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

Updated on by Georank team

The latest officially reported population of Malaysia was 35,557,673 in 2024 vs 6,036,860 people in Singapore in 2024. In 2026, based on the adjusted UN estimation, the current Malaysia's population is 36,512,221 people compared to 6,125,852 in Singapore.

Population statistics:

  • Malaysia's population is 5.96 times bigger than Singapore's.
  • Malaysia is ranked the 45th most populous country in the world, while Singapore is the 113th.
  • The countries together account for 0.51% of the world: 0.44% for Malaysia vs 0.07% for Singapore.
  • For the last 10 years, Malaysia has had an average growth rate of +1.5% per year vs +1.04% in Singapore.
  • Since 2006, the population of Malaysia has increased from 26.4M people to 36.5M (38.2% growth), while Singapore has grown from 4.4M to 6.13M (39.2% growth).

Malaysia vs Singapore: population by year and forecast

Malaysia
Factual

Projection
Singapore
Factual

Projection
1x
Year Population
Malaysia Singapore
2100 44,353,615 4,344,248
2099 44,467,475 4,387,645
2098 44,579,971 4,435,189
2097 44,695,979 4,483,484
2096 44,814,885 4,533,994
2095 44,932,404 4,585,243
2094 45,047,479 4,639,568
2093 45,165,126 4,692,749
2092 45,278,674 4,745,364
2091 45,390,002 4,802,089
2090 45,501,495 4,859,572
2089 45,610,046 4,919,853
2088 45,717,882 4,977,701
2087 45,823,085 5,036,662
2086 45,926,712 5,096,772
2085 46,020,742 5,155,480
2084 46,111,490 5,212,381
2083 46,202,286 5,269,612
2082 46,284,929 5,327,281
2081 46,359,700 5,383,608
2080 46,435,482 5,438,023
2079 46,496,102 5,491,695
2078 46,549,167 5,541,781
2077 46,594,188 5,589,429
2076 46,619,045 5,632,686
2075 46,643,115 5,679,862
2074 46,658,350 5,725,351
2073 46,670,848 5,764,008
2072 46,670,426 5,799,655
2071 46,660,436 5,833,262
2070 46,645,623 5,864,115
2069 46,623,238 5,896,709
2068 46,600,060 5,927,631
2067 46,569,264 5,955,955
2066 46,530,377 5,988,826
2065 46,481,890 6,020,244
2064 46,417,369 6,046,805
2063 46,350,674 6,069,231
2062 46,272,105 6,093,782
2061 46,178,092 6,116,847
2060 46,075,877 6,142,295
2059 45,958,718 6,163,191
2058 45,837,407 6,185,611
2057 45,707,213 6,203,303
2056 45,566,357 6,221,491
2055 45,418,953 6,240,206
2054 45,252,995 6,261,488
2053 45,069,089 6,277,678
2052 44,873,927 6,290,046
2051 44,668,767 6,307,270
