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Population in Malaysia compared to the United Arab Emirates: Trends, Charts, Rankings

Updated on by Georank team

The latest officially reported population of Malaysia was 35,557,673 in 2024 vs 10,986,400 people in the United Arab Emirates in 2024. In 2026, based on the adjusted UN estimation, the current Malaysia's population is 36,512,221 people compared to 11,686,438 in the United Arab Emirates.

Population statistics:

  • Malaysia's population is 3.12 times bigger than the United Arab Emirates'.
  • Malaysia is ranked the 45th most populous country in the world, while the United Arab Emirates is the 84th.
  • The countries together account for 0.58% of the world: 0.44% for Malaysia vs 0.14% for the United Arab Emirates.
  • For the last 10 years, Malaysia has had an average growth rate of +1.5% per year vs +3.31% in the United Arab Emirates.
  • Since 2006, the population of Malaysia has increased from 26.4M people to 36.5M (38.2% growth), while the United Arab Emirates has grown from 5.01M to 11.7M (133.3% growth).

Malaysia vs United Arab Emirates: population by year and forecast

Malaysia
Factual

Projection
United Arab Emirates
Factual

Projection
1x
Year Population
Malaysia UAE
2100 44,353,615 26,368,750
2099 44,467,475 26,130,374
2098 44,579,971 25,894,010
2097 44,695,979 25,660,062
2096 44,814,885 25,427,961
2095 44,932,404 25,197,670
2094 45,047,479 24,968,891
2093 45,165,126 24,741,434
2092 45,278,674 24,515,086
2091 45,390,002 24,289,496
2090 45,501,495 24,064,404
2089 45,610,046 23,839,033
2088 45,717,882 23,613,963
2087 45,823,085 23,388,786
2086 45,926,712 23,163,641
2085 46,020,742 22,938,169
2084 46,111,490 22,711,804
2083 46,202,286 22,484,154
2082 46,284,929 22,255,625
2081 46,359,700 22,026,183
2080 46,435,482 21,796,073
2079 46,496,102 21,565,118
2078 46,549,167 21,333,574
2077 46,594,188 21,101,274
2076 46,619,045 20,868,733
2075 46,643,115 20,636,203
2074 46,658,350 20,404,044
2073 46,670,848 20,171,659
2072 46,670,426 19,940,853
2071 46,660,436 19,710,934
2070 46,645,623 19,483,026
2069 46,623,238 19,256,572
2068 46,600,060 19,032,681
2067 46,569,264 18,811,331
2066 46,530,377 18,593,017
2065 46,481,890 18,377,364
2064 46,417,369 18,164,584
2063 46,350,674 17,955,352
2062 46,272,105 17,749,596
2061 46,178,092 17,547,827
2060 46,075,877 17,349,620
2059 45,958,718 17,153,273
2058 45,837,407 16,959,263
2057 45,707,213 16,767,893
2056 45,566,357 16,579,195
2055 45,418,953 16,392,558
2054 45,252,995 16,207,309
2053 45,069,089 16,024,789
2052 44,873,927 15,844,357
2051 44,668,767 15,665,362
2050 44,445,677 15,487,008
2049 44,217,593 15,309,031
2048 43,974,925 15,132,784
2047 43,712,325 14,958,209
2046 43,438,283 14,788,046
2045 43,157,909 14,620,902
2044 42,866,716 14,454,466
2043 42,557,941 14,289,021
2042 42,239,980 14,124,515
2041 41,922,379 13,961,010
2040 41,598,231 13,798,651
2039 41,270,953 13,637,499
2038 40,929,067 13,477,450
2037 40,584,773 13,319,346
2036 40,234,128 13,163,073
2035 39,876,375 13,009,160
2034 39,515,857 12,857,729
2033 39,152,086 12,709,520
2032 38,772,414 12,564,906
2031 38,386,293 12,424,286
2030 37,995,617 12,288,186
2029 37,606,753 12,148,661
2028 37,207,852 11,999,549
2027 36,806,585 11,831,082
2026 36,403,076 11,632,806
2025 35,987,113 11,367,504
2024 35,557,673 10,986,400
2023 35,126,298 10,483,751
2022 34,695,493 10,074,977
2021 34,282,399 9,575,152
2020 33,889,558 9,401,038
2019 33,440,596 9,445,785
2018 32,910,967 9,346,701
2017 32,355,644 9,223,225
2016 31,789,685 8,935,095
2015 31,232,798 8,505,237
2014 30,696,137 8,059,440
2013 30,174,265 7,693,031
2012 29,662,831 7,391,448
2011 29,162,039 7,104,538
2010 28,655,776 6,869,838
2009 28,124,778 6,707,058
2008 27,570,059 6,302,664
2007 26,998,389 5,624,635
2006 26,417,909 5,009,100
2005 25,836,071 4,664,790
2004 25,256,772 4,428,967
2003 24,679,602 4,192,457
2002 24,102,477 3,956,826
2001 23,526,538 3,723,590
2000 22,967,816 3,493,575
1999 22,435,531 3,266,009
1998 21,906,713 3,040,421
1997 21,375,218 2,817,410
1996 20,850,087 2,597,564
1995 20,330,599 2,434,662
1994 19,820,446 2,328,188
1993 19,322,664 2,222,093
1992 18,834,572 2,114,730
1991 18,342,464 2,006,626
1990 17,833,171 1,898,220
1989 17,314,997 1,789,851
1988 16,796,605 1,681,788
1987 16,276,737 1,574,244
1986 15,760,419 1,467,383
1985 15,252,258 1,377,911
1984 14,759,009 1,305,996
1983 14,285,907 1,235,305
1982 13,832,798 1,166,370
1981 13,399,203 1,099,855
1980 12,983,363 1,015,700
1979 12,627,862 912,010
1978 12,328,157 809,274
1977 12,035,713 710,209
1976 11,750,097 615,866
1975 11,471,914 542,856
1974 11,200,906 489,087
1973 10,935,621 436,399
1972 10,676,835 385,014
1971 10,423,453 335,027
1970 10,178,802 286,536
1969 9,947,597 239,660
1968 9,725,281 199,416
1967 9,507,099 179,700
1966 9,284,688 173,976
1965 9,056,408 167,103
1964 8,828,406 159,692
1963 8,602,160 152,211
1962 8,380,172 144,946
1961 8,164,443 137,989
1960 7,956,197 131,334

