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

Updated on by Georank team

The latest officially reported population of Malaysia was 35,557,673 in 2024 vs 14,256,567 people in Rwanda in 2024. In 2026, based on the adjusted UN estimation, the current Malaysia's population is 36,512,221 people compared to 14,975,051 in Rwanda.

Population statistics:

  • Malaysia's population is 2.44 times bigger than Rwanda's.
  • Malaysia is ranked the 45th most populous country in the world, while Rwanda is the 77th.
  • The countries together account for 0.62% of the world: 0.44% for Malaysia vs 0.18% for Rwanda.
  • For the last 10 years, Malaysia has had an average growth rate of +1.5% per year vs +2.31% in Rwanda.
  • Since 2006, the population of Malaysia has increased from 26.4M people to 36.5M (38.2% growth), while Rwanda has grown from 9.3M to 15M (61% growth).

Malaysia vs Rwanda: population by year and forecast

Malaysia
Factual

Projection
Rwanda
Factual

Projection
1x
Year Population
Malaysia Rwanda
2100 44,353,615 33,092,520
2099 44,467,475 32,987,847
2098 44,579,971 32,907,335
2097 44,695,979 32,832,706
2096 44,814,885 32,747,490
2095 44,932,404 32,615,044
2094 45,047,479 32,529,590
2093 45,165,126 32,396,544
2092 45,278,674 32,274,083
2091 45,390,002 32,171,077
2090 45,501,495 32,068,626
2089 45,610,046 31,872,593
2088 45,717,882 31,726,882
2087 45,823,085 31,533,364
2086 45,926,712 31,379,315
2085 46,020,742 31,235,000
2084 46,111,490 31,092,940
2083 46,202,286 30,917,707
2082 46,284,929 30,733,578
2081 46,359,700 30,557,819
2080 46,435,482 30,367,298
2079 46,496,102 30,176,627
2078 46,549,167 29,997,866
2077 46,594,188 29,800,561
2076 46,619,045 29,627,021
2075 46,643,115 29,423,503
2074 46,658,350 29,225,643
2073 46,670,848 29,007,777
2072 46,670,426 28,780,763
2071 46,660,436 28,560,382
2070 46,645,623 28,316,533
2069 46,623,238 28,103,541
2068 46,600,060 27,854,906
2067 46,569,264 27,591,747
2066 46,530,377 27,355,659
2065 46,481,890 27,084,704
2064 46,417,369 26,821,315
2063 46,350,674 26,543,184
2062 46,272,105 26,296,132
2061 46,178,092 25,985,356
2060 46,075,877 25,712,904
2059 45,958,718 25,437,446
2058 45,837,407 25,106,242
2057 45,707,213 24,837,928
2056 45,566,357 24,566,784
2055 45,418,953 24,266,669
2054 45,252,995 23,976,914
2053 45,069,089 23,690,426
2052 44,873,927 23,406,346
2051 44,668,767 23,099,207
2050 44,445,677 22,800,250
2049 44,217,593 22,484,698
2048 43,974,925 22,157,938
2047 43,712,325 21,834,786
2046 43,438,283 21,540,566
2045 43,157,909 21,215,262
2044 42,866,716 20,902,695
2043 42,557,941 20,535,605
2042 42,239,980 20,201,608
2041 41,922,379 19,832,577
2040 41,598,231 19,463,015
2039 41,270,953 19,096,860
2038 40,929,067 18,761,626
2037 40,584,773 18,421,864
2036 40,234,128 18,116,691
2035 39,876,375 17,753,910
2034 39,515,857 17,421,234
2033 39,152,086 17,089,349
2032 38,772,414 16,811,505
2031 38,386,293 16,485,559
2030 37,995,617 16,167,916
2029 37,606,753 15,858,862
2028 37,207,852 15,544,959
2027 36,806,585 15,207,733
2026 36,403,076 14,888,776
2025 35,987,113 14,560,205
2024 35,557,673 14,256,567
2023 35,126,298 13,954,471
2022 34,695,493 13,651,030
2021 34,282,399 13,355,260
2020 33,889,558 13,065,837
2019 33,440,596 12,776,103
2018 32,910,967 12,487,996
2017 32,355,644 12,202,060
2016 31,789,685 11,919,183
2015 31,232,798 11,640,022
2014 30,696,137 11,364,757
2013 30,174,265 11,093,340
2012 29,662,831 10,829,901
2011 29,162,039 10,573,733
2010 28,655,776 10,317,553
2009 28,124,778 10,060,432
2008 27,570,059 9,804,269
2007 26,998,389 9,549,933
2006 26,417,909 9,299,246
2005 25,836,071 9,054,528
2004 25,256,772 8,816,844
2003 24,679,602 8,586,875
2002 24,102,477 8,400,180
2001 23,526,538 8,287,094
2000 22,967,816 8,213,931
1999 22,435,531 8,147,912
1998 21,906,713 8,081,681
1997 21,375,218 7,755,238
1996 20,850,087 6,708,764
1995 20,330,599 5,674,118
1994 19,820,446 6,792,352
1993 19,322,664 7,981,132
1992 18,834,572 7,683,266
1991 18,342,464 7,526,966
1990 17,833,171 7,375,307
1989 17,314,997 7,184,706
1988 16,796,605 6,968,071
1987 16,276,737 6,749,493
1986 15,760,419 6,531,881
1985 15,252,258 6,317,228
1984 14,759,009 6,107,627
1983 14,285,907 5,905,311
1982 13,832,798 5,711,549
1981 13,399,203 5,527,230
1980 12,983,363 5,353,259
1979 12,627,862 5,189,541
1978 12,328,157 5,035,171
1977 12,035,713 4,888,240
1976 11,750,097 4,745,954
1975 11,471,914 4,607,728
1974 11,200,906 4,474,228
1973 10,935,621 4,345,047
1972 10,676,835 4,220,335
1971 10,423,453 4,100,044
1970 10,178,802 3,980,669
1969 9,947,597 3,861,271
1968 9,725,281 3,744,010
1967 9,507,099 3,629,577
1966 9,284,688 3,521,626
1965 9,056,408 3,423,210
1964 8,828,406 3,334,834
1963 8,602,160 3,258,890
1962 8,380,172 3,186,025
1961 8,164,443 3,106,779
1960 7,956,197 3,022,294

