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

Updated on by Georank team

The latest officially reported population of Malaysia was 35,557,673 in 2024 vs 11,947 people in Nauru in 2024. In 2026, based on the adjusted UN estimation, the current Malaysia's population is 36,512,221 people compared to 12,125 in Nauru.

Population statistics:

  • Malaysia's population is 3,011 times bigger than Nauru's.
  • Malaysia is ranked the 45th most populous country in the world, while Nauru is the 195th.
  • The countries together account for 0.44% of the world: 0.44% for Malaysia vs 0.0001% for Nauru.
  • For the last 10 years, Malaysia has had an average growth rate of +1.5% per year vs +1.17% in Nauru.
  • Since 2006, the population of Malaysia has increased from 26.4M people to 36.5M (38.2% growth), while Nauru has grown from 10K to 12.1K (20.8% growth).

Malaysia vs Nauru: population by year and forecast

Malaysia
Factual

Projection
Nauru
Factual

Projection
1x
Year Population
Malaysia Nauru
2100 44,353,615 20,717
2099 44,467,475 20,686
2098 44,579,971 20,645
2097 44,695,979 20,605
2096 44,814,885 20,570
2095 44,932,404 20,535
2094 45,047,479 20,488
2093 45,165,126 20,432
2092 45,278,674 20,386
2091 45,390,002 20,341
2090 45,501,495 20,285
2089 45,610,046 20,219
2088 45,717,882 20,152
2087 45,823,085 20,096
2086 45,926,712 20,028
2085 46,020,742 19,959
2084 46,111,490 19,880
2083 46,202,286 19,796
2082 46,284,929 19,709
2081 46,359,700 19,611
2080 46,435,482 19,525
2079 46,496,102 19,420
2078 46,549,167 19,312
2077 46,594,188 19,206
2076 46,619,045 19,098
2075 46,643,115 18,986
2074 46,658,350 18,874
2073 46,670,848 18,758
2072 46,670,426 18,638
2071 46,660,436 18,535
2070 46,645,623 18,396
2069 46,623,238 18,289
2068 46,600,060 18,168
2067 46,569,264 18,025
2066 46,530,377 17,903
2065 46,481,890 17,777
2064 46,417,369 17,649
2063 46,350,674 17,524
2062 46,272,105 17,402
2061 46,178,092 17,267
2060 46,075,877 17,137
2059 45,958,718 17,013
2058 45,837,407 16,882
2057 45,707,213 16,752
2056 45,566,357 16,612
2055 45,418,953 16,472
2054 45,252,995 16,335
2053 45,069,089 16,193
2052 44,873,927 16,049
2051 44,668,767 15,888
2050 44,445,677 15,738
2049 44,217,593 15,572
2048 43,974,925 15,412
2047 43,712,325 15,241
2046 43,438,283 15,064
2045 43,157,909 14,895
2044 42,866,716 14,718
2043 42,557,941 14,546
2042 42,239,980 14,363
2041 41,922,379 14,180
2040 41,598,231 13,996
2039 41,270,953 13,827
2038 40,929,067 13,672
2037 40,584,773 13,513
2036 40,234,128 13,363
2035 39,876,375 13,196
2034 39,515,857 13,040
2033 39,152,086 12,894
2032 38,772,414 12,758
2031 38,386,293 12,625
2030 37,995,617 12,504
2029 37,606,753 12,386
2028 37,207,852 12,292
2027 36,806,585 12,182
2026 36,403,076 12,105
2025 35,987,113 12,030
2024 35,557,673 11,947
2023 35,126,298 11,875
2022 34,695,493 11,801
2021 34,282,399 11,709
2020 33,889,558 11,643
2019 33,440,596 11,587
2018 32,910,967 11,477
2017 32,355,644 11,324
2016 31,789,685 11,150
2015 31,232,798 10,954
2014 30,696,137 10,742
2013 30,174,265 10,517
2012 29,662,831 10,267
2011 29,162,039 10,098
2010 28,655,776 10,043
2009 28,124,778 10,016
2008 27,570,059 10,009
2007 26,998,389 10,020
2006 26,417,909 10,034
2005 25,836,071 10,049
2004 25,256,772 10,060
2003 24,679,602 10,059
2002 24,102,477 10,082
2001 23,526,538 10,130
2000 22,967,816 10,168
1999 22,435,531 10,187
1998 21,906,713 10,198
1997 21,375,218 10,197
1996 20,850,087 10,183
1995 20,330,599 10,165
1994 19,820,446 10,137
1993 19,322,664 10,102
1992 18,834,572 10,021
1991 18,342,464 9,850
1990 17,833,171 9,622
1989 17,314,997 9,390
1988 16,796,605 9,165
1987 16,276,737 8,946
1986 15,760,419 8,742
1985 15,252,258 8,551
1984 14,759,009 8,377
1983 14,285,907 8,216
1982 13,832,798 8,040
1981 13,399,203 7,839
1980 12,983,363 7,649
1979 12,627,862 7,468
1978 12,328,157 7,298
1977 12,035,713 7,163
1976 11,750,097 7,064
1975 11,471,914 6,987
1974 11,200,906 6,923
1973 10,935,621 6,866
1972 10,676,835 6,812
1971 10,423,453 6,762
1970 10,178,802 6,710
1969 9,947,597 6,581
1968 9,725,281 6,328
1967 9,507,099 6,135
1966 9,284,688 6,043
1965 9,056,408 5,832
1964 8,828,406 5,515
1963 8,602,160 5,226
1962 8,380,172 4,979
1961 8,164,443 4,774
1960 7,956,197 4,607

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/nauru | CC BY

From 2006 to 2016, the population of Malaysia increased by 5,371,776 people (a 20.3% growth), while Nauru gained 1,116 people (a 11.1% growth).

