List of cities and towns in Malaysia by population

Last updated

This article details the list of the most populous settlements in Malaysia. Malaysia designates all populated regions into three categories: a district, municipality, or city. While district boundaries are limited to individual state-drawn district boundaries, some municipalities and cities are made up of several smaller component districts whose elevated status forms a local government. Thus, this list does not include component districts and only includes overall administrative localities defined by their respective local governments.

Contents

Within defined boundaries

This table lists all cities, municipalities and districts in Malaysia whose population exceeds 150,000 people, according to statistics published in the 2020 Malaysian census by the Malaysian Department of Statistics (DOSM). There are 64 populated regions in Malaysia whose population exceeds 150,000 people. All 13 states and the Federal Territories have at least one city, municipality or district whose population exceeded 150,000 people.

This table displays:

  1. The settlement rank by population as of 2020, as estimated by the DOSM;
  2. The settlement name;
  3. The state in which the settlement is located;
  4. The settlement's population as of 2020, as estimated in the 2020 census conducted by the DOSM;
  5. The settlement's population as of 2010, as estimated in the 2010 census conducted by the DOSM;
  6. The settlement's population difference between 2010 and 2020;
  7. The land area of the settlement's defined boundaries in square kilometres (km2);
  8. The population density of the settlement in people per square kilometres (/km2), as estimated in by the settlement's 2020 population figures.
Key (local governments)
Regions administered by City Halls/Councils (Dewan/Majlis Bandaraya)
Regions administered by Municipal Councils (Majlis Perbandaran)
Regions administered by District Councils (Majlis Daerah)
National capital
#State administrative capitals
*State royal capitals
List of the largest cities, municipalities, districts in Malaysia (in accordance to population figures of over 150,000 people)
City, municipality or districtStateGovernment census figuresLand

area[ citation needed ]

Density

(2020)

