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

Updated on by Georank team

The latest officially reported population of Malaysia was 35,557,673 in 2024 vs 48,848,840 people in Spain in 2024. In 2026, based on the adjusted UN estimation, the current Malaysia's population is 36,512,221 people compared to 48,806,901 in Spain.

Population statistics:

  • Spain's population is 1.34 times bigger than Malaysia's.
  • Malaysia is ranked the 45th most populous country in the world, while Spain is the 32nd.
  • The countries together account for 1.03% of the world: 0.44% for Malaysia vs 0.59% for Spain.
  • For the last 10 years, Malaysia has had an average growth rate of +1.5% per year vs +0.43% in Spain.
  • Since 2006, the population of Malaysia has increased from 26.4M people to 36.5M (38.2% growth), while Spain has grown from 44.4M to 48.8M (9.93% growth).

Malaysia vs Spain: population by year and forecast

Malaysia
Factual

Projection
Spain
Factual

Projection
1x
Year Population
Malaysia Spain
2100 44,353,615 33,862,981
2099 44,467,475 34,039,965
2098 44,579,971 34,215,187
2097 44,695,979 34,387,116
2096 44,814,885 34,552,002
2095 44,932,404 34,719,411
2094 45,047,479 34,882,039
2093 45,165,126 35,044,043
2092 45,278,674 35,204,657
2091 45,390,002 35,366,895
2090 45,501,495 35,535,838
2089 45,610,046 35,707,942
2088 45,717,882 35,877,681
2087 45,823,085 36,043,209
2086 45,926,712 36,210,710
2085 46,020,742 36,386,207
2084 46,111,490 36,564,622
2083 46,202,286 36,749,680
2082 46,284,929 36,936,644
2081 46,359,700 37,133,976
2080 46,435,482 37,337,517
2079 46,496,102 37,551,557
2078 46,549,167 37,771,135
2077 46,594,188 38,002,963
2076 46,619,045 38,249,247
2075 46,643,115 38,506,040
2074 46,658,350 38,777,715
2073 46,670,848 39,056,249
2072 46,670,426 39,348,447
2071 46,660,436 39,642,346
2070 46,645,623 39,949,413
2069 46,623,238 40,256,590
2068 46,600,060 40,575,543
2067 46,569,264 40,893,798
2066 46,530,377 41,218,263
2065 46,481,890 41,543,254
2064 46,417,369 41,878,338
2063 46,350,674 42,208,320
2062 46,272,105 42,542,893
2061 46,178,092 42,874,096
2060 46,075,877 43,191,452
2059 45,958,718 43,506,737
2058 45,837,407 43,809,907
2057 45,707,213 44,112,668
2056 45,566,357 44,415,689
2055 45,418,953 44,691,749
2054 45,252,995 44,958,971
2053 45,069,089 45,223,225
2052 44,873,927 45,470,541
2051 44,668,767 45,695,307
2050 44,445,677 45,911,520
2049 44,217,593 46,127,777
2048 43,974,925 46,322,244
2047 43,712,325 46,510,152
2046 43,438,283 46,687,914
2045 43,157,909 46,858,778
2044 42,866,716 47,016,278
2043 42,557,941 47,158,325
2042 42,239,980 47,301,091
2041 41,922,379 47,434,593
2040 41,598,231 47,563,236
2039 41,270,953 47,685,343
2038 40,929,067 47,798,797
2037 40,584,773 47,910,899
2036 40,234,128 48,020,350
2035 39,876,375 48,124,430
2034 39,515,857 48,220,051
2033 39,152,086 48,311,842
2032 38,772,414 48,402,470
2031 38,386,293 48,495,278
2030 37,995,617 48,579,920
2029 37,606,753 48,648,699
2028 37,207,852 48,707,969
2027 36,806,585 48,758,200
2026 36,403,076 48,806,901
2025 35,987,113 48,838,057
2024 35,557,673 48,848,840
2023 35,126,298 48,352,528
2022 34,695,493 47,786,102
2021 34,282,399 47,443,821
2020 33,889,558 47,359,424
2019 33,440,596 47,118,501
2018 32,910,967 46,782,011
2017 32,355,644 46,571,232
2016 31,789,685 46,458,139
2015 31,232,798 46,422,303
2014 30,696,137 46,460,733
2013 30,174,265 46,604,197
2012 29,662,831 46,773,055
2011 29,162,039 46,742,697
2010 28,655,776 46,576,897
2009 28,124,778 46,362,946
2008 27,570,059 45,954,106
2007 26,998,389 45,226,803
2006 26,417,909 44,397,319
2005 25,836,071 43,653,155
2004 25,256,772 42,921,895
2003 24,679,602 42,187,645
2002 24,102,477 41,431,558
2001 23,526,538 40,850,412
2000 22,967,816 40,567,864
1999 22,435,531 40,386,875
1998 21,906,713 40,223,509
1997 21,375,218 40,057,389
1996 20,850,087 39,889,852
1995 20,330,599 39,724,050
1994 19,820,446 39,549,108
1993 19,322,664 39,361,262
1992 18,834,572 39,157,685
1991 18,342,464 38,966,376
1990 17,833,171 38,867,322
1989 17,314,997 38,827,764
1988 16,796,605 38,766,939
1987 16,276,737 38,684,815
1986 15,760,419 38,584,624
1985 15,252,258 38,469,512
1984 14,759,009 38,330,364
1983 14,285,907 38,171,525
1982 13,832,798 37,986,012
1981 13,399,203 37,758,631
1980 12,983,363 37,491,165
1979 12,627,862 37,191,330
1978 12,328,157 36,864,898
1977 12,035,713 36,511,638
1976 11,750,097 36,137,812
1975 11,471,914 35,757,900
1974 11,200,906 35,373,335
1973 10,935,621 34,988,947
1972 10,676,835 34,604,469
1971 10,423,453 34,224,490
1970 10,178,802 33,814,531
1969 9,947,597 33,441,054
1968 9,725,281 33,113,134
1967 9,507,099 32,682,947
1966 9,284,688 32,283,194
1965 9,056,408 31,954,292
1964 8,828,406 31,609,195
1963 8,602,160 31,296,651
1962 8,380,172 31,023,366
1961 8,164,443 30,739,250
1960 7,956,197 30,455,000

