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Population in Malaysia compared to Vanuatu: Trends, Charts, Rankings

Updated on by Georank team

The latest officially reported population of Malaysia was 35,557,673 in 2024 vs 327,777 people in Vanuatu in 2024. In 2026, based on the adjusted UN estimation, the current Malaysia's population is 36,512,221 people compared to 344,750 in Vanuatu.

Population statistics:

  • Malaysia's population is 105.9 times bigger than Vanuatu's.
  • Malaysia is ranked the 45th most populous country in the world, while Vanuatu is the 174th.
  • The countries together account for 0.44% of the world: 0.44% for Malaysia vs 0.004% for Vanuatu.
  • For the last 10 years, Malaysia has had an average growth rate of +1.5% per year vs +2.33% in Vanuatu.
  • Since 2006, the population of Malaysia has increased from 26.4M people to 36.5M (38.2% growth), while Vanuatu has grown from 216K to 345K (59.7% growth).

Malaysia vs Vanuatu: population by year and forecast

Malaysia
Factual

Projection
Vanuatu
Factual

Projection
1x
Year Population
Malaysia Vanuatu
2100 44,353,615 883,219
2099 44,467,475 878,572
2098 44,579,971 873,798
2097 44,695,979 868,872
2096 44,814,885 863,899
2095 44,932,404 858,713
2094 45,047,479 853,379
2093 45,165,126 847,908
2092 45,278,674 842,392
2091 45,390,002 836,807
2090 45,501,495 831,106
2089 45,610,046 825,333
2088 45,717,882 819,413
2087 45,823,085 813,386
2086 45,926,712 807,304
2085 46,020,742 801,030
2084 46,111,490 794,642
2083 46,202,286 788,195
2082 46,284,929 781,693
2081 46,359,700 775,091
2080 46,435,482 768,410
2079 46,496,102 761,593
2078 46,549,167 754,638
2077 46,594,188 747,679
2076 46,619,045 740,583
2075 46,643,115 733,404
2074 46,658,350 726,144
2073 46,670,848 718,748
2072 46,670,426 711,260
2071 46,660,436 703,705
2070 46,645,623 696,123
2069 46,623,238 688,506
2068 46,600,060 680,826
2067 46,569,264 673,074
2066 46,530,377 665,248
2065 46,481,890 657,389
2064 46,417,369 649,466
2063 46,350,674 641,532
2062 46,272,105 633,599
2061 46,178,092 625,729
2060 46,075,877 617,794
2059 45,958,718 609,801
2058 45,837,407 601,770
2057 45,707,213 593,715
2056 45,566,357 585,658
2055 45,418,953 577,507
2054 45,252,995 569,335
