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List of cities and towns in Malaysia by population

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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.

Within defined boundaries

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See also: List of local governments in Malaysia and List of cities in Malaysia

This table lists all cities, municipalities and districts in Malaysia whose population exceeds 250,000 people, according to statistics published in the 2020 Malaysian census by the Malaysian Department of Statistics (DOSM). There are 34 populated regions in Malaysia whose population exceeds 250,000 people. All 13 states and the Federal Territories have at least one city, municipality or district whose population exceeded 250,000 people.

This table displays:

  1. The settlement name;
  2. The state in which the settlement is located;
  3. The settlement's population as of 2020, as estimated in the 2020 census conducted by the DOSM;
  4. The settlement's population as of 2010, as estimated in the 2010 census conducted by the DOSM;
  5. The settlement's population difference between 2010 and 2020;
  6. The land area of the settlement's defined boundaries in square kilometres (km2);
  7. The population density of the settlement in people per square kilometres (/km2), as estimated by the settlement's 2020 population figures.
Key (local governments)
Regions administered by city halls and 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 250,000 people)
City, municipality or district State Government census figures Land area Density
[note 1]
2020 2010 Diff.
Kuala Lumpur†  Federal Territories 1,982,112 1,588,750 +24.76%[1] 243 km2[2] 8,156/km2
Kajang  Selangor 1,047,356 795,522 +31.66%[3] 788 km2[4] 1,329/km2
Seberang Perai  Penang 946,092 818,097 +15.65%[5] 751 km2[6] 1,265/km2
Subang Jaya  Selangor 902,086 708,296 +27.36%[3] 162 km2[7] 5,568/km2
Klang*  Selangor 902,025 744,062 +21.23%[3] 573 km2[8] 1,574/km2
Johor Bahru#  Johor 858,118 497,067 +72.64%[9] 373 km2[10] 2,300/km2
Shah Alam#  Selangor 812,327 541,306 +50.07%[3] 290 km2[11] 2,801/km2
George Town#  Penang 794,313 708,127 +12.17%[5] 306 km2[12] 2,596/km2
Petaling Jaya  Selangor 771,687 613,977 +25.69%[3] 97 km2[13] 7,955/km2
Selayang  Selangor 764,327 542,409 +40.91%[3] 546 km2[14] 1,400/km2
Ipoh#  Perak 759,952 657,892 +15.51%[15] 643 km2[16] 1,182/km2
Seremban#[note 2]  Negeri Sembilan 681,541 515,490 +32.21%[18] 923 km2[19] 738/km2
Iskandar Puteri[note 3]  Johor 575,977 529,074 +8.87%[9] 403 km2[10] 1,429/km2
Kuantan#  Pahang 548,014 427,515 +28.19% 324 km2[21] 1,691/km2
Sungai Petani  Kedah 545,053 443,488 +22.90%[22] 913 km2[23] 597/km2
Ampang Jaya  Selangor 531,904 468,961 +13.42%[3] 144 km2[8] 3,964/km2
Kota Kinabalu#  Sabah 500,425 452,058 +10.70%[24] 352 km2[25] 1,422/km2
Malacca City#[note 4]  Melaka 453,904 – –[27] 270 km2[28] 1,681/km2
Sandakan  Sabah 439,050 396,290 +10.79%[24] 2,275 km2[25] 193/km2
Alor Setar#  Kedah 423,868 405,523 +4.52%[22] 666 km2[29] 636/km2
Tawau  Sabah 420,806 397,673 +5.82%[24] 6,149 km2[25] 68/km2
Batu Pahat  Johor 401,210 209,461 +91.54%[9] 1,873 km2[30] 214/km2
Kota Bharu  Kelantan 396,193 314,964 +25.79%[31] 116 km2[32] 3,415/km2
Kuala Terengganu#*  Terengganu 375,424 337,533 +11.23%[33] 605 km2[34] 621/km2
Kuching#  Sarawak 349,147 325,132 +7.39%[35] 431 km2[36][37] 810/km2
Sepang  Selangor 324,585 207,354 +56.54%[3] 619 km2[38] 524/km2
Kulim  Kedah 319,056 281,260 +13.44%[22] 774 km2[23] 412/km2
Muar*  Johor 314,776 201,148 +56.49%[9] 1,376 km2[30] 229/km2
Pasir Gudang  Johor 312,437 46,571 +570.88%[9] 360 km2[10] 868/km2
Kuala Langat  Selangor 307,418 220,214 +39.60%[3] 858 km2[39] 358/km2
Kulai  Johor 294,156 234,532 +25.42%[9] 747 km2[10] 394/km2
Kangar#  Perlis 284,853 225,590 +26.27%[40] 795 km2[41] 358/km2
Kuala Selangor  Selangor 281,717 205,257 +37.25%[3] 1,195 km2[42] 236/km2
Padawan  Sarawak 260,058 273,485 −4.91%[35] 984 km2[43] 264/km2

Distribution

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The population of Peninsular Malaysia by local government area, 2020.

