As of July 2024, the population of Selangor was estimated at approximately 7.4 million. Selangor is Malaysia's most populous state, as well as the state with the largest economy in terms of gross domestic product. The Golden Peninsula Malaysia is comprised of 13 states and three Wilayah Persekutuan (WP) or federal territories, which include Labuan, an offshore financial center on the east; the nation’s capital, Kuala Lumpur; and the administrative center, Putrajaya - both on the west. The aforementioned two federal territories on the west are enclaves within Selangor. In addition to that and the many points of interest it has to offer, Selangor is Malaysia’s most visited state among domestic tourists. Darul Ehsan – The Abode of Sincerity Selangor is a sultanate, ruled by Sultan Sharafuddin Idris Shah since 2001. Located on the west coast of the Malaysian peninsula, the state hosts the country’s two main transportation hubs: Kuala Lumpur International Airport and Port Klang, the country’s largest port.The state is also Malaysia’s largest economy, which contributes a big part to Malaysia’s overall GDP per capita. With the prime location, good infrastructure, and two federal territories within, Selangor will continue to attract more people for work, travel, or more.

Malaysia Refugee Population: by Country or Territory of Asylum data was reported at 103,792.000 Person in 2017. This records an increase from the previous number of 92,263.000 Person for 2016. Malaysia Refugee Population: by Country or Territory of Asylum data is updated yearly, averaging 43,818.000 Person from Dec 1990 (Median) to 2017, with 28 observations. The data reached an all-time high of 103,792.000 Person in 2017 and a record low of 154.000 Person in 1993. Malaysia Refugee Population: by Country or Territory of Asylum data remains active status in CEIC and is reported by World Bank. The data is categorized under Global Database’s Malaysia – Table MY.World Bank.WDI: Population and Urbanization Statistics. Refugees are people who are recognized as refugees under the 1951 Convention Relating to the Status of Refugees or its 1967 Protocol, the 1969 Organization of African Unity Convention Governing the Specific Aspects of Refugee Problems in Africa, people recognized as refugees in accordance with the UNHCR statute, people granted refugee-like humanitarian status, and people provided temporary protection. Asylum seekers--people who have applied for asylum or refugee status and who have not yet received a decision or who are registered as asylum seekers--are excluded. Palestinian refugees are people (and their descendants) whose residence was Palestine between June 1946 and May 1948 and who lost their homes and means of livelihood as a result of the 1948 Arab-Israeli conflict. Country of asylum is the country where an asylum claim was filed and granted.; ; United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR), Statistics Database, Statistical Yearbook and data files, complemented by statistics on Palestinian refugees under the mandate of the UNRWA as published on its website. Data from UNHCR are available online at: www.unhcr.org/en-us/figures-at-a-glance.html.; Sum;

Population density (people per sq. km of land area) in Malaysia was reported at 106 sq. Km in 2022, according to the World Bank collection of development indicators, compiled from officially recognized sources. Malaysia - Population density (people per sq. km) - actual values, historical data, forecasts and projections were sourced from the World Bank on July of 2025.

Population in the largest city (% of urban population) in Malaysia was reported at 31.3 % in 2024, according to the World Bank collection of development indicators, compiled from officially recognized sources. Malaysia - Population in the largest city - actual values, historical data, forecasts and projections were sourced from the World Bank on July of 2025.

Population in largest city in Malaysia was reported at 8815630 in 2024, according to the World Bank collection of development indicators, compiled from officially recognized sources. Malaysia - Population in largest city - actual values, historical data, forecasts and projections were sourced from the World Bank on July of 2025.

The population in Malaysia grew to 32.45 million people in 2020. This is in line with a steady positive trend that has been happening since at least 2016 and is forecast to continue until at least 2030, as well as with the growth rates in other ASEAN countries. Malaysian demographics As the fertility rate slowly declines, the population growth rate should slowly decline as well. However, since life expectancy is also slowly increasing, this can still fuel population growth, as we see in this statistic. In Malaysia, this is leading to a healthy age structure, with a large group of working-age people who are able to support a smaller number of old and young people. Economic effects A growing population should lead to an increasing gross domestic product (GDP), simply because more people means more consumers and workers. This is especially effective if the country is at full employment. Given the generally low level of unemployment in Malaysia, it is fairly safe to assume that this is true.

