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

Updated on by Georank team

The latest officially reported population of Malaysia was 35,557,673 in 2024 vs 35,300,280 people in Saudi Arabia in 2024. In 2026, based on the adjusted UN estimation, the current Malaysia's population is 36,512,221 people compared to 36,734,925 in Saudi Arabia.

Population statistics:

  • Saudi Arabia's population is 1.01 times bigger than Malaysia's.
  • Malaysia is ranked the 45th most populous country in the world, while Saudi Arabia is the 44th.
  • The countries together account for 0.88% of the world: 0.44% for Malaysia vs 0.44% for Saudi Arabia.
  • For the last 10 years, Malaysia has had an average growth rate of +1.5% per year vs +2.3% in Saudi Arabia.
  • Since 2006, the population of Malaysia has increased from 26.4M people to 36.5M (38.2% growth), while Saudi Arabia has grown from 21.5M to 36.7M (71.2% growth).

Malaysia vs Saudi Arabia: population by year and forecast

Malaysia
Factual

Projection
Saudi Arabia
Factual

Projection
1x
Year Population
Malaysia Saudi Arabia
2100 44,353,615 74,230,118
2099 44,467,475 73,760,045
2098 44,579,971 73,287,526
2097 44,695,979 72,813,125
2096 44,814,885 72,336,039
2095 44,932,404 71,858,206
2094 45,047,479 71,379,928
2093 45,165,126 70,900,460
2092 45,278,674 70,420,464
2091 45,390,002 69,940,749
2090 45,501,495 69,462,214
2089 45,610,046 68,985,976
2088 45,717,882 68,510,277
2087 45,823,085 68,035,545
2086 45,926,712 67,562,521
2085 46,020,742 67,091,615
2084 46,111,490 66,621,667
2083 46,202,286 66,152,653
2082 46,284,929 65,684,321
2081 46,359,700 65,216,102
2080 46,435,482 64,749,128
2079 46,496,102 64,282,393
2078 46,549,167 63,815,918
2077 46,594,188 63,348,712
2076 46,619,045 62,880,120
2075 46,643,115 62,409,793
2074 46,658,350 61,937,628
2073 46,670,848 61,462,662
2072 46,670,426 60,984,202
2071 46,660,436 60,502,791
2070 46,645,623 60,018,216
2069 46,623,238 59,529,456
2068 46,600,060 59,036,086
2067 46,569,264 58,539,487
2066 46,530,377 58,039,687
2065 46,481,890 57,537,106
2064 46,417,369 57,032,172
2063 46,350,674 56,524,331
2062 46,272,105 56,014,549
2061 46,178,092 55,501,467
2060 46,075,877 54,986,901
2059 45,958,718 54,469,809
2058 45,837,407 53,950,469
2057 45,707,213 53,430,639
2056 45,566,357 52,909,061
2055 45,418,953 52,386,571
2054 45,252,995 51,862,312
2053 45,069,089 51,336,335
2052 44,873,927 50,809,100
2051 44,668,767 50,280,719
2050 44,445,677 49,751,739
2049 44,217,593 49,221,828
2048 43,974,925 48,690,143
2047 43,712,325 48,157,605
2046 43,438,283 47,623,246
2045 43,157,909 47,087,215
2044 42,866,716 46,550,306
2043 42,557,941 46,013,232
2042 42,239,980 45,475,200
2041 41,922,379 44,936,131
2040 41,598,231 44,396,093
2039 41,270,953 43,856,006
2038 40,929,067 43,314,707
2037 40,584,773 42,773,375
2036 40,234,128 42,231,639
2035 39,876,375 41,690,245
2034 39,515,857 41,150,029
2033 39,152,086 40,611,021
2032 38,772,414 40,073,144
2031 38,386,293 39,535,357
2030 37,995,617 38,998,581
2029 37,606,753 38,417,447
2028 37,207,852 37,810,902
2027 36,806,585 37,189,969
2026 36,403,076 36,566,201
2025 35,987,113 35,932,673
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 (2025–2100, retrieved 2026-03-10); World Bank | Health (1960–2024, retrieved 2026-04-06).

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 4,722,536 people (a 14.9% growth), while Saudi Arabia's population increased by 5,780,727 people (a 18.7% growth).

Malaysia was ranked 44th most populous country in 2006 and is 45th in 2026. Saudi Arabia was ranked 50th in 2006 and ranked 44th 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 Saudi Arabia will increase by 35.4% to 49,751,739 people and rank change from 44th to 43rd.

Malaysia is projected to reach its peak in 2073 at 46.7M people compared to the peak of 74.2M 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 1.21% 1.79%
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 (2025–2100, retrieved 2026-03-10); World Bank | Health (1961–2024, retrieved 2026-04-06).

GeoRank.org/population/malaysia/saudi-arabia | CC BY

In 2024, the population of Malaysia grew by 1.23%, while Saudi Arabia's population grew by 4.74%.

Live population counters

Malaysia Saudi Arabia
Current population
36512221
36734925
Population rank 45/197 44/197
Percent of world population 0.44% 0.44%
One net population change
1.22 minutes
19.7 seconds
One birth every
1.21 minutes
57 seconds
One death every
2.9 minutes
6.66 minutes
Daily growth/decline +1,182 +4,377
Annual growth/decline +431,375 +1,597,549
Annual growth/decline rate +1.23% +4.74%
Population growth rate rank 89/197 4/197
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 - 174,770 - 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 2026-04-06).

GeoRank.org/population/malaysia/saudi-arabia | 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 Saudi Arabia 93.9% is from natural causes (a gain of 4,829,562 people) and 6.05% is from migration (a gain of 311,209 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 (1960–2024, 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/saudi-arabia | 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. Wikidata (2026, retrieved 2026-02-08)
  5. Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) (2000–2019, retrieved 2026-02-20)

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