Geo Factbook Logo
Geo Factbook

Ghana vs Malaysia: Compare Statistics

Side-by-side comparison of 172 key metrics across economy, population, geography, and more ā€” latest data through 2026.

Ghana
gha
Leads on 58 of 172 metrics
Malaysia
mys
Leads on 108 of 172 metrics

Summary

Malaysia and Ghana have similar populations (36.4 million vs 35.7 million). Malaysia's economy is 5.3 times the size of Ghana's ($466.53 billion vs $87.51 billion GDP).

Comparing Ghana and Malaysia: Malaysia leads on Malaria Incidence Rate (0.07 cases per 1,000) against Ghana (226.19 cases per 1,000); Malaysia leads on Refined Petroleum Products Production (528,300) against Ghana (2,073); Ghana leads on Oil Proved Reserves (660) against Malaysia (4). Across 172 compared metrics, Ghana wins on 58 and Malaysia wins on 108.

  • Communications: 9 metrics compared
  • Economy: 63 metrics compared
  • Environment: 12 metrics compared
  • Geography: 7 metrics compared
  • Government: 9 metrics compared
  • Health: 23 metrics compared
  • Military and Security: 3 metrics compared
  • People and Society: 40 metrics compared
  • Transportation: 4 metrics compared
  • Travel and Tourism: 1 metric compared
  • Other: 1 metric compared

Communications

9 metrics
MetricšŸ‡¬šŸ‡­ GhanašŸ‡²šŸ‡¾ MalaysiaShare
Fixed Broadband Penetration0.66 subscriptions per 100 inhabitants13.55 subscriptions per 100 inhabitantsā˜…
Internet Penetration Rate (%)72.18 %98.02 %ā˜…
Internet Usage Rate by Country (% of Population)69.94 %97.69 %ā˜…
Internet Userspercent of population: 70% (2023 est.)percent of population: 98% (2023 est.)
Mobile Internet Speed0.66 Mbps13.55 Mbpsā˜…
Press Freedom Index Score67.13 pointsā˜…56.09 points
Radios12.5ā˜…10.9
Televisions1.910.8ā˜…
Waterways1,2937,200ā˜…

Economy

63 metrics
MetricšŸ‡¬šŸ‡­ GhanašŸ‡²šŸ‡¾ MalaysiaShare
Agriculture Value Added as a Share of GDP by Country18.41B $47.38B $ā˜…
Gross Domestic Product (GDP) by Country in Current US Dollars87.51B $466.53B $ā˜…
AI Investment (% of GDP)10.02 %21.95 %ā˜…
Bank Account Ownership Rate81.24 %88.69 %ā˜…
Central Bank Discount Rate (%)20 %ā˜…3 %
Coal Revenue00.02ā˜…
Commercial Bank Prime Lending Rate (%)30.35 %ā˜…4.61 %
Current Health Expenditure (% of GDP)3.5 % of GDP3.8 % of GDPā˜…
Ease of Doing Business Index6083.3ā˜…
Electricity Consumption9.36136.9ā˜…
Electricity Exports187ā˜…3
Electricity from Fossil Fuels5878ā˜…
Electricity from Hydroelectric Plants42ā˜…18
Electricity from Nuclear Fuels00
Electricity from Other Renewables14ā˜…
Electricity Imports511ā˜…33
Electricity Installed Capacity3.833ā˜…
Electricity Production12.52148.3ā˜…
Energy Consumption per Capita (USD)10.49 USD per capita113.16 USD per capitaā˜…
Female Labor Force Participation Rate57.37 %ā˜…56.67 %
Gender Pay Gap Percentage26.09 %ā˜…-2.25 %
Gender Wage Gap26.09 %-2.25 %ā˜…
Gini Index Coefficient43.5ā˜…40.7
Gross Fixed Investment25.125.2ā˜…
Gross National Saving928.5ā˜…
High-Tech Export Percentage14.69 %63.18 %ā˜…
Highest GDP per Capita Countries7,357.83 USD35,461.45 USDā˜…
Industrial Production Growth Rate (%)7.1 %ā˜…4.9 %
Inflation Rate14.2 %1.38 %ā˜…
Inflation Rate (Consumer Prices)22.8 %1.8 %ā˜…
Military Expenditures (% of GDP)0.4 % of GDP1 % of GDPā˜…
Natural Gas Consumption1.2330.44ā˜…
Natural Gas Exports038.23ā˜…
Natural Gas Imports317.4ā˜…2.8
Natural Gas Production914.4ā˜…69.49
Natural Gas Proved Reserves22.65ā˜…1.18
Oil Consumption60,000561,000ā˜…
Oil Exports5,752644,900ā˜…
Oil Imports68,830355,300ā˜…
Oil Production8,880664,800ā˜…
Oil Proved Reserves660ā˜…4
Population Below Poverty Line23.4 people6.2 peopleā˜…
Private Investment (% of GDP)17 % of GDPā˜…12.18 % of GDP
Public Debt73.464.3ā˜…
R&D Expenditure (% of GDP)0.38 %1.04 %ā˜…
Real GDP Growth Rate (USD)5.7 USDā˜…5.1 USD
Refined Petroleum Products Consumption90,000704,000ā˜…
Refined Petroleum Products Exports2,654208,400ā˜…
Refined Petroleum Products Imports85,110304,600ā˜…
Refined Petroleum Products Production2,073528,300ā˜…
Remittances3ā˜…0.4
Researchers in R&D per Million87.48 researchers2,256.6 researchersā˜…
Revenue from Forest Resources3.51ā˜…1.57
Robotics Research Funding0.38 USD1.04 USDā˜…
Share of population in poverty ($3 a day)78.225.86ā˜…
Tax Burden (% of GDP)12.39 %ā˜…12.56 %
Tax Revenue (% of GDP)12.39 % of GDP12.56 % of GDPā˜…
Taxes and Other Revenues12.312.6ā˜…
Top Exporting Countries29.20B USD301.22B USDā˜…
Top FDI Inflows (% of GDP)2.12 %3.69 %ā˜…
Unemployment Rate3.1 %ā˜…3.9 %
Youth Labor Force Participation Rate58.52 %ā˜…66.12 %
Youth Unemployment Rate5.83 %ā˜…11.95 %