Malaysia Refugee Population: by Country or Territory of Origin data was reported at 443.000 Person in 2016. This records an increase from the previous number of 439.000 Person for 2015. Malaysia Refugee Population: by Country or Territory of Origin data is updated yearly, averaging 265.500 Person from Dec 1991 (Median) to 2016, with 26 observations. The data reached an all-time high of 615.000 Person in 2007 and a record low of 3.000 Person in 1991. Malaysia Refugee Population: by Country or Territory of Origin data remains active status in CEIC and is reported by World Bank. The data is categorized under Global Database’s Malaysia – Table MY.World Bank: Population and Urbanization Statistics. Refugees are people who are recognized as refugees under the 1951 Convention Relating to the Status of Refugees or its 1967 Protocol, the 1969 Organization of African Unity Convention Governing the Specific Aspects of Refugee Problems in Africa, people recognized as refugees in accordance with the UNHCR statute, people granted refugee-like humanitarian status, and people provided temporary protection. Asylum seekers--people who have applied for asylum or refugee status and who have not yet received a decision or who are registered as asylum seekers--are excluded. Palestinian refugees are people (and their descendants) whose residence was Palestine between June 1946 and May 1948 and who lost their homes and means of livelihood as a result of the 1948 Arab-Israeli conflict. Country of origin generally refers to the nationality or country of citizenship of a claimant.; ; United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR), Statistics Database, Statistical Yearbook and data files, complemented by statistics on Palestinian refugees under the mandate of the UNRWA as published on its website. Data from UNHCR are available online at: www.unhcr.org/en-us/figures-at-a-glance.html.; Sum;

Malaysia Population in Largest City data was reported at 7,318,545.000 Person in 2017. This records an increase from the previous number of 7,081,137.000 Person for 2016. Malaysia Population in Largest City data is updated yearly, averaging 1,870,358.000 Person from Dec 1960 (Median) to 2017, with 58 observations. The data reached an all-time high of 7,318,545.000 Person in 2017 and a record low of 343,527.000 Person in 1960. Malaysia Population in Largest City data remains active status in CEIC and is reported by World Bank. The data is categorized under Global Database’s Malaysia – Table MY.World Bank.WDI: Population and Urbanization Statistics. Population in largest city is the urban population living in the country's largest metropolitan area.; ; United Nations, World Urbanization Prospects.; ;

In 2020, Indonesians made up the largest group of Asian immigrants in the country, with around 1.24 million such immigrants there. In that year, close to 11 percent of the Malaysia population were immigrants.

As of July 2024, 70.4 percent of the Malaysian population were classified as Bumiputera, 22.4 percent were classified as ethnic Chinese, and 6.5 percent as ethnic Indians. Those who do not fall under these three main ethnic groups are classified as ‘Other’. Malaysia is a multi-ethnic and multi-religious society with three main ethnicities and language groups. Who are Malaysia’s Bumiputera? Bumiputera, meaning sons of the soil, is a term used to categorize the Malays, as well as the indigenous peoples of Peninsular Malaysia, also known as orang asli, and the indigenous peoples of Sabah and Sarawak. As of July 2023, the Bumiputera share of the population in Sabah was 89 percent, while that in Sarawak was 76.1 percent. Thus, the incorporation of the states of Sabah and Sarawak during the formation of Malaysia ensured that the ethnic Malays were able to maintain a majority share of the Malaysian population. Bumiputera privileges and ethnic-based politics The rights and privileges of the Malays and the natives of Sabah and Sarawak are enshrined in Article 153 of Malaysia’s constitution. This translated, in practice, to a policy of affirmative action to improve the economic situation of this particular group, through the New Economic Policy introduced in 1971. 50 years on, it is questionable whether the policy has achieved its aim. Bumiputeras still lag behind the other ethnic two major groups in terms of monthly household income. However, re-thinking this policy will certainly be met by opposition from those who have benefitted from it.

Chart and table of population level and growth rate for the Johor Bahru, Malaysia metro area from 1950 to 2025.

