Urban population share — all countries

Urban population share — Malaysia

Urban population share in Malaysia in 2025 — 77.4%. Ranked 68 in the world out of 217. Since 1960, the indicator has risen by 51.3 pp.

2025 77.4% +0.5 pp vs 2024
World rank 68of 217
Period maximum 77.4%2025
Period minimum 26.1%1960

Trend over time

1960–2025 · % of population

Urban population share — Malaysia, 1960–202502040608019601967197419811988199520022009201620231960: 26.1%1962: 26.8%1964: 27.5%1966: 28.1%1968: 28.8%1970: 29.4%1972: 30.1%1974: 30.9%1976: 31.9%1978: 33%1980: 34.2%1982: 36.2%1984: 39%1986: 42.3%1988: 45.8%1990: 49%1992: 51.9%1994: 54.6%1996: 57.2%1998: 59.7%2000: 62%2002: 64.1%2004: 66.1%2006: 67.9%2008: 69.5%2010: 70.9%2012: 72%2014: 73%2016: 73.9%2018: 74.6%2020: 75.1%2022: 76%2024: 76.9%2025: 77.4%
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 77.4%
World 57.8%
South-Eastern Asia computed 54.4%
Urban population share — Malaysia, by year Malaysia All countries CSV XLSX
Year % Change, pp
2025 77.4 +0.5 pp
2024 76.9 +0.5 pp
2023 76.4 +0.5 pp
2022 76 +0.5 pp
2021 75.5 +0.5 pp
2020 75.1 +0.2 pp
2019 74.8 +0.3 pp
2018 74.6 +0.3 pp
2017 74.2 +0.4 pp
2016 73.9 +0.4 pp
2015 73.4 +0.5 pp
2014 73 +0.5 pp
2013 72.5 +0.5 pp
2012 72 +0.5 pp
2011 71.4 +0.6 pp
2010 70.9 +0.6 pp
2009 70.2 +0.7 pp
2008 69.5 +0.8 pp
2007 68.8 +0.8 pp
2006 67.9 +0.9 pp
2005 67 +1 pp
2004 66.1 +1 pp
2003 65.1 +1 pp
2002 64.1 +1 pp
2001 63 +1 pp
2000 62 +1.1 pp
1999 60.9 +1.2 pp
1998 59.7 +1.2 pp
1997 58.5 +1.3 pp
1996 57.2 +1.3 pp
1995 55.9 +1.3 pp
1994 54.6 +1.4 pp
1993 53.2 +1.4 pp
1992 51.9 +1.4 pp
1991 50.5 +1.5 pp
1990 49 +1.6 pp
1989 47.4 +1.7 pp
1988 45.8 +1.7 pp
1987 44 +1.7 pp
1986 42.3 +1.7 pp
1985 40.6 +1.6 pp
1984 39 +1.5 pp
1983 37.5 +1.3 pp
1982 36.2 +1.1 pp
1981 35.1 +0.8 pp
1980 34.2 +0.7 pp
1979 33.6 +0.6 pp
1978 33 +0.6 pp
1977 32.4 +0.5 pp
1976 31.9 +0.5 pp
1975 31.4 +0.4 pp
1974 30.9 +0.4 pp
1973 30.5 +0.4 pp
1972 30.1 +0.4 pp
1971 29.8 +0.3 pp
1970 29.4 +0.3 pp
1969 29.1 +0.3 pp
1968 28.8 +0.3 pp
1967 28.5 +0.3 pp
1966 28.1 +0.3 pp
1965 27.8 +0.3 pp
1964 27.5 +0.3 pp
1963 27.2 +0.3 pp
1962 26.8 +0.4 pp
1961 26.5 +0.4 pp
1960 26.1

About the indicator

The share of population living in urban settlements, as a percent of the total. One caveat is central: each country sets the criteria for a city itself — in some places it is a settlement of 2,000 residents or more, in others 20,000, in others administrative status. Cross-country comparisons of urbanization are therefore always approximate, while the trend within a single country is informative.

Important: Sharp jumps in individual years are usually explained not by people moving but by changes in the administrative boundaries of cities.

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