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

Updated on by Georank

The latest officially reported population of Malaysia was 35,977,838 in 2025 vs 51,684,564 people in South Korea in 2025. In 2026, based on the adjusted UN estimation, the current Malaysia's population is 36,600,906 people compared to 51,624,449 in South Korea.

Population statistics:

  • South Korea's population is 1.41 times bigger than Malaysia's.
  • Malaysia is ranked the 45th most populous country in the world, while South Korea is the 31st.
  • The countries together account for 1.06% of the world: 0.44% for Malaysia vs 0.62% for South Korea.
  • For the last 10 years, Malaysia has had an average growth rate of +1.45% per year vs +0.17% in South Korea.
  • Since 2006, the population of Malaysia has increased from 26.4M people to 36.6M (38.5% growth), while South Korea has grown from 48.4M to 51.6M (6.58% growth).

Malaysia vs South Korea: population by year and forecast

Malaysia
Factual

Projection
South Korea
Factual

Projection
1x
Year Population
Malaysia South Korea
2100 44,342,183 22,001,649
2099 44,456,013 22,324,514
2098 44,568,480 22,657,541
2097 44,684,459 22,998,315
2096 44,803,334 23,348,632
2095 44,920,823 23,711,049
2094 45,035,868 24,081,510
2093 45,153,485 24,460,970
2092 45,267,003 24,848,715
2091 45,378,303 25,242,926
2090 45,489,767 25,642,926
2089 45,598,290 26,048,094
2088 45,706,098 26,457,020
2087 45,811,274 26,871,556
2086 45,914,874 27,288,450
2085 46,008,880 27,710,065
2084 46,099,604 28,133,600
2083 46,190,377 28,564,090
2082 46,272,999 28,998,646
2081 46,347,751 29,441,497
2080 46,423,514 29,887,135
2079 46,484,118 30,337,095
2078 46,537,169 30,793,984
2077 46,582,178 31,258,278
2076 46,607,029 31,728,826
2075 46,631,092 32,205,338
2074 46,646,324 32,689,892
2073 46,658,819 33,180,187
2072 46,658,396 33,679,874
2071 46,648,409 34,187,068
2070 46,633,600 34,702,204
2069 46,611,221 35,224,472
2068 46,588,049 35,745,164
2067 46,557,261 36,274,411
2066 46,518,384 36,808,495
2065 46,469,909 37,349,660
2064 46,405,405 37,897,742
2063 46,338,727 38,450,082
2062 46,260,178 39,009,227
2061 46,166,190 39,565,102
2060 46,064,001 40,130,032
2059 45,946,872 40,692,438
2058 45,825,593 41,256,780
2057 45,695,432 41,813,259
2056 45,554,612 42,356,530
2055 45,407,246 42,888,143
2054 45,241,331 43,405,840
2053 45,057,472 43,917,075
2052 44,862,361 44,419,192
2051 44,657,253 44,901,452
2050 44,434,221 45,362,931
2049 44,206,196 45,809,553
2048 43,963,591 46,235,718
2047 43,701,058 46,645,885
2046 43,427,087 47,033,200
2045 43,146,785 47,409,815
2044 42,855,667 47,773,842
2043 42,546,972 48,120,989
2042 42,229,093 48,455,085
2041 41,911,573 48,782,206
2040 41,587,509 49,091,438
2039 41,260,315 49,388,464
2038 40,918,517 49,669,835
2037 40,574,312 49,932,869
2036 40,223,758 50,175,947
2035 39,866,097 50,401,135
2034 39,505,672 50,607,994
2033 39,141,994 50,796,030
2032 38,762,420 50,961,878
2031 38,376,399 51,109,725
2030 37,985,824 51,242,628
2029 37,597,060 51,360,529
2028 37,198,261 51,461,403
2027 36,797,098 51,551,313
2026 36,393,693 51,624,449
2025 35,977,838 51,684,564
2024 35,557,673 51,751,065
2023 35,126,298 51,712,619
2022 34,695,493 51,672,569
2021 34,282,399 51,769,539
2020 33,889,558 51,836,239
2019 33,440,596 51,764,822
2018 32,910,967 51,585,058
2017 32,355,644 51,361,911
2016 31,789,685 51,217,803
2015 31,232,798 51,014,947
2014 30,696,137 50,746,659
2013 30,174,265 50,428,893
2012 29,662,831 50,199,853
2011 29,162,039 49,936,638
2010 28,655,776 49,554,112
2009 28,124,778 49,307,835
2008 27,570,059 49,054,708
2007 26,998,389 48,683,638
2006 26,417,909 48,438,292
2005 25,836,071 48,184,561
2004 25,256,772 48,082,519
2003 24,679,602 47,892,330
2002 24,102,477 47,644,736
2001 23,526,538 47,370,164
2000 22,967,816 47,008,111
1999 22,435,531 46,616,677
1998 21,906,713 46,286,503
1997 21,375,218 45,953,580
1996 20,850,087 45,524,681
1995 20,330,599 45,092,991
1994 19,820,446 44,641,540
1993 19,322,664 44,194,628
1992 18,834,572 43,747,962
1991 18,342,464 43,295,704
1990 17,833,171 42,869,283
1989 17,314,997 42,449,038
1988 16,796,605 42,031,247
1987 16,276,737 41,621,690
1986 15,760,419 41,213,674
1985 15,252,258 40,805,744
1984 14,759,009 40,405,956
1983 14,285,907 39,910,403
1982 13,832,798 39,326,352
1981 13,399,203 38,723,248
1980 12,983,363 38,123,775
1979 12,627,862 37,534,236
1978 12,328,157 36,969,185
1977 12,035,713 36,411,795
1976 11,750,097 35,848,523
1975 11,471,914 35,280,725
1974 11,200,906 34,692,266
1973 10,935,621 34,103,149
1972 10,676,835 33,505,406
1971 10,423,453 32,882,704
1970 10,178,802 32,240,827
1969 9,947,597 31,544,266
1968 9,725,281 30,838,302
1967 9,507,099 30,130,983
1966 9,284,688 29,435,571
1965 9,056,408 28,704,674
1964 8,828,406 27,984,155
1963 8,602,160 27,261,747
1962 8,380,172 26,513,030
1961 8,164,443 25,765,673
1960 7,956,197 25,012,374

