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

Updated on by Georank

The latest officially reported population of Malaysia was 35,977,838 in 2025 vs 25,620,427 people in Syria in 2025. In 2026, based on the adjusted UN estimation, the current Malaysia's population is 36,600,906 people compared to 26,956,472 in Syria.

Population statistics:

  • Malaysia's population is 1.36 times bigger than Syria's.
  • Malaysia is ranked the 45th most populous country in the world, while Syria is the 56th.
  • The countries together account for 0.76% of the world: 0.44% for Malaysia vs 0.32% for Syria.
  • For the last 10 years, Malaysia has had an average growth rate of +1.45% per year vs +2.19% in Syria.
  • Since 2006, the population of Malaysia has increased from 26.4M people to 36.6M (38.5% growth), while Syria has grown from 19.6M to 27M (37.3% growth).

Malaysia vs Syria: population by year and forecast

Malaysia
Factual

Projection
Syria
Factual

Projection
1x
Year Population
Malaysia Syria
2100 44,342,183 44,500,028
2099 44,456,013 44,570,009
2098 44,568,480 44,629,837
2097 44,684,459 44,692,566
2096 44,803,334 44,747,012
2095 44,920,823 44,774,686
2094 45,035,868 44,824,294
2093 45,153,485 44,853,295
2092 45,267,003 44,882,700
2091 45,378,303 44,895,349
2090 45,489,767 44,926,869
2089 45,598,290 44,925,891
2088 45,706,098 44,920,667
2087 45,811,274 44,928,298
2086 45,914,874 44,947,658
2085 46,008,880 44,913,669
2084 46,099,604 44,878,845
2083 46,190,377 44,850,592
2082 46,272,999 44,790,014
2081 46,347,751 44,723,244
2080 46,423,514 44,624,321
2079 46,484,118 44,567,127
2078 46,537,169 44,529,618
2077 46,582,178 44,484,155
2076 46,607,029 44,400,339
2075 46,631,092 44,306,882
2074 46,646,324 44,209,517
2073 46,658,819 44,102,028
2072 46,658,396 43,965,642
2071 46,648,409 43,821,617
2070 46,633,600 43,678,154
2069 46,611,221 43,530,683
2068 46,588,049 43,348,487
2067 46,557,261 43,154,741
2066 46,518,384 42,944,885
2065 46,469,909 42,695,249
2064 46,405,405 42,445,036
2063 46,338,727 42,198,056
2062 46,260,178 41,949,014
2061 46,166,190 41,695,586
2060 46,064,001 41,410,547
2059 45,946,872 41,097,942
2058 45,825,593 40,815,606
2057 45,695,432 40,534,091
2056 45,554,612 40,224,053
2055 45,407,246 39,918,930
2054 45,241,331 39,584,624
2053 45,057,472 39,242,144
2052 44,862,361 38,940,206
2051 44,657,253 38,629,604
2050 44,434,221 38,307,069
2049 44,206,196 37,986,965
2048 43,963,591 37,682,780
2047 43,701,058 37,391,752
2046 43,427,087 37,081,479
2045 43,146,785 36,744,441
2044 42,855,667 36,428,225
2043 42,546,972 36,090,851
2042 42,229,093 35,729,021
2041 41,911,573 35,352,033
2040 41,587,509 34,947,817
2039 41,260,315 34,533,772
2038 40,918,517 34,091,760
2037 40,574,312 33,612,993
2036 40,223,758 33,134,445
2035 39,866,097 32,608,669
2034 39,505,672 32,062,309
2033 39,141,994 31,477,500
2032 38,762,420 30,883,996
2031 38,376,399 30,248,264
2030 37,985,824 29,592,787
2029 37,597,060 28,871,638
2028 37,198,261 28,141,821
2027 36,797,098 27,355,002
2026 36,393,693 26,535,554
2025 35,977,838 25,620,427
2024 35,557,673 24,672,760
2023 35,126,298 23,594,623
2022 34,695,493 22,462,173
2021 34,282,399 21,628,839
2020 33,889,558 21,049,429
2019 33,440,596 20,353,534
2018 32,910,967 19,577,845
2017 32,355,644 19,224,668
2016 31,789,685 19,193,834
2015 31,232,798 19,424,618
2014 30,696,137 20,273,659
2013 30,174,265 21,666,917
2012 29,662,831 22,759,763
2011 29,162,039 22,878,098
2010 28,655,776 22,482,421
2009 28,124,778 21,976,969
2008 27,570,059 21,636,564
2007 26,998,389 20,884,125
2006 26,417,909 19,637,022
2005 25,836,071 18,814,091
2004 25,256,772 18,336,875
2003 24,679,602 17,889,296
2002 24,102,477 17,468,332
2001 23,526,538 17,051,338
2000 22,967,816 16,637,888
1999 22,435,531 16,228,061
1998 21,906,713 15,820,413
1997 21,375,218 15,417,542
1996 20,850,087 15,018,104
1995 20,330,599 14,616,801
1994 19,820,446 14,208,583
1993 19,322,664 13,795,686
1992 18,834,572 13,385,571
1991 18,342,464 12,980,821
1990 17,833,171 12,579,208
1989 17,314,997 12,179,060
1988 16,796,605 11,782,264
1987 16,276,737 11,388,923
1986 15,760,419 11,002,844
1985 15,252,258 10,625,672
1984 14,759,009 10,258,398
1983 14,285,907 9,904,809
1982 13,832,798 9,572,511
1981 13,399,203 9,260,189
1980 12,983,363 8,957,663
1979 12,627,862 8,661,909
1978 12,328,157 8,372,759
1977 12,035,713 8,090,501
1976 11,750,097 7,817,320
1975 11,471,914 7,554,364
1974 11,200,906 7,302,160
1973 10,935,621 7,060,321
1972 10,676,835 6,826,024
1971 10,423,453 6,598,094
1970 10,178,802 6,380,609
1969 9,947,597 6,175,166
1968 9,725,281 5,978,742
1967 9,507,099 5,790,198
1966 9,284,688 5,609,047
1965 9,056,408 5,435,267
1964 8,828,406 5,269,087
1963 8,602,160 5,110,467
1962 8,380,172 4,959,340
1961 8,164,443 4,815,466
1960 7,956,197 4,673,500

