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

Updated on by Georank team

The latest officially reported population of Malaysia was 35,557,673 in 2024 vs 21,314,956 people in Zambia in 2024. In 2026, based on the adjusted UN estimation, the current Malaysia's population is 36,512,221 people compared to 22,697,916 in Zambia.

Population statistics:

  • Malaysia's population is 1.61 times bigger than Zambia's.
  • Malaysia is ranked the 45th most populous country in the world, while Zambia is the 62nd.
  • The countries together account for 0.71% of the world: 0.44% for Malaysia vs 0.27% for Zambia.
  • For the last 10 years, Malaysia has had an average growth rate of +1.5% per year vs +3% in Zambia.
  • Since 2006, the population of Malaysia has increased from 26.4M people to 36.5M (38.2% growth), while Zambia has grown from 12.1M to 22.7M (87.1% growth).

Malaysia vs Zambia: population by year and forecast

Malaysia
Factual

Projection
Zambia
Factual

Projection
1x
Year Population
Malaysia Zambia
2100 44,353,615 65,217,429
2099 44,467,475 64,871,545
2098 44,579,971 64,515,891
2097 44,695,979 64,148,736
2096 44,814,885 63,777,313
2095 44,932,404 63,393,169
2094 45,047,479 62,992,652
2093 45,165,126 62,590,327
2092 45,278,674 62,175,930
2091 45,390,002 61,750,591
2090 45,501,495 61,321,399
2089 45,610,046 60,880,148
2088 45,717,882 60,434,676
2087 45,823,085 59,970,107
2086 45,926,712 59,499,234
2085 46,020,742 59,023,040
2084 46,111,490 58,535,857
2083 46,202,286 58,040,512
2082 46,284,929 57,538,672
2081 46,359,700 57,027,491
2080 46,435,482 56,506,421
2079 46,496,102 55,983,242
2078 46,549,167 55,449,777
2077 46,594,188 54,906,771
2076 46,619,045 54,361,075
2075 46,643,115 53,806,856
2074 46,658,350 53,246,777
2073 46,670,848 52,677,348
2072 46,670,426 52,101,139
2071 46,660,436 51,519,691
2070 46,645,623 50,931,614
2069 46,623,238 50,334,700
2068 46,600,060 49,737,479
2067 46,569,264 49,135,488
2066 46,530,377 48,530,443
2065 46,481,890 47,918,592
2064 46,417,369 47,299,740
2063 46,350,674 46,677,439
2062 46,272,105 46,048,819
2061 46,178,092 45,416,657
2060 46,075,877 44,777,347
2059 45,958,718 44,137,306
2058 45,837,407 43,494,451
2057 45,707,213 42,851,923
2056 45,566,357 42,206,898
2055 45,418,953 41,558,284
2054 45,252,995 40,906,492
2053 45,069,089 40,255,629
2052 44,873,927 39,603,888
2051 44,668,767 38,949,958
2050 44,445,677 38,294,607
2049 44,217,593 37,634,194
2048 43,974,925 36,971,309
2047 43,712,325 36,309,749
2046 43,438,283 35,645,868
2045 43,157,909 34,981,812
2044 42,866,716 34,316,981
2043 42,557,941 33,652,420
2042 42,239,980 32,990,657
2041 41,922,379 32,329,447
2040 41,598,231 31,664,262
2039 41,270,953 31,001,305
2038 40,929,067 30,335,662
2037 40,584,773 29,668,561
2036 40,234,128 29,000,264
2035 39,876,375 28,333,498
2034 39,515,857 27,671,195
2033 39,152,086 27,011,974
2032 38,772,414 26,356,580
2031 38,386,293 25,702,812
2030 37,995,617 25,055,216
2029 37,606,753 24,414,405
2028 37,207,852 23,780,809
2027 36,806,585 23,151,479
2026 36,403,076 22,529,742
2025 35,987,113 21,918,187
2024 35,557,673 21,314,956
2023 35,126,298 20,723,965
2022 34,695,493 20,152,938
2021 34,282,399 19,603,607
2020 33,889,558 19,059,395
2019 33,440,596 18,513,839
2018 32,910,967 17,973,569
2017 32,355,644 17,441,320
2016 31,789,685 16,914,423
2015 31,232,798 16,399,089
2014 30,696,137 15,895,315
2013 30,174,265 15,398,997
2012 29,662,831 14,913,629
2011 29,162,039 14,437,796
2010 28,655,776 13,965,594
2009 28,124,778 13,490,389
2008 27,570,059 13,021,324
2007 26,998,389 12,565,085
2006 26,417,909 12,129,553
2005 25,836,071 11,718,819
2004 25,256,772 11,338,198
2003 24,679,602 10,983,595
2002 24,102,477 10,647,949
2001 23,526,538 10,325,185
2000 22,967,816 10,017,631
1999 22,435,531 9,740,005
1998 21,906,713 9,482,408
1997 21,375,218 9,237,063
1996 20,850,087 9,004,053
1995 20,330,599 8,785,763
1994 19,820,446 8,576,269
1993 19,322,664 8,373,921
1992 18,834,572 8,176,680
1991 18,342,464 7,981,650
1990 17,833,171 7,786,169
1989 17,314,997 7,589,216
1988 16,796,605 7,391,440
1987 16,276,737 7,191,282
1986 15,760,419 6,986,471
1985 15,252,258 6,780,953
1984 14,759,009 6,580,490
1983 14,285,907 6,381,038
1982 13,832,798 6,178,637
1981 13,399,203 5,983,289
1980 12,983,363 5,802,833
1979 12,627,862 5,631,728
1978 12,328,157 5,465,374
1977 12,035,713 5,302,480
1976 11,750,097 5,143,842
1975 11,471,914 4,990,086
1974 11,200,906 4,842,746
1973 10,935,621 4,702,693
1972 10,676,835 4,569,309
1971 10,423,453 4,442,525
1970 10,178,802 4,321,718
1969 9,947,597 4,197,116
1968 9,725,281 4,065,593
1967 9,507,099 3,936,343
1966 9,284,688 3,812,003
1965 9,056,408 3,692,086
1964 8,828,406 3,577,017
1963 8,602,160 3,465,907
1962 8,380,172 3,358,099
1961 8,164,443 3,254,086
1960 7,956,197 3,153,729