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/south-korea | CC BY

From 2006 to 2016, the population of Malaysia increased by 5,371,776 people (a 20.3% growth), while South Korea gained 2,779,511 people (a 5.74% growth).

For the next 10 years, from 2016 to 2026, Malaysia gained 4,811,221 people (a 15.1% growth), while South Korea's population increased by 406,646 people (a 0.79% growth).

Malaysia was ranked 44th most populous country in 2006 and is 45th in 2026. South Korea was ranked 25th in 2006 and ranked 31st 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 South Korea will decrease by 12.1% to 45,362,931 people and rank change from 31st to 48th.

Malaysia is projected to reach its peak in 2073 at 46.7M people, while South Korea's population already peaked in 2020 at 51.8M people and is projected to decrease to 22M people by 2100.

Population growth rate by year

Malaysia
Factual

Projection
South Korea
Factual

Projection
1x
Year Growth rate
Malaysia South Korea
2100 -0.26% -1.45%
2099 -0.25% -1.47%
2098 -0.26% -1.48%
2097 -0.27% -1.5%
2096 -0.26% -1.53%
2095 -0.26% -1.54%
2094 -0.26% -1.55%
2093 -0.25% -1.56%
2092 -0.25% -1.56%
2091 -0.25% -1.56%
2090 -0.24% -1.56%
2089 -0.24% -1.55%
2088 -0.23% -1.54%
2087 -0.23% -1.53%
2086 -0.2% -1.52%
2085 -0.2% -1.51%
2084 -0.2% -1.51%
2083 -0.18% -1.5%
2082 -0.16% -1.5%
2081 -0.16% -1.49%
2080 -0.13% -1.48%
2079 -0.11% -1.48%
2078 -0.1% -1.49%
2077 -0.05% -1.48%
2076 -0.05% -1.48%
2075 -0.03% -1.48%
2074 -0.03% -1.48%
2073 0.001% -1.48%
2072 0.02% -1.48%
2071 0.03% -1.48%
2070 0.05% -1.48%
2069 0.05% -1.46%
2068 0.07% -1.46%
2067 0.08% -1.45%
2066 0.1% -1.45%
2065 0.14% -1.45%
2064 0.14% -1.44%
2063 0.17% -1.43%
2062 0.2% -1.4%
2061 0.22% -1.41%
2060 0.25% -1.38%
2059 0.26% -1.37%
2058 0.28% -1.33%
2057 0.31% -1.28%
2056 0.32% -1.24%
2055 0.37% -1.19%
2054 0.41% -1.16%
2053 0.43% -1.13%
2052 0.46% -1.07%
2051 0.5% -1.02%
2050 0.52% -0.97%
2049 0.55% -0.92%
2048 0.6% -0.88%
2047 0.63% -0.82%
2046 0.65% -0.79%
2045 0.68% -0.76%
2044 0.73% -0.72%
2043 0.75% -0.69%
2042 0.76% -0.67%
2041 0.78% -0.63%
2040 0.79% -0.6%
2039 0.84% -0.57%
2038 0.85% -0.53%
2037 0.87% -0.48%
2036 0.9% -0.45%
