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

Updated on by Georank team

The latest officially reported population of Malaysia was 35,557,673 in 2024 vs 341,784,857 people in the United States in 2025. In 2026, based on the adjusted UN estimation, the current Malaysia's population is 36,512,221 people compared to 344,023,146 in the United States.

Population statistics:

  • The United States' population is 9.42 times bigger than Malaysia's.
  • Malaysia is ranked the 45th most populous country in the world, while the United States is the 3rd.
  • The countries together account for 4.59% of the world: 0.44% for Malaysia vs 4.15% for the United States.
  • For the last 10 years, Malaysia has had an average growth rate of +1.5% per year vs +0.65% in the United States.
  • Since 2006, the population of Malaysia has increased from 26.4M people to 36.5M (38.2% growth), while the United States has grown from 298M to 344M (15.3% growth).

Malaysia vs United States: population by year and forecast

Malaysia
Factual

Projection
United States
Factual

Projection
1x
Year Population
Malaysia United States
2100 44,353,615 415,429,771
2099 44,467,475 414,829,167
2098 44,579,971 414,231,720
2097 44,695,979 413,576,381
2096 44,814,885 412,927,393
2095 44,932,404 412,225,379
2094 45,047,479 411,498,749
2093 45,165,126 410,785,729
2092 45,278,674 410,051,921
2091 45,390,002 409,320,183
2090 45,501,495 408,613,732
2089 45,610,046 407,885,645
2088 45,717,882 407,129,733
2087 45,823,085 406,421,298
2086 45,926,712 405,715,343
2085 46,020,742 405,059,379
2084 46,111,490 404,343,130
2083 46,202,286 403,612,785
2082 46,284,929 402,871,293
2081 46,359,700 402,054,554
2080 46,435,482 401,319,194
2079 46,496,102 400,554,914
2078 46,549,167 399,737,968
2077 46,594,188 398,906,565
2076 46,619,045 398,035,750
2075 46,643,115 397,109,170
2074 46,658,350 396,226,412
2073 46,670,848 395,307,725
2072 46,670,426 394,393,561
2071 46,660,436 393,415,363
2070 46,645,623 392,469,727
2069 46,623,238 391,479,981
2068 46,600,060 390,517,695
2067 46,569,264 389,543,856
2066 46,530,377 388,597,719
2065 46,481,890 387,685,327
2064 46,417,369 386,805,026
2063 46,350,674 385,911,917
2062 46,272,105 385,032,627
2061 46,178,092 384,170,837
2060 46,075,877 383,361,269
2059 45,958,718 382,542,030
2058 45,837,407 381,704,804
2057 45,707,213 380,907,023
2056 45,566,357 380,159,777
2055 45,418,953 379,430,756
2054 45,252,995 378,682,851
2053 45,069,089 377,878,421
2052 44,873,927 377,073,303
2051 44,668,767 376,229,840
2050 44,445,677 375,373,155
2049 44,217,593 374,493,150
2048 43,974,925 373,590,762
2047 43,712,325 372,626,259
2046 43,438,283 371,644,809
2045 43,157,909 370,602,914
2044 42,866,716 369,518,897
2043 42,557,941 368,375,680
2042 42,239,980 367,158,772
2041 41,922,379 365,937,822
2040 41,598,231 364,671,837
2039 41,270,953 363,367,337
2038 40,929,067 361,997,023
2037 40,584,773 360,606,236
2036 40,234,128 359,193,245
2035 39,876,375 357,750,686
2034 39,515,857 356,266,726
2033 39,152,086 354,775,032
2032 38,772,414 353,259,037
2031 38,386,293 351,721,511
2030 37,995,617 350,155,042
2029 37,606,753 348,564,667
2028 37,207,852 346,906,294
2027 36,806,585 345,257,605
2026 36,403,076 343,565,426
2025 35,987,113 341,784,857
2024 35,557,673 340,110,988
2023 35,126,298 334,914,895
2022 34,695,493 333,271,411
2021 34,282,399 331,893,745
2020 33,889,558 331,526,933
2019 33,440,596 328,329,953
2018 32,910,967 326,838,199
2017 32,355,644 325,122,128
2016 31,789,685 323,071,755
2015 31,232,798 320,738,994
2014 30,696,137 318,386,329
2013 30,174,265 316,059,947
2012 29,662,831 313,877,662
2011 29,162,039 311,583,481
2010 28,655,776 309,327,143
2009 28,124,778 306,771,529
2008 27,570,059 304,093,966
2007 26,998,389 301,231,207
2006 26,417,909 298,379,912
2005 25,836,071 295,516,599
2004 25,256,772 292,805,298
2003 24,679,602 290,107,933
2002 24,102,477 287,625,193
2001 23,526,538 284,968,955
2000 22,967,816 282,162,411
1999 22,435,531 279,294,713
1998 21,906,713 276,115,288
1997 21,375,218 272,911,760
1996 20,850,087 269,667,391
1995 20,330,599 266,557,091
1994 19,820,446 263,435,673
1993 19,322,664 260,255,352
1992 18,834,572 256,894,189
1991 18,342,464 253,492,503
1990 17,833,171 250,131,894
1989 17,314,997 246,819,222
1988 16,796,605 244,499,004
1987 16,276,737 242,288,936
1986 15,760,419 240,132,831
1985 15,252,258 237,923,734
1984 14,759,009 235,824,908
1983 14,285,907 233,792,014
1982 13,832,798 231,664,432
1981 13,399,203 229,465,744
1980 12,983,363 226,542,250
1979 12,627,862 225,055,487
1978 12,328,157 222,584,545
1977 12,035,713 220,239,425
1976 11,750,097 218,035,164
1975 11,471,914 215,973,199
1974 11,200,906 213,853,928
1973 10,935,621 211,908,788
1972 10,676,835 209,896,021
1971 10,423,453 207,660,677
1970 10,178,802 205,052,174
1969 9,947,597 202,676,946
1968 9,725,281 200,706,052
1967 9,507,099 198,712,056
1966 9,284,688 196,560,338
1965 9,056,408 194,302,963
1964 8,828,406 191,888,791
1963 8,602,160 189,241,798
1962 8,380,172 186,537,737
1961 8,164,443 183,691,481
1960 7,956,197 180,671,158

