Ethiopia vs Malaysia: Compare Statistics

Side-by-side comparison of 170 key metrics across economy, population, geography, and more — latest data through 2026.

Summary

Ethiopia has 3.8 times as many people as Malaysia (138.88 million vs 36.4 million). Malaysia's economy is 2.7 times the size of Ethiopia's ($466.53 billion vs $174.87 billion GDP).

Comparing Ethiopia and Malaysia: Ethiopia leads on Oil Proved Reserves (430,000) against Malaysia (4); Ethiopia leads on Televisions (682,000) against Malaysia (10.80); Malaysia leads on Share of population in poverty ($3 a day) (0.01) against Ethiopia (38.64). Across 170 compared metrics, Ethiopia wins on 53 and Malaysia wins on 109.

  • Communications: 9 metrics compared
  • Economy: 66 metrics compared
  • Environment: 11 metrics compared
  • Geography: 7 metrics compared
  • Government: 9 metrics compared
  • Health: 22 metrics compared
  • Military and Security: 3 metrics compared
  • People and Society: 38 metrics compared
  • Transportation: 4 metrics compared
  • Travel and Tourism: 1 metric compared

Communications

9 metrics
MetricšŸ‡ŖšŸ‡¹ EthiopiašŸ‡²šŸ‡¾ MalaysiaShare
Fixed Broadband Penetration0.59 subscriptions per 100 inhabitants13.55 subscriptions per 100 inhabitantsā˜…
Internet Penetration Rate (%)21.94 %98.02 %ā˜…
Internet Usage Rate by Country (% of Population)16.7 %96.75 %ā˜…
Internet Userspercent of population: 17% (2021 est.)percent of population: 98% (2023 est.)
Mobile Internet Speed0.59 Mbps13.55 Mbpsā˜…
Press Freedom Index Score36.92 points56.09 pointsā˜…
Radios15.2ā˜…10.9
Televisions682,000ā˜…10.8
Waterwaysnone7,296

Economy

66 metrics
MetricšŸ‡ŖšŸ‡¹ EthiopiašŸ‡²šŸ‡¾ MalaysiaShare
Agriculture Value Added as a Share of GDP by Country61.91B $ā˜…47.38B $
Gross Domestic Product (GDP) by Country in Current US Dollars174.87B $466.53B $ā˜…
AI Investment (% of GDP)20.58 %21.95 %ā˜…
Bank Account Ownership Rate48.83 %88.69 %ā˜…
Central Bank Discount Rate (%)NA3 %
Coal Revenue00.02ā˜…
Commercial Bank Prime Lending Rate (%)13.5 %ā˜…4.61 %
Current Health Expenditure (% of GDP)3.3 % of GDP3.8 % of GDPā˜…
Ease of Doing Business Index4883.3ā˜…
Electricity Consumption9.06136.9ā˜…
Electricity Exports166ā˜…3
Electricity from Fossil Fuels378ā˜…
Electricity from Hydroelectric Plants86ā˜…18
Electricity from Nuclear Fuels00
Electricity from Other Renewables11ā˜…4
Electricity Imports033ā˜…
Electricity Installed Capacity2.7833ā˜…
Electricity Production11.15148.3ā˜…
Energy Consumption per Capita (USD)2.37 USD per capita113.16 USD per capitaā˜…
Female Labor Force Participation Rate60.35 %ā˜…56.67 %
Gender Pay Gap Percentage27.4 %ā˜…-3.19 %
Gender Wage Gap27.4 %-3.19 %ā˜…
Gini Index Coefficient31.140.7ā˜…
Gross Fixed Investment22.725.2ā˜…
Gross National Saving32.1ā˜…28.5
High-Tech Export Percentage14.95 %63.18 %ā˜…
Highest GDP per Capita Countries3,094.87 USD35,461.45 USDā˜…
Industrial Production Growth Rate (%)9.2 %ā˜…4.9 %
Inflation Rate13.23 %1.38 %ā˜…
Inflation Rate (Consumer Prices)21 %1.8 %ā˜…
Military Expenditures (% of GDP)0.7 % of GDP1 % of GDPā˜…
Natural Gas Consumption030.44ā˜…
Natural Gas Exports038.23ā˜…
Natural Gas Imports02.8ā˜…
Natural Gas Production069.49ā˜…
Natural Gas Proved Reserves24.92ā˜…1.18
Oil Consumption47,000561,000ā˜…
Oil Exports0644,900ā˜…
Oil Imports33,480355,300ā˜…
Oil Production0664,800ā˜…
Oil Proved Reserves430,000ā˜…4
Population Below Poverty Line23.5 people6.2 peopleā˜…
Private Investment (% of GDP)14.58 % of GDP16.45 % of GDPā˜…
Public Debt31.4ā˜…64.3
R&D Expenditure (% of GDP)0.24 %1.04 %ā˜…
Real GDP Growth Rate (USD)7.3 USDā˜…5.1 USD
Real Interest Rate Trends-17.12 %-3.9 %ā˜…
Refined Petroleum Products Consumption74,000704,000ā˜…
Refined Petroleum Products Exports0208,400ā˜…
Refined Petroleum Products Imports69,970304,600ā˜…
Refined Petroleum Products Production0528,300ā˜…
Remittances0.330.4ā˜…
Researchers in R&D per Million41.47 researchers1,452.73 researchersā˜…
Revenue from Forest Resources5.81ā˜…1.57
Robotics Research Funding0.24 USD1.04 USDā˜…
Share of population in poverty ($3 a day)38.640.01ā˜…
Tax Burden (% of GDP)3.4 %ā˜…12.43 %
Tax Revenue (% of GDP)3.4 % of GDP12.43 % of GDPā˜…
Taxes and Other Revenues3.912.6ā˜…
Top Exporting Countries8.29B USD301.22B USDā˜…
Top FDI Inflows (% of GDP)2.69 %3.69 %ā˜…
Tourism Contribution to GDP2.61 %6.76 %ā˜…
Tourism Revenue (% of GDP)2.61 %6.76 %ā˜…
Unemployment Rate3.4 %ā˜…3.9 %
Youth Labor Force Participation Rate68.46 %66.12 %ā˜…
Youth Unemployment Rate5.35 %ā˜…11.95 %