2050 44,445,677 6,325,698
2049 44,217,593 6,342,616
2048 43,974,925 6,355,818
2047 43,712,325 6,373,684
2046 43,438,283 6,387,901
2045 43,157,909 6,399,811
2044 42,866,716 6,412,802
2043 42,557,941 6,420,804
2042 42,239,980 6,427,555
2041 41,922,379 6,433,153
2040 41,598,231 6,434,727
2039 41,270,953 6,431,367
2038 40,929,067 6,422,540
2037 40,584,773 6,410,923
2036 40,234,128 6,398,937
2035 39,876,375 6,382,637
2034 39,515,857 6,360,610
2033 39,152,086 6,333,556
2032 38,772,414 6,306,749
2031 38,386,293 6,277,847
2030 37,995,617 6,250,608
2029 37,606,753 6,221,161
2028 37,207,852 6,186,754
2027 36,806,585 6,150,947
2026 36,403,076 6,116,548
2025 35,987,113 6,078,250
2024 35,557,673 6,036,860
2023 35,126,298 5,917,648
2022 34,695,493 5,637,022
2021 34,282,399 5,453,566
2020 33,889,558 5,685,807
2019 33,440,596 5,703,569
2018 32,910,967 5,638,676
2017 32,355,644 5,612,253
2016 31,789,685 5,607,283
2015 31,232,798 5,535,002
2014 30,696,137 5,469,724
2013 30,174,265 5,399,162
2012 29,662,831 5,312,437
2011 29,162,039 5,183,688
2010 28,655,776 5,076,732
2009 28,124,778 4,987,573
2008 27,570,059 4,839,396
2007 26,998,389 4,588,599
2006 26,417,909 4,401,365
2005 25,836,071 4,265,762
2004 25,256,772 4,166,664
2003 24,679,602 4,114,826
2002 24,102,477 4,175,950
2001 23,526,538 4,138,012
2000 22,967,816 4,027,887
1999 22,435,531 3,958,723
1998 21,906,713 3,927,213
1997 21,375,218 3,796,038
1996 20,850,087 3,670,704
1995 20,330,599 3,524,506
1994 19,820,446 3,419,048
1993 19,322,664 3,313,471
1992 18,834,572 3,230,698
1991 18,342,464 3,135,083
1990 17,833,171 3,047,132
1989 17,314,997 2,930,901
1988 16,796,605 2,846,108
1987 16,276,737 2,774,789
1986 15,760,419 2,733,373
1985 15,252,258 2,735,957
1984 14,759,009 2,732,221
1983 14,285,907 2,681,061
1982 13,832,798 2,646,466
1981 13,399,203 2,532,835
1980 12,983,363 2,413,945
1979 12,627,862 2,383,500
1978 12,328,157 2,353,600
1977 12,035,713 2,325,300
1976 11,750,097 2,293,300
1975 11,471,914 2,262,600
1974 11,200,906 2,229,800
1973 10,935,621 2,193,000
1972 10,676,835 2,152,400
1971 10,423,453 2,112,900
1970 10,178,802 2,074,507
1969 9,947,597 2,042,500
1968 9,725,281 2,012,000
1967 9,507,099 1,977,600
1966 9,284,688 1,934,400
1965 9,056,408 1,886,900
1964 8,828,406 1,841,600
1963 8,602,160 1,795,000
1962 8,380,172 1,750,200
1961 8,164,443 1,702,400
1960 7,956,197 1,646,400

