Brunei Darussalam vs Malaysia: Compare Statistics
Side-by-side comparison of 165 key metrics across economy, population, geography, and more — latest data through 2026.
Summary
Malaysia has 77.5 times as many people as Brunei Darussalam (36.4 million vs 469,940). Malaysia's economy is 26.3 times the size of Brunei Darussalam's ($466.53 billion vs $17.73 billion GDP).
Comparing Brunei Darussalam and Malaysia: Brunei Darussalam leads on Major Urban Areas Population (266,682 people) against Malaysia (8.62 people); Brunei Darussalam leads on Radios (329,000) against Malaysia (10.90); Brunei Darussalam leads on Electricity Installed Capacity (821,000) against Malaysia (33). Across 165 compared metrics, Brunei Darussalam wins on 69 and Malaysia wins on 86.
- Communications: 9 metrics compared
- Economy: 62 metrics compared
- Environment: 11 metrics compared
- Geography: 7 metrics compared
- Government: 10 metrics compared
- Health: 21 metrics compared
- Military and Security: 3 metrics compared
- People and Society: 37 metrics compared
- Transportation: 4 metrics compared
- Travel and Tourism: 1 metric compared
Communications
9 metrics| Metric | 🇧🇳 Brunei Darussalam | 🇲🇾 Malaysia | Share |
|---|---|---|---|
| Fixed Broadband Penetration | 21.18 subscriptions per 100 inhabitants★ | 13.55 subscriptions per 100 inhabitants | |
| Internet Penetration Rate (%) | 96.3 % | 98.02 %★ | |
| Internet Usage Rate by Country (% of Population) | 99.03 %★ | 97.69 % | |
| Internet Users | percent of population: 99% (2023 est.) | percent of population: 98% (2023 est.) | |
| Mobile Internet Speed | 21.18 Mbps★ | 13.55 Mbps | |
| Press Freedom Index Score | 53.47 points | 56.09 points★ | |
| Radios | 329,000★ | 10.9 | |
| Televisions | 201,900★ | 10.8 | |
| Waterways | 209 | 7,200★ |
Economy
62 metricsEnvironment
11 metrics| Metric | 🇧🇳 Brunei Darussalam | 🇲🇾 Malaysia | Share |
|---|---|---|---|
| Annual CO₂ Emissions Growth (abs) | -450,229★ | 13.93M | |
| Annual Forest Area Change Rate | 0 %★ | -60,000 % | |
| Average Annual Temperature | 26.85 °C★ | 25.87 °C | |
| Carbon Dioxide Emissions | 10.82★ | 260.01 | |
| Global Precipitation Distribution | 3,512.15 mm★ | 3,150.09 mm | |
| Population Distribution | the vast majority of the population is found along the coast in the western part of Brunei, which is separated from the eastern portion by Malaysia; the largest population concentration is in the far north on the western side of the Brunei Bay, in and aro | a highly uneven distribution, with over 80% of the population residing on the Malay Peninsula | |
| Protected Land Area for Adaptation | 37.8 sq km★ | 13.3 sq km | |
| Protected Land Area Percentage | 39.9 %★ | 13.3 % | |
| Total Renewable Groundwater Resources by Country | 0.1 Cubic meters per year | 64 Cubic meters per year★ | |
| Total Renewable Water Resources | 8.5 | 580★ | |
| Total Threatened Mammal Species | 37 species★ | 80 species |
Geography
7 metrics| Metric | 🇧🇳 Brunei Darussalam | 🇲🇾 Malaysia | Share |
|---|---|---|---|
| Percentage of land area by degree of urbanization | 5.54 %★ | 4.11 % | |
| Above-Ground Biomass in Forest (tonnes/ha) | 247★ | 209.87 | |
| Agricultural land | 134 sq. km | 85,710 sq. km★ | |
| Airports per 1,000 Sq Km | 5,270 | 328,550★ | |
| Coastline Length (km) | 161 km | 4,675 km★ | |
| Dam capacity per capita | 94.74 cubic meters per inhabitant | 611.58 cubic meters per inhabitant★ | |
| Irrigated Land | 10 | 4,420★ |
Government
10 metrics| Metric | 🇧🇳 Brunei Darussalam | 🇲🇾 Malaysia | Share |
|---|---|---|---|
| Rule of Law Index by Country | 85.32 %★ | 67.87 % | |
| Administrative Divisions | 4 | 13★ | |
| Corruption Perception Index | 60 index | 51 index★ | |
| Corruption Perceptions Index Score | 60 index★ | 51 index | |
| Independence | 1 | 31★ | |
| LGBT Rights Index Score | -0.33★ | -2.46 | |
| Political Stability Index | 97 index★ | 51 index | |
| Prison Population Rate | 142 per 100,000★ | 160 per 100,000 | |
| Public Sector Corruption Perception | 60 | 51★ | |
| Suffrage Participation Rate | 18 | 18 |
Health
21 metricsMilitary and Security
3 metrics| Metric | 🇧🇳 Brunei Darussalam | 🇲🇾 Malaysia | Share |
|---|---|---|---|
| Active Military Personnel | 7,000 personnel | 113,000 personnel★ | |
| Military Expenditure (% of GDP) | 3.65 % | 1.04 %★ | |
| Total Armed Forces Personnel (PPP) | 8,000 | 136,000★ |
People and Society
37 metricsTransportation
4 metrics| Metric | 🇧🇳 Brunei Darussalam | 🇲🇾 Malaysia | Share |
|---|---|---|---|
| Air Travel Trips Per Capita (PPP) | 1.11 | 1.58★ | |
| Airports | 2 | 100★ | |
| Civil Air Travel | 4 | 53★ | |
| Heliports | 14 | 24★ |
Travel and Tourism
1 metric| Metric | 🇧🇳 Brunei Darussalam | 🇲🇾 Malaysia | Share |
|---|---|---|---|
| Tourism Receipts per Capita | 299.48M USD | 24.59B USD★ |
Frequently Asked Questions About Brunei Darussalam vs Malaysia
Which has a larger population, Brunei Darussalam or Malaysia?▾
Malaysia. Malaysia has 77.5 times as many people as Brunei Darussalam (36.4 million vs 469,940). Data for 2026.
Which has a bigger economy, Brunei Darussalam or Malaysia?▾
Malaysia. Malaysia's economy is 26.3 times the size of Brunei Darussalam's ($466.53 billion vs $17.73 billion GDP). Data for 2026.
Which is richer per person, Brunei Darussalam or Malaysia?▾
Brunei Darussalam is richer per person: GDP per capita is about $37,727 in Brunei Darussalam vs $12,818 in Malaysia (2026 GDP in current US dollars divided by population).