Ref.
20202010Diff.
1 Kuala Lumpur Flag of the Federal Territories of Malaysia.svg  Federal Territories 1,982,1121,588,750+24.76%243 km28,156/km2 [1]
2 Kajang Flag of Selangor.svg  Selangor 1,047,356795,522+31.66%790 km21,326/km2 [2]
3 Seberang Perai Flag of Penang (Malaysia).svg  Penang 946,092818,097+15.65%751 km21,260/km2 [3]
4 Petaling Jaya Flag of Selangor.svg  Selangor 902,086613,977+46.93%97 km29,300/km2 [2]
5 Klang *Flag of Selangor.svg  Selangor 902,025744,062+21.23%573 km21,574/km2 [2]
6 Johor Bahru #Flag of Johor.svg  Johor 858,118497,067+72.64%220 km23,900/km2 [4]
7 Shah Alam #Flag of Selangor.svg  Selangor 812,327541,306+50.07%290 km22,801/km2 [2]
8 George Town #Flag of Penang (Malaysia).svg  Penang 794,313708,127+12.17%306 km22,596/km2 [3]
9 Subang Jaya Flag of Selangor.svg  Selangor 771,687708,296+8.95%70 km210,960/km2 [2]
10 Selayang Flag of Selangor.svg  Selangor 764,327542,409+40.91%549 km21,392/km2 [2]
11 Ipoh #Flag of Perak.svg  Perak 759,952657,892+15.51%643 km21,182/km2 [5]
12 Seremban # [note 1] Flag of Negeri Sembilan.svg  Negeri Sembilan 681,541515,490+32.21%959 km2711/km2 [7]
13 Iskandar Puteri [note 2] Flag of Johor.svg  Johor 575,977529,074+8.87%367 km21,569/km2 [4]
14 Kuantan #Flag of Pahang.svg  Pahang 548,014427,515+28.19%324 km21,691/km2 [9]
15 Sungai Petani Flag of Kedah.svg  Kedah 545,053443,488+22.90%928 km2587/km2 [10]
16 Ampang Jaya Flag of Selangor.svg  Selangor 531,904468,961+13.42%144 km23,964/km2 [2]
17 Kota Kinabalu #Flag of Sabah.svg  Sabah 500,425452,058+10.70%351 km21,426/km2 [11]
18 Malacca City # [note 3] Flag of Malacca.svg  Malacca 453,904277 km21,639/km2 [13]
19 Sandakan Flag of Sabah.svg  Sabah 439,050396,290+10.79%2,266 km2194/km2 [11]
20 Alor Setar #Flag of Kedah.svg  Kedah 423,868405,523+4.52%609 km2696/km2 [10]
21 Tawau Flag of Sabah.svg  Sabah 420,806397,673+5.82%6,125 km269/km2 [11]
22 Batu Pahat Flag of Johor.svg  Johor 401,210209,461+91.54%1,873 km2214/km2 [4]
23 Kota Bharu Flag of Kelantan.svg  Kelantan 396,193314,964+25.79%195 km22,032/km2 [14]
24 Kuala Terengganu #Flag of Terengganu.svg  Terengganu 375,424337,533+11.23%605 km2621/km2 [15]
25 Kuching #Flag of Sarawak.svg  Sarawak 349,147325,132+7.39%450 km2776/km2 [16]
26 Sepang Flag of Selangor.svg  Selangor 324,585207,354+56.54%198 km21,639/km2 [2]
27 Kulim Flag of Kedah.svg  Kedah 319,056281,260+13.44%765 km2417/km2 [10]
28 Muar *Flag of Johor.svg  Johor 314,776201,148+56.49%1,376 km2229/km2 [4]
29 Pasir Gudang Flag of Johor.svg  Johor 312,43746,571+570.88%360 km2868/km2 [4]
30 Kuala Langat Flag of Selangor.svg  Selangor 307,418220,214+39.60%858 km2358/km2 [2]
31 Kulai Flag of Johor.svg  Johor 294,156234,532+25.42%754 km2390/km2 [4]
32 Kangar #Flag of Perlis.svg  Perlis 284,853225,590+26.27%819 km2348/km2 [17]
33 Kuala Selangor Flag of Selangor.svg  Selangor 281,717205,257+37.25%1,195 km2236/km2 [2]
34 Padawan Flag of Sarawak.svg  Sarawak 260,058273,485−4.91%1,771 km2147/km2 [16]
35 Miri Flag of Sarawak.svg  Sarawak 248,877234,541+6.11%997 km2250/km2 [16]
36 Manjung Flag of Perak.svg  Perak 246,978211,113+16.99%1,114 km2222/km2 [5]
37 Hulu Selangor Flag of Selangor.svg  Selangor 241,932194,387+24.46%1,756 km2138/km2 [2]
38 Taiping Flag of Perak.svg  Perak 241,517245,182−1.49%186 km21,295/km2 [5]
39 Bintulu Flag of Sarawak.svg  Sarawak 240,172212,994+12.76%7,220 km233/km2 [16]
40 Kubang Pasu Flag of Kedah.svg  Kedah 237,759214,479+10.85%946 km2251/km2 [10]
41 Kluang Flag of Johor.svg  Johor 235,715167,833+40.45%2,851 km283/km2 [4]
42 Pasir Mas Flag of Kelantan.svg  Kelantan 230,424180,878+27.39%570 km2404/km2 [14]
43 Lahad Datu Flag of Sabah.svg  Sabah 229,138199,830+14.67%6,501 km235/km2 [11]
44 Alor Gajah Flag of Malacca.svg  Malacca 219,210173,712+26.19%660 km2332/km2 [13]
45 Kemaman Flag of Terengganu.svg  Terengganu 215,582166,750+29.28%518 km2416/km2 [15]
46 Hang Tuah Jaya Flag of Malacca.svg  Malacca 188,857145 km21,302/km2 [13]
47 Tumpat Flag of Kelantan.svg  Kelantan 179,944143,793+25.14%180 km21,000/km2 [14]
48 Pontian Flag of Johor.svg  Johor 173,31993,651+85.07%907 km2191/km2 [4]
49 Teluk Intan Flag of Perak.svg  Perak 172,505128,143+34.62%127 km21,359/km2 [5]
50 Sibu Flag of Sarawak.svg  Sarawak 170,404162,676+4.75%130 km21,316/km2 [16]
51 Temerloh Flag of Pahang.svg  Pahang 169,023158,724+6.49%2,251 km275/km2 [9]
52 Semporna Flag of Sabah.svg  Sabah 166,587133,164+25.10%1,145 km2145/km2 [11]
53 Kerian Flag of Perak.svg  Perak 166,352120,192+38.41%921 km2181/km2 [5]
54 Tangkak Flag of Johor.svg  Johor 163,449131,890+23.93%970 km2169/km2 [4]
55 Penampang Flag of Sabah.svg  Sabah 162,174176,667−8.20%466 km2348/km2 [11]
56 Kota Samarahan Flag of Sarawak.svg  Sarawak 161,890116,685+38.74%407 km2398/km2 [16]
57 Ketereh Flag of Kelantan.svg  Kelantan 159,560153,474+3.97%156 km21,023/km2 [14]
58 Dungun Flag of Terengganu.svg  Terengganu 158,128149,851+5.52%2,735 km258/km2 [15]
59 Bachok Flag of Kelantan.svg  Kelantan 157,29177,447+103.10%279 km2564/km2 [14]
60 Besut Flag of Terengganu.svg  Terengganu 154,168136,563+12.89%1,234 km2125/km2 [15]
61 Segamat Flag of Johor.svg  Johor 152,458103,035+47.97%2,851 km253/km2 [4]
62 Keningau Flag of Sabah.svg  Sabah 150,927173,103−12.81%3,533 km243/km2 [11]
63 Tanah Merah Flag of Kelantan.svg  Kelantan 150,766115,949+30.03%880 km2171/km2 [14]
64 Papar Flag of Sabah.svg  Sabah 150,667124,420+21.10%1,243 km2121/km2 [11]