Data sources: United Nations | World Population Prospects (2025–2100, retrieved 2026-03-10); U.S. Census Bureau (1960–2025, retrieved 2026-02-08); World Bank | Health (1960–2024, retrieved 2026-04-06).

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

From 2006 to 2016, the population of Malaysia increased by 5,371,776 people (a 20.3% growth), while the United States gained 24,691,843 people (a 8.28% growth).

For the next 10 years, from 2016 to 2026, Malaysia gained 4,722,536 people (a 14.9% growth), while the United States' population increased by 20,951,391 people (a 6.49% growth).

Malaysia was ranked 44th most populous country in 2006 and is 45th in 2026. The United States was ranked 3rd in 2006 and still ranked 3rd 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 States will increase by 9.11% to 375,373,155 people and will still be ranked 3rd.

Malaysia is projected to reach its peak in 2073 at 46.7M people compared to the peak of 415M people in 2100 for the United States.

Population growth rate by year

Malaysia
Factual

Projection
United States
Factual

Projection
1x
Year Growth rate
Malaysia United States
2100 -0.26% 0.14%
2099 -0.25% 0.14%
2098 -0.26% 0.16%
2097 -0.27% 0.16%
2096 -0.26% 0.17%
2095 -0.26% 0.18%
2094 -0.26% 0.17%
2093 -0.25% 0.18%
2092 -0.25% 0.18%
2091 -0.25% 0.17%
2090 -0.24% 0.18%
2089 -0.24% 0.19%
2088 -0.23% 0.17%
2087 -0.23% 0.17%
2086 -0.2% 0.16%
2085 -0.2% 0.18%
2084 -0.2% 0.18%
2083 -0.18% 0.18%
2082 -0.16% 0.2%
2081 -0.16% 0.18%
2080 -0.13% 0.19%
2079 -0.11% 0.2%
2078 -0.1% 0.21%
2077 -0.05% 0.22%
2076 -0.05% 0.23%
2075 -0.03% 0.22%
2074 -0.03% 0.23%
2073 0.001% 0.23%
2072 0.02% 0.25%
2071 0.03% 0.24%
2070 0.05% 0.25%
2069 0.05% 0.25%
2068 0.07% 0.25%
2067 0.08% 0.24%
2066 0.1% 0.24%
2065 0.14% 0.23%
2064 0.14% 0.23%
2063 0.17% 0.23%
2062 0.2% 0.22%
2061 0.22% 0.21%
2060 0.25% 0.21%
2059 0.26% 0.22%
2058 0.28% 0.21%
2057 0.31% 0.2%
2056 0.32% 0.19%
2055 0.37% 0.2%
2054 0.41% 0.21%
2053 0.43% 0.21%
2052 0.46% 0.22%
2051 0.5% 0.23%
2050 0.52% 0.23%
2049 0.55% 0.24%
2048 0.6% 0.26%
2047 0.63% 0.26%
2046 0.65% 0.28%
2045 0.68% 0.29%
2044 0.73% 0.31%
2043 0.75% 0.33%
2042 0.76% 0.33%
2041 0.78% 0.35%
2040 0.79% 0.36%
2039 0.84% 0.38%
2038 0.85% 0.39%
2037 0.87% 0.39%
2036 0.9% 0.4%
2035 0.91% 0.42%
2034 0.93% 0.42%
2033 0.98% 0.43%
2032 1.01% 0.44%
