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

Updated on by Georank

The latest officially reported population of Malaysia was 35,977,838 in 2025 vs 16,950,795 people in Zimbabwe in 2025. In 2026, based on the adjusted UN estimation, the current Malaysia's population is 36,600,906 people compared to 17,443,108 in Zimbabwe.

Population statistics:

  • Malaysia's population is 2.1 times bigger than Zimbabwe's.
  • Malaysia is ranked the 45th most populous country in the world, while Zimbabwe is the 74th.
  • The countries together account for 0.65% of the world: 0.44% for Malaysia vs 0.21% for Zimbabwe.
  • For the last 10 years, Malaysia has had an average growth rate of +1.45% per year vs +1.62% in Zimbabwe.
  • Since 2006, the population of Malaysia has increased from 26.4M people to 36.6M (38.5% growth), while Zimbabwe has grown from 12.6M to 17.4M (38% growth).

Malaysia vs Zimbabwe: population by year and forecast

Malaysia
Factual

Projection
Zimbabwe
Factual

Projection
1x
Year Population
Malaysia Zimbabwe
2100 44,342,183 37,486,352
2099 44,456,013 37,415,690
2098 44,568,480 37,331,540
2097 44,684,459 37,238,819
2096 44,803,334 37,146,184
2095 44,920,823 37,035,388
2094 45,035,868 36,915,996
2093 45,153,485 36,814,133
2092 45,267,003 36,691,740
2091 45,378,303 36,570,481
2090 45,489,767 36,428,812
2089 45,598,290 36,284,166
2088 45,706,098 36,144,627
2087 45,811,274 35,980,805
2086 45,914,874 35,811,286
2085 46,008,880 35,640,228
2084 46,099,604 35,459,328
2083 46,190,377 35,271,139
2082 46,272,999 35,081,992
2081 46,347,751 34,876,198
2080 46,423,514 34,662,013
2079 46,484,118 34,442,751
2078 46,537,169 34,220,306
2077 46,582,178 33,985,899
2076 46,607,029 33,742,198
2075 46,631,092 33,498,815
2074 46,646,324 33,247,764
2073 46,658,819 32,981,390
2072 46,658,396 32,708,937
2071 46,648,409 32,448,602
2070 46,633,600 32,183,952
2069 46,611,221 31,909,601
2068 46,588,049 31,633,783
2067 46,557,261 31,348,096
2066 46,518,384 31,065,618
2065 46,469,909 30,769,538
2064 46,405,405 30,482,622
2063 46,338,727 30,178,760
2062 46,260,178 29,870,308
2061 46,166,190 29,559,670
2060 46,064,001 29,254,998
2059 45,946,872 28,947,636
2058 45,825,593 28,634,199
2057 45,695,432 28,309,796
2056 45,554,612 27,993,176
2055 45,407,246 27,661,321
2054 45,241,331 27,334,325
2053 45,057,472 26,989,310
2052 44,862,361 26,645,898
2051 44,657,253 26,289,905
2050 44,434,221 25,937,176
2049 44,206,196 25,587,491
2048 43,963,591 25,230,302
2047 43,701,058 24,876,838
2046 43,427,087 24,515,600
2045 43,146,785 24,149,762
2044 42,855,667 23,785,181
2043 42,546,972 23,404,024
2042 42,229,093 23,037,316
2041 41,911,573 22,649,943
2040 41,587,509 22,275,480
2039 41,260,315 21,904,908
2038 40,918,517 21,532,024
2037 40,574,312 21,161,527
2036 40,223,758 20,792,863
2035 39,866,097 20,415,452
2034 39,505,672 20,049,783
2033 39,141,994 19,678,070
2032 38,762,420 19,313,685
2031 38,376,399 18,960,968
2030 37,985,824 18,615,376
2029 37,597,060 18,271,657
2028 37,198,261 17,935,044
2027 36,797,098 17,602,533
2026 36,393,693 17,274,728
2025 35,977,838 16,950,795
2024 35,557,673 16,634,373
2023 35,126,298 16,340,822
2022 34,695,493 16,069,056
2021 34,282,399 15,797,210
2020 33,889,558 15,526,888
2019 33,440,596 15,271,368
2018 32,910,967 15,034,452
2017 32,355,644 14,812,482
2016 31,789,685 14,600,294
2015 31,232,798 14,399,013
2014 30,696,137 14,207,359
2013 30,174,265 14,013,808
2012 29,662,831 13,817,887
2011 29,162,039 13,595,424
2010 28,655,776 13,356,548
2009 28,124,778 13,142,790
2008 27,570,059 12,959,149
2007 26,998,389 12,804,058
2006 26,417,909 12,636,445
2005 25,836,071 12,483,432
2004 25,256,772 12,365,896
2003 24,679,602 12,232,323
2002 24,102,477 12,087,653
2001 23,526,538 11,971,901
2000 22,967,816 11,892,055
1999 22,435,531 11,783,458
1998 21,906,713 11,594,297
1997 21,375,218 11,369,827
1996 20,850,087 11,158,360
1995 20,330,599 10,974,599
1994 19,820,446 10,873,148
1993 19,322,664 10,860,288
1992 18,834,572 10,702,700
1991 18,342,464 10,404,816
1990 17,833,171 10,137,281
1989 17,314,997 9,864,798
1988 16,796,605 9,583,094
1987 16,276,737 9,284,644
1986 15,760,419 8,982,578
1985 15,252,258 8,686,813
1984 14,759,009 8,391,488
1983 14,285,907 8,098,404
1982 13,832,798 7,796,496
1981 13,399,203 7,498,635
1980 12,983,363 7,041,303
1979 12,627,862 6,647,556
1978 12,328,157 6,543,575
1977 12,035,713 6,449,512
1976 11,750,097 6,287,105
1975 11,471,914 6,098,658
1974 11,200,906 5,908,328
1973 10,935,621 5,720,404
1972 10,676,835 5,542,445
1971 10,423,453 5,374,712
1970 10,178,802 5,215,918
1969 9,947,597 5,058,181
1968 9,725,281 4,900,440
1967 9,507,099 4,748,307
1966 9,284,688 4,601,217
1965 9,056,408 4,458,462
1964 8,828,406 4,320,006
1963 8,602,160 4,185,877
1962 8,380,172 4,055,959
1961 8,164,443 3,930,401
1960 7,956,197 3,809,389