There are 34 settlements in Malaysia with a population of over 250,000 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 29 settlements against the East's five. The states with the smallest number of settlements in this list are Kelantan, Melaka, Negeri Sembilan, Pahang, Perak, Perlis, Terengganu and the Federal Territories, with one locality each respectively, while the state with the highest number of settlements with a population above 250,000 is Selangor, with 10 settlements in the list.

Population States Regions Total
JHR KDH KTN MLK NSN PHG PNG PRK PLS SBH SWK SGR TRG FT WM EM
1,000,000+ – – – – – – – – – – – 1 – 1 2 – 2
750,000–999,999 1 – – – – – 2 1 – – – 5 – – 9 – 9
500,000–749,999 1 1 – – 1 1 – – – 1 – 1 – – 5 1 6
250,000–499,999 4 2 1 1 – – – – 1 2 2 3 1 – 13 4 17
Total 6 3 1 1 1 1 2 1 1 3 2 10 1 1 29 5 34
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Largest metropolitan areas by population

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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 area Core city DOSM census figures Land area Density (2020) Ref.
2020 2010 Diff.
1 Klang Valley[note 5] Kuala Lumpur 9,085,737 7,119,252 +27.62% 2,967 km2 3,062/km2 [44]
2 George Town Conurbation[note 6] George Town 2,843,344 2,331,180 +21.97% 3,765 km2 756/km2 [45]
3 Johor Bahru Conurbation[note 7] Johor Bahru 2,487,601 1,495,098 +66.38% 4,954 km2 502/km2 [46][47][48][49]
4 Greater Ipoh Ipoh 984,586 828,174 +18.89% 1,988 km2 495/km2 [50]
5 Greater Kota Kinabalu Kota Kinabalu 949,931 855,556 +11.03% 3,277 km2 290/km2 [51]
6 Greater Kuching Kuching 934,515 857,110 +9.03% 2,031 km2 460/km2 [52]
7 Greater Kuantan [ms] Kuantan 884,754 697,788 +26.79% 5,211 km2 170/km2 [53]
8 Seremban metropolitan Seremban 795,279 613,324 +29.67% 1,534 km2 518/km2 [54]
9 Malacca City metropolitan Malacca City 642,761 484,885 +32.56% 308 km2 2,087/km2 [55]
10 Greater Miri [ms] Miri 546,338 502,135 +8.80% 9,069 km2 60/km2 [56]
11 Alor Setar metropolitan Alor Setar 423,868 405,523 +4.52% 609 km2 696/km2 [22]
12 Kuala Terengganu metropolitan Kuala Terengganu 375,424 337,533 +11.23% 605 km2 621/km2 [33]

See also

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References

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Notes

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  1. ^ Derived from the 2020 census.
  2. ^ 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.[17]
  3. ^ Formerly known as Nusajaya until 2015.[20]
  4. ^ Malacca City's administrative zone was separated into two when a breakaway municipality, Hang Tuah Jaya, was created in 2010.[26]
  5. ^ Klang Valley is generally recognised to encompass six cities (Klang, Kuala Lumpur, Putrajaya, Petaling Jaya, Shah Alam and Subang Jaya), and five municipalities (Kajang, Selayang, Ampang Jaya, Sepang and Kuala Langat).
  6. ^ The George Town Conurbation comprises two cities (George Town and Seberang Perai), four municipalities (Sungai Petani, Kulim, Bandar Baharu and Yan) and portions of two districts (Kerian and Selama).
  7. ^ 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.