Environment

12 metrics
MetricšŸ‡¬šŸ‡­ GhanašŸ‡²šŸ‡¾ MalaysiaShare
Annual COā‚‚ Emissions Growth (abs)886,226ā˜…13.93M
Annual Forest Area Change Rate35,720.02 %ā˜…-60,000 %
Average Annual Temperature27.92 Ā°Cā˜…25.87 Ā°C
Carbon Dioxide Emissions20.82ā˜…260.01
Continental Shelf200200
Global Precipitation Distribution875.56 mm3,150.09 mmā˜…
Population Distributionpopulation is concentrated in the southern half of the country, with the highest concentrations on or near the Atlantic coast, 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 Adaptation15.2 sq kmā˜…13.3 sq km
Protected Land Area Percentage15.3 %ā˜…13.3 %
Total Renewable Groundwater Resources by Country26.3 Cubic meters per year64 Cubic meters per yearā˜…
Total Renewable Water Resources56.2580ā˜…
Total Threatened Mammal Species23 speciesā˜…80 species

Geography

7 metrics
MetricšŸ‡¬šŸ‡­ GhanašŸ‡²šŸ‡¾ MalaysiaShare
Percentage of land area by degree of urbanization3.89 %4.11 %ā˜…
Above-Ground Biomass in Forest (tonnes/ha)96.64209.87ā˜…
Agricultural land130,393.8 sq. kmā˜…85,710 sq. km
Airports per 1,000 Sq Km227,533328,550ā˜…
Coastline Length (km)539 km4,675 kmā˜…
Dam capacity per capita4,109.2 cubic meters per inhabitantā˜…611.58 cubic meters per inhabitant
Irrigated Land3604,420ā˜…

Government

9 metrics
MetricšŸ‡¬šŸ‡­ GhanašŸ‡²šŸ‡¾ MalaysiaShare
Rule of Law Index by Country47.28 %67.87 %ā˜…
Administrative Divisions16ā˜…13
Corruption Perception Index42 indexā˜…50 index
Corruption Perceptions Index Score42 index50 indexā˜…
Independence631ā˜…
LGBT Rights Index Score-0.23ā˜…-2.46
Prison Population Rate41 per 100,000ā˜…244 per 100,000
Public Sector Corruption Perception42ā˜…50
Suffrage Participation Rate1818

Health

23 metrics
MetricšŸ‡¬šŸ‡­ GhanašŸ‡²šŸ‡¾ MalaysiaShare
Access to Safe Drinking Water42.94 %94.7 %ā˜…
Average BMI for Adults22.5 kg/mĀ²25.3 kg/mĀ²ā˜…
Change in Measles Immunization Rate90 %96 %ā˜…
Diabetes Prevalence (% of Population)2.721.1ā˜…
Female Life Expectancy Leaders65.7 years76.82 yearsā˜…
Global Stillbirth Rate Trends1.94 per 1,000 births0.48 per 1,000 birthsā˜…
Health Care Spending per Capita281.09 USD1,703.34 USDā˜…
Health Coverage Index Score56 score80 scoreā˜…
Health Expenditure (% of GDP)4.2 % of GDP4.4 % of GDPā˜…
Highest Male Life Expectancy65.7 years76.82 yearsā˜…
HIV/AIDS Adult Prevalence Rate1.7 %0.3 %ā˜…
Hospital Bed Density0.7 people/sq km2 people/sq kmā˜…
Hospital Beds per Capita0.69 beds per 1,0001.86 beds per 1,000ā˜…
Low Birth Weight Prevalence14.42 %13.81 %ā˜…
Malaria Incidence Rate226.19 cases per 1,0000.07 cases per 1,000ā˜…
Maternal Mortality Ratio (%)234 %26 %ā˜…
Nurses and Midwives Density4.11 per 1,000 peopleā˜…4.05 per 1,000 people
Obesity Adult Prevalence Rate (%)10.9 %ā˜…15.6 %
Out-of-Pocket Health Spending26.68 %ā˜…37.09 %
People Living With HIV/AIDS350,00092,000ā˜…
Psychiatrist Density Per 100,000 People0 per 100,000 people1 per 100,000 peopleā˜…
Total Number of Doctors0.272.34ā˜…
Underweight Children Under 512ā˜…15.3