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/syria | CC BY

From 2006 to 2016, the population of Malaysia increased by 5,371,776 people (a 20.3% growth), while Syria lost 443,188 people (a 2.26% decline).

For the next 10 years, from 2016 to 2026, Malaysia gained 4,811,221 people (a 15.1% growth), while Syria's population increased by 7,762,638 people (a 40.4% growth).

Malaysia was ranked 44th most populous country in 2006 and is 45th in 2026. Syria was ranked 58th in 2006 and ranked 56th 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 Syria will increase by 42.1% to 38,307,069 people and rank change from 56th to 53rd.

Malaysia is projected to reach its peak in 2073 at 46.7M people compared to the peak of 44.9M people in 2086 for Syria.

Population growth rate by year

Malaysia
Factual

Projection
Syria
Factual

Projection
1x
Year Growth rate
Malaysia Syria
2100 -0.26% -0.16%
2099 -0.25% -0.13%
2098 -0.26% -0.14%
2097 -0.27% -0.12%
2096 -0.26% -0.06%
2095 -0.26% -0.11%
2094 -0.26% -0.06%
2093 -0.25% -0.07%
2092 -0.25% -0.03%
2091 -0.25% -0.07%
2090 -0.24% 0.002%
2089 -0.24% 0.01%
2088 -0.23% -0.02%
2087 -0.23% -0.04%
2086 -0.2% 0.08%
2085 -0.2% 0.08%
2084 -0.2% 0.06%
2083 -0.18% 0.14%
2082 -0.16% 0.15%
2081 -0.16% 0.22%
2080 -0.13% 0.13%
2079 -0.11% 0.08%
2078 -0.1% 0.1%
2077 -0.05% 0.19%
2076 -0.05% 0.21%
2075 -0.03% 0.22%
2074 -0.03% 0.24%
2073 0.001% 0.31%
2072 0.02% 0.33%
2071 0.03% 0.33%
2070 0.05% 0.34%
2069 0.05% 0.42%
2068 0.07% 0.45%
2067 0.08% 0.49%
2066 0.1% 0.58%
2065 0.14% 0.59%
2064 0.14% 0.59%
2063 0.17% 0.59%
2062 0.2% 0.61%
2061 0.22% 0.69%
2060 0.25% 0.76%
2059 0.26% 0.69%
2058 0.28% 0.69%
2057 0.31% 0.77%
2056 0.32% 0.76%
2055 0.37% 0.84%
2054 0.41% 0.87%
2053 0.43% 0.78%
2052 0.46% 0.8%
2051 0.5% 0.84%
2050 0.52% 0.84%
2049 0.55% 0.81%
2048 0.6% 0.78%
2047 0.63% 0.84%
2046 0.65% 0.92%
2045 0.68% 0.87%
2044 0.73% 0.93%
2043 0.75% 1.01%
2042 0.76% 1.07%
2041 0.78% 1.16%
2040 0.79% 1.2%
2039 0.84% 1.3%
2038 0.85% 1.42%
2037 0.87% 1.44%
2036 0.9% 1.61%
2035 0.91% 1.7%
2034 0.93% 1.86%
2033 0.98% 1.92%
2032 1.01% 2.1%
