Malaysia
- Capital
- Kuala Lumpur
- Region
- East Asia & Pacific
- Income group
- Upper middle income
- Population
- 36.0 million (2025)
At a glance
- Prices in Malaysia rose 1.4% in 2025, slower than in most countries.
- Malaysia's economy grew 5.2% in 2025, faster than most economies.
- Output per person in Malaysia was US$13,125 in 2025, higher than in most countries.
- 3.8% of Malaysia's labour force had no job in 2025, a lower share than in most countries.
- Malaysia's central government owed 64.6% of GDP in 2024, more than in most countries with data.
- Malaysia had 36.0 million people in 2025: about 0.4% of everyone on Earth, the 45th largest population of 217 countries and territories.
- Malaysia had a current account surplus of 1.6% of GDP in 2025, higher than in most countries.
Inflation
2025Consumer prices, change over the year (yearly average)
Since 2000
Show the numbers
| Year | Malaysia | World median |
|---|---|---|
| 2025 | 1.4% | 3.0% |
| 2024 | 1.8% | 3.0% |
| 2023 | 2.5% | 5.7% |
| 2022 | 3.4% | 8.0% |
| 2021 | 2.5% | 3.5% |
| 2020 | −1.1% | 1.9% |
| 2019 | 0.7% | 2.2% |
| 2018 | 0.9% | 2.5% |
| 2017 | 3.9% | 2.3% |
| 2016 | 2.1% | 1.6% |
Economic growth
2025Real GDP, change over the year
Since 2000
Show the numbers
| Year | Malaysia | World median |
|---|---|---|
| 2025 | 5.2% | 3.4% |
| 2024 | 5.1% | 3.4% |
| 2023 | 3.5% | 3.2% |
| 2022 | 9.0% | 4.3% |
| 2021 | 3.3% | 5.1% |
| 2020 | −5.5% | −3.8% |
| 2019 | 4.4% | 2.8% |
| 2018 | 4.8% | 3.2% |
| 2017 | 5.8% | 3.3% |
| 2016 | 4.5% | 3.1% |
GDP per person
2025GDP divided by population, in US dollars at current prices
Since 2000
Show the numbers
| Year | Malaysia | World median |
|---|---|---|
| 2025 | US$13,125 | US$7,882 |
| 2024 | US$11,874 | US$7,853 |
| 2023 | US$11,386 | US$7,862 |
| 2022 | US$11,755 | US$7,656 |
| 2021 | US$10,903 | US$7,269 |
| 2020 | US$9,958 | US$6,433 |
| 2019 | US$10,920 | US$7,037 |
| 2018 | US$10,902 | US$6,978 |
| 2017 | US$9,863 | US$6,548 |
| 2016 | US$9,477 | US$5,982 |
Unemployment
2025Share of the labour force without a job (ILO modelled estimate)
Since 2000
Show the numbers
| Year | Malaysia | World median |
|---|---|---|
| 2025 | 3.8% | 5.1% |
| 2024 | 3.9% | 5.1% |
| 2023 | 3.9% | 5.2% |
| 2022 | 3.9% | 5.3% |
| 2021 | 4.6% | 6.0% |
| 2020 | 4.5% | 6.4% |
| 2019 | 3.3% | 5.4% |
| 2018 | 3.3% | 5.4% |
| 2017 | 3.4% | 5.6% |
| 2016 | 3.4% | 5.9% |
Government debt
2024Central government debt, % of GDP
Since 2002
Show the numbers
| Year | Malaysia | World median |
|---|---|---|
| 2024 | 64.6% | 53.2% |
| 2023 | 64.3% | 60.7% |
| 2022 | 60.2% | 55.6% |
| 2021 | 63.3% | 58.8% |
| 2020 | 62.0% | 64.3% |
| 2019 | 52.4% | 49.2% |
| 2018 | 51.2% | 47.3% |
| 2017 | 50.1% | 51.2% |
| 2016 | 51.9% | 50.2% |
| 2015 | 53.6% | 49.4% |
Population
2025Everyone living in the country, mid-year
Since 2000
Show the numbers
| Year | Malaysia |
|---|---|
| 2025 | 36.0 million |
| 2024 | 35.6 million |
| 2023 | 35.1 million |
| 2022 | 34.7 million |
| 2021 | 34.3 million |
| 2020 | 33.9 million |
| 2019 | 33.4 million |
| 2018 | 32.9 million |
| 2017 | 32.4 million |
| 2016 | 31.8 million |
Current account balance, % of GDP
Since 2000
Show the numbers
| Year | Malaysia | World median |
|---|---|---|
| 2025 | 1.6% | −0.8% |
| 2024 | 1.4% | −1.3% |
| 2023 | 1.1% | −1.2% |
| 2022 | 3.1% | −3.0% |
| 2021 | 3.9% | −2.4% |
| 2020 | 4.2% | −1.7% |
| 2019 | 3.5% | −2.1% |
| 2018 | 2.2% | −2.9% |
| 2017 | 2.8% | −2.1% |
| 2016 | 2.4% | −2.8% |
About these figures
All numbers are yearly. The world median is the middle value of all countries with a figure for the same year: half of them are above it and half below. Sparklines show Malaysia since 2000 or since its first figure.
Source: World Bank, World Development Indicators (CC BY 4.0), updated 2026-10-08. Original sources: Inflation: International Monetary Fund, International Financial Statistics; Economic growth: national statistical offices and central banks, OECD national accounts, and World Bank staff estimates; GDP per person: national statistical offices and central banks, OECD national accounts, and World Bank staff estimates; Unemployment: International Labour Organization, ILO modelled estimates (ILOSTAT); Government debt: International Monetary Fund, Government Finance Statistics; Population: United Nations Population Division (World Population Prospects) and national statistical offices; Current account balance: International Monetary Fund, Balance of Payments Statistics, with World Bank and OECD data. Yearly figures; recent years are often revised. All sources and terms.