Rural population share — all countries

Rural population share — Malaysia

Rural population share in Malaysia in 2025 — 22.6%. Ranked 150 in the world out of 217. Since 1960, the indicator has fallen by 51.3 pp.

2025 22.6% −0.5 pp vs 2024
World rank 150of 217
Period maximum 73.9%1960
Period minimum 22.6%2025

Trend over time

1960–2025 · % of population

Rural population share — Malaysia, 1960–202502040608019601967197419811988199520022009201620231960: 73.9%1962: 73.2%1964: 72.5%1966: 71.9%1968: 71.2%1970: 70.6%1972: 69.9%1974: 69.1%1976: 68.1%1978: 67%1980: 65.8%1982: 63.8%1984: 61%1986: 57.7%1988: 54.2%1990: 51%1992: 48.1%1994: 45.4%1996: 42.8%1998: 40.3%2000: 38%2002: 35.9%2004: 33.9%2006: 32.1%2008: 30.5%2010: 29.1%2012: 28%2014: 27%2016: 26.1%2018: 25.4%2020: 24.9%2022: 24%2024: 23.1%2025: 22.6%
Change over the period: −51.3 pp Annual average: -0.79 pp

Comparison, 2025

How the value compares with the world and the groups this territory belongs to: Malaysia

Malaysia 22.6%
World 42.2%
South-Eastern Asia computed 45.6%
Rural population share — Malaysia, by year Malaysia All countries CSV XLSX
Year % Change, pp
2025 22.6 −0.5 pp
2024 23.1 −0.5 pp
2023 23.6 −0.5 pp
2022 24 −0.5 pp
2021 24.5 −0.5 pp
2020 24.9 −0.2 pp
2019 25.2 −0.3 pp
2018 25.4 −0.3 pp
2017 25.8 −0.4 pp
2016 26.1 −0.4 pp
2015 26.6 −0.5 pp
2014 27 −0.5 pp
2013 27.5 −0.5 pp
2012 28 −0.5 pp
2011 28.6 −0.6 pp
2010 29.1 −0.6 pp
2009 29.8 −0.7 pp
2008 30.5 −0.8 pp
2007 31.2 −0.8 pp
2006 32.1 −0.9 pp
2005 33 −1 pp
2004 33.9 −1 pp
2003 34.9 −1 pp
2002 35.9 −1 pp
2001 37 −1 pp
2000 38 −1.1 pp
1999 39.1 −1.2 pp
1998 40.3 −1.2 pp
1997 41.5 −1.3 pp
1996 42.8 −1.3 pp
1995 44.1 −1.3 pp
1994 45.4 −1.4 pp
1993 46.8 −1.4 pp
1992 48.1 −1.4 pp
1991 49.5 −1.5 pp
1990 51 −1.6 pp
1989 52.6 −1.7 pp
1988 54.2 −1.7 pp
1987 56 −1.7 pp
1986 57.7 −1.7 pp
1985 59.4 −1.6 pp
1984 61 −1.5 pp
1983 62.5 −1.3 pp
1982 63.8 −1.1 pp
1981 64.9 −0.8 pp
1980 65.8 −0.7 pp
1979 66.4 −0.6 pp
1978 67 −0.6 pp
1977 67.6 −0.5 pp
1976 68.1 −0.5 pp
1975 68.6 −0.4 pp
1974 69.1 −0.4 pp
1973 69.5 −0.4 pp
1972 69.9 −0.4 pp
1971 70.2 −0.3 pp
1970 70.6 −0.3 pp
1969 70.9 −0.3 pp
1968 71.2 −0.3 pp
1967 71.5 −0.3 pp
1966 71.9 −0.3 pp
1965 72.2 −0.3 pp
1964 72.5 −0.3 pp
1963 72.8 −0.3 pp
1962 73.2 −0.4 pp
1961 73.5 −0.4 pp
1960 73.9

About the indicator

The share of population living outside urban settlements, as a percent of the total. It is computed as the difference between total and urban population, and therefore inherits every particularity of national definitions of urban areas.

Source: World Population Prospects (UN), license CC BY 3.0 IGO.