2031 1.03% 2.21%
2030 1.03% 2.5%
2029 1.07% 2.59%
2028 1.09% 2.88%
2027 1.11% 3.09%
2026 1.16% 3.57%
2025 1.18% 3.84%
2024 1.23% 4.57%
2023 1.24% 5.04%
2022 1.2% 3.85%
2021 1.16% 2.75%
2020 1.34% 3.42%
2019 1.61% 3.96%
2018 1.72% 1.84%
2017 1.78% 0.16%
2016 1.78% -1.19%
2015 1.75% -4.19%
2014 1.73% -6.43%
2013 1.72% -4.8%
2012 1.72% -0.52%
2011 1.77% 1.76%
2010 1.89% 2.3%
2009 2.01% 1.57%
2008 2.12% 3.6%
2007 2.2% 6.35%
2006 2.25% 4.37%
2005 2.29% 2.6%
2004 2.34% 2.5%
2003 2.39% 2.41%
2002 2.45% 2.45%
2001 2.43% 2.48%
2000 2.37% 2.53%
1999 2.41% 2.58%
1998 2.49% 2.61%
1997 2.52% 2.66%
1996 2.56% 2.75%
1995 2.57% 2.87%
1994 2.58% 2.99%
1993 2.59% 3.06%
1992 2.68% 3.12%
1991 2.86% 3.19%
1990 2.99% 3.29%
1989 3.09% 3.37%
1988 3.19% 3.45%
1987 3.28% 3.51%
1986 3.33% 3.55%
1985 3.34% 3.58%
1984 3.31% 3.57%
1983 3.28% 3.47%
1982 3.24% 3.37%
1981 3.2% 3.38%
1980 2.82% 3.41%
1979 2.43% 3.45%
1978 2.43% 3.49%
1977 2.43% 3.49%
1976 2.42% 3.48%
1975 2.42% 3.45%
1974 2.43% 3.43%
1973 2.42% 3.43%
1972 2.43% 3.45%
1971 2.4% 3.41%
1970 2.32% 3.33%
1969 2.29% 3.29%
1968 2.29% 3.26%
1967 2.4% 3.23%
1966 2.52% 3.2%
1965 2.58% 3.15%
1964 2.63% 3.1%
1963 2.65% 3.05%
1962 2.64% 2.99%
1961 2.62% 3.04%

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/syria | CC BY

In 2025, the population of Malaysia grew by 1.18%, while Syria's population grew by 3.84%.

Live population counters

Malaysia Syria
Current population
36600906
26956472
Population rank 45/197 56/197
Percent of world population 0.44% 0.32%
One net population change
1.25 minutes
33.4 seconds
One birth every
1.2 minutes
55.2 seconds
One death every
2.8 minutes
4.32 minutes
Daily growth/decline +1,151 +2,596
Annual growth/decline +420,165 +947,667
Annual growth/decline rate +1.18% +3.84%
Population growth rate rank 89/197 5/197
One migration net change every
3.16 minutes
1.25 minutes
Annual migration change +166,615 +421,693
Net migration rank 7/196 3/196
Foreign-born residents 3,806,514 896,042
Foreign-born residents rank 18/195 64/195
Foreign-born share of population 10.7% 3.6%
Foreign-born share rank 62/195 110/195

