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

Updated on by Georank team

The latest officially reported population of Malaysia was 35,557,673 in 2024 vs 232,679,478 people in Nigeria in 2024. In 2026, based on the adjusted UN estimation, the current Malaysia's population is 36,512,221 people compared to 243,824,469 in Nigeria.

Population statistics:

  • Nigeria's population is 6.68 times bigger than Malaysia's.
  • Malaysia is ranked the 45th most populous country in the world, while Nigeria is the 6th.
  • The countries together account for 3.38% of the world: 0.44% for Malaysia vs 2.94% for Nigeria.
  • For the last 10 years, Malaysia has had an average growth rate of +1.5% per year vs +2.31% in Nigeria.
  • Since 2006, the population of Malaysia has increased from 26.4M people to 36.5M (38.2% growth), while Nigeria has grown from 149M to 244M (63.6% growth).

Malaysia vs Nigeria: population by year and forecast

Malaysia
Factual

Projection
Nigeria
Factual

Projection
1x
Year Population
Malaysia Nigeria
2100 44,353,615 481,678,166
2099 44,467,475 481,494,914
2098 44,579,971 481,219,866
2097 44,695,979 480,876,108
2096 44,814,885 480,460,381
2095 44,932,404 479,976,454
2094 45,047,479 479,432,855
2093 45,165,126 478,807,152
2092 45,278,674 478,097,591
2091 45,390,002 477,274,569
2090 45,501,495 476,367,086
2089 45,610,046 475,363,859
2088 45,717,882 474,268,867
2087 45,823,085 473,072,894
2086 45,926,712 471,769,229
2085 46,020,742 470,365,292
2084 46,111,490 468,843,169
2083 46,202,286 467,224,322
2082 46,284,929 465,509,151
2081 46,359,700 463,679,779
2080 46,435,482 461,741,930
2079 46,496,102 459,680,797
2078 46,549,167 457,513,367
2077 46,594,188 455,254,796
2076 46,619,045 452,885,729
2075 46,643,115 450,402,898
2074 46,658,350 447,825,224
2073 46,670,848 445,152,156
2072 46,670,426 442,375,349
2071 46,660,436 439,499,004
2070 46,645,623 436,539,777
2069 46,623,238 433,472,204
2068 46,600,060 430,320,190
2067 46,569,264 427,066,199
2066 46,530,377 423,736,078
2065 46,481,890 420,318,527
2064 46,417,369 416,811,285
2063 46,350,674 413,231,409
2062 46,272,105 409,583,480
2061 46,178,092 405,859,509
2060 46,075,877 402,073,494
2059 45,958,718 398,228,736
2058 45,837,407 394,315,883
2057 45,707,213 390,341,867
2056 45,566,357 386,298,064
2055 45,418,953 382,193,151
2054 45,252,995 378,030,342
2053 45,069,089 373,799,276
2052 44,873,927 369,501,634
2051 44,668,767 365,149,555
2050 44,445,677 360,734,783
2049 44,217,593 356,271,401
2048 43,974,925 351,752,501
2047 43,712,325 347,169,674
2046 43,438,283 342,532,578
2045 43,157,909 337,834,528
2044 42,866,716 333,076,416
2043 42,557,941 328,256,555
2042 42,239,980 323,388,886
2041 41,922,379 318,469,120
2040 41,598,231 313,492,800
2039 41,270,953 308,474,350
2038 40,929,067 303,423,786
2037 40,584,773 298,351,344
2036 40,234,128 293,250,795
2035 39,876,375 288,138,368
2034 39,515,857 283,018,151
2033 39,152,086 277,897,810
2032 38,772,414 272,769,123
2031 38,386,293 267,666,779
2030 37,995,617 262,583,487
2029 37,606,753 257,504,936
2028 37,207,852 252,465,743
2027 36,806,585 247,457,208
2026 36,403,076 242,477,499
2025 35,987,113 237,546,527
2024 35,557,673 232,679,478
2023 35,126,298 227,882,945
2022 34,695,493 223,150,896
2021 34,282,399 218,529,286
2020 33,889,558 213,996,181
2019 33,440,596 209,485,641
2018 32,910,967 204,938,755
2017 32,355,644 200,254,579
2016 31,789,685 195,443,700
2015 31,232,798 190,671,878
2014 30,696,137 185,896,915
2013 30,174,265 181,049,443
2012 29,662,831 176,200,625
2011 29,162,039 171,379,598
2010 28,655,776 166,642,886
2009 28,124,778 162,049,464
2008 27,570,059 157,595,014
2007 26,998,389 153,267,261
2006 26,417,909 149,077,334
2005 25,836,071 145,017,253
2004 25,256,772 141,057,045
2003 24,679,602 137,202,644
2002 24,102,477 133,471,989
2001 23,526,538 129,862,595
2000 22,967,816 126,382,494
1999 22,435,531 123,047,320
1998 21,906,713 119,846,254
1997 21,375,218 116,754,792
1996 20,850,087 113,754,779
1995 20,330,599 110,819,428
1994 19,820,446 107,935,714
1993 19,322,664 105,122,069
1992 18,834,572 102,372,770
1991 18,342,464 99,720,162
1990 17,833,171 97,120,925
1989 17,314,997 94,531,014
1988 16,796,605 92,020,090
1987 16,276,737 89,591,716
1986 15,760,419 87,235,953
1985 15,252,258 84,897,973
1984 14,759,009 82,526,443
1983 14,285,907 80,438,260
1982 13,832,798 78,378,701
1981 13,399,203 76,068,103
1980 12,983,363 73,764,641
1979 12,627,862 71,498,242
1978 12,328,157 69,326,532
1977 12,035,713 67,234,590
1976 11,750,097 65,258,009
1975 11,471,914 63,410,815
1974 11,200,906 61,679,144
1973 10,935,621 60,082,139
1972 10,676,835 58,601,748
1971 10,423,453 57,214,684
1970 10,178,802 55,893,838
1969 9,947,597 54,631,914
1968 9,725,281 53,432,783
1967 9,507,099 52,293,065
1966 9,284,688 51,188,234
1965 9,056,408 50,086,764
1964 8,828,406 49,012,016
1963 8,602,160 47,973,575
1962 8,380,172 46,965,292
1961 8,164,443 45,989,310
1960 7,956,197 45,053,782

