Skip to content

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

Updated on by Georank team

The latest officially reported population of Malaysia was 35,557,673 in 2024 vs 19,051,804 people in Romania in 2024. In 2026, based on the adjusted UN estimation, the current Malaysia's population is 36,512,221 people compared to 18,839,108 in Romania.

Population statistics:

  • Malaysia's population is 1.94 times bigger than Romania's.
  • Malaysia is ranked the 45th most populous country in the world, while Romania is the 70th.
  • The countries together account for 0.67% of the world: 0.44% for Malaysia vs 0.23% for Romania.
  • For the last 10 years, Malaysia has had an average growth rate of +1.5% per year vs -0.43% in Romania.
  • Since 2006, the population of Malaysia has increased from 26.4M people to 36.5M (38.2% growth), while Romania has declined from 21.2M to 18.8M (11.1% decline).

Malaysia vs Romania: population by year and forecast

Malaysia
Factual

Projection
Romania
Factual

Projection
1x
Year Population
Malaysia Romania
2100 44,353,615 10,801,385
2099 44,467,475 10,885,505
2098 44,579,971 10,969,050
2097 44,695,979 11,052,086
2096 44,814,885 11,134,776
2095 44,932,404 11,217,462
2094 45,047,479 11,299,298
2093 45,165,126 11,382,352
2092 45,278,674 11,464,817
2091 45,390,002 11,546,872
2090 45,501,495 11,630,335
2089 45,610,046 11,713,468
2088 45,717,882 11,796,733
2087 45,823,085 11,880,373
2086 45,926,712 11,966,550
2085 46,020,742 12,052,744
2084 46,111,490 12,140,454
2083 46,202,286 12,229,714
2082 46,284,929 12,319,480
2081 46,359,700 12,412,385
2080 46,435,482 12,507,333
2079 46,496,102 12,603,302
2078 46,549,167 12,700,870
2077 46,594,188 12,799,985
2076 46,619,045 12,900,610
2075 46,643,115 13,002,848
2074 46,658,350 13,107,513
2073 46,670,848 13,213,407
2072 46,670,426 13,323,211
2071 46,660,436 13,435,661
2070 46,645,623 13,550,449
2069 46,623,238 13,667,892
2068 46,600,060 13,786,771
2067 46,569,264 13,909,141
2066 46,530,377 14,034,214
2065 46,481,890 14,163,381
2064 46,417,369 14,293,294
2063 46,350,674 14,424,068
2062 46,272,105 14,557,025
2061 46,178,092 14,689,897
2060 46,075,877 14,821,441
2059 45,958,718 14,952,855
2058 45,837,407 15,082,857
2057 45,707,213 15,211,914
2056 45,566,357 15,340,213
2055 45,418,953 15,467,019
2054 45,252,995 15,590,545
2053 45,069,089 15,712,155
2052 44,873,927 15,834,374
2051 44,668,767 15,954,507
2050 44,445,677 16,073,070
2049 44,217,593 16,192,498
2048 43,974,925 16,311,535
2047 43,712,325 16,430,565
2046 43,438,283 16,547,661
2045 43,157,909 16,665,026
2044 42,866,716 16,783,383
2043 42,557,941 16,900,955
2042 42,239,980 17,018,000
2041 41,922,379 17,136,818
2040 41,598,231 17,253,674
2039 41,270,953 17,370,310
2038 40,929,067 17,488,193
2037 40,584,773 17,604,853
2036 40,234,128 17,721,511
2035 39,876,375 17,837,396
2034 39,515,857 17,950,976
2033 39,152,086 18,064,449
2032 38,772,414 18,176,399
2031 38,386,293 18,288,437
2030 37,995,617 18,399,699
2029 37,606,753 18,511,331
2028 37,207,852 18,621,197
2027 36,806,585 18,730,482
2026 36,403,076 18,839,108
2025 35,987,113 18,946,392
2024 35,557,673 19,051,804
2023 35,126,298 19,061,062
2022 34,695,493 19,048,502
2021 34,282,399 19,122,059
2020 33,889,558 19,265,250
2019 33,440,596 19,371,648
2018 32,910,967 19,473,970
2017 32,355,644 19,588,715
2016 31,789,685 19,702,267
2015 31,232,798 19,815,616
2014 30,696,137 19,908,979
2013 30,174,265 19,983,693
2012 29,662,831 20,058,035
2011 29,162,039 20,147,528
2010 28,655,776 20,246,871
2009 28,124,778 20,367,487
2008 27,570,059 20,537,875
2007 26,998,389 20,882,982
2006 26,417,909 21,193,760
2005 25,836,071 21,319,685
2004 25,256,772 21,451,748
2003 24,679,602 21,574,326
2002 24,102,477 21,730,496
2001 23,526,538 22,131,970
2000 22,967,816 22,442,971
1999 22,435,531 22,472,040
1998 21,906,713 22,507,344
1997 21,375,218 22,553,978
1996 20,850,087 22,619,004
1995 20,330,599 22,684,270
1994 19,820,446 22,730,211
1993 19,322,664 22,763,280
1992 18,834,572 22,794,284
1991 18,342,464 23,001,155
1990 17,833,171 23,201,835
1989 17,314,997 23,161,458
1988 16,796,605 23,057,662
1987 16,276,737 22,949,430
1986 15,760,419 22,836,841
1985 15,252,258 22,732,999
1984 14,759,009 22,640,547
1983 14,285,907 22,560,478
1982 13,832,798 22,475,741
1981 13,399,203 22,353,070
1980 12,983,363 22,207,282
1979 12,627,862 22,090,488
1978 12,328,157 21,951,464
1977 12,035,713 21,756,096
1976 11,750,097 21,551,634
1975 11,471,914 21,293,583
1974 11,200,906 21,029,429
1973 10,935,621 20,835,681
1972 10,676,835 20,657,957
1971 10,423,453 20,461,567
1970 10,178,802 20,250,398
1969 9,947,597 20,009,141
1968 9,725,281 19,799,831
1967 9,507,099 19,534,242
1966 9,284,688 19,215,450
1965 9,056,408 19,031,576
1964 8,828,406 18,919,126
1963 8,602,160 18,797,850
1962 8,380,172 18,676,550
1961 8,164,443 18,555,250
1960 7,956,197 18,406,905

