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Population in Malaysia compared to the Netherlands: Trends, Charts, Rankings

Updated on by Georank team

The latest officially reported population of Malaysia was 35,557,673 in 2024 vs 17,993,485 people in the Netherlands in 2024. In 2026, based on the adjusted UN estimation, the current Malaysia's population is 36,512,221 people compared to 18,252,623 in the Netherlands.

Population statistics:

  • Malaysia's population is 2 times bigger than the Netherlands'.
  • Malaysia is ranked the 45th most populous country in the world, while the Netherlands is the 72nd.
  • The countries together account for 0.66% of the world: 0.44% for Malaysia vs 0.22% for the Netherlands.
  • For the last 10 years, Malaysia has had an average growth rate of +1.5% per year vs +0.62% in the Netherlands.
  • Since 2006, the population of Malaysia has increased from 26.4M people to 36.5M (38.2% growth), while the Netherlands has grown from 16.3M to 18.3M (11.7% growth).

Malaysia vs Netherlands: population by year and forecast

Malaysia
Factual

Projection
Netherlands
Factual

Projection
1x
Year Population
Malaysia Netherlands
2100 44,353,615 17,359,081
2099 44,467,475 17,392,412
2098 44,579,971 17,425,508
2097 44,695,979 17,459,827
2096 44,814,885 17,495,124
2095 44,932,404 17,532,593
2094 45,047,479 17,571,051
2093 45,165,126 17,610,792
2092 45,278,674 17,649,611
2091 45,390,002 17,688,532
2090 45,501,495 17,730,570
2089 45,610,046 17,770,380
2088 45,717,882 17,809,825
2087 45,823,085 17,845,820
2086 45,926,712 17,885,001
2085 46,020,742 17,921,302
2084 46,111,490 17,957,639
2083 46,202,286 17,994,232
2082 46,284,929 18,029,404
2081 46,359,700 18,063,233
2080 46,435,482 18,093,703
2079 46,496,102 18,124,294
2078 46,549,167 18,152,738
2077 46,594,188 18,181,372
2076 46,619,045 18,206,864
2075 46,643,115 18,227,791
2074 46,658,350 18,245,652
2073 46,670,848 18,263,765
2072 46,670,426 18,280,443
2071 46,660,436 18,295,700
2070 46,645,623 18,311,141
2069 46,623,238 18,326,509
2068 46,600,060 18,341,711
2067 46,569,264 18,356,770
2066 46,530,377 18,374,904
2065 46,481,890 18,396,018
2064 46,417,369 18,417,894
2063 46,350,674 18,441,434
2062 46,272,105 18,464,922
2061 46,178,092 18,492,436
2060 46,075,877 18,520,315
2059 45,958,718 18,548,786
2058 45,837,407 18,577,700
2057 45,707,213 18,608,370
2056 45,566,357 18,638,918
2055 45,418,953 18,666,514
2054 45,252,995 18,692,598
2053 45,069,089 18,718,268
2052 44,873,927 18,741,740
