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

Updated on by Georank

The latest officially reported population of Malaysia was 35,977,838 in 2025 vs 69,487,000 people in the United Kingdom in 2025. In 2026, based on the adjusted UN estimation, the current Malaysia's population is 36,600,906 people compared to 70,071,289 in the United Kingdom.

Population statistics:

  • The United Kingdom's population is 1.91 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 1.28% of the world: 0.44% for Malaysia vs 0.84% for the United Kingdom.
  • For the last 10 years, Malaysia has had an average growth rate of +1.45% per year vs +0.66% in the United Kingdom.
  • Since 2006, the population of Malaysia has increased from 26.4M people to 36.6M (38.5% growth), while the United Kingdom has grown from 60.8M to 70.1M (15.2% growth).

Malaysia vs United Kingdom: population by year and forecast

Malaysia
Factual

Projection
United Kingdom
Factual

Projection
1x
Year Population
Malaysia United Kingdom
2100 44,342,183 74,517,005
2099 44,456,013 74,647,273
2098 44,568,480 74,766,073
2097 44,684,459 74,879,923
2096 44,803,334 74,991,940
2095 44,920,823 75,102,041
2094 45,035,868 75,198,597
2093 45,153,485 75,296,704
2092 45,267,003 75,390,038
2091 45,378,303 75,480,137
2090 45,489,767 75,566,962
2089 45,598,290 75,649,353
2088 45,706,098 75,721,067
2087 45,811,274 75,791,990
2086 45,914,874 75,859,854
2085 46,008,880 75,918,647
2084 46,099,604 75,969,065
2083 46,190,377 76,018,614
2082 46,272,999 76,059,464
2081 46,347,751 76,086,593
2080 46,423,514 76,118,679
2079 46,484,118 76,147,352
2078 46,537,169 76,165,841
2077 46,582,178 76,183,437
2076 46,607,029 76,185,828
2075 46,631,092 76,198,349
2074 46,646,324 76,209,676
2073 46,658,819 76,218,781
2072 46,658,396 76,211,187
2071 46,648,409 76,200,495
2070 46,633,600 76,190,801
2069 46,611,221 76,184,140
2068 46,588,049 76,183,288
2067 46,557,261 76,175,881
2066 46,518,384 76,168,987
2065 46,469,909 76,168,193
2064 46,405,405 76,165,129
2063 46,338,727 76,165,534
2062 46,260,178 76,158,910
2061 46,166,190 76,156,587
2060 46,064,001 76,157,104
2059 45,946,872 76,157,593
2058 45,825,593 76,139,384
2057 45,695,432 76,119,478
2056 45,554,612 76,086,799
2055 45,407,246 76,047,952
2054 45,241,331 75,980,524
2053 45,057,472 75,907,047
2052 44,862,361 75,815,200
2051 44,657,253 75,709,173
2050 44,434,221 75,591,218
2049 44,206,196 75,460,140
2048 43,963,591 75,313,837
2047 43,701,058 75,153,802
2046 43,427,087 74,986,563
2045 43,146,785 74,808,886
2044 42,855,667 74,623,687
2043 42,546,972 74,424,133
2042 42,229,093 74,224,922
2041 41,911,573 74,020,934
2040 41,587,509 73,812,680
2039 41,260,315 73,600,788
2038 40,918,517 73,378,310
2037 40,574,312 73,155,497
2036 40,223,758 72,921,995
2035 39,866,097 72,671,687
2034 39,505,672 72,418,766
2033 39,141,994 72,145,065
2032 38,762,420 71,869,259
2031 38,376,399 71,581,519
2030 37,985,824 71,267,237
2029 37,597,060 70,948,992
2028 37,198,261 70,609,246
2027 36,797,098 70,248,858
2026 36,393,693 69,883,746
2025 35,977,838 69,487,000
2024 35,557,673 69,281,000
2023 35,126,298 68,526,000
2022 34,695,493 67,636,000
2021 34,282,399 66,978,000
2020 33,889,558 66,740,000
2019 33,440,596 66,628,000
2018 32,910,967 66,287,000
2017 32,355,644 65,964,000
2016 31,789,685 65,606,000
2015 31,232,798 65,087,000
2014 30,696,137 64,619,000
2013 30,174,265 64,138,000
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 (2026–2100, retrieved 2026-07-08); World Bank | Health (1960–2025, retrieved 2026-07-08).

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 4,759,180 people (a 7.82% growth).

For the next 10 years, from 2016 to 2026, Malaysia gained 4,811,221 people (a 15.1% growth), while the United Kingdom's population increased by 4,465,289 people (a 6.81% 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 21.4% to 44,434,221 people with a rank change from 45th to 49th. The population of the United Kingdom will increase by 7.88% to 75,591,218 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 76.2M 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 1.18% 0.3%
2024 1.23% 1.1%
2023 1.24% 1.32%
2022 1.2% 0.98%
2021 1.16% 0.36%
2020 1.34% 0.17%
2019 1.61% 0.51%
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 (2026–2100, retrieved 2026-07-08); World Bank | Health (1961–2025, retrieved 2026-07-08).

GeoRank.org/population/malaysia/united-kingdom | CC BY

In 2025, the population of Malaysia grew by 1.18%, while the United Kingdom's population grew by 0.3%.

Live population counters

Malaysia United Kingdom
Current population
36600906
70071289
Population rank 45/197 22/197
Percent of world population 0.44% 0.84%
One net population change
1.25 minutes
2.56 minutes
One birth every
1.2 minutes
46 seconds
One death every
2.8 minutes
46.9 seconds
Daily growth/decline +1,151 +564
Annual growth/decline +420,165 +206,000
Annual growth/decline rate +1.18% +0.3%
Population growth rate rank 89/197 145/197
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 252,068 174,770 13,233 417,114
2023 254,806 181,071 34,606 445,523
2022 237,560 188,154 39,770 487,029
2021 212,002 188,506 30,609 462,967
2020 283,282 101,907 -4,272 144,221
2019 309,426 203,284 108,338 232,727
2018 324,568 221,965 119,317 259,744
2017 336,434 227,677 145,121 272,311
2016 345,681 222,141 177,136 324,649
2015 358,302 187,663 175,735 347,839
2014 367,587 159,791 206,781 306,091
2013 366,738 149,637 198,827 237,272
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 2026-07-08).

GeoRank.org/population/malaysia/united-kingdom | 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 Kingdom 19.8% is from natural causes (a gain of 839,593 people) and 80.2% is from migration (a gain of 3,394,124 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 (1960–2025, 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-kingdom | 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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