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/romania | CC BY

From 2006 to 2016, the population of Malaysia increased by 5,371,776 people (a 20.3% growth), while Romania lost 1,491,493 people (a 7.04% decline).

For the next 10 years, from 2016 to 2026, Malaysia gained 4,722,536 people (a 14.9% growth), while Romania's population decreased by 863,159 people (a 4.38% decline).

Malaysia was ranked 44th most populous country in 2006 and is 45th in 2026. Romania was ranked 51st in 2006 and ranked 70th 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 Romania will decrease by 14.7% to 16,073,070 people and rank change from 70th to 81st.

Malaysia is projected to reach its peak in 2073 at 46.7M people, while Romania's population already peaked in 1990 at 23.2M people and is projected to decrease to 10.8M people by 2100.

Population growth rate by year

Malaysia
Factual

Projection
Romania
Factual

Projection
1x
Year Growth rate
Malaysia Romania
2100 -0.26% -0.77%
2099 -0.25% -0.76%
2098 -0.26% -0.75%
2097 -0.27% -0.74%
2096 -0.26% -0.74%
2095 -0.26% -0.72%
2094 -0.26% -0.73%
2093 -0.25% -0.72%
2092 -0.25% -0.71%
2091 -0.25% -0.72%
2090 -0.24% -0.71%
2089 -0.24% -0.71%
2088 -0.23% -0.7%
2087 -0.23% -0.72%
2086 -0.2% -0.72%
2085 -0.2% -0.72%
2084 -0.2% -0.73%
2083 -0.18% -0.73%
2082 -0.16% -0.75%
2081 -0.16% -0.76%
2080 -0.13% -0.76%
2079 -0.11% -0.77%
2078 -0.1% -0.77%
2077 -0.05% -0.78%
2076 -0.05% -0.79%
2075 -0.03% -0.8%
2074 -0.03% -0.8%
2073 0.001% -0.82%
2072 0.02% -0.84%
2071 0.03% -0.85%
2070 0.05% -0.86%
2069 0.05% -0.86%
2068 0.07% -0.88%
2067 0.08% -0.89%
2066 0.1% -0.91%
2065 0.14% -0.91%
2064 0.14% -0.91%
2063 0.17% -0.91%
2062 0.2% -0.9%
2061 0.22% -0.89%
2060 0.25% -0.88%
2059 0.26% -0.86%
2058 0.28% -0.85%
2057 0.31% -0.84%
2056 0.32% -0.82%
2055 0.37% -0.79%
2054 0.41% -0.77%
2053 0.43% -0.77%
2052 0.46% -0.75%
2051 0.5% -0.74%
2050 0.52% -0.74%
2049 0.55% -0.73%
2048 0.6% -0.72%
2047 0.63% -0.71%
2046 0.65% -0.7%
2045 0.68% -0.71%
2044 0.73% -0.7%
2043 0.75% -0.69%
2042 0.76% -0.69%
2041 0.78% -0.68%
2040 0.79% -0.67%
2039 0.84% -0.67%
2038 0.85% -0.66%
2037 0.87% -0.66%
2036 0.9% -0.65%
2035 0.91% -0.63%
2034 0.93% -0.63%
