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Population in Malaysia compared to Saudi Arabia: Trends, Charts, Rankings

Updated on by Georank

The latest officially reported population of Malaysia was 35,977,838 in 2025 vs 36,973,555 people in Saudi Arabia in 2025. In 2026, based on the adjusted UN estimation, the current Malaysia's population is 36,600,906 people compared to 37,955,120 in Saudi Arabia.

Population statistics:

  • Saudi Arabia's population is 1.04 times bigger than Malaysia's.
  • Malaysia is ranked the 45th most populous country in the world, while Saudi Arabia is the 43rd.
  • The countries together account for 0.9% of the world: 0.44% for Malaysia vs 0.46% for Saudi Arabia.
  • For the last 10 years, Malaysia has had an average growth rate of +1.45% per year vs +2.5% in Saudi Arabia.
  • Since 2006, the population of Malaysia has increased from 26.4M people to 36.6M (38.5% growth), while Saudi Arabia has grown from 21.5M to 38M (76.9% growth).

Malaysia vs Saudi Arabia: population by year and forecast

Malaysia
Factual

Projection
Saudi Arabia
Factual

Projection
1x
Year Population
Malaysia Saudi Arabia
2100 44,342,183 76,380,382
2099 44,456,013 75,896,692
2098 44,568,480 75,410,485
2097 44,684,459 74,922,342
2096 44,803,334 74,431,436
2095 44,920,823 73,939,761
2094 45,035,868 73,447,628
2093 45,153,485 72,954,272
2092 45,267,003 72,460,372
2091 45,378,303 71,966,760
2090 45,489,767 71,474,363
2089 45,598,290 70,984,330
2088 45,706,098 70,494,851
2087 45,811,274 70,006,368
2086 45,914,874 69,519,641
2085 46,008,880 69,035,093
2084 46,099,604 68,551,533
2083 46,190,377 68,068,933
2082 46,272,999 67,587,034
2081 46,347,751 67,105,252
2080 46,423,514 66,624,751
2079 46,484,118 66,144,495
2078 46,537,169 65,664,508
2077 46,582,178 65,183,768
2076 46,607,029 64,701,603
2075 46,631,092 64,217,651
2074 46,646,324 63,731,809
2073 46,658,819 63,243,084
2072 46,658,396 62,750,764
2071 46,648,409 62,255,408
2070 46,633,600 61,756,796
2069 46,611,221 61,253,878
2068 46,588,049 60,746,216
2067 46,557,261 60,235,232
2066 46,518,384 59,720,954
2065 46,469,909 59,203,814
2064 46,405,405 58,684,254
2063 46,338,727 58,161,702
2062 46,260,178 57,637,152
2061 46,166,190 57,109,207
2060 46,064,001 56,579,736
2059 45,946,872 56,047,666
2058 45,825,593 55,513,281
2057 45,695,432 54,978,393
2056 45,554,612 54,441,706
2055 45,407,246 53,904,081
2054 45,241,331 53,364,635
2053 45,057,472 52,823,422