2035 0.91% -0.41%
2034 0.93% -0.37%
2033 0.98% -0.33%
2032 1.01% -0.29%
2031 1.03% -0.26%
2030 1.03% -0.23%
2029 1.07% -0.2%
2028 1.09% -0.17%
2027 1.11% -0.14%
2026 1.16% -0.12%
2025 1.18% -0.13%
2024 1.23% 0.07%
2023 1.24% 0.08%
2022 1.2% -0.19%
2021 1.16% -0.13%
2020 1.34% 0.14%
2019 1.61% 0.35%
2018 1.72% 0.43%
2017 1.78% 0.28%
2016 1.78% 0.4%
2015 1.75% 0.53%
2014 1.73% 0.63%
2013 1.72% 0.46%
2012 1.72% 0.53%
2011 1.77% 0.77%
2010 1.89% 0.5%
2009 2.01% 0.52%
2008 2.12% 0.76%
2007 2.2% 0.51%
2006 2.25% 0.53%
2005 2.29% 0.21%
2004 2.34% 0.4%
2003 2.39% 0.52%
2002 2.45% 0.58%
2001 2.43% 0.77%
2000 2.37% 0.84%
1999 2.41% 0.71%
1998 2.49% 0.72%
1997 2.52% 0.94%
1996 2.56% 0.96%
1995 2.57% 1.01%
1994 2.58% 1.01%
1993 2.59% 1.02%
1992 2.68% 1.04%
1991 2.86% 0.99%
1990 2.99% 0.99%
1989 3.09% 0.99%
1988 3.19% 0.98%
1987 3.28% 0.99%
1986 3.33% 1%
1985 3.34% 0.99%
1984 3.31% 1.24%
1983 3.28% 1.49%
1982 3.24% 1.56%
1981 3.2% 1.57%
1980 2.82% 1.57%
1979 2.43% 1.53%
1978 2.43% 1.53%
1977 2.43% 1.57%
1976 2.42% 1.61%
1975 2.42% 1.7%
1974 2.43% 1.73%
1973 2.42% 1.78%
1972 2.43% 1.89%
1971 2.4% 1.99%
1970 2.32% 2.21%
1969 2.29% 2.29%
1968 2.29% 2.35%
1967 2.4% 2.36%
1966 2.52% 2.55%
1965 2.58% 2.57%
1964 2.63% 2.65%
1963 2.65% 2.82%
1962 2.64% 2.9%
1961 2.62% 3.01%

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/south-korea | CC BY

In 2025, the population of Malaysia grew by 1.18%, while South Korea's population declined by 0.13%.

Live population counters

Malaysia South Korea
Current population
36600906
51624449
Population rank 45/197 31/197
Percent of world population 0.44% 0.62%
One net population change
1.25 minutes
7.93 minutes
One birth every
1.2 minutes
2.16 minutes
One death every
2.8 minutes
1.45 minutes
Daily growth/decline +1,151 -182
Annual growth/decline +420,165 -66,501
Annual growth/decline rate +1.18% -0.13%
Population growth rate rank 89/197 169/197
One migration net change every
3.16 minutes
8.02 minutes
Annual migration change +166,615 +65,731
Net migration rank 7/196 20/196
Foreign-born residents 3,806,514 1,811,507
Foreign-born residents rank 18/195 40/195
Foreign-born share of population 10.7% 3.5%
Foreign-born share rank 62/195 111/195

