Population of Malaysia

As of August 2026, the population of Malaysia is 36.4 million. The number of inhabitants has increased by 401 thousand in the last year, representing a growth of 1.13%. The median age of the population has increased in recent years, rising from 27.1 years in 2016 to 31.4 years in 2026. Currently, life expectancy at birth is 77.2 years and population density is 110.7 inhabitants per square kilometer.

Population Growth

The population growth rate of Malaysia peaked in 1985, reaching around 3.3% annually, but has since declined to approximately 1.1% in 2026. The annual increase in the number of people has also decreased from a peak of around 582.48 thousand in 2006 to nearly 401.09 thousand in 2026.

Life Expectancy

In Malaysia, life expectancy at birth has been increasing, with the indicator rising from 74.7 years in 2006 to 77.2 years in 2026, representing an increase of more than 2 years over the past 2 decades.

Most populous cities in Malaysia

Malaysia has multiple large cities with a significant number of inhabitants. The most populous city is Kuala Lumpur, with approximately 1.5 million inhabitants. It is followed by Johor Bahru, Johor with 858.1 thousand and Kampung Baru Subang, Selangor with 833.6 thousand.

These are the 20 most populous cities in Malaysia: