Malaysia Population Pyramid (2026)
Malaysia has a population of 36,385,114 in 2026, according to the UN World Population Prospects 2024 (projection for 1 July). That is the 45th-largest population in the world and 0.44% of the global total of 8.30 billion. Children under 15 make up 20.8% of the population and people aged 65 and over 8.3%, with 109.5 males for every 100 females.
Malaysia Demographics
Malaysia has 36.4 million people in 2026, up 257.5% from 10.2 million in 1970.
Births outnumber deaths by 242,080 (UN projection for 2026).
Under-15 share 20.8% — the 86th-lowest of 194 countries.
Median age 31.4 — the 89th-highest of 194 countries.
Largest generation: Millennials — 27.0% (9,824,450)
All generations in Malaysia →Compare Malaysia Demographics
Population pyramid, 1950 to 2026
Watch how Malaysia's population structure evolved from 1950 to 2026
Page Navigation(Quick jump to sections)
Sex Ratio & Gender Distribution
Malaysia has 109.5 males per 100 females (sex ratio)
Men outnumber women by 1,649,754 (4.5% of the population).
Male Statistics
- Population:19,017,434
- Percentage:52.3%
Female Statistics
- Population:17,367,680
- Percentage:47.7%
- Ratio Format:1:0.913
Sex Ratio Analysis
The sex ratio of Malaysia indicates more males than females.
Birth Statistics & Natality Data
Estimated births today
Simulated from the UN WPP 2024 projection of 440,401 births in 2026.
Current Birth Metrics (2026)
Temporal Distribution
Averages from the UN annual births, 2026 projection
Historical Birth Rate Trends, 1950 to 2026
Birth Statistics, 2021 to 2026
| Year | Births | Birth Rate (per 1,000) | TFR (children/woman) | Type |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 424,571 | 12.4 | 1.56 | estimate |
| 2022 | 430,022 | 12.4 | 1.55 | estimate |
| 2023 | 435,989 | 12.4 | 1.55 | estimate |
| 2024 | 439,568 | 12.4 | 1.54 | projection |
| 2025 | 439,747 | 12.2 | 1.53 | projection |
| 2026 | 440,401 | 12.1 | 1.52 | projection |
Historical Analysis
Global Context (2026)
Source: UN WPP 2024: births, birth rate and fertility for 2024 and later are medium-variant projections; 1950–2023 are estimates. The live counter is a uniform simulation of the 2026 projection (440,401 births), not a real-time feed.
Median Age Analysis
Malaysia's median age is 31.4 years
Half the population is younger than 31.4 years, half is older — indicating a young society
Complete Age Distribution & Youth Demographics
| Age Group | Population | % | Category |
|---|---|---|---|
| 0-4 | 2,214,531 | 6.1% | Youth |
| 5-9 | 2,522,833 | 6.9% | Youth |
| 10-14 | 2,848,495 | 7.8% | Youth |
| 15-19 | 2,787,525 | 7.7% | Young Adult |
| 20-24 | 3,127,415 | 8.6% | Young Adult |
| 25-29 | 3,185,191 | 8.8% | Working Age |
| 30-34 | 3,172,787 | 8.7% | Working Age |
| 35-39 | 3,139,374 | 8.6% | Working Age |
| 40-44 | 2,925,444 | 8.0% | Working Age |
| 45-49 | 2,406,648 | 6.6% | Working Age |
| 50-54 | 1,948,342 | 5.4% | Working Age |
| 55-59 | 1,642,496 | 4.5% | Working Age |
| 60-64 | 1,431,131 | 3.9% | Working Age |
| 65-69 | 1,158,451 | 3.2% | Senior |
| 70-74 | 858,906 | 2.4% | Senior |
| 75-79 | 541,993 | 1.5% | Senior |
| 80-84 | 271,224 | 0.7% | Senior |
| 85-89 | 136,994 | 0.4% | Senior |
| 90-94 | 49,973 | 0.1% | Senior |
| 95-99 | 13,043 | 0.0% | Senior |
| 100+ | 2,317 | 0.0% | Senior |
Demographic Transition Model (DTM) Stage
Stage 4 (low birth and death rates): fertility is below the replacement level of 2.1 (1.52 children per woman), and births still exceed deaths (12.1 vs 5.5 per 1,000). Read more about Stage 4 of the Demographic Transition Model.
Fertility Rate & Birth Statistics
Malaysia Total Fertility Rate: 1.52 children per woman
Below the replacement level of 2.1
Fertility Rate Trends
Historical data (solid line) and future projections (dashed line)
Historical Fertility Trends
| Year | Total Fertility Rate | Birth Rate | Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 1.56 | 12.4 | |
| 2022 | 1.55 | 12.4 | ↓0.01 |
| 2023 | 1.55 | 12.4 | 0.00 |
| 2024 | 1.54 | 12.4 | ↓0.01 |
| 2025 | 1.53 | 12.2 | ↓0.01 |
| 2026 | 1.52 | 12.1 | ↓0.01 |
Global Context
- • World Average: 2.23 children per woman
- • Comparison: Below global average
- • UN projection for 2030: 1.51
Malaysia's total fertility rate is 1.52 children per woman in 2026 (below replacement), below the replacement level of 2.1. Malaysia ranks 140 of 194 for fertility rate (1 = highest), in the lowest third of countries. The fertility rate has changed by −76.4% since 1950.
