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

Updated on by Georank team

The latest officially reported population of Malaysia was 35,557,673 in 2024 vs 71,668,011 people in Thailand in 2024. In 2026, based on the adjusted UN estimation, the current Malaysia's population is 36,512,221 people compared to 71,571,743 in Thailand.

Population statistics:

  • Thailand's population is 1.96 times bigger than Malaysia's.
  • Malaysia is ranked the 45th most populous country in the world, while Thailand is the 21st.
  • The countries together account for 1.3% of the world: 0.44% for Malaysia vs 0.86% for Thailand.
  • For the last 10 years, Malaysia has had an average growth rate of +1.5% per year vs +0.23% in Thailand.
  • Since 2006, the population of Malaysia has increased from 26.4M people to 36.5M (38.2% growth), while Thailand has grown from 66.6M to 71.6M (7.52% growth).

Malaysia vs Thailand: population by year and forecast

Malaysia
Factual

Projection
Thailand
Factual

Projection
1x
Year Population
Malaysia Thailand
2100 44,353,615 45,712,111
2099 44,467,475 46,056,854
2098 44,579,971 46,406,925
2097 44,695,979 46,761,683
2096 44,814,885 47,122,446
2095 44,932,404 47,487,866
2094 45,047,479 47,857,414
2093 45,165,126 48,230,566
2092 45,278,674 48,609,149
2091 45,390,002 48,988,448
2090 45,501,495 49,372,024
2089 45,610,046 49,760,635
2088 45,717,882 50,146,313
2087 45,823,085 50,536,233
2086 45,926,712 50,929,394
2085 46,020,742 51,326,092
2084 46,111,490 51,728,619
2083 46,202,286 52,131,789
2082 46,284,929 52,537,598
2081 46,359,700 52,942,608
2080 46,435,482 53,352,029
2079 46,496,102 53,766,821
2078 46,549,167 54,181,891
2077 46,594,188 54,599,508
2076 46,619,045 55,019,721
2075 46,643,115 55,442,571
2074 46,658,350 55,872,412
2073 46,670,848 56,304,891
2072 46,670,426 56,739,842
2071 46,660,436 57,177,118
2070 46,645,623 57,621,370
2069 46,623,238 58,066,637
2068 46,600,060 58,516,959
2067 46,569,264 58,967,738
2066 46,530,377 59,418,676
2065 46,481,890 59,878,082
2064 46,417,369 60,336,709
2063 46,350,674 60,797,201
2062 46,272,105 61,262,000
2061 46,178,092 61,724,999
2060 46,075,877 62,192,387
2059 45,958,718 62,656,203
2058 45,837,407 63,118,413
2057 45,707,213 63,577,864
2056 45,566,357 64,032,675
2055 45,418,953 64,478,337
2054 45,252,995 64,917,436
2053 45,069,089 65,343,383
2052 44,873,927 65,763,356
2051 44,668,767 66,167,939
2050 44,445,677 66,558,274
2049 44,217,593 66,936,876
2048 43,974,925 67,296,897
2047 43,712,325 67,641,907
2046 43,438,283 67,972,603
2045 43,157,909 68,287,399
2044 42,866,716 68,585,177
2043 42,557,941 68,870,333
2042 42,239,980 69,139,548
2041 41,922,379 69,396,419
2040 41,598,231 69,632,464
2039 41,270,953 69,854,146
2038 40,929,067 70,062,543
2037 40,584,773 70,256,027
2036 40,234,128 70,435,348
2035 39,876,375 70,604,705
2034 39,515,857 70,756,791
2033 39,152,086 70,897,217
2032 38,772,414 71,025,384
2031 38,386,293 71,140,609
2030 37,995,617 71,247,320
2029 37,606,753 71,342,891
2028 37,207,852 71,428,869
2027 36,806,585 71,505,168
2026 36,403,076 71,571,743
2025 35,987,113 71,625,629
2024 35,557,673 71,668,011
2023 35,126,298 71,702,435
2022 34,695,493 71,735,329
2021 34,282,399 71,727,332
2020 33,889,558 71,641,484
2019 33,440,596 71,522,271
2018 32,910,967 71,376,079
2017 32,355,644 71,160,187
2016 31,789,685 70,859,841
2015 31,232,798 70,540,795
2014 30,696,137 70,216,367
2013 30,174,265 69,845,114
2012 29,662,831 69,436,098
2011 29,162,039 69,007,208
2010 28,655,776 68,579,447
2009 28,124,778 68,121,080
2008 27,570,059 67,619,830
2007 26,998,389 67,102,394
2006 26,417,909 66,567,687
2005 25,836,071 66,017,420
2004 25,256,772 65,452,047
2003 24,679,602 64,868,166
2002 24,102,477 64,266,437
2001 23,526,538 63,651,141
2000 22,967,816 63,007,815
1999 22,435,531 62,299,043
1998 21,906,713 61,522,630
1997 21,375,218 60,724,584
1996 20,850,087 59,920,064
1995 20,330,599 59,098,232
1994 19,820,446 58,260,854
1993 19,322,664 57,408,198
1992 18,834,572 56,528,834
1991 18,342,464 55,637,434
1990 17,833,171 54,738,329
1989 17,314,997 53,848,956
1988 16,796,605 52,969,595
1987 16,276,737 52,074,105
1986 15,760,419 51,177,834
1985 15,252,258 50,270,753
1984 14,759,009 49,351,708
1983 14,285,907 48,423,309
1982 13,832,798 47,494,577
1981 13,399,203 46,575,855
1980 12,983,363 45,650,022
1979 12,627,862 44,718,434
1978 12,328,157 43,788,976
1977 12,035,713 42,843,974
1976 11,750,097 41,896,504
1975 11,471,914 40,940,005
1974 11,200,906 39,952,891
1973 10,935,621 38,947,787
1972 10,676,835 37,933,929
1971 10,423,453 36,937,387
1970 10,178,802 35,954,408
1969 9,947,597 34,973,782
1968 9,725,281 34,002,560
1967 9,507,099 33,037,801
1966 9,284,688 32,086,071
1965 9,056,408 31,149,337
1964 8,828,406 30,232,141
1963 8,602,160 29,342,322
1962 8,380,172 28,481,040
1961 8,164,443 27,650,334
1960 7,956,197 26,851,747

