Kuching Population 2026

Kuching has a population of 402,738, making it the #26 biggest city in 🇲🇾 Malaysia, located in Sarawak. Roughly 1.1% of Malaysia's population lives here. It is about 3.6× smaller than Kuala Lumpur, the country's biggest city.

Location of Kuching (capital Kuala Lumpur shown for reference). Boundaries: Natural Earth.

Population (city proper)

402,738

Rank in Malaysia

#26

Coordinates

1.55°N, 110.33°E

~8 m elevation · Asia/Kuching

Distance to capital (Kuala Lumpur)

977 km

607 miles, straight line

Other big cities in Sarawak

City	Population	Rank in Malaysia
Miri	300,543	#33
Sibu	198,239	#50
Bintulu	151,617	#56
Marudi	90,100	#89
Serian	58,059	#129
Bau	52,643	#138
Niah	48,875	#147
Sri Aman	47,313	#151

Cities near Kuching

Siburan27,286 people · ~22 km away
Bau52,643 people · ~25 km away
Simunjan23,011 people · ~50 km away
Serian58,059 people · ~50 km away
Lundu26,372 people · ~55 km away
Tebedu25,232 people · ~58 km away

FAQ

What is the population of Kuching?

Kuching has a population of 402,738 (city proper, latest official figure via GeoNames), making it the #26 biggest city in Malaysia.

What region is Kuching in?

Kuching is located in Sarawak, Malaysia.

Is Kuching the capital of Malaysia?

No, the capital of Malaysia is Kuala Lumpur, about 977 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.

← All biggest cities in Malaysia · Malaysia population by year