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/united-arab-emirates | CC BY

From 2006 to 2016, the population of Malaysia increased by 5,371,776 people (a 20.3% growth), while the United Arab Emirates gained 3,925,995 people (a 78.4% growth).

For the next 10 years, from 2016 to 2026, Malaysia gained 4,722,536 people (a 14.9% growth), while the United Arab Emirates' population increased by 2,751,343 people (a 30.8% growth).

Malaysia was ranked 44th most populous country in 2006 and is 45th in 2026. The United Arab Emirates was ranked 114th in 2006 and ranked 84th 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 the United Arab Emirates will increase by 32.5% to 15,487,008 people and will still be ranked 84th.

Malaysia is projected to reach its peak in 2073 at 46.7M people compared to the peak of 26.4M people in 2100 for the United Arab Emirates.

Population growth rate by year

Malaysia
Factual

Projection
United Arab Emirates
Factual

Projection
1x
Year Growth rate
Malaysia UAE
2100 -0.26% 0.91%
2099 -0.25% 0.91%
2098 -0.26% 0.91%
2097 -0.27% 0.91%
2096 -0.26% 0.91%
2095 -0.26% 0.92%
2094 -0.26% 0.92%
2093 -0.25% 0.92%
2092 -0.25% 0.93%
2091 -0.25% 0.94%
2090 -0.24% 0.95%
2089 -0.24% 0.95%
2088 -0.23% 0.96%
2087 -0.23% 0.97%
2086 -0.2% 0.98%
2085 -0.2% 1%
2084 -0.2% 1.01%
2083 -0.18% 1.03%
2082 -0.16% 1.04%
2081 -0.16% 1.06%
2080 -0.13% 1.07%
2079 -0.11% 1.09%
2078 -0.1% 1.1%
2077 -0.05% 1.11%
2076 -0.05% 1.13%
2075 -0.03% 1.14%
2074 -0.03% 1.15%
2073 0.001% 1.16%
2072 0.02% 1.17%
2071 0.03% 1.17%
2070 0.05% 1.18%
2069 0.05% 1.18%
2068 0.07% 1.18%
2067 0.08% 1.17%
2066 0.1% 1.17%
2065 0.14% 1.17%
2064 0.14% 1.17%
2063 0.17% 1.16%
2062 0.2% 1.15%
2061 0.22% 1.14%
2060 0.25% 1.14%
2059 0.26% 1.14%
2058 0.28% 1.14%
2057 0.31% 1.14%
2056 0.32% 1.14%
2055 0.37% 1.14%
2054 0.41% 1.14%
2053 0.43% 1.14%
2052 0.46% 1.14%
2051 0.5% 1.15%
2050 0.52% 1.16%
2049 0.55% 1.16%
2048 0.6% 1.17%
2047 0.63% 1.15%
2046 0.65% 1.14%
2045 0.68% 1.15%
2044 0.73% 1.16%
2043 0.75% 1.16%
2042 0.76% 1.17%
2041 0.78% 1.18%
2040 0.79% 1.18%
2039 0.84% 1.19%
2038 0.85% 1.19%
2037 0.87% 1.19%
2036 0.9% 1.18%
2035 0.91% 1.18%
2034 0.93% 1.17%
