1%
2059 0.26% -0.04%
2058 0.28% 0.01%
2057 0.31% 0.08%
2056 0.32% 0.12%
2055 0.37% 0.14%
2054 0.41% 0.17%
2053 0.43% 0.23%
2052 0.46% 0.26%
2051 0.5% 0.31%
2050 0.52% 0.37%
2049 0.55% 0.41%
2048 0.6% 0.39%
2047 0.63% 0.42%
2046 0.65% 0.46%
2045 0.68% 0.45%
2044 0.73% 0.48%
2043 0.75% 0.49%
2042 0.76% 0.49%
2041 0.78% 0.5%
2040 0.79% 0.51%
2039 0.84% 0.47%
2038 0.85% 0.47%
2037 0.87% 0.45%
2036 0.9% 0.45%
2035 0.91% 0.44%
2034 0.93% 0.46%
2033 0.98% 0.44%
2032 1.01% 0.43%
2031 1.03% 0.4%
2030 1.03% 0.38%
2029 1.07% 0.4%
2028 1.09% 0.37%
2027 1.11% 0.35%
2026 1.16% 0.35%
2025 1.18% 0.36%
2024 1.23% 0.34%
2023 1.24% 0.36%
2022 1.2% 1.54%
2021 1.16% 2.8%
2020 1.34% 2.95%
2019 1.61% 3.09%
2018 1.72% 3.23%
2017 1.78% 3.38%
2016 1.78% 3.54%
2015 1.75% 3.51%
2014 1.73% 3.39%
2013 1.72% 3.43%
2012 1.72% 3.52%
2011 1.77% 3.57%
2010 1.89% 3.59%
2009 2.01% 3.6%
2008 2.12% 3.6%
2007 2.2% 3.39%
2006 2.25% 2.42%
2005 2.29% 1.66%
2004 2.34% 1.66%
2003 2.39% 1.67%
2002 2.45% 1.69%
2001 2.43% 1.68%
2000 2.37% 1.66%
1999 2.41% 1.72%
1998 2.49% 1.87%
1997 2.52% 2.04%
1996 2.56% 2.22%
1995 2.57% 2.32%
1994 2.58% 2.42%
1993 2.59% 2.66%
1992 2.68% 2.91%
1991 2.86% 3.13%
1990 2.99% 3.23%
1989 3.09% 3.25%
1988 3.19% 3.4%
1987 3.28% 3.56%
1986 3.33% 3.56%
1985 3.34% 3.24%
1984 3.31% 2.83%
1983 3.28% 2.75%
1982 3.24% 2.83%
1981 3.2% 2.85%
1980 2.82% 2.79%
1979 2.43% 2.69%
1978 2.43% 2.78%
1977 2.43% 2.99%
1976 2.42% 3.05%
1975 2.42% 3.01%
1974 2.43% 2.98%
1973 2.42% 3.04%
1972 2.43% 3.1%
1971 2.4% 3.1%
1970 2.32% 3.06%
1969 2.29% 3.01%
1968 2.29% 3.15%
1967 2.4% 3.71%
1966 2.52% 4.23%
1965 2.58% 3.42%
1964 2.63% 2.48%
1963 2.65% 2.53%
1962 2.64% 2.52%
1961 2.62% 2.48%

Data sources: United Nations | World Population Prospects (2026–2100, retrieved 2026-07-08); World Bank | Health (1961–2025, retrieved 2026-07-08).

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

In 2025, the population of Malaysia grew by 1.18%, while Maldives' population grew by 0.36%.

Live population counters

Malaysia Maldives
Current population
36600906
532468
Population rank 45/197 168/197
Percent of world population 0.44% 0.006%
One net population change
1.25 minutes
4.68 hours
One birth every
1.2 minutes
1.57 hours
One death every
2.8 minutes
7.02 hours
Daily growth/decline +1,151 +5
Annual growth/decline +420,165 +1,877
Annual growth/decline rate +1.18% +0.36%
Population growth rate rank 89/197 142/197
One migration net change every
3.16 minutes
3.85 hours
Annual migration change +166,615 -2,283
Net migration rank 7/196 101/196
Foreign-born residents 3,806,514 75,099
Foreign-born residents rank 18/195 141/195
Foreign-born share of population 10.7% 14.2%
Foreign-born share rank 62/195 48/195