2051 44,668,767 18,768,309
2050 44,445,677 18,789,481
2049 44,217,593 18,809,886
2048 43,974,925 18,827,655
2047 43,712,325 18,844,635
2046 43,438,283 18,855,920
2045 43,157,909 18,867,286
2044 42,866,716 18,877,101
2043 42,557,941 18,882,735
2042 42,239,980 18,885,839
2041 41,922,379 18,885,255
2040 41,598,231 18,879,571
2039 41,270,953 18,870,248
2038 40,929,067 18,855,512
2037 40,584,773 18,837,172
2036 40,234,128 18,811,873
2035 39,876,375 18,783,312
2034 39,515,857 18,750,125
2033 39,152,086 18,708,101
2032 38,772,414 18,662,054
2031 38,386,293 18,609,452
2030 37,995,617 18,549,634
2029 37,606,753 18,481,269
2028 37,207,852 18,404,195
2027 36,806,585 18,320,644
2026 36,403,076 18,227,403
2025 35,987,113 18,118,662
2024 35,557,673 17,993,485
2023 35,126,298 17,877,117
2022 34,695,493 17,700,982
2021 34,282,399 17,533,044
2020 33,889,558 17,441,500
2019 33,440,596 17,344,874
2018 32,910,967 17,231,624
2017 32,355,644 17,131,296
2016 31,789,685 17,030,314
2015 31,232,798 16,939,923
2014 30,696,137 16,865,008
2013 30,174,265 16,804,432
2012 29,662,831 16,754,962
2011 29,162,039 16,693,074
2010 28,655,776 16,615,394
2009 28,124,778 16,530,388
2008 27,570,059 16,445,593
2007 26,998,389 16,381,696
2006 26,417,909 16,346,101
2005 25,836,071 16,319,868
2004 25,256,772 16,281,779
2003 24,679,602 16,225,302
2002 24,102,477 16,148,929
2001 23,526,538 16,046,180
2000 22,967,816 15,925,513
1999 22,435,531 15,812,088
1998 21,906,713 15,707,209
1997 21,375,218 15,610,650
1996 20,850,087 15,530,498
1995 20,330,599 15,459,006
1994 19,820,446 15,382,838
1993 19,322,664 15,290,368
1992 18,834,572 15,184,166
1991 18,342,464 15,069,798
1990 17,833,171 14,951,510
1989 17,314,997 14,848,907
1988 16,796,605 14,760,094
1987 16,276,737 14,665,037
1986 15,760,419 14,572,278
1985 15,252,258 14,491,632
1984 14,759,009 14,424,211
1983 14,285,907 14,367,070
1982 13,832,798 14,312,690
1981 13,399,203 14,247,208
1980 12,983,363 14,149,800
1979 12,627,862 14,038,270
1978 12,328,157 13,941,700
1977 12,035,713 13,856,185
1976 11,750,097 13,774,037
1975 11,471,914 13,666,335
1974 11,200,906 13,545,056
1973 10,935,621 13,439,322
1972 10,676,835 13,328,593
1971 10,423,453 13,194,497
1970 10,178,802 13,038,526
1969 9,947,597 12,877,984
1968 9,725,281 12,729,721
1967 9,507,099 12,598,201
1966 9,284,688 12,456,251
1965 9,056,408 12,294,732
1964 8,828,406 12,127,120
1963 8,602,160 11,965,966
1962 8,380,172 11,805,689
1961 8,164,443 11,638,712
1960 7,956,197 11,486,631