Environment

11 metrics
MetricšŸ‡ŖšŸ‡¹ EthiopiašŸ‡²šŸ‡¾ MalaysiaShare
Annual COā‚‚ Emissions Growth (abs)266,630ā˜…13.93M
Annual Forest Area Change Rate-3,919.92 %ā˜…-60,000 %
Average Annual Temperature24.08 °C25.87 °Cā˜…
Carbon Dioxide Emissions18.52ā˜…260.01
Global Precipitation Distribution829.13 mm3,150.09 mmā˜…
Population Distributionhighest density is found in the highlands of the north and middle areas of the country, particularly around the centrally located capital city of Addis Ababa; the far east and southeast are sparsely populated, as shown in this population distribution mapa highly uneven distribution, with over 80% of the population residing on the Malay Peninsula
Protected Land Area for Adaptation17 sq kmā˜…13.3 sq km
Protected Land Area Percentage17 %ā˜…13.3 %
Total Renewable Groundwater Resources by Country20 Cubic meters per year64 Cubic meters per yearā˜…
Total Renewable Water Resources122580ā˜…
Total Threatened Mammal Species40 speciesā˜…80 species

Geography

7 metrics
MetricšŸ‡ŖšŸ‡¹ EthiopiašŸ‡²šŸ‡¾ MalaysiaShare
Percentage of land area by degree of urbanization5.3 %ā˜…4.11 %
Above-Ground Biomass in Forest (tonnes/ha)121.31209.87ā˜…
Agricultural land393,721.2 sq. kmā˜…85,710 sq. km
Airports per 1,000 Sq Km1.13Mā˜…328,550
Coastline Length (km)0 km4,675 kmā˜…
Dam capacity per capita222.45 cubic meters per inhabitant611.58 cubic meters per inhabitantā˜…
Irrigated Land1,8144,420ā˜…

Government

9 metrics
MetricšŸ‡ŖšŸ‡¹ EthiopiašŸ‡²šŸ‡¾ MalaysiaShare
Rule of Law Index by Country17.95 %67.87 %ā˜…
Administrative Divisions1213ā˜…
Corruption Perception Index37 indexā˜…50 index
Corruption Perceptions Index Score37 index50 indexā˜…
Independenceoldest independent country in Africa and one of the oldest in the world, at least 2,000 years; may be traced to the Aksumite Kingdom, which appeared in the first century B.C.31
LGBT Rights Index Score-0.39ā˜…-2.46
Prison Population Rate99 per 100,000ā˜…206 per 100,000
Public Sector Corruption Perception37ā˜…50
Suffrage Participation Rate1818

Health

22 metrics
MetricšŸ‡ŖšŸ‡¹ EthiopiašŸ‡²šŸ‡¾ MalaysiaShare
Access to Safe Drinking Water13.55 %94.7 %ā˜…
Average BMI for Adults20.1 kg/m²25.3 kg/mĀ²ā˜…
Change in Measles Immunization Rate72 %96 %ā˜…
Diabetes Prevalence (% of Population)4.421.1ā˜…
Female Life Expectancy Leaders67.6 years76.82 yearsā˜…
Global Stillbirth Rate Trends2.97 per 1,000 births0.48 per 1,000 birthsā˜…
Health Care Spending per Capita92.99 USD1,703.34 USDā˜…
Health Coverage Index Score33 score80 scoreā˜…
Health Expenditure (% of GDP)3.2 % of GDP4.4 % of GDPā˜…
Highest Male Life Expectancy67.6 years76.82 yearsā˜…
HIV/AIDS Adult Prevalence Rate0.8 %0.3 %ā˜…
Hospital Bed Density0.3 people/sq km2 people/sq kmā˜…
Hospital Beds per Capita0.33 beds per 1,0001.88 beds per 1,000ā˜…
Malaria Incidence Rate70.71 cases per 1,0000.07 cases per 1,000ā˜…
Maternal Mortality Ratio (%)195 %26 %ā˜…
Nurses and Midwives Density1.22 per 1,000 people4.03 per 1,000 peopleā˜…
Obesity Adult Prevalence Rate (%)4.5 %ā˜…15.6 %
Out-of-Pocket Health Spending46.27 %37.09 %ā˜…
People Living With HIV/AIDS620,00092,000ā˜…
Psychiatrist Density Per 100,000 People0 per 100,000 people1 per 100,000 peopleā˜…
Total Number of Doctors0.142.34ā˜…
Underweight Children Under 521.215.3ā˜…