2052 44,862,361 52,280,914
2051 44,657,253 51,737,228
2050 44,434,221 51,192,924
2049 44,206,196 50,647,663
2048 43,963,591 50,100,576
2047 43,701,058 49,552,613
2046 43,427,087 49,002,774
2045 43,146,785 48,451,215
2044 42,855,667 47,898,754
2043 42,546,972 47,346,122
2042 42,229,093 46,792,504
2041 41,911,573 46,237,820
2040 41,587,509 45,682,139
2039 41,260,315 45,126,407
2038 40,918,517 44,569,427
2037 40,574,312 44,012,415
2036 40,223,758 43,454,985
2035 39,866,097 42,897,909
2034 39,505,672 42,342,044
2033 39,141,994 41,787,423
2032 38,762,420 41,233,964
2031 38,376,399 40,680,599
2030 37,985,824 40,128,273
2029 37,597,060 39,530,306
2028 37,198,261 38,906,191
2027 36,797,098 38,267,271
2026 36,393,693 37,625,434
2025 35,977,838 36,973,555
2024 35,557,673 35,300,280
2023 35,126,298 33,702,731
2022 34,695,493 32,175,224
2021 34,282,399 30,784,383
2020 33,889,558 31,552,510
2019 33,440,596 30,063,799
2018 32,910,967 30,196,281
2017 32,355,644 30,977,355
2016 31,789,685 30,954,198
2015 31,232,798 29,816,382
2014 30,696,137 28,309,273
2013 30,174,265 27,624,004
2012 29,662,831 26,168,861
2011 29,162,039 25,091,867
2010 28,655,776 23,978,487
2009 28,124,778 24,217,654
2008 27,570,059 23,287,877
2007 26,998,389 22,368,313
2006 26,417,909 21,459,144
2005 25,836,071 20,559,890
2004 25,256,772 19,669,480
2003 24,679,602 18,786,767
2002 24,102,477 17,910,910
2001 23,526,538 17,041,397
2000 22,967,816 16,177,722
1999 22,435,531 15,472,075
1998 21,906,713 14,922,185
1997 21,375,218 14,374,943
1996 20,850,087 13,831,009
1995 20,330,599 13,289,245
1994 19,820,446 12,750,040
1993 19,322,664 12,215,862
1992 18,834,572 11,686,676
1991 18,342,464 11,160,744
1990 17,833,171 10,640,691
1989 17,314,997 10,128,394
1988 16,796,605 9,629,165
1987 16,276,737 9,130,194
1986 15,760,419 8,628,639
1985 15,252,258 8,151,779
1984 14,759,009 7,697,307
1983 14,285,907 7,252,941
1982 13,832,798 6,824,486
1981 13,399,203 6,420,551
1980 12,983,363 6,047,997
1979 12,627,862 5,703,698
1978 12,328,157 5,381,902
1977 12,035,713 5,083,048
1976 11,750,097 4,807,933
1975 11,471,914 4,556,287
1974 11,200,906 4,323,632
1973 10,935,621 4,106,344
1972 10,676,835 3,905,722
1971 10,423,453 3,724,031
1970 10,178,802 3,562,470
1969 9,947,597 3,417,114
1968 9,725,281 3,282,711
1967 9,507,099 3,157,242
1966 9,284,688 3,039,887
1965 9,056,408 2,928,771
1964 8,828,406 2,821,968
1963 8,602,160 2,719,341
1962 8,380,172 2,620,910
1961 8,164,443 2,526,347
1960 7,956,197 2,435,403