Natural population change vs migration

Malaysia
Natural

Migration
Maldives
Natural

Migration
1x
Year Population change
Malaysia Maldives
Natural Migration Natural Migration
2025 - 166,615 - -2,283
2024 252,068 174,770 4,340 -2,421
2023 254,806 181,071 4,566 -2,877
2022 237,560 188,154 4,752 -2,674
2021 212,002 188,506 4,426 9,412
2020 283,282 101,907 4,594 9,642
2019 309,426 203,284 4,886 9,648
2018 324,568 221,965 5,088 9,637
2017 336,434 227,677 5,342 9,555
2016 345,681 222,141 5,652 9,421
2015 358,302 187,663 5,914 9,324
2014 367,587 159,791 6,122 7,700
2013 366,738 149,637 6,307 6,963
2012 371,497 134,975 6,445 6,800
2011 372,836 122,269 6,429 6,611
2010 360,260 157,164 6,350 6,369
2009 366,157 178,410 6,227 6,093
2008 362,380 202,481 5,856 6,035
2007 348,711 229,784 5,324 6,160
2006 349,509 232,971 4,766 5,006
2005 355,324 225,864 4,493 578
2004 365,138 212,278 4,287 668
2003 377,425 199,510 4,316 578
2002 381,084 196,227 4,257 607
2001 400,939 173,613 4,271 560
2000 417,371 125,499 4,372 300
1999 432,355 89,335 4,601 -62
1998 436,316 99,639 4,919 -94
1997 447,768 79,266 5,267 -60
1996 450,174 73,040 5,705 -183
1995 443,349 72,393 6,177 -302
1994 437,873 66,685 6,550 -768
1993 429,910 61,079 6,842 -749
1992 418,900 66,286 7,096 -522
1991 401,938 97,111 7,295 -378
1990 384,518 135,020 7,444 -271
1989 373,277 143,544 7,472 -610
1988 386,507 133,478 7,414 -564
1987 381,999 137,759 7,300 -265
1986 385,799 127,081 7,153 -175
1985 383,243 120,215 6,944 -382
1984 376,797 106,248 6,680 -1,300
1983 365,290 97,862 6,361 -1,608
1982 353,138 89,942 6,058 -1,220
1981 339,991 84,142 5,778 -1,014
1980 326,947 80,617 5,526 -903
1979 317,439 -13,980 5,275 -958
1978 311,027 -15,059 4,812 -716
1977 305,515 -16,601 4,779 -413
1976 300,615 -18,316 4,538 -101
1975 294,541 -20,480 4,325 -14
1974 289,880 -21,919 4,136 -78
1973 284,611 -21,995 3,924 60
1972 276,263 -21,305 3,707 269
1971 272,323 -20,535 3,549 341
1970 269,341 -31,839 3,415 330
1969 264,327 -39,420 3,260 313
1968 260,705 -40,996 3,150 255
1967 258,764 -42,108 3,010 672
1966 262,162 -33,993 2,845 1,511
1965 264,836 -36,456 2,747 1,709
1964 266,406 -38,785 2,660 -227
1963 265,815 -40,952 2,567 -125
1962 262,140 -43,033 2,475 -80
1961 257,270 -44,916 2,354 -44
1960 251,090 -46,948 2,241 -32

Data sources: World Bank | Health (1960–2025, retrieved 2026-07-08).

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

Over the last 10 years, 60.6% of the population change in Malaysia is from natural causes (a gain of 2,914,129 people) and 39.4% is from migration (a gain of 1,897,138 people). In Maldives 45.8% is from natural causes (a gain of 49,560 people) and 54.2% is from migration (a gain of 58,667 people).

As of 2024, 3,806,514 residents or 10.7% of the population were not native-born in Malaysia, compared to 75,099 people or 14.2% in Maldives.

Biggest cities by population

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
Maldives
City Population
Male 133K
Hulhumale 65.7K

Compare countries by 7 more topics

Population map with other countries

1x

Data sources: World Bank | Health (1960–2025, retrieved 2026-07-08); United Nations | World Population Prospects (1960–2026, retrieved 2026-07-08); U.S. Census Bureau (1960–2025, retrieved 2026-07-08); Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) (2000–2019, retrieved 2026-07-08).

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

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Data sources:

  1. World Bank | Health (1960–2025, retrieved 2026-07-08)
  2. United Nations | World Population Prospects (1960–2100, retrieved 2026-07-08)
  3. U.S. Census Bureau (1960–2025, retrieved 2026-07-08)
  4. Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) (2000–2019, retrieved 2026-07-08)
  5. Wikidata (2026, retrieved 2026-07-08)

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