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/spain | CC BY

From 2006 to 2016, the population of Malaysia increased by 5,371,776 people (a 20.3% growth), while Spain gained 2,060,820 people (a 4.64% growth).

For the next 10 years, from 2016 to 2026, Malaysia gained 4,722,536 people (a 14.9% growth), while Spain's population increased by 2,348,762 people (a 5.06% growth).

Malaysia was ranked 44th most populous country in 2006 and is 45th in 2026. Spain was ranked 28th in 2006 and ranked 32nd 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 Spain will decrease by 5.93% to 45,911,520 people and rank change from 32nd to 47th.

Malaysia is projected to reach its peak in 2073 at 46.7M people, while Spain's population already peaked in 2024 at 48.8M people and is projected to decrease to 33.9M people by 2100.

Population growth rate by year

Malaysia
Factual

Projection
Spain
Factual

Projection
1x
Year Growth rate
Malaysia Spain
2100 -0.26% -0.52%
2099 -0.25% -0.51%
2098 -0.26% -0.5%
2097 -0.27% -0.48%
2096 -0.26% -0.48%
2095 -0.26% -0.47%
2094 -0.26% -0.46%
2093 -0.25% -0.46%
2092 -0.25% -0.46%
2091 -0.25% -0.48%
2090 -0.24% -0.48%
2089 -0.24% -0.47%
2088 -0.23% -0.46%
2087 -0.23% -0.46%
2086 -0.2% -0.48%
2085 -0.2% -0.49%
2084 -0.2% -0.5%
2083 -0.18% -0.51%
2082 -0.16% -0.53%
2081 -0.16% -0.55%
2080 -0.13% -0.57%
2079 -0.11% -0.58%
2078 -0.1% -0.61%
2077 -0.05% -0.64%
2076 -0.05% -0.67%
2075 -0.03% -0.7%
2074 -0.03% -0.71%
2073 0.001% -0.74%
2072 0.02% -0.74%
2071 0.03% -0.77%
2070 0.05% -0.76%
2069 0.05% -0.79%
2068 0.07% -0.78%
2067 0.08% -0.79%
2066 0.1% -0.78%
2065 0.14% -0.8%
2064 0.14% -0.78%
2063 0.17% -0.79%
2062 0.2% -0.77%
2061 0.22% -0.73%
2060 0.25% -0.72%
2059 0.26% -0.69%
2058 0.28% -0.69%
2057 0.31% -0.68%
2056 0.32% -0.62%
2055 0.37% -0.59%
2054 0.41% -0.58%
2053 0.43% -0.54%
2052 0.46% -0.49%
2051 0.5% -0.47%
2050 0.52% -0.47%
2049 0.55% -0.42%
2048 0.6% -0.4%
2047 0.63% -0.38%
2046 0.65% -0.36%
2045 0.68% -0.33%
2044 0.73% -0.3%
2043 0.75% -0.3%
2042 0.76% -0.28%
2041 0.78% -0.27%
2040 0.79% -0.26%
2039 0.84% -0.24%
2038 0.85% -0.23%
2037 0.87% -0.23%
2036 0.9% -0.22%
2035 0.91% -0.2%
