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

Updated on by Georank team

The latest officially reported population of Malaysia was 35,557,673 in 2024 vs 527,799 people in Maldives in 2024. In 2026, based on the adjusted UN estimation, the current Malaysia's population is 36,512,221 people compared to 532,057 in Maldives.

Population statistics:

  • Malaysia's population is 68.6 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 +1.5% per year vs +2.56% in Maldives.
  • Since 2006, the population of Malaysia has increased from 26.4M people to 36.5M (38.2% growth), while Maldives has grown from 314K to 532K (69.5% growth).

Malaysia vs Maldives: population by year and forecast

Malaysia
Factual

Projection
Maldives
Factual

Projection
1x
Year Population
Malaysia Maldives
2100 44,353,615 476,505
2099 44,467,475 477,920
2098 44,579,971 479,417
2097 44,695,979 481,109
2096 44,814,885 482,965
2095 44,932,404 484,925
2094 45,047,479 487,060
2093 45,165,126 489,462
2092 45,278,674 492,137
2091 45,390,002 494,900
2090 45,501,495 498,054
2089 45,610,046 501,304
2088 45,717,882 504,978
2087 45,823,085 508,740
2086 45,926,712 512,752
2085 46,020,742 516,863
2084 46,111,490 521,065
2083 46,202,286 525,345
2082 46,284,929 529,631
2081 46,359,700 534,118
2080 46,435,482 538,568
2079 46,496,102 543,030
2078 46,549,167 547,552
2077 46,594,188 551,886
2076 46,619,045 556,016
2075 46,643,115 560,031
2074 46,658,350 563,862
2073 46,670,848 567,654
2072 46,670,426 571,178
2071 46,660,436 574,604
2070 46,645,623 577,819
2069 46,623,238 580,792
2068 46,600,060 583,580
2067 46,569,264 586,194
2066 46,530,377 588,512
2065 46,481,890 590,500
2064 46,417,369 592,344
2063 46,350,674 594,011
2062 46,272,105 595,405
2061 46,178,092 596,482
2060 46,075,877 597,051
2059 45,958,718 597,623
2058 45,837,407 597,874
2057 45,707,213 597,811
2056 45,566,357 597,360
2055 45,418,953 596,636
2054 45,252,995 595,832
2053 45,069,089 594,829
2052 44,873,927 593,458
2051 44,668,767 591,942
2050 44,445,677 590,121
2049 44,217,593 587,970
2048 43,974,925 585,592
2047 43,712,325 583,306
2046 43,438,283 580,842
2045 43,157,909 578,160
2044 42,866,716 575,546
2043 42,557,941 572,802
2042 42,239,980 570,020
2041 41,922,379 567,246
2040 41,598,231 564,398
2039 41,270,953 561,546
2038 40,929,067 558,940
2037 40,584,773 556,343
2036 40,234,128 553,839
2035 39,876,375 551,348
2034 39,515,857 548,952
2033 39,152,086 546,465
2032 38,772,414 544,072
2031 38,386,293 541,734
2030 37,995,617 539,556
2029 37,606,753 537,533
2028 37,207,852 535,394
2027 36,806,585 533,401
2026 36,403,076 531,559
2025 35,987,113 529,712
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 (2025–2100, retrieved 2026-03-10); World Bank | Health (1960–2024, retrieved 2026-04-06).

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 4,722,536 people (a 14.9% growth), while Maldives' population increased by 88,749 people (a 20% 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 21.7% to 44,445,677 people with a rank change from 45th to 49th. The population of Maldives will increase by 10.9% to 590,121 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 1.21% 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 (2025–2100, retrieved 2026-03-10); World Bank | Health (1961–2024, retrieved 2026-04-06).

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

In 2024, the population of Malaysia grew by 1.23%, while Maldives' population grew by 0.34%.

Live population counters

Malaysia Maldives
Current population
36512221
532057
Population rank 45/197 168/197
Percent of world population 0.44% 0.006%
One net population change
1.22 minutes
4.85 hours
One birth every
1.21 minutes
1.51 hours
One death every
2.9 minutes
7.13 hours
Daily growth/decline +1,182 +5
Annual growth/decline +431,375 +1,805
Annual growth/decline rate +1.23% +0.34%
Population growth rate rank 89/197 146/197
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 - 174,770 - -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 2026-04-06).

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

Over the last 10 years, 61.7% of the population change in Malaysia is from natural causes (a gain of 3,029,648 people) and 38.3% is from migration (a gain of 1,882,159 people). In Maldives 42.7% is from natural causes (a gain of 51,342 people) and 57.3% is from migration (a gain of 68,788 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 50K

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/malaysia/maldives | 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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