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/zimbabwe | CC BY

From 2006 to 2016, the population of Malaysia increased by 5,371,776 people (a 20.3% growth), while Zimbabwe gained 1,963,849 people (a 15.5% growth).

For the next 10 years, from 2016 to 2026, Malaysia gained 4,811,221 people (a 15.1% growth), while Zimbabwe's population increased by 2,842,814 people (a 19.5% growth).

Malaysia was ranked 44th most populous country in 2006 and is 45th in 2026. Zimbabwe was ranked 70th in 2006 and ranked 74th 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 Zimbabwe will increase by 48.7% to 25,937,176 people and rank change from 74th to 65th.

Malaysia is projected to reach its peak in 2073 at 46.7M people compared to the peak of 37.5M people in 2100 for Zimbabwe.

Population growth rate by year

Malaysia
Factual

Projection
Zimbabwe
Factual

Projection
1x
Year Growth rate
Malaysia Zimbabwe
2100 -0.26% 0.19%
2099 -0.25% 0.23%
2098 -0.26% 0.25%
2097 -0.27% 0.25%
2096 -0.26% 0.3%
2095 -0.26% 0.32%
2094 -0.26% 0.28%
2093 -0.25% 0.33%
2092 -0.25% 0.33%
2091 -0.25% 0.39%
2090 -0.24% 0.4%
2089 -0.24% 0.39%
2088 -0.23% 0.46%
2087 -0.23% 0.47%
2086 -0.2% 0.48%
2085 -0.2% 0.51%
2084 -0.2% 0.53%
2083 -0.18% 0.54%
2082 -0.16% 0.59%
2081 -0.16% 0.62%
2080 -0.13% 0.64%
2079 -0.11% 0.65%
2078 -0.1% 0.69%
2077 -0.05% 0.72%
2076 -0.05% 0.73%
2075 -0.03% 0.76%
2074 -0.03% 0.81%
2073 0.001% 0.83%
2072 0.02% 0.8%
2071 0.03% 0.82%
2070 0.05% 0.86%
2069 0.05% 0.87%
2068 0.07% 0.91%
2067 0.08% 0.91%
2066 0.1% 0.96%
2065 0.14% 0.94%
2064 0.14% 1.01%
2063 0.17% 1.03%
2062 0.2% 1.05%
2061 0.22% 1.04%
2060 0.25% 1.06%
2059 0.26% 1.09%
2058 0.28% 1.15%
2057 0.31% 1.13%
2056 0.32% 1.2%
2055 0.37% 1.2%
2054 0.41% 1.28%
2053 0.43% 1.29%
2052 0.46% 1.35%
2051 0.5% 1.36%
2050 0.52% 1.37%
2049 0.55% 1.42%
2048 0.6% 1.42%
2047 0.63% 1.47%
2046 0.65% 1.51%
2045 0.68% 1.53%
2044 0.73% 1.63%
2043 0.75% 1.59%
2042 0.76% 1.71%
2041 0.78% 1.68%
2040 0.79% 1.69%
2039 0.84% 1.73%
2038 0.85% 1.75%
2037 0.87% 1.77%
2036 0.9% 1.85%
2035 0.91% 1.82%
2034 0.93% 1.89%
2033 0.98% 1.89%
2032 1.01% 1.86%
