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

Updated on by Georank

The latest officially reported population of Malaysia was 35,977,838 in 2025 vs 11,513,149 people in the United Arab Emirates in 2025. In 2026, based on the adjusted UN estimation, the current Malaysia's population is 36,600,906 people compared to 11,885,001 in the United Arab Emirates.

Population statistics:

  • Malaysia's population is 3.08 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 +1.45% per year vs +3.31% in the United Arab Emirates.
  • Since 2006, the population of Malaysia has increased from 26.4M people to 36.6M (38.5% growth), while the United Arab Emirates has grown from 5.01M to 11.9M (137.3% 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 44,342,183 26,706,595
2099 44,456,013 26,465,166
2098 44,568,480 26,225,773
2097 44,684,459 25,988,828
2096 44,803,334 25,753,753
2095 44,920,823 25,520,511
2094 45,035,868 25,288,801
2093 45,153,485 25,058,430
2092 45,267,003 24,829,182
2091 45,378,303 24,600,702
2090 45,489,767 24,372,725
2089 45,598,290 24,144,467
2088 45,706,098 23,916,513
2087 45,811,274 23,688,452
2086 45,914,874 23,460,422
2085 46,008,880 23,232,061
2084 46,099,604 23,002,795
2083 46,190,377 22,772,229
2082 46,272,999 22,540,771
2081 46,347,751 22,308,390
2080 46,423,514 22,075,331
2079 46,484,118 21,841,417
2078 46,537,169 21,606,907
2077 46,582,178 21,371,631
2076 46,607,029 21,136,110
2075 46,631,092 20,900,601
2074 46,646,324 20,665,468
2073 46,658,819 20,430,105
2072 46,658,396 20,196,342
2071 46,648,409 19,963,477
2070 46,633,600 19,732,649
2069 46,611,221 19,503,294
2068 46,588,049 19,276,535
2067 46,557,261 19,052,348
2066 46,518,384 18,831,237
2065 46,469,909 18,612,821
2064 46,405,405 18,397,315
2063 46,338,727 18,185,402
2062 46,260,178 17,977,010
2061 46,166,190 17,772,656
2060 46,064,001 17,571,910
2059 45,946,872 17,373,047
2058 45,825,593 17,176,551
2057 45,695,432 16,982,730
2056 45,554,612 16,791,613
2055 45,407,246 16,602,585
2054 45,241,331 16,414,963
2053 45,057,472 16,230,105
2052 44,862,361 16,047,360
2051 44,657,253 15,866,073
2050 44,434,221 15,685,433
2049 44,206,196 15,505,176
2048 43,963,591 15,326,671
2047 43,701,058 15,149,859
2046 43,427,087 14,977,516
2045 43,146,785 14,808,230
2044 42,855,667 14,639,661
2043 42,546,972 14,472,097
2042 42,229,093 14,305,483
2041 41,911,573 14,139,883
2040 41,587,509 13,975,444
2039 41,260,315 13,812,227
2038 40,918,517 13,650,128
2037 40,574,312 13,489,998
2036 40,223,758 13,331,723
2035 39,866,097 13,175,838
2034 39,505,672 13,022,467
2033 39,141,994 12,872,359
2032 38,762,420 12,725,892
2031 38,376,399 12,583,470
2030 37,985,824 12,445,626
2029 37,597,060 12,304,314
2028 37,198,261 12,153,292
2027 36,797,098 11,982,666
2026 36,393,693 11,781,850
2025 35,977,838 11,513,149
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 (2026–2100, retrieved 2026-07-08); World Bank | Health (1960–2025, retrieved 2026-07-08).

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 4,811,221 people (a 15.1% growth), while the United Arab Emirates' population increased by 2,949,906 people (a 33% 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 21.4% to 44,434,221 people with a rank change from 45th to 49th. The population of the United Arab Emirates will increase by 32% to 15,685,433 people and rank change from 84th to 82nd.

Malaysia is projected to reach its peak in 2073 at 46.7M people compared to the peak of 26.7M 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 1.18% 4.79%
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 (2026–2100, retrieved 2026-07-08); World Bank | Health (1961–2025, retrieved 2026-07-08).

GeoRank.org/population/malaysia/united-arab-emirates | CC BY

In 2025, the population of Malaysia grew by 1.18%, while the United Arab Emirates' population grew by 4.79%.

Live population counters

Malaysia UAE
Current population
36600906
11885001
Population rank 45/197 84/197
Percent of world population 0.44% 0.14%
One net population change
1.25 minutes
1 minute
One birth every
1.2 minutes
4.87 minutes
One death every
2.8 minutes
49.2 minutes
Daily growth/decline +1,151 +1,443
Annual growth/decline +420,165 +526,749
Annual growth/decline rate +1.18% +4.79%
Population growth rate rank 89/197 1/197
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 252,068 174,770 97,197 278,439
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 2026-07-08).

GeoRank.org/population/malaysia/united-arab-emirates | 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 the United Arab Emirates 31.7% is from natural causes (a gain of 870,916 people) and 68.3% is from migration (a gain of 1,876,785 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
Fujairah 119K
Ras al-Khaimah 116K
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 (1960–2025, 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/united-arab-emirates | 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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