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Population in Malaysia compared to Sri Lanka: Trends, Charts, Rankings

Updated on by Georank

The latest officially reported population of Malaysia was 35,977,838 in 2025 vs 21,756,000 people in Sri Lanka in 2025. In 2026, based on the adjusted UN estimation, the current Malaysia's population is 36,600,906 people compared to 21,926,160 in Sri Lanka.

Population statistics:

  • Malaysia's population is 1.67 times bigger than Sri Lanka's.
  • Malaysia is ranked the 45th most populous country in the world, while Sri Lanka is the 63rd.
  • The countries together account for 0.7% of the world: 0.44% for Malaysia vs 0.26% for Sri Lanka.
  • For the last 10 years, Malaysia has had an average growth rate of +1.45% per year vs +0.42% in Sri Lanka.
  • Since 2006, the population of Malaysia has increased from 26.4M people to 36.6M (38.5% growth), while Sri Lanka has grown from 20.4M to 21.9M (7.73% growth).

Malaysia vs Sri Lanka: population by year and forecast

Malaysia
Factual

Projection
Sri Lanka
Factual

Projection
1x
Year Population
Malaysia Sri Lanka
2100 44,342,183 20,009,380
2099 44,456,013 20,121,095
2098 44,568,480 20,234,513
2097 44,684,459 20,345,619
2096 44,803,334 20,456,607
2095 44,920,823 20,566,246
2094 45,035,868 20,674,019
2093 45,153,485 20,780,946
2092 45,267,003 20,886,274
2091 45,378,303 20,990,047
2090 45,489,767 21,095,968
2089 45,598,290 21,198,788
2088 45,706,098 21,299,229
2087 45,811,274 21,398,269
2086 45,914,874 21,496,892
2085 46,008,880 21,594,661
2084 46,099,604 21,687,323
2083 46,190,377 21,778,597
2082 46,272,999 21,866,395
2081 46,347,751 21,954,337
2080 46,423,514 22,038,953
2079 46,484,118 22,122,744
2078 46,537,169 22,200,069
2077 46,582,178 22,274,355
2076 46,607,029 22,345,857
2075 46,631,092 22,414,609
2074 46,646,324 22,485,066
2073 46,658,819 22,550,427
2072 46,658,396 22,610,645
2071 46,648,409 22,669,042
2070 46,633,600 22,725,948
2069 46,611,221 22,779,050
2068 46,588,049 22,831,596
2067 46,557,261 22,885,941
2066 46,518,384 22,935,123
2065 46,469,909 22,985,942
2064 46,405,405 23,030,844
2063 46,338,727 23,071,114
2062 46,260,178 23,107,970
2061 46,166,190 23,139,924
2060 46,064,001 23,171,649
2059 45,946,872 23,199,387
2058 45,825,593 23,224,997
2057 45,695,432 23,247,211
2056 45,554,612 23,267,292
2055 45,407,246 23,278,653
2054 45,241,331 23,287,520
2053 45,057,472 23,297,347
2052 44,862,361 23,301,287
2051 44,657,253 23,302,108
2050 44,434,221 23,299,282
2049 44,206,196 23,293,630
2048 43,963,591 23,283,465
2047 43,701,058 23,267,251
2046 43,427,087 23,244,081
2045 43,146,785 23,212,221
2044 42,855,667 23,181,041
2043 42,546,972 23,144,217
2042 42,229,093 23,103,489
2041 41,911,573 23,056,478
2040 41,587,509 23,005,928
2039 41,260,315 22,948,866
2038 40,918,517 22,888,821
2037 40,574,312 22,822,943
2036 40,223,758 22,756,462
2035 39,866,097 22,685,766
2034 39,505,672 22,611,514
2033 39,141,994 22,532,374
2032 38,762,420 22,449,310
2031 38,376,399 22,364,063
2030 37,985,824 22,273,377
2029 37,597,060 22,181,300
2028 37,198,261 22,082,826
2027 36,797,098 21,979,196
2026 36,393,693 21,870,145
2025 35,977,838 21,756,000
2024 35,557,673 21,916,000
2023 35,126,298 22,037,000
2022 34,695,493 22,181,000
2021 34,282,399 22,156,000
2020 33,889,558 21,919,000
2019 33,440,596 21,803,000
2018 32,910,967 21,670,000
2017 32,355,644 21,453,000
2016 31,789,685 21,209,000
2015 31,232,798 20,970,000
2014 30,696,137 20,778,000
2013 30,174,265 20,585,000
2012 29,662,831 21,169,458
2011 29,162,039 21,009,048
2010 28,655,776 20,879,089
2009 28,124,778 20,756,435
2008 27,570,059 20,629,378
2007 26,998,389 20,492,545
2006 26,417,909 20,352,411
2005 25,836,071 20,216,524
2004 25,256,772 20,087,605
2003 24,679,602 19,951,521
2002 24,102,477 19,805,752
2001 23,526,538 19,600,362
2000 22,967,816 19,293,054
1999 22,435,531 18,944,731
1998 21,906,713 18,596,003
1997 21,375,218 18,248,200
1996 20,850,087 17,905,018
1995 20,330,599 17,564,068
1994 19,820,446 17,275,773
1993 19,322,664 17,025,918
1992 18,834,572 16,739,284
1991 18,342,464 16,475,354
1990 17,833,171 16,352,458
1989 17,314,997 16,248,557
1988 16,796,605 16,078,621
1987 16,276,737 15,916,576
1986 15,760,419 15,731,256
1985 15,252,258 15,544,154
1984 14,759,009 15,441,860
1983 14,285,907 15,388,794
1982 13,832,798 15,286,567
1981 13,399,203 15,099,414
1980 12,983,363 14,847,974
1979 12,627,862 14,579,614
1978 12,328,157 14,310,128
1977 12,035,713 14,049,371
1976 11,750,097 13,796,770
1975 11,471,914 13,548,984
1974 11,200,906 13,305,693
1973 10,935,621 13,060,916
1972 10,676,835 12,809,205
1971 10,423,453 12,551,910
1970 10,178,802 12,287,110
1969 9,947,597 12,013,858
1968 9,725,281 11,736,088
1967 9,507,099 11,457,328
1966 9,284,688 11,183,928
1965 9,056,408 10,916,965
1964 8,828,406 10,653,397
1963 8,602,160 10,395,040
1962 8,380,172 10,143,754
1961 8,164,443 9,899,372
1960 7,956,197 9,661,389

