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Population in Malaysia compared to South Africa: Trends, Charts, Rankings

Updated on by Georank team

The latest officially reported population of Malaysia was 35,557,673 in 2024 vs 64,007,187 people in South Africa in 2024. In 2026, based on the adjusted UN estimation, the current Malaysia's population is 36,512,221 people compared to 65,683,993 in South Africa.

Population statistics:

  • South Africa's population is 1.8 times bigger than Malaysia's.
  • Malaysia is ranked the 45th most populous country in the world, while South Africa is the 24th.
  • The countries together account for 1.23% of the world: 0.44% for Malaysia vs 0.79% for South Africa.
  • For the last 10 years, Malaysia has had an average growth rate of +1.5% per year vs +1.44% in South Africa.
  • Since 2006, the population of Malaysia has increased from 26.4M people to 36.5M (38.2% growth), while South Africa has grown from 50M to 65.7M (31.4% growth).

Malaysia vs South Africa: population by year and forecast

Malaysia
Factual

Projection
South Africa
Factual

Projection
1x
Year Population
Malaysia South Africa
2100 44,353,615 94,767,727
2099 44,467,475 94,556,931
2098 44,579,971 94,349,546
2097 44,695,979 94,158,472
2096 44,814,885 93,960,605
2095 44,932,404 93,752,736
2094 45,047,479 93,527,902
2093 45,165,126 93,300,398
2092 45,278,674 93,074,837
2091 45,390,002 92,826,204
2090 45,501,495 92,594,033
2089 45,610,046 92,355,184
2088 45,717,882 92,112,914
2087 45,823,085 91,866,024
2086 45,926,712 91,614,165
2085 46,020,742 91,385,350
2084 46,111,490 91,139,318
2083 46,202,286 90,877,425
2082 46,284,929 90,615,359
2081 46,359,700 90,345,492
2080 46,435,482 90,071,835
2079 46,496,102 89,801,998
2078 46,549,167 89,526,224
2077 46,594,188 89,249,206
2076 46,619,045 88,986,114
2075 46,643,115 88,713,215
2074 46,658,350 88,428,616
2073 46,670,848 88,149,885
2072 46,670,426 87,866,246
2071 46,660,436 87,540,177
2070 46,645,623 87,209,425
2069 46,623,238 86,901,512
2068 46,600,060 86,588,742
2067 46,569,264 86,268,392
2066 46,530,377 85,935,310
2065 46,481,890 85,604,376
2064 46,417,369 85,244,950
2063 46,350,674 84,875,503
2062 46,272,105 84,503,237
2061 46,178,092 84,132,885
2060 46,075,877 83,748,999
2059 45,958,718 83,354,923
2058 45,837,407 82,947,675
2057 45,707,213 82,538,045
2056 45,566,357 82,127,477
2055 45,418,953 81,698,196
2054 45,252,995 81,255,867
2053 45,069,089 80,818,632
2052 44,873,927 80,367,409