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/nigeria | CC BY

From 2006 to 2016, the population of Malaysia increased by 5,371,776 people (a 20.3% growth), while Nigeria gained 46,366,366 people (a 31.1% growth).

For the next 10 years, from 2016 to 2026, Malaysia gained 4,722,536 people (a 14.9% growth), while Nigeria's population increased by 48,380,769 people (a 24.8% growth).

Malaysia was ranked 44th most populous country in 2006 and is 45th in 2026. Nigeria was ranked 7th in 2006 and ranked 6th 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 Nigeria will increase by 47.9% to 360,734,783 people and rank change from 6th to 5th.

Malaysia is projected to reach its peak in 2073 at 46.7M people compared to the peak of 482M people in 2100 for Nigeria.

Population growth rate by year

Malaysia
Factual

Projection
Nigeria
Factual

Projection
1x
Year Growth rate
Malaysia Nigeria
2100 -0.26% 0.04%
2099 -0.25% 0.06%
2098 -0.26% 0.07%
2097 -0.27% 0.09%
2096 -0.26% 0.1%
2095 -0.26% 0.11%
2094 -0.26% 0.13%
2093 -0.25% 0.15%
2092 -0.25% 0.17%
2091 -0.25% 0.19%
2090 -0.24% 0.21%
2089 -0.24% 0.23%
2088 -0.23% 0.25%
2087 -0.23% 0.28%
2086 -0.2% 0.3%
2085 -0.2% 0.32%
2084 -0.2% 0.35%
2083 -0.18% 0.37%
2082 -0.16% 0.39%
2081 -0.16% 0.42%
2080 -0.13% 0.45%
2079 -0.11% 0.47%
2078 -0.1% 0.5%
2077 -0.05% 0.52%
2076 -0.05% 0.55%
2075 -0.03% 0.58%
2074 -0.03% 0.6%
2073 0.001% 0.63%
2072 0.02% 0.65%
2071 0.03% 0.68%
2070 0.05% 0.71%
2069 0.05% 0.73%
2068 0.07% 0.76%
2067 0.08% 0.79%
2066 0.1% 0.81%
2065 0.14% 0.84%
2064 0.14% 0.87%
2063 0.17% 0.89%
2062 0.2% 0.92%
2061 0.22% 0.94%
2060 0.25% 0.97%
2059 0.26% 0.99%
2058 0.28% 1.02%
2057 0.31% 1.05%
2056 0.32% 1.07%
2055 0.37% 1.1%
2054 0.41% 1.13%
2053 0.43% 1.16%
2052 0.46% 1.19%
2051 0.5% 1.22%
2050 0.52% 1.25%
2049 0.55% 1.28%
2048 0.6% 1.32%
2047 0.63% 1.35%
2046 0.65% 1.39%
2045 0.68% 1.43%
2044 0.73% 1.47%
2043 0.75% 1.51%
2042 0.76% 1.54%
2041 0.78% 1.59%
2040 0.79% 1.63%
2039 0.84% 1.66%
2038 0.85% 1.7%
2037 0.87% 1.74%
2036 0.9% 1.77%
2035 0.91% 1.81%
2034 0.93% 1.84%
2033 0.98% 1.88%
2032 1.01% 1.91%