Distribution

The population of Peninsular Malaysia by local government area, 2020. Malaya PBT population (2020 census) wiki.svg
The population of Peninsular Malaysia by local government area, 2020.

There are 64 settlements in Malaysia with a population of over 150,000 people. All 13 states and the Federal Territories have at least one settlement in the list. West Malaysia has more settlements that fit this criterion than East Malaysia, with 50 settlements against the East's 14. The states with the least amount of settlements in this list are Negeri Sembilan, the Federal Territories and Perlis, with one locality each respectively, while the state with the highest amount of settlements with a population above 150,000 is Selangor, with 11 settlements in the list.

PopulationStatesRegionsTotal
JHR KDH KTN MLK NSN PHG PNG PRK PLS SBH SWK SGR TRG FT WM EM
1,000,000+1122
750,000999,999121599
500,000749,999111111516
250,000499,99942111223113417
150,000249,999415214541321930
Total1046312251861141501464

Largest metropolitan areas by population

The DOSM does not provide any definitions related to metropolitan areas in Malaysia, nor have any statistical calculations that concern build-up areas surrounding an urban centre. However, several major urban regions, such as the Klang Valley, the George Town Conurbation and the Johor Bahru Conurbation (Southern Conurbation), have been well-described as metropolitan areas since the early-2010s by local media and government authorities in the latest edition of the National Physical Plan. Despite this, there remains some ambiguity in defining the actual boundaries of other smaller counterparts.

There are 12 metropolitan areas in Malaysia. Perlis and Kelantan are the only states without one. The George Town Conurbation, the only urban region that spans three different states (Penang, Kedah and Perak), is also the only metropolitan area where the core city is not its most populated settlement (George Town has a population of 794,313, while Seberang Perai has a population of 946,092).