2051 44,668,767 79,886,672
2050 44,445,677 79,411,977
2049 44,217,593 78,925,493
2048 43,974,925 78,437,677
2047 43,712,325 77,922,211
2046 43,438,283 77,397,298
2045 43,157,909 76,879,838
2044 42,866,716 76,357,155
2043 42,557,941 75,827,709
2042 42,239,980 75,291,615
2041 41,922,379 74,748,408
2040 41,598,231 74,205,530
2039 41,270,953 73,663,047
2038 40,929,067 73,105,930
2037 40,584,773 72,532,742
2036 40,234,128 71,956,247
2035 39,876,375 71,362,555
2034 39,515,857 70,762,815
2033 39,152,086 70,153,205
2032 38,772,414 69,527,410
2031 38,386,293 68,890,002
2030 37,995,617 68,245,372
2029 37,606,753 67,573,179
2028 37,207,852 66,884,377
2027 36,806,585 66,190,258
2026 36,403,076 65,496,277
2025 35,987,113 64,770,314
2024 35,557,673 64,007,187
2023 35,126,298 63,212,384
2022 34,695,493 62,378,410
2021 34,282,399 61,502,603
2020 33,889,558 60,562,381
2019 33,440,596 59,587,885
2018 32,910,967 58,613,001
2017 32,355,644 57,635,162
2016 31,789,685 57,259,551
2015 31,232,798 56,723,537
2014 30,696,137 55,594,838
2013 30,174,265 54,678,791
2012 29,662,831 53,782,567
2011 29,162,039 52,995,205
2010 28,655,776 52,344,051
2009 28,124,778 51,728,516
2008 27,570,059 51,114,599
2007 26,998,389 50,528,584
2006 26,417,909 49,998,277
2005 25,836,071 49,490,033
2004 25,256,772 48,991,421
2003 24,679,602 48,500,348
2002 24,102,477 48,019,415
2001 23,526,538 47,566,800
2000 22,967,816 47,159,719
1999 22,435,531 46,730,335
1998 21,906,713 46,223,880
1997 21,375,218 45,666,838
1996 20,850,087 45,123,018
1995 20,330,599 44,541,554
1994 19,820,446 44,004,139
1993 19,322,664 43,297,156
1992 18,834,572 42,443,509
1991 18,342,464 41,687,898
1990 17,833,171 40,746,268
1989 17,314,997 39,628,575
1988 16,796,605 38,480,649
1987 16,276,737 37,326,190
1986 15,760,419 36,180,515
1985 15,252,258 35,042,093
1984 14,759,009 33,892,788
1983 14,285,907 32,739,304
1982 13,832,798 31,615,339
1981 13,399,203 30,541,044
1980 12,983,363 29,518,857
1979 12,627,862 28,634,162
1978 12,328,157 27,869,507
1977 12,035,713 27,118,952
1976 11,750,097 26,395,450
1975 11,471,914 25,690,940
1974 11,200,906 24,989,108
1973 10,935,621 24,294,263
1972 10,676,835 23,609,456
1971 10,423,453 22,942,143
1970 10,178,802 22,279,984
1969 9,947,597 21,614,676
1968 9,725,281 20,957,287
1967 9,507,099 20,314,066
1966 9,284,688 19,690,087
1965 9,056,408 19,089,380
1964 8,828,406 18,511,361
1963 8,602,160 17,954,564
1962 8,380,172 17,418,522
1961 8,164,443 16,908,035
1960 7,956,197 16,440,172