2031 1.03% 1.86%
2030 1.03% 1.88%
2029 1.07% 1.88%
2028 1.09% 1.89%
2027 1.11% 1.9%
2026 1.16% 1.91%
2025 1.18% 1.9%
2024 1.23% 1.8%
2023 1.24% 1.69%
2022 1.2% 1.72%
2021 1.16% 1.74%
2020 1.34% 1.67%
2019 1.61% 1.58%
2018 1.72% 1.5%
2017 1.78% 1.45%
2016 1.78% 1.4%
2015 1.75% 1.35%
2014 1.73% 1.38%
2013 1.72% 1.42%
2012 1.72% 1.64%
2011 1.77% 1.79%
2010 1.89% 1.63%
2009 2.01% 1.42%
2008 2.12% 1.21%
2007 2.2% 1.33%
2006 2.25% 1.23%
2005 2.29% 0.95%
2004 2.34% 1.09%
2003 2.39% 1.2%
2002 2.45% 0.97%
2001 2.43% 0.67%
2000 2.37% 0.92%
1999 2.41% 1.63%
1998 2.49% 1.97%
1997 2.52% 1.9%
1996 2.56% 1.67%
1995 2.57% 0.93%
1994 2.58% 0.12%
1993 2.59% 1.47%
1992 2.68% 2.86%
1991 2.86% 2.64%
1990 2.99% 2.76%
1989 3.09% 2.94%
1988 3.19% 3.21%
1987 3.28% 3.36%
1986 3.33% 3.4%
1985 3.34% 3.52%
1984 3.31% 3.62%
1983 3.28% 3.87%
1982 3.24% 3.97%
1981 3.2% 6.49%
1980 2.82% 5.92%
1979 2.43% 1.59%
1978 2.43% 1.46%
1977 2.43% 2.58%
1976 2.42% 3.09%
1975 2.42% 3.22%
1974 2.43% 3.29%
1973 2.42% 3.21%
1972 2.43% 3.12%
1971 2.4% 3.04%
1970 2.32% 3.12%
1969 2.29% 3.22%
1968 2.29% 3.2%
1967 2.4% 3.2%
1966 2.52% 3.2%
1965 2.58% 3.2%
1964 2.63% 3.2%
1963 2.65% 3.2%
1962 2.64% 3.19%
1961 2.62% 3.18%

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/zimbabwe | CC BY

In 2025, the population of Malaysia grew by 1.18%, while Zimbabwe's population grew by 1.9%.

Live population counters

Malaysia Zimbabwe
Current population
36600906
17443108
Population rank 45/197 74/197
Percent of world population 0.44% 0.21%
One net population change
1.25 minutes
1.67 minutes
One birth every
1.2 minutes
1.06 minutes
One death every
2.8 minutes
4.21 minutes
Daily growth/decline +1,151 +867
Annual growth/decline +420,165 +316,422
Annual growth/decline rate +1.18% +1.9%
Population growth rate rank 89/197 53/197
One migration net change every
3.16 minutes
9.66 minutes
Annual migration change +166,615 -54,555
Net migration rank 7/196 175/196
Foreign-born residents 3,806,514 429,108
Foreign-born residents rank 18/195 87/195
Foreign-born share of population 10.7% 2.6%
Foreign-born share rank 62/195 127/195

