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Population in Malaysia compared to North Korea: Trends, Charts, Rankings

Updated on by Georank

The latest officially reported population of Malaysia was 35,977,838 in 2025 vs 26,571,036 people in North Korea in 2025. In 2026, based on the adjusted UN estimation, the current Malaysia's population is 36,600,906 people compared to 26,668,308 in North Korea.

Population statistics:

  • Malaysia's population is 1.37 times bigger than North Korea's.
  • Malaysia is ranked the 45th most populous country in the world, while North Korea is the 57th.
  • The countries together account for 0.76% of the world: 0.44% for Malaysia vs 0.32% for North Korea.
  • For the last 10 years, Malaysia has had an average growth rate of +1.45% per year vs +0.39% in North Korea.
  • Since 2006, the population of Malaysia has increased from 26.4M people to 36.6M (38.5% growth), while North Korea has grown from 24.5M to 26.7M (8.74% growth).

Malaysia vs North Korea: population by year and forecast

Malaysia
Factual

Projection
North Korea
Factual

Projection
1x
Year Population
Malaysia North Korea
2100 44,342,183 19,601,003
2099 44,456,013 19,729,897
2098 44,568,480 19,859,274
2097 44,684,459 19,989,589
2096 44,803,334 20,120,795
2095 44,920,823 20,252,653
2094 45,035,868 20,384,384
2093 45,153,485 20,516,457
2092 45,267,003 20,649,140
2091 45,378,303 20,781,939
2090 45,489,767 20,914,434
2089 45,598,290 21,046,685
2088 45,706,098 21,178,406
2087 45,811,274 21,310,103
2086 45,914,874 21,441,361
2085 46,008,880 21,571,843
2084 46,099,604 21,701,761
2083 46,190,377 21,830,989
2082 46,272,999 21,960,135
2081 46,347,751 22,088,774
2080 46,423,514 22,216,836
2079 46,484,118 22,344,442
2078 46,537,169 22,471,597
2077 46,582,178 22,598,635
2076 46,607,029 22,725,293
2075 46,631,092 22,852,140
2074 46,646,324 22,979,532
2073 46,658,819 23,107,165
2072 46,658,396 23,234,961
2071 46,648,409 23,363,260
2070 46,633,600 23,491,789
2069 46,611,221 23,621,167
2068 46,588,049 23,750,741
2067 46,557,261 23,880,460
2066 46,518,384 24,010,584
2065 46,469,909 24,140,518
2064 46,405,405 24,269,765
2063 46,338,727 24,397,924
2062 46,260,178 24,525,403
2061 46,166,190 24,651,788
2060 46,064,001 24,776,326
2059 45,946,872 24,898,430
2058 45,825,593 25,018,630
2057 45,695,432 25,135,871
2056 45,554,612 25,250,670
2055 45,407,246 25,361,704
2054 45,241,331 25,469,578
2053 45,057,472 25,574,137
2052 44,862,361 25,675,211
