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

Updated on by Georank

The latest officially reported population of Malaysia was 35,977,838 in 2025 vs 579,704 people in Malta in 2025. In 2026, based on the adjusted UN estimation, the current Malaysia's population is 36,600,906 people compared to 586,345 in Malta.

Population statistics:

  • Malaysia's population is 62.4 times bigger than Malta's.
  • Malaysia is ranked the 45th most populous country in the world, while Malta is the 167th.
  • The countries together account for 0.45% of the world: 0.44% for Malaysia vs 0.007% for Malta.
  • For the last 10 years, Malaysia has had an average growth rate of +1.45% per year vs +2.68% in Malta.
  • Since 2006, the population of Malaysia has increased from 26.4M people to 36.6M (38.5% growth), while Malta has grown from 405K to 586K (44.7% growth).

Malaysia vs Malta: population by year and forecast

Malaysia
Factual

Projection
Malta
Factual

Projection
1x
Year Population
Malaysia Malta
2100 44,342,183 385,935
2099 44,456,013 389,134
2098 44,568,480 392,349
2097 44,684,459 395,676
2096 44,803,334 399,078
2095 44,920,823 402,765
2094 45,035,868 406,545
2093 45,153,485 410,348
2092 45,267,003 414,228
2091 45,378,303 418,324
2090 45,489,767 422,539
2089 45,598,290 426,802
2088 45,706,098 431,058
2087 45,811,274 435,593
2086 45,914,874 440,311
2085 46,008,880 444,985
2084 46,099,604 449,785
2083 46,190,377 454,721
2082 46,272,999 459,549
2081 46,347,751 464,574
2080 46,423,514 469,503
2079 46,484,118 474,408
2078 46,537,169 479,266
2077 46,582,178 484,147
2076 46,607,029 489,066
2075 46,631,092 493,650
2074 46,646,324 498,129
2073 46,658,819 502,551
2072 46,658,396 506,905
2071 46,648,409 511,168
2070 46,633,600 515,276
2069 46,611,221 519,370
2068 46,588,049 523,386
2067 46,557,261 527,196
2066 46,518,384 530,842
2065 46,469,909 534,346
2064 46,405,405 537,672
2063 46,338,727 540,800
2062 46,260,178 543,938
2061 46,166,190 546,831
2060 46,064,001 549,661
2059 45,946,872 552,414
2058 45,825,593 554,917
2057 45,695,432 557,274
2056 45,554,612 559,707
2055 45,407,246 562,109
2054 45,241,331 564,244
2053 45,057,472 566,461
2052 44,862,361 568,738
2051 44,657,253 571,060
2050 44,434,221 573,186
2049 44,206,196 575,026
2048 43,963,591 576,946
2047 43,701,058 579,015
2046 43,427,087 580,778
2045 43,146,785 582,504
2044 42,855,667 584,119
2043 42,546,972 585,724
2042 42,229,093 587,136
2041 41,911,573 588,589
2040 41,587,509 589,860
2039 41,260,315 591,157
2038 40,918,517 592,353
2037 40,574,312 593,277
2036 40,223,758 594,028
2035 39,866,097 594,615
2034 39,505,672 595,017
2033 39,141,994 594,907
2032 38,762,420 594,310
2031 38,376,399 593,505
2030 37,985,824 592,412
2029 37,597,060 591,100
2028 37,198,261 589,420
2027 36,797,098 587,406
2026 36,393,693 585,225
2025 35,977,838 579,704
2024 35,557,673 568,847
2023 35,126,298 552,747
2022 34,695,493 531,113
2021 34,282,399 518,150
2020 33,889,558 515,490
2019 33,440,596 503,912
2018 32,910,967 483,903
2017 32,355,644 467,106
2016 31,789,685 454,505
2015 31,232,798 444,220
2014 30,696,137 433,481
2013 30,174,265 424,810
2012 29,662,831 420,028
2011 29,162,039 416,268
2010 28,655,776 414,508
2009 28,124,778 412,477
2008 27,570,059 409,379
2007 26,998,389 406,724
2006 26,417,909 405,308
2005 25,836,071 403,834
2004 25,256,772 401,268
2003 24,679,602 398,582
2002 24,102,477 395,969
2001 23,526,538 393,028
2000 22,967,816 390,087
1999 22,435,531 387,578
1998 21,906,713 385,287
1997 21,375,218 382,791
1996 20,850,087 379,905
1995 20,330,599 377,419
1994 19,820,446 374,797
1993 19,322,664 371,308
1992 18,834,572 367,618
1991 18,342,464 363,845
1990 17,833,171 354,170
1989 17,314,997 350,722
1988 16,796,605 347,325
1987 16,276,737 344,485
1986 15,760,419 342,121
1985 15,252,258 336,452
1984 14,759,009 330,593
1983 14,285,907 330,524
1982 13,832,798 325,898
1981 13,399,203 318,982
1980 12,983,363 316,645
1979 12,627,862 313,342
1978 12,328,157 310,182
1977 12,035,713 306,970
1976 11,750,097 305,774
1975 11,471,914 304,222
1974 11,200,906 301,996
1973 10,935,621 302,200
1972 10,676,835 302,450
1971 10,423,453 302,700
1970 10,178,802 302,650
1969 9,947,597 304,300
1968 9,725,281 307,900
1967 9,507,099 311,550
1966 9,284,688 315,200
1965 9,056,408 318,800
1964 8,828,406 321,250
1963 8,602,160 322,550
1962 8,380,172 323,900
1961 8,164,443 325,250
1960 7,956,197 326,550