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/netherlands | CC BY

From 2006 to 2016, the population of Malaysia increased by 5,371,776 people (a 20.3% growth), while the Netherlands gained 684,213 people (a 4.19% growth).

For the next 10 years, from 2016 to 2026, Malaysia gained 4,722,536 people (a 14.9% growth), while the Netherlands' population increased by 1,222,309 people (a 7.18% growth).

Malaysia was ranked 44th most populous country in 2006 and is 45th in 2026. The Netherlands was ranked 61st in 2006 and ranked 72nd 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 the Netherlands will increase by 2.94% to 18,789,481 people and rank change from 72nd to 77th.

Malaysia is projected to reach its peak in 2073 at 46.7M people compared to the peak of 18.9M people in 2042 for the Netherlands.

Population growth rate by year

Malaysia
Factual

Projection
Netherlands
Factual

Projection
1x
Year Growth rate
Malaysia Netherlands
2100 -0.26% -0.19%
2099 -0.25% -0.19%
2098 -0.26% -0.2%
2097 -0.27% -0.2%
2096 -0.26% -0.21%
2095 -0.26% -0.22%
2094 -0.26% -0.23%
2093 -0.25% -0.22%
2092 -0.25% -0.22%
2091 -0.25% -0.24%
2090 -0.24% -0.22%
2089 -0.24% -0.22%
2088 -0.23% -0.2%
2087 -0.23% -0.22%
2086 -0.2% -0.2%
2085 -0.2% -0.2%
2084 -0.2% -0.2%
2083 -0.18% -0.2%
2082 -0.16% -0.19%
2081 -0.16% -0.17%
2080 -0.13% -0.17%
2079 -0.11% -0.16%
2078 -0.1% -0.16%
2077 -0.05% -0.14%
2076 -0.05% -0.11%
2075 -0.03% -0.1%
2074 -0.03% -0.1%
2073 0.001% -0.09%
2072 0.02% -0.08%
2071 0.03% -0.08%
2070 0.05% -0.08%
2069 0.05% -0.08%
2068 0.07% -0.08%
2067 0.08% -0.1%
2066 0.1% -0.11%
2065 0.14% -0.12%
2064 0.14% -0.13%
2063 0.17% -0.13%
2062 0.2% -0.15%
2061 0.22% -0.15%
2060 0.25% -0.15%
2059 0.26% -0.16%
2058 0.28% -0.16%
2057 0.31% -0.16%
2056 0.32% -0.15%
2055 0.37% -0.14%
2054 0.41% -0.14%
2053 0.43% -0.13%
2052 0.46% -0.14%
2051 0.5% -0.11%
2050 0.52% -0.11%
2049 0.55% -0.09%
2048 0.6% -0.09%
2047 0.63% -0.06%
2046 0.65% -0.06%
2045 0.68% -0.05%
2044 0.73% -0.03%
2043 0.75% -0.02%
2042 0.76% 0.003%
2041 0.78% 0.03%
2040 0.79% 0.05%
2039 0.84% 0.08%
2038 0.85% 0.1%
2037 0.87% 0.13%
2036 0.9% 0.15%
2035 0.91% 0.18%
2034 0.93% 0.22%
2033 0.98% 0.25%
2032 1.01% 0.28%
2031 1.03% 0.32%
2030 1.03% 0.37%
2029 1.07% 0.42%
2028 1.09% 0.46%
2027 1.11% 0.51%
2026 1.16% 0.6%
2025 1.21% 0.7%
2024 1.23% 0.65%
2023 1.24% 1%
2022 1.2% 0.96%
2021 1.16% 0.52%
2020 1.34% 0.56%
2019 1.61% 0.66%
2018 1.72% 0.59%
2017 1.78% 0.59%
2016 1.78% 0.53%
2015 1.75% 0.44%
2014 1.73% 0.36%
2013 1.72% 0.3%
2012 1.72% 0.37%
2011 1.77% 0.47%
2010 1.89% 0.51%
2009 2.01% 0.52%
2008 2.12% 0.39%
2007 2.2% 0.22%
2006 2.25% 0.16%
2005 2.29% 0.23%
2004 2.34% 0.35%
2003 2.39% 0.47%
2002 2.45% 0.64%
2001 2.43% 0.76%
2000 2.37% 0.72%
1999 2.41% 0.67%
1998 2.49% 0.62%
1997 2.52% 0.52%
1996 2.56% 0.46%
1995 2.57% 0.5%
1994 2.58% 0.6%
1993 2.59% 0.7%
1992 2.68% 0.76%
1991 2.86% 0.79%
1990 2.99% 0.69%
1989 3.09% 0.6%
1988 3.19% 0.65%
1987 3.28% 0.64%
1986 3.33% 0.56%
1985 3.34% 0.47%
1984 3.31% 0.4%
1983 3.28% 0.38%
1982 3.24% 0.46%
1981 3.2% 0.69%
1980 2.82% 0.79%
1979 2.43% 0.69%
1978 2.43% 0.62%
1977 2.43% 0.6%
1976 2.42% 0.79%
1975 2.42% 0.9%
1974 2.43% 0.79%
1973 2.42% 0.83%
1972 2.43% 1.02%
1971 2.4% 1.2%
1970 2.32% 1.25%
1969 2.29% 1.16%
1968 2.29% 1.04%
1967 2.4% 1.14%
1966 2.52% 1.31%
1965 2.58% 1.38%
1964 2.63% 1.35%
1963 2.65% 1.36%
1962 2.64% 1.43%
1961 2.62% 1.32%

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/netherlands | CC BY

In 2024, the population of Malaysia grew by 1.23%, while the Netherlands' population grew by 0.65%.

