China vs Malaysia: Compare Statistics

Side-by-side comparison of 174 key metrics across economy, population, geography, and more — latest data through 2026.

Summary

China has 38.8 times as many people as Malaysia (1.41 billion vs 36.4 million). China's economy is 44.4 times the size of Malaysia's ($20.73 trillion vs $466.53 billion GDP).

Comparing China and Malaysia: Malaysia leads on Refined Petroleum Products Imports (304,600) against China (1.16); Malaysia leads on Oil Production (664,800) against China (4.27); Malaysia leads on Oil Imports (355,300) against China (4.75). Across 174 compared metrics, China wins on 101 and Malaysia wins on 65.

  • Communications: 9 metrics compared
  • Economy: 66 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: 40 metrics compared
  • Transportation: 5 metrics compared
  • Travel and Tourism: 1 metric compared
  • Other: 1 metric compared

Communications

9 metrics
MetricšŸ‡ØšŸ‡³ ChinašŸ‡²šŸ‡¾ MalaysiaShare
Fixed Broadband Penetration47.19 subscriptions per 100 inhabitantsā˜…13.55 subscriptions per 100 inhabitants
Internet Penetration Rate (%)92 %98.02 %ā˜…
Internet Usage Rate by Country (% of Population)92 %98.02 %ā˜…
Internet Userspercent of population: 78% (2023 est.)percent of population: 98% (2023 est.)
Mobile Internet Speed47.19 Mbpsā˜…13.55 Mbps
Press Freedom Index Score14.8 points56.09 pointsā˜…
Radios417ā˜…10.9
Televisions400ā˜…10.8
Waterways27,700ā˜…7,200

Economy

66 metrics
MetricšŸ‡ØšŸ‡³ ChinašŸ‡²šŸ‡¾ MalaysiaShare
Agriculture Value Added as a Share of GDP by Country1.79T $ā˜…47.38B $
Gross Domestic Product (GDP) by Country in Current US Dollars20.73T $ā˜…466.53B $
AI Investment (% of GDP)40.61 %ā˜…21.95 %
Apple Import Volume97.54M tonnes101.62M tonnesā˜…
Bank Account Ownership Rate89.38 %ā˜…88.69 %
Central Bank Discount Rate (%)2.25 %3 %ā˜…
Coal Revenue0.57ā˜…0.02
Commercial Bank Prime Lending Rate (%)4.35 %4.61 %ā˜…
Corporate Tax Rate Trends25 %ā˜…24 %
Current Health Expenditure (% of GDP)5.4 % of GDPā˜…3.8 % of GDP
Ease of Doing Business Index77.983.3ā˜…
Electricity Consumption5.56136.9ā˜…
Electricity Exports18.91ā˜…3
Electricity from Fossil Fuels6278ā˜…
Electricity from Hydroelectric Plants1818
Electricity from Nuclear Fuels2ā˜…0
Electricity from Other Renewables18ā˜…4
Electricity Imports6.1933ā˜…
Electricity Installed Capacity1.6533ā˜…
Electricity Production5.88148.3ā˜…
Energy Consumption per Capita (USD)113.81 USD per capitaā˜…113.16 USD per capita
Female Labor Force Participation Rate69.58 %ā˜…56.67 %
Gini Index Coefficient35.740.7ā˜…
Gross Fixed Investment45.9ā˜…25.2
Gross National Saving45.8ā˜…28.5
High-Tech Export Percentage60.47 %63.18 %ā˜…
Highest GDP per Capita Countries25,066.52 USD35,461.45 USDā˜…
Industrial Production Growth Rate (%)5.3 %ā˜…4.9 %
Inflation Rate0.06 %ā˜…1.38 %
Inflation Rate (Consumer Prices)0.2 %ā˜…1.8 %
Military Expenditures (% of GDP)1.5 % of GDPā˜…1 % of GDP
Natural Gas Consumption238.6ā˜…30.44
Natural Gas Exports3.3738.23ā˜…
Natural Gas Imports97.63ā˜…2.8
Natural Gas Production145.9ā˜…69.49
Natural Gas Proved Reserves5.44ā˜…1.18
Number of AI Patents Filed87,057 patentsā˜…5 patents
Oil Consumption9.19561,000ā˜…
Oil Exports480,600644,900ā˜…
Oil Imports4.75355,300ā˜…
Oil Production4.27664,800ā˜…
Oil Proved Reserves20.35ā˜…4
Population Below Poverty Line0 peopleā˜…6.2 people
Private Investment (% of GDP)33.48 % of GDPā˜…14.84 % of GDP
Public Debt47ā˜…64.3
R&D Expenditure (% of GDP)2.49 %ā˜…1.01 %
Real GDP Growth Rate (USD)5 USD5.1 USDā˜…
Real Interest Rate Trends5.15 %ā˜…4.46 %
Refined Petroleum Products Consumption12.47704,000ā˜…
Refined Petroleum Products Exports848,400ā˜…208,400
Refined Petroleum Products Imports1.16304,600ā˜…
Refined Petroleum Products Production11.51528,300ā˜…
Remittances0.20.4ā˜…
Researchers in R&D per Million1,849.24 researchersā˜…1,218.33 researchers
Revenue from Forest Resources0.081.57ā˜…
Robotics Research Funding2.49 USDā˜…1.01 USD
Share of population in poverty ($3 a day)0ā˜…0.01
Tax Burden (% of GDP)7.02 %ā˜…12.43 %
Tax Revenue (% of GDP)7.02 % of GDP12.43 % of GDPā˜…
Taxes and Other Revenues7.612.6ā˜…
Top Exporting Countries3.75T USDā˜…301.22B USD
Top FDI Inflows (% of GDP)0.23 %3.69 %ā˜…
Total Number of Billionaires539ā˜…19
Unemployment Rate4.6 %3.9 %ā˜…
Youth Labor Force Participation Rate64.55 %ā˜…66.12 %
Youth Unemployment Rate15.8 %11.95 %ā˜…