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/saudi-arabia | CC BY

From 2006 to 2016, the population of Malaysia increased by 5,371,776 people (a 20.3% growth), while Saudi Arabia gained 9,495,054 people (a 44.2% growth).

For the next 10 years, from 2016 to 2026, Malaysia gained 4,811,221 people (a 15.1% growth), while Saudi Arabia's population increased by 7,000,922 people (a 22.6% growth).

Malaysia was ranked 44th most populous country in 2006 and is 45th in 2026. Saudi Arabia was ranked 50th in 2006 and ranked 43rd 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 Saudi Arabia will increase by 34.9% to 51,192,924 people and rank change from 43rd to 42nd.

Malaysia is projected to reach its peak in 2073 at 46.7M people compared to the peak of 76.4M people in 2100 for Saudi Arabia.

Population growth rate by year

Malaysia
Factual

Projection
Saudi Arabia
Factual

Projection
1x
Year Growth rate
Malaysia Saudi Arabia
2100 -0.26% 0.64%
2099 -0.25% 0.64%
2098 -0.26% 0.65%
2097 -0.27% 0.66%
2096 -0.26% 0.66%
2095 -0.26% 0.67%
2094 -0.26% 0.68%
2093 -0.25% 0.68%
2092 -0.25% 0.69%
2091 -0.25% 0.69%
2090 -0.24% 0.69%
2089 -0.24% 0.69%
2088 -0.23% 0.7%
2087 -0.23% 0.7%
2086 -0.2% 0.7%
2085 -0.2% 0.71%
2084 -0.2% 0.71%
2083 -0.18% 0.71%
2082 -0.16% 0.72%
2081 -0.16% 0.72%
2080 -0.13% 0.73%
2079 -0.11% 0.73%
2078 -0.1% 0.74%
2077 -0.05% 0.75%
2076 -0.05% 0.75%
2075 -0.03% 0.76%
2074 -0.03% 0.77%
2073 0.001% 0.78%
2072 0.02% 0.8%
2071 0.03% 0.81%
2070 0.05% 0.82%
2069 0.05% 0.84%
2068 0.07% 0.85%
2067 0.08% 0.86%
2066 0.1% 0.87%
2065 0.14% 0.89%
2064 0.14% 0.9%
2063 0.17% 0.91%
2062 0.2% 0.92%
2061 0.22% 0.94%
2060 0.25% 0.95%
2059 0.26% 0.96%
2058 0.28% 0.97%
2057 0.31% 0.99%
2056 0.32% 1%
2055 0.37% 1.01%
2054 0.41% 1.02%
2053 0.43% 1.04%
2052 0.46% 1.05%
2051 0.5% 1.06%
2050 0.52% 1.08%
2049 0.55% 1.09%
2048 0.6% 1.11%
2047 0.63% 1.12%
2046 0.65% 1.14%
2045 0.68% 1.15%
2044 0.73% 1.17%
2043 0.75% 1.18%
2042 0.76% 1.2%
2041 0.78% 1.22%
2040 0.79% 1.23%
2039 0.84% 1.25%
2038 0.85% 1.27%
2037 0.87% 1.28%
2036 0.9% 1.3%
2035 0.91% 1.31%
2034 0.93% 1.33%
2033 0.98% 1.34%
2032 1.01% 1.36%
2031 1.03% 1.38%
2030 1.03% 1.51%
2029 1.07% 1.6%
2028 1.09% 1.67%
2027 1.11% 1.71%
2026 1.16% 1.76%
2025 1.18% 4.74%
2024 1.23% 4.74%
2023 1.24% 4.75%
2022 1.2% 4.52%
2021 1.16% -2.43%
2020 1.34% 4.95%
2019 1.61% -0.44%
2018 1.72% -2.52%
2017 1.78% 0.07%
2016 1.78% 3.82%
2015 1.75% 5.32%
2014 1.73% 2.48%
2013 1.72% 5.56%
2012 1.72% 4.29%
2011 1.77% 4.64%
2010 1.89% -0.99%
2009 2.01% 3.99%
2008 2.12% 4.11%
2007 2.2% 4.24%
2006 2.25% 4.37%
2005 2.29% 4.53%
2004 2.34% 4.7%
2003 2.39% 4.89%
2002 2.45% 5.1%
2001 2.43% 5.34%
2000 2.37% 4.56%
1999 2.41% 3.69%
1998 2.49% 3.81%
1997 2.52% 3.93%
1996 2.56% 4.08%
1995 2.57% 4.23%
1994 2.58% 4.37%
1993 2.59% 4.53%
1992 2.68% 4.71%
1991 2.86% 4.89%
1990 2.99% 5.06%
1989 3.09% 5.18%
1988 3.19% 5.47%
1987 3.28% 5.81%
1986 3.33% 5.85%
1985 3.34% 5.9%
1984 3.31% 6.13%
1983 3.28% 6.28%
1982 3.24% 6.29%
1981 3.2% 6.16%
1980 2.82% 6.04%
1979 2.43% 5.98%
1978 2.43% 5.88%
1977 2.43% 5.72%
1976 2.42% 5.52%
1975 2.42% 5.38%
1974 2.43% 5.29%
1973 2.42% 5.14%
1972 2.43% 4.88%
1971 2.4% 4.54%
1970 2.32% 4.25%
1969 2.29% 4.09%
1968 2.29% 3.97%
1967 2.4% 3.86%
1966 2.52% 3.79%
1965 2.58% 3.78%
1964 2.63% 3.77%
1963 2.65% 3.76%
1962 2.64% 3.74%
1961 2.62% 3.73%

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/saudi-arabia | CC BY

In 2025, the population of Malaysia grew by 1.18%, while Saudi Arabia's population grew by 4.74%.