For the next 10 years, from 2016 to 2026, Malaysia gained 4,722,536 people (a 14.9% growth), while Nauru's population increased by 975 people (a 8.74% growth).

Malaysia was ranked 44th most populous country in 2006 and is 45th in 2026. Nauru was ranked 196th in 2006 and ranked 195th 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 Nauru will increase by 29.8% to 15,738 people and rank change from 195th to 194th.

Malaysia is projected to reach its peak in 2073 at 46.7M people compared to the peak of 20.7K people in 2100 for Nauru.

Population growth rate by year

Malaysia
Factual

Projection
Nauru
Factual

Projection
1x
Year Growth rate
Malaysia Nauru
2100 -0.26% 0.15%
2099 -0.25% 0.2%
2098 -0.26% 0.19%
2097 -0.27% 0.17%
2096 -0.26% 0.17%
2095 -0.26% 0.23%
2094 -0.26% 0.27%
2093 -0.25% 0.23%
2092 -0.25% 0.22%
2091 -0.25% 0.28%
2090 -0.24% 0.33%
2089 -0.24% 0.33%
2088 -0.23% 0.28%
2087 -0.23% 0.34%
2086 -0.2% 0.35%
2085 -0.2% 0.39%
2084 -0.2% 0.43%
2083 -0.18% 0.44%
2082 -0.16% 0.5%
2081 -0.16% 0.44%
2080 -0.13% 0.54%
2079 -0.11% 0.56%
2078 -0.1% 0.55%
2077 -0.05% 0.57%
2076 -0.05% 0.59%
2075 -0.03% 0.6%
2074 -0.03% 0.62%
2073 0.001% 0.65%
2072 0.02% 0.56%
2071 0.03% 0.75%
2070 0.05% 0.59%
2069 0.05% 0.66%
2068 0.07% 0.8%
2067 0.08% 0.68%
2066 0.1% 0.71%
2065 0.14% 0.73%
2064 0.14% 0.71%
2063 0.17% 0.7%
2062 0.2% 0.78%
2061 0.22% 0.76%
2060 0.25% 0.73%
2059 0.26% 0.78%
2058 0.28% 0.77%
2057 0.31% 0.85%
2056 0.32% 0.85%
2055 0.37% 0.84%
2054 0.41% 0.87%
2053 0.43% 0.9%
2052 0.46% 1.01%
2051 0.5% 0.96%
2050 0.52% 1.06%
2049 0.55% 1.04%
2048 0.6% 1.12%
2047 0.63% 1.17%
2046 0.65% 1.14%
2045 0.68% 1.2%
2044 0.73% 1.19%
2043 0.75% 1.27%
2042 0.76% 1.29%
2041 0.78% 1.32%
2040 0.79% 1.22%
2039 0.84% 1.14%
2038 0.85% 1.17%
2037 0.87% 1.12%
2036 0.9% 1.27%
2035 0.91% 1.19%
2034 0.93% 1.14%
2033 0.98% 1.06%
2032 1.01% 1.06%
2031 1.03% 0.96%
2030 1.03% 0.96%
2029 1.07% 0.77%
2028 1.09% 0.9%
2027 1.11% 0.64%
2026 1.16% 0.63%
2025 1.21% 0.7%
2024 1.23% 0.61%
2023 1.24% 0.63%
2022 1.2% 0.79%
2021 1.16% 0.57%
2020 1.34% 0.48%
2019 1.61% 0.96%
2018 1.72% 1.35%
2017 1.78% 1.56%
2016 1.78% 1.79%
2015 1.75% 1.97%
2014 1.73% 2.14%
2013 1.72% 2.43%
2012 1.72% 1.67%
2011 1.77% 0.55%
2010 1.89% 0.27%
2009 2.01% 0.07%
2008 2.12% -0.11%
2007 2.2% -0.14%
2006 2.25% -0.15%
2005 2.29% -0.11%
2004 2.34% 0.01%
2003 2.39% -0.23%
2002 2.45% -0.47%
2001 2.43% -0.37%
2000 2.37% -0.19%
1999 2.41% -0.11%
1998 2.49% 0.01%
1997 2.52% 0.14%
1996 2.56% 0.18%
1995 2.57% 0.28%
1994 2.58% 0.35%
1993 2.59% 0.81%
1992 2.68% 1.74%
1991 2.86% 2.37%
1990 2.99% 2.47%
1989 3.09% 2.45%
1988 3.19% 2.45%
1987 3.28% 2.33%
1986 3.33% 2.23%
1985 3.34% 2.08%
1984 3.31% 1.96%
1983 3.28% 2.19%
1982 3.24% 2.56%
1981 3.2% 2.48%
1980 2.82% 2.42%
1979 2.43% 2.33%
1978 2.43% 1.88%
1977 2.43% 1.4%
1976 2.42% 1.1%
1975 2.42% 0.92%
1974 2.43% 0.83%
1973 2.42% 0.79%
1972 2.43% 0.74%
1971 2.4% 0.77%
1970 2.32% 1.96%
1969 2.29% 4%
1968 2.29% 3.15%
1967 2.4% 1.52%
1966 2.52% 3.62%
1965 2.58% 5.75%
1964 2.63% 5.53%
1963 2.65% 4.96%
1962 2.64% 4.29%
1961 2.62% 3.62%