2031 1.03% 0.45%
2030 1.03% 0.46%
2029 1.07% 0.48%
2028 1.09% 0.48%
2027 1.11% 0.49%
2026 1.16% 0.52%
2025 1.21% 0.49%
2024 1.23% 1.55%
2023 1.24% 0.49%
2022 1.2% 0.42%
2021 1.16% 0.11%
2020 1.34% 0.97%
2019 1.61% 0.46%
2018 1.72% 0.53%
2017 1.78% 0.63%
2016 1.78% 0.73%
2015 1.75% 0.74%
2014 1.73% 0.74%
2013 1.72% 0.7%
2012 1.72% 0.74%
2011 1.77% 0.73%
2010 1.89% 0.83%
2009 2.01% 0.88%
2008 2.12% 0.95%
2007 2.2% 0.96%
2006 2.25% 0.97%
2005 2.29% 0.93%
2004 2.34% 0.93%
2003 2.39% 0.86%
2002 2.45% 0.93%
2001 2.43% 0.99%
2000 2.37% 1.03%
1999 2.41% 1.15%
1998 2.49% 1.17%
1997 2.52% 1.2%
1996 2.56% 1.17%
1995 2.57% 1.18%
1994 2.58% 1.22%
1993 2.59% 1.31%
1992 2.68% 1.34%
1991 2.86% 1.34%
1990 2.99% 1.34%
1989 3.09% 0.95%
1988 3.19% 0.91%
1987 3.28% 0.9%
1986 3.33% 0.93%
1985 3.34% 0.89%
1984 3.31% 0.87%
1983 3.28% 0.92%
1982 3.24% 0.96%
1981 3.2% 1.29%
1980 2.82% 0.66%
1979 2.43% 1.11%
1978 2.43% 1.06%
1977 2.43% 1.01%
1976 2.42% 0.95%
1975 2.42% 0.99%
1974 2.43% 0.92%
1973 2.42% 0.96%
1972 2.43% 1.08%
1971 2.4% 1.27%
1970 2.32% 1.17%
1969 2.29% 0.98%
1968 2.29% 1%
1967 2.4% 1.09%
1966 2.52% 1.16%
1965 2.58% 1.26%
1964 2.63% 1.4%
1963 2.65% 1.45%
1962 2.64% 1.55%
1961 2.62% 1.67%
1960 - 1.6%

Data sources: United Nations | World Population Prospects (2025–2100, retrieved 2026-03-10); U.S. Census Bureau (1960–2025, retrieved 2026-02-08); World Bank | Health (1961–2024, retrieved 2026-04-06).

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

In 2025, the population of Malaysia grew by 1.23%, while the United States' population grew by 0.49%.

Live population counters

Malaysia United States
Current population
36512221
344023146
Population rank 45/197 3/197
Percent of world population 0.44% 4.15%
One net population change
1.22 minutes
18.9 seconds
One birth every
1.21 minutes
8.8 seconds
One death every
2.9 minutes
10.2 seconds
Daily growth/decline +1,182 +4,586
Annual growth/decline +431,375 +1,673,869
Annual growth/decline rate +1.23% +0.49%
Population growth rate rank 89/197 134/197
One migration net change every
3.16 minutes
25.7 seconds
Annual migration change +166,615 +1,230,663
Net migration rank 7/196 2/196
Foreign-born residents 3,806,514 52,375,047
Foreign-born residents rank 18/195 1/195
Foreign-born share of population 10.7% 15.2%
Foreign-born share rank 62/195 41/195