Environment

11 metrics
MetricšŸ‡ØšŸ‡³ ChinašŸ‡²šŸ‡¾ MalaysiaShare
Annual COā‚‚ Emissions Growth (abs)117.03M13.93Mā˜…
Annual Forest Area Change Rate1.61M %ā˜…-60,000 %
Average Annual Temperature8.21 °C25.87 °Cā˜…
Carbon Dioxide Emissions12.2ā˜…260.01
Global Precipitation Distribution833.24 mm3,150.09 mmā˜…
Population Distributionoverwhelming majority of the population is found in the eastern half of the country; the west, with its vast mountainous and desert areas, remains sparsely populated; though ranked first in the world in total population, overall density is less than that a highly uneven distribution, with over 80% of the population residing on the Malay Peninsula
Protected Land Area for Adaptation15.6 sq kmā˜…13.3 sq km
Protected Land Area Percentage15.6 %ā˜…13.3 %
Total Renewable Groundwater Resources by Country828.8 Cubic meters per yearā˜…64 Cubic meters per year
Total Renewable Water Resources2.84580ā˜…
Total Threatened Mammal Species78 speciesā˜…80 species

Geography

7 metrics
MetricšŸ‡ØšŸ‡³ ChinašŸ‡²šŸ‡¾ MalaysiaShare
Percentage of land area by degree of urbanization6.74 %ā˜…4.11 %
Above-Ground Biomass in Forest (tonnes/ha)64.72209.87ā˜…
Agricultural land5.19M sq. kmā˜…85,710 sq. km
Airports per 1,000 Sq Km9.39Mā˜…328,550
Coastline Length (km)14,500 kmā˜…4,675 km
Dam capacity per capita566.97 cubic meters per inhabitant611.58 cubic meters per inhabitantā˜…
Irrigated Land690,070ā˜…4,420

Government

10 metrics
MetricšŸ‡ØšŸ‡³ ChinašŸ‡²šŸ‡¾ MalaysiaShare
Rule of Law Index by Country59.71 %67.87 %ā˜…
Administrative Divisions23ā˜…13
Corruption Perception Index43 indexā˜…50 index
Corruption Perceptions Index Score43 index50 indexā˜…
Independence131ā˜…
LGBT Rights Index Score1.94ā˜…-2.46
Political Stability Index25 index51 indexā˜…
Prison Population Rate119 per 100,000ā˜…188 per 100,000
Public Sector Corruption Perception43ā˜…50
Suffrage Participation Rate1818

Health

21 metrics
MetricšŸ‡ØšŸ‡³ ChinašŸ‡²šŸ‡¾ MalaysiaShare
Average BMI for Adults24.2 kg/m²25.3 kg/mĀ²ā˜…
Change in Measles Immunization Rate95 %96 %ā˜…
Diabetes Prevalence (% of Population)11.921.1ā˜…
Female Life Expectancy Leaders78.02 yearsā˜…76.82 years
Global Stillbirth Rate Trends0.47 per 1,000 birthsā˜…0.48 per 1,000 births
Health Care Spending per Capita1,906.71 USDā˜…1,703.34 USD
Health Coverage Index Score85 scoreā˜…80 score
Health Expenditure (% of GDP)5.4 % of GDPā˜…4.4 % of GDP
Highest Male Life Expectancy78.02 yearsā˜…76.82 years
HIV/AIDS Adult Prevalence RateNA0.3 %
Hospital Bed Density5 people/sq kmā˜…2 people/sq km
Hospital Beds per Capita5.63 beds per 1,000ā˜…1.96 beds per 1,000
Low Birth Weight Prevalence4.97 %ā˜…13.81 %
Malaria Incidence Rate0 cases per 1,000ā˜…0.07 cases per 1,000
Maternal Mortality Ratio (%)16 %ā˜…26 %
Nurses and Midwives Density3.67 per 1,000 people4.03 per 1,000 peopleā˜…
Obesity Adult Prevalence Rate (%)6.2 %ā˜…15.6 %
Out-of-Pocket Health Spending32.17 %ā˜…37.09 %
People Living With HIV/AIDSNA92,000
Total Number of Doctors3.11ā˜…2.29
Underweight Children Under 52.4ā˜…15.3

