List of cities and towns in Malaysia by population

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

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

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

Gallery

• 
  1. Kuala Lumpur, Federal Territories
• 
  2. Kajang, Selangor
• 
  3. Seberang Perai, Penang
• 
  4. Subang Jaya, Selangor
• 
  5. Klang, Selangor
• 
  6. Johor Bahru, Johor
• 
  7. Shah Alam, Selangor
• 
  8. George Town, Penang
• 
  9. Petaling Jaya, Selangor
• 
  10. Selayang, Selangor
• 
  11. Ipoh, Perak
• 
  12. Seremban, Negeri Sembilan
• 
  13. Iskandar Puteri, Johor
• 
  14. Kuantan, Pahang
• 
  15. Sungai Petani, Kedah

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 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

• List of capitals in Malaysia
• List of cities in Malaysia

References

Notes

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

1. DOSM 2022, p. 75.
2. "Federal Territory of Kuala Lumpur". Department of Statistics Malaysia. Retrieved 12 February 2024.
3. DOSM 2022l, p. 97.
4. "Latar Belakang". Kajang Municipal Council (in Malay). 4 November 2015. Retrieved 12 February 2024.
5. 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. 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. DOSM 2022a, p. 95.
10. "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. DOSM 2022b, p. 97.
23. "KEPENDUDUKAN NEGERI KEDAH" (PDF). Department of Statistics Malaysia: 3. 2020.
24. DOSM 2022j, pp. 101–102.
25. "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. "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. DOSM 2022m, p. 94.
34. "Latar Belakang". Kuala Terengganu City Council (in Malay). 3 November 2015. Retrieved 12 February 2024.
35. 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

Academic journals and publications

• Fleming, Tom (2021). "Ipoh and Metropolitan Kinta in Numbers". Ipoh, Perak (PDF). British Council. pp. 1–37.
• Samat, Narimah; Tan, Mou Leong; Tilaki, Mohammad J. M.; Tew, Yi Lin (2020). "Modelling Land Cover Changes in Peri-Urban Areas: A Case Study of George Town Conurbation, Malaysia". Land. 9 (10): 373. doi:10.3390/land9100373 – via ResearchGate.
• "Achieving a System of Competitive Cities in Malaysia [Main Report]" (PDF). World Bank Reimbursable Advisory Service Social, Urban, Rural, and Resilience Global Practice. 2015 – via World Bank.

Articles from magazines, newspapers and websites

• Adenan, Asmah (18 November 2017). "CM: Greater Kuching to be a Smart City". Sarawak Voice. Retrieved 21 June 2023.
• Carvalho, Martin (2 January 2010). "Malacca ushers in 2010 with new Hang Tuah Jaya municipality". The Star. Retrieved 16 June 2023.
• Kiew, Philip (16 June 2023). "Minister: Greater Miri masterplan focuses on coexistence between urban progress, sustainability". The Borneo Post. Retrieved 21 June 2023.
• "Background". Malacca City Council. 8 October 2015. Archived from the original on 11 October 2015. Retrieved 12 October 2015.
• "Greater KL to Drive Rapid Growth". Malaysian Digest. 25 October 2010. Archived from the original on 9 March 2011. Retrieved 3 July 2022.
• Musa, Zakali (7 December 2015). "Nusajaya to be renamed Iskandar Puteri". The Star. Retrieved 16 June 2023.
• "Iskandar Malaysia to be extended, covering more areas in Johor". New Straits Times. 22 February 2019.
• "Zazali appointed first Mayor of Seremban City Council". New Straits Times. Bernama. 2 January 2020. Retrieved 16 June 2023.
• Singh, Sarban (14 June 2023). "Federal govt committed to supporting Negri's Malaysian Vision Valley, says Anwar". The Star. Retrieved 21 June 2023.
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• Zainal, Siti Rohaniah (31 January 2023). "MPK dijangka capai status bandar raya 23 November ini" [MPK expects to reach city status on 23 November this year]. SelangorKini (in Malay). Retrieved 22 June 2023.

Government journals and statistical reports

• "Population and Housing Statistics". Key Findings Population and Housing Census of Malaysia 2020: Federal Territories of Kuala Lumpur (in Malay and English). Putrajaya: Department of Statistics (Malaysia). 2022. ISBN 9789672535232.
• "Population and Housing Statistics". Key Findings Population and Housing Census of Malaysia 2020: Johor (in Malay and English). Putrajaya: Department of Statistics (Malaysia). 2022a. ISBN 9789672535126.
• "Population and Housing Statistics". Key Findings Population and Housing Census of Malaysia 2020: Kedah (in Malay and English). Putrajaya: Department of Statistics (Malaysia). 2022b. p. 97. ISBN 9789672535126.
• "Population and Housing Statistics". Key Findings Population and Housing Census of Malaysia 2020: Kelantan (in Malay and English). Putrajaya: Department of Statistics (Malaysia). 2022c. ISBN 9789672535126.
• "Population and Housing Statistics". Key Findings Population and Housing Census of Malaysia 2020: Melaka (in Malay and English). Putrajaya: Department of Statistics (Malaysia). 2022d. ISBN 9789672535126.
• "Population and Housing Statistics". Key Findings Population and Housing Census of Malaysia 2020: Negeri Sembilan (in Malay and English). Putrajaya: Department of Statistics (Malaysia). 2022e. ISBN 9789672535126.
• "Population and Housing Statistics". Key Findings Population and Housing Census of Malaysia 2020: Pahang (in Malay and English). Putrajaya: Department of Statistics (Malaysia). 2022f. ISBN 9789672535126.
• "Population and Housing Statistics". Key Findings Population and Housing Census of Malaysia 2020: Perak (in Malay and English). Putrajaya: Department of Statistics (Malaysia). 2022g. ISBN 9789672535126.
• "Population and Housing Statistics". Key Findings Population and Housing Census of Malaysia 2020: Perlis (in Malay and English). Putrajaya: Department of Statistics (Malaysia). 2022h. ISBN 9789672535126.
• "Population and Housing Statistics". Key Findings Population and Housing Census of Malaysia 2020: Pulau Pinang (in Malay and English). Putrajaya: Department of Statistics (Malaysia). 2022i. ISBN 9789672535164.
• "Population and Housing Statistics". Key Findings Population and Housing Census of Malaysia 2020: Sabah (in Malay and English). Putrajaya: Department of Statistics (Malaysia). 2022j. ISBN 9789672535218.
• "Population and Housing Statistics". Key Findings Population and Housing Census of Malaysia 2020: Sarawak (in Malay and English). Putrajaya: Department of Statistics (Malaysia). 2022k. ISBN 9789672535225.
• "Population and Housing Statistics". Key Findings Population and Housing Census of Malaysia 2020: Selangor (in Malay and English). Putrajaya: Department of Statistics (Malaysia). 2022l. ISBN 9789672535126.
• "Population and Housing Statistics". Key Findings Population and Housing Census of Malaysia 2020: Terengganu (in Malay and English). Putrajaya: Department of Statistics (Malaysia). 2022m. ISBN 9789672535126.