Skip to content

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

Updated on by Georank team

The latest officially reported population of Malaysia was 35,557,673 in 2024 vs 69,226,000 people in the United Kingdom in 2024. In 2026, based on the adjusted UN estimation, the current Malaysia's population is 36,512,221 people compared to 70,154,914 in the United Kingdom.

Population statistics:

  • The United Kingdom's population is 1.92 times bigger than Malaysia's.
  • Malaysia is ranked the 45th most populous country in the world, while the United Kingdom is the 22nd.
  • The countries together account for 1.29% of the world: 0.44% for Malaysia vs 0.85% for the United Kingdom.
  • For the last 10 years, Malaysia has had an average growth rate of +1.5% per year vs +0.7% in the United Kingdom.
  • Since 2006, the population of Malaysia has increased from 26.4M people to 36.5M (38.2% growth), while the United Kingdom has grown from 60.8M to 70.2M (15.3% growth).

Malaysia vs United Kingdom: population by year and forecast

Malaysia
Factual

Projection
United Kingdom
Factual

Projection
1x
Year Population
Malaysia United Kingdom
2100 44,353,615 74,700,585
2099 44,467,475 74,831,175
2098 44,579,971 74,950,267
2097 44,695,979 75,064,397
2096 44,814,885 75,176,691
2095 44,932,404 75,287,063
2094 45,047,479 75,383,856
2093 45,165,126 75,482,205
2092 45,278,674 75,575,769
2091 45,390,002 75,666,091
2090 45,501,495 75,753,129
2089 45,610,046 75,835,723
2088 45,717,882 75,907,614
2087 45,823,085 75,978,712
2086 45,926,712 76,046,742
2085 46,020,742 76,105,680
2084 46,111,490 76,156,223
2083 46,202,286 76,205,894
2082 46,284,929 76,246,844
2081 46,359,700 76,274,040
2080 46,435,482 76,306,205
2079 46,496,102 76,334,949
2078 46,549,167 76,353,484
2077 46,594,188 76,371,123
2076 46,619,045 76,373,520
2075 46,643,115 76,386,071
2074 46,658,350 76,397,426
2073 46,670,848 76,406,554
2072 46,670,426 76,398,941
2071 46,660,436 76,388,223
2070 46,645,623 76,378,505
2069 46,623,238 76,371,827
2068 46,600,060 76,370,973
2067 46,569,264 76,363,548
2066 46,530,377 76,356,638
2065 46,481,890 76,355,841
2064 46,417,369 76,352,770
2063 46,350,674 76,353,175
2062 46,272,105 76,346,535
2061 46,178,092 76,344,206
2060 46,075,877 76,344,725
2059 45,958,718 76,345,215
2058 45,837,407 76,326,961
2057 45,707,213 76,307,006
2056 45,566,357 76,274,247
2055 45,418,953 76,235,304
2054 45,252,995 76,167,710
2053 45,069,089 76,094,051
2052 44,873,927 76,001,979
2051 44,668,767 75,895,690
2050 44,445,677 75,777,445
2049 44,217,593 75,646,044
2048 43,974,925 75,499,380
2047 43,712,325 75,338,951
2046 43,438,283 75,171,300
2045 43,157,909 74,993,186
2044 42,866,716 74,807,530
2043 42,557,941 74,607,485
2042 42,239,980 74,407,783
2041 41,922,379 74,203,292
2040 41,598,231 73,994,525
2039 41,270,953 73,782,112
2038 40,929,067 73,559,085
2037 40,584,773 73,335,723
2036 40,234,128 73,101,646
2035 39,876,375 72,850,722
2034 39,515,857 72,597,177
2033 39,152,086 72,322,802
2032 38,772,414 72,046,316
2031 38,386,293 71,757,868
2030 37,995,617 71,442,811
2029 37,606,753 71,123,782
2028 37,207,852 70,783,199
2027 36,806,585 70,421,923
2026 36,403,076 70,055,911
2025 35,987,113 69,658,188
2024 35,557,673 69,226,000
2023 35,126,298 68,492,000
2022 34,695,493 67,604,000
2021 34,282,399 66,984,000
2020 33,889,558 66,744,000
2019 33,440,596 66,631,000
2018 32,910,967 66,289,000
2017 32,355,644 65,966,000
2016 31,789,685 65,607,000
2015 31,232,798 65,088,000
2014 30,696,137 64,620,000
2013 30,174,265 64,139,000
2012 29,662,831 63,711,000
2011 29,162,039 63,258,810
2010 28,655,776 62,766,365
2009 28,124,778 62,276,270
2008 27,570,059 61,806,995
2007 26,998,389 61,322,463
2006 26,417,909 60,846,820
2005 25,836,071 60,401,206
2004 25,256,772 59,987,905
2003 24,679,602 59,647,577
2002 24,102,477 59,370,479
2001 23,526,538 59,119,673
2000 22,967,816 58,892,514
1999 22,435,531 58,682,466
1998 21,906,713 58,487,141
1997 21,375,218 58,316,954
1996 20,850,087 58,166,950
1995 20,330,599 58,019,030
1994 19,820,446 57,865,745
1993 19,322,664 57,718,614
1992 18,834,572 57,580,402
1991 18,342,464 57,424,897
1990 17,833,171 57,247,586
1989 17,314,997 57,076,711
1988 16,796,605 56,928,327
1987 16,276,737 56,802,050
1986 15,760,419 56,681,396
1985 15,252,258 56,550,268
1984 14,759,009 56,422,072
1983 14,285,907 56,332,848
1982 13,832,798 56,313,641
1981 13,399,203 56,333,829
1980 12,983,363 56,314,216
1979 12,627,862 56,246,951
1978 12,328,157 56,196,504
1977 12,035,713 56,193,492
1976 11,750,097 56,211,968
1975 11,471,914 56,225,800
1974 11,200,906 56,229,974
1973 10,935,621 56,194,527
1972 10,676,835 56,086,065
1971 10,423,453 55,896,223
1970 10,178,802 55,663,250
1969 9,947,597 55,441,750
1968 9,725,281 55,211,700
1967 9,507,099 54,943,600
1966 9,284,688 54,648,500
1965 9,056,408 54,348,050
1964 8,828,406 54,000,000
1963 8,602,160 53,650,000
1962 8,380,172 53,250,000
1961 8,164,443 52,800,000
1960 7,956,197 52,400,000