2053 45,069,089 561,113
2052 44,873,927 552,889
2051 44,668,767 544,646
2050 44,445,677 536,304
2049 44,217,593 527,975
2048 43,974,925 519,610
2047 43,712,325 511,256
2046 43,438,283 502,817
2045 43,157,909 494,393
2044 42,866,716 485,933
2043 42,557,941 477,540
2042 42,239,980 469,142
2041 41,922,379 460,812
2040 41,598,231 452,499
2039 41,270,953 444,231
2038 40,929,067 435,987
2037 40,584,773 427,825
2036 40,234,128 419,744
2035 39,876,375 411,746
2034 39,515,857 403,811
2033 39,152,086 395,944
2032 38,772,414 388,203
2031 38,386,293 380,500
2030 37,995,617 372,841
2029 37,606,753 365,246
2028 37,207,852 357,704
2027 36,806,585 350,204
2026 36,403,076 342,728
2025 35,987,113 335,246
2024 35,557,673 327,777
2023 35,126,298 320,409
2022 34,695,493 313,046
2021 34,282,399 305,868
2020 33,889,558 298,858
2019 33,440,596 291,985
2018 32,910,967 285,259
2017 32,355,644 278,507
2016 31,789,685 272,087
2015 31,232,798 266,101
2014 30,696,137 260,240
2013 30,174,265 254,482
2012 29,662,831 248,883
2011 29,162,039 243,474
2010 28,655,776 238,248
2009 28,124,778 232,731
2008 27,570,059 226,896
2007 26,998,389 221,276
2006 26,417,909 215,923
2005 25,836,071 210,760
2004 25,256,772 205,711
2003 24,679,602 200,746
2002 24,102,477 195,863
2001 23,526,538 191,031
2000 22,967,816 186,281
1999 22,435,531 182,048
1998 21,906,713 178,313
1997 21,375,218 174,626
1996 20,850,087 170,911
1995 20,330,599 167,137
1994 19,820,446 163,314
1993 19,322,664 159,463
1992 18,834,572 155,608
1991 18,342,464 151,793
1990 17,833,171 148,063
1989 17,314,997 144,393
1988 16,796,605 140,756
1987 16,276,737 137,187
1986 15,760,419 133,720
1985 15,252,258 130,356
1984 14,759,009 127,109
1983 14,285,907 123,998
1982 13,832,798 121,035
1981 13,399,203 118,249
1980 12,983,363 115,660
1979 12,627,862 113,040
1978 12,328,157 109,963
1977 12,035,713 106,618
1976 11,750,097 103,388
1975 11,471,914 100,269
1974 11,200,906 97,260
1973 10,935,621 94,362
1972 10,676,835 91,562
1971 10,423,453 88,862
1970 10,178,802 86,266
1969 9,947,597 83,755
1968 9,725,281 81,314
1967 9,507,099 78,921
1966 9,284,688 76,590
1965 9,056,408 74,358
1964 8,828,406 72,219
1963 8,602,160 70,159
1962 8,380,172 68,174
1961 8,164,443 66,264
1960 7,956,197 64,431

