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Population in Malaysia compared to Papua New Guinea: Trends, Charts, Rankings

Updated on by Georank

The latest officially reported population of Malaysia was 35,977,838 in 2025 vs 10,762,817 people in Papua New Guinea in 2025. In 2026, based on the adjusted UN estimation, the current Malaysia's population is 36,600,906 people compared to 11,045,681 in Papua New Guinea.

Population statistics:

  • Malaysia's population is 3.31 times bigger than Papua New Guinea's.
  • Malaysia is ranked the 45th most populous country in the world, while Papua New Guinea is the 89th.
  • The countries together account for 0.57% of the world: 0.44% for Malaysia vs 0.13% for Papua New Guinea.
  • For the last 10 years, Malaysia has had an average growth rate of +1.45% per year vs +2.14% in Papua New Guinea.
  • Since 2006, the population of Malaysia has increased from 26.4M people to 36.6M (38.5% growth), while Papua New Guinea has grown from 6.75M to 11M (63.7% growth).

Malaysia vs Papua New Guinea: population by year and forecast

Malaysia
Factual

Projection
Papua New Guinea
Factual

Projection
1x
Year Population
Malaysia Papua New Guinea
2100 44,342,183 18,798,240
2099 44,456,013 18,786,145
2098 44,568,480 18,772,372
2097 44,684,459 18,755,008
2096 44,803,334 18,733,822
2095 44,920,823 18,710,340
2094 45,035,868 18,683,383
2093 45,153,485 18,654,365
2092 45,267,003 18,621,911
2091 45,378,303 18,586,147
2090 45,489,767 18,545,656
2089 45,598,290 18,506,626
2088 45,706,098 18,464,999
2087 45,811,274 18,420,558
2086 45,914,874 18,372,233
2085 46,008,880 18,321,842
2084 46,099,604 18,270,605
2083 46,190,377 18,214,932
2082 46,272,999 18,159,412
2081 46,347,751 18,100,531
2080 46,423,514 18,035,268
2079 46,484,118 17,972,052
2078 46,537,169 17,904,957
2077 46,582,178 17,837,082
2076 46,607,029 17,768,107
2075 46,631,092 17,695,759
2074 46,646,324 17,621,390
2073 46,658,819 17,544,490
2072 46,658,396 17,463,028
2071 46,648,409 17,377,995
2070 46,633,600 17,291,519
2069 46,611,221 17,201,936
2068 46,588,049 17,108,606
2067 46,557,261 17,011,562
2066 46,518,384 16,911,929
2065 46,469,909 16,809,460
2064 46,405,405 16,705,205
2063 46,338,727 16,600,853
2062 46,260,178 16,493,872
2061 46,166,190 16,383,508
2060 46,064,001 16,267,162
2059 45,946,872 16,149,265
2058 45,825,593 16,029,360
2057 45,695,432 15,906,350
2056 45,554,612 15,781,247
2055 45,407,246 15,653,296
2054 45,241,331 15,519,925