Live population counters

Malaysia Saudi Arabia
Current population
36600906
37955120
Population rank 45/197 43/197
Percent of world population 0.44% 0.46%
One net population change
1.25 minutes
18.9 seconds
One birth every
1.2 minutes
54.2 seconds
One death every
2.8 minutes
6.37 minutes
Daily growth/decline +1,151 +4,584
Annual growth/decline +420,165 +1,673,275
Annual growth/decline rate +1.18% +4.74%
Population growth rate rank 89/197 2/197
One migration net change every
3.16 minutes
4.4 minutes
Annual migration change +166,615 +119,738
Net migration rank 7/196 13/196
Foreign-born residents 3,806,514 13,683,841
Foreign-born residents rank 18/195 3/195
Foreign-born share of population 10.7% 40.3%
Foreign-born share rank 62/195 14/195

Natural population change vs migration

Malaysia
Natural

Migration
Saudi Arabia
Natural

Migration
1x
Year Population change
Malaysia Saudi Arabia
Natural Migration Natural Migration
2025 - 166,615 - 119,738
2024 252,068 174,770 499,782 122,170
2023 254,806 181,071 474,366 325,691
2022 237,560 188,154 406,920 977,072
2021 212,002 188,506 409,032 -106,287
2020 283,282 101,907 447,036 -74,725
2019 309,426 203,284 474,407 191,582
2018 324,568 221,965 528,767 -988,751
2017 336,434 227,677 546,751 -920,812
2016 345,681 222,141 537,829 -26,997
2015 358,302 187,663 511,023 465,292
2014 367,587 159,791 493,431 469,144
2013 366,738 149,637 475,299 485,794
2012 371,497 134,975 465,649 479,206
2011 372,836 122,269 443,675 491,253
2010 360,260 157,164 418,641 504,955
2009 366,157 178,410 438,557 496,229
2008 362,380 202,481 433,457 491,337
2007 348,711 229,784 425,199 489,136
2006 349,509 232,971 399,333 504,661
2005 355,324 225,864 375,938 518,565
2004 365,138 212,278 362,843 523,472
2003 377,425 199,510 364,520 514,606
2002 381,084 196,227 372,099 500,508
2001 400,939 173,613 382,153 484,252
2000 417,371 125,499 392,407 468,515
1999 432,355 89,335 390,112 160,263
1998 436,316 99,639 389,499 159,898
1997 447,768 79,266 385,033 160,066
1996 450,174 73,040 382,248 160,532
1995 443,349 72,393 380,231 160,512
1994 437,873 66,685 377,351 160,306
1993 429,910 61,079 372,621 158,074
1992 418,900 66,286 366,763 160,908
1991 401,938 97,111 361,329 162,857
1990 384,518 135,020 355,495 160,416
1989 373,277 143,544 349,399 159,273
1988 386,507 133,478 342,865 146,918
1987 381,999 137,759 333,088 175,075
1986 385,799 127,081 322,340 172,606
1985 383,243 120,215 310,558 148,208
1984 376,797 106,248 296,615 153,562
1983 365,290 97,862 280,616 157,930
1982 353,138 89,942 264,831 153,528
1981 339,991 84,142 249,156 140,355
1980 326,947 80,617 234,372 121,220
1979 317,439 -13,980 220,186 112,826
1978 311,027 -15,059 205,331 105,263
1977 305,515 -16,601 191,103 96,015
1976 300,615 -18,316 178,024 85,083
1975 294,541 -20,480 166,223 73,960
1974 289,880 -21,919 155,478 69,653
1973 284,611 -21,995 145,450 63,995
1972 276,263 -21,305 136,360 55,439
1971 272,323 -20,535 127,600 43,989
1970 269,341 -31,839 120,440 31,097
1969 264,327 -39,420 113,859 25,312
1968 260,705 -40,996 108,281 21,366
1967 258,764 -42,108 103,343 17,947
1966 262,162 -33,993 98,361 15,054
1965 264,836 -36,456 93,820 15,000
1964 266,406 -38,785 89,776 15,000
1963 265,815 -40,952 85,480 15,000
1962 262,140 -43,033 81,393 15,000
1961 257,270 -44,916 77,743 15,000
1960 251,090 -46,948 74,143 15,000

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

GeoRank.org/population/malaysia/saudi-arabia | 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 Saudi Arabia 99.3% is from natural causes (a gain of 4,835,913 people) and 0.73% is from migration (a loss of 35,765 people).

As of 2024, 3,806,514 residents or 10.7% of the population were not native-born in Malaysia, compared to 13,683,841 people or 40.3% in Saudi Arabia.

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
Saudi Arabia
City Population
Riyadh 7.01M
Jeddah 4.7M
Mecca 2.43M
Medina 1.41M
Dammam 903K
Tabuk 886K
Qatif 625K
Jubail 379K
Ha'il 311K
Yanbu 299K

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/saudi-arabia | 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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