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/zambia | CC BY

From 2006 to 2016, the population of Malaysia increased by 5,371,776 people (a 20.3% growth), while Zambia gained 4,784,870 people (a 39.4% growth).

For the next 10 years, from 2016 to 2026, Malaysia gained 4,722,536 people (a 14.9% growth), while Zambia's population increased by 5,783,493 people (a 34.2% growth).

Malaysia was ranked 44th most populous country in 2006 and is 45th in 2026. Zambia was ranked 71st in 2006 and ranked 62nd 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 Zambia will increase by 68.7% to 38,294,607 people and rank change from 62nd to 54th.

Malaysia is projected to reach its peak in 2073 at 46.7M people compared to the peak of 65.2M people in 2100 for Zambia.

Population growth rate by year

Malaysia
Factual

Projection
Zambia
Factual

Projection
1x
Year Growth rate
Malaysia Zambia
2100 -0.26% 0.53%
2099 -0.25% 0.55%
2098 -0.26% 0.57%
2097 -0.27% 0.58%
2096 -0.26% 0.61%
2095 -0.26% 0.64%
2094 -0.26% 0.64%
2093 -0.25% 0.67%
2092 -0.25% 0.69%
2091 -0.25% 0.7%
2090 -0.24% 0.72%
2089 -0.24% 0.74%
2088 -0.23% 0.77%
2087 -0.23% 0.79%
2086 -0.2% 0.81%
2085 -0.2% 0.83%
2084 -0.2% 0.85%
2083 -0.18% 0.87%
2082 -0.16% 0.9%
2081 -0.16% 0.92%
2080 -0.13% 0.93%
2079 -0.11% 0.96%
2078 -0.1% 0.99%
2077 -0.05% 1%
2076 -0.05% 1.03%
2075 -0.03% 1.05%
2074 -0.03% 1.08%
2073 0.001% 1.11%
2072 0.02% 1.13%
2071 0.03% 1.15%
2070 0.05% 1.19%
2069 0.05% 1.2%
2068 0.07% 1.23%
2067 0.08% 1.25%
2066 0.1% 1.28%
2065 0.14% 1.31%
2064 0.14% 1.33%
2063 0.17% 1.37%
2062 0.2% 1.39%
2061 0.22% 1.43%
2060 0.25% 1.45%
2059 0.26% 1.48%
2058 0.28% 1.5%
2057 0.31% 1.53%
2056 0.32% 1.56%
2055 0.37% 1.59%
2054 0.41% 1.62%
2053 0.43% 1.65%
2052 0.46% 1.68%
2051 0.5% 1.71%
2050 0.52% 1.75%
2049 0.55% 1.79%
2048 0.6% 1.82%
2047 0.63% 1.86%
2046 0.65% 1.9%
2045 0.68% 1.94%
2044 0.73% 1.97%
2043 0.75% 2.01%
2042 0.76% 2.05%
2041 0.78% 2.1%
2040 0.79% 2.14%
2039 0.84% 2.19%
2038 0.85% 2.25%
2037 0.87% 2.3%
2036 0.9% 2.35%
2035 0.91% 2.39%
2034 0.93% 2.44%
2033 0.98% 2.49%
2032 1.01% 2.54%
