What is population growth rate in Malaysia?

Population growth rate in Malaysia was 1.2% in 2023, according to UN, World Population Prospects (2024) – processed by Our World in Data.

What is the highest population growth rate recorded in Malaysia?

The highest recorded value was 3.3% in 1985.

What is the lowest population growth rate recorded in Malaysia?

The lowest recorded value was 1.1% in 2020.

How does Malaysia rank for population growth rate?

Malaysia ranks 98th out of 236 countries with data for 2023.

Is population growth rate rising or falling in Malaysia?

Over the last ten years it is down 27.5%. The long-run trend across the full record is falling.

Where does this Malaysia data come from?

The figures come from UN, World Population Prospects (2024) – processed by Our World in Data, published as part of Population growth rate. Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.

Population growth rate in Malaysia

Name: Population growth rate in Malaysia
Creator: UN, World Population Prospects (2024) – processed by Our World in Data
License: CC BY 4.0 (Our World in Data)

Malaysia: Population growth rate was 1.2% in 2023. ▼ Falling

Latest (2023)

1.2%

Change on year

up 1.1%

World rank

98th

of 236 countries

All-time high

3.3%

in 1985

All-time low

1.1%

in 2020

Years of data

1950–2023

Population growth rate in Malaysia, 1950–2023

Source: UN, World Population Prospects (2024) – processed by Our World in Data. Measured in %.

Analysis

The most recent figure for population growth rate in Malaysia is 1.2%, measured in 2023.

The figure is up 1.1% on the previous year and down 27.5% over ten years.

Over the whole period, population growth rate in Malaysia peaked at 3.3% in 1985 and was at its lowest, 1.1%, in 2020.

Malaysia ranks 98th of 236 countries on this measure, in the middle of the range.

The long-run direction has been consistently falling across the 74 years of available data.

Averages by decade

Decade	Average	Lowest	Highest	Years
1950s	2.7%	2.5%	2.9%	10
1960s	2.5%	2.3%	2.6%	10
1970s	2.4%	2.3%	2.4%	10
1980s	3.2%	3.0%	3.3%	10
1990s	2.6%	2.3%	2.9%	10
2000s	2.2%	1.9%	2.4%	10
2010s	1.7%	1.5%	1.8%	10
2020s	1.2%	1.1%	1.2%	4

Countries ranked near Malaysia

95 Panama 1.3% compare
96 Cambodia 1.3% compare
97 Paraguay 1.2% compare
99 Luxembourg 1.2% compare
100 Canada 1.2% compare
101 Bangladesh 1.2% compare

See the full ranking of 236 places →

More population data for Malaysia

Literate and illiterate world population 4.2% (2022)

All data for Malaysia →

Frequently asked questions

What is population growth rate in Malaysia?: Population growth rate in Malaysia was 1.2% in 2023, according to UN, World Population Prospects (2024) – processed by Our World in Data.
What is the highest population growth rate recorded in Malaysia?: The highest recorded value was 3.3% in 1985.
What is the lowest population growth rate recorded in Malaysia?: The lowest recorded value was 1.1% in 2020.
How does Malaysia rank for population growth rate?: Malaysia ranks 98th out of 236 countries with data for 2023.
Is population growth rate rising or falling in Malaysia?: Over the last ten years it is down 27.5%. The long-run trend across the full record is falling.
Where does this Malaysia data come from?: The figures come from UN, World Population Prospects (2024) – processed by Our World in Data, published as part of Population growth rate. Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.

Download this data

CSV · JSON — 74 observations, free to reuse under CC BY 4.0 (Our World in Data).

About this data

Indicator: Population growth rate
Unit: %
Source: UN, World Population Prospects (2024) – processed by Our World in Data
Licence: CC BY 4.0 (Our World in Data)
Coverage: 236 places, 17,464 data points, 1950–2023
Last refreshed: 06 August 2026

The annual rate at which the population is growing, expressed as a percentage.