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/thailand | CC BY

From 2006 to 2016, the population of Malaysia increased by 5,371,776 people (a 20.3% growth), while Thailand gained 4,292,154 people (a 6.45% growth).

For the next 10 years, from 2016 to 2026, Malaysia gained 4,722,536 people (a 14.9% growth), while Thailand's population increased by 711,902 people (a 1% growth).

Malaysia was ranked 44th most populous country in 2006 and is 45th in 2026. Thailand was ranked 19th in 2006 and ranked 21st 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 Thailand will decrease by 7% to 66,558,274 people and rank change from 21st to 31st.

Malaysia is projected to reach its peak in 2073 at 46.7M people, while Thailand's population already peaked in 2022 at 71.7M people and is projected to decrease to 45.7M people by 2100.

Population growth rate by year

Malaysia
Factual

Projection
Thailand
Factual

Projection
1x
Year Growth rate
Malaysia Thailand
2100 -0.26% -0.75%
2099 -0.25% -0.75%
2098 -0.26% -0.76%
2097 -0.27% -0.77%
2096 -0.26% -0.77%
2095 -0.26% -0.77%
2094 -0.26% -0.77%
2093 -0.25% -0.78%
2092 -0.25% -0.77%
2091 -0.25% -0.78%
2090 -0.24% -0.78%
2089 -0.24% -0.77%
2088 -0.23% -0.77%
2087 -0.23% -0.77%
2086 -0.2% -0.77%
2085 -0.2% -0.78%
2084 -0.2% -0.77%
2083 -0.18% -0.77%
2082 -0.16% -0.76%
2081 -0.16% -0.77%
2080 -0.13% -0.77%
2079 -0.11% -0.77%
2078 -0.1% -0.76%
2077 -0.05% -0.76%
2076 -0.05% -0.76%
2075 -0.03% -0.77%
2074 -0.03% -0.77%
2073 0.001% -0.77%
2072 0.02% -0.76%
2071 0.03% -0.77%
2070 0.05% -0.77%
2069 0.05% -0.77%
2068 0.07% -0.76%
2067 0.08% -0.76%
2066 0.1% -0.77%
2065 0.14% -0.76%
2064 0.14% -0.76%
2063 0.17% -0.76%
2062 0.2% -0.75%
2061 0.22% -0.75%
2060 0.25% -0.74%
2059 0.26% -0.73%
2058 0.28% -0.72%
2057 0.31% -0.71%
2056 0.32% -0.69%
2055 0.37% -0.68%
2054 0.41% -0.65%
2053 0.43% -0.64%
2052 0.46% -0.61%
2051 0.5% -0.59%
2050 0.52% -0.57%
2049 0.55% -0.53%
2048 0.6% -0.51%
2047 0.63% -0.49%
2046 0.65% -0.46%
2045 0.68% -0.43%
2044 0.73% -0.41%
2043 0.75% -0.39%
2042 0.76% -0.37%
2041 0.78% -0.34%
2040 0.79% -0.32%
2039 0.84% -0.3%
2038 0.85% -0.28%
2037 0.87% -0.25%
2036 0.9% -0.24%
2035 0.91% -0.21%
2034 0.93% -0.2%
2033 0.98% -0.18%
2032 1.01% -0.16%
2031 1.03% -0.15%
2030 1.03% -0.13%
2029 1.07% -0.12%
2028 1.09% -0.11%
2027 1.11% -0.09%
2026 1.16% -0.08%
2025 1.21% -0.06%
2024 1.23% -0.05%
2023 1.24% -0.05%
2022 1.2% 0.01%
2021 1.16% 0.12%
2020 1.34% 0.17%
2019 1.61% 0.2%
2018 1.72% 0.3%
2017 1.78% 0.42%
2016 1.78% 0.45%
2015 1.75% 0.46%
2014 1.73% 0.53%
2013 1.72% 0.59%
2012 1.72% 0.62%
2011 1.77% 0.62%
2010 1.89% 0.67%
2009 2.01% 0.74%
2008 2.12% 0.77%
2007 2.2% 0.8%
2006 2.25% 0.83%
2005 2.29% 0.86%
2004 2.34% 0.9%
2003 2.39% 0.94%
2002 2.45% 0.97%
2001 2.43% 1.02%
2000 2.37% 1.14%
1999 2.41% 1.26%
1998 2.49% 1.31%
1997 2.52% 1.34%
1996 2.56% 1.39%
1995 2.57% 1.44%
1994 2.58% 1.49%
1993 2.59% 1.56%
1992 2.68% 1.6%
1991 2.86% 1.64%
1990 2.99% 1.65%
1989 3.09% 1.66%
1988 3.19% 1.72%
1987 3.28% 1.75%
1986 3.33% 1.8%
1985 3.34% 1.86%
1984 3.31% 1.92%
1983 3.28% 1.96%
1982 3.24% 1.97%
1981 3.2% 2.03%
1980 2.82% 2.08%
1979 2.43% 2.12%
1978 2.43% 2.21%
1977 2.43% 2.26%
1976 2.42% 2.34%
1975 2.42% 2.47%
1974 2.43% 2.58%
1973 2.42% 2.67%
1972 2.43% 2.7%
1971 2.4% 2.73%
1970 2.32% 2.8%
1969 2.29% 2.86%
1968 2.29% 2.92%
1967 2.4% 2.97%
1966 2.52% 3.01%
1965 2.58% 3.03%
1964 2.63% 3.03%
1963 2.65% 3.02%
1962 2.64% 3%
1961 2.62% 2.97%

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/thailand | CC BY

In 2024, the population of Malaysia grew by 1.23%, while Thailand's population declined by 0.05%.

Live population counters

Malaysia Thailand
Current population
36512221
71571743
Population rank 45/197 21/197
Percent of world population 0.44% 0.86%
One net population change
1.22 minutes
15.3 minutes
One birth every
1.21 minutes
53.3 seconds
One death every
2.9 minutes
49.5 seconds
Daily growth/decline +1,182 -94
Annual growth/decline +431,375 -34,424
Annual growth/decline rate +1.23% -0.05%
Population growth rate rank 89/197 168/197
One migration net change every
3.16 minutes
19.2 minutes
Annual migration change +166,615 +27,509
Net migration rank 7/196 30/196
Foreign-born residents 3,806,514 3,179,399
Foreign-born residents rank 18/195 21/195
Foreign-born share of population 10.7% 4.4%
Foreign-born share rank 62/195 100/195