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/rwanda | CC BY

From 2006 to 2016, the population of Malaysia increased by 5,371,776 people (a 20.3% growth), while Rwanda gained 2,619,937 people (a 28.2% growth).

For the next 10 years, from 2016 to 2026, Malaysia gained 4,722,536 people (a 14.9% growth), while Rwanda's population increased by 3,055,868 people (a 25.6% growth).

Malaysia was ranked 44th most populous country in 2006 and is 45th in 2026. Rwanda was ranked 86th in 2006 and ranked 77th 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 Rwanda will increase by 52.3% to 22,800,250 people and rank change from 77th to 72nd.

Malaysia is projected to reach its peak in 2073 at 46.7M people compared to the peak of 33.1M people in 2100 for Rwanda.

Population growth rate by year

Malaysia
Factual

Projection
Rwanda
Factual

Projection
1x
Year Growth rate
Malaysia Rwanda
2100 -0.26% 0.32%
2099 -0.25% 0.24%
2098 -0.26% 0.23%
2097 -0.27% 0.26%
2096 -0.26% 0.41%
2095 -0.26% 0.26%
2094 -0.26% 0.41%
2093 -0.25% 0.38%
2092 -0.25% 0.32%
2091 -0.25% 0.32%
2090 -0.24% 0.62%
2089 -0.24% 0.46%
2088 -0.23% 0.61%
2087 -0.23% 0.49%
2086 -0.2% 0.46%
2085 -0.2% 0.46%
2084 -0.2% 0.57%
2083 -0.18% 0.6%
2082 -0.16% 0.58%
2081 -0.16% 0.63%
2080 -0.13% 0.63%
2079 -0.11% 0.6%
2078 -0.1% 0.66%
2077 -0.05% 0.59%
2076 -0.05% 0.69%
2075 -0.03% 0.68%
2074 -0.03% 0.75%
2073 0.001% 0.79%
2072 0.02% 0.77%
2071 0.03% 0.86%
2070 0.05% 0.76%
2069 0.05% 0.89%
2068 0.07% 0.95%
2067 0.08% 0.86%
2066 0.1% 1%
2065 0.14% 0.98%
2064 0.14% 1.05%
2063 0.17% 0.94%
2062 0.2% 1.2%
2061 0.22% 1.06%
2060 0.25% 1.08%
2059 0.26% 1.32%
2058 0.28% 1.08%
2057 0.31% 1.1%
2056 0.32% 1.24%
2055 0.37% 1.21%
2054 0.41% 1.21%
2053 0.43% 1.21%
2052 0.46% 1.33%
2051 0.5% 1.31%
2050 0.52% 1.4%
2049 0.55% 1.47%
2048 0.6% 1.48%
2047 0.63% 1.37%
2046 0.65% 1.53%
2045 0.68% 1.5%
2044 0.73% 1.79%
2043 0.75% 1.65%
2042 0.76% 1.86%
2041 0.78% 1.9%
2040 0.79% 1.92%
2039 0.84% 1.79%
2038 0.85% 1.84%
2037 0.87% 1.68%
2036 0.9% 2.04%
2035 0.91% 1.91%
2034 0.93% 1.94%
2033 0.98% 1.65%
2032 1.01% 1.98%
