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Population in Malaysia compared to Sierra Leone: Trends, Charts, Rankings

Updated on by Georank team

The latest officially reported population of Malaysia was 35,557,673 in 2024 vs 8,642,022 people in Sierra Leone in 2024. In 2026, based on the adjusted UN estimation, the current Malaysia's population is 36,512,221 people compared to 9,049,533 in Sierra Leone.

Population statistics:

  • Malaysia's population is 4.03 times bigger than Sierra Leone's.
  • Malaysia is ranked the 45th most populous country in the world, while Sierra Leone is the 101st.
  • The countries together account for 0.55% of the world: 0.44% for Malaysia vs 0.11% for Sierra Leone.
  • For the last 10 years, Malaysia has had an average growth rate of +1.5% per year vs +2.32% in Sierra Leone.
  • Since 2006, the population of Malaysia has increased from 26.4M people to 36.5M (38.2% growth), while Sierra Leone has grown from 5.62M to 9.05M (60.9% growth).

Malaysia vs Sierra Leone: population by year and forecast

Malaysia
Factual

Projection
Sierra Leone
Factual

Projection
1x
Year Population
Malaysia Sierra Leone
2100 44,353,615 16,111,324
2099 44,467,475 16,126,181
2098 44,579,971 16,139,280
2097 44,695,979 16,154,153
2096 44,814,885 16,164,923
2095 44,932,404 16,173,557
2094 45,047,479 16,173,155
2093 45,165,126 16,177,864
2092 45,278,674 16,175,032
2091 45,390,002 16,168,153
2090 45,501,495 16,158,415
2089 45,610,046 16,146,773
2088 45,717,882 16,133,018
2087 45,823,085 16,116,823
2086 45,926,712 16,089,780
2085 46,020,742 16,068,438
2084 46,111,490 16,044,782
2083 46,202,286 16,011,134
2082 46,284,929 15,975,073
2081 46,359,700 15,935,071
2080 46,435,482 15,896,846
2079 46,496,102 15,854,898
2078 46,549,167 15,805,607
2077 46,594,188 15,754,551
2076 46,619,045 15,699,439
2075 46,643,115 15,639,458
2074 46,658,350 15,584,377
2073 46,670,848 15,516,736
2072 46,670,426 15,446,543
2071 46,660,436 15,374,790
2070 46,645,623 15,297,449
2069 46,623,238 15,216,666
2068 46,600,060 15,128,048
2067 46,569,264 15,032,144
2066 46,530,377 14,935,222
2065 46,481,890 14,837,697
2064 46,417,369 14,740,749
2063 46,350,674 14,642,031
2062 46,272,105 14,529,557
2061 46,178,092 14,423,861
2060 46,075,877 14,311,215
2059 45,958,718 14,198,706
2058 45,837,407 14,080,827
2057 45,707,213 13,960,869
2056 45,566,357 13,836,132
2055 45,418,953 13,706,113
2054 45,252,995 13,579,802
2053 45,069,089 13,444,465