Natural population change vs migration

Malaysia
Natural

Migration
Thailand
Natural

Migration
1x
Year Population change
Malaysia Thailand
Natural Migration Natural Migration
2025 - 166,615 - 27,509
2024 - 174,770 - 23,321
2023 254,806 181,071 -46,105 19,648
2022 237,560 188,154 -61,046 21,683
2021 212,002 188,506 57,382 -2,093
2020 283,282 101,907 84,107 32,277
2019 309,426 203,284 116,867 5,221
2018 324,568 221,965 159,383 10,984
2017 336,434 227,677 194,695 66,805
2016 345,681 222,141 226,255 112,978
2015 358,302 187,663 266,362 32,500
2014 367,587 159,791 294,628 55,358
2013 366,738 149,637 325,059 67,452
2012 371,497 134,975 351,485 74,033
2011 372,836 122,269 365,670 66,607
2010 360,260 157,164 370,466 52,791
2009 366,157 178,410 382,636 110,883
2008 362,380 202,481 401,730 107,333
2007 348,711 229,784 425,362 100,486
2006 349,509 232,971 441,211 102,362
2005 355,324 225,864 456,378 100,542
2004 365,138 212,278 466,542 107,199
2003 377,425 199,510 488,003 105,917
2002 381,084 196,227 504,299 105,215
2001 400,939 173,613 524,230 96,817
2000 417,371 125,499 543,884 121,640
1999 432,355 89,335 578,073 173,924
1998 436,316 99,639 617,318 183,471
1997 447,768 79,266 644,834 150,411
1996 450,174 73,040 661,397 152,397
1995 443,349 72,393 682,703 147,226
1994 437,873 66,685 712,589 132,271
1993 429,910 61,079 737,696 122,746
1992 418,900 66,286 754,999 143,318
1991 401,938 97,111 760,508 124,034
1990 384,518 135,020 760,808 152,916
1989 373,277 143,544 774,563 90,497
1988 386,507 133,478 765,252 128,469
1987 381,999 137,759 774,498 122,791
1986 385,799 127,081 783,430 111,820
1985 383,243 120,215 776,935 141,963
1984 376,797 106,248 779,856 139,345
1983 365,290 97,862 794,239 143,393
1982 353,138 89,942 817,951 101,885
1981 339,991 84,142 839,297 78,337
1980 326,947 80,617 845,575 88,478
1979 317,439 -13,980 843,434 85,693
1978 311,027 -15,059 847,799 82,011
1977 305,515 -16,601 871,232 88,937
1976 300,615 -18,316 894,072 40,656
1975 294,541 -20,480 911,980 66,306
1974 289,880 -21,919 923,151 72,801
1973 284,611 -21,995 933,540 80,704
1972 276,263 -21,305 940,420 73,082
1971 272,323 -20,535 936,215 43,400
1970 269,341 -31,839 937,116 49,221
1969 264,327 -39,420 948,314 26,551
1968 260,705 -40,996 953,806 13,718
1967 258,764 -42,108 944,980 17,005
1966 262,162 -33,993 929,469 12,016
1965 264,836 -36,456 909,000 22,995
1964 266,406 -38,785 885,137 17,249
1963 265,815 -40,952 860,728 16,494
1962 262,140 -43,033 828,741 16,605
1961 257,270 -44,916 801,140 14,968
1960 251,090 -46,948 774,190 6,886

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

GeoRank.org/population/malaysia/thailand | 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 Thailand 78.4% is from natural causes (a gain of 1,292,528 people) and 21.6% is from migration (a gain of 355,361 people).

As of 2024, 3,806,514 residents or 10.7% of the population were not native-born in Malaysia, compared to 3,179,399 people or 4.4% in Thailand.

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
Thailand
City Population
Bangkok 5.68M
Chiang Mai 1.2M
Nonthaburi 256K
Pak Kret 190K
Hat Yai 159K
Nakhon Ratchasima 134K
Chaophraya Surasak 133K
Surat Thani 131K
Udon Thani 130K
Klaeng 130K

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/thailand | 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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