Air passengers in Malaysia
Malaysia: Air passengers was 46.70 million in 2023. ◆ Volatile
Air passengers in Malaysia, 1970–2023
Source: International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO), via World Bank (2026) – processed by Our World in Data.
Analysis
Malaysia recorded 46.70 million for air passengers in 2023.
That represents a change of up 66.7% on the previous year and down 2.7% over ten years.
Over the whole period, air passengers in Malaysia peaked at 63.62 million in 2019 and was at its lowest, 748,900, in 1970.
That places Malaysia 24th out of 183 countries with data for 2023, putting it in the top quarter.
The series is highly variable year to year, so single readings are best treated with caution.
Air passengers in Malaysia, year by year
| Year | Value | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1970 | 748,900 | — |
| 1971 | 875,100 | +16.9% |
| 1972 | 1.02 million | +16.1% |
| 1973 | 1.86 million | +83.6% |
| 1974 | 2.33 million | +25.1% |
| 1975 | 2.50 million | +7.4% |
| 1976 | 2.67 million | +6.7% |
| 1977 | 2.86 million | +7.3% |
| 1978 | 3.10 million | +8.1% |
| 1979 | 3.49 million | +12.7% |
| 1980 | 4.52 million | +29.4% |
| 1981 | 5.35 million | +18.4% |
| 1982 | 5.24 million | -2.0% |
| 1983 | 5.36 million | +2.3% |
| 1984 | 5.69 million | +6.1% |
| 1985 | 5.69 million | +0.0% |
| 1986 | 6.31 million | +11.0% |
| 1987 | 7.40 million | +17.2% |
| 1988 | 7.68 million | +3.9% |
| 1989 | 8.69 million | +13.2% |
| 1990 | 10.24 million | +17.8% |
| 1991 | 11.84 million | +15.6% |
| 1992 | 12.76 million | +7.8% |
| 1993 | 13.10 million | +2.7% |
| 1994 | 14.25 million | +8.8% |
| 1995 | 15.42 million | +8.2% |
| 1996 | 15.12 million | -1.9% |
| 1997 | 15.59 million | +3.1% |
| 1998 | 13.65 million | -12.4% |
| 1999 | 14.98 million | +9.7% |
| 2000 | 16.56 million | +10.5% |
| 2001 | 16.11 million | -2.7% |
| 2002 | 16.28 million | +1.1% |
| 2003 | 16.70 million | +2.6% |
| 2004 | 19.23 million | +15.1% |
| 2005 | 20.37 million | +5.9% |
| 2006 | 17.83 million | -12.4% |
| 2007 | 21.33 million | +19.6% |
| 2008 | 22.42 million | +5.1% |
| 2009 | 23.77 million | +6.0% |
| 2010 | 34.24 million | +44.1% |
| 2011 | 38.22 million | +11.6% |
| 2012 | 39.17 million | +2.5% |
| 2013 | 48.00 million | +22.5% |
| 2014 | 49.67 million | +3.5% |
| 2015 | 50.35 million | +1.4% |
| 2016 | 53.82 million | +6.9% |
| 2017 | 58.71 million | +9.1% |
| 2018 | 60.48 million | +3.0% |
| 2019 | 63.62 million | +5.2% |
| 2020 | 15.89 million | -75.0% |
| 2021 | 4.97 million | -68.8% |
| 2022 | 28.01 million | +464.0% |
| 2023 | 46.70 million | +66.7% |
Malaysia compared with similar countries
- Malaysia's 46.70 million is above the median for upper middle income countries, which is 1.37 million, 34.1× the median. (52 countries reporting)
- Malaysia's 46.70 million is above the median for East Asia & Pacific, which is 2.05 million, 22.7× the median. (29 countries reporting)
Biggest year-on-year movements
Years where Air passengers 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2022 | +464.0% | 4.97 million | 28.01 million |
| 2020 | -75.0% | 63.62 million | 15.89 million |
| 1973 | +83.6% | 1.02 million | 1.86 million |
| 2021 | -68.8% | 15.89 million | 4.97 million |
| 2023 | +66.7% | 28.01 million | 46.70 million |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1970s | 2.15 million | 748,900 | 3.49 million | 10 |
| 1980s | 6.19 million | 4.52 million | 8.69 million | 10 |
| 1990s | 13.70 million | 10.24 million | 15.59 million | 10 |
| 2000s | 19.06 million | 16.11 million | 23.77 million | 10 |
| 2010s | 49.63 million | 34.24 million | 63.62 million | 10 |
| 2020s | 23.89 million | 4.97 million | 46.70 million | 4 |
Countries ranked near Malaysia
More reference data data for Malaysia
- Emission Totals - Indirect emissions (N2O) - Manure applied to Soils 0.7102 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Indirect emissions (N2O) - Manure left on Pasture 0.5869 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Indirect emissions (N2O) - IPCC Agriculture 4.62 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Indirect emissions (N2O) - Crop Residues 0.1487 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Indirect emissions (N2O) - Agricultural Soils 4.62 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Emissions (N2O) - Manure applied to Soils 2.38 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Emissions (N2O) - Manure Management 1.64 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Emissions (N2O) - Manure left on Pasture 3.29 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Emissions (N2O) - IPCC Agriculture 21.1 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Emissions (N2O) - Crop Residues 0.8098 (2050)
Frequently asked questions
- What is air passengers in Malaysia?
- Air passengers in Malaysia was 46.70 million in 2023, according to International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO), via World Bank (2026) – processed by Our World in Data.
- What is the highest air passengers recorded in Malaysia?
- The highest recorded value was 63.62 million in 2019.
- What is the lowest air passengers recorded in Malaysia?
- The lowest recorded value was 748,900 in 1970.
- How does Malaysia rank for air passengers?
- Malaysia ranks 24th out of 183 countries with data for 2023.
- Is air passengers rising or falling in Malaysia?
- Over the last ten years it is down 2.7%. The long-run trend across the full record is volatile.
- Where does this Malaysia data come from?
- The figures come from International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO), via World Bank (2026) – processed by Our World in Data, published as part of Air passengers. Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
Download this data
CSV · JSON — 54 observations, free to reuse under CC BY 4.0 (Our World in Data).
About this data
Domestic and international passengers of airlines registered in the country. Passengers counted each time they travel.