2034 0.93% -0.19%
2033 0.98% -0.19%
2032 1.01% -0.19%
2031 1.03% -0.17%
2030 1.03% -0.14%
2029 1.07% -0.12%
2028 1.09% -0.1%
2027 1.11% -0.1%
2026 1.16% -0.06%
2025 1.21% -0.02%
2024 1.23% 1.03%
2023 1.24% 1.19%
2022 1.2% 0.72%
2021 1.16% 0.18%
2020 1.34% 0.51%
2019 1.61% 0.72%
2018 1.72% 0.45%
2017 1.78% 0.24%
2016 1.78% 0.08%
2015 1.75% -0.08%
2014 1.73% -0.31%
2013 1.72% -0.36%
2012 1.72% 0.06%
2011 1.77% 0.36%
2010 1.89% 0.46%
2009 2.01% 0.89%
2008 2.12% 1.61%
2007 2.2% 1.87%
2006 2.25% 1.7%
2005 2.29% 1.7%
2004 2.34% 1.74%
2003 2.39% 1.82%
2002 2.45% 1.42%
2001 2.43% 0.7%
2000 2.37% 0.45%
1999 2.41% 0.41%
1998 2.49% 0.41%
1997 2.52% 0.42%
1996 2.56% 0.42%
1995 2.57% 0.44%
1994 2.58% 0.48%
1993 2.59% 0.52%
1992 2.68% 0.49%
1991 2.86% 0.25%
1990 2.99% 0.1%
1989 3.09% 0.16%
1988 3.19% 0.21%
1987 3.28% 0.26%
1986 3.33% 0.3%
1985 3.34% 0.36%
1984 3.31% 0.42%
1983 3.28% 0.49%
1982 3.24% 0.6%
1981 3.2% 0.71%
1980 2.82% 0.81%
1979 2.43% 0.89%
1978 2.43% 0.97%
1977 2.43% 1.03%
1976 2.42% 1.06%
1975 2.42% 1.09%
1974 2.43% 1.1%
1973 2.42% 1.11%
1972 2.43% 1.11%
1971 2.4% 1.21%
1970 2.32% 1.12%
1969 2.29% 0.99%
1968 2.29% 1.32%
1967 2.4% 1.24%
1966 2.52% 1.03%
1965 2.58% 1.09%
1964 2.63% 1%
1963 2.65% 0.88%
1962 2.64% 0.92%
1961 2.62% 0.93%

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/spain | CC BY

In 2024, the population of Malaysia grew by 1.23%, while Spain's population grew by 1.03%.

Live population counters

Malaysia Spain
Current population
36512221
48806901
Population rank 45/197 32/197
Percent of world population 0.44% 0.59%
One net population change
1.22 minutes
1.06 minutes
One birth every
1.21 minutes
1.62 minutes
One death every
2.9 minutes
1.21 minutes
Daily growth/decline +1,182 +1,360
Annual growth/decline +431,375 +496,312
Annual growth/decline rate +1.23% +1.03%
Population growth rate rank 89/197 100/197
One migration net change every
3.16 minutes
5.45 minutes
Annual migration change +166,615 +96,630
Net migration rank 7/196 17/196
Foreign-born residents 3,806,514 8,870,527
Foreign-born residents rank 18/195 6/195
Foreign-born share of population 10.7% 18.5%
Foreign-born share rank 62/195 32/195