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/south-africa | CC BY

From 2006 to 2016, the population of Malaysia increased by 5,371,776 people (a 20.3% growth), while South Africa gained 7,261,274 people (a 14.5% growth).

For the next 10 years, from 2016 to 2026, Malaysia gained 4,722,536 people (a 14.9% growth), while South Africa's population increased by 8,424,442 people (a 14.7% growth).

Malaysia was ranked 44th most populous country in 2006 and is 45th in 2026. South Africa was ranked 24th in 2006 and still ranked 24th 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 South Africa will increase by 20.9% to 79,411,977 people and rank change from 24th to 23rd.

Malaysia is projected to reach its peak in 2073 at 46.7M people compared to the peak of 94.8M people in 2100 for South Africa.

Population growth rate by year

Malaysia
Factual

Projection
South Africa
Factual

Projection
1x
Year Growth rate
Malaysia South Africa
2100 -0.26% 0.22%
2099 -0.25% 0.22%
2098 -0.26% 0.2%
2097 -0.27% 0.21%
2096 -0.26% 0.22%
2095 -0.26% 0.24%
2094 -0.26% 0.24%
2093 -0.25% 0.24%
2092 -0.25% 0.27%
2091 -0.25% 0.25%
2090 -0.24% 0.26%
2089 -0.24% 0.26%
2088 -0.23% 0.27%
2087 -0.23% 0.27%
2086 -0.2% 0.25%
2085 -0.2% 0.27%
2084 -0.2% 0.29%
2083 -0.18% 0.29%
2082 -0.16% 0.3%
2081 -0.16% 0.3%
2080 -0.13% 0.3%
2079 -0.11% 0.31%
2078 -0.1% 0.31%
2077 -0.05% 0.3%
2076 -0.05% 0.31%
2075 -0.03% 0.32%
2074 -0.03% 0.32%
2073 0.001% 0.32%
2072 0.02% 0.37%
2071 0.03% 0.38%
2070 0.05% 0.35%
2069 0.05% 0.36%
2068 0.07% 0.37%
2067 0.08% 0.39%
2066 0.1% 0.39%
2065 0.14% 0.42%
2064 0.14% 0.44%
2063 0.17% 0.44%
2062 0.2% 0.44%
2061 0.22% 0.46%
2060 0.25% 0.47%
2059 0.26% 0.49%
2058 0.28% 0.5%
2057 0.31% 0.5%
2056 0.32% 0.53%
2055 0.37% 0.54%
2054 0.41% 0.54%
2053 0.43% 0.56%
2052 0.46% 0.6%
2051 0.5% 0.6%
2050 0.52% 0.62%
2049 0.55% 0.62%
2048 0.6% 0.66%
2047 0.63% 0.68%
2046 0.65% 0.67%
2045 0.68% 0.68%
2044 0.73% 0.7%
2043 0.75% 0.71%
2042 0.76% 0.73%
2041 0.78% 0.73%
2040 0.79% 0.74%
2039 0.84% 0.76%
2038 0.85% 0.79%
2037 0.87% 0.8%
2036 0.9% 0.83%
2035 0.91% 0.85%
2034 0.93% 0.87%
2033 0.98% 0.9%
2032 1.01% 0.93%
2031 1.03% 0.94%
2030 1.03% 0.99%
2029 1.07% 1.03%
2028 1.09% 1.05%
2027 1.11% 1.06%
2026 1.16% 1.12%
2025 1.21% 1.19%
2024 1.23% 1.26%
2023 1.24% 1.34%
2022 1.2% 1.42%
2021 1.16% 1.55%
2020 1.34% 1.64%
2019 1.61% 1.66%
2018 1.72% 1.7%
2017 1.78% 0.66%
2016 1.78% 0.94%
2015 1.75% 2.03%
2014 1.73% 1.68%
2013 1.72% 1.67%
2012 1.72% 1.49%
2011 1.77% 1.24%
2010 1.89% 1.19%
2009 2.01% 1.2%
2008 2.12% 1.16%
2007 2.2% 1.06%
2006 2.25% 1.03%
2005 2.29% 1.02%
2004 2.34% 1.01%
2003 2.39% 1%
2002 2.45% 0.95%
2001 2.43% 0.86%
2000 2.37% 0.92%
1999 2.41% 1.1%
1998 2.49% 1.22%
1997 2.52% 1.21%
1996 2.56% 1.31%
1995 2.57% 1.22%
1994 2.58% 1.63%
1993 2.59% 2.01%
1992 2.68% 1.81%
1991 2.86% 2.31%
1990 2.99% 2.82%
1989 3.09% 2.98%
1988 3.19% 3.09%
1987 3.28% 3.17%
1986 3.33% 3.25%
1985 3.34% 3.39%
1984 3.31% 3.52%
1983 3.28% 3.56%
1982 3.24% 3.52%
1981 3.2% 3.46%
1980 2.82% 3.09%
1979 2.43% 2.74%
1978 2.43% 2.77%
1977 2.43% 2.74%
1976 2.42% 2.74%
1975 2.42% 2.81%
1974 2.43% 2.86%
1973 2.42% 2.9%
1972 2.43% 2.91%
1971 2.4% 2.97%
1970 2.32% 3.08%
1969 2.29% 3.14%
1968 2.29% 3.17%
1967 2.4% 3.17%
1966 2.52% 3.15%
1965 2.58% 3.12%
1964 2.63% 3.1%
1963 2.65% 3.08%
1962 2.64% 3.02%
1961 2.62% 2.85%

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/south-africa | CC BY

In 2024, the population of Malaysia grew by 1.23%, while South Africa's population grew by 1.26%.