2031 1.03% 1.96%
2030 1.03% 1.95%
2029 1.07% 2.02%
2028 1.09% 2.22%
2027 1.11% 2.14%
2026 1.16% 2.26%
2025 1.21% 2.13%
2024 1.23% 2.16%
2023 1.24% 2.22%
2022 1.2% 2.21%
2021 1.16% 2.22%
2020 1.34% 2.27%
2019 1.61% 2.31%
2018 1.72% 2.34%
2017 1.78% 2.37%
2016 1.78% 2.4%
2015 1.75% 2.42%
2014 1.73% 2.45%
2013 1.72% 2.43%
2012 1.72% 2.42%
2011 1.77% 2.48%
2010 1.89% 2.56%
2009 2.01% 2.61%
2008 2.12% 2.66%
2007 2.2% 2.7%
2006 2.25% 2.7%
2005 2.29% 2.7%
2004 2.34% 2.68%
2003 2.39% 2.22%
2002 2.45% 1.36%
2001 2.43% 0.89%
2000 2.37% 0.81%
1999 2.41% 0.82%
1998 2.49% 4.21%
1997 2.52% 15.6%
1996 2.56% 18.2%
1995 2.57% -16.5%
1994 2.58% -14.9%
1993 2.59% 3.88%
1992 2.68% 2.08%
1991 2.86% 2.06%
1990 2.99% 2.65%
1989 3.09% 3.11%
1988 3.19% 3.24%
1987 3.28% 3.33%
1986 3.33% 3.4%
1985 3.34% 3.43%
1984 3.31% 3.43%
1983 3.28% 3.39%
1982 3.24% 3.33%
1981 3.2% 3.25%
1980 2.82% 3.15%
1979 2.43% 3.07%
1978 2.43% 3.01%
1977 2.43% 3%
1976 2.42% 3%
1975 2.42% 2.98%
1974 2.43% 2.97%
1973 2.42% 2.96%
1972 2.43% 2.93%
1971 2.4% 3%
1970 2.32% 3.09%
1969 2.29% 3.13%
1968 2.29% 3.15%
1967 2.4% 3.07%
1966 2.52% 2.87%
1965 2.58% 2.65%
1964 2.63% 2.33%
1963 2.65% 2.29%
1962 2.64% 2.55%
1961 2.62% 2.8%

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/rwanda | CC BY

In 2024, the population of Malaysia grew by 1.23%, while Rwanda's population grew by 2.16%.

Live population counters

Malaysia Rwanda
Current population
36512221
14975051
Population rank 45/197 77/197
Percent of world population 0.44% 0.18%
One net population change
1.22 minutes
1.74 minutes
One birth every
1.21 minutes
1.33 minutes
One death every
2.9 minutes
6.35 minutes
Daily growth/decline +1,182 +828
Annual growth/decline +431,375 +302,096
Annual growth/decline rate +1.23% +2.16%
Population growth rate rank 89/197 45/197
One migration net change every
3.16 minutes
1.4 hours
Annual migration change +166,615 +6,282
Net migration rank 7/196 48/196
Foreign-born residents 3,806,514 513,316
Foreign-born residents rank 18/195 80/195
Foreign-born share of population 10.7% 3.6%
Foreign-born share rank 62/195 109/195

