Johor Bahru Population 2026

Johor Bahru has a population of 858,118, making it the #2 biggest city in 🇲🇾 Malaysia, located in Johor. Roughly 2.4% of Malaysia's population lives here. It is about 1.7× smaller than Kuala Lumpur, the country's biggest city.

Kuala LumpurJohor Bahru
Location of Johor Bahru (capital Kuala Lumpur shown for reference). Boundaries: Natural Earth.
Population (city proper)
858,118
Rank in Malaysia
#2
Coordinates
1.47°N, 103.76°E
~32 m elevation · Asia/Kuala_Lumpur
Distance to capital (Kuala Lumpur)
296 km
184 miles, straight line

Other big cities in Johor

CityPopulationRank in Malaysia
Pelentong583,640#8
Iskandar Puteri575,977#10
Pasir Gudang534,659#16
Mukim Pulai505,661#17
Kampung Larkin Lama500,000#19
Kampung Kangkar Teberau412,373#25
Kluang323,762#31
Muar314,776#32

Cities near Johor Bahru

FAQ

What is the population of Johor Bahru?
Johor Bahru has a population of 858,118 (city proper, latest official figure via GeoNames), making it the #2 biggest city in Malaysia.
What region is Johor Bahru in?
Johor Bahru is located in Johor, Malaysia.
Is Johor Bahru the capital of Malaysia?
No, the capital of Malaysia is Kuala Lumpur, about 296 km away.

Sources & notes

Population refers to the city proper (municipal boundaries), not the metropolitan area. Source: GeoNames (CC BY 4.0), retrieved 2026-07-07. Country data: UN World Population Prospects 2024.

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