MigrantoImmigrants in Malaysia
3.6M foreign-born residents — the #17 largest immigrant population in the world
Where immigrants come from
The top 3 countries account for 72% of all immigrants
| Country | Immigrants |
|---|---|
| Indonesia | 1761502 |
| Nepal | 502596 |
| Myanmar | 308095 |
| Bangladesh | 282437 |
| Philippines | 255520 |
| India | 139751 |
| Singapore | 79926 |
| Pakistan | 79288 |
| Thailand | 70718 |
| China | 30524 |
| Brunei | 16887 |
| Japan | 12388 |
| United Kingdom | 3522 |
| South Korea | 3410 |
| Sri Lanka | 3310 |
| Yemen | 3228 |
| Afghanistan | 2906 |
| Somalia | 2767 |
| Syria | 2759 |
| Australia | 2432 |
| Iraq | 674 |
| Palestine | 613 |
| New Zealand | 592 |
| Iran | 358 |
| Sudan | 301 |
| Vietnam | 5 |
By region of origin
Asia is the leading region of origin at 100%
3.5M
7.3K
3.5K
3.1K
3K
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Interesting facts
Notable statistics about immigration in Malaysia.
Indonesia is the leading source of immigration by a wide margin
Indonesia accounts for 49% of all immigrants, far ahead of the second-largest source at just 14%.
Malaysia is a primary destination for emigrants from Indonesia
Malaysia attracts 47% of all emigrants from Indonesia, making it the leading destination for those leaving the country.
Top source countries have shifted significantly since 1990
4 new countries have entered the top 20: Myanmar, Pakistan, Yemen — Myanmar rose from outside the top 20 to rank #3.
Immigration is a key driver of population growth
15% of the population growth of Malaysia since 1990 came from new immigrants, reflecting immigration's central demographic role.
How immigration changed over time
Total immigrant population by year
| Year | Immigrants |
|---|---|
| 1990 | 905259 |
| 1995 | 1184521 |
| 2000 | 1479565 |
| 2005 | 2039072 |
| 2010 | 2911847 |
| 2015 | 3353034 |
| 2020 | 3480596 |
| 2024 | 3566509 |
Top sources over time
Immigration from the 5 largest source countries
| Year | Indonesia | Nepal | Myanmar | Bangladesh | Philippines |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1990 | 367801 | 0 | 0 | 95482 | 262278 |
| 1995 | 615621 | 291 | 6621 | 126817 | 253616 |
| 2000 | 863511 | 666 | 8582 | 158149 | 244953 |
| 2005 | 1128807 | 192332 | 109039 | 55364 | 213649 |
| 2010 | 1540665 | 251416 | 237677 | 319475 | 231590 |
| 2015 | 1607465 | 502596 | 286574 | 282437 | 241224 |
| 2020 | 1693459 | 502596 | 299559 | 282437 | 249159 |
| 2024 | 1761502 | 502596 | 308095 | 282437 | 255520 |
Fastest-changing origins
How immigration from each country has changed since the selected year
Malaysia as a destination, by diaspora
Share of each country's emigrants who settled in Malaysia
Data source: International Migrant Stock 2024 (UN DESA, Population Division)
Frequently asked questions
How many immigrants live in Malaysia?
Around 3.6M foreign-born residents live in Malaysia, making it the #17-largest immigrant population in the world.
Where do most immigrants in Malaysia come from?
Most immigrants in Malaysia come from Indonesia, Nepal and Myanmar — these three countries account for about 72% of all foreign-born residents.
What share of the population of Malaysia are immigrants?
Immigrants make up around 10% of the population of Malaysia — that's 3.6M out of a total population of 35.6M.
How has immigration to Malaysia changed over the past decade?
Over the past decade, the immigrant population in Malaysia has grown from 3.4M to 3.6M people, a growth of about 6%.
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