2053 45,057,472 15,386,054
2052 44,862,361 15,247,553
2051 44,657,253 15,107,257
2050 44,434,221 14,965,427
2049 44,206,196 14,818,793
2048 43,963,591 14,670,417
2047 43,701,058 14,519,915
2046 43,427,087 14,367,141
2045 43,146,785 14,210,639
2044 42,855,667 14,053,122
2043 42,546,972 13,894,884
2042 42,229,093 13,735,841
2041 41,911,573 13,574,567
2040 41,587,509 13,410,615
2039 41,260,315 13,244,740
2038 40,918,517 13,076,640
2037 40,574,312 12,907,059
2036 40,223,758 12,735,582
2035 39,866,097 12,563,938
2034 39,505,672 12,389,907
2033 39,141,994 12,215,713
2032 38,762,420 12,039,848
2031 38,376,399 11,862,856
2030 37,985,824 11,683,177
2029 37,597,060 11,502,504
2028 37,198,261 11,320,226
2027 36,797,098 11,136,100
2026 36,393,693 10,950,183
2025 35,977,838 10,762,817
2024 35,557,673 10,576,502
2023 35,126,298 10,389,635
2022 34,695,493 10,203,169
2021 34,282,399 10,012,896
2020 33,889,558 9,815,746
2019 33,440,596 9,609,010
2018 32,910,967 9,394,513
2017 32,355,644 9,178,714
2016 31,789,685 8,961,718
2015 31,232,798 8,743,246
2014 30,696,137 8,523,441
2013 30,174,265 8,302,698
2012 29,662,831 8,081,390
2011 29,162,039 7,859,346
2010 28,655,776 7,633,523
2009 28,124,778 7,406,438
2008 27,570,059 7,183,002
2007 26,998,389 6,963,345
2006 26,417,909 6,747,720
2005 25,836,071 6,535,905
2004 25,256,772 6,328,041
2003 24,679,602 6,123,997
2002 24,102,477 5,924,003
2001 23,526,538 5,728,435
2000 22,967,816 5,537,064
1999 22,435,531 5,349,333
1998 21,906,713 5,166,390
1997 21,375,218 4,987,883
1996 20,850,087 4,813,361
1995 20,330,599 4,644,278
1994 19,820,446 4,480,208
1993 19,322,664 4,320,872
1992 18,834,572 4,166,699
1991 18,342,464 4,021,837
1990 17,833,171 3,896,481
1989 17,314,997 3,796,078
1988 16,796,605 3,711,880
1987 16,276,737 3,632,543
1986 15,760,419 3,554,793
1985 15,252,258 3,478,936
1984 14,759,009 3,405,198
1983 14,285,907 3,333,633
1982 13,832,798 3,264,291
1981 13,399,203 3,197,019
1980 12,983,363 3,131,512
1979 12,627,862 3,067,341
1978 12,328,157 3,003,714
1977 12,035,713 2,940,327
1976 11,750,097 2,877,327
1975 11,471,914 2,814,820
1974 11,200,906 2,752,671
1973 10,935,621 2,690,629
1972 10,676,835 2,628,432
1971 10,423,453 2,566,421
1970 10,178,802 2,505,628
1969 9,947,597 2,446,927
1968 9,725,281 2,390,803
1967 9,507,099 2,337,532
1966 9,284,688 2,285,774
1965 9,056,408 2,235,820
1964 8,828,406 2,188,325
1963 8,602,160 2,141,376
1962 8,380,172 2,093,919
1961 8,164,443 2,046,127
1960 7,956,197 1,995,110

