Urban area over the long-term in Malaysia
Malaysia: Urban area over the long-term was 6,818 km² per grid cell in 2025. ◆ Volatile
Latest (2025)
6,818 km² per grid cell
Change on year
up 2.1%
World rank
22nd
of 202 countries
All-time high
6,818 km² per grid cell
in 2025
All-time low
0.0015 km² per grid cell
in 1000
Years of data
108
1000–2025
Urban area over the long-term in Malaysia, 1000–2025
Source: HYDE (2025) – with minor processing by Our World in Data. Measured in km² per grid cell.
Analysis
The most recent figure for urban area over the long-term in Malaysia is 6,818 km² per grid cell, measured in 2025. That is the highest value across all 108 years on record.
Compared with earlier readings it is up 2.1% on the previous year and up 23.6% over ten years.
Over the whole period, urban area over the long-term in Malaysia peaked at 6,818 km² per grid cell in 2025 and was at its lowest, 0.0015 km² per grid cell, in 1000.
That places Malaysia 22nd out of 202 countries with data for 2025, putting it in the top quarter.
The series is highly variable year to year, so single readings are best treated with caution.
Urban area over the long-term in Malaysia, year by year
| Year | km² per grid cell | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1000 | 0.0015 km² per grid cell | — |
| 1100 | 0.0054 km² per grid cell | +258.8% |
| 1200 | 0.0189 km² per grid cell | +249.2% |
| 1300 | 0.0646 km² per grid cell | +242.2% |
| 1400 | 0.2176 km² per grid cell | +237.0% |
| 1500 | 0.7246 km² per grid cell | +233.0% |
| 1600 | 2.72 km² per grid cell | +275.0% |
| 1700 | 9.78 km² per grid cell | +260.0% |
| 1710 | 11.4 km² per grid cell | +16.6% |
| 1720 | 12.91 km² per grid cell | +13.2% |
| 1730 | 14.6 km² per grid cell | +13.1% |
| 1740 | 16.49 km² per grid cell | +13.0% |
| 1750 | 18.61 km² per grid cell | +12.9% |
| 1760 | 20.98 km² per grid cell | +12.8% |
| 1770 | 23.64 km² per grid cell | +12.7% |
| 1780 | 26.62 km² per grid cell | +12.6% |
| 1790 | 29.94 km² per grid cell | +12.5% |
| 1800 | 33.66 km² per grid cell | +12.4% |
| 1810 | 38.71 km² per grid cell | +15.0% |
| 1820 | 44.41 km² per grid cell | +14.7% |
| 1830 | 50.86 km² per grid cell | +14.5% |
| 1840 | 58.12 km² per grid cell | +14.3% |
| 1850 | 66.31 km² per grid cell | +14.1% |
| 1860 | 94.41 km² per grid cell | +42.4% |
| 1870 | 127.26 km² per grid cell | +34.8% |
| 1880 | 165.52 km² per grid cell | +30.1% |
| 1890 | 209.91 km² per grid cell | +26.8% |
| 1900 | 256.52 km² per grid cell | +22.2% |
| 1910 | 328.44 km² per grid cell | +28.0% |
| 1920 | 447.53 km² per grid cell | +36.3% |
| 1930 | 582.19 km² per grid cell | +30.1% |
| 1940 | 821.81 km² per grid cell | +41.2% |
| 1950 | 936.02 km² per grid cell | +13.9% |
| 1951 | 977.51 km² per grid cell | +4.4% |
| 1952 | 1,022 km² per grid cell | +4.6% |
| 1953 | 1,069 km² per grid cell | +4.6% |
| 1954 | 1,117 km² per grid cell | +4.5% |
| 1955 | 1,167 km² per grid cell | +4.5% |
| 1956 | 1,218 km² per grid cell | +4.4% |
| 1957 | 1,269 km² per grid cell | +4.2% |
| 1958 | 1,318 km² per grid cell | +3.8% |
| 1959 | 1,362 km² per grid cell | +3.3% |
| 1960 | 1,406 km² per grid cell | +3.3% |
| 1961 | 1,452 km² per grid cell | +3.2% |
| 1962 | 1,522 km² per grid cell | +4.9% |
| 1963 | 1,571 km² per grid cell | +3.2% |
| 1964 | 1,614 km² per grid cell | +2.8% |
| 1965 | 1,655 km² per grid cell | +2.5% |
| 1966 | 1,692 km² per grid cell | +2.2% |
| 1967 | 1,747 km² per grid cell | +3.2% |
| 1968 | 1,782 km² per grid cell | +2.0% |
| 1969 | 1,816 km² per grid cell | +1.9% |
| 1970 | 1,847 km² per grid cell | +1.7% |
| 1971 | 1,881 km² per grid cell | +1.8% |
| 1972 | 1,908 km² per grid cell | +1.4% |
| 1973 | 1,933 km² per grid cell | +1.4% |
| 1974 | 1,999 km² per grid cell | +3.4% |
| 1975 | 2,030 km² per grid cell | +1.6% |
| 1976 | 2,060 km² per grid cell | +1.5% |
| 1977 | 2,089 km² per grid cell | +1.4% |
| 1978 | 2,118 km² per grid cell | +1.4% |