2031 1.03% 2.58%
2030 1.03% 2.62%
2029 1.07% 2.66%
2028 1.09% 2.72%
2027 1.11% 2.76%
2026 1.16% 2.79%
2025 1.21% 2.83%
2024 1.23% 2.85%
2023 1.24% 2.83%
2022 1.2% 2.8%
2021 1.16% 2.86%
2020 1.34% 2.95%
2019 1.61% 3.01%
2018 1.72% 3.05%
2017 1.78% 3.12%
2016 1.78% 3.14%
2015 1.75% 3.17%
2014 1.73% 3.22%
2013 1.72% 3.25%
2012 1.72% 3.3%
2011 1.77% 3.38%
2010 1.89% 3.52%
2009 2.01% 3.6%
2008 2.12% 3.63%
2007 2.2% 3.59%
2006 2.25% 3.5%
2005 2.29% 3.36%
2004 2.34% 3.23%
2003 2.39% 3.15%
2002 2.45% 3.13%
2001 2.43% 3.07%
2000 2.37% 2.85%
1999 2.41% 2.72%
1998 2.49% 2.66%
1997 2.52% 2.59%
1996 2.56% 2.48%
1995 2.57% 2.44%
1994 2.58% 2.42%
1993 2.59% 2.41%
1992 2.68% 2.44%
1991 2.86% 2.51%
1990 2.99% 2.6%
1989 3.09% 2.68%
1988 3.19% 2.78%
1987 3.28% 2.93%
1986 3.33% 3.03%
1985 3.34% 3.05%
1984 3.31% 3.13%
1983 3.28% 3.28%
1982 3.24% 3.26%
1981 3.2% 3.11%
1980 2.82% 3.04%
1979 2.43% 3.04%
1978 2.43% 3.07%
1977 2.43% 3.08%
1976 2.42% 3.08%
1975 2.42% 3.04%
1974 2.43% 2.98%
1973 2.42% 2.92%
1972 2.43% 2.85%
1971 2.4% 2.8%
1970 2.32% 2.97%
1969 2.29% 3.24%
1968 2.29% 3.28%
1967 2.4% 3.26%
1966 2.52% 3.25%
1965 2.58% 3.22%
1964 2.63% 3.21%
1963 2.65% 3.21%
1962 2.64% 3.2%
1961 2.62% 3.18%

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/zambia | CC BY

In 2024, the population of Malaysia grew by 1.23%, while Zambia's population grew by 2.85%.

Live population counters

Malaysia Zambia
Current population
36512221
22697916
Population rank 45/197 62/197
Percent of world population 0.44% 0.27%
One net population change
1.22 minutes
53.4 seconds
One birth every
1.21 minutes
46 seconds
One death every
2.9 minutes
4.87 minutes
Daily growth/decline +1,182 +1,619
Annual growth/decline +431,375 +590,991
Annual growth/decline rate +1.23% +2.85%
Population growth rate rank 89/197 21/197
One migration net change every
3.16 minutes
1.34 hours
Annual migration change +166,615 +6,562
Net migration rank 7/196 47/196
Foreign-born residents 3,806,514 249,205
Foreign-born residents rank 18/195 105/195
Foreign-born share of population 10.7% 1.2%
Foreign-born share rank 62/195 150/195

