Skip to content

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

Updated on by Georank

The latest officially reported population of Malaysia was 35,977,838 in 2025 vs 14,569,341 people in Rwanda in 2025. In 2026, based on the adjusted UN estimation, the current Malaysia's population is 36,600,906 people compared to 15,062,056 in Rwanda.

Population statistics:

  • Malaysia's population is 2.43 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 +1.45% per year vs +2.28% in Rwanda.
  • Since 2006, the population of Malaysia has increased from 26.4M people to 36.6M (38.5% growth), while Rwanda has grown from 9.3M to 15.1M (62% growth).

Malaysia vs Rwanda: population by year and forecast

Malaysia
Factual

Projection
Rwanda
Factual

Projection
1x
Year Population
Malaysia Rwanda
2100 44,342,183 33,113,283
2099 44,456,013 33,008,545
2098 44,568,480 32,927,982
2097 44,684,459 32,853,307
2096 44,803,334 32,768,037
2095 44,920,823 32,635,508
2094 45,035,868 32,550,001
2093 45,153,485 32,416,870
2092 45,267,003 32,294,333
2091 45,378,303 32,191,262
2090 45,489,767 32,088,747
2089 45,598,290 31,892,591
2088 45,706,098 31,746,789
2087 45,811,274 31,553,150
2086 45,914,874 31,399,004
2085 46,008,880 31,254,597
2084 46,099,604 31,112,448
2083 46,190,377 30,937,106
2082 46,272,999 30,752,861
2081 46,347,751 30,576,992
2080 46,423,514 30,386,351
2079 46,484,118 30,195,560
2078 46,537,169 30,016,688
2077 46,582,178 29,819,259
2076 46,607,029 29,645,610
2075 46,631,092 29,441,964
2074 46,646,324 29,243,980
2073 46,658,819 29,025,977
2072 46,658,396 28,798,822
2071 46,648,409 28,578,302
2070 46,633,600 28,334,300
2069 46,611,221 28,121,174
2068 46,588,049 27,872,383
2067 46,557,261 27,609,059
2066 46,518,384 27,372,823
2065 46,469,909 27,101,698
2064 46,405,405 26,838,144
2063 46,338,727 26,559,838
2062 46,260,178 26,312,631
2061 46,166,190 26,001,660
2060 46,064,001 25,729,037
2059 45,946,872 25,453,407
2058 45,825,593 25,121,995
2057 45,695,432 24,853,512
2056 45,554,612 24,582,198
2055 45,407,246 24,281,895
2054 45,241,331 23,991,958
2053 45,057,472 23,705,290
2052 44,862,361 23,421,032
2051 44,657,253 23,113,700
2050 44,434,221 22,814,556
2049 44,206,196 22,498,806
2048 43,963,591 22,171,841
2047 43,701,058 21,848,486
2046 43,427,087 21,554,082
2045 43,146,785 21,228,573
2044 42,855,667 20,915,810
2043 42,546,972 20,548,490
2042 42,229,093 20,214,283
2041 41,911,573 19,845,021
2040 41,587,509 19,475,227
2039 41,260,315 19,108,842
2038 40,918,517 18,773,398
2037 40,574,312 18,433,422
2036 40,223,758 18,128,058
2035 39,866,097 17,765,049
2034 39,505,672 17,432,165
2033 39,141,994 17,100,072
2032 38,762,420 16,822,053
2031 38,376,399 16,495,903
2030 37,985,824 16,178,061
2029 37,597,060 15,868,812
2028 37,198,261 15,554,713
2027 36,797,098 15,217,275
2026 36,393,693 14,898,118
2025 35,977,838 14,569,341
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 (2026–2100, retrieved 2026-07-08); World Bank | Health (1960–2025, retrieved 2026-07-08).

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 4,811,221 people (a 15.1% growth), while Rwanda's population increased by 3,142,873 people (a 26.4% 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 21.4% to 44,434,221 people with a rank change from 45th to 49th. The population of Rwanda will increase by 51.5% to 22,814,556 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 1.18% 2.19%
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 (2026–2100, retrieved 2026-07-08); World Bank | Health (1961–2025, retrieved 2026-07-08).

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

In 2025, the population of Malaysia grew by 1.18%, while Rwanda's population grew by 2.19%.

Live population counters

Malaysia Rwanda
Current population
36600906
15062056
Population rank 45/197 77/197
Percent of world population 0.44% 0.18%
One net population change
1.25 minutes
1.69 minutes
One birth every
1.2 minutes
1.31 minutes
One death every
2.8 minutes
6.25 minutes
Daily growth/decline +1,151 +857
Annual growth/decline +420,165 +312,774
Annual growth/decline rate +1.18% +2.19%
Population growth rate rank 89/197 40/197
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 252,068 174,770 316,025 -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 2026-07-08).

GeoRank.org/population/malaysia/rwanda | 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 Rwanda 94% is from natural causes (a gain of 3,104,542 people) and 6.03% is from migration (a loss of 199,112 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 (1960–2025, 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/rwanda | 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 2026-07-08)
  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)

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.