Malaysia - Urban population

The value for Urban population in Malaysia was 24,973,600 as of 2020. As the graph below shows, over the past 60 years this indicator reached a maximum value of 24,973,600 in 2020 and a minimum value of 2,169,424 in 1960.

Definition: Urban population refers to people living in urban areas as defined by national statistical offices. It is calculated using World Bank population estimates and urban ratios from the United Nations World Urbanization Prospects. Aggregation of urban and rural population may not add up to total population because of different country coverages.

Source: World Bank staff estimates based on the United Nations Population Division's World Urbanization Prospects: 2018 Revision.

See also:

Year Value
1960 2,169,424
1961 2,293,099
1962 2,424,727
1963 2,562,735
1964 2,705,079
1965 2,849,679
1966 2,996,157
1967 3,144,900
1968 3,296,693
1969 3,452,711
1970 3,614,414
1971 3,791,207
1972 3,975,274
1973 4,166,858
1974 4,367,853
1975 4,579,307
1976 4,802,814
1977 5,038,232
1978 5,284,696
1979 5,539,881
1980 5,801,271
1981 6,050,367
1982 6,305,687
1983 6,571,676
1984 6,854,614
1985 7,158,814
1986 7,487,772
1987 7,839,691
1988 8,210,278
1989 8,591,294
1990 8,977,771
1991 9,366,645
1992 9,846,038
1993 10,348,240
1994 10,868,160
1995 11,409,140
1996 11,973,530
1997 12,557,520
1998 13,157,330
1999 13,764,920
2000 14,375,100
2001 14,918,250
2002 15,458,510
2003 15,999,900
2004 16,548,740
2005 17,108,410
2006 17,681,860
2007 18,266,040
2008 18,854,120
2009 19,435,330
2010 20,002,880
2011 20,516,670
2012 21,009,030
2013 21,491,690
2014 21,974,950
2015 22,464,990
2016 22,964,390
2017 23,467,530
2018 23,972,660
2019 24,475,780
2020 24,973,600

Development Relevance: Explosive growth of cities globally signifies the demographic transition from rural to urban, and is associated with shifts from an agriculture-based economy to mass industry, technology, and service. In principle, cities offer a more favorable setting for the resolution of social and environmental problems than rural areas. Cities generate jobs and income, and deliver education, health care and other services. Cities also present opportunities for social mobilization and women's empowerment.

Limitations and Exceptions: Aggregation of urban and rural population may not add up to total population because of different country coverage. There is no consistent and universally accepted standard for distinguishing urban from rural areas, in part because of the wide variety of situations across countries. Most countries use an urban classification related to the size or characteristics of settlements. Some define urban areas based on the presence of certain infrastructure and services. And other countries designate urban areas based on administrative arrangements. Because of national differences in the characteristics that distinguish urban from rural areas, the distinction between urban and rural population is not amenable to a single definition that would be applicable to all countries. Estimates of the world's urban population would change significantly if China, India, and a few other populous nations were to change their definition of urban centers. Because the estimates of city and metropolitan area are based on national definitions of what constitutes a city or metropolitan area, cross-country comparisons should be made with caution.

Statistical Concept and Methodology: Urban population refers to people living in urban areas as defined by national statistical offices. The indicator is calculated using World Bank population estimates and urban ratios from the United Nations World Urbanization Prospects. To estimate urban populations, UN ratios of urban to total population were applied to the World Bank's estimates of total population. Countries differ in the way they classify population as "urban" or "rural." The population of a city or metropolitan area depends on the boundaries chosen.

Aggregation method: Sum

Periodicity: Annual

Classification

Topic: Environment Indicators

Sub-Topic: Density & urbanization