Natural population change vs migration

Malaysia
Natural

Migration
South Korea
Natural

Migration
1x
Year Population change
Malaysia South Korea
Natural Migration Natural Migration
2025 - 166,615 - 65,731
2024 252,068 174,770 -119,027 75,963
2023 254,806 181,071 -124,111 87,800
2022 237,560 188,154 -124,014 87,800
2021 212,002 188,506 -56,947 -16,778
2020 283,282 101,907 -31,101 112,631
2019 309,426 203,284 10,353 128,622
2018 324,568 221,965 30,951 118,220
2017 336,434 227,677 71,907 104,029
2016 345,681 222,141 122,923 91,568
2015 358,302 187,663 163,248 276,427
2014 367,587 159,791 167,464 308,037
2013 366,738 149,637 166,415 301,926
2012 371,497 134,975 215,859 281,866
2011 372,836 122,269 214,728 269,958
2010 360,260 157,164 213,083 52,042
2009 366,157 178,410 197,231 5,308
2008 362,380 202,481 215,841 -19,630
2007 348,711 229,784 248,286 -42,293
2006 349,509 232,971 203,441 -28,434
2005 355,324 225,864 187,920 -47,821
2004 365,138 212,278 225,988 -42,549
2003 377,425 199,510 244,251 -31,994
2002 381,084 196,227 247,752 -18,105
2001 400,939 173,613 312,643 -28,006
2000 417,371 125,499 390,167 -84,960
1999 432,355 89,335 368,272 -107,448
1998 436,316 99,639 393,436 -98,044
1997 447,768 79,266 422,773 -109,130
1996 450,174 73,040 446,142 -115,705
1995 443,349 72,393 468,967 -208,491
1994 437,873 66,685 473,200 -208,309
1993 429,910 61,079 477,302 -222,802
1992 418,900 66,286 494,352 -265,849
1991 401,938 97,111 467,594 -270,754
1990 384,518 135,020 411,546 79,294
1989 373,277 143,544 403,266 186,120
1988 386,507 133,478 399,297 192,534
1987 381,999 137,759 378,758 198,057
1986 385,799 127,081 395,651 189,782
1985 383,243 120,215 416,219 97,949
1984 376,797 106,248 436,384 101,394
1983 365,290 97,862 514,844 102,167
1982 353,138 89,942 605,626 48,638
1981 339,991 84,142 631,189 18,442
1980 326,947 80,617 583,294 -148,341
1979 317,439 -13,980 623,068 -139,566
1978 311,027 -15,059 499,084 -85,721
1977 305,515 -16,601 578,947 -90,737
1976 300,615 -18,316 530,558 -92,314
1975 294,541 -20,480 603,300 -52,332
1974 289,880 -21,919 673,030 27,005
1973 284,611 -21,995 699,115 35,779
1972 276,263 -21,305 740,469 25,382
1971 272,323 -20,535 789,185 -6,326
1970 269,341 -31,839 747,987 -27,999
1969 264,327 -39,420 694,227 -21,175
1968 260,705 -40,996 684,487 -16,868
1967 258,764 -42,108 692,169 -16,484
1966 262,162 -33,993 623,534 -16,688
1965 264,836 -36,456 641,090 -146,386
1964 266,406 -38,785 655,501 -102,284
1963 265,815 -40,952 685,824 -80,226
1962 262,140 -43,033 712,590 -94,606
1961 257,270 -44,916 730,173 -93,179
1960 251,090 -46,948 728,010 47,245

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

GeoRank.org/population/malaysia/south-korea | 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 South Korea 4.97% is from natural causes (a loss of 55,818 people) and 95% is from migration (a gain of 1,066,282 people).

As of 2024, 3,806,514 residents or 10.7% of the population were not native-born in Malaysia, compared to 1,811,507 people or 3.5% in South Korea.

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 Korea
City Population
Seoul 9.67M
Busan 3.45M
Incheon 3.05M
Daegu 2.38M
Daejeon 1.48M
Gwangju 1.41M
Suwon 1.23M
Ulsan 1.13M
Yongin 1.08M
Goyang 1.06M

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/south-korea | 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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