2052 44,873,927 13,303,409
2051 44,668,767 13,156,370
2050 44,445,677 13,010,109
2049 44,217,593 12,867,021
2048 43,974,925 12,716,015
2047 43,712,325 12,570,250
2046 43,438,283 12,414,307
2045 43,157,909 12,257,874
2044 42,866,716 12,092,075
2043 42,557,941 11,931,531
2042 42,239,980 11,770,467
2041 41,922,379 11,602,993
2040 41,598,231 11,431,337
2039 41,270,953 11,262,807
2038 40,929,067 11,100,099
2037 40,584,773 10,931,629
2036 40,234,128 10,760,758
2035 39,876,375 10,585,702
2034 39,515,857 10,413,826
2033 39,152,086 10,241,196
2032 38,772,414 10,062,575
2031 38,386,293 9,883,708
2030 37,995,617 9,708,038
2029 37,606,753 9,532,000
2028 37,207,852 9,360,873
2027 36,806,585 9,179,702
2026 36,403,076 9,001,269
2025 35,987,113 8,822,114
2024 35,557,673 8,642,022
2023 35,126,298 8,460,512
2022 34,695,493 8,276,807
2021 34,282,399 8,094,602
2020 33,889,558 7,912,558
2019 33,440,596 7,731,991
2018 32,910,967 7,554,563
2017 32,355,644 7,379,299
2016 31,789,685 7,205,328
2015 31,232,798 7,037,655
2014 30,696,137 6,876,385
2013 30,174,265 6,714,051
2012 29,662,831 6,551,080
2011 29,162,039 6,387,251
2010 28,655,776 6,222,714
2009 28,124,778 6,055,646
2008 27,570,059 5,894,722
2007 26,998,389 5,749,352
2006 26,417,909 5,624,466
2005 25,836,071 5,501,712
2004 25,256,772 5,355,717
2003 24,679,602 5,177,687
2002 24,102,477 4,971,435
2001 23,526,538 4,692,716
2000 22,967,816 4,423,611
1999 22,435,531 4,318,043
1998 21,906,713 4,295,785
1997 21,375,218 4,253,716
1996 20,850,087 4,199,210
1995 20,330,599 4,179,179
1994 19,820,446 4,173,105
1993 19,322,664 4,157,130
1992 18,834,572 4,166,366
1991 18,342,464 4,246,267
1990 17,833,171 4,196,828
1989 17,314,997 4,034,037
1988 16,796,605 3,934,517
1987 16,276,737 3,829,718
1986 15,760,419 3,728,380
1985 15,252,258 3,638,438
1984 14,759,009 3,558,758
1983 14,285,907 3,481,646
1982 13,832,798 3,408,183
1981 13,399,203 3,338,940
1980 12,983,363 3,272,089
1979 12,627,862 3,207,499
1978 12,328,157 3,145,517
1977 12,035,713 3,085,354
1976 11,750,097 3,028,820
1975 11,471,914 2,974,657
1974 11,200,906 2,920,459
1973 10,935,621 2,866,955
1972 10,676,835 2,814,388
1971 10,423,453 2,763,222
1970 10,178,802 2,712,286
1969 9,947,597 2,661,365
1968 9,725,281 2,611,532
1967 9,507,099 2,562,384
1966 9,284,688 2,514,638
1965 9,056,408 2,468,666
1964 8,828,406 2,424,390
1963 8,602,160 2,382,258
1962 8,380,172 2,342,242
1961 8,164,443 2,304,227
1960 7,956,197 2,268,356