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-kingdom | CC BY

From 2006 to 2016, the population of Malaysia increased by 5,371,776 people (a 20.3% growth), while the United Kingdom gained 4,760,180 people (a 7.82% growth).

For the next 10 years, from 2016 to 2026, Malaysia gained 4,722,536 people (a 14.9% growth), while the United Kingdom's population increased by 4,547,914 people (a 6.93% growth).

Malaysia was ranked 44th most populous country in 2006 and is 45th in 2026. The United Kingdom was ranked 21st in 2006 and ranked 22nd 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 Kingdom will increase by 8.01% to 75,777,445 people and rank change from 22nd to 26th.

Malaysia is projected to reach its peak in 2073 at 46.7M people compared to the peak of 76.4M people in 2073 for the United Kingdom.

Population growth rate by year

Malaysia
Factual

Projection
United Kingdom
Factual

Projection
1x
Year Growth rate
Malaysia United Kingdom
2100 -0.26% -0.17%
2099 -0.25% -0.16%
2098 -0.26% -0.15%
2097 -0.27% -0.15%
2096 -0.26% -0.15%
2095 -0.26% -0.13%
2094 -0.26% -0.13%
2093 -0.25% -0.12%
2092 -0.25% -0.12%
2091 -0.25% -0.11%
2090 -0.24% -0.11%
2089 -0.24% -0.09%
2088 -0.23% -0.09%
2087 -0.23% -0.09%
2086 -0.2% -0.08%
2085 -0.2% -0.07%
2084 -0.2% -0.07%
2083 -0.18% -0.05%
2082 -0.16% -0.04%
2081 -0.16% -0.04%
2080 -0.13% -0.04%
2079 -0.11% -0.02%
2078 -0.1% -0.02%
2077 -0.05% -0.003%
2076 -0.05% -0.02%
2075 -0.03% -0.01%
2074 -0.03% -0.01%
2073 0.001% 0.01%
2072 0.02% 0.01%
2071 0.03% 0.01%
2070 0.05% 0.009%
2069 0.05% 0.001%
2068 0.07% 0.01%
2067 0.08% 0.009%
2066 0.1% 0.001%
2065 0.14% 0.004%
2064 0.14% -0%
2063 0.17% 0.009%
2062 0.2% 0.003%
2061 0.22% -0.001%
2060 0.25% -0.001%
2059 0.26% 0.02%
2058 0.28% 0.03%
2057 0.31% 0.04%
2056 0.32% 0.05%
2055 0.37% 0.09%
2054 0.41% 0.1%
2053 0.43% 0.12%
2052 0.46% 0.14%
2051 0.5% 0.16%
2050 0.52% 0.17%
2049 0.55% 0.19%
2048 0.6% 0.21%
2047 0.63% 0.22%
2046 0.65% 0.24%
2045 0.68% 0.25%
2044 0.73% 0.27%
2043 0.75% 0.27%
2042 0.76% 0.28%
2041 0.78% 0.28%
2040 0.79% 0.29%
2039 0.84% 0.3%
2038 0.85% 0.3%
2037 0.87% 0.32%
2036 0.9% 0.34%
2035 0.91% 0.35%
2034 0.93% 0.38%