Natural population change vs migration

Malaysia
Natural

Migration
United States
Natural

Migration
1x
Year Population change
Malaysia United States
Natural Migration Natural Migration
2025 - 166,615 - 1,230,663
2024 - 174,770 - 1,286,132
2023 254,806 181,071 502,372 1,322,668
2022 237,560 188,154 399,926 1,319,009
2021 212,002 188,506 199,137 674,787
2020 283,282 101,907 208,862 329,769
2019 309,426 203,284 887,476 1,774,500
2018 324,568 221,965 955,022 1,764,961
2017 336,434 227,677 1,028,037 1,864,738
2016 345,681 222,141 1,197,627 1,889,129
2015 358,302 187,663 1,270,126 1,722,127
2014 367,587 159,791 1,357,281 1,672,598
2013 366,738 149,637 1,322,711 1,663,885
2012 371,497 134,975 1,411,822 1,632,007
2011 372,836 122,269 1,441,697 1,624,033
2010 360,260 157,164 1,548,182 1,594,453
2009 366,157 178,410 1,717,920 1,387,306
2008 362,380 202,481 1,794,154 1,416,841
2007 348,711 229,784 1,897,757 1,371,353
2006 349,509 232,971 1,849,955 1,347,750
2005 355,324 225,864 1,684,445 1,369,224
2004 365,138 212,278 1,698,271 1,313,467
2003 377,425 199,510 1,653,615 1,331,376
2002 381,084 196,227 1,581,938 1,336,518
2001 400,939 173,613 1,595,826 1,312,455
2000 417,371 125,499 1,664,758 1,248,392
1999 432,355 89,335 1,564,050 1,156,311
1998 436,316 99,639 1,573,857 1,225,134
1997 447,768 79,266 1,501,014 1,116,922
1996 450,174 73,040 1,510,137 1,141,648
1995 443,349 72,393 1,546,031 1,173,016
1994 437,873 66,685 1,633,302 1,179,309
1993 429,910 61,079 1,717,685 1,228,478
1992 418,900 66,286 1,875,328 1,304,880
1991 401,938 97,111 1,926,543 1,202,426
1990 384,518 135,020 2,026,068 1,084,720
1989 373,277 143,544 1,875,826 400,998
1988 386,507 133,478 1,735,943 460,778
1987 381,999 137,759 1,720,252 480,815
1986 385,799 127,081 1,656,917 493,082
1985 383,243 120,215 1,689,258 598,777
1984 376,797 106,248 1,627,192 622,793
1983 365,290 97,862 1,636,544 662,840
1982 353,138 89,942 1,714,317 600,149
1981 339,991 84,142 1,652,153 583,070
1980 326,947 80,617 1,608,450 595,916
1979 317,439 -13,980 1,597,894 503,559
1978 311,027 -15,059 1,402,283 556,521
1977 305,515 -16,601 1,431,556 577,060
1976 300,615 -18,316 1,264,604 635,590
1975 294,541 -20,480 1,252,644 655,078
1974 289,880 -21,919 1,218,968 706,978
1973 284,611 -21,995 1,165,499 783,163
1972 276,263 -21,305 1,301,355 833,543
1971 272,323 -20,535 1,640,519 833,549
1970 269,341 -31,839 1,824,965 744,902
1969 264,327 -39,420 1,702,487 523,740
1968 260,705 -40,996 1,565,507 594,514
1967 258,764 -42,108 1,669,181 585,410
1966 262,162 -33,993 1,749,387 637,692
1965 264,836 -36,456 1,943,030 644,902
1964 266,406 -38,785 2,245,099 618,635
1963 265,815 -40,952 2,289,826 639,495
1962 262,140 -43,033 2,406,337 625,617
1961 257,270 -44,916 2,571,681 580,333
1960 251,090 -46,948 2,565,530 422,708

Data sources: World Bank | Health (1960–2025, retrieved 2026-04-06); U.S. Census Bureau (1960–2023, retrieved 2026-02-08).

GeoRank.org/population/malaysia/united-states | 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 States 35.8% is from natural causes (a gain of 8,005,866 people) and 64.2% is from migration (a gain of 14,334,286 people).

As of 2024, 3,806,514 residents or 10.7% of the population were not native-born in Malaysia, compared to 52,375,047 people or 15.2% in the United States.

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 States
City Population
New York 8.8M
Los Angeles 3.9M
Chicago 2.75M
Houston 2.3M
Phoenix 1.61M
Philadelphia 1.6M
San Antonio 1.43M
San Diego 1.39M
Dallas 1.3M
San Jose 1.01M

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-states | 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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