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Malaysia: Rural population (% of total population)

In , Malaysia's Rural population (% of total population) was 23.08.

That's down 2.0% from 2023, the highest value since .

The global average for this indicator in 2024 was 37.13 . Malaysia ranks #149 globally out of 217 reporting countries. Within East Asia & Pacific, it ranks #24 of 37.

Source: World Bank Open Data (SP.RUR.TOTL.ZS) • Data as of 2024

Trend (2005–2024)

Malaysia Rural population (% of total population) trend 2020: COVID-19 pandemic
  • 2020 · COVID-19 pandemic

Highlights

Peak
32.98
Trough
23.08
1-year change
-2.0%
5-year change
-8.3%
-1.7% / yr
10-year change
-14.6%
-1.6% / yr

Historical Data — Last 10 Years

Year Rural population (% of total population)
23.0830
23.5565
24.0259
24.4911
24.9488
25.1622
25.4365
25.7645
26.1411
26.5612

About Rural population (% of total population)

Rural population refers to people living in rural areas as defined by national statistical offices. It is calculated as the difference between total population and urban population.

Indicator code: SP.RUR.TOTL.ZSCategory: Health & Population

Frequently asked questions

What was Malaysia's Rural population (% of total population) in 2024?
In 2024, Malaysia's Rural population (% of total population) was 23.08, according to World Bank Open Data.
Is Malaysia's Rural population (% of total population) rising or falling?
Malaysia's Rural population (% of total population) fell 2.0% from 2023 to 2024.
How does Malaysia rank globally on Rural population (% of total population)?
In 2024, Malaysia ranked #149 out of 217 countries reporting Rural population (% of total population).
How does Malaysia's Rural population (% of total population) compare to the world average?
The global average for Rural population (% of total population) in 2024 was 37.13, so Malaysia is below the world average. Within East Asia & Pacific, it ranks #24 of 37.
What is Rural population (% of total population) and how is it measured?
Rural population refers to people living in rural areas as defined by national statistical offices. It is calculated as the difference between total population and urban population.
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Source: World Bank Open Data (SP.RUR.TOTL.ZS), CC BY 4.0.