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/malaysia/nauru | CC BY

In 2024, the population of Malaysia grew by 1.23%, while Nauru's population grew by 0.61%.

Live population counters

Malaysia Nauru
Current population
36512221
12125
Population rank 45/197 195/197
Percent of world population 0.44% 0.0001%
One net population change
1.22 minutes
5.07 days
One birth every
1.21 minutes
1.21 days
One death every
2.9 minutes
4.1 days
Daily growth/decline +1,182 +0
Annual growth/decline +431,375 +72
Annual growth/decline rate +1.23% +0.61%
Population growth rate rank 89/197 126/197
One migration net change every
3.16 minutes
3 days
Annual migration change +166,615 -122
Net migration rank 7/196 82/196
Foreign-born residents 3,806,514 2,548
Foreign-born residents rank 18/195 191/195
Foreign-born share of population 10.7% 21.3%
Foreign-born share rank 62/195 29/195

Natural population change vs migration

Malaysia
Natural

Migration
Nauru
Natural

Migration
1x
Year Population change
Malaysia Nauru
Natural Migration Natural Migration
2025 - 166,615 - -122
2024 - 174,770 - -121
2023 254,806 181,071 213 -148
2022 237,560 188,154 226 -144
2021 212,002 188,506 236 -137
2020 283,282 101,907 246 -214
2019 309,426 203,284 255 -171
2018 324,568 221,965 265 -131
2017 336,434 227,677 279 -115
2016 345,681 222,141 289 -105
2015 358,302 187,663 291 -86
2014 367,587 159,791 290 -69
2013 366,738 149,637 291 -53
2012 371,497 134,975 292 -38
2011 372,836 122,269 291 -206
2010 360,260 157,164 281 -246
2009 366,157 178,410 261 -249
2008 362,380 202,481 240 -243
2007 348,711 229,784 222 -235
2006 349,509 232,971 209 -224
2005 355,324 225,864 204 -217
2004 365,138 212,278 202 -210
2003 377,425 199,510 201 -199
2002 381,084 196,227 200 -247
2001 400,939 173,613 203 -252
2000 417,371 125,499 207 -236
1999 432,355 89,335 212 -227
1998 436,316 99,639 214 -217
1997 447,768 79,266 218 -209
1996 450,174 73,040 221 -204
1995 443,349 72,393 225 -201
1994 437,873 66,685 229 -196
1993 429,910 61,079 235 -194
1992 418,900 66,286 237 -121
1991 401,938 97,111 225 0
1990 384,518 135,020 214 20
1989 373,277 143,544 204 24
1988 386,507 133,478 195 29
1987 381,999 137,759 186 27
1986 385,799 127,081 178 21
1985 383,243 120,215 171 8
1984 376,797 106,248 166 -2
1983 365,290 97,862 163 -5
1982 353,138 89,942 162 30
1981 339,991 84,142 157 44
1980 326,947 80,617 145 44
1979 317,439 -13,980 130 48
1978 311,027 -15,059 111 40
1977 305,515 -16,601 89 32
1976 300,615 -18,316 79 0
1975 294,541 -20,480 70 0
1974 289,880 -21,919 63 0
1973 284,611 -21,995 57 0
1972 276,263 -21,305 53 0
1971 272,323 -20,535 50 0
1970 269,341 -31,839 49 0
1969 264,327 -39,420 71 132
1968 260,705 -40,996 116 180
1967 258,764 -42,108 117 -28
1966 262,162 -33,993 123 -32
1965 264,836 -36,456 113 218
1964 266,406 -38,785 100 203
1963 265,815 -40,952 88 181
1962 262,140 -43,033 75 158
1961 257,270 -44,916 70 120
1960 251,090 -46,948 72 76

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

GeoRank.org/population/malaysia/nauru | 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 Nauru 66.2% is from natural causes (a gain of 2,590 people) and 33.8% is from migration (a loss of 1,320 people).

As of 2024, 3,806,514 residents or 10.7% of the population were not native-born in Malaysia, compared to 2,548 people or 21.3% in Nauru.

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
Nauru
City Population
Yaren 747

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/nauru | 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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