2031 1.03% 1.94%
2030 1.03% 1.97%
2029 1.07% 2%
2028 1.09% 2.02%
2027 1.11% 2.05%
2026 1.16% 2.08%
2025 1.21% 2.09%
2024 1.23% 2.1%
2023 1.24% 2.12%
2022 1.2% 2.11%
2021 1.16% 2.12%
2020 1.34% 2.15%
2019 1.61% 2.22%
2018 1.72% 2.34%
2017 1.78% 2.46%
2016 1.78% 2.5%
2015 1.75% 2.57%
2014 1.73% 2.68%
2013 1.72% 2.75%
2012 1.72% 2.81%
2011 1.77% 2.84%
2010 1.89% 2.83%
2009 2.01% 2.83%
2008 2.12% 2.82%
2007 2.2% 2.81%
2006 2.25% 2.8%
2005 2.29% 2.81%
2004 2.34% 2.81%
2003 2.39% 2.8%
2002 2.45% 2.78%
2001 2.43% 2.75%
2000 2.37% 2.71%
1999 2.41% 2.67%
1998 2.49% 2.65%
1997 2.52% 2.64%
1996 2.56% 2.65%
1995 2.57% 2.67%
1994 2.58% 2.68%
1993 2.59% 2.69%
1992 2.68% 2.66%
1991 2.86% 2.68%
1990 2.99% 2.74%
1989 3.09% 2.73%
1988 3.19% 2.71%
1987 3.28% 2.7%
1986 3.33% 2.75%
1985 3.34% 2.87%
1984 3.31% 2.6%
1983 3.28% 2.63%
1982 3.24% 3.04%
1981 3.2% 3.12%
1980 2.82% 3.17%
1979 2.43% 3.13%
1978 2.43% 3.11%
1977 2.43% 3.03%
1976 2.42% 2.91%
1975 2.42% 2.81%
1974 2.43% 2.66%
1973 2.42% 2.53%
1972 2.43% 2.42%
1971 2.4% 2.36%
1970 2.32% 2.31%
1969 2.29% 2.24%
1968 2.29% 2.18%
1967 2.4% 2.16%
1966 2.52% 2.2%
1965 2.58% 2.19%
1964 2.63% 2.16%
1963 2.65% 2.15%
1962 2.64% 2.12%
1961 2.62% 2.08%

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/nigeria | CC BY

In 2024, the population of Malaysia grew by 1.23%, while Nigeria's population grew by 2.1%.

Live population counters

Malaysia Nigeria
Current population
36512221
243824469
Population rank 45/197 6/197
Percent of world population 0.44% 2.94%
One net population change
1.22 minutes
6.58 seconds
One birth every
1.21 minutes
4.2 seconds
One death every
2.9 minutes
11.8 seconds
Daily growth/decline +1,182 +13,141
Annual growth/decline +431,375 +4,796,533
Annual growth/decline rate +1.23% +2.1%
Population growth rate rank 89/197 48/197
One migration net change every
3.16 minutes
34.5 minutes
Annual migration change +166,615 -15,258
Net migration rank 7/196 145/196
Foreign-born residents 3,806,514 1,403,281
Foreign-born residents rank 18/195 49/195
Foreign-born share of population 10.7% 0.6%
Foreign-born share rank 62/195 173/195