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/singapore | CC BY

From 2006 to 2016, the population of Malaysia increased by 5,371,776 people (a 20.3% growth), while Singapore gained 1,205,918 people (a 27.4% growth).

For the next 10 years, from 2016 to 2026, Malaysia gained 4,722,536 people (a 14.9% growth), while Singapore's population increased by 518,569 people (a 9.25% growth).

Malaysia was ranked 44th most populous country in 2006 and is 45th in 2026. Singapore was ranked 117th in 2006 and ranked 113th 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 Singapore will increase by 3.26% to 6,325,698 people and rank change from 113th to 118th.

Malaysia is projected to reach its peak in 2073 at 46.7M people compared to the peak of 6.43M people in 2040 for Singapore.

Population growth rate by year

Malaysia
Factual

Projection
Singapore
Factual

Projection
1x
Year Growth rate
Malaysia Singapore
2100 -0.26% -0.99%
2099 -0.25% -1.07%
2098 -0.26% -1.08%
2097 -0.27% -1.11%
2096 -0.26% -1.12%
2095 -0.26% -1.17%
2094 -0.26% -1.13%
2093 -0.25% -1.11%
2092 -0.25% -1.18%
2091 -0.25% -1.18%
2090 -0.24% -1.23%
2089 -0.24% -1.16%
2088 -0.23% -1.17%
2087 -0.23% -1.18%
2086 -0.2% -1.14%
2085 -0.2% -1.09%
2084 -0.2% -1.09%
2083 -0.18% -1.08%
2082 -0.16% -1.05%
2081 -0.16% -1%
2080 -0.13% -0.98%
2079 -0.11% -0.9%
2078 -0.1% -0.85%
2077 -0.05% -0.77%
2076 -0.05% -0.83%
2075 -0.03% -0.79%
2074 -0.03% -0.67%
2073 0.001% -0.61%
2072 0.02% -0.58%
2071 0.03% -0.53%
2070 0.05% -0.55%
2069 0.05% -0.52%
2068 0.07% -0.48%
2067 0.08% -0.55%
2066 0.1% -0.52%
2065 0.14% -0.44%
2064 0.14% -0.37%
2063 0.17% -0.4%
2062 0.2% -0.38%
2061 0.22% -0.41%
2060 0.25% -0.34%
2059 0.26% -0.36%
2058 0.28% -0.29%
2057 0.31% -0.29%
2056 0.32% -0.3%
2055 0.37% -0.34%
2054 0.41% -0.26%
2053 0.43% -0.2%
2052 0.46% -0.27%
2051 0.5% -0.29%
2050 0.52% -0.27%
2049 0.55% -0.21%
2048 0.6% -0.28%
2047 0.63% -0.22%
2046 0.65% -0.19%
2045 0.68% -0.2%
2044 0.73% -0.12%
2043 0.75% -0.11%
2042 0.76% -0.09%
2041 0.78% -0.02%
2040 0.79% 0.05%
2039 0.84% 0.14%
2038 0.85% 0.18%
2037 0.87% 0.19%
2036 0.9% 0.26%
2035 0.91% 0.35%
2034 0.93% 0.43%
2033 0.98% 0.43%
2032 1.01% 0.46%
2031 1.03% 0.44%
2030 1.03% 0.47%
2029 1.07% 0.56%
2028 1.09% 0.58%
2027 1.11% 0.56%
2026 1.16% 0.63%
2025 1.21% 0.69%
2024 1.23% 2.01%
2023 1.24% 4.98%
2022 1.2% 3.36%
2021 1.16% -4.08%
2020 1.34% -0.31%
2019 1.61% 1.15%
2018 1.72% 0.47%
2017 1.78% 0.09%
2016 1.78% 1.31%
2015 1.75% 1.19%
2014 1.73% 1.31%
2013 1.72% 1.63%
2012 1.72% 2.48%
2011 1.77% 2.11%
2010 1.89% 1.79%
2009 2.01% 3.06%
2008 2.12% 5.47%
2007 2.2% 4.25%
2006 2.25% 3.18%
2005 2.29% 2.38%
2004 2.34% 1.26%
2003 2.39% -1.46%
2002 2.45% 0.92%
2001 2.43% 2.73%
2000 2.37% 1.75%
1999 2.41% 0.8%
1998 2.49% 3.46%
1997 2.52% 3.41%
1996 2.56% 4.15%
1995 2.57% 3.08%
1994 2.58% 3.19%
1993 2.59% 2.56%
1992 2.68% 3.05%
1991 2.86% 2.89%
1990 2.99% 3.97%
1989 3.09% 2.98%
1988 3.19% 2.57%
1987 3.28% 1.52%
1986 3.33% -0.09%
1985 3.34% 0.14%
1984 3.31% 1.91%
1983 3.28% 1.31%
1982 3.24% 4.49%
1981 3.2% 4.93%
1980 2.82% 1.28%
1979 2.43% 1.27%
1978 2.43% 1.22%
1977 2.43% 1.4%
1976 2.42% 1.36%
1975 2.42% 1.47%
1974 2.43% 1.68%
1973 2.42% 1.89%
1972 2.43% 1.87%
1971 2.4% 1.85%
1970 2.32% 1.57%
1969 2.29% 1.52%
1968 2.29% 1.74%
1967 2.4% 2.23%
1966 2.52% 2.52%
1965 2.58% 2.46%
1964 2.63% 2.6%
1963 2.65% 2.56%
1962 2.64% 2.81%
1961 2.62% 3.4%

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/singapore | CC BY

In 2024, the population of Malaysia grew by 1.23%, while Singapore's population grew by 2.01%.