| 1979 | 2,148 km² per grid cell | +1.4% |
| 1980 | 2,180 km² per grid cell | +1.5% |
| 1981 | 2,207 km² per grid cell | +1.3% |
| 1982 | 2,237 km² per grid cell | +1.3% |
| 1983 | 2,270 km² per grid cell | +1.5% |
| 1984 | 2,306 km² per grid cell | +1.6% |
| 1985 | 2,346 km² per grid cell | +1.7% |
| 1986 | 2,390 km² per grid cell | +1.9% |
| 1987 | 2,438 km² per grid cell | +2.0% |
| 1988 | 2,490 km² per grid cell | +2.1% |
| 1989 | 2,543 km² per grid cell | +2.1% |
| 1990 | 2,598 km² per grid cell | +2.2% |
| 1991 | 2,653 km² per grid cell | +2.1% |
| 1992 | 2,731 km² per grid cell | +2.9% |
| 1993 | 2,814 km² per grid cell | +3.1% |
| 1994 | 2,902 km² per grid cell | +3.1% |
| 1995 | 2,995 km² per grid cell | +3.2% |
| 1996 | 3,093 km² per grid cell | +3.3% |
| 1997 | 3,197 km² per grid cell | +3.4% |
| 1998 | 3,306 km² per grid cell | +3.4% |
| 1999 | 3,418 km² per grid cell | +3.4% |
| 2000 | 3,532 km² per grid cell | +3.3% |
| 2001 | 3,643 km² per grid cell | +3.2% |
| 2002 | 3,761 km² per grid cell | +3.2% |
| 2003 | 3,886 km² per grid cell | +3.3% |
| 2004 | 4,018 km² per grid cell | +3.4% |
| 2005 | 4,159 km² per grid cell | +3.5% |
| 2006 | 4,380 km² per grid cell | +5.3% |
| 2007 | 4,519 km² per grid cell | +3.2% |
| 2008 | 4,661 km² per grid cell | +3.1% |
| 2009 | 4,807 km² per grid cell | +3.1% |
| 2010 | 4,957 km² per grid cell | +3.1% |
| 2011 | 5,064 km² per grid cell | +2.2% |
| 2012 | 5,174 km² per grid cell | +2.2% |
| 2013 | 5,285 km² per grid cell | +2.2% |
| 2014 | 5,401 km² per grid cell | +2.2% |
| 2015 | 5,518 km² per grid cell | +2.2% |
| 2016 | 5,638 km² per grid cell | +2.2% |
| 2017 | 5,762 km² per grid cell | +2.2% |
| 2018 | 5,889 km² per grid cell | +2.2% |
| 2019 | 6,018 km² per grid cell | +2.2% |
| 2020 | 6,151 km² per grid cell | +2.2% |
| 2021 | 6,278 km² per grid cell | +2.1% |
| 2022 | 6,402 km² per grid cell | +2.0% |
| 2023 | 6,542 km² per grid cell | +2.2% |
| 2024 | 6,678 km² per grid cell | +2.1% |
| 2025 | 6,818 km² per grid cell | +2.1% |
Malaysia compared with similar countries
- Malaysia's 6,818 km² per grid cell is above the median for upper middle income countries, which is 995.59 km² per grid cell, 6.8× the median. (52 countries reporting)
- Malaysia's 6,818 km² per grid cell is above the median for East Asia & Pacific, which is 954.94 km² per grid cell, 7.1× the median. (27 countries reporting)
Biggest year-on-year movements
Years where Urban area over the long-term 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1600 | +275.0% | 0.7246 km² per grid cell | 2.72 km² per grid cell |
| 1700 | +260.0% | 2.72 km² per grid cell | 9.78 km² per grid cell |
| 1100 | +258.8% | 0.0015 km² per grid cell | 0.0054 km² per grid cell |
| 1200 | +249.2% | 0.0054 km² per grid cell | 0.0189 km² per grid cell |
| 1300 | +242.2% | 0.0189 km² per grid cell | 0.0646 km² per grid cell |
| 1400 | +237.0% | 0.0646 km² per grid cell | 0.2176 km² per grid cell |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1000s | 0.0015 km² per grid cell | 0.0015 km² per grid cell | 0.0015 km² per grid cell | 1 |
| 1100s | 0.0054 km² per grid cell | 0.0054 km² per grid cell | 0.0054 km² per grid cell | 1 |
| 1200s | 0.0189 km² per grid cell | 0.0189 km² per grid cell | 0.0189 km² per grid cell | 1 |
| 1300s | 0.0646 km² per grid cell | 0.0646 km² per grid cell | 0.0646 km² per grid cell | 1 |
| 1400s | 0.2176 km² per grid cell | 0.2176 km² per grid cell | 0.2176 km² per grid cell | 1 |
| 1500s | 0.7246 km² per grid cell | 0.7246 km² per grid cell | 0.7246 km² per grid cell | 1 |
| 1600s | 2.72 km² per grid cell | 2.72 km² per grid cell | 2.72 km² per grid cell | 1 |
| 1700s | 9.78 km² per grid cell | 9.78 km² per grid cell | 9.78 km² per grid cell | 1 |
| 1710s | 11.4 km² per grid cell | 11.4 km² per grid cell | 11.4 km² per grid cell | 1 |
| 1720s | 12.91 km² per grid cell | 12.91 km² per grid cell | 12.91 km² per grid cell | 1 |