Historical Demographic Changes
Between 1950 and 2026, Malaysia's population has increased by 496.6%.
The median age has increased from 18.8 in 1950 to 31.4 in 2026, indicating population aging.
Understanding Malaysia's Demographics
Malaysia has a stationary population pyramid — similar-sized bands from the youngest cohorts through the working ages.
Children under 15 make up 20.8% of the population and people aged 65 and over 8.3%.
The largest five-year age band is 25–29, at 8.8% of the population, compared with 6.1% in the 0–4 band.
Demographic Analysis: Malaysia's Population Structure
Demographic Dividend Window
The working-age share is still rising, from 68.6% in 2016 to 70.8% in 2026 (dependency ratio 41.2).
Fertility Transition Stage
Malaysia is in a period of below replacement, with a total fertility rate of 1.52 children per woman (2026, UN WPP 2024).
Population Aging Speed
Malaysia's median age changed by +4.3 years from 2016 to 2026, faster than the world average (+2.6 years).
Key Demographics
| Total Population | 36,385,114 |
| Male Population | 19,017,434(52.3%) |
| Female Population | 17,367,680(47.7%) |
| Median Age | 31.4 years |
| Sex Ratio | 109.5 males per 100 females |
| Youth (0-14) | 7,585,859(20.8%) |
| Working Age (15-64) | 25,766,354(70.8%) |
| Elderly (65+) | 3,032,901(8.3%) |
| Total Dependency Ratio | 41.2 |
| Youth Dependency Ratio | 29.4 |
| Old Age Dependency Ratio | 11.8 |
| Pyramid Type | Stationary |
Dependency Ratios: Number of dependents per 100 working-age individuals.
Demographic Data Visualizations
Total population, 1950–2026 (UN WPP 2024; 2024 onward are projections).
Median age, 1950–2026 (UN WPP 2024; 2024 onward are projections).
Youth, working-age and elderly shares, 1950 vs 2026 (UN WPP 2024).
Age distribution in 2026: youth, working-age and elderly shares (UN WPP 2024; projection).
Life Expectancy in Malaysia
How long the average person in Malaysia is expected to live · sourced from UN WPP 2024
Historical Trend, 1950 → 2026 (plus UN projection to 2100)
Solid: actual · Dashed: medium-variant projectionFuture Demographic Trends
Malaysia is projected to grow to 44.3 million people by 2050 (+21.7% from 2026).
The median age rises from 31.4 in 2026 to 40.1 by 2050.
Malaysia's Demographic Evolution by Decade
The population increased by 27.6%, growing from 10.2 million in 1970 to 13.0 million by 1980
The median age increased by 2.4 years, indicating population aging during this period
The youth population share contracted by 5.4 percentage points
Meanwhile, the elderly population proportion grew by 0.6 percentage points.
Key Demographic Highlights
- • Population changed from 10.2M to 13.0M
- • Growth rate of 27.6% over the decade
- • Median age shifted from 16.3 to 18.7 years (+2.4y)
- • 65+ share changed by +0.6 points; under-15 share by −5.4 points
How Does Malaysia Compare to Its Neighbors?
Malaysia has a younger population than Thailand, Vietnam. Malaysia has an older population than Indonesia, Myanmar.
Frequently Asked Questions About Malaysia
How does Malaysia rank globally by population?
Malaysia ranks 45th in the world by population with 36.4 million people as of 2026, representing 0.44% of the global total of 8.30 billion.
What does Malaysia's age structure reveal about its development?
Malaysia's age structure — 20.8% under 15, 70.8% working-age (15–64) and 8.3% aged 65+ — is that of a country in Stage 4 of the demographic transition, with a stationary population pyramid. The median age is 31.4 years.
What is the dependency ratio in Malaysia?
Malaysia has 41.2 people under 15 or aged 65+ per 100 people aged 15–64 in 2026.
Is Malaysia experiencing a demographic dividend?
Malaysia is in its demographic-dividend window. The working-age share is still rising, from 68.6% in 2016 to 70.8% in 2026 (dependency ratio 41.2). The demographic dividend occurs when falling fertility creates a bulge in the working-age population while dependency ratios stay manageable.
What are the gender dynamics in Malaysia's population?
Malaysia has more males than females, with 109.5 males per 100 females.
Compare with Other Countries
Data Sources & Methodology
All population data is sourced from the United Nations Department of Economic and Social Affairs, Population Division. The data represents UN medium-variant projections.
Cite this page: Population Pyramids. (2026). Malaysia Population Pyramid and Demographic Analysis. Retrieved from https://www.populationpyramids.org/malaysia
View UN World Population Prospects Data →