Malaysia

East Asia & Pacific·Upper middle income

Population: 35.1M; 44th of 217
GDP: $422B; 38th of 214 · 2024
GDP per capita: $11,867; 97th of 214 · 2024
Life expectancy: 76.7; 87th of 217
Human development: 0.803; 61st of 189 · 2021

Benchmarked against

Malaysia

China

Nauru

Palau

American Samoa

Default peers are drawn from region, income, and bloc membership — swap in any country you like. The gray tick on each strip is the world median.

upper middle-income Southeast Asian economy; implementing key anticorruption policies; major electronics, oil, and chemicals exporter; trade sector employs over 40% of jobs; key economic equity initiative; high labor productivity

Area: 329,847 km²
Resources: tin, petroleum, timber, copper, iron ore, natural gas, bauxite
Borders: Brunei; Indonesia 1,881 km; Thailand

Religion

who identifies with what, 2020

world view →

Muslim64.1%▲ 2.8pt
Buddhist18.9%▼ 0.9pt
Christian9.2%
Hindu6.1%
Other0.9%▼ 0.8pt
Unaffiliated0.8%▼ 0.8pt

Religious diversity: 6.31 / 10 · high · 20th of 193

Change markers show percentage-point shifts from 2010 to 2020 · Pew Research Center, Religious Composition 2010–2020.