Natural population change vs migration

Malaysia
Natural

Migration
Zimbabwe
Natural

Migration
1x
Year Population change
Malaysia Zimbabwe
Natural Migration Natural Migration
2025 - 166,615 - -54,555
2024 252,068 174,770 372,494 -60,528
2023 254,806 181,071 372,505 -97,380
2022 237,560 188,154 371,243 -102,828
2021 212,002 188,506 349,908 -74,623
2020 283,282 101,907 354,790 -89,440
2019 309,426 203,284 348,798 -103,107
2018 324,568 221,965 345,883 -117,758
2017 336,434 227,677 344,035 -128,241
2016 345,681 222,141 348,772 -140,181
2015 358,302 187,663 356,203 -162,220
2014 367,587 159,791 366,350 -177,029
2013 366,738 149,637 374,757 -176,972
2012 371,497 134,975 371,135 -177,061
2011 372,836 122,269 359,572 -108,714
2010 360,260 157,164 335,570 -108,671
2009 366,157 178,410 309,316 -108,689
2008 362,380 202,481 280,527 -113,858
2007 348,711 229,784 261,805 -118,299
2006 349,509 232,971 248,963 -57,257
2005 355,324 225,864 248,545 -134,212
2004 365,138 212,278 248,307 -127,550
2003 377,425 199,510 243,057 -96,667
2002 381,084 196,227 244,170 -101,212
2001 400,939 173,613 227,909 -139,361
2000 417,371 125,499 236,343 -165,181
1999 432,355 89,335 232,393 -86,343
1998 436,316 99,639 225,614 6,645
1997 447,768 79,266 216,288 395
1996 450,174 73,040 205,269 978
1995 443,349 72,393 206,695 -45,428
1994 437,873 66,685 216,343 -174,723
1993 429,910 61,079 228,045 -243,947
1992 418,900 66,286 255,291 75,788
1991 401,938 97,111 260,943 3,749
1990 384,518 135,020 265,444 4,948
1989 373,277 143,544 270,838 3,736
1988 386,507 133,478 277,498 11,327
1987 381,999 137,759 286,766 21,308
1986 385,799 127,081 289,894 6,154
1985 383,243 120,215 290,756 4,718
1984 376,797 106,248 290,052 5,124
1983 365,290 97,862 286,545 4,456
1982 353,138 89,942 279,934 32,899
1981 339,991 84,142 271,361 11,523
1980 326,947 80,617 241,179 390,593
1979 317,439 -13,980 223,657 -67,937
1978 311,027 -15,059 222,979 -170,727
1977 305,515 -16,601 225,139 -89,270
1976 300,615 -18,316 221,419 -32,495
1975 294,541 -20,480 216,947 -28,988
1974 289,880 -21,919 208,806 -16,105
1973 284,611 -21,995 201,885 -18,733
1972 276,263 -21,305 193,725 -20,959
1971 272,323 -20,535 185,427 -22,719
1970 269,341 -31,839 178,979 -24,102
1969 264,327 -39,420 172,626 -12,028
1968 260,705 -40,996 166,865 -11,997
1967 258,764 -42,108 161,205 -11,814
1966 262,162 -33,993 156,014 -11,211
1965 264,836 -36,456 151,164 -10,465
1964 266,406 -38,785 145,848 -9,631
1963 265,815 -40,952 140,984 -8,936
1962 262,140 -43,033 136,317 -8,529
1961 257,270 -44,916 131,531 -8,204
1960 251,090 -46,948 126,959 -8,260

Data sources: World Bank | Health (1960–2025, retrieved 2026-07-08).

GeoRank.org/population/malaysia/zimbabwe | 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 Zimbabwe 76.8% is from natural causes (a gain of 3,564,631 people) and 23.2% is from migration (a loss of 1,076,306 people).

As of 2024, 3,806,514 residents or 10.7% of the population were not native-born in Malaysia, compared to 429,108 people or 2.6% in Zimbabwe.

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
Zimbabwe
City Population
Harare 2.15M
Masvingo 1.64M
Bulawayo 666K
Chitungwiza 371K
Mutare 225K
Gweru 141K
Kadoma 116K
Kwekwe 93.1K
Chinhoyi 56.8K
Marondera 52.3K

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/zimbabwe | 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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