Skip to content

Population in Malaysia compared to the Vatican: Trends, Charts, Rankings

Updated on by Georank team

The latest officially reported population of Malaysia was 35,557,673 in 2024 vs 1,000 people in the Vatican in 2019. In 2026, based on the adjusted UN estimation, the current Malaysia's population is 36,512,221 people compared to 936 in the Vatican.

Population statistics:

  • Malaysia's population is 39,009 times bigger than the Vatican's.
  • Malaysia is ranked the 45th most populous country in the world, while the Vatican is the 197th.
  • The countries together account for 0.44% of the world: 0.44% for Malaysia vs 0.00001% for the Vatican.
  • For the last 10 years, Malaysia has had an average growth rate of +1.5% per year vs +1.9% in the Vatican.
  • Since 2006, the population of Malaysia has increased from 26.4M people to 36.5M (38.2% growth), while the Vatican has grown from 932 to 936 (0.43% growth).

Malaysia vs Vatican: population by year and forecast

Malaysia
Factual

Projection
Vatican
Factual

Projection
1x
Year Population
Malaysia Vatican
2100 44,353,615 2,521
2099 44,467,475 2,506
2098 44,579,971 2,497
2097 44,695,979 2,482
2096 44,814,885 2,469
2095 44,932,404 2,452
2094 45,047,479 2,435
2093 45,165,126 2,421
2092 45,278,674 2,400
2091 45,390,002 2,384
2090 45,501,495 2,359
2089 45,610,046 2,337
2088 45,717,882 2,319
2087 45,823,085 2,291
2086 45,926,712 2,269
2085 46,020,742 2,248
2084 46,111,490 2,217
2083 46,202,286 2,183
2082 46,284,929 2,159
2081 46,359,700 2,129
2080 46,435,482 2,105
2079 46,496,102 2,089
2078 46,549,167 2,068
2077 46,594,188 2,050
2076 46,619,045 2,025
2075 46,643,115 2,001
2074 46,658,350 1,970
2073 46,670,848 1,944
2072 46,670,426 1,912
2071 46,660,436 1,866
2070 46,645,623 1,829
2069 46,623,238 1,795
2068 46,600,060 1,777
2067 46,569,264 1,755
2066 46,530,377 1,729
2065 46,481,890 1,701
2064 46,417,369 1,679
2063 46,350,674 1,651
2062 46,272,105 1,623
2061 46,178,092 1,595
2060 46,075,877 1,556
2059 45,958,718 1,530
2058 45,837,407 1,512
2057 45,707,213 1,493
2056 45,566,357 1,469
2055 45,418,953 1,441
2054 45,252,995 1,419
2053 45,069,089 1,382
2052 44,873,927 1,358
2051 44,668,767 1,335
2050 44,445,677 1,311
2049 44,217,593 1,283
2048 43,974,925 1,256
2047 43,712,325 1,237
2046 43,438,283 1,215
2045 43,157,909 1,192
2044 42,866,716 1,174
2043 42,557,941 1,152
2042 42,239,980 1,135
2041 41,922,379 1,105
2040 41,598,231 1,070
2039 41,270,953 1,033
2038 40,929,067 1,001
2037 40,584,773 996
2036 40,234,128 1,001
2035 39,876,375 988
2034 39,515,857 988
2033 39,152,086 974
2032 38,772,414 964
2031 38,386,293 977
2030 37,995,617 979
2029 37,606,753 985
2028 37,207,852 983
2027 36,806,585 946
2026 36,403,076 933
2025 35,987,113 927
2024 35,557,673 910
2023 35,126,298 927
2022 34,695,493 951
2021 34,282,399 972
2020 33,889,558 987
2019 33,440,596 1,000
2018 32,910,967 -
2017 32,355,644 1,000
2016 31,789,685 -
2015 31,232,798 1,000
2014 30,696,137 842
2013 30,174,265 839
2012 29,662,831 836
2011 29,162,039 832
2010 28,655,776 829
2009 28,124,778 826
2008 27,570,059 824
2007 26,998,389 821
2006 26,417,909 932
2005 25,836,071 921
2004 25,256,772 921
2003 24,679,602 911
2002 24,102,477 900
2001 23,526,538 890
2000 22,967,816 880
1999 22,435,531 -
1998 21,906,713 -
1997 21,375,218 -
1996 20,850,087 -
1995 20,330,599 -
1994 19,820,446 -
1993 19,322,664 -
1992 18,834,572 -
1991 18,342,464 -
1990 17,833,171 -
1989 17,314,997 -
1988 16,796,605 -
1987 16,276,737 -
1986 15,760,419 -
1985 15,252,258 -
1984 14,759,009 -
1983 14,285,907 -
1982 13,832,798 -
1981 13,399,203 -
1980 12,983,363 -
1979 12,627,862 -
1978 12,328,157 -
1977 12,035,713 -
1976 11,750,097 -
1975 11,471,914 -
1974 11,200,906 -
1973 10,935,621 -
1972 10,676,835 -
1971 10,423,453 -
1970 10,178,802 -
1969 9,947,597 -
1968 9,725,281 -
1967 9,507,099 -
1966 9,284,688 -
1965 9,056,408 -
1964 8,828,406 -
1963 8,602,160 -
1962 8,380,172 -
1961 8,164,443 -
1960 7,956,197 -

Data sources: United Nations | World Population Prospects (2020–2100, retrieved 2026-03-10); World Bank | Health (1960–2024, retrieved 2026-04-06); Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) (2000–2019, retrieved 2026-02-20).