Military and Security

3 metrics
MetricšŸ‡ŖšŸ‡¹ EthiopiašŸ‡²šŸ‡¾ MalaysiaShare
Active Military Personnel503,000 personnelā˜…113,000 personnel
Military Expenditure (% of GDP)0.49 %ā˜…1.04 %
Total Armed Forces Personnel (PPP)138,000ā˜…136,000

People and Society

38 metrics
MetricšŸ‡ŖšŸ‡¹ EthiopiašŸ‡²šŸ‡¾ MalaysiaShare
Currently married (Percent)68.08 %ā˜…58.88 %
Human Capital Index0.380.65ā˜…
Life expectancy at birth72.18 years80.87 yearsā˜…
Median age of population19.34 years31.44 yearsā˜…
Population Change3.49M personsā˜…428,622.9 persons
Population density138.75 per sq. km110.8 per sq. kmā˜…
Total population138.88M personsā˜…36.40M persons
Academic Freedom Index0.34ā˜…0.29
Beer Consumption per Capita1.05 litersā˜…0.51 liters
Birth Rate (%)29.08 %ā˜…14.05 %
Contraceptive Prevalence Rate37.7 %52.2 %ā˜…
Crude Birth Rate31.47 per 1,000 peopleā˜…12.36 per 1,000 people
Death Rate (%)5.58 %ā˜…5.8 %
Education Expenditure (% of GDP)2.3 % of GDP3.5 % of GDPā˜…
Female population of reproductive age35.02M personsā˜…9.69M persons
Female Tertiary Enrollment Rate (%)3.56 %45.81 %ā˜…
Fixed Broadband Penetration Rate0.59 %13.55 %ā˜…
Global Average Sex Ratio at Birth104.76 male/female106.37 male/femaleā˜…
Human Development Index0.210.48ā˜…
Labor Force Participation Rate54.47ā˜…18.26
Learning-adjusted years of school4.02 years9.72 yearsā˜…
Length of paid parental leave for mother0 days0 days
Major Urban Areas Population5.46 people8.62 peopleā˜…
Mean Male Height (cm)166.23167.88ā˜…
Military Manpower at Military Age1821ā˜…
Military Service Age and Obligation18ā˜…17
Old-Age Dependency Ratio5.52 %ā˜…10.6 %
Percentage of population by degree of urbanization67.29 %83.21 %ā˜…
Physician Density0.14 people/sq km2.34 people/sq kmā˜…
Population Growth Rate2.34 %ā˜…0.97 %
Population living in slums59.67 %ā˜…0.2 %
Primary School Pupil-Teacher Ratio55.0712.32ā˜…
Total deaths769,483.3 persons179,998.3 personsā˜…
Total demand for family planning (Percent)43.77 %ā˜…42.17 %
Total fertility rate3.72 per womanā˜…1.53 per woman
Total net-migration33,628.9 persons162,673.4 personsā˜…
Under-five mortality rate39.98 per live births5.53 per live birthsā˜…
Urban Population Annual Growth Rate4.59 %ā˜…1.79 %

Transportation

4 metrics
MetricšŸ‡ŖšŸ‡¹ EthiopiašŸ‡²šŸ‡¾ MalaysiaShare
Air Travel Trips Per Capita (PPP)0.031.58ā˜…
Airports58100ā˜…
Civil Air Travel2553ā˜…
Heliports124ā˜…

Travel and Tourism

1 metric
MetricšŸ‡ŖšŸ‡¹ EthiopiašŸ‡²šŸ‡¾ MalaysiaShare
Tourism Receipts per Capita5.00B USD17.90B USDā˜…

Frequently Asked Questions About Ethiopia vs Malaysia

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

Ethiopia. Ethiopia has 3.8 times as many people as Malaysia (138.88 million vs 36.4 million). Data for 2026.

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

Malaysia. Malaysia's economy is 2.7 times the size of Ethiopia's ($466.53 billion vs $174.87 billion GDP). Data for 2026.

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

Malaysia is richer per person: GDP per capita is about $12,818 in Malaysia vs $1,259 in Ethiopia (2026 GDP in current US dollars divided by population).

Related comparisons