This table displays:

  1. The metropolitan area rank by population as of 2020, as estimated with individual local authority population figures by the DOSM;
  2. The name of the metropolitan area;
  3. The core city of the metropolitan area;
  4. The metropolitan area's population as of 2020, as estimated in the 2020 census conducted by the DOSM;
  5. The metropolitan area's population as of 2010, as estimated in the 2010 census conducted by the DOSM;
  6. The metropolitan area's population difference between 2010 and 2020;
  7. The land area of the metropolitan area's defined boundaries in square kilometres (km2);
  8. The population density of the metropolitan area in people per square kilometres (/km2);
List of the largest metropolitan areas in Malaysia by population
Metropolitan areaCore cityCouncilsDOSM census figuresLand

area

Density

(2020)

Ref.
CMD20202010Diff.
1 Klang Valley [note 4] Kuala Lumpur 5609,085,7377,119,252+27.62%2,967 km23,062/km2 [18]
2 George Town Conurbation [note 5] George Town 2222,815,2782,412,811+16.68%3,961 km2711/km2 [19]
3 Johor Bahru Conurbation (Southern Conurbation) [note 6] Johor Bahru 3312,487,6011,495,098+66.38%4,954 km2502/km2 [20] [21] [22] [23]
4 Metropolitan Kinta [note 7] Ipoh 102984,586828,174+18.89%1,988 km2495/km2 [24]
5 Greater Kota Kinabalu Kota Kinabalu 102949,931855,556+11.03%3,277 km2290/km2 [25]
6 Greater Kuching Kuching 220934,515857,110+9.03%2,031 km2460/km2 [26]
7 Greater Kuantan  [ ms ] Kuantan 111884,754697,788+26.79%5,211 km2170/km2 [27]
8Seremban metropolitan Seremban 110795,279613,324+29.67%1,534 km2518/km2 [28]
9Malacca City metropolitan Malacca City 110642,761484,885+32.56%308 km22,087/km2 [29]
10 Greater Miri  [ ms ] Miri 111546,338502,135+8.80%9,069 km260/km2 [30]
11Alor Setar metropolitan Alor Setar 100423,868405,523+4.52%609 km2696/km2 [10]
12Kuala Terengganu metropolitan Kuala Terengganu 100375,424337,533+11.23%605 km2621/km2 [15]

See also

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Demographics of Malaysia</span>

The demographics of Malaysia are represented by the multiple ethnic groups that exist in the country. Malaysia's population, according to the 2010 census, is 28,334,000 including non-citizens, which makes it the 42nd most populated country in the world. Of these, 5.72 million live in East Malaysia and 22.5 million live in Peninsular Malaysia. The population distribution is uneven, with some 79% of its citizens concentrated in Peninsular Malaysia, which has an area of 131,598 square kilometres (50,810.27 sq mi), constituting under 40% of the total area of Malaysia.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Putrajaya</span> Seat of government and administrative centre of Malaysia

Putrajaya, officially the Federal Territory of Putrajaya, is the administrative and judicial capital of Malaysia. The seat of the federal government of Malaysia was moved in 1999 from Kuala Lumpur to Putrajaya because of overcrowding and congestion in Kuala Lumpur, whilst the seat of the judiciary of Malaysia was later moved to Putrajaya in 2003. Kuala Lumpur remains as Malaysia's national capital city per the constitution and is still the seat of the head of state and the national legislature, as well as being the country's commercial and financial centre.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Selangor</span> State of Malaysia

Selangor, also known by its Arabic honorific Darul Ehsan, or "Abode of Sincerity", is one of the 13 states of Malaysia. It is on the west coast of Peninsular Malaysia and is bordered by Perak to the north, Pahang to the east, Negeri Sembilan to the south, and the Strait of Malacca to the west. Selangor surrounds the federal territories of Kuala Lumpur and Putrajaya, both of which were previously part of it. Selangor has diverse tropical rainforests and an equatorial climate. The state's mountain ranges belong to the Titiwangsa Mountains, which is part of the Tenasserim Hills that covers southern Myanmar, southern Thailand and Peninsular Malaysia, with Mount Semangkok as the highest point in the state.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Johor Bahru</span> State capital city and district capital in Johor, Malaysia

Johor Bahru, colloquially referred to as JB, is the capital city of the state of Johor, Malaysia and the core city of Johor Bahru District, the second largest district in Malaysia by population. It is the second largest GDP contributor among all major cities in Malaysia, and forms a part of Iskandar Malaysia, the nation's largest special economic zone by investment value. The city has a population of 858,118 people within an area of 391.25 km2.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Sepang District</span> District of Malaysia in Selangor