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/vanuatu | CC BY

From 2006 to 2016, the population of Malaysia increased by 5,371,776 people (a 20.3% growth), while Vanuatu gained 56,164 people (a 26% growth).

For the next 10 years, from 2016 to 2026, Malaysia gained 4,722,536 people (a 14.9% growth), while Vanuatu's population increased by 72,663 people (a 26.7% growth).

Malaysia was ranked 44th most populous country in 2006 and is 45th in 2026. Vanuatu was ranked 175th in 2006 and ranked 174th 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 Vanuatu will increase by 55.6% to 536,304 people and rank change from 174th to 169th.

Malaysia is projected to reach its peak in 2073 at 46.7M people compared to the peak of 883K people in 2100 for Vanuatu.

Population growth rate by year

Malaysia
Factual

Projection
Vanuatu
Factual

Projection
1x
Year Growth rate
Malaysia Vanuatu
2100 -0.26% 0.53%
2099 -0.25% 0.55%
2098 -0.26% 0.57%
2097 -0.27% 0.58%
2096 -0.26% 0.6%
2095 -0.26% 0.63%
2094 -0.26% 0.65%
2093 -0.25% 0.65%
2092 -0.25% 0.67%
2091 -0.25% 0.69%
2090 -0.24% 0.7%
2089 -0.24% 0.72%
2088 -0.23% 0.74%
2087 -0.23% 0.75%
2086 -0.2% 0.78%
2085 -0.2% 0.8%
2084 -0.2% 0.82%
2083 -0.18% 0.83%
2082 -0.16% 0.85%
2081 -0.16% 0.87%
2080 -0.13% 0.9%
2079 -0.11% 0.92%
2078 -0.1% 0.93%
2077 -0.05% 0.96%
2076 -0.05% 0.98%
2075 -0.03% 1%
2074 -0.03% 1.03%
2073 0.001% 1.05%
2072 0.02% 1.07%
2071 0.03% 1.09%
2070 0.05% 1.11%
2069 0.05% 1.13%
2068 0.07% 1.15%
2067 0.08% 1.18%
2066 0.1% 1.2%
2065 0.14% 1.22%
2064 0.14% 1.24%
2063 0.17% 1.25%
2062 0.2% 1.26%
2061 0.22% 1.28%
2060 0.25% 1.31%
2059 0.26% 1.33%
2058 0.28% 1.36%
2057 0.31% 1.38%
2056 0.32% 1.41%
2055 0.37% 1.44%
2054 0.41% 1.47%
2053 0.43% 1.49%
2052 0.46% 1.51%
2051 0.5% 1.56%
2050 0.52% 1.58%
2049 0.55% 1.61%
2048 0.6% 1.63%
2047 0.63% 1.68%
2046 0.65% 1.7%
2045 0.68% 1.74%
2044 0.73% 1.76%
2043 0.75% 1.79%
2042 0.76% 1.81%
2041 0.78% 1.84%
2040 0.79% 1.86%
2039 0.84% 1.89%
2038 0.85% 1.91%
2037 0.87% 1.93%
2036 0.9% 1.94%
2035 0.91% 1.97%
2034 0.93% 1.99%
2033 0.98% 1.99%
2032 1.01% 2.02%
2031 1.03% 2.05%
2030 1.03% 2.08%
2029 1.07% 2.11%
2028 1.09% 2.14%
2027 1.11% 2.18%
2026 1.16% 2.23%
2025 1.21% 2.28%
2024 1.23% 2.3%
2023 1.24% 2.35%
2022 1.2% 2.35%
2021 1.16% 2.35%
2020 1.34% 2.35%
2019 1.61% 2.36%
2018 1.72% 2.42%
2017 1.78% 2.36%
2016 1.78% 2.25%
2015 1.75% 2.25%
2014 1.73% 2.26%
2013 1.72% 2.25%
2012 1.72% 2.22%
2011 1.77% 2.19%
2010 1.89% 2.37%
2009 2.01% 2.57%
2008 2.12% 2.54%
2007 2.2% 2.48%
2006 2.25% 2.45%
2005 2.29% 2.45%
2004 2.34% 2.47%
2003 2.39% 2.49%
2002 2.45% 2.53%
2001 2.43% 2.55%
2000 2.37% 2.33%
1999 2.41% 2.09%
1998 2.49% 2.11%
1997 2.52% 2.17%
1996 2.56% 2.26%
1995 2.57% 2.34%
1994 2.58% 2.41%
1993 2.59% 2.48%
1992 2.68% 2.51%
1991 2.86% 2.52%
1990 2.99% 2.54%
1989 3.09% 2.58%
1988 3.19% 2.6%
1987 3.28% 2.59%
1986 3.33% 2.58%
1985 3.34% 2.55%
1984 3.31% 2.51%
1983 3.28% 2.45%
1982 3.24% 2.36%
1981 3.2% 2.24%
1980 2.82% 2.32%
1979 2.43% 2.8%
1978 2.43% 3.14%
1977 2.43% 3.12%
1976 2.42% 3.11%
1975 2.42% 3.09%
1974 2.43% 3.07%
1973 2.42% 3.06%
1972 2.43% 3.04%
1971 2.4% 3.01%
1970 2.32% 3%
1969 2.29% 3%
1968 2.29% 3.03%
1967 2.4% 3.04%
1966 2.52% 3%
1965 2.58% 2.96%
1964 2.63% 2.94%
1963 2.65% 2.91%
1962 2.64% 2.88%
1961 2.62% 2.84%

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/vanuatu | CC BY

In 2024, the population of Malaysia grew by 1.23%, while Vanuatu's population grew by 2.3%.

Live population counters

Malaysia Vanuatu
Current population
36512221
344750
Population rank 45/197 174/197
Percent of world population 0.44% 0.004%
One net population change
1.22 minutes
1.19 hours
One birth every
1.21 minutes
58.5 minutes
One death every
2.9 minutes
5.38 hours
Daily growth/decline +1,182 +20
Annual growth/decline +431,375 +7,368
Annual growth/decline rate +1.23% +2.3%
Population growth rate rank 89/197 38/197
One migration net change every
3.16 minutes
1.01 weeks
Annual migration change +166,615 -52
Net migration rank 7/196 80/196
Foreign-born residents 3,806,514 3,315
Foreign-born residents rank 18/195 188/195
Foreign-born share of population 10.7% 1%
Foreign-born share rank 62/195 155/195

Natural population change vs migration

Malaysia
Natural

Migration
Vanuatu
Natural

Migration
1x
Year Population change
Malaysia Vanuatu
Natural Migration Natural Migration
2025 - 166,615 - -52
2024 - 174,770 - -43
2023 254,806 181,071 7,359 0
2022 237,560 188,154 7,358 0
2021 212,002 188,506 7,199 -201
2020 283,282 101,907 7,233 -201
2019 309,426 203,284 7,364 -652
2018 324,568 221,965 7,379 -638
2017 336,434 227,677 7,371 -610
2016 345,681 222,141 7,315 -1,235
2015 358,302 187,663 7,220 -1,324
2014 367,587 159,791 7,143 -1,320
2013 366,738 149,637 7,036 -1,343
2012 371,497 134,975 6,877 -1,369
2011 372,836 122,269 6,715 -1,395
2010 360,260 157,164 6,548 -1,413
2009 366,157 178,410 6,362 -467
2008 362,380 202,481 6,138 -372
2007 348,711 229,784 5,842 -374
2006 349,509 232,971 5,606 -364
2005 355,324 225,864 5,454 -364
2004 365,138 212,278 5,353 -349
2003 377,425 199,510 5,258 -342
2002 381,084 196,227 5,181 -329
2001 400,939 173,613 5,144 -328
2000 417,371 125,499 5,026 -339
1999 432,355 89,335 4,871 -1,090
1998 436,316 99,639 4,866 -1,178
1997 447,768 79,266 4,854 -1,166
1996 450,174 73,040 4,897 -1,154
1995 443,349 72,393 4,945 -1,140
1994 437,873 66,685 4,973 -1,132
1993 429,910 61,079 4,973 -1,115
1992 418,900 66,286 4,941 -1,095
1991 401,938 97,111 4,859 -1,078
1990 384,518 135,020 4,762 -1,072
1989 373,277 143,544 4,656 -1,006
1988 386,507 133,478 4,577 -959
1987 381,999 137,759 4,427 -907
1986 385,799 127,081 4,360 -938
1985 383,243 120,215 4,219 -916
1984 376,797 106,248 4,088 -907
1983 365,290 97,862 3,944 -899
1982 353,138 89,942 3,778 -897
1981 339,991 84,142 3,592 -896
1980 326,947 80,617 3,383 -896
1979 317,439 -13,980 3,590 -845
1978 311,027 -15,059 3,428 -15
1977 305,515 -16,601 3,285 -3
1976 300,615 -18,316 3,174 3
1975 294,541 -20,480 3,074 -15
1974 289,880 -21,919 2,968 -17
1973 284,611 -21,995 2,876 -22
1972 276,263 -21,305 2,775 -28
1971 272,323 -20,535 2,685 -40
1970 269,341 -31,839 2,597 -46
1969 264,327 -39,420 2,529 -53
1968 260,705 -40,996 2,470 -68
1967 258,764 -42,108 2,384 0
1966 262,162 -33,993 2,278 0
1965 264,836 -36,456 2,180 0
1964 266,406 -38,785 2,098 0
1963 265,815 -40,952 2,025 0
1962 262,140 -43,033 1,947 0
1961 257,270 -44,916 1,872 0
1960 251,090 -46,948 1,796 0

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

GeoRank.org/population/malaysia/vanuatu | 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 Vanuatu 92.2% is from natural causes (a gain of 72,941 people) and 7.81% is from migration (a loss of 6,181 people).

As of 2024, 3,806,514 residents or 10.7% of the population were not native-born in Malaysia, compared to 3,315 people or 1% in Vanuatu.

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
Vanuatu
City Population
Port Vila 49K
Luganville 17.7K

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/vanuatu | 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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