2051 44,657,253 25,772,870
2050 44,434,221 25,866,886
2049 44,206,196 25,957,363
2048 43,963,591 26,043,774
2047 43,701,058 26,126,594
2046 43,427,087 26,205,638
2045 43,146,785 26,281,344
2044 42,855,667 26,353,455
2043 42,546,972 26,422,173
2042 42,229,093 26,486,580
2041 41,911,573 26,547,651
2040 41,587,509 26,604,634
2039 41,260,315 26,656,882
2038 40,918,517 26,703,458
2037 40,574,312 26,744,185
2036 40,223,758 26,778,348
2035 39,866,097 26,805,065
2034 39,505,672 26,823,948
2033 39,141,994 26,834,263
2032 38,762,420 26,835,978
2031 38,376,399 26,827,992
2030 37,985,824 26,809,850
2029 37,597,060 26,782,161
2028 37,198,261 26,744,278
2027 36,797,098 26,696,504
2026 36,393,693 26,638,530
2025 35,977,838 26,571,036
2024 35,557,673 26,498,823
2023 35,126,298 26,418,204
2022 34,695,493 26,328,845
2021 34,282,399 26,232,534
2020 33,889,558 26,136,312
2019 33,440,596 26,037,632
2018 32,910,967 25,931,147
2017 32,355,644 25,817,709
2016 31,789,685 25,698,326
2015 31,232,798 25,575,350
2014 30,696,137 25,451,262
2013 30,174,265 25,329,451
2012 29,662,831 25,211,728
2011 29,162,039 25,097,874
2010 28,655,776 24,987,258
2009 28,124,778 24,878,332
2008 27,570,059 24,764,618
2007 26,998,389 24,646,383
2006 26,417,909 24,524,507
2005 25,836,071 24,396,433
2004 25,256,772 24,254,943
2003 24,679,602 24,090,380
2002 24,102,477 23,943,973
2001 23,526,538 23,815,358
2000 22,967,816 23,665,910
1999 22,435,531 23,497,599
1998 21,906,713 23,311,564
1997 21,375,218 23,110,830
1996 20,850,087 22,895,746
1995 20,330,599 22,669,304
1994 19,820,446 22,393,975
1993 19,322,664 22,073,352
1992 18,834,572 21,750,911
1991 18,342,464 21,428,638
1990 17,833,171 21,112,137
1989 17,314,997 20,804,367
1988 16,796,605 20,503,161
1987 16,276,737 20,205,483
1986 15,760,419 19,910,855
1985 15,252,258 19,620,388
1984 14,759,009 19,335,043
1983 14,285,907 19,054,034
1982 13,832,798 18,776,357
1981 13,399,203 18,501,295
1980 12,983,363 18,236,786
1979 12,627,862 17,983,470
1978 12,328,157 17,735,995
1977 12,035,713 17,492,798
1976 11,750,097 17,243,450
1975 11,471,914 16,971,055
1974 11,200,906 16,673,121
1973 10,935,621 16,350,367
1972 10,676,835 15,975,069
1971 10,423,453 15,572,457
1970 10,178,802 15,172,775
1969 9,947,597 14,767,615
1968 9,725,281 14,365,596
1967 9,507,099 13,958,350
1966 9,284,688 13,569,094
1965 9,056,408 13,219,369
1964 8,828,406 12,889,770
1963 8,602,160 12,567,057
1962 8,380,172 12,262,882
1961 8,164,443 11,990,713
1960 7,956,197 11,722,953