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/sri-lanka | CC BY

From 2006 to 2016, the population of Malaysia increased by 5,371,776 people (a 20.3% growth), while Sri Lanka gained 856,589 people (a 4.21% growth).

For the next 10 years, from 2016 to 2026, Malaysia gained 4,811,221 people (a 15.1% growth), while Sri Lanka's population increased by 717,160 people (a 3.38% growth).

Malaysia was ranked 44th most populous country in 2006 and is 45th in 2026. Sri Lanka was ranked 55th in 2006 and ranked 63rd 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 Sri Lanka will increase by 6.26% to 23,299,282 people and rank change from 63rd to 71st.

Malaysia is projected to reach its peak in 2073 at 46.7M people compared to the peak of 23.3M people in 2051 for Sri Lanka.

Population growth rate by year

Malaysia
Factual

Projection
Sri Lanka
Factual

Projection
1x
Year Growth rate
Malaysia Sri Lanka
2100 -0.26% -0.56%
2099 -0.25% -0.56%
2098 -0.26% -0.55%
2097 -0.27% -0.54%
2096 -0.26% -0.53%
2095 -0.26% -0.52%
2094 -0.26% -0.51%
2093 -0.25% -0.5%
2092 -0.25% -0.49%
2091 -0.25% -0.5%
2090 -0.24% -0.49%
2089 -0.24% -0.47%
2088 -0.23% -0.46%
2087 -0.23% -0.46%
2086 -0.2% -0.45%
2085 -0.2% -0.43%
2084 -0.2% -0.42%
2083 -0.18% -0.4%
2082 -0.16% -0.4%
2081 -0.16% -0.38%
2080 -0.13% -0.38%
2079 -0.11% -0.35%
2078 -0.1% -0.33%
2077 -0.05% -0.32%
2076 -0.05% -0.31%
2075 -0.03% -0.31%
2074 -0.03% -0.29%
2073 0.001% -0.27%
2072 0.02% -0.26%
2071 0.03% -0.25%
2070 0.05% -0.23%
2069 0.05% -0.23%
2068 0.07% -0.24%
2067 0.08% -0.21%
2066 0.1% -0.22%
2065 0.14% -0.19%
2064 0.14% -0.17%
2063 0.17% -0.16%
2062 0.2% -0.14%
2061 0.22% -0.14%
2060 0.25% -0.12%
2059 0.26% -0.11%
2058 0.28% -0.1%
2057 0.31% -0.09%
2056 0.32% -0.05%
2055 0.37% -0.04%
2054 0.41% -0.04%
2053 0.43% -0.02%
2052 0.46% -0.004%
2051 0.5% 0.01%
2050 0.52% 0.02%
2049 0.55% 0.04%
2048 0.6% 0.07%
2047 0.63% 0.1%
2046 0.65% 0.14%
2045 0.68% 0.13%
2044 0.73% 0.16%
2043 0.75% 0.18%
2042 0.76% 0.2%
2041 0.78% 0.22%
2040 0.79% 0.25%
2039 0.84% 0.26%
2038 0.85% 0.29%
2037 0.87% 0.29%
2036 0.9% 0.31%
2035 0.91% 0.33%
2034 0.93% 0.35%
2033 0.98% 0.37%