Natural population change vs migration

Malaysia
Natural

Migration
Syria
Natural

Migration
1x
Year Population change
Malaysia Syria
Natural Migration Natural Migration
2025 - 166,615 - 421,693
2024 252,068 174,770 449,784 546,494
2023 254,806 181,071 402,713 757,309
2022 237,560 188,154 369,750 735,142
2021 212,002 188,506 350,560 211,220
2020 283,282 101,907 327,992 269,050
2019 309,426 203,284 293,762 500,985
2018 324,568 221,965 242,530 514,102
2017 336,434 227,677 237,214 -287,501
2016 345,681 222,141 236,007 -124,063
2015 358,302 187,663 253,977 -827,496
2014 367,587 159,791 333,116 -1,457,679
2013 366,738 149,637 419,341 -2,081,303
2012 371,497 134,975 475,520 -999,267
2011 372,836 122,269 543,950 -256,888
2010 360,260 157,164 558,666 -54,359
2009 366,157 178,410 559,314 -52,703
2008 362,380 202,481 576,593 -402,393
2007 348,711 229,784 529,162 801,514
2006 349,509 232,971 480,616 682,911
2005 355,324 225,864 468,960 13,382
2004 365,138 212,278 461,209 10,881
2003 377,425 199,510 457,000 -33,920
2002 381,084 196,227 453,967 -35,096
2001 400,939 173,613 451,503 -36,383
2000 417,371 125,499 446,211 -34,425
1999 432,355 89,335 439,261 -31,394
1998 436,316 99,639 433,447 -26,025
1997 447,768 79,266 429,887 -31,571
1996 450,174 73,040 430,765 -30,197
1995 443,349 72,393 430,172 -28,122
1994 437,873 66,685 426,996 -12,630
1993 429,910 61,079 420,244 -8,828
1992 418,900 66,286 412,878 -4,063
1991 401,938 97,111 410,830 -10,154
1990 384,518 135,020 409,177 -6,620
1989 373,277 143,544 406,111 -8,379
1988 386,507 133,478 404,285 -8,426
1987 381,999 137,759 399,159 -8,335
1986 385,799 127,081 390,821 -9,485
1985 383,243 120,215 379,231 -6,221
1984 376,797 106,248 366,768 -5,245
1983 365,290 97,862 355,375 -9,729
1982 353,138 89,942 319,664 -721
1981 339,991 84,142 330,237 -24,536
1980 326,947 80,617 332,464 -33,114
1979 317,439 -13,980 324,943 -32,793
1978 311,027 -15,059 316,724 -30,567
1977 305,515 -16,601 306,630 -28,275
1976 300,615 -18,316 294,267 -26,268
1975 294,541 -20,480 282,299 -24,389
1974 289,880 -21,919 270,735 -24,242
1973 284,611 -21,995 254,687 -17,502
1972 276,263 -21,305 249,027 -17,610
1971 272,323 -20,535 239,610 -15,167
1970 269,341 -31,839 230,117 -19,594
1969 264,327 -39,420 219,114 -18,749
1968 260,705 -40,996 209,454 -16,968
1967 258,764 -42,108 199,223 -14,618
1966 262,162 -33,993 191,122 -13,434
1965 264,836 -36,456 182,560 -12,704
1964 266,406 -38,785 174,549 -12,044
1963 265,815 -40,952 166,555 -11,817
1962 262,140 -43,033 159,155 -11,641
1961 257,270 -44,916 151,485 -11,237
1960 251,090 -46,948 143,687 0

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

GeoRank.org/population/malaysia/syria | 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 Syria 58% is from natural causes (a gain of 3,164,289 people) and 42% is from migration (a gain of 2,295,242 people).

As of 2024, 3,806,514 residents or 10.7% of the population were not native-born in Malaysia, compared to 896,042 people or 3.6% in Syria.

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
Syria
City Population
Damascus 2.69M
Aleppo 2M
Homs 775K
Latakia 709K
Hama 697K
Raqqa 300K
Deir ez-Zor 272K
Al-Hasakah 188K
Qamishli 184K
Idlib 165K

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/syria | 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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