2033 0.98% 1.15%
2032 1.01% 1.13%
2031 1.03% 1.11%
2030 1.03% 1.15%
2029 1.07% 1.24%
2028 1.09% 1.42%
2027 1.11% 1.7%
2026 1.16% 2.33%
2025 1.21% 3.47%
2024 1.23% 4.79%
2023 1.24% 4.06%
2022 1.2% 5.22%
2021 1.16% 1.85%
2020 1.34% -0.47%
2019 1.61% 1.06%
2018 1.72% 1.34%
2017 1.78% 3.22%
2016 1.78% 5.05%
2015 1.75% 5.53%
2014 1.73% 4.76%
2013 1.72% 4.08%
2012 1.72% 4.04%
2011 1.77% 3.42%
2010 1.89% 2.43%
2009 2.01% 6.42%
2008 2.12% 12.1%
2007 2.2% 12.3%
2006 2.25% 7.38%
2005 2.29% 5.32%
2004 2.34% 5.64%
2003 2.39% 5.96%
2002 2.45% 6.26%
2001 2.43% 6.58%
2000 2.37% 6.97%
1999 2.41% 7.42%
1998 2.49% 7.92%
1997 2.52% 8.46%
1996 2.56% 6.69%
1995 2.57% 4.57%
1994 2.58% 4.77%
1993 2.59% 5.08%
1992 2.68% 5.39%
1991 2.86% 5.71%
1990 2.99% 6.05%
1989 3.09% 6.43%
1988 3.19% 6.83%
1987 3.28% 7.28%
1986 3.33% 6.49%
1985 3.34% 5.51%
1984 3.31% 5.72%
1983 3.28% 5.91%
1982 3.24% 6.05%
1981 3.2% 8.29%
1980 2.82% 11.4%
1979 2.43% 12.7%
1978 2.43% 13.9%
1977 2.43% 15.3%
1976 2.42% 13.4%
1975 2.42% 11%
1974 2.43% 12.1%
1973 2.42% 13.3%
1972 2.43% 14.9%
1971 2.4% 16.9%
1970 2.32% 19.6%
1969 2.29% 20.2%
1968 2.29% 11%
1967 2.4% 3.29%
1966 2.52% 4.11%
1965 2.58% 4.64%
1964 2.63% 4.91%
1963 2.65% 5.01%
1962 2.64% 5.04%
1961 2.62% 5.07%

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/united-arab-emirates | CC BY

In 2024, the population of Malaysia grew by 1.23%, while the United Arab Emirates' population grew by 4.79%.

Live population counters

Malaysia UAE
Current population
36512221
11686438
Population rank 45/197 84/197
Percent of world population 0.44% 0.14%
One net population change
1.22 minutes
1.05 minutes
One birth every
1.21 minutes
5.13 minutes
One death every
2.9 minutes
53.8 minutes
Daily growth/decline +1,182 +1,377
Annual growth/decline +431,375 +502,649
Annual growth/decline rate +1.23% +4.79%
Population growth rate rank 89/197 3/197
One migration net change every
3.16 minutes
3.32 minutes
Annual migration change +166,615 +158,634
Net migration rank 7/196 8/196
Foreign-born residents 3,806,514 8,157,000
Foreign-born residents rank 18/195 8/195
Foreign-born share of population 10.7% 74%
Foreign-born share rank 62/195 2/195

