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

Updated on by Georank

The latest officially reported population of Malaysia was 35,977,838 in 2025 vs 237,527,782 people in Nigeria in 2025. In 2026, based on the adjusted UN estimation, the current Malaysia's population is 36,600,906 people compared to 245,016,045 in Nigeria.

Population statistics:

  • Nigeria's population is 6.69 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 3.39% of the world: 0.44% for Malaysia vs 2.95% for Nigeria.
  • For the last 10 years, Malaysia has had an average growth rate of +1.45% per year vs +2.25% in Nigeria.
  • Since 2006, the population of Malaysia has increased from 26.4M people to 36.6M (38.5% growth), while Nigeria has grown from 149M to 245M (64.4% growth).

Malaysia vs Nigeria: population by year and forecast

Malaysia
Factual

Projection
Nigeria
Factual

Projection
1x
Year Population
Malaysia Nigeria
2100 44,342,183 481,640,156
2099 44,456,013 481,456,918
2098 44,568,480 481,181,892
2097 44,684,459 480,838,161
2096 44,803,334 480,422,467
2095 44,920,823 479,938,579
2094 45,035,868 479,395,022
2093 45,153,485 478,769,369
2092 45,267,003 478,059,864
2091 45,378,303 477,236,907
2090 45,489,767 476,329,495
2089 45,598,290 475,326,347
2088 45,706,098 474,231,442
2087 45,811,274 473,035,563
2086 45,914,874 471,732,001
2085 46,008,880 470,328,175
2084 46,099,604 468,806,172
2083 46,190,377 467,187,453
2082 46,272,999 465,472,417
2081 46,347,751 463,643,190
2080 46,423,514 461,705,493
2079 46,484,118 459,644,523
2078 46,537,169 457,477,264
2077 46,582,178 455,218,871
2076 46,607,029 452,849,991
2075 46,631,092 450,367,356
2074 46,646,324 447,789,885
2073 46,658,819 445,117,028
2072 46,658,396 442,340,440
2071 46,648,409 439,464,323
2070 46,633,600 436,505,329
2069 46,611,221 433,437,998
2068 46,588,049 430,286,232
2067 46,557,261 427,032,499
2066 46,518,384 423,702,640
2065 46,469,909 420,285,359
2064 46,405,405 416,778,394
2063 46,338,727 413,198,800
2062 46,260,178 409,551,159
2061 46,166,190 405,827,482
2060 46,064,001 402,041,765
2059 45,946,872 398,197,311
2058 45,825,593 394,284,767
2057 45,695,432 390,311,065
2056 45,554,612 386,267,580
2055 45,407,246 382,162,992
2054 45,241,331 378,000,511
2053 45,057,472 373,769,779
2052 44,862,361 369,472,476
2051 44,657,253 365,120,741
2050 44,434,221 360,706,317
2049 44,206,196 356,243,287
2048 43,963,591 351,724,743
2047 43,701,058 347,142,279
2046 43,427,087 342,505,549
2045 43,146,785 337,807,869
2044 42,855,667 333,050,132
2043 42,546,972 328,230,652
2042 42,229,093 323,363,366
2041 41,911,573 318,443,989
2040 41,587,509 313,468,061
2039 41,260,315 308,450,008
2038 40,918,517 303,399,842
2037 40,574,312 298,327,800
2036 40,223,758 293,227,654
2035 39,866,097 288,115,630
2034 39,505,672 282,995,818
2033 39,141,994 277,875,880
2032 38,762,420 272,747,599
2031 38,376,399 267,645,657
2030 37,985,824 262,562,767
2029 37,597,060 257,484,616
2028 37,198,261 252,445,821
2027 36,797,098 247,437,680
2026 36,393,693 242,458,365
2025 35,977,838 237,527,782
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 (2026–2100, retrieved 2026-07-08); World Bank | Health (1960–2025, retrieved 2026-07-08).

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 4,811,221 people (a 15.1% growth), while Nigeria's population increased by 49,572,345 people (a 25.4% 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 21.4% to 44,434,221 people with a rank change from 45th to 49th. The population of Nigeria will increase by 47.2% to 360,706,317 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 1.18% 2.08%
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 (2026–2100, retrieved 2026-07-08); World Bank | Health (1961–2025, retrieved 2026-07-08).

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

In 2025, the population of Malaysia grew by 1.18%, while Nigeria's population grew by 2.08%.

Live population counters

Malaysia Nigeria
Current population
36600906
245016045
Population rank 45/197 6/197
Percent of world population 0.44% 2.95%
One net population change
1.25 minutes
6.52 seconds
One birth every
1.2 minutes
4.17 seconds
One death every
2.8 minutes
11.6 seconds
Daily growth/decline +1,151 +13,283
Annual growth/decline +420,165 +4,848,304
Annual growth/decline rate +1.18% +2.08%
Population growth rate rank 89/197 45/197
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 252,068 174,770 4,851,833 -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 2026-07-08).

GeoRank.org/population/malaysia/nigeria | 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 Nigeria 99.2% is from natural causes (a gain of 47,153,031 people) and 0.81% is from migration (a loss of 383,929 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 2.56M
Benin 1.78M
Abuja 1.69M
Onitsha 1.48M
Aba 1.16M
Enugu 1.03M
Owerri 908K

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/nigeria | 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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