| 1730s | 14.6 km² per grid cell | 14.6 km² per grid cell | 14.6 km² per grid cell | 1 |
| 1740s | 16.49 km² per grid cell | 16.49 km² per grid cell | 16.49 km² per grid cell | 1 |
| 1750s | 18.61 km² per grid cell | 18.61 km² per grid cell | 18.61 km² per grid cell | 1 |
| 1760s | 20.98 km² per grid cell | 20.98 km² per grid cell | 20.98 km² per grid cell | 1 |
| 1770s | 23.64 km² per grid cell | 23.64 km² per grid cell | 23.64 km² per grid cell | 1 |
| 1780s | 26.62 km² per grid cell | 26.62 km² per grid cell | 26.62 km² per grid cell | 1 |
| 1790s | 29.94 km² per grid cell | 29.94 km² per grid cell | 29.94 km² per grid cell | 1 |
| 1800s | 33.66 km² per grid cell | 33.66 km² per grid cell | 33.66 km² per grid cell | 1 |
| 1810s | 38.71 km² per grid cell | 38.71 km² per grid cell | 38.71 km² per grid cell | 1 |
| 1820s | 44.41 km² per grid cell | 44.41 km² per grid cell | 44.41 km² per grid cell | 1 |
| 1830s | 50.86 km² per grid cell | 50.86 km² per grid cell | 50.86 km² per grid cell | 1 |
| 1840s | 58.12 km² per grid cell | 58.12 km² per grid cell | 58.12 km² per grid cell | 1 |
| 1850s | 66.31 km² per grid cell | 66.31 km² per grid cell | 66.31 km² per grid cell | 1 |
| 1860s | 94.41 km² per grid cell | 94.41 km² per grid cell | 94.41 km² per grid cell | 1 |
| 1870s | 127.26 km² per grid cell | 127.26 km² per grid cell | 127.26 km² per grid cell | 1 |
| 1880s | 165.52 km² per grid cell | 165.52 km² per grid cell | 165.52 km² per grid cell | 1 |
| 1890s | 209.91 km² per grid cell | 209.91 km² per grid cell | 209.91 km² per grid cell | 1 |
| 1900s | 256.52 km² per grid cell | 256.52 km² per grid cell | 256.52 km² per grid cell | 1 |
| 1910s | 328.44 km² per grid cell | 328.44 km² per grid cell | 328.44 km² per grid cell | 1 |
| 1920s | 447.53 km² per grid cell | 447.53 km² per grid cell | 447.53 km² per grid cell | 1 |
| 1930s | 582.19 km² per grid cell | 582.19 km² per grid cell | 582.19 km² per grid cell | 1 |
| 1940s | 821.81 km² per grid cell | 821.81 km² per grid cell | 821.81 km² per grid cell | 1 |
| 1950s | 1,145 km² per grid cell | 936.02 km² per grid cell | 1,362 km² per grid cell | 10 |
| 1960s | 1,626 km² per grid cell | 1,406 km² per grid cell | 1,816 km² per grid cell | 10 |
| 1970s | 2,001 km² per grid cell | 1,847 km² per grid cell | 2,148 km² per grid cell | 10 |
| 1980s | 2,341 km² per grid cell | 2,180 km² per grid cell | 2,543 km² per grid cell | 10 |
| 1990s | 2,971 km² per grid cell | 2,598 km² per grid cell | 3,418 km² per grid cell | 10 |
| 2000s | 4,137 km² per grid cell | 3,532 km² per grid cell | 4,807 km² per grid cell | 10 |
| 2010s | 5,471 km² per grid cell | 4,957 km² per grid cell | 6,018 km² per grid cell | 10 |
| 2020s | 6,478 km² per grid cell | 6,151 km² per grid cell | 6,818 km² per grid cell | 6 |
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 urban area over the long-term in Malaysia?
- Urban area over the long-term in Malaysia was 6,818 km² per grid cell in 2025, according to HYDE (2025) – with minor processing by Our World in Data.
- What is the highest urban area over the long-term recorded in Malaysia?
- The highest recorded value was 6,818 km² per grid cell in 2025.
- What is the lowest urban area over the long-term recorded in Malaysia?
- The lowest recorded value was 0.0015 km² per grid cell in 1000.
- How does Malaysia rank for urban area over the long-term?
- Malaysia ranks 22nd out of 202 countries with data for 2025.
- Is urban area over the long-term rising or falling in Malaysia?
- Over the last ten years it is up 23.6%. The long-run trend across the full record is volatile.
- Where does this Malaysia data come from?
- The figures come from HYDE (2025) – with minor processing by Our World in Data, published as part of Urban area over the long-term. Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
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About this data
Total built-up area of a country over time.