Natural population change vs migration

Malaysia
Natural

Migration
Spain
Natural

Migration
1x
Year Population change
Malaysia Spain
Natural Migration Natural Migration
2025 - 166,615 - 96,630
2024 - 174,770 - 111,674
2023 254,806 181,071 -111,211 119,099
2022 237,560 188,154 -133,801 299,779
2021 212,002 188,506 -113,865 144,385
2020 283,282 101,907 -151,551 236,854
2019 309,426 203,284 -56,542 464,783
2018 324,568 221,965 -56,139 337,467
2017 336,434 227,677 -32,600 201,135
2016 345,681 222,141 0 106,474
2015 358,302 187,663 -4,642 -1,979
2014 367,587 159,791 32,522 -97,870
2013 366,738 149,637 37,284 -250,741
2012 371,497 134,975 51,450 -153,486
2011 372,836 122,269 84,137 60,761
2010 360,260 157,164 102,469 69,406
2009 366,157 178,410 106,635 129,557
2008 362,380 202,481 133,267 434,135
2007 348,711 229,784 108,545 772,317
2006 349,509 232,971 110,994 659,720
2005 355,324 225,864 78,576 629,803
2004 365,138 212,278 85,844 661,158
2003 377,425 199,510 54,844 658,428
2002 381,084 196,227 53,861 737,880
2001 400,939 173,613 44,936 181,307
2000 417,371 125,499 36,512 176,269
1999 432,355 89,335 8,077 178,559
1998 436,316 99,639 4,022 182,926
1997 447,768 79,266 20,028 165,345
1996 450,174 73,040 11,967 162,704
1995 443,349 72,393 15,889 162,434
1994 437,873 66,685 31,639 160,407
1993 429,910 61,079 47,234 160,907
1992 418,900 66,286 62,652 177,544
1991 401,938 97,111 58,450 122,841
1990 384,518 135,020 66,075 -30,684
1989 373,277 143,544 81,538 -25,892
1988 386,507 133,478 100,794 -17,663
1987 381,999 137,759 116,054 -12,681
1986 385,799 127,081 131,188 -13,540
1985 383,243 120,215 146,184 -589
1984 376,797 106,248 172,487 2,754
1983 365,290 97,862 183,223 1,241
1982 353,138 89,942 231,714 -7,384
1981 339,991 84,142 237,879 2,563
1980 326,947 80,617 281,184 20,166
1979 317,439 -13,980 312,407 -5,929
1978 311,027 -15,059 339,157 -2,504
1977 305,515 -16,601 361,465 -1,332
1976 300,615 -18,316 375,834 2,804
1975 294,541 -20,480 371,882 -218
1974 289,880 -21,919 396,182 105,838
1973 284,611 -21,995 374,381 8,624
1972 276,263 -21,305 391,030 7,935
1971 272,323 -20,535 369,625 7,363
1970 269,341 -31,839 378,723 -60,580
1969 264,327 -39,420 367,851 -49,956
1968 260,705 -40,996 387,423 -46,088
1967 258,764 -42,108 402,001 -42,344
1966 262,162 -33,993 397,084 -41,467
1965 264,836 -36,456 405,819 -42,476
1964 266,406 -38,785 429,885 -41,461
1963 265,815 -40,952 394,338 -44,446
1962 262,140 -43,033 384,690 -45,211
1961 257,270 -44,916 396,537 -46,517
1960 251,090 -46,948 398,960 -154,869

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

GeoRank.org/population/malaysia/spain | 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 Spain 25.8% is from natural causes (a loss of 627,829 people) and 74.2% is from migration (a gain of 1,810,127 people).

As of 2024, 3,806,514 residents or 10.7% of the population were not native-born in Malaysia, compared to 8,870,527 people or 18.5% in Spain.

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
Spain
City Population
Madrid 3.51M
Barcelona 1.73M
Tenerife 955K
Valencia 841K
Zaragoza 693K
Seville 689K
Malaga 599K
Palma de Mallorca 435K
Las Palmas 382K
Alicante 366K

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/spain | 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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