2032 1.01% 0.38%
2031 1.03% 0.41%
2030 1.03% 0.42%
2029 1.07% 0.45%
2028 1.09% 0.47%
2027 1.11% 0.5%
2026 1.16% 0.52%
2025 1.18% -0.73%
2024 1.23% -0.55%
2023 1.24% -0.65%
2022 1.2% 0.11%
2021 1.16% 1.08%
2020 1.34% 0.53%
2019 1.61% 0.61%
2018 1.72% 1.01%
2017 1.78% 1.15%
2016 1.78% 1.14%
2015 1.75% 0.92%
2014 1.73% 0.94%
2013 1.72% -2.76%
2012 1.72% 0.76%
2011 1.77% 0.62%
2010 1.89% 0.59%
2009 2.01% 0.62%
2008 2.12% 0.67%
2007 2.2% 0.69%
2006 2.25% 0.67%
2005 2.29% 0.64%
2004 2.34% 0.68%
2003 2.39% 0.74%
2002 2.45% 1.05%
2001 2.43% 1.59%
2000 2.37% 1.84%
1999 2.41% 1.88%
1998 2.49% 1.91%
1997 2.52% 1.92%
1996 2.56% 1.94%
1995 2.57% 1.67%
1994 2.58% 1.47%
1993 2.59% 1.71%
1992 2.68% 1.6%
1991 2.86% 0.75%
1990 2.99% 0.64%
1989 3.09% 1.06%
1988 3.19% 1.02%
1987 3.28% 1.18%
1986 3.33% 1.2%
1985 3.34% 0.66%
1984 3.31% 0.34%
1983 3.28% 0.67%
1982 3.24% 1.24%
1981 3.2% 1.69%
1980 2.82% 1.84%
1979 2.43% 1.88%
1978 2.43% 1.86%
1977 2.43% 1.83%
1976 2.42% 1.83%
1975 2.42% 1.83%
1974 2.43% 1.87%
1973 2.42% 1.97%
1972 2.43% 2.05%
1971 2.4% 2.16%
1970 2.32% 2.27%
1969 2.29% 2.37%
1968 2.29% 2.43%
1967 2.4% 2.44%
1966 2.52% 2.45%
1965 2.58% 2.47%
1964 2.63% 2.49%
1963 2.65% 2.48%
1962 2.64% 2.47%
1961 2.62% 2.46%

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/sri-lanka | CC BY

In 2025, the population of Malaysia grew by 1.18%, while Sri Lanka's population declined by 0.73%.

Live population counters

Malaysia Sri Lanka
Current population
36600906
21926160
Population rank 45/197 63/197
Percent of world population 0.44% 0.26%
One net population change
1.25 minutes
3.29 minutes
One birth every
1.2 minutes
2.37 minutes
One death every
2.8 minutes
3.07 minutes
Daily growth/decline +1,151 -438
Annual growth/decline +420,165 -160,000
Annual growth/decline rate +1.18% -0.73%
Population growth rate rank 89/197 190/197
One migration net change every
3.16 minutes
17.2 minutes
Annual migration change +166,615 -30,724
Net migration rank 7/196 165/196
Foreign-born residents 3,806,514 40,698
Foreign-born residents rank 18/195 156/195
Foreign-born share of population 10.7% 0.2%
Foreign-born share rank 62/195 190/195