Natural population change vs migration

Malaysia
Natural

Migration
Nigeria
Natural

Migration
1x
Year Population change
Malaysia Nigeria
Natural Migration Natural Migration
2025 - 166,615 - -15,258
2024 - 174,770 - -35,202
2023 254,806 181,071 4,834,309 -57,936
2022 237,560 188,154 4,739,502 -51,680
2021 212,002 188,506 4,641,562 -86,115
2020 283,282 101,907 4,525,164 -14,497
2019 309,426 203,284 4,609,941 -99,722
2018 324,568 221,965 4,659,898 -76,565
2017 336,434 227,677 4,706,183 78,685
2016 345,681 222,141 4,761,594 75,265
2015 358,302 187,663 4,823,045 -116,162
2014 367,587 159,791 4,862,319 -19,376
2013 366,738 149,637 4,811,751 40,201
2012 371,497 134,975 4,774,508 71,138
2011 372,836 122,269 4,728,363 67,808
2010 360,260 157,164 4,629,173 47,966
2009 366,157 178,410 4,528,149 -18,422
2008 362,380 202,481 4,412,976 -13,646
2007 348,711 229,784 4,265,428 -9,162
2006 349,509 232,971 4,135,703 -12,093
2005 355,324 225,864 4,013,788 -17,146
2004 365,138 212,278 3,877,376 46,370
2003 377,425 199,510 3,751,120 33,857
2002 381,084 196,227 3,606,814 69,594
2001 400,939 173,613 3,478,370 64,163
2000 417,371 125,499 3,343,196 74,535
1999 432,355 89,335 3,155,425 97,195
1998 436,316 99,639 3,003,946 145,575
1997 447,768 79,266 2,936,500 96,885
1996 450,174 73,040 2,882,205 84,448
1995 443,349 72,393 2,830,771 73,243
1994 437,873 66,685 2,735,198 128,134
1993 429,910 61,079 2,673,675 90,200
1992 418,900 66,286 2,596,173 138,412
1991 401,938 97,111 2,527,807 42,760
1990 384,518 135,020 2,491,928 135,959
1989 373,277 143,544 2,452,324 99,588
1988 386,507 133,478 2,376,419 93,510
1987 381,999 137,759 2,322,397 64,418
1986 385,799 127,081 2,295,003 29,682
1985 383,243 120,215 2,289,784 61,514
1984 376,797 106,248 2,278,060 113,758
1983 365,290 97,862 2,292,089 -507,539
1982 353,138 89,942 2,233,401 101,116
1981 339,991 84,142 2,179,884 106,723
1980 326,947 80,617 2,121,618 198,672
1979 317,439 -13,980 2,074,807 137,721
1978 311,027 -15,059 2,019,621 111,258
1977 305,515 -16,601 1,923,917 129,075
1976 300,615 -18,316 1,827,289 72,889
1975 294,541 -20,480 1,718,623 75,603
1974 289,880 -21,919 1,624,813 44,281
1973 284,611 -21,995 1,525,485 -618
1972 276,263 -21,305 1,448,928 -12,962
1971 272,323 -20,535 1,373,896 -35,639
1970 269,341 -31,839 1,295,507 7,953
1969 264,327 -39,420 1,213,484 6,912
1968 260,705 -40,996 1,168,254 9,615
1967 258,764 -42,108 1,082,884 18,683
1966 262,162 -33,993 1,095,582 12,513
1965 264,836 -36,456 1,061,840 32,988
1964 266,406 -38,785 1,028,272 26,411
1963 265,815 -40,952 995,116 27,115
1962 262,140 -43,033 966,452 27,906
1961 257,270 -44,916 932,111 25,515
1960 251,090 -46,948 901,301 12,131

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

GeoRank.org/population/malaysia/nigeria | 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 Nigeria 99.2% is from natural causes (a gain of 47,163,517 people) and 0.77% is from migration (a loss of 368,103 people).

As of 2024, 3,806,514 residents or 10.7% of the population were not native-born in Malaysia, compared to 1,403,281 people or 0.6% in Nigeria.

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
Nigeria
City Population
Lagos 15.1M
Kano 4.35M
Port Harcourt 3.32M
Ibadan 2.55M
Benin 1.78M
Abuja 1.69M
Onitsha 1.48M
Maiduguri 1.2M
Aba 1.16M
Enugu 1.03M

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/nigeria | 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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