2033 0.98% -0.62%
2032 1.01% -0.61%
2031 1.03% -0.6%
2030 1.03% -0.6%
2029 1.07% -0.59%
2028 1.09% -0.58%
2027 1.11% -0.58%
2026 1.16% -0.57%
2025 1.21% -0.55%
2024 1.23% -0.05%
2023 1.24% 0.07%
2022 1.2% -0.38%
2021 1.16% -0.74%
2020 1.34% -0.55%
2019 1.61% -0.53%
2018 1.72% -0.59%
2017 1.78% -0.58%
2016 1.78% -0.57%
2015 1.75% -0.47%
2014 1.73% -0.37%
2013 1.72% -0.37%
2012 1.72% -0.44%
2011 1.77% -0.49%
2010 1.89% -0.59%
2009 2.01% -0.83%
2008 2.12% -1.65%
2007 2.2% -1.47%
2006 2.25% -0.59%
2005 2.29% -0.62%
2004 2.34% -0.57%
2003 2.39% -0.72%
2002 2.45% -1.81%
2001 2.43% -1.39%
2000 2.37% -0.13%
1999 2.41% -0.16%
1998 2.49% -0.21%
1997 2.52% -0.29%
1996 2.56% -0.29%
1995 2.57% -0.2%
1994 2.58% -0.15%
1993 2.59% -0.14%
1992 2.68% -0.9%
1991 2.86% -0.86%
1990 2.99% 0.17%
1989 3.09% 0.45%
1988 3.19% 0.47%
1987 3.28% 0.49%
1986 3.33% 0.46%
1985 3.34% 0.41%
1984 3.31% 0.35%
1983 3.28% 0.38%
1982 3.24% 0.55%
1981 3.2% 0.66%
1980 2.82% 0.53%
1979 2.43% 0.63%
1978 2.43% 0.9%
1977 2.43% 0.95%
1976 2.42% 1.21%
1975 2.42% 1.26%
1974 2.43% 0.93%
1973 2.42% 0.86%
1972 2.43% 0.96%
1971 2.4% 1.04%
1970 2.32% 1.21%
1969 2.29% 1.06%
1968 2.29% 1.36%
1967 2.4% 1.66%
1966 2.52% 0.97%
1965 2.58% 0.59%
1964 2.63% 0.65%
1963 2.65% 0.65%
1962 2.64% 0.65%
1961 2.62% 0.81%

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/romania | CC BY

In 2024, the population of Malaysia grew by 1.23%, while Romania's population declined by 0.05%.

Live population counters

Malaysia Romania
Current population
36512221
18839108
Population rank 45/197 70/197
Percent of world population 0.44% 0.23%
One net population change
1.22 minutes
56.8 minutes
One birth every
1.21 minutes
3.45 minutes
One death every
2.9 minutes
2.17 minutes
Daily growth/decline +1,182 -25
Annual growth/decline +431,375 -9,258
Annual growth/decline rate +1.23% -0.05%
Population growth rate rank 89/197 169/197
One migration net change every
3.16 minutes
18.1 minutes
Annual migration change +166,615 -29,041
Net migration rank 7/196 163/196
Foreign-born residents 3,806,514 655,579
Foreign-born residents rank 18/195 73/195
Foreign-born share of population 10.7% 3.4%
Foreign-born share rank 62/195 112/195