Score card

quartile grades among all countries with data

A · Top quartileB · Above medianC · Below medianD · Bottom quartile

Topic

MYS

CHN

NRU

PLW

GDP

current US$

$422B–––

GDP per capita

current US$

–––

GDP per capita, PPP

international $

–––

GDP growth

annual %

–––

GNI per capita

Atlas method, US$

–––

Inflation

GDP deflator, annual %

–––

FDI inflows

current US$

$15.6B–––

Merchandise trade

% of GDP

149.5%–––

Agriculture value added

% of GDP

8.2%–––

Industry value added

% of GDP

37.1%–––

Unemployment

% of labor force

–––

Gini index

0–100

–––

Extreme poverty

% below $2.15/day

–––

Population

people

35.1M–––

Population density

people per km²

105.6–––

Urban population

% of total

78.7%–––

Life expectancy

years at birth

–––

Fertility rate

births per woman

1.6–––

Net migration

people

175K–––

Population under 15

% of total

21.8%–––

Population 65+

% of total

7.7%–––

Infant mortality

per 1,000 live births

–––

Under-5 mortality

per 1,000 live births

–––

Health expenditure

% of GDP

3.9%–––

Physicians

per 1,000 people

–––

Adult literacy

% ages 15+

–––

Education expenditure

% of GDP

3.6%–––

Tertiary enrollment

% gross

–––

Safe drinking water

% of population

–––

Internet users

% of population

–––

Mobile subscriptions

per 100 people

–––

Fixed broadband

per 100 people

–––

Secure internet servers

per 1M people

–––

Access to electricity

% of population

–––

Energy use per capita

kWh

38.9K–––

Electricity per capita

kWh

5,574.6–––

Electricity generation

TWh

198.2–––

Renewable electricity

% of generation

–––

Fossil electricity

% of generation

–––

CO₂ emissions

Mt per year

–––

CO₂ per capita

t per person

–––

Share of global CO₂

0.8%–––

GHG per capita

t CO₂e per person

–––

Electoral democracy

V-Dem, 0–1

–––

Liberal democracy

V-Dem, 0–1

–––

Corruption perceptions

CPI, 0–100

–––

Control of corruption

WGI, −2.5 to 2.5

–––

Government effectiveness

WGI, −2.5 to 2.5

–––

Rule of law

WGI, −2.5 to 2.5

–––

Political stability

WGI, −2.5 to 2.5

–––

Women's political empowerment

V-Dem, 0–1

–––

Emancipative values

Welzel index, 0–1

0.397–––

Secular values

Welzel index, 0–1

0.372–––

Importance of God

mean, 1–10

8.46–––

Acceptance of homosexuality

justifiable, 1–10

3.59–––

Acceptance of abortion

justifiable, 1–10

3.52–––

Acceptance of divorce

justifiable, 1–10

4.64–––

Bribery seen as justifiable

1–10

–––

Tax cheating seen as justifiable

1–10

–––

Men should get jobs first

% agreeing

47.8%–––

Men make better leaders

agree, 1–4

2.69–––

Wouldn't want neighbors of another race

% mentioning

5.5%–––

Wouldn't want immigrant neighbors

% mentioning

50.6%–––

Children should learn independence

% mentioning

55.1%–––

Children should learn obedience

% mentioning

13%–––

Environment over economy

% choosing environment

63.4%–––

Luck matters more than work

1–10

4.79–––

Religious diversity

Pew RDI, 0–10

6.31–––

Religiously unaffiliated

% of population

0.8%–––

Most people can be trusted

% agreeing

–––

Confidence in government

mean, 1–4

2.48–––

Confidence in the press

mean, 1–4

2.34–––

Confidence in courts

mean, 1–4

2.77–––

Support for a strong leader

good system, 1–4

2.86–––

Importance of democracy

mean, 1–10

8.19–––

National pride

mean, 1–4

3.05–––

Would fight for country

% yes

79%–––

Interest in politics

mean, 1–4

2.42–––

Human Development Index

UNDP, 0–1

–––

Gender inequality

GII, 0–1

–––

Happiness

Cantril ladder, 0–10

–––

Freedom & control over life

mean, 1–10

–––

Life satisfaction

mean, 1–10

–––

Global Peace Index

1–5

–––

Military expenditure

% of GDP

0.9%–––

Economy & Trade

Output, growth, prices, and openness

theme overview →

GDP

current US$

#38/214

$422B2024

GDP per capita

current US$

#97/214

$11,8672024

GDP per capita, PPP

international $

#65/203

$36,417latest

GDP growth

annual %

#37/214

5.1%2024

GNI per capita

Atlas method, US$

#87/207

$11,6702024

Inflation

GDP deflator, annual %

#29/213

0.8%2024

FDI inflows

current US$

#25/201

$15.6B2024

Merchandise trade

% of GDP

#9/205

149.5%2024

Agriculture value added

% of GDP

#86/206

8.2%2024

Industry value added

% of GDP

#31/208

37.1%2024

Unemployment

% of labor force

#65/187

3.9%latest

Gini index

0–100

#123/168

40.7latest

Extreme poverty

% below $2.15/day

#10/168

0%latest

People & Society

Population structure, urbanization, and migration

theme overview →

Population

people

#44/217

35.1Mlatest

Population density

people per km²

#99/216

105.6latest

Urban population