Natural population change vs migration

Malaysia
Natural

Migration
United Arab Emirates
Natural

Migration
1x
Year Population change
Malaysia UAE
Natural Migration Natural Migration
2025 - 166,615 - 158,634
2024 - 174,770 - 278,439
2023 254,806 181,071 92,698 300,004
2022 237,560 188,154 81,758 322,773
2021 212,002 188,506 76,802 421,663
2020 283,282 101,907 87,871 92,541
2019 309,426 203,284 86,296 -125,186
2018 324,568 221,965 86,840 14,611
2017 336,434 227,677 89,382 34,155
2016 345,681 222,141 87,028 195,317
2015 358,302 187,663 85,044 342,468
2014 367,587 159,791 84,277 360,174
2013 366,738 149,637 82,977 279,269
2012 371,497 134,975 78,682 225,921
2011 372,836 122,269 73,496 215,183
2010 360,260 157,164 69,907 161,842
2009 366,157 178,410 66,521 163,643
2008 362,380 202,481 55,426 523,207
2007 348,711 229,784 55,048 722,380
2006 349,509 232,971 54,338 399,306
2005 355,324 225,864 60,046 174,926
2004 365,138 212,278 60,344 176,319
2003 377,425 199,510 59,118 177,237
2002 381,084 196,227 55,922 178,988
2001 400,939 173,613 52,789 178,779
2000 417,371 125,499 49,993 178,469
1999 432,355 89,335 46,198 180,469
1998 436,316 99,639 41,176 183,329
1997 447,768 79,266 38,207 183,310
1996 450,174 73,040 37,886 180,296
1995 443,349 72,393 38,685 68,938
1994 437,873 66,685 42,976 62,352
1993 429,910 61,079 41,324 65,545
1992 418,900 66,286 42,119 65,739
1991 401,938 97,111 41,409 66,943
1990 384,518 135,020 41,339 67,118
1989 373,277 143,544 40,148 68,132
1988 386,507 133,478 38,861 68,991
1987 381,999 137,759 37,741 69,493
1986 385,799 127,081 36,829 69,655
1985 383,243 120,215 34,855 37,605
1984 376,797 106,248 33,250 38,124
1983 365,290 97,862 31,480 38,536
1982 353,138 89,942 29,585 38,276
1981 339,991 84,142 27,560 37,600
1980 326,947 80,617 25,005 78,148
1979 317,439 -13,980 21,987 82,238
1978 311,027 -15,059 18,879 82,359
1977 305,515 -16,601 15,787 81,111
1976 300,615 -18,316 12,876 78,903
1975 294,541 -20,480 11,859 42,380
1974 289,880 -21,919 10,835 42,474
1973 284,611 -21,995 9,822 42,243
1972 276,263 -21,305 8,818 41,888
1971 272,323 -20,535 7,839 41,425
1970 269,341 -31,839 6,922 40,792
1969 264,327 -39,420 6,138 39,902
1968 260,705 -40,996 5,588 28,866
1967 258,764 -42,108 5,264 -283
1966 262,162 -33,993 4,955 1,516
1965 264,836 -36,456 4,675 2,598
1964 266,406 -38,785 4,410 3,126
1963 265,815 -40,952 4,157 3,264
1962 262,140 -43,033 3,901 3,212
1961 257,270 -44,916 3,657 3,141
1960 251,090 -46,948 3,418 3,102

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

GeoRank.org/population/malaysia/united-arab-emirates | 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 the United Arab Emirates 30.5% is from natural causes (a gain of 857,996 people) and 69.5% is from migration (a gain of 1,958,520 people).

As of 2024, 3,806,514 residents or 10.7% of the population were not native-born in Malaysia, compared to 8,157,000 people or 74% in the United Arab Emirates.

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
UAE
City Population
Dubai 3.94M
Abu Dhabi 1.57M
Sharjah 1.25M
Al Ain 767K
Ajman 490K
Ras al-Khaimah 116K
Fujairah 93.7K
Umm al-Quwain 44.4K
Madinat Zayed 29.1K

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/united-arab-emirates | 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. Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) (2000–2019, retrieved 2026-02-20)
  5. Wikidata (2026, retrieved 2026-02-08)

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