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/north-korea | CC BY

From 2006 to 2016, the population of Malaysia increased by 5,371,776 people (a 20.3% growth), while North Korea gained 1,173,819 people (a 4.79% growth).

For the next 10 years, from 2016 to 2026, Malaysia gained 4,811,221 people (a 15.1% growth), while North Korea's population increased by 969,982 people (a 3.77% growth).

Malaysia was ranked 44th most populous country in 2006 and is 45th in 2026. North Korea was ranked 46th in 2006 and ranked 57th 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 North Korea will decrease by 3.01% to 25,866,886 people and rank change from 57th to 66th.

Malaysia is projected to reach its peak in 2073 at 46.7M people compared to the peak of 26.8M people in 2032 for North Korea.

Population growth rate by year

Malaysia
Factual

Projection
North Korea
Factual

Projection
1x
Year Growth rate
Malaysia North Korea
2100 -0.26% -0.65%
2099 -0.25% -0.65%
2098 -0.26% -0.65%
2097 -0.27% -0.65%
2096 -0.26% -0.65%
2095 -0.26% -0.65%
2094 -0.26% -0.64%
2093 -0.25% -0.64%
2092 -0.25% -0.64%
2091 -0.25% -0.63%
2090 -0.24% -0.63%
2089 -0.24% -0.62%
2088 -0.23% -0.62%
2087 -0.23% -0.61%
2086 -0.2% -0.6%
2085 -0.2% -0.6%
2084 -0.2% -0.59%
2083 -0.18% -0.59%
2082 -0.16% -0.58%
2081 -0.16% -0.58%
2080 -0.13% -0.57%
2079 -0.11% -0.57%
2078 -0.1% -0.56%
2077 -0.05% -0.56%
2076 -0.05% -0.56%
2075 -0.03% -0.55%
2074 -0.03% -0.55%
2073 0.001% -0.55%
2072 0.02% -0.55%
2071 0.03% -0.55%
2070 0.05% -0.55%
2069 0.05% -0.55%
2068 0.07% -0.54%
2067 0.08% -0.54%
2066 0.1% -0.54%
2065 0.14% -0.53%
2064 0.14% -0.53%
2063 0.17% -0.52%
2062 0.2% -0.51%
2061 0.22% -0.5%
2060 0.25% -0.49%
2059 0.26% -0.48%
2058 0.28% -0.47%
2057 0.31% -0.45%
2056 0.32% -0.44%
2055 0.37% -0.42%
2054 0.41% -0.41%
2053 0.43% -0.39%
2052 0.46% -0.38%
2051 0.5% -0.36%
2050 0.52% -0.35%
2049 0.55% -0.33%
2048 0.6% -0.32%
2047 0.63% -0.3%
2046 0.65% -0.29%
2045 0.68% -0.27%
2044 0.73% -0.26%
2043 0.75% -0.24%
2042 0.76% -0.23%
2041 0.78% -0.21%
2040 0.79% -0.2%
2039 0.84% -0.17%
2038 0.85% -0.15%
2037 0.87% -0.13%
2036 0.9% -0.1%
2035 0.91% -0.07%
2034 0.93% -0.04%
2033 0.98% -0.006%
2032 1.01% 0.03%
2031 1.03% 0.07%
2030 1.03% 0.1%
2029 1.07% 0.14%
2028 1.09% 0.18%
2027 1.11% 0.22%
2026 1.16% 0.25%
2025 1.18% 0.27%
2024 1.23% 0.31%
2023 1.24% 0.34%
2022 1.2% 0.37%
2021 1.16% 0.37%
2020 1.34% 0.38%
2019 1.61% 0.41%
2018 1.72% 0.44%
2017 1.78% 0.46%
2016 1.78% 0.48%
2015 1.75% 0.49%
2014 1.73% 0.48%
2013 1.72% 0.47%
2012 1.72% 0.45%
2011 1.77% 0.44%
2010 1.89% 0.44%
2009 2.01% 0.46%
2008 2.12% 0.48%
2007 2.2% 0.5%
2006 2.25% 0.52%
2005 2.29% 0.58%
2004 2.34% 0.68%
2003 2.39% 0.61%
2002 2.45% 0.54%
2001 2.43% 0.63%
2000 2.37% 0.72%
1999 2.41% 0.8%
1998 2.49% 0.87%
1997 2.52% 0.94%
1996 2.56% 1%
1995 2.57% 1.23%
1994 2.58% 1.45%
1993 2.59% 1.48%
1992 2.68% 1.5%
1991 2.86% 1.5%
1990 2.99% 1.48%
1989 3.09% 1.47%
1988 3.19% 1.47%
1987 3.28% 1.48%
1986 3.33% 1.48%
1985 3.34% 1.48%
1984 3.31% 1.47%
1983 3.28% 1.48%
1982 3.24% 1.49%
1981 3.2% 1.45%
1980 2.82% 1.41%
1979 2.43% 1.4%
1978 2.43% 1.39%
1977 2.43% 1.45%
1976 2.42% 1.61%
1975 2.42% 1.79%
1974 2.43% 1.97%
1973 2.42% 2.35%
1972 2.43% 2.59%
1971 2.4% 2.63%
1970 2.32% 2.74%
1969 2.29% 2.8%
1968 2.29% 2.92%
1967 2.4% 2.87%
1966 2.52% 2.65%
1965 2.58% 2.56%
1964 2.63% 2.57%
1963 2.65% 2.48%
1962 2.64% 2.27%
1961 2.62% 2.28%

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/north-korea | CC BY

In 2025, the population of Malaysia grew by 1.18%, while North Korea's population grew by 0.27%.