The Sepang District is a district located in the southern part of the state of Selangor in Malaysia. Sepang District covers an area of around 600 square kilometres, and had a population of 190,889 in the 2010 Census.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Hulu Langat District</span> District of Malaysia in Selangor

Hulu Langat District is a district located in the southeastern corner of Selangor, between Kuala Lumpur and Negeri Sembilan. It is bordered by the state of Pahang to the east and north, Gombak district to the north-west, Federal Territory of Kuala Lumpur and Petaling district to the west, Sepang district to the south-west, and state of Negeri Sembilan to the south.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Johor Bahru District</span> District of Malaysia in Johor

The Johor Bahru District is a district located in the southern part of Johor, Malaysia. The heavily suburban/suburbanizing district covers an area of 1,063.97 km2 (410.80 sq mi) and has a population of 1.71 million. The district capital is Johor Bahru City and the administrative capital is Iskandar Puteri City. The district borders Pontian District on the west, Kota Tinggi District on the east, Kulai District on the north and Straits of Johor to the south. The urban centres are divided into the cities of Johor Bahru, Iskandar Puteri and Pasir Gudang.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Kerian District</span> District of Malaysia in Perak

The Kerian District is an administrative district in Perak, Malaysia. It covers the northwestern corner of Perak, bordering the states of Penang and Kedah to the north; the main town of Parit Buntar is located a mere 37 km (23 mi) southeast of George Town, Penang's capital city.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Jasin District</span> District of Malaysia in Malacca

Jasin District is one of the three administrative district in Malacca, Malaysia. It borders Tangkak District of Johor to the east, Tampin District of Negeri Sembilan to the north and Alor Gajah District and Melaka Tengah District to the west. The district capital is Jasin Town.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Batang Padang District</span> District of Malaysia in Perak

The Batang Padang District is a district in Perak, Malaysia. This district is administered by a local council, namely, the Tapah District Council, based in Tapah. The major towns of Batang Padang are Bidor, Tapah and Sungkai.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Perak Tengah District</span> District of Malaysia in Perak

Perak Tengah District is a district in Perak, Malaysia. It is administered by the Perak Tengah District Council, which is based at the town of Seri Iskandar; Parit is however the largest settlement in the area.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Pontian District</span> District of Malaysia in Johor

Pontian District is a district located in southwest part of the Malaysian state of Johor. It borders Batu Pahat and Kluang Districts to the north and Kulai and Johor Bahru Districts to the east.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Gombak District</span> District of Malaysia in Selangor

The Gombak District is an administrative district located in the state of Selangor, Malaysia. The district was created on February 1, 1974, the same day when Kuala Lumpur was declared a Federal Territory. Until 1997, Rawang was the district capital; the capital has been moved to Bandar Baru Selayang. Gombak borders Kuala Lumpur to the southeast and the Genting Highlands to the east. Both Gombak and Kuala Lumpur, along with some other districts in Selangor, are situated within the Klang Valley. Other localities that are situated in Gombak district include Batu Arang, Kuang, Rawang, Kundang, Gombak Town, Selayang, Batu Caves and Hulu Kelang.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Kuala Langat District</span> District of Malaysia in Selangor

The Kuala Langat District is a district of Selangor, Malaysia. It is situated in the southwestern part of Selangor. It covers an area of 858 square kilometres, and had a population of 307,787 at the 2020 Census. It is bordered by the districts of Klang and Petaling to the north and Sepang to the east. The Strait of Malacca forms its western border.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Tangkak District</span> District of Malaysia in Johor

The Tangkak District is a district in western Johor, Malaysia, bordering Muar District to the south, Segamat District to the northeast, and Jasin District, Malacca to the west. The district also shares a 2 kilometre border with Tampin District, Negeri Sembilan to the northwest. The district capital and largest settlement is the town of Tangkak.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Kulim District</span> District of Malaysia in Kedah

The Kulim District is a district and town in the state of Kedah, Malaysia. It is located on the southeast of Kedah, bordering Penang. The town of Kulim, a mere 27 km (17 mi) east of Penang's capital city, George Town, also forms part of Greater Penang, Malaysia's second largest conurbation.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Greater Kuala Lumpur</span> Metropolitan area in Malaysia