2033 0.98% 0.38%
2032 1.01% 0.4%
2031 1.03% 0.44%
2030 1.03% 0.45%
2029 1.07% 0.48%
2028 1.09% 0.51%
2027 1.11% 0.52%
2026 1.16% 0.57%
2025 1.21% 0.62%
2024 1.23% 1.07%
2023 1.24% 1.31%
2022 1.2% 0.93%
2021 1.16% 0.36%
2020 1.34% 0.17%
2019 1.61% 0.52%
2018 1.72% 0.49%
2017 1.78% 0.55%
2016 1.78% 0.8%
2015 1.75% 0.72%
2014 1.73% 0.75%
2013 1.72% 0.67%
2012 1.72% 0.71%
2011 1.77% 0.78%
2010 1.89% 0.79%
2009 2.01% 0.76%
2008 2.12% 0.79%
2007 2.2% 0.78%
2006 2.25% 0.74%
2005 2.29% 0.69%
2004 2.34% 0.57%
2003 2.39% 0.47%
2002 2.45% 0.42%
2001 2.43% 0.39%
2000 2.37% 0.36%
1999 2.41% 0.33%
1998 2.49% 0.29%
1997 2.52% 0.26%
1996 2.56% 0.25%
1995 2.57% 0.26%
1994 2.58% 0.25%
1993 2.59% 0.24%
1992 2.68% 0.27%
1991 2.86% 0.31%
1990 2.99% 0.3%
1989 3.09% 0.26%
1988 3.19% 0.22%
1987 3.28% 0.21%
1986 3.33% 0.23%
1985 3.34% 0.23%
1984 3.31% 0.16%
1983 3.28% 0.03%
1982 3.24% -0.04%
1981 3.2% 0.03%
1980 2.82% 0.12%
1979 2.43% 0.09%
1978 2.43% 0.005%
1977 2.43% -0.03%
1976 2.42% -0.02%
1975 2.42% -0.007%
1974 2.43% 0.06%
1973 2.42% 0.19%
1972 2.43% 0.34%
1971 2.4% 0.42%
1970 2.32% 0.4%
1969 2.29% 0.42%
1968 2.29% 0.49%
1967 2.4% 0.54%
1966 2.52% 0.55%
1965 2.58% 0.64%
1964 2.63% 0.65%
1963 2.65% 0.75%
1962 2.64% 0.85%
1961 2.62% 0.76%

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-kingdom | CC BY

In 2024, the population of Malaysia grew by 1.23%, while the United Kingdom's population grew by 1.07%.

Live population counters

Malaysia United Kingdom
Current population
36512221
70154914
Population rank 45/197 22/197
Percent of world population 0.44% 0.85%
One net population change
1.22 minutes
43 seconds
One birth every
1.21 minutes
45.9 seconds
One death every
2.9 minutes
48.4 seconds
Daily growth/decline +1,182 +2,011
Annual growth/decline +431,375 +734,000
Annual growth/decline rate +1.23% +1.07%
Population growth rate rank 89/197 97/197
One migration net change every
3.16 minutes
1.35 minutes
Annual migration change +166,615 +389,911
Net migration rank 7/196 4/196
Foreign-born residents 3,806,514 11,845,479
Foreign-born residents rank 18/195 4/195
Foreign-born share of population 10.7% 17.1%
Foreign-born share rank 62/195 36/195