In 2023, the urban population in Malaysia reached approximately 27.65 million people. In the last decade, the urban population in Malaysia has increased by more than five million people, indicating an upward trend in urbanization. Rapid urbanization In 2023, approximately 78 percent of Malaysia’s population lived in urban areas and cities. This puts Malaysia as one of Southeast Asia’s most urbanized countries. The metropolitan area of Greater Kuala Lumpur had a population of more than eight million in that year, making it Malaysia’s biggest urban area. However, about twice as many Malaysians lived in cities with half a million inhabitants or less. Urban-rural divide For many Malaysians, urbanization brought about more and better economic opportunities and job prospects. The average monthly income for urban households was more than 3,000 Malaysian ringgit higher than that of rural households. Poverty rates in rural areas were also significantly higher than that in urban areas. Even so, the countryside still holds a nostalgic place in the hearts of Malaysians, encapsulated in the romanticized idea of the ‘kampung’ or Malay village.

In 2022, the population density in Malaysia remained nearly unchanged at around 105.6 inhabitants per square kilometer. Nevertheless, 2022 still represents a peak in the population density in Malaysia. Population density refers to the number of people living in a certain country or area, given as an average per square kilometer. It is calculated by dividing the total midyear population by the total land area.Find more key insights for the population density in countries like Philippines and Laos.

Population growth rate of Malaysia rose by 3.03% from 1.2 % in 2022 to 1.2 % in 2023. Since the 13.58% slump in 2021, population growth rate leapt by 7.07% in 2023. Annual population growth rate for year t is the exponential rate of growth of midyear population from year t-1 to t, expressed as a percentage . Population is based on the de facto definition of population, which counts all residents regardless of legal status or citizenship--except for refugees not permanently settled in the country of asylum, who are generally considered part of the population of the country of origin.

The dataset shows the number of Population by Sex, Local Authority Area and State, Malaysia, 2010

More info: https://www.statistics.gov.my

According to a survey on Malaysians who intended to buy a new car during COVID-19, North Malaysia had the highest car demand to population ratio, with 116 percent. By comparison, the car demand to population ratio in East Malaysia was at 79 percent.

Comprehensive socio-economic dataset for Malaysia including population demographics, economic indicators, geographic data, and social statistics. This dataset covers key metrics such as GDP, population density, area, capital city, and regional classifications.

Malaysia Population in Largest City: as % of Urban Population data was reported at 30.673 % in 2017. This records an increase from the previous number of 30.338 % for 2016. Malaysia Population in Largest City: as % of Urban Population data is updated yearly, averaging 22.248 % from Dec 1960 (Median) to 2017, with 58 observations. The data reached an all-time high of 30.673 % in 2017 and a record low of 12.484 % in 1970. Malaysia Population in Largest City: as % of Urban Population data remains active status in CEIC and is reported by World Bank. The data is categorized under Global Database’s Malaysia – Table MY.World Bank: Population and Urbanization Statistics. Population in largest city is the percentage of a country's urban population living in that country's largest metropolitan area.; ; United Nations, World Urbanization Prospects.; Weighted average;

This statistic shows the degree of urbanization in Malaysia from 2014 to 2024. Urbanization means the share of urban population in the total population of a country. In 2024, 79.2 percent of Malaysia's total population lived in urban areas and cities. Urban areas in Malaysia Malaysia is currently one of the most urbanized countries of East Asia, and also one of the most rapidly urbanized regions around the world; over the last ten years, the urban population in Malaysia has increased from around 66 percent in 2004 to 74 percent in 2014. This growth is expected to continue, as people from rural areas migrate to urban areas due to the economy and employment continuing to shift from agriculture to industry and services. At present, the largest city in terms of population is Kuala Lumpur, which is home to around 1.31 million inhabitants - which is still relatively small, considering that the entire population of Malaysia amounts to around 31 million. Malaysia is also home to a number of smaller urban areas, and there are three other urban areas with more than 500,000 inhabitants. Urban areas in Malaysia, notably Kuala Lumpur, are less dense than is common for urban areas in East Asia. This means that dealing with and limiting sprawl will be a challenge. As the urban transformation continues, there is still a chance to find a balance between urban and rural settlements in an equitable, compact and sustainable manner.

This bar chart displays population (people) by region using the aggregation sum in Malaysia. The data is filtered where the date is 2021. The data is about countries per year.