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/sierra-leone | CC BY

From 2006 to 2016, the population of Malaysia increased by 5,371,776 people (a 20.3% growth), while Sierra Leone gained 1,580,862 people (a 28.1% growth).

For the next 10 years, from 2016 to 2026, Malaysia gained 4,722,536 people (a 14.9% growth), while Sierra Leone's population increased by 1,844,205 people (a 25.6% growth).

Malaysia was ranked 44th most populous country in 2006 and is 45th in 2026. Sierra Leone was ranked 106th in 2006 and ranked 101st 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 Sierra Leone will increase by 43.8% to 13,010,109 people and rank change from 101st to 91st.

Malaysia is projected to reach its peak in 2073 at 46.7M people compared to the peak of 16.2M people in 2093 for Sierra Leone.

Population growth rate by year

Malaysia
Factual

Projection
Sierra Leone
Factual

Projection
1x
Year Growth rate
Malaysia Sierra Leone
2100 -0.26% -0.09%
2099 -0.25% -0.08%
2098 -0.26% -0.09%
2097 -0.27% -0.07%
2096 -0.26% -0.05%
2095 -0.26% 0.002%
2094 -0.26% -0.03%
2093 -0.25% 0.02%
2092 -0.25% 0.04%
2091 -0.25% 0.06%
2090 -0.24% 0.07%
2089 -0.24% 0.09%
2088 -0.23% 0.1%
2087 -0.23% 0.17%
2086 -0.2% 0.13%
2085 -0.2% 0.15%
2084 -0.2% 0.21%
2083 -0.18% 0.23%
2082 -0.16% 0.25%
2081 -0.16% 0.24%
2080 -0.13% 0.26%
2079 -0.11% 0.31%
2078 -0.1% 0.32%
2077 -0.05% 0.35%
2076 -0.05% 0.38%
2075 -0.03% 0.35%
2074 -0.03% 0.44%
2073 0.001% 0.45%
2072 0.02% 0.47%
2071 0.03% 0.51%
2070 0.05% 0.53%
2069 0.05% 0.59%
2068 0.07% 0.64%
2067 0.08% 0.65%
2066 0.1% 0.66%
2065 0.14% 0.66%
2064 0.14% 0.67%
2063 0.17% 0.77%
2062 0.2% 0.73%
2061 0.22% 0.79%
2060 0.25% 0.79%
2059 0.26% 0.84%
2058 0.28% 0.86%
2057 0.31% 0.9%
2056 0.32% 0.95%
2055 0.37% 0.93%
2054 0.41% 1.01%
2053 0.43% 1.06%
2052 0.46% 1.12%
2051 0.5% 1.12%
2050 0.52% 1.11%
2049 0.55% 1.19%
2048 0.6% 1.16%
2047 0.63% 1.26%
2046 0.65% 1.28%
2045 0.68% 1.37%
2044 0.73% 1.35%
2043 0.75% 1.37%
2042 0.76% 1.44%
2041 0.78% 1.5%
2040 0.79% 1.5%
2039 0.84% 1.47%
2038 0.85% 1.54%
2037 0.87% 1.59%
2036 0.9% 1.65%
2035 0.91% 1.65%
2034 0.93% 1.69%
2033 0.98% 1.78%
2032 1.01% 1.81%
2031 1.03% 1.81%
2030 1.03% 1.85%
2029 1.07% 1.83%
2028 1.09% 1.97%
2027 1.11% 1.98%
2026 1.16% 2.03%
2025 1.21% 2.08%
2024 1.23% 2.15%
2023 1.24% 2.22%
2022 1.2% 2.25%
2021 1.16% 2.3%
2020 1.34% 2.34%
2019 1.61% 2.35%
2018 1.72% 2.38%
2017 1.78% 2.41%
2016 1.78% 2.38%
2015 1.75% 2.35%
2014 1.73% 2.42%
2013 1.72% 2.49%
2012 1.72% 2.56%
2011 1.77% 2.64%
2010 1.89% 2.76%
2009 2.01% 2.73%
2008 2.12% 2.53%
2007 2.2% 2.22%
2006 2.25% 2.23%
2005 2.29% 2.73%
2004 2.34% 3.44%
2003 2.39% 4.15%
2002 2.45% 5.94%
2001 2.43% 6.08%
2000 2.37% 2.44%
1999 2.41% 0.52%
1998 2.49% 0.99%
1997 2.52% 1.3%
1996 2.56% 0.48%
1995 2.57% 0.15%
1994 2.58% 0.38%
1993 2.59% -0.22%
1992 2.68% -1.88%
1991 2.86% 1.18%
1990 2.99% 4.04%
1989 3.09% 2.53%
1988 3.19% 2.74%
1987 3.28% 2.72%
1986 3.33% 2.47%
1985 3.34% 2.24%
1984 3.31% 2.21%
1983 3.28% 2.16%
1982 3.24% 2.07%
1981 3.2% 2.04%
1980 2.82% 2.01%
1979 2.43% 1.97%
1978 2.43% 1.95%
1977 2.43% 1.87%
1976 2.42% 1.82%
1975 2.42% 1.86%
1974 2.43% 1.87%
1973 2.42% 1.87%
1972 2.43% 1.85%
1971 2.4% 1.88%
1970 2.32% 1.91%
1969 2.29% 1.91%
1968 2.29% 1.92%
1967 2.4% 1.9%
1966 2.52% 1.86%
1965 2.58% 1.83%
1964 2.63% 1.77%
1963 2.65% 1.71%
1962 2.64% 1.65%
1961 2.62% 1.58%

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/sierra-leone | CC BY

In 2024, the population of Malaysia grew by 1.23%, while Sierra Leone's population grew by 2.15%.