Natural population change vs migration

Malaysia
Natural

Migration
Zambia
Natural

Migration
1x
Year Population change
Malaysia Zambia
Natural Migration Natural Migration
2025 - 166,615 - 6,562
2024 - 174,770 - 7,381
2023 254,806 181,071 577,660 9,521
2022 237,560 188,154 563,456 -8,566
2021 212,002 188,506 535,629 8,143
2020 283,282 101,907 536,484 8,156
2019 309,426 203,284 528,089 18,385
2018 324,568 221,965 515,644 18,431
2017 336,434 227,677 504,630 25,789
2016 345,681 222,141 497,521 25,860
2015 358,302 187,663 491,021 16,261
2014 367,587 159,791 483,663 16,574
2013 366,738 149,637 476,846 15,542
2012 371,497 134,975 469,406 8,958
2011 372,836 122,269 459,743 13,569
2010 360,260 157,164 448,337 22,761
2009 366,157 178,410 434,458 44,867
2008 362,380 202,481 419,560 39,249
2007 348,711 229,784 403,729 49,945
2006 349,509 232,971 387,891 29,517
2005 355,324 225,864 368,756 35,316
2004 365,138 212,278 349,352 7,819
2003 377,425 199,510 331,189 20,845
2002 381,084 196,227 316,041 3,206
2001 400,939 173,613 302,682 23,582
2000 417,371 125,499 293,186 -4,338
1999 432,355 89,335 283,297 -16,888
1998 436,316 99,639 275,568 -26,796
1997 447,768 79,266 268,198 -26,276
1996 450,174 73,040 262,468 -38,358
1995 443,349 72,393 257,897 -45,423
1994 437,873 66,685 252,023 -45,504
1993 429,910 61,079 245,917 -47,739
1992 418,900 66,286 239,953 -43,656
1991 401,938 97,111 237,957 -44,203
1990 384,518 135,020 235,835 -38,619
1989 373,277 143,544 233,429 -36,736
1988 386,507 133,478 230,118 -31,270
1987 381,999 137,759 227,813 -26,338
1986 385,799 127,081 224,768 -16,610
1985 383,243 120,215 221,351 -18,474
1984 376,797 106,248 216,695 -18,652
1983 365,290 97,862 212,712 -11,849
1982 353,138 89,942 207,621 -3,676
1981 339,991 84,142 202,822 -16,072
1980 326,947 80,617 198,817 -24,664
1979 317,439 -13,980 197,578 -29,515
1978 311,027 -15,059 194,933 -30,284
1977 305,515 -16,601 191,557 -30,423
1976 300,615 -18,316 186,762 -30,612
1975 294,541 -20,480 182,258 -30,886
1974 289,880 -21,919 174,484 -31,178
1973 284,611 -21,995 168,258 -31,472
1972 276,263 -21,305 161,648 -31,672
1971 272,323 -20,535 155,249 -31,651
1970 269,341 -31,839 149,380 -31,370
1969 264,327 -39,420 142,660 -11,469
1968 260,705 -40,996 137,315 -5,447
1967 258,764 -42,108 131,938 -5,298
1966 262,162 -33,993 127,164 -5,129
1965 264,836 -36,456 122,814 -5,023
1964 266,406 -38,785 117,197 -4,851
1963 265,815 -40,952 114,555 -4,676
1962 262,140 -43,033 110,173 -4,428
1961 257,270 -44,916 106,318 -4,043
1960 251,090 -46,948 102,335 -3,898

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

GeoRank.org/population/malaysia/zambia | 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 Zambia 97.4% is from natural causes (a gain of 5,233,797 people) and 2.58% is from migration (a gain of 138,554 people).

As of 2024, 3,806,514 residents or 10.7% of the population were not native-born in Malaysia, compared to 249,205 people or 1.2% in Zambia.

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
Zambia
City Population
Lusaka 2.47M
Kitwe 625K
Ndola 528K
Chingola 255K
Mufulira 182K
Livingstone 177K
Kasama 158K
Kapiri Mposhi 65.2K
Choma 51.8K
Mansa 45.4K

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/zambia | 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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