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/papua-new-guinea | CC BY

From 2006 to 2016, the population of Malaysia increased by 5,371,776 people (a 20.3% growth), while Papua New Guinea gained 2,213,998 people (a 32.8% growth).

For the next 10 years, from 2016 to 2026, Malaysia gained 4,811,221 people (a 15.1% growth), while Papua New Guinea's population increased by 2,083,963 people (a 23.3% growth).

Malaysia was ranked 44th most populous country in 2006 and is 45th in 2026. Papua New Guinea was ranked 100th in 2006 and ranked 89th 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 Papua New Guinea will increase by 35.5% to 14,965,427 people and rank change from 89th to 84th.

Malaysia is projected to reach its peak in 2073 at 46.7M people compared to the peak of 18.8M people in 2100 for Papua New Guinea.

Population growth rate by year

Malaysia
Factual

Projection
Papua New Guinea
Factual

Projection
1x
Year Growth rate
Malaysia Papua New Guinea
2100 -0.26% 0.06%
2099 -0.25% 0.07%
2098 -0.26% 0.09%
2097 -0.27% 0.11%
2096 -0.26% 0.13%
2095 -0.26% 0.14%
2094 -0.26% 0.16%
2093 -0.25% 0.17%
2092 -0.25% 0.19%
2091 -0.25% 0.22%
2090 -0.24% 0.21%
2089 -0.24% 0.23%
2088 -0.23% 0.24%
2087 -0.23% 0.26%
2086 -0.2% 0.28%
2085 -0.2% 0.28%
2084 -0.2% 0.31%
2083 -0.18% 0.31%
2082 -0.16% 0.33%
2081 -0.16% 0.36%
2080 -0.13% 0.35%
2079 -0.11% 0.37%
2078 -0.1% 0.38%
2077 -0.05% 0.39%
2076 -0.05% 0.41%
2075 -0.03% 0.42%
2074 -0.03% 0.44%
2073 0.001% 0.47%
2072 0.02% 0.49%
2071 0.03% 0.5%
2070 0.05% 0.52%
2069 0.05% 0.55%
2068 0.07% 0.57%
2067 0.08% 0.59%
2066 0.1% 0.61%
2065 0.14% 0.62%
2064 0.14% 0.63%
2063 0.17% 0.65%
2062 0.2% 0.67%
2061 0.22% 0.72%
2060 0.25% 0.73%
2059 0.26% 0.75%
2058 0.28% 0.77%
2057 0.31% 0.79%
2056 0.32% 0.82%
2055 0.37% 0.86%
2054 0.41% 0.87%
2053 0.43% 0.91%
2052 0.46% 0.93%
2051 0.5% 0.95%
2050 0.52% 0.99%
2049 0.55% 1.01%
2048 0.6% 1.04%
2047 0.63% 1.06%
2046 0.65% 1.1%
2045 0.68% 1.12%
2044 0.73% 1.14%
2043 0.75% 1.16%
2042 0.76% 1.19%
2041 0.78% 1.22%
2040 0.79% 1.25%
2039 0.84% 1.29%
2038 0.85% 1.31%
2037 0.87% 1.35%
2036 0.9% 1.37%
2035 0.91% 1.4%
2034 0.93% 1.43%
2033 0.98% 1.46%
2032 1.01% 1.49%
2031 1.03% 1.54%
2030 1.03% 1.57%
2029 1.07% 1.61%
2028 1.09% 1.65%
2027 1.11% 1.7%
2026 1.16% 1.74%
2025 1.18% 1.76%
2024 1.23% 1.8%
2023 1.24% 1.83%
2022 1.2% 1.9%
2021 1.16% 2.01%
2020 1.34% 2.15%
2019 1.61% 2.28%
2018 1.72% 2.35%
2017 1.78% 2.42%
2016 1.78% 2.5%
2015 1.75% 2.58%
2014 1.73% 2.66%
2013 1.72% 2.74%
2012 1.72% 2.83%
2011 1.77% 2.96%
2010 1.89% 3.07%
2009 2.01% 3.11%
2008 2.12% 3.15%
2007 2.2% 3.2%
2006 2.25% 3.24%
2005 2.29% 3.28%
2004 2.34% 3.33%
2003 2.39% 3.38%
2002 2.45% 3.41%
2001 2.43% 3.46%
2000 2.37% 3.51%
1999 2.41% 3.54%
1998 2.49% 3.58%
1997 2.52% 3.63%
1996 2.56% 3.64%
1995 2.57% 3.66%
1994 2.58% 3.69%
1993 2.59% 3.7%
1992 2.68% 3.6%
1991 2.86% 3.22%
1990 2.99% 2.64%
1989 3.09% 2.27%
1988 3.19% 2.18%
1987 3.28% 2.19%
1986 3.33% 2.18%
1985 3.34% 2.17%
1984 3.31% 2.15%
1983 3.28% 2.12%
1982 3.24% 2.1%
1981 3.2% 2.09%
1980 2.82% 2.09%
1979 2.43% 2.12%
1978 2.43% 2.16%
1977 2.43% 2.19%
1976 2.42% 2.22%
1975 2.42% 2.26%
1974 2.43% 2.31%
1973 2.42% 2.37%
1972 2.43% 2.42%
1971 2.4% 2.43%
1970 2.32% 2.4%
1969 2.29% 2.35%
1968 2.29% 2.28%
1967 2.4% 2.26%
1966 2.52% 2.23%
1965 2.58% 2.17%
1964 2.63% 2.19%
1963 2.65% 2.27%
1962 2.64% 2.34%
1961 2.62% 2.56%

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/papua-new-guinea | CC BY

In 2025, the population of Malaysia grew by 1.18%, while Papua New Guinea's population grew by 1.76%.