Live population counters

Malaysia North Korea
Current population
36600906
26668308
Population rank 45/197 57/197
Percent of world population 0.44% 0.32%
One net population change
1.25 minutes
7.3 minutes
One birth every
1.2 minutes
1.54 minutes
One death every
2.8 minutes
2.01 minutes
Daily growth/decline +1,151 +198
Annual growth/decline +420,165 +72,213
Annual growth/decline rate +1.18% +0.27%
Population growth rate rank 89/197 146/197
One migration net change every
3.16 minutes
3.15 hours
Annual migration change +166,615 -2,787
Net migration rank 7/196 104/196
Foreign-born residents 3,806,514 50,439
Foreign-born residents rank 18/195 150/195
Foreign-born share of population 10.7% 0.2%
Foreign-born share rank 62/195 189/195

Natural population change vs migration

Malaysia
Natural

Migration
North Korea
Natural

Migration
1x
Year Population change
Malaysia North Korea
Natural Migration Natural Migration
2025 - 166,615 - -2,787
2024 252,068 174,770 79,496 -2,473
2023 254,806 181,071 86,203 -1,997
2022 237,560 188,154 96,495 -1,997
2021 212,002 188,506 99,710 -1,585
2020 283,282 101,907 95,920 -1,585
2019 309,426 203,284 106,208 -3,142
2018 324,568 221,965 113,164 -3,225
2017 336,434 227,677 120,181 -3,224
2016 345,681 222,141 125,048 -3,222
2015 358,302 187,663 127,365 -3,208
2014 367,587 159,791 127,078 -3,042
2013 366,738 149,637 122,519 -2,933
2012 371,497 134,975 118,773 -2,919
2011 372,836 122,269 114,798 -2,957
2010 360,260 157,164 112,443 -3,053
2009 366,157 178,410 111,530 -3,058
2008 362,380 202,481 122,015 -3,051
2007 348,711 229,784 120,521 -3,021
2006 349,509 232,971 129,171 -2,948
2005 355,324 225,864 132,765 -2,861
2004 365,138 212,278 155,838 -2,758
2003 377,425 199,510 178,775 -2,717
2002 381,084 196,227 119,504 -2,763
2001 400,939 173,613 143,321 -2,884
2000 417,371 125,499 161,591 -3,142
1999 432,355 89,335 181,613 -3,443
1998 436,316 99,639 197,589 -3,706
1997 447,768 79,266 211,325 -3,745
1996 450,174 73,040 226,095 -3,512
1995 443,349 72,393 233,381 -3,094
1994 437,873 66,685 320,861 -517
1993 429,910 61,079 320,880 0
1992 418,900 66,286 324,002 0
1991 401,938 97,111 320,551 0
1990 384,518 135,020 312,460 0
1989 373,277 143,544 303,078 0
1988 386,507 133,478 299,305 0
1987 381,999 137,759 296,030 0
1986 385,799 127,081 293,227 0
1985 383,243 120,215 287,714 0
1984 376,797 106,248 282,987 0
1983 365,290 97,862 279,046 0
1982 353,138 89,942 276,332 0
1981 339,991 84,142 273,800 0
1980 326,947 80,617 255,206 0
1979 317,439 -13,980 251,409 0
1978 311,027 -15,059 243,533 0
1977 305,515 -16,601 242,870 0
1976 300,615 -18,316 255,841 0
1975 294,541 -20,480 288,966 0
1974 289,880 -21,919 306,902 0
1973 284,611 -21,995 338,600 0
1972 276,263 -21,305 411,997 0
1971 272,323 -20,535 393,220 0
1970 269,341 -31,839 406,129 0
1969 264,327 -39,420 404,189 0
1968 260,705 -40,996 399,837 0
1967 258,764 -42,108 414,632 0
1966 262,162 -33,993 363,882 0
1965 264,836 -36,456 335,587 0
1964 266,406 -38,785 323,623 0
1963 265,815 -40,952 321,805 0
1962 262,140 -43,033 286,534 0
1961 257,270 -44,916 257,788 0
1960 251,090 -46,948 277,717 0

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

GeoRank.org/population/malaysia/north-korea | 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 North Korea 97.6% is from natural causes (a gain of 1,049,790 people) and 2.39% is from migration (a loss of 25,658 people).

As of 2024, 3,806,514 residents or 10.7% of the population were not native-born in Malaysia, compared to 50,439 people or 0.2% in North Korea.

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
North Korea
City Population
Pyongyang 2.86M
Hamhung 769K
Chongjin 668K
Sunchon 437K
Nampo 367K
Wonsan 363K
Sinuiju 359K
Tanchon 346K
Kaechon 320K
Kaesong 308K

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/north-korea | 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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