Net migration in Malaysia
Malaysia: Net migration was 166,615 in 2025. ◆ Volatile
Net migration in Malaysia, 1960–2025
Source: World Population Prospects, United Nations (UN), publisher: UN Population Division.
Analysis
In 2025, net migration in Malaysia stood at 166,615.
That represents a change of down 4.7% on the previous year and down 11.2% over ten years.
Over the whole period, net migration in Malaysia peaked at 232,971 in 2006 and was at its lowest, -46,948, in 1960.
Malaysia ranks 7th of 218 countries on this measure, in the top 10%.
The series is highly variable year to year, so single readings are best treated with caution.
Net migration in Malaysia, year by year
| Year | Value | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1960 | -46,948 | — |
| 1961 | -44,916 | -4.3% |
| 1962 | -43,033 | -4.2% |
| 1963 | -40,952 | -4.8% |
| 1964 | -38,785 | -5.3% |
| 1965 | -36,456 | -6.0% |
| 1966 | -33,993 | -6.8% |
| 1967 | -42,108 | +23.9% |
| 1968 | -40,996 | -2.6% |
| 1969 | -39,420 | -3.8% |
| 1970 | -31,839 | -19.2% |
| 1971 | -20,535 | -35.5% |
| 1972 | -21,305 | +3.7% |
| 1973 | -21,995 | +3.2% |
| 1974 | -21,919 | -0.3% |
| 1975 | -20,480 | -6.6% |
| 1976 | -18,316 | -10.6% |
| 1977 | -16,601 | -9.4% |
| 1978 | -15,059 | -9.3% |
| 1979 | -13,980 | -7.2% |
| 1980 | 80,617 | -676.7% |
| 1981 | 84,142 | +4.4% |
| 1982 | 89,942 | +6.9% |
| 1983 | 97,862 | +8.8% |
| 1984 | 106,248 | +8.6% |
| 1985 | 120,215 | +13.1% |
| 1986 | 127,081 | +5.7% |
| 1987 | 137,759 | +8.4% |
| 1988 | 133,478 | -3.1% |
| 1989 | 143,544 | +7.5% |
| 1990 | 135,020 | -5.9% |
| 1991 | 97,111 | -28.1% |
| 1992 | 66,286 | -31.7% |
| 1993 | 61,079 | -7.9% |
| 1994 | 66,685 | +9.2% |
| 1995 | 72,393 | +8.6% |
| 1996 | 73,040 | +0.9% |
| 1997 | 79,266 | +8.5% |
| 1998 | 99,639 | +25.7% |
| 1999 | 89,335 | -10.3% |
| 2000 | 125,499 | +40.5% |
| 2001 | 173,613 | +38.3% |
| 2002 | 196,227 | +13.0% |
| 2003 | 199,510 | +1.7% |
| 2004 | 212,278 | +6.4% |
| 2005 | 225,864 | +6.4% |
| 2006 | 232,971 | +3.1% |
| 2007 | 229,784 | -1.4% |
| 2008 | 202,481 | -11.9% |
| 2009 | 178,410 | -11.9% |
| 2010 | 157,164 | -11.9% |
| 2011 | 122,269 | -22.2% |
| 2012 | 134,975 | +10.4% |
| 2013 | 149,637 | +10.9% |
| 2014 | 159,791 | +6.8% |
| 2015 | 187,663 | +17.4% |
| 2016 | 222,141 | +18.4% |
| 2017 | 227,677 | +2.5% |
| 2018 | 221,965 | -2.5% |
| 2019 | 203,284 | -8.4% |
| 2020 | 101,907 | -49.9% |
| 2021 | 188,506 | +85.0% |
| 2022 | 188,154 | -0.2% |
| 2023 | 181,071 | -3.8% |
| 2024 | 174,770 | -3.5% |
| 2025 | 166,615 | -4.7% |
Malaysia compared with similar countries
- Malaysia's 166,615 is above the median for upper middle income countries, which is -2,815. (59 countries reporting)
- Malaysia's 166,615 is above the median for East Asia & Pacific, which is -462. (37 countries reporting)
Biggest year-on-year movements
Years where Net migration in Malaysia changed far more than this series normally does. A large move can be a real event or a change in how the figure was measured — the source note below says who published it.
| Year | Change | From | To |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1980 | +676.7% | -13,980 | 80,617 |
| 2021 | +85.0% | 101,907 | 188,506 |
| 2020 | -49.9% | 203,284 | 101,907 |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1960s | -40,761 | -46,948 | -33,993 | 10 |
| 1970s | -20,203 | -31,839 | -13,980 | 10 |
| 1980s | 112,089 | 80,617 | 143,544 | 10 |
| 1990s | 83,985 | 61,079 | 135,020 | 10 |
| 2000s | 197,664 | 125,499 | 232,971 | 10 |
| 2010s | 178,657 | 122,269 | 227,677 | 10 |
| 2020s | 166,837 | 101,907 | 188,506 | 6 |
Countries ranked near Malaysia
- 4 United Kingdom 389,911 compare
- 5 Canada 326,204 compare
- 6 Sudan 291,469 compare
- 8 United Arab Emirates 158,634 compare
- 9 South Africa 146,370 compare
- 10 Japan 140,579 compare
More financial sector data for Malaysia
- Reserve position in the IMF, US dollar, annual growth rate 5.91 % change on previous year (2025)
- Reserve position in the IMF, US dollar, per unit of GDP 0.0027 units per US$ of GDP (2025)
- Reserve position in the IMF, US dollar, per capita 35.78 units per person (2025)
- Reserve position in the IMF, SDR, annual growth rate 0.8573 % change on previous year (2025)
- Reserve position in the IMF, SDR, per unit of GDP 0.002 units per US$ of GDP (2025)
- Reserve position in the IMF, SDR, per capita 26.13 units per person (2025)
- Reserve tranche position, US dollar, annual growth rate 5.91 % change on previous year (2025)
- Reserve tranche position, US dollar, per unit of GDP 0.0027 units per US$ of GDP (2025)
- Reserve tranche position, US dollar, per capita 35.78 units per person (2025)
- Reserve tranche position, SDR, annual growth rate 0.8573 % change on previous year (2025)
Frequently asked questions
- What is net migration in Malaysia?
- Net migration in Malaysia was 166,615 in 2025, according to World Population Prospects, United Nations (UN), publisher: UN Population Division.
- What is the highest net migration recorded in Malaysia?
- The highest recorded value was 232,971 in 2006.
- What is the lowest net migration recorded in Malaysia?
- The lowest recorded value was -46,948 in 1960.
- How does Malaysia rank for net migration?
- Malaysia ranks 7th out of 218 countries with data for 2025.
- Is net migration rising or falling in Malaysia?
- Over the last ten years it is down 11.2%. The long-run trend across the full record is volatile.
- Where does this Malaysia data come from?
- The figures come from World Population Prospects, United Nations (UN), publisher: UN Population Division, published as part of Net migration. Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
Download this data
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About this data
Net migration is the net total of migrants during the period, that is, the number of immigrants minus the number of emigrants, including both citizens and noncitizens.