Largest cities in Malaysia by population
The 85 cities the United Nations Demographic Yearbook 2024 lists for Malaysia: the capital and every city of 100,000 or more, with the latest figure the country reported. The largest is D.B. Kuala Lumpur with 2,075,200 people.
Who runs cities in Malaysia?
Local authorities (about 155: city, municipal and district councils): Mayor or president and councillors appointed by the state government (federal ministry for the territories); no local elections. Planning, waste, local roads, licensing, markets, property tax (assessment rates).
How local power works in Malaysia · Level 3: local councils worldwide
| # | City | Population | Date |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | D.B. Kuala Lumpur (capital) | 2,075,200 | 2025 |
| 2 | M.P. Kajang | 1,047,356 | 7 July 2020 |
| 3 | M.B. Seberang Perai | 946,092 | 7 July 2020 |
| 4 | M.B. Subang Jaya | 902,086 | 7 July 2020 |
| 5 | M.P. Klang | 902,025 | 7 July 2020 |
| 6 | M.B. Johor Bahru | 858,118 | 7 July 2020 |
| 7 | M.B. Shah Alam | 812,327 | 7 July 2020 |
| 8 | M.B. Pulau Pinang | 794,313 | 7 July 2020 |
| 9 | M.B. Petaling Jaya | 771,687 | 7 July 2020 |
| 10 | M.P. Selayang | 764,327 | 7 July 2020 |
| 11 | M.B. Ipoh | 759,952 | 7 July 2020 |
| 12 | M.B. Seremban | 716,500 | 2025 |
| 13 | M.B. Kuantan | 576,300 | 2025 |
| 14 | M.B. Iskandar Puteri | 575,977 | 7 July 2020 |
| 15 | D.B. Kota Kinabalu | 551,800 | 2025 |
| 16 | M.P. Sungai Petani | 545,053 | 7 July 2020 |
| 17 | M.P. Ampang Jaya | 531,904 | 7 July 2020 |
| 18 | M.P. Sandakan | 503,700 | 2025 |
| 19 | M.B. Melaka Bersejarah | 453,904 | 7 July 2020 |
| 20 | M.B. Alor Setar | 423,868 | 7 July 2020 |
| 21 | M.P. Tawau | 420,806 | 7 July 2020 |
| 22 | M.P. Batu Pahat | 401,210 | 7 July 2020 |
| 23 | M.P. Kota Bharu Bandaraya Islam | 396,193 | 7 July 2020 |
| 24 | M.B. Kuala Terengganu | 375,424 | 7 July 2020 |
| 25 | M.P. Sepang | 350,500 | 2025 |
| 26 | M.P. Kuala Langat | 329,100 | 2025 |
| 27 | M.P. Muar | 323,900 | 2025 |
| 28 | M.P. Kulim | 319,056 | 7 July 2020 |
| 29 | M.B. Pasir Gudang | 312,437 | 7 July 2020 |
| 30 | M.P. Kuala Selangor | 301,700 | 2025 |
| 31 | M.P. Kulai | 294,156 | 7 July 2020 |
| 32 | M.P. Kangar | 284,853 | 7 July 2020 |
| 33 | M.P. Padawan | 260,058 | 7 July 2020 |
| 34 | M.B. Miri | 257,600 | 2025 |
| 35 | M.P. Manjung | 256,100 | 2025 |
| 36 | M.P. Kubang Pasu | 254,100 | 2025 |
| 37 | M.D. Lahad Datu | 252,400 | 2025 |
| 38 | M.D. Pasir Mas | 242,800 | 2025 |
| 39 | M.P. Hulu Selangor | 241,932 | 7 July 2020 |
| 40 | M.P. Taiping | 241,517 | 7 July 2020 |
| 41 | L.K. Bintulu | 240,172 | 7 July 2020 |
| 42 | M.P. Kluang | 235,715 | 7 July 2020 |
| 43 | M.P. Kemaman | 234,800 | 2025 |
| 44 | M.P. Alor Gajah | 219,210 | 7 July 2020 |
| 45 | M.D. Semporna | 201,000 | 2025 |
| 46 | M.D. Tumpat | 191,100 | 2025 |
| 47 | M.P. Hang Tuah Jaya | 188,857 | 7 July 2020 |
| 48 | M.P. Temerloh | 178,600 | 2025 |
| 49 | M.P. Pontian | 177,800 | 2025 |
| 50 | M.B. Kuching Selatan | 174,625 | 7 July 2020 |
| 51 | D.B. Kuching Utara | 174,522 | 7 July 2020 |
| 52 | M.P. Teluk Intan | 172,505 | 7 July 2020 |
| 53 | M.P. Sibu | 170,404 | 7 July 2020 |
| 54 | M.D. Kerian | 169,800 | 2025 |
| 55 | M.P. Dungun | 169,800 | 2025 |
| 56 | M.D. Tangkak | 169,200 | 2025 |
| 57 | M.D. Bachok | 167,500 | 2025 |
| 58 | M.D. Besut | 167,400 | 2025 |
| 59 | M.D. Penampang | 166,600 | 2025 |
| 60 | M.D. Kinabatangan | 164,300 | 2025 |
| 61 | M.P. Kota Samarahan | 161,890 | 7 July 2020 |
| 62 | M.D. Tanah Merah | 159,800 | 2025 |
| 63 | M.D. Ketereh | 159,560 | 7 July 2020 |
| 64 | M.D. Keningau | 157,700 | 2025 |
| 65 | M.P. Segamat | 152,458 | 7 July 2020 |
| 66 | M.D. Papar | 150,667 | 7 July 2020 |
| 67 | M.D. Baling | 149,000 | 2025 |
| 68 | M.D. Pasir Puteh | 144,600 | 2025 |
| 69 | M.D. Tuaran | 142,800 | 2025 |
| 70 | M.P. Jasin | 136,457 | 7 July 2020 |
| 71 | M.D. Kota Tinggi | 130,756 | 7 July 2020 |
| 72 | M.D. Pekan | 129,300 | 2025 |
| 73 | M.D. Marang | 128,600 | 2025 |
| 74 | M.D. Batu Gajah | 126,024 | 7 July 2020 |
| 75 | M.P. Kuala Kangsar | 125,999 | 7 July 2020 |
| 76 | M.D. Tapah | 122,655 | 7 July 2020 |
| 77 | Perbadanan Putrajaya | 120,700 | 2025 |
| 78 | M.P. Bentong | 119,900 | 2025 |
| 79 | M.D. Maran | 119,800 | 2025 |
| 80 | M.D. Machang | 117,600 | 2025 |
| 81 | M.P. Port Dickson | 113,738 | 7 July 2020 |
| 82 | M.D. Gua Musang | 112,495 | 7 July 2020 |
| 83 | M.D. Kota Belud | 111,400 | 2025 |
| 84 | M.D. Serian | 110,577 | 7 July 2020 |
| 85 | M.D. Sabak Bernam | 110,500 | 2025 |
Countries define a city in different ways (the city proper, or the wider urban area) and report in different years, so cities in different countries are not always comparable.
More on Malaysia: official statistics · government and power · regions
Sources
- United Nations Statistics Division: Demographic Yearbook 2024, Table 8: Population of capital cities and cities of 100 000 or more inhabitants, latest available year, 2005-2024, read 23 October 2026 · saved copy (SHA-256 0c6784df022e…)
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