Military and Security

3 metrics
MetricšŸ‡ØšŸ‡³ ChinašŸ‡²šŸ‡¾ MalaysiaShare
Active Military Personnel2.04M personnelā˜…113,000 personnel
Military Expenditure (% of GDP)1.72 %1.04 %ā˜…
Total Armed Forces Personnel (PPP)2.54Mā˜…136,000

People and Society

40 metrics
MetricšŸ‡ØšŸ‡³ ChinašŸ‡²šŸ‡¾ MalaysiaShare
Currently married (Percent)66.52 %ā˜…58.88 %
Human Capital Index0.67ā˜…0.65
Life expectancy at birth81.19 yearsā˜…80.87 years
Median age of population40.64 yearsā˜…31.44 years
Population Change-4.42M persons428,622.9 personsā˜…
Population density147.29 per sq. km110.8 per sq. kmā˜…
Total population1.41B personsā˜…36.40M persons
Academic Freedom Index0.070.29ā˜…
Average Female Breast Size by Country: Worldwide Data & RankingsAA-Aā˜…AA
Beer Consumption per Capita1.21 litersā˜…0.51 liters
Birth Rate (%)7.28 %14.05 %ā˜…
Contraceptive Prevalence Rate84.5 %ā˜…52.2 %
Crude Birth Rate6.77 per 1,000 people12.36 per 1,000 peopleā˜…
Death Rate (%)7.97 %5.8 %ā˜…
Education Expenditure (% of GDP)4 % of GDPā˜…3.5 % of GDP
Female population of reproductive age308.96M personsā˜…9.69M persons
Female Tertiary Enrollment Rate (%)83.07 %ā˜…45.85 %
Fixed Broadband Penetration Rate47.19 %ā˜…13.55 %
Global Average Sex Ratio at Birth110.63 male/femaleā˜…106.37 male/female
Human Development Index0.260.48ā˜…
Labor Force Participation Rate773.88ā˜…18.26
Learning-adjusted years of school8.55 years9.72 yearsā˜…
Length of paid parental leave for mother0 days0 days
Major Urban Areas Population29.21 peopleā˜…8.62 people
Mean Male Height (cm)171.83ā˜…167.88
Mean Years of Schooling8.99 years11.96 yearsā˜…
Military Manpower at Military Age1821ā˜…
Military Service Age and Obligation18ā˜…17
Old-Age Dependency Ratio20.72 %10.6 %ā˜…
Percentage of population by degree of urbanization83.73 %ā˜…83.21 %
Physician Density3.11 people/sq kmā˜…2.34 people/sq km
Population Growth Rate-0.08 %0.97 %ā˜…
Population living in slums26.32 %ā˜…0.2 %
Primary School Pupil-Teacher Ratio16.5911.66ā˜…
Total deaths12.15M persons179,998.3 personsā˜…
Total demand for family planning (Percent)70.06 %ā˜…42.17 %
Total fertility rate0.97 per woman1.53 per womanā˜…
Total net-migration-306,257.4 persons162,673.4 personsā˜…
Under-five mortality rate7.94 per live births5.53 per live birthsā˜…
Urban Population Annual Growth Rate0.51 %1.79 %ā˜…

Transportation

5 metrics
MetricšŸ‡ØšŸ‡³ ChinašŸ‡²šŸ‡¾ MalaysiaShare
Air Travel Trips Per Capita (PPP)0.461.58ā˜…
Airports552ā˜…100
Annual Human Space Visits (Total)00
Civil Air Travel284ā˜…53
Heliports120ā˜…24

Travel and Tourism

1 metric
MetricšŸ‡ØšŸ‡³ ChinašŸ‡²šŸ‡¾ MalaysiaShare
Tourism Receipts per Capita39.75B USDā˜…24.59B USD

Other

1 metric
MetricšŸ‡ØšŸ‡³ ChinašŸ‡²šŸ‡¾ MalaysiaShare
Current Bank Rate3 %ā˜…2.75 %

Frequently Asked Questions About China vs Malaysia

Which has a larger population, China or Malaysia?ā–¾

China. China has 38.8 times as many people as Malaysia (1.41 billion vs 36.4 million). Data for 2026.

Which has a bigger economy, China or Malaysia?ā–¾

China. China's economy is 44.4 times the size of Malaysia's ($20.73 trillion vs $466.53 billion GDP). Data for 2026.

Which is richer per person, China or Malaysia?ā–¾

China is richer per person: GDP per capita is about $14,673 in China vs $12,818 in Malaysia (2026 GDP in current US dollars divided by population).

Related comparisons