Live population counters

Malaysia Sierra Leone
Current population
36512221
9049533
Population rank 45/197 101/197
Percent of world population 0.44% 0.11%
One net population change
1.22 minutes
2.9 minutes
One birth every
1.21 minutes
2.03 minutes
One death every
2.9 minutes
7.5 minutes
Daily growth/decline +1,182 +497
Annual growth/decline +431,375 +181,510
Annual growth/decline rate +1.23% +2.15%
Population growth rate rank 89/197 47/197
One migration net change every
3.16 minutes
46.6 minutes
Annual migration change +166,615 -11,309
Net migration rank 7/196 136/196
Foreign-born residents 3,806,514 49,997
Foreign-born residents rank 18/195 151/195
Foreign-born share of population 10.7% 0.6%
Foreign-born share rank 62/195 174/195

Natural population change vs migration

Malaysia
Natural

Migration
Sierra Leone
Natural

Migration
1x
Year Population change
Malaysia Sierra Leone
Natural Migration Natural Migration
2025 - 166,615 - -11,309
2024 - 174,770 - -11,000
2023 254,806 181,071 188,788 -4,000
2022 237,560 188,154 186,625 -4,000
2021 212,002 188,506 183,326 -1,544
2020 283,282 101,907 181,015 1,292
2019 309,426 203,284 181,068 -2,238
2018 324,568 221,965 178,772 -2,741
2017 336,434 227,677 173,259 1,234
2016 345,681 222,141 168,784 4,657
2015 358,302 187,663 162,275 -356
2014 367,587 159,791 160,137 485
2013 366,738 149,637 161,265 2,773
2012 371,497 134,975 160,915 988
2011 372,836 122,269 158,858 6,895
2010 360,260 157,164 155,338 7,983
2009 366,157 178,410 152,669 18,145
2008 362,380 202,481 149,855 1,182
2007 348,711 229,784 145,740 -6,042
2006 349,509 232,971 144,127 -34,052
2005 355,324 225,864 137,234 -1,805
2004 365,138 212,278 132,661 23,897
2003 377,425 199,510 130,312 69,185
2002 381,084 196,227 126,429 86,578
2001 400,939 173,613 116,647 227,791
2000 417,371 125,499 110,754 83,013
1999 432,355 89,335 102,295 -84,926
1998 436,316 99,639 103,906 -76,766
1997 447,768 79,266 105,433 -48,437
1996 450,174 73,040 104,140 -52,110
1995 443,349 72,393 100,885 -112,857
1994 437,873 66,685 101,486 -77,371
1993 429,910 61,079 103,317 -95,476
1992 418,900 66,286 103,251 -129,565
1991 401,938 97,111 105,477 -238,965
1990 384,518 135,020 100,778 131,587
1989 373,277 143,544 98,298 -5,079
1988 386,507 133,478 96,344 9,470
1987 381,999 137,759 94,235 9,558
1986 385,799 127,081 90,902 7,992
1985 383,243 120,215 88,869 -7,873
1984 376,797 106,248 87,072 -8,708
1983 365,290 97,862 84,628 -8,783
1982 353,138 89,942 82,457 -11,379
1981 339,991 84,142 80,111 -12,699
1980 326,947 80,617 77,932 -11,641
1979 317,439 -13,980 75,992 -13,095
1978 311,027 -15,059 74,130 -13,073
1977 305,515 -16,601 71,663 -12,399
1976 300,615 -18,316 69,506 -15,686
1975 294,541 -20,480 67,560 -13,058
1974 289,880 -21,919 65,357 -11,473
1973 284,611 -21,995 62,443 -9,322
1972 276,263 -21,305 60,279 -8,267
1971 272,323 -20,535 58,484 -8,162
1970 269,341 -31,839 56,513 -4,957
1969 264,327 -39,420 54,768 -4,485
1968 260,705 -40,996 53,126 -3,743
1967 258,764 -42,108 51,734 -2,819
1966 262,162 -33,993 49,486 -2,911
1965 264,836 -36,456 47,223 -1,851
1964 266,406 -38,785 45,487 -2,308
1963 265,815 -40,952 43,569 -2,480
1962 262,140 -43,033 41,603 -2,658
1961 257,270 -44,916 40,022 -2,947
1960 251,090 -46,948 38,192 -3,528

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

GeoRank.org/population/malaysia/sierra-leone | 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 Sierra Leone 99.6% is from natural causes (a gain of 1,764,049 people) and 0.41% is from migration (a loss of 7,211 people).

As of 2024, 3,806,514 residents or 10.7% of the population were not native-born in Malaysia, compared to 49,997 people or 0.6% in Sierra Leone.

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
Sierra Leone
City Population
Freetown 951K
Bo 234K
Kenema 188K

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/sierra-leone | 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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