Military and Security

3 metrics
MetricšŸ‡¬šŸ‡­ GhanašŸ‡²šŸ‡¾ MalaysiaShare
Active Military Personnel16,000 personnel113,000 personnelā˜…
Military Expenditure (% of GDP)0.48 %ā˜…1.04 %
Total Armed Forces Personnel (PPP)16,000136,000ā˜…

People and Society

40 metrics
MetricšŸ‡¬šŸ‡­ GhanašŸ‡²šŸ‡¾ MalaysiaShare
Currently married (Percent)51.09 %58.88 %ā˜…
Human Capital Index0.470.65ā˜…
Life expectancy at birth68.98 years80.87 yearsā˜…
Median age of population21.53 years31.44 yearsā˜…
Population Change642,359.5 personsā˜…428,622.9 persons
Population density156.9 per sq. km110.8 per sq. kmā˜…
Total population35.70M persons36.40M personsā˜…
Academic Freedom Index0.67ā˜…0.29
Beer Consumption per Capita0.51 litersā˜…0.51 liters
Birth Rate (%)27.09 %ā˜…14.05 %
Contraceptive Prevalence Rate27.2 %52.2 %ā˜…
Crude Birth Rate25.92 per 1,000 peopleā˜…12.36 per 1,000 people
Death Rate (%)5.73 %ā˜…5.8 %
Education Expenditure (% of GDP)2.9 % of GDP3.5 % of GDPā˜…
Female population of reproductive age9.17M persons9.69M personsā˜…
Female Tertiary Enrollment Rate (%)21.59 %45.85 %ā˜…
Fixed Broadband Penetration Rate0.66 %13.55 %ā˜…
Global Average Sex Ratio at Birth103.23 male/female106.37 male/femaleā˜…
Human Development Index0.410.48ā˜…
Labor Force Participation Rate13.9318.26ā˜…
Learning-adjusted years of school6.47 years9.72 yearsā˜…
Length of paid parental leave for mother0 days0 days
Major Urban Areas Population3.77 people8.62 peopleā˜…
Mean Male Height (cm)168.85ā˜…167.88
Mean Years of Schooling8.39 years11.96 yearsā˜…
Military Manpower at Military Age1821ā˜…
Military Service Age and Obligation18ā˜…17
Old-Age Dependency Ratio6.03 %ā˜…10.6 %
Percentage of population by degree of urbanization78.01 %83.21 %ā˜…
Physician Density0.27 people/sq km2.34 people/sq kmā˜…
Population Growth Rate2.12 %ā˜…0.97 %
Population living in slums31.27 %ā˜…0.2 %
Primary School Pupil-Teacher Ratio27.311.66ā˜…
Total deaths243,382.4 persons179,998.3 personsā˜…
Total demand for family planning (Percent)45.1 %ā˜…42.17 %
Total fertility rate3.25 per womanā˜…1.53 per woman
Total net-migration-16,716.9 persons162,673.4 personsā˜…
Under-five mortality rate37.98 per live births5.53 per live birthsā˜…
Urban Population Annual Growth Rate2.79 %ā˜…1.79 %
Voting Age Population69.84 millionsā˜…53.4 millions

Transportation

4 metrics
MetricšŸ‡¬šŸ‡­ GhanašŸ‡²šŸ‡¾ MalaysiaShare
Air Travel Trips Per Capita (PPP)0.051.58ā˜…
Airports11100ā˜…
Civil Air Travel853ā˜…
Heliports724ā˜…

Travel and Tourism

1 metric
MetricšŸ‡¬šŸ‡­ GhanašŸ‡²šŸ‡¾ MalaysiaShare
Tourism Receipts per Capita1.28B USD24.59B USDā˜…

Other

1 metric
MetricšŸ‡¬šŸ‡­ GhanašŸ‡²šŸ‡¾ MalaysiaShare
Current Bank Rate14 %ā˜…2.75 %

Frequently Asked Questions About Ghana vs Malaysia

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

Malaysia. Malaysia and Ghana have similar populations (36.4 million vs 35.7 million). Data for 2026.

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

Malaysia. Malaysia's economy is 5.3 times the size of Ghana's ($466.53 billion vs $87.51 billion GDP). Data for 2026.

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

Malaysia is richer per person: GDP per capita is about $12,818 in Malaysia vs $2,451 in Ghana (2026 GDP in current US dollars divided by population).

Related comparisons

More Ghana comparisons

More Malaysia comparisons