Citations

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  1. ^ DOSM 2022, p. 75.
  2. ^ "Federal Territory of Kuala Lumpur". Department of Statistics Malaysia. Retrieved 12 February 2024.
  3. ^ a b c d e f g h i j DOSM 2022l, p. 97.
  4. ^ "Latar Belakang". Kajang Municipal Council (in Malay). 4 November 2015. Retrieved 12 February 2024.
  5. ^ a b DOSM 2022i, p. 96.
  6. ^ Edmund Lee (20 May 2019). "New era of development for Seberang Perai with 'city status' recognition". Buletin Mutiara. Retrieved 5 February 2024.
  7. ^ "Latar Belakang Penubuhan MBSJ". Subang Jaya City Council (in Malay). Retrieved 12 February 2024.
  8. ^ a b Yasin, Muhammad Yazrin (December 2022). "Urbanization and growth of Greater Kuala Lumpur: Issues and recommendations for urban growth management" (PDF). Universiti Brunei Darussalam: 6.
  9. ^ a b c d e f DOSM 2022a, p. 95.
  10. ^ a b c d "Rancangan Tempatan Daerah Johor Bahru". Iskandar Puteri City Council (in Malay). 2 July 2018. Retrieved 12 February 2024.
  11. ^ "Lokasi dan Demografi". Shah Alam City Council (in Malay). Retrieved 12 February 2024.
  12. ^ Looi, Sue Chern (25 March 2015). "George Town A City Again". The Edge. Retrieved 26 December 2023.
  13. ^ "Latar Belakang". Petaling Jaya City Council (in Malay). 16 September 2015. Retrieved 12 February 2024.
  14. ^ "Latar Belakang". Selayang Municipal Council (in Malay). Retrieved 12 February 2024.
  15. ^ DOSM 2022g, p. 97.
  16. ^ "Latar Belakang". Ipoh City Council (in Malay). Retrieved 12 February 2024.
  17. ^ New Straits Times 2020.
  18. ^ DOSM 2022d, p. 95.
  19. ^ "MAKLUMAT PECAHAN GUNATANAH DI BAWAH MAJLIS BANDARAYA SEREMBAN" (PDF). Seremban City Council (in Malay).
  20. ^ Musa 2015.
  21. ^ "Latar Belakang". Kuantan City Council (in Malay). Retrieved 12 February 2024.
  22. ^ a b c d DOSM 2022b, p. 97.
  23. ^ a b "KEPENDUDUKAN NEGERI KEDAH" (PDF). Department of Statistics Malaysia: 3. 2020.
  24. ^ a b c DOSM 2022j, pp. 101–102.
  25. ^ a b c "Official Year Book 2020". Department of Information Malaysia. 2021. p. 65. ISSN 0126-8627. Retrieved 12 February 2024.
  26. ^ Carvalho 2010.
  27. ^ DOSM 2022d, p. 93.
  28. ^ "Latar Belakang". Malacca City Council (in Malay). Retrieved 12 February 2024.
  29. ^ "Latar Belakang". Alor Setar City Council (in Malay). Retrieved 12 February 2024.
  30. ^ a b "Official Year Book 2020". Department of Information Malaysia. 2021. p. 53. ISSN 0126-8627. Retrieved 12 February 2024.
  31. ^ DOSM 2022c, p. 100.
  32. ^ "Info Kota Bharu". Islamic City of Kota Bharu Municipal Council (in Malay). 17 October 2022. Retrieved 12 February 2024.
  33. ^ a b DOSM 2022m, p. 94.
  34. ^ "Latar Belakang". Kuala Terengganu City Council (in Malay). 3 November 2015. Retrieved 12 February 2024.
  35. ^ a b DOSM 2022k, p. 123.
  36. ^ "Administrative Area". Kuching North City Hall. Retrieved 12 February 2024.
  37. ^ "About Us". Kuching South City Council. Retrieved 12 February 2024.
  38. ^ "Latar Belakang". Sepang Municipal Council (in Malay). Retrieved 12 February 2024.
  39. ^ "Latar Belakang". Kuala Langat Municipal Council (in Malay). Retrieved 12 February 2024.
  40. ^ DOSM 2022h, p. 91.
  41. ^ "Latar Belakang". Kangar Municipal Council (in Malay). Retrieved 12 February 2024.
  42. ^ "Profil". Kuala Selangor Municipal Council. Retrieved 12 February 2024.
  43. ^ "Council Profile". Padawan Municipal Council. Retrieved 12 February 2024.
  44. ^ Malaysian Digest 2011.
  45. ^ Samat et al. 2020, p. 373.
  46. ^ "Urban Transport Master Plan Study for the Johor Bahru Conurbation, Malaysia" (PDF). Government of Malaysia, Japan International Cooperation Agency.
  47. ^ "RANCANGAN STRUKTUR NEGERI JOHOR 2030 (KAJIAN SEMULA)" (PDF). PLANMalaysia@Johor.
  48. ^ "DRAF RANCANGAN FIZIKAL NEGARA KE-4: Ke Arah Kemakmuran Bersama" (PDF). Bahagian Rancangan Fizikal Negara: 12.
  49. ^ "Bab 7 - PPSN (Zon Selatan)" (PDF). Rancangan Fizikal Negara Keempat (RFN4): 14.
  50. ^ Fleming 2021, p. 8.
  51. ^ World Bank 2015, p. 81.
  52. ^ Adenan 2017.
  53. ^ NST–via ECERDC 2013.
  54. ^ Singh 2023.
  55. ^ Malacca City Council 2015.
  56. ^ Kiew 2023.

Bibliography

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Academic journals and publications

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Articles from magazines, newspapers and websites

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Government journals and statistical reports

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