Live population counters

Malaysia Papua New Guinea
Current population
36600906
11045681
Population rank 45/197 89/197
Percent of world population 0.44% 0.13%
One net population change
1.25 minutes
2.83 minutes
One birth every
1.2 minutes
2.05 minutes
One death every
2.8 minutes
7.58 minutes
Daily growth/decline +1,151 +510
Annual growth/decline +420,165 +186,315
Annual growth/decline rate +1.18% +1.76%
Population growth rate rank 89/197 59/197
One migration net change every
3.16 minutes
1.29 days
Annual migration change +166,615 -284
Net migration rank 7/196 87/196
Foreign-born residents 3,806,514 31,171
Foreign-born residents rank 18/195 163/195
Foreign-born share of population 10.7% 0.3%
Foreign-born share rank 62/195 183/195

Natural population change vs migration

Malaysia
Natural

Migration
Papua New Guinea
Natural

Migration
1x
Year Population change
Malaysia Papua New Guinea
Natural Migration Natural Migration
2025 - 166,615 - -284
2024 252,068 174,770 187,595 -707
2023 254,806 181,071 187,637 -787
2022 237,560 188,154 186,861 -787
2021 212,002 188,506 183,766 10,703
2020 283,282 101,907 189,130 10,703
2019 309,426 203,284 190,662 22,978
2018 324,568 221,965 190,662 24,684
2017 336,434 227,677 189,715 26,513
2016 345,681 222,141 189,281 28,473
2015 358,302 187,663 188,600 30,580
2014 367,587 159,791 187,592 32,840
2013 366,738 149,637 185,790 35,280
2012 371,497 134,975 183,658 37,893
2011 372,836 122,269 181,842 40,690
2010 360,260 157,164 178,998 50,106
2009 366,157 178,410 175,421 49,647
2008 362,380 202,481 172,823 48,985
2007 348,711 229,784 169,306 48,203
2006 349,509 232,971 166,540 47,191
2005 355,324 225,864 163,888 46,014
2004 365,138 212,278 161,023 44,811
2003 377,425 199,510 158,611 43,639
2002 381,084 196,227 155,091 42,657
2001 400,939 173,613 151,431 41,962
2000 417,371 125,499 147,496 41,855
1999 432,355 89,335 143,592 42,519
1998 436,316 99,639 136,677 43,091
1997 447,768 79,266 134,458 42,787
1996 450,174 73,040 129,802 41,994
1995 443,349 72,393 125,410 40,962
1994 437,873 66,685 122,113 39,669
1993 429,910 61,079 118,668 38,220
1992 418,900 66,286 114,818 36,622
1991 401,938 97,111 111,453 26,830
1990 384,518 135,020 110,033 2,398
1989 373,277 143,544 108,199 -19,824
1988 386,507 133,478 106,256 -26,232
1987 381,999 137,759 104,367 -25,720
1986 385,799 127,081 102,346 -25,495
1985 383,243 120,215 100,333 -25,470
1984 376,797 106,248 98,103 -25,487
1983 365,290 97,862 95,982 -25,465
1982 353,138 89,942 93,522 -25,355
1981 339,991 84,142 91,767 -25,383
1980 326,947 80,617 90,266 -25,638
1979 317,439 -13,980 89,330 -25,618
1978 311,027 -15,059 88,747 -25,208
1977 305,515 -16,601 87,954 -24,722
1976 300,615 -18,316 86,965 -24,198
1975 294,541 -20,480 85,809 -23,562
1974 289,880 -21,919 84,829 -22,771
1973 284,611 -21,995 83,821 -21,803
1972 276,263 -21,305 82,672 -20,303
1971 272,323 -20,535 80,599 -18,945
1970 269,341 -31,839 78,712 -18,773
1969 264,327 -39,420 76,454 -18,994
1968 260,705 -40,996 73,983 -19,188
1967 258,764 -42,108 71,519 -19,767
1966 262,162 -33,993 69,206 -17,454
1965 264,836 -36,456 66,693 -18,532
1964 266,406 -38,785 64,558 -17,730
1963 265,815 -40,952 62,260 -15,189
1962 262,140 -43,033 59,974 -12,141
1961 257,270 -44,916 58,151 -10,409
1960 251,090 -46,948 56,326 -2,034

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

GeoRank.org/population/malaysia/papua-new-guinea | 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 Papua New Guinea 92.5% is from natural causes (a gain of 1,883,909 people) and 7.48% is from migration (a gain of 152,353 people).

As of 2024, 3,806,514 residents or 10.7% of the population were not native-born in Malaysia, compared to 31,171 people or 0.3% in Papua New Guinea.

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
Papua New Guinea
City Population
Port Moresby 317K
Lae 101K

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/papua-new-guinea | 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. Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) (2000–2019, retrieved 2026-07-08)
  5. Wikidata (2026, retrieved 2026-07-08)

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