Natural population change vs migration

Malaysia
Natural

Migration
Romania
Natural

Migration
1x
Year Population change
Malaysia Romania
Natural Migration Natural Migration
2025 - 166,615 - -29,041
2024 - 174,770 - -28,466
2023 254,806 181,071 -89,587 -27,780
2022 237,560 188,154 -93,338 89,076
2021 212,002 188,506 -141,504 -17,731
2020 283,282 101,907 -100,179 -13,202
2019 309,426 203,284 -60,053 -27,909
2018 324,568 221,965 -62,316 -33,018
2017 336,434 227,677 -50,930 -33,081
2016 345,681 222,141 -53,196 -33,073
2015 358,302 187,663 -59,447 -35,751
2014 367,587 159,791 -55,745 -35,448
2013 366,738 149,637 -59,951 -34,910
2012 371,497 134,975 -54,157 -37,589
2011 372,836 122,269 -56,413 -102,769
2010 360,260 157,164 -46,567 -122,364
2009 366,157 178,410 -34,625 -137,953
2008 362,380 202,481 -30,806 -144,368
2007 348,711 229,784 -37,590 -133,089
2006 349,509 232,971 -38,148 -132,777
2005 355,324 225,864 -40,508 -131,176
2004 365,138 212,278 -42,904 -117,432
2003 377,425 199,510 -56,093 -107,139
2002 381,084 196,227 -58,673 -106,585
2001 400,939 173,613 -37,625 -91,154
2000 417,371 125,499 -22,443 -92,451
1999 432,355 89,335 -31,461 -82,590
1998 436,316 99,639 -33,761 -81,366
1997 447,768 79,266 -42,853 -88,734
1996 450,174 73,040 -56,548 -70,799
1995 443,349 72,393 -36,295 -73,779
1994 437,873 66,685 -18,184 -76,246
1993 429,910 61,079 -13,658 -73,475
1992 418,900 66,286 -4,559 -63,200
1991 401,938 97,111 25,301 -36,824
1990 384,518 135,020 69,605 -38,157
1989 373,277 143,544 122,756 -33,866
1988 386,507 133,478 126,817 -48,911
1987 381,999 137,759 128,517 -42,868
1986 385,799 127,081 134,737 -50,450
1985 383,243 120,215 111,392 -28,108
1984 376,797 106,248 117,731 -24,629
1983 365,290 97,862 87,986 3,093
1982 353,138 89,942 119,121 -4,725
1981 339,991 84,142 156,472 -20,870
1980 326,947 80,617 168,776 -16,668
1979 317,439 -13,980 194,397 -29,600
1978 311,027 -15,059 204,148 -31,427
1977 305,515 -16,601 215,385 -28,135
1976 300,615 -18,316 213,361 18,748
1975 294,541 -20,480 219,324 9,125
1974 289,880 -21,919 235,530 6,725
1973 284,611 -21,995 175,020 58,651
1972 276,263 -21,305 198,316 61,920
1971 272,323 -20,535 206,662 74,473
1970 269,341 -31,839 234,905 71,919
1969 264,327 -39,420 264,120 74,851
1968 260,705 -40,996 338,577 33,601
1967 258,764 -42,108 347,709 37,282
1966 262,162 -33,993 115,293 -25,458
1965 264,836 -36,456 114,190 -60,430
1964 266,406 -38,785 134,326 -59,500
1963 265,815 -40,952 139,104 -58,076
1962 262,140 -43,033 130,736 -56,152
1961 257,270 -44,916 163,286 -54,642
1960 251,090 -46,948 191,431 -55,397

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

GeoRank.org/population/malaysia/romania | 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 Romania 82% is from natural causes (a loss of 766,295 people) and 18% is from migration (a loss of 167,917 people).

As of 2024, 3,806,514 residents or 10.7% of the population were not native-born in Malaysia, compared to 655,579 people or 3.4% in Romania.

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
Romania
City Population
Bucharest 1.72M
Cluj-Napoca 287K
Iasi 272K
Constanta 264K
Timisoara 251K
Brasov 238K
Craiova 234K
Galati 218K
Oradea 183K
Ploiesti 181K

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/romania | CC BY

Help us show the world through your eyes

Share a photo of your city and help others discover what it looks like to live there. Your contribution makes our data come alive.

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)

Creative Commons Attribution (CC BY) — you’re free to copy, share, remix, adapt, and use even commercially as long as you give appropriate credit and clearly indicate if you made changes. Other sources may be subject to different license terms.