Natural population change vs migration

Malaysia
Natural

Migration
United Kingdom
Natural

Migration
1x
Year Population change
Malaysia United Kingdom
Natural Migration Natural Migration
2025 - 166,615 - 389,911
2024 - 174,770 - 417,114
2023 254,806 181,071 34,589 445,523
2022 237,560 188,154 39,751 487,029
2021 212,002 188,506 30,612 462,967
2020 283,282 101,907 -4,272 144,221
2019 309,426 203,284 108,342 232,727
2018 324,568 221,965 119,321 259,744
2017 336,434 227,677 145,125 272,311
2016 345,681 222,141 177,139 324,649
2015 358,302 187,663 175,738 347,839
2014 367,587 159,791 206,784 306,091
2013 366,738 149,637 198,830 237,272
2012 371,497 134,975 248,473 172,088
2011 372,836 122,269 259,361 228,773
2010 360,260 157,164 251,066 274,811
2009 366,157 178,410 230,422 249,639
2008 362,380 202,481 216,325 263,390
2007 348,711 229,784 196,232 309,385
2006 349,509 232,971 176,455 288,923
2005 355,324 225,864 144,963 308,279
2004 365,138 212,278 131,974 276,077
2003 377,425 199,510 89,471 211,846
2002 381,084 196,227 65,308 203,577
2001 400,939 173,613 65,032 175,133
2000 417,371 125,499 70,671 153,917
1999 432,355 89,335 64,551 152,653
1998 436,316 99,639 87,730 125,541
1997 447,768 79,266 99,138 59,723
1996 450,174 73,040 98,884 54,964
1995 443,349 72,393 87,028 61,385
1994 437,873 66,685 127,304 45,339
1993 429,910 61,079 103,893 27,403
1992 418,900 66,286 149,709 17,846
1991 401,938 97,111 143,562 27,601
1990 384,518 135,020 154,569 57,132
1989 373,277 143,544 119,861 49,586
1988 386,507 133,478 136,628 13,952
1987 381,999 137,759 136,325 8,266
1986 385,799 127,081 90,690 41,836
1985 383,243 120,215 79,170 83,164
1984 376,797 106,248 84,633 71,107
1983 365,290 97,862 61,966 27,063
1982 353,138 89,942 56,314 -61,152
1981 339,991 84,142 73,234 -83,876
1980 326,947 80,617 95,734 -25,187
1979 317,439 -13,980 61,872 11,255
1978 311,027 -15,059 16,859 3,783
1977 305,515 -16,601 0 -21,636
1976 300,615 -18,316 -5,621 -19,135
1975 294,541 -20,480 33,735 -40,241
1974 289,880 -21,919 67,476 -65,710
1973 284,611 -21,995 112,389 -33,840
1972 276,263 -21,305 162,650 -1,406
1971 272,323 -20,535 257,123 1,175
1970 269,341 -31,839 244,918 -15,254
1969 264,327 -39,420 260,577 -60,655
1968 260,705 -40,996 292,622 -38,852
1967 258,764 -42,108 346,145 -39,659
1966 262,162 -33,993 333,356 -27,935
1965 264,836 -36,456 364,132 -24,955
1964 266,406 -38,785 405,000 -23,885
1963 265,815 -40,952 337,995 8,271
1962 262,140 -43,033 340,800 76,443
1961 257,270 -44,916 311,519 52,295
1960 251,090 -46,948 314,400 19,953

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

GeoRank.org/population/malaysia/united-kingdom | 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 Kingdom 23.9% is from natural causes (a gain of 1,033,129 people) and 76.1% is from migration (a gain of 3,283,101 people).

As of 2024, 3,806,514 residents or 10.7% of the population were not native-born in Malaysia, compared to 11,845,479 people or 17.1% in the United Kingdom.

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
United Kingdom
City Population
London 8.8M
Birmingham 1.14M
Glasgow 626K
Manchester 548K
Leeds 536K
Sheffield 518K
Liverpool 513K
Edinburgh 488K
Bristol 472K
Cardiff 384K

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-kingdom | CC BY

Help us show the world through your eyes

Share a photo of your city and help others discover what it looks like to live there. Your contribution makes our data come alive.

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)

Creative Commons Attribution (CC BY) — you’re free to copy, share, remix, adapt, and use even commercially as long as you give appropriate credit and clearly indicate if you made changes. Other sources may be subject to different license terms.