Natural population change vs migration

Malaysia
Natural

Migration
Sri Lanka
Natural

Migration
1x
Year Population change
Malaysia Sri Lanka
Natural Migration Natural Migration
2025 - 166,615 - -30,724
2024 252,068 174,770 50,407 -27,245
2023 254,806 181,071 66,111 -28,011
2022 237,560 188,154 95,378 -27,435
2021 212,002 188,506 121,858 -29,586
2020 283,282 101,907 170,968 -29,875
2019 309,426 203,284 172,243 -28,426
2018 324,568 221,965 183,610 -28,607
2017 336,434 227,677 187,993 -22,324
2016 345,681 222,141 194,232 -18,388
2015 358,302 187,663 201,815 -29,797
2014 367,587 159,791 211,541 -33,672
2013 366,738 149,637 221,021 -37,754
2012 371,497 134,975 229,138 -41,955
2011 372,836 122,269 224,461 -90,839
2010 360,260 157,164 224,325 -98,060
2009 366,157 178,410 200,175 -81,130
2008 362,380 202,481 232,225 -97,144
2007 348,711 229,784 248,287 -109,695
2006 349,509 232,971 248,706 -107,045
2005 355,324 225,864 248,683 -118,594
2004 365,138 212,278 212,527 -84,795
2003 377,425 199,510 252,008 -107,573
2002 381,084 196,227 252,840 -105,718
2001 400,939 173,613 244,377 19,273
2000 417,371 125,499 227,060 123,894
1999 432,355 89,335 206,876 138,799
1998 436,316 99,639 201,059 150,724
1997 447,768 79,266 208,193 135,636
1996 450,174 73,040 215,290 127,236
1995 443,349 72,393 221,957 117,416
1994 437,873 66,685 228,904 8,323
1993 429,910 61,079 226,257 36,232
1992 418,900 66,286 222,230 88,542
1991 401,938 97,111 218,117 -1,047
1990 384,518 135,020 224,454 -195,736
1989 373,277 143,544 212,401 -33,305
1988 386,507 133,478 219,184 -58,415
1987 381,999 137,759 226,414 -63,105
1986 385,799 127,081 233,782 -26,460
1985 383,243 120,215 247,836 -80,950
1984 376,797 106,248 263,175 -225,450
1983 365,290 97,862 277,768 -209,362
1982 353,138 89,942 300,030 -163,987
1981 339,991 84,142 328,096 -89,824
1980 326,947 80,617 328,155 -63,541
1979 317,439 -13,980 329,791 -57,683
1978 311,027 -15,059 317,055 -50,189
1977 305,515 -16,601 300,038 -45,383
1976 300,615 -18,316 291,816 -41,258
1975 294,541 -20,480 282,496 -37,475
1974 289,880 -21,919 275,521 -33,979
1973 284,611 -21,995 278,577 -30,582
1972 276,263 -21,305 282,494 -27,071
1971 272,323 -20,535 281,200 -22,021
1970 269,341 -31,839 286,719 -16,299
1969 264,327 -39,420 286,218 -10,152
1968 260,705 -40,996 286,642 -7,163
1967 258,764 -42,108 284,738 -6,696
1966 262,162 -33,993 275,549 -6,794
1965 264,836 -36,456 272,422 -7,249
1964 266,406 -38,785 269,584 -7,614
1963 265,815 -40,952 262,880 -8,118
1962 262,140 -43,033 256,719 -8,909
1961 257,270 -44,916 251,087 -10,144
1960 251,090 -46,948 247,631 -12,610

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

GeoRank.org/population/malaysia/sri-lanka | 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 Sri Lanka 84.3% is from natural causes (a gain of 1,444,615 people) and 15.7% is from migration (a loss of 269,694 people).

As of 2024, 3,806,514 residents or 10.7% of the population were not native-born in Malaysia, compared to 40,698 people or 0.2% in Sri Lanka.

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
Sri Lanka
City Population
Colombo 648K
Gampaha 191K
Beruwala 165K
Negombo 142K
Kandy 120K
Sri Jayawardenepura Kotte 116K
Trincomalee 99.1K
Galle 93.1K
Matara 68.2K
Anuradhapura 63.2K

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/sri-lanka | 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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