GeoRank.org/population/malaysia/vatican | CC BY

From 2006 to 2016, the population of Malaysia increased by 5,371,776 people (a 20.3% growth), while the Vatican gained 68 people (a 7.3% growth).

For the next 10 years, from 2016 to 2026, Malaysia gained 4,722,536 people (a 14.9% growth), while the Vatican's population decreased by 64 people (a 6.4% decline).

Malaysia was ranked 44th most populous country in 2006 and is 45th in 2026. The Vatican was ranked 197th in 2006 and still ranked 197th 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 Vatican will increase by 40.1% to 1,311 people and will still be ranked 197th.

Malaysia is projected to reach its peak in 2073 at 46.7M people compared to the peak of 2.52K people in 2100 for the Vatican.

Population growth rate by year

Malaysia
Factual

Projection
Vatican
Factual

Projection
1x
Year Growth rate
Malaysia Vatican
2100 -0.26% 0.59%
2099 -0.25% 0.37%
2098 -0.26% 0.6%
2097 -0.27% 0.53%
2096 -0.26% 0.68%
2095 -0.26% 0.69%
2094 -0.26% 0.61%
2093 -0.25% 0.85%
2092 -0.25% 0.7%
2091 -0.25% 1.02%
2090 -0.24% 0.95%
2089 -0.24% 0.8%
2088 -0.23% 1.21%
2087 -0.23% 0.98%
2086 -0.2% 0.91%
2085 -0.2% 1.42%
2084 -0.2% 1.53%
2083 -0.18% 1.12%
2082 -0.16% 1.39%
2081 -0.16% 1.15%
2080 -0.13% 0.8%
2079 -0.11% 0.99%
2078 -0.1% 0.9%
2077 -0.05% 1.19%
2076 -0.05% 1.2%
2075 -0.03% 1.6%
2074 -0.03% 1.34%
2073 0.001% 1.65%
2072 0.02% 2.49%
2071 0.03% 2.03%
2070 0.05% 1.86%
2069 0.05% 1.04%
2068 0.07% 1.27%
2067 0.08% 1.5%
2066 0.1% 1.64%
2065 0.14% 1.33%
2064 0.14% 1.69%
2063 0.17% 1.71%
2062 0.2% 1.74%
2061 0.22% 2.5%
2060 0.25% 1.7%
2059 0.26% 1.23%
2058 0.28% 1.24%
2057 0.31% 1.64%
2056 0.32% 1.93%
2055 0.37% 1.57%
2054 0.41% 2.68%
2053 0.43% 1.78%
2052 0.46% 1.67%
2051 0.5% 1.84%
2050 0.52% 2.17%
2049 0.55% 2.22%
2048 0.6% 1.5%
2047 0.63% 1.83%
2046 0.65% 1.87%
2045 0.68% 1.58%
2044 0.73% 1.93%
2043 0.75% 1.47%
2042 0.76% 2.68%
2041 0.78% 3.29%
2040 0.79% 3.59%
2039 0.84% 3.15%
2038 0.85% 0.56%
2037 0.87% -0.56%
2036 0.9% 1.31%
2035 0.91% 0%
2034 0.93% 1.52%
2033 0.98% 0.96%
2032 1.01% -1.33%
2031 1.03% -0.19%
2030 1.03% -0.56%
2029 1.07% 0.19%
2028 1.09% 3.92%
2027 1.11% 1.39%
2026 1.16% 0.6%
2025 1.21% 1.83%
2024 1.23% -1.8%
2023 1.24% -2.53%
2022 1.2% -2.1%
2021 1.16% -1.5%
2020 1.34% -1.3%
2019 1.61% 0%
2018 1.72% 0%
2017 1.78% 0%
2016 1.78% 0%
2015 1.75% 18.8%
2014 1.73% 0.36%
2013 1.72% 0.36%
2012 1.72% 0.48%
2011 1.77% 0.36%
2010 1.89% 0.36%
2009 2.01% 0.24%
2008 2.12% 0.37%
2007 2.2% -11.9%
2006 2.25% 1.19%
2005 2.29% 0%
2004 2.34% 1.1%
2003 2.39% 1.22%
2002 2.45% 1.12%
2001 2.43% 1.14%
2000 2.37% -
1999 2.41% -
1998 2.49% -
1997 2.52% -
1996 2.56% -
1995 2.57% -
1994 2.58% -
1993 2.59% -
1992 2.68% -
1991 2.86% -
1990 2.99% -
1989 3.09% -
1988 3.19% -
1987 3.28% -
1986 3.33% -
1985 3.34% -
1984 3.31% -
1983 3.28% -
1982 3.24% -
1981 3.2% -
1980 2.82% -
1979 2.43% -
1978 2.43% -
1977 2.43% -
1976 2.42% -
1975 2.42% -
1974 2.43% -
1973 2.42% -
1972 2.43% -
1971 2.4% -
1970 2.32% -
1969 2.29% -
1968 2.29% -
1967 2.4% -
1966 2.52% -
1965 2.58% -
1964 2.63% -
1963 2.65% -
1962 2.64% -
1961 2.62% -

