Demographics of Malaysia

Malaysia is a multi-ethnic country with a diverse population. As of 2026, the official population estimate is about 36.3 million. According to the 2020 census, there were 32,447,385 people including non-citizens, placing Malaysia as the 43rd most populous country globally. In 2010, around 5.72 million lived in East Malaysia and 22.5 million in Peninsular Malaysia. Population distribution is uneven, with about 79 percent of citizens residing in Peninsular Malaysia, which covers less than 40 percent of the country's total land area.