Greater Kuala Lumpur is the geographical term that determines the boundaries of metropolitan Kuala Lumpur in Malaysia. Though similar to the term "Klang Valley", there remains a variation between the two. It is similar to Greater London and Greater Toronto. The metropolitan area covers 5,194.72 square km of land.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Johor Bahru Conurbation</span> Metropolitan area in Johor, Malaysia

The Johor Bahru Conurbation, also known as the Southern Conurbation in the National Physical Plan, is the built-up urban or metropolitan area within and around Johor Bahru in the Malaysian state of Johor, and roughly corresponds to the Iskandar Malaysia corridor. Encompassing all of Johor Bahru District, Kulai District, and parts of Pontian and Kota Tinggi Districts, the conurbation is home to over 2.4 million people as of 2020, the third largest in the country.

References

Notes

  1. The present municipal government administering the regions of Seremban had merged with the now-defunct Nilai municipal government (of the town of Nilai) in 2020. [6]
  2. Formerly known as Nusajaya until 2015. [8]
  3. Malacca City's administrative zone was separated into two when a breakaway municipality, Hang Tuah Jaya, was created in 2010. [12]
  4. Klang Valley is generally recognised to encompass five cities (Kuala Lumpur, Putrajaya, Petaling Jaya, Shah Alam and Subang Jaya), and six municipalities (Kajang, Klang, Selayang, Ampang Jaya, Sepang and Kuala Langat).
  5. The George Town Conurbation, also referred to as the Greater Penang comprises two cities (George Town and Seberang Perai), two municipalities (Sungai Petani and Kulim) and two districts (Bandar Baharu and Kerian).
  6. Listed in the latest edition of the National Physical Plan, it includes Johor Bahru, Senai, Skudai, Kulai, Pasir Gudang, Tanjung Pelepas, Pontian, Kota Tinggi, Desaru, Pengerang and Bandar Tenggara.
  7. Also referred to as Kinta Valley.

Citations

  1. DOSM 2022, p. 75.
  2. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 DOSM 2022l, p. 97.
  3. 1 2 DOSM 2022i, p. 96.
  4. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 DOSM 2022a, p. 95.
  5. 1 2 3 4 5 DOSM 2022g, p. 97.
  6. New Straits Times 2020.
  7. DOSM 2022d, p. 95.
  8. Musa 2015.
  9. 1 2 DOSM 2022e, p. 94.
  10. 1 2 3 4 5 DOSM 2022b, p. 97.
  11. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 DOSM 2022j, pp. 101–102.
  12. Carvalho 2010.
  13. 1 2 3 DOSM 2022d, p. 93.
  14. 1 2 3 4 5 6 DOSM 2022c, p. 100.
  15. 1 2 3 4 5 DOSM 2022m, p. 94.
  16. 1 2 3 4 5 6 DOSM 2022k, p. 123.
  17. DOSM 2022h, p. 91.
  18. Malaysian Digest 2011.
  19. Samat et al. 2020, p. 373.
  20. "Urban Transport Master Plan Study for the Johor Bahru Conurbation, Malaysia" (PDF). Government of Malaysia, Japan International Cooperation Agency.
  21. "RANCANGAN STRUKTUR NEGERI JOHOR 2030 (KAJIAN SEMULA)" (PDF). PLANMalaysia@Johor.
  22. "DRAF RANCANGAN FIZIKAL NEGARA KE-4: Ke Arah Kemakmuran Bersama" (PDF). BAHAGIAN RANCANGAN FIZIKAL NEGARA : 12.
  23. "Bab 7 - PPSN (Zon Selatan)" (PDF). Rancangan Fizikal Negara Keempat (RFN4): Page 14.
  24. Fleming 2021, p. 8.
  25. World Bank 2015, p. 81.
  26. Adenan 2017.
  27. NST–via ECERDC 2013.
  28. Singh 2023.
  29. Malacca City Council 2015.
  30. Kiew 2023.

Bibliography

Academic journals and publications

Articles from magazines, newspapers and websites

Government journals and statistical reports