Quick facts
Alor Setar overview
Alor Setar (orange) and the other large cities of Malaysia
Alor Setar lies in Kedah in Malaysia at 6.12°N, 100.36°E, about 7 m above sea level. The local time zone is Asia/Kuala_Lumpur (UTC+8); GeoNames classifies it as a regional capital.
It is smaller than Kuala Terengganu (426,500) and larger than Kampung Kangkar Teberau (412,373). The largest city in Malaysia is Kuala Lumpur with 1,453,975 people; the capital, Kuala Lumpur, has 1,453,975.
The national capital, Kuala Lumpur, is about 362 km away; the nearest large city is Sungai Petani, 55 km from Alor Setar.
Malaysia as a whole has a live population of 36,503,986 (+1.1% a year) and ranks #44 of 238 countries — see the Malaysia population page for the full statistics and the Malaysia atlas for provinces, terrain and society maps.
Cities near Alor Setar
| City | Distance | Population |
|---|---|---|
| Sungai Petani Kedah | 55 km | 544,851 |
| Kota Kuala Muda Kedah | 59 km | 544,984 |
| Tasek Glugor Penang | 73 km | 135,786 |
| George Town Penang | 79 km | 158,336 |
| Butterworth Penang | 80 km | 107,591 |
| Paya Terubong Penang | 84 km | 226,712 |
| Kampung Sungai Glugur Penang | 84 km | 145,600 |
| Bukit Mertajam Penang | 85 km | 212,329 |
Largest cities in Malaysia
| # | City | Region | Population |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Kuala LumpurCapital | Kuala Lumpur | 1,453,975 |
| 2 | Johor Bahru | Johor | 858,118 |
| 3 | Kampung Baru Subang | Selangor | 833,571 |
| 4 | Petaling Jaya | Selangor | 807,879 |
| 5 | Ipoh | Perak | 759,952 |
| 6 | Shah Alam | Selangor | 740,750 |
| 7 | Bukit Rahman Putra | Selangor | 607,000 |
| 8 | Pelentong | Johor | 583,640 |
| 9 | Malacca | Melaka | 579,000 |
| 10 | Iskandar Puteri | Johor | 575,977 |
Frequently asked questions
What is the population of Alor Setar?
Alor Setar has about 417,800 inhabitants according to the latest official census or estimate compiled by GeoNames. This is the city proper; the metropolitan area is larger.
Is Alor Setar the capital of Malaysia?
No. The capital of Malaysia is Kuala Lumpur (1,453,975 people), about 362 km away. Alor Setar is the 23rd largest city of the country and a regional capital.
How big is Alor Setar compared with the rest of Malaysia?
Its 417,800 residents are 1.1% of the 36,503,986 people living in Malaysia today. Kuala Lumpur is larger with 1,453,975 people.
Where is Alor Setar?
In Kedah, Malaysia, at latitude 6.12 and longitude 100.36, 7 m above sea level. Nearby large cities include Sungai Petani (55 km), Kota Kuala Muda (59 km), Tasek Glugor (73 km).
Explore more
Cite or link to this page
Glostats. (2026). Alor Setar Population 2026 — Malaysia. Retrieved October 20, 2026, from https://glostats.com/cities/malaysia/alor-setar/<a href="https://glostats.com/cities/malaysia/alor-setar/">Alor Setar Population 2026 — Malaysia</a> — GlostatsFigures on this page may be quoted, charted or republished as long as the page is credited with a link. Terms · Download the data as CSV · Embed a live counter.
City populations are GeoNames figures (CC BY 4.0): the latest official census or estimate for the city proper — the municipality, not the wider metropolitan area — so they can differ from "metro area" numbers you see elsewhere. Country populations are live Glostats estimates from the UN World Population Prospects. Distances are great-circle distances between city centres. Page generated 2026-10-20. More about our data.