Natural population change vs migration

Malaysia
Natural

Migration
Rwanda
Natural

Migration
1x
Year Population change
Malaysia Rwanda
Natural Migration Natural Migration
2025 - 166,615 - 6,282
2024 - 174,770 - -15,582
2023 254,806 181,071 312,762 -9,001
2022 237,560 188,154 312,145 -9,001
2021 212,002 188,506 309,895 -21,492
2020 283,282 101,907 312,692 -22,251
2019 309,426 203,284 313,525 -24,492
2018 324,568 221,965 312,512 -25,323
2017 336,434 227,677 310,323 -25,634
2016 345,681 222,141 305,549 -24,474
2015 358,302 187,663 299,114 -21,862
2014 367,587 159,791 292,779 -19,505
2013 366,738 149,637 286,331 -16,779
2012 371,497 134,975 282,584 -25,260
2011 372,836 122,269 282,922 -27,915
2010 360,260 157,164 286,848 -29,501
2009 366,157 178,410 287,034 -30,128
2008 362,380 202,481 287,334 -31,913
2007 348,711 229,784 285,791 -32,537
2006 349,509 232,971 282,149 -34,008
2005 355,324 225,864 275,121 -33,830
2004 365,138 212,278 265,273 -31,214
2003 377,425 199,510 251,243 -25,355
2002 381,084 196,227 239,036 -91,518
2001 400,939 173,613 230,845 -152,197
2000 417,371 125,499 221,276 -153,588
1999 432,355 89,335 210,518 -146,162
1998 436,316 99,639 197,185 -129,089
1997 447,768 79,266 174,687 410,106
1996 450,174 73,040 140,455 1,367,700
1995 443,349 72,393 121,137 439,995
1994 437,873 66,685 -719,479 -2,078,111
1993 429,910 61,079 183,926 236,110
1992 418,900 66,286 188,025 -12,334
1991 401,938 97,111 196,431 -59,519
1990 384,518 135,020 207,895 -41,483
1989 373,277 143,544 217,632 -2,826
1988 386,507 133,478 223,759 -5,285
1987 381,999 137,759 225,744 -7,062
1986 385,799 127,081 225,526 -8,982
1985 383,243 120,215 223,794 -11,031
1984 376,797 106,248 219,337 -12,899
1983 365,290 97,862 212,750 -14,560
1982 353,138 89,942 205,147 -15,818
1981 339,991 84,142 195,769 -16,453
1980 326,947 80,617 184,988 -16,359
1979 317,439 -13,980 174,477 -15,669
1978 311,027 -15,059 163,779 -13,838
1977 305,515 -16,601 155,011 -11,084
1976 300,615 -18,316 147,665 -7,027
1975 294,541 -20,480 140,596 -4,791
1974 289,880 -21,919 135,743 -4,535
1973 284,611 -21,995 131,021 -3,862
1972 276,263 -21,305 126,403 -4,156
1971 272,323 -20,535 122,567 -4,230
1970 269,341 -31,839 119,273 1,149
1969 264,327 -39,420 115,394 2,983
1968 260,705 -40,996 111,422 4,728
1967 258,764 -42,108 108,053 4,655
1966 262,162 -33,993 105,128 -1,930
1965 264,836 -36,456 103,422 -9,774
1964 266,406 -38,785 102,562 -19,458
1963 265,815 -40,952 94,296 -25,524
1962 262,140 -43,033 102,548 -25,594
1961 257,270 -44,916 102,051 -20,508
1960 251,090 -46,948 100,627 -13,198

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

GeoRank.org/population/malaysia/rwanda | 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 Rwanda 93.8% is from natural causes (a gain of 3,081,296 people) and 6.18% is from migration (a loss of 203,035 people).

As of 2024, 3,806,514 residents or 10.7% of the population were not native-born in Malaysia, compared to 513,316 people or 3.6% in Rwanda.

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
Rwanda
City Population
Kigali 1.75M
Ruhengeri 153K
Gisenyi 53.6K
Byumba 36.4K
Cyangugu 27.4K
Nyanza 25.4K
Butare 19.9K
Kibuye 12.3K

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/rwanda | 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. Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) (2000–2019, retrieved 2026-02-20)
  5. Wikidata (2026, retrieved 2026-02-08)

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