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/malta | CC BY

From 2006 to 2016, the population of Malaysia increased by 5,371,776 people (a 20.3% growth), while Malta gained 49,197 people (a 12.1% growth).

For the next 10 years, from 2016 to 2026, Malaysia gained 4,811,221 people (a 15.1% growth), while Malta's population increased by 131,840 people (a 29% growth).

Malaysia was ranked 44th most populous country in 2006 and is 45th in 2026. Malta was ranked 168th in 2006 and ranked 167th 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 Malta will decrease by 2.24% to 573,186 people and will still be ranked 167th.

Malaysia is projected to reach its peak in 2073 at 46.7M people compared to the peak of 595K people in 2034 for Malta.

Population growth rate by year

Malaysia
Factual

Projection
Malta
Factual

Projection
1x
Year Growth rate
Malaysia Malta
2100 -0.26% -0.82%
2099 -0.25% -0.82%
2098 -0.26% -0.84%
2097 -0.27% -0.85%
2096 -0.26% -0.92%
2095 -0.26% -0.93%
2094 -0.26% -0.93%
2093 -0.25% -0.94%
2092 -0.25% -0.98%
2091 -0.25% -1%
2090 -0.24% -1%
2089 -0.24% -0.99%
2088 -0.23% -1.04%
2087 -0.23% -1.07%
2086 -0.2% -1.05%
2085 -0.2% -1.07%
2084 -0.2% -1.09%
2083 -0.18% -1.05%
2082 -0.16% -1.08%
2081 -0.16% -1.05%
2080 -0.13% -1.03%
2079 -0.11% -1.01%
2078 -0.1% -1.01%
2077 -0.05% -1.01%
2076 -0.05% -0.93%
2075 -0.03% -0.9%
2074 -0.03% -0.88%
2073 0.001% -0.86%
2072 0.02% -0.83%
2071 0.03% -0.8%
2070 0.05% -0.79%
2069 0.05% -0.77%
2068 0.07% -0.72%
2067 0.08% -0.69%
2066 0.1% -0.66%
2065 0.14% -0.62%
2064 0.14% -0.58%
2063 0.17% -0.58%
2062 0.2% -0.53%
2061 0.22% -0.51%
2060 0.25% -0.5%
2059 0.26% -0.45%
2058 0.28% -0.42%
2057 0.31% -0.43%
2056 0.32% -0.43%
2055 0.37% -0.38%
2054 0.41% -0.39%
2053 0.43% -0.4%
2052 0.46% -0.41%
2051 0.5% -0.37%
2050 0.52% -0.32%
2049 0.55% -0.33%
2048 0.6% -0.36%
2047 0.63% -0.3%
2046 0.65% -0.3%
2045 0.68% -0.28%
2044 0.73% -0.27%
2043 0.75% -0.24%
2042 0.76% -0.25%
2041 0.78% -0.22%
2040 0.79% -0.22%
2039 0.84% -0.2%
2038 0.85% -0.16%
2037 0.87% -0.13%
2036 0.9% -0.1%
2035 0.91% -0.07%
2034 0.93% 0.02%
2033 0.98% 0.1%