Live population counters

Malaysia South Africa
Current population
36512221
65683993
Population rank 45/197 24/197
Percent of world population 0.44% 0.79%
One net population change
1.22 minutes
39.7 seconds
One birth every
1.21 minutes
26.6 seconds
One death every
2.9 minutes
54 seconds
Daily growth/decline +1,182 +2,178
Annual growth/decline +431,375 +794,803
Annual growth/decline rate +1.23% +1.26%
Population growth rate rank 89/197 85/197
One migration net change every
3.16 minutes
3.6 minutes
Annual migration change +166,615 +146,370
Net migration rank 7/196 9/196
Foreign-born residents 3,806,514 2,631,100
Foreign-born residents rank 18/195 28/195
Foreign-born share of population 10.7% 4.1%
Foreign-born share rank 62/195 105/195

Natural population change vs migration

Malaysia
Natural

Migration
South Africa
Natural

Migration
1x
Year Population change
Malaysia South Africa
Natural Migration Natural Migration
2025 - 166,615 - 146,370
2024 - 174,770 - 166,972
2023 254,806 181,071 602,793 228,222
2022 237,560 188,154 603,636 233,284
2021 212,002 188,506 456,411 458,246
2020 283,282 101,907 595,873 369,901
2019 309,426 203,284 652,130 331,124
2018 324,568 221,965 648,319 318,260
2017 336,434 227,677 645,975 343,146
2016 345,681 222,141 641,365 -879,235
2015 358,302 187,663 668,771 641,150
2014 367,587 159,791 674,754 272,697
2013 366,738 149,637 652,427 232,230
2012 371,497 134,975 643,723 264,091
2011 372,836 122,269 601,708 65,166
2010 360,260 157,164 566,834 68,563
2009 366,157 178,410 554,115 41,528
2008 362,380 202,481 595,332 36,869
2007 348,711 229,784 503,567 36,339
2006 349,509 232,971 487,584 33,159
2005 355,324 225,864 464,464 31,286
2004 365,138 212,278 442,540 58,924
2003 377,425 199,510 415,018 65,604
2002 381,084 196,227 430,926 50,313
2001 400,939 173,613 484,801 -60,793
2000 417,371 125,499 526,963 -136,794
1999 432,355 89,335 594,643 -126,011
1998 436,316 99,639 627,027 -82,722
1997 447,768 79,266 667,969 -98,181
1996 450,174 73,040 710,868 -193,007
1995 443,349 72,393 743,488 -98,403
1994 437,873 66,685 698,609 -268,849
1993 429,910 61,079 789,220 194,977
1992 418,900 66,286 794,415 -71,342
1991 401,938 97,111 827,296 -39,131
1990 384,518 135,020 835,421 259,718
1989 373,277 143,544 884,629 255,605
1988 386,507 133,478 909,221 246,382
1987 381,999 137,759 922,330 231,009
1986 385,799 127,081 903,644 234,378
1985 383,243 120,215 893,889 244,940
1984 376,797 106,248 869,011 290,789
1983 365,290 97,862 837,013 310,172
1982 353,138 89,942 807,550 293,195
1981 339,991 84,142 767,833 279,985
1980 326,947 80,617 738,415 258,127
1979 317,439 -13,980 716,541 56,323
1978 311,027 -15,059 694,341 62,121
1977 305,515 -16,601 680,929 63,739
1976 300,615 -18,316 675,011 27,333
1975 294,541 -20,480 667,862 38,809
1974 289,880 -21,919 658,438 38,518
1973 284,611 -21,995 651,596 41,125
1972 276,263 -21,305 638,754 38,163
1971 272,323 -20,535 624,761 32,961
1970 269,341 -31,839 605,102 61,514
1969 264,327 -39,420 590,794 73,225
1968 260,705 -40,996 571,841 78,932
1967 258,764 -42,108 553,741 81,932
1966 262,162 -33,993 534,862 77,417
1965 264,836 -36,456 506,632 82,514
1964 266,406 -38,785 490,606 76,298
1963 265,815 -40,952 473,821 72,844
1962 262,140 -43,033 455,634 69,771
1961 257,270 -44,916 437,851 57,728
1960 251,090 -46,948 421,263 18,891

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

GeoRank.org/population/malaysia/south-africa | 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 South Africa 72.8% is from natural causes (a gain of 6,190,027 people) and 27.2% is from migration (a gain of 2,316,795 people).

As of 2024, 3,806,514 residents or 10.7% of the population were not native-born in Malaysia, compared to 2,631,100 people or 4.1% in South Africa.

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
South Africa
City Population
Johannesburg 4.8M
Cape Town 3.78M
Soweto 1.27M
Pietermaritzburg 839K
Pretoria 742K
Durban 595K
Rustenburg 550K
Randburg 337K
Port Elizabeth 312K
East London 267K

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/south-africa | 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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