% of total

#65/215

78.7%latest

Life expectancy

years at birth

#87/217

76.7latest

Fertility rate

births per woman

#144/217

1.6latest

Net migration

people

#9/217

175K2024

Population under 15

% of total

#113/217

21.8%2024

Population 65+

% of total

#118/217

7.7%2024

Health & Education

Longevity, mortality, learning, and public spending

theme overview →

Infant mortality

per 1,000 live births

#59/196

6.8latest

Under-5 mortality

per 1,000 live births

#58/196

8.1latest

Health expenditure

% of GDP

#158/192

3.9%latest

Physicians

per 1,000 people

#77/195

2.3latest

Adult literacy

% ages 15+

#69/160

96%latest

Education expenditure

% of GDP

#128/199

3.6%latest

Tertiary enrollment

% gross

#102/194

41.3%latest

Safe drinking water

% of population

#53/139

93.9%latest

Connectivity

Internet, mobile, and digital infrastructure

theme overview →

Internet users

% of population

#13/210

97.7%latest

Mobile subscriptions

per 100 people

#35/214

142.72023

Fixed broadband

per 100 people

#104/208

132023

Secure internet servers

per 1M people

#63/215

7,475.52024

Access to electricity

% of population

#69/215

100%latest

Energy & Climate

Energy use, electricity mix, and emissions

theme overview →

Energy use per capita

kWh

#34/198

38.9K2024

Electricity per capita

kWh

#51/202

5,574.62024

Electricity generation

TWh

#24/202

198.22024

Renewable electricity

% of generation

#126/202

19.7%2024

Fossil electricity

% of generation

#131/202

80.3%2024

CO₂ emissions

Mt per year

#185/204

290.22024

CO₂ per capita

t per person

#174/204

8.22024

Share of global CO₂

#20/204

0.8%2024

GHG per capita

t CO₂e per person

#165/193

11.82023

Governance & Democracy

Democratic institutions, corruption, and rule of law

theme overview →

Electoral democracy

V-Dem, 0–1

#95/172

0.4382022

Liberal democracy

V-Dem, 0–1

#97/172

0.3042022

Corruption perceptions

CPI, 0–100

#60/178

472022

Control of corruption

WGI, −2.5 to 2.5

#67/193

0.2492022

Government effectiveness

WGI, −2.5 to 2.5

#35/193

0.9932022

Rule of law

WGI, −2.5 to 2.5

#54/193

0.5622022

Political stability

WGI, −2.5 to 2.5

#85/193

0.142022

Women's political empowerment

V-Dem, 0–1

#81/172

0.7962022

Values & Beliefs

What people hold sacred, permit, and pass on — from 40 years of World Values Survey interviews

theme overview →

Emancipative values

Welzel index, 0–1

#72/104

0.3972018

Secular values

Welzel index, 0–1

#46/105

0.3722018

Importance of God

mean, 1–10

#52/113

8.462018

Acceptance of homosexuality

justifiable, 1–10

#51/112

3.592018

Acceptance of abortion

justifiable, 1–10

#52/114

3.522018

Acceptance of divorce

justifiable, 1–10

#64/114

4.642018

Bribery seen as justifiable

1–10

#107/114

3.082018

Tax cheating seen as justifiable

1–10

#102/111

3.412018

Men should get jobs first

% agreeing

#37/113

47.8%2018

Men make better leaders

agree, 1–4

#28/109

2.692018

Wouldn't want neighbors of another race

% mentioning

#90/112

5.5%2018

Wouldn't want immigrant neighbors

% mentioning

#5/112

50.6%2018

Children should learn independence

% mentioning

#29/114

55.1%2018

Children should learn obedience

% mentioning

#100/114

13%2018

Environment over economy

% choosing environment

#39/110

63.4%2018

Luck matters more than work

1–10

#42/109

4.792018

Religious diversity

Pew RDI, 0–10

#20/193

6.312020

Religiously unaffiliated

% of population

#133/193

0.8%2020

Trust & Institutions

Who people trust, and how much faith they place in government, press, and courts

theme overview →

Most people can be trusted

% agreeing

#59/114

19.6%2018

Confidence in government

mean, 1–4

#33/112

2.482018

Confidence in the press

mean, 1–4

#41/113

2.342018

Confidence in courts

mean, 1–4

#30/110

2.772018

Support for a strong leader

good system, 1–4

#23/111

2.862018

Importance of democracy

mean, 1–10

#67/104

8.192018

National pride

mean, 1–4

#104/114

3.052018

Would fight for country

% yes

#39/113

79%2018

Interest in politics

mean, 1–4

#47/114

2.422018

Development & Wellbeing

Composite measures of how life is going

theme overview →

Human Development Index

UNDP, 0–1

#61/189

0.8032021

Gender inequality

GII, 0–1

#57/170

0.2282021

Happiness

Cantril ladder, 0–10

#73/164

6.012025

Freedom & control over life

mean, 1–10

#57/113

7.182018

Life satisfaction

mean, 1–10

#66/114

6.992018

Global Peace Index

1–5

#19/158

1.512023

Military expenditure

% of GDP

#123/161

0.9%latest

Explore any measure in depth on its own page — try GDP per capita or electoral democracy.