2032 1.01% 0.14%
2031 1.03% 0.18%
2030 1.03% 0.22%
2029 1.07% 0.29%
2028 1.09% 0.34%
2027 1.11% 0.37%
2026 1.16% 0.95%
2025 1.18% 1.91%
2024 1.23% 2.91%
2023 1.24% 4.07%
2022 1.2% 2.5%
2021 1.16% 0.52%
2020 1.34% 2.3%
2019 1.61% 4.13%
2018 1.72% 3.6%
2017 1.78% 2.77%
2016 1.78% 2.32%
2015 1.75% 2.48%
2014 1.73% 2.04%
2013 1.72% 1.14%
2012 1.72% 0.9%
2011 1.77% 0.42%
2010 1.89% 0.49%
2009 2.01% 0.76%
2008 2.12% 0.65%
2007 2.2% 0.35%
2006 2.25% 0.37%
2005 2.29% 0.64%
2004 2.34% 0.67%
2003 2.39% 0.66%
2002 2.45% 0.75%
2001 2.43% 0.75%
2000 2.37% 0.65%
1999 2.41% 0.59%
1998 2.49% 0.65%
1997 2.52% 0.76%
1996 2.56% 0.66%
1995 2.57% 0.7%
1994 2.58% 0.94%
1993 2.59% 1%
1992 2.68% 1.04%
1991 2.86% 2.73%
1990 2.99% 0.98%
1989 3.09% 0.98%
1988 3.19% 0.82%
1987 3.28% 0.69%
1986 3.33% 1.68%
1985 3.34% 1.77%
1984 3.31% 0.02%
1983 3.28% 1.42%
1982 3.24% 2.17%
1981 3.2% 0.74%
1980 2.82% 1.05%
1979 2.43% 1.02%
1978 2.43% 1.05%
1977 2.43% 0.39%
1976 2.42% 0.51%
1975 2.42% 0.74%
1974 2.43% -0.07%
1973 2.42% -0.08%
1972 2.43% -0.08%
1971 2.4% 0.02%
1970 2.32% -0.54%
1969 2.29% -1.17%
1968 2.29% -1.17%
1967 2.4% -1.16%
1966 2.52% -1.13%
1965 2.58% -0.76%
1964 2.63% -0.4%
1963 2.65% -0.42%
1962 2.64% -0.42%
1961 2.62% -0.4%

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/malta | CC BY

In 2025, the population of Malaysia grew by 1.18%, while Malta's population grew by 1.91%.

Live population counters

Malaysia Malta
Current population
36600906
586345
Population rank 45/197 167/197
Percent of world population 0.44% 0.007%
One net population change
1.25 minutes
48.5 minutes
One birth every
1.2 minutes
2 hours
One death every
2.8 minutes
2.11 hours
Daily growth/decline +1,151 +30
Annual growth/decline +420,165 +10,857
Annual growth/decline rate +1.18% +1.91%
Population growth rate rank 89/197 52/197
One migration net change every
3.16 minutes
1.7 hours
Annual migration change +166,615 +5,161
Net migration rank 7/196 52/196
Foreign-born residents 3,806,514 199,466
Foreign-born residents rank 18/195 112/195
Foreign-born share of population 10.7% 37%
Foreign-born share rank 62/195 15/195