Live population counters

Malaysia Netherlands
Current population
36512221
18252623
Population rank 45/197 72/197
Percent of world population 0.44% 0.22%
One net population change
1.22 minutes
4.52 minutes
One birth every
1.21 minutes
3.2 minutes
One death every
2.9 minutes
3.09 minutes
Daily growth/decline +1,182 +319
Annual growth/decline +431,375 +116,368
Annual growth/decline rate +1.23% +0.65%
Population growth rate rank 89/197 121/197
One migration net change every
3.16 minutes
5.03 minutes
Annual migration change +166,615 +104,681
Net migration rank 7/196 16/196
Foreign-born residents 3,806,514 2,956,518
Foreign-born residents rank 18/195 23/195
Foreign-born share of population 10.7% 16.2%
Foreign-born share rank 62/195 40/195

Natural population change vs migration

Malaysia
Natural

Migration
Netherlands
Natural

Migration
1x
Year Population change
Malaysia Netherlands
Natural Migration Natural Migration
2025 - 166,615 - 104,681
2024 - 174,770 - 121,628
2023 254,806 181,071 -5,363 144,558
2022 237,560 188,154 -1,770 224,472
2021 212,002 188,506 7,014 106,416
2020 283,282 101,907 0 67,598
2019 309,426 203,284 17,345 109,003
2018 324,568 221,965 15,508 87,197
2017 336,434 227,677 18,844 86,332
2016 345,681 222,141 23,843 88,743
2015 358,302 187,663 23,716 55,585
2014 367,587 159,791 35,417 36,591
2013 366,738 149,637 30,248 19,973
2012 371,497 134,975 35,186 14,861
2011 372,836 122,269 45,072 31,224
2010 360,260 157,164 48,184 33,703
2009 366,157 178,410 51,244 39,832
2008 362,380 202,481 49,337 32,406
2007 348,711 229,784 49,145 -304
2006 349,509 232,971 49,038 -25,401
2005 355,324 225,864 50,592 -22,496
2004 365,138 212,278 56,987 -9,230
2003 377,425 199,510 58,411 7,937
2002 381,084 196,227 59,751 28,824
2001 400,939 173,613 62,580 56,096
2000 417,371 125,499 66,887 59,308
1999 432,355 89,335 60,086 47,179
1998 436,316 99,639 61,258 52,058
1997 447,768 79,266 56,198 31,302
1996 450,174 73,040 51,251 21,792
1995 443,349 72,393 54,106 15,056
1994 437,873 66,685 61,532 20,193
1993 429,910 61,079 58,103 44,514
1992 418,900 66,286 66,811 50,148
1991 401,938 97,111 69,321 51,670
1990 384,518 135,020 68,777 53,564
1989 373,277 143,544 59,396 31,165
1988 386,507 133,478 61,993 31,026
1987 381,999 137,759 64,526 39,559
1986 385,799 127,081 59,746 30,380
1985 383,243 120,215 55,069 27,356
1984 376,797 106,248 54,812 12,902
1983 365,290 97,862 51,722 11,007
1982 353,138 89,942 54,388 7,644
1981 339,991 84,142 62,688 17,643
1980 326,947 80,617 66,504 54,010
1979 317,439 -13,980 63,172 42,772
1978 311,027 -15,059 61,344 26,639
1977 305,515 -16,601 63,739 19,809
1976 300,615 -18,316 63,361 18,774
1975 294,541 -20,480 64,232 68,569
1974 289,880 -21,919 75,853 31,645
1973 284,611 -21,995 84,668 18,705
1972 276,263 -21,305 101,297 17,470
1971 272,323 -20,535 116,112 32,756
1970 269,341 -31,839 129,082 32,438
1969 264,327 -39,420 139,082 21,850
1968 260,705 -40,996 132,389 7,243
1967 258,764 -42,108 138,580 -10,673
1966 262,162 -33,993 138,265 20,740
1965 264,836 -36,456 146,308 19,444
1964 266,406 -38,785 157,653 15,014
1963 265,815 -40,952 154,361 -21
1962 262,140 -43,033 153,474 18,024
1961 257,270 -44,916 159,450 8,258
1960 251,090 -46,948 151,623 -13,235

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

GeoRank.org/population/malaysia/netherlands | 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 the Netherlands 11.8% is from natural causes (a gain of 134,554 people) and 88.2% is from migration (a gain of 1,006,495 people).

As of 2024, 3,806,514 residents or 10.7% of the population were not native-born in Malaysia, compared to 2,956,518 people or 16.2% in the Netherlands.

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
Netherlands
City Population
Amsterdam 921K
Rotterdam 664K
The Hague 548K
Utrecht 359K
Eindhoven 244K
Groningen 238K
Tilburg 228K
Almere 215K
Breda 188K
Nijmegen 177K

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/netherlands | 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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