Population in largest city in Malaysia
Malaysia: Population in largest city was 9.00 million in 2025. ◆ Volatile
Latest (2025)
9.00 million
Change on year
up 2.1%
World rank
26th
of 153 countries
All-time high
9.00 million
in 2025
All-time low
343,527
in 1960
Years of data
66
1960–2025
Population in largest city in Malaysia, 1960–2025
Source: World Urbanization Prospects 2018, United Nations (UN).
Analysis
In 2025, population in largest city in Malaysia stood at 9.00 million. That is the highest value across all 66 years on record.
The figure is up 2.1% on the previous year and up 31.4% over ten years.
Over the whole period, population in largest city in Malaysia peaked at 9.00 million in 2025 and was at its lowest, 343,527, in 1960.
Malaysia ranks 26th of 153 countries on this measure, in the top quarter.
The series is highly variable year to year, so single readings are best treated with caution.
Population in largest city in Malaysia, year by year
| Year | Value | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1960 | 343,527 | — |
| 1961 | 353,010 | +2.8% |
| 1962 | 362,768 | +2.8% |
| 1963 | 372,796 | +2.8% |
| 1964 | 383,116 | +2.8% |
| 1965 | 393,692 | +2.8% |
| 1966 | 404,576 | +2.8% |
| 1967 | 415,760 | +2.8% |
| 1968 | 427,269 | +2.8% |
| 1969 | 439,064 | +2.8% |
| 1970 | 451,201 | +2.8% |
| 1971 | 485,787 | +7.7% |
| 1972 | 524,721 | +8.0% |
| 1973 | 566,654 | +8.0% |
| 1974 | 612,004 | +8.0% |
| 1975 | 660,984 | +8.0% |
| 1976 | 713,959 | +8.0% |
| 1977 | 771,016 | +8.0% |
| 1978 | 832,722 | +8.0% |
| 1979 | 899,365 | +8.0% |
| 1980 | 971,445 | +8.0% |
| 1981 | 1.05 million | +8.0% |
| 1982 | 1.13 million | +8.0% |
| 1983 | 1.22 million | +8.0% |
| 1984 | 1.32 million | +8.0% |
| 1985 | 1.43 million | +8.0% |
| 1986 | 1.54 million | +8.0% |
| 1987 | 1.67 million | +8.0% |
| 1988 | 1.80 million | +8.0% |
| 1989 | 1.94 million | +8.0% |
| 1990 | 2.10 million | +8.0% |
| 1991 | 2.27 million | +8.0% |
| 1992 | 2.43 million | +7.1% |
| 1993 | 2.60 million | +7.0% |
| 1994 | 2.78 million | +7.0% |
| 1995 | 2.97 million | +7.0% |
| 1996 | 3.18 million | +7.0% |
| 1997 | 3.41 million | +7.0% |
| 1998 | 3.65 million | +7.0% |
| 1999 | 3.90 million | +7.0% |
| 2000 | 4.18 million | +7.0% |
| 2001 | 4.32 million | +3.4% |
| 2002 | 4.46 million | +3.4% |
| 2003 | 4.61 million | +3.4% |
| 2004 | 4.77 million | +3.4% |
| 2005 | 4.93 million | +3.3% |
| 2006 | 5.09 million | +3.4% |
| 2007 | 5.26 million | +3.4% |
| 2008 | 5.44 million | +3.4% |
| 2009 | 5.62 million | +3.3% |
| 2010 | 5.81 million | +3.4% |
| 2011 | 6.00 million | +3.4% |
| 2012 | 6.21 million | +3.4% |
| 2013 | 6.41 million | +3.4% |
| 2014 | 6.63 million | +3.4% |
| 2015 | 6.85 million | +3.4% |
| 2016 | 7.08 million | +3.4% |
| 2017 | 7.32 million | +3.4% |
| 2018 | 7.56 million | +3.4% |
| 2019 | 7.78 million | +2.9% |
| 2020 | 8.00 million | +2.8% |
| 2021 | 8.21 million | +2.7% |
| 2022 | 8.42 million | +2.5% |
| 2023 | 8.62 million | +2.4% |
| 2024 | 8.82 million | +2.2% |
| 2025 | 9.00 million | +2.1% |
Malaysia compared with similar countries
- Malaysia's 9.00 million is above the median for upper middle income countries, which is 3.00 million, 3.0× the median. (41 countries reporting)
- Malaysia's 9.00 million is above the median for East Asia & Pacific, which is 6.16 million, 1.5× the median. (19 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1960s | 389,558 | 343,527 | 439,064 | 10 |
| 1970s | 651,841 | 451,201 | 899,365 | 10 |
| 1980s | 1.41 million | 971,445 | 1.94 million | 10 |
| 1990s | 2.93 million | 2.10 million | 3.90 million | 10 |
| 2000s | 4.87 million | 4.18 million | 5.62 million | 10 |
| 2010s | 6.77 million | 5.81 million | 7.78 million | 10 |
| 2020s | 8.51 million | 8.00 million | 9.00 million | 6 |
Countries ranked near Malaysia
More urban development data for Malaysia
- Population in the largest city 32.3% (2025)
- Population density 106.91 people per sq. km of land area (2023)
- PM2.5 air pollution, mean annual exposure 15.87 micrograms per cubic meter (2023)
- Population in urban agglomerations of more than 1 million, per capita 0.2502 units per person (2025)
- Population in urban agglomerations of more than 1 million 9.00 million (2025)
- Population in urban agglomerations of more than 1 million, annual 2.09 % change on previous year (2025)
- Population in urban agglomerations of more than 1 million, per unit 0 units per US$ of GDP (2025)
- Population in urban agglomerations of more than 1 million, per square 26.24 units per square kilometre (2023)
- Crude steelmaking capacity 19.2 Tonnes (2025)
- Africa's Development Dynamics (AfDD) Table 23 - Ecological 314.15 Hectares (2020)
Frequently asked questions
- What is population in largest city in Malaysia?
- Population in largest city in Malaysia was 9.00 million in 2025, according to World Urbanization Prospects 2018, United Nations (UN).
- What is the highest population in largest city recorded in Malaysia?
- The highest recorded value was 9.00 million in 2025.
- What is the lowest population in largest city recorded in Malaysia?
- The lowest recorded value was 343,527 in 1960.
- How does Malaysia rank for population in largest city?
- Malaysia ranks 26th out of 153 countries with data for 2025.
- Is population in largest city rising or falling in Malaysia?
- Over the last ten years it is up 31.4%. The long-run trend across the full record is volatile.
- Where does this Malaysia data come from?
- The figures come from World Urbanization Prospects 2018, United Nations (UN), published as part of Population in largest city. Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
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About this data
Population in largest city is the urban population living in the country's largest metropolitan area.