Data sources: United Nations | World Population Prospects (2020–2100, retrieved 2026-03-10); World Bank | Health (1961–2024, retrieved 2026-04-06); Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) (2001–2019, retrieved 2026-02-20).

GeoRank.org/population/malaysia/vatican | CC BY

In 2024, the population of Malaysia grew by 1.23%, while the Vatican's population declined by 0%.

Live population counters

Malaysia Vatican
Current population
36512221
936
Population rank 45/197 197/197
Percent of world population 0.44% 0.00001%
One net population change
1.22 minutes
1 month
One birth every
1.21 minutes
n/a
One death every
2.9 minutes
n/a
Daily growth/decline +1,182 +0
Annual growth/decline +431,375 +0
Annual growth/decline rate +1.23% +0%
Population growth rate rank 89/197 163/197
One migration net change every
3.16 minutes
n/a
Annual migration change +166,615 n/a
Net migration rank 7/196
Foreign-born residents 3,806,514 n/a
Foreign-born residents rank 18/195
Foreign-born share of population 10.7% n/a
Foreign-born share rank 62/195

Natural population change vs migration

Malaysia
Natural

Migration
Vatican
Natural

Migration
1x
Year Population change
Malaysia Vatican
Natural Migration Natural Migration
2025 - 166,615 - -
2024 - 174,770 - -
2023 254,806 181,071 - -
2022 237,560 188,154 - -
2021 212,002 188,506 - -
2020 283,282 101,907 - -
2019 309,426 203,284 - -
2018 324,568 221,965 - -
2017 336,434 227,677 - -
2016 345,681 222,141 - -
2015 358,302 187,663 - -
2014 367,587 159,791 - -
2013 366,738 149,637 - -
2012 371,497 134,975 - -
2011 372,836 122,269 - -
2010 360,260 157,164 - -
2009 366,157 178,410 - -
2008 362,380 202,481 - -
2007 348,711 229,784 - -
2006 349,509 232,971 - -
2005 355,324 225,864 - -
2004 365,138 212,278 - -
2003 377,425 199,510 - -
2002 381,084 196,227 - -
2001 400,939 173,613 - -
2000 417,371 125,499 - -
1999 432,355 89,335 - -
1998 436,316 99,639 - -
1997 447,768 79,266 - -
1996 450,174 73,040 - -
1995 443,349 72,393 - -
1994 437,873 66,685 - -
1993 429,910 61,079 - -
1992 418,900 66,286 - -
1991 401,938 97,111 - -
1990 384,518 135,020 - -
1989 373,277 143,544 - -
1988 386,507 133,478 - -
1987 381,999 137,759 - -
1986 385,799 127,081 - -
1985 383,243 120,215 - -
1984 376,797 106,248 - -
1983 365,290 97,862 - -
1982 353,138 89,942 - -
1981 339,991 84,142 - -
1980 326,947 80,617 - -
1979 317,439 -13,980 - -
1978 311,027 -15,059 - -
1977 305,515 -16,601 - -
1976 300,615 -18,316 - -
1975 294,541 -20,480 - -
1974 289,880 -21,919 - -
1973 284,611 -21,995 - -
1972 276,263 -21,305 - -
1971 272,323 -20,535 - -
1970 269,341 -31,839 - -
1969 264,327 -39,420 - -
1968 260,705 -40,996 - -
1967 258,764 -42,108 - -
1966 262,162 -33,993 - -
1965 264,836 -36,456 - -
1964 266,406 -38,785 - -
1963 265,815 -40,952 - -
1962 262,140 -43,033 - -
1961 257,270 -44,916 - -
1960 251,090 -46,948 - -

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

GeoRank.org/population/malaysia/vatican | CC BY

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
Vatican
City Population
Vatican City 882

Compare countries by 7 more topics

Population differences between Malaysia and the Vatican

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/vatican | 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. Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) (2000–2019, retrieved 2026-02-20)
  5. Wikidata (2026, retrieved 2026-02-08)

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.