Natural population change vs migration

Malaysia
Natural

Migration
Malta
Natural

Migration
1x
Year Population change
Malaysia Malta
Natural Migration Natural Migration
2025 - 166,615 - 5,161
2024 252,068 174,770 228 6,323
2023 254,806 181,071 442 6,591
2022 237,560 188,154 54 2,480
2021 212,002 188,506 259 4,638
2020 283,282 101,907 361 6,904
2019 309,426 203,284 655 20,302
2018 324,568 221,965 774 16,961
2017 336,434 227,677 747 14,372
2016 345,681 222,141 1,091 8,624
2015 358,302 187,663 888 9,588
2014 367,587 159,791 910 9,192
2013 366,738 149,637 807 861
2012 371,497 134,975 714 911
2011 372,836 122,269 916 999
2010 360,260 157,164 871 741
2009 366,157 178,410 825 836
2008 362,380 202,481 777 869
2007 348,711 229,784 691 926
2006 349,509 232,971 568 997
2005 355,324 225,864 727 1,626
2004 365,138 212,278 883 1,662
2003 377,425 199,510 917 1,626
2002 381,084 196,227 911 1,821
2001 400,939 173,613 1,061 1,678
2000 417,371 125,499 1,482 1,591
1999 432,355 89,335 1,357 1,463
1998 436,316 99,639 1,656 1,260
1997 447,768 79,266 1,991 1,003
1996 450,174 73,040 2,279 1,142
1995 443,349 72,393 1,887 1,306
1994 437,873 66,685 2,136 1,136
1993 429,910 61,079 2,451 1,006
1992 418,900 66,286 2,573 737
1991 401,938 97,111 2,438 763
1990 384,518 135,020 2,621 568
1989 373,277 143,544 2,981 248
1988 386,507 133,478 2,813 164
1987 381,999 137,759 2,412 295
1986 385,799 127,081 2,395 464
1985 383,243 120,215 2,590 -428
1984 376,797 106,248 2,678 -558
1983 365,290 97,862 2,512 -740
1982 353,138 89,942 2,835 -1,059
1981 339,991 84,142 2,233 -548
1980 326,947 80,617 2,375 -886
1979 317,439 -13,980 2,852 -1,311
1978 311,027 -15,059 2,389 -1,302
1977 305,515 -16,601 2,916 -1,598
1976 300,615 -18,316 2,721 -1,641
1975 294,541 -20,480 2,829 -1,742
1974 289,880 -21,919 2,687 -1,597
1973 284,611 -21,995 2,327 -1,549
1972 276,263 -21,305 2,480 -1,316
1971 272,323 -20,535 2,482 -1,327
1970 269,341 -31,839 2,270 -1,123
1969 264,327 -39,420 2,069 -827
1968 260,705 -40,996 2,247 -753
1967 258,764 -42,108 2,306 -4,073
1966 262,162 -33,993 2,458 -4,318
1965 264,836 -36,456 2,646 -4,329
1964 266,406 -38,785 3,630 -4,768
1963 265,815 -40,952 3,709 -4,773
1962 262,140 -43,033 4,664 -5,360
1961 257,270 -44,916 4,748 -5,099
1960 251,090 -46,948 5,747 -5,540

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

GeoRank.org/population/malaysia/malta | 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 Malta 5.38% is from natural causes (a gain of 5,499 people) and 94.6% is from migration (a gain of 96,783 people).

As of 2024, 3,806,514 residents or 10.7% of the population were not native-born in Malaysia, compared to 199,466 people or 37% in Malta.

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
Malta
City Population
St. Paul's Bay 40.2K
Mosta 25.5K
Birkirkara 24.4K
Naxxar 18.1K
Zabbar 18K
Sliema 16.9K
San Gwann 16.1K
Marsaskala 15.6K
Gzira 8.03K
Valletta 6.44K

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/malta | 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. Wikidata (2026, retrieved 2026-07-08)
  5. Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) (2000–2019, retrieved 2026-07-08)

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