Live population counters

Malaysia Singapore
Current population
36512221
6125852
Population rank 45/197 113/197
Percent of world population 0.44% 0.07%
One net population change
1.22 minutes
4.41 minutes
One birth every
1.21 minutes
12 minutes
One death every
2.9 minutes
14.3 minutes
Daily growth/decline +1,182 +327
Annual growth/decline +431,375 +119,212
Annual growth/decline rate +1.23% +2.01%
Population growth rate rank 89/197 50/197
One migration net change every
3.16 minutes
31.2 minutes
Annual migration change +166,615 +16,892
Net migration rank 7/196 36/196
Foreign-born residents 3,806,514 2,841,665
Foreign-born residents rank 18/195 26/195
Foreign-born share of population 10.7% 48.7%
Foreign-born share rank 62/195 9/195

Natural population change vs migration

Malaysia
Natural

Migration
Singapore
Natural

Migration
1x
Year Population change
Malaysia Singapore
Natural Migration Natural Migration
2025 - 166,615 - 16,892
2024 - 174,770 - 20,011
2023 254,806 181,071 7,101 26,996
2022 237,560 188,154 9,019 214,842
2021 212,002 188,506 15,270 -44,030
2020 283,282 101,907 18,763 -145,556
2019 309,426 203,284 21,674 870
2018 324,568 221,965 21,427 21,820
2017 336,434 227,677 21,888 -8,880
2016 345,681 222,141 25,794 13,737
2015 358,302 187,663 27,121 41,852
2014 367,587 159,791 27,896 40,154
2013 366,738 149,637 25,376 52,176
2012 371,497 134,975 29,750 78,501
2011 372,836 122,269 25,919 89,856
2010 360,260 157,164 24,876 72,571
2009 366,157 178,410 27,930 95,841
2008 362,380 202,481 28,068 176,182
2007 348,711 229,784 26,614 192,292
2006 349,509 232,971 25,968 135,625
2005 355,324 225,864 24,741 92,023
2004 365,138 212,278 24,583 50,487
2003 377,425 199,510 24,689 -30,012
2002 381,084 196,227 29,231 -40,023
2001 400,939 173,613 31,035 45,027
2000 417,371 125,499 37,057 55,218
1999 432,355 89,335 32,857 19,681
1998 436,316 99,639 33,381 51,905
1997 447,768 79,266 37,960 95,241
1996 450,174 73,040 38,542 102,018
1995 443,349 72,393 38,065 91,947
1994 437,873 66,685 39,319 71,170
1993 429,910 61,079 40,425 58,820
1992 418,900 66,286 39,091 54,359
1991 401,938 97,111 39,188 57,821
1990 384,518 135,020 41,136 66,950
1989 373,277 143,544 36,929 68,031
1988 386,507 133,478 42,407 40,976
1987 381,999 137,759 33,020 25,411
1986 385,799 127,081 27,880 -7,858
1985 383,243 120,215 32,010 -31,036
1984 376,797 106,248 31,967 -4,396
1983 365,290 97,862 30,296 11,699
1982 353,138 89,942 33,346 41,568
1981 339,991 84,142 32,167 85,869
1980 326,947 80,617 30,657 42,433
1979 317,439 -13,980 28,363 -2,384
1978 311,027 -15,059 27,537 436
1977 305,515 -16,601 26,508 2,757
1976 300,615 -18,316 31,189 949
1975 294,541 -20,480 28,509 4,104
1974 289,880 -21,919 31,664 2,748
1973 284,611 -21,995 36,404 -495
1972 276,263 -21,305 38,098 -1,631
1971 272,323 -20,535 35,708 573
1970 269,341 -31,839 35,059 4,024
1969 264,327 -39,420 34,314 6,763
1968 260,705 -40,996 36,216 6,792
1967 258,764 -42,108 40,145 6,006
1966 262,162 -33,993 44,298 3,507
1965 264,836 -36,456 45,474 4,199
1964 266,406 -38,785 47,697 3,043
1963 265,815 -40,952 49,542 2,668
1962 262,140 -43,033 48,830 3,714
1961 257,270 -44,916 49,880 3,490
1960 251,090 -46,948 51,533 2,008

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

GeoRank.org/population/malaysia/singapore | 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 Singapore 54.8% is from natural causes (a gain of 195,953 people) and 45.2% is from migration (a gain of 161,805 people).

As of 2024, 3,806,514 residents or 10.7% of the population were not native-born in Malaysia, compared to 2,841,665 people or 48.7% in Singapore.

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
Singapore
City Population
Singapore 5.87M
Bukit Merah 152K

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/singapore | 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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