Kenya vs Malaysia: Compare Statistics

Side-by-side comparison of 171 key metrics across economy, population, geography, and more — latest data through 2026.

Summary

Kenya has 61% more people than Malaysia (58.63 million vs 36.4 million). Malaysia's economy is 3.7 times the size of Kenya's ($466.53 billion vs $125.39 billion GDP).

Comparing Kenya and Malaysia: Kenya leads on Televisions (730,000) against Malaysia (10.80); Kenya leads on People Living With HIV/AIDS (1.40) against Malaysia (92,000); Malaysia leads on Oil Production (664,800) against Kenya (136). Across 171 compared metrics, Kenya wins on 60 and Malaysia wins on 105.

  • 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: 39 metrics compared
  • Transportation: 3 metrics compared
  • Travel and Tourism: 1 metric compared
  • Other: 1 metric compared

Communications

9 metrics
MetricšŸ‡°šŸ‡Ŗ KenyašŸ‡²šŸ‡¾ MalaysiaShare
Fixed Broadband Penetration3.04 subscriptions per 100 inhabitants13.55 subscriptions per 100 inhabitantsā˜…
Internet Penetration Rate (%)34.98 %98.02 %ā˜…
Internet Usage Rate by Country (% of Population)34.98 %98.02 %ā˜…
Internet Userspercent of population: 35% (2023 est.)percent of population: 98% (2023 est.)
Mobile Internet Speed3.04 Mbps13.55 Mbpsā˜…
Press Freedom Index Score49.41 points56.09 pointsā˜…
Radios3.0710.9ā˜…
Televisions730,000ā˜…10.8
Waterways(2011) none specifically; the only significant inland waterway is the part of Lake Victoria within the boundaries of Kenya; Kisumu is the main port and has ferry connections to Uganda and Tanzania7,200

Economy

66 metrics
MetricšŸ‡°šŸ‡Ŗ KenyašŸ‡²šŸ‡¾ MalaysiaShare
Agriculture Value Added as a Share of GDP by Country29.92B $47.38B $ā˜…
Gross Domestic Product (GDP) by Country in Current US Dollars125.39B $466.53B $ā˜…
AI Investment (% of GDP)16.78 %21.95 %ā˜…
Apple Import Volume15.74M tonnes101.62M tonnesā˜…
Bank Account Ownership Rate90.12 %ā˜…88.69 %
Central Bank Discount Rate (%)10 %ā˜…3 %
Coal Revenue00.02ā˜…
Commercial Bank Prime Lending Rate (%)13.67 %ā˜…4.61 %
Corporate Tax Rate Trends30 %ā˜…24 %
Current Health Expenditure (% of GDP)5.2 % of GDPā˜…3.8 % of GDP
Ease of Doing Business Index82.783.3ā˜…
Electricity Consumption7.86136.9ā˜…
Electricity Exports39.1ā˜…3
Electricity from Fossil Fuels3378ā˜…
Electricity from Hydroelectric Plants34ā˜…18
Electricity from Nuclear Fuels00
Electricity from Other Renewables33ā˜…4
Electricity Imports184ā˜…33
Electricity Installed Capacity2.433ā˜…
Electricity Production9.63148.3ā˜…
Energy Consumption per Capita (USD)5.49 USD per capita113.16 USD per capitaā˜…
Female Labor Force Participation Rate63.84 %ā˜…56.67 %
Gini Index Coefficient38.740.7ā˜…
Gross Fixed Investment21.925.2ā˜…
Gross National Saving10.428.5ā˜…
High-Tech Export Percentage18.52 %63.18 %ā˜…
Highest GDP per Capita Countries5,995.4 USD35,461.45 USDā˜…
Industrial Production Growth Rate (%)0.2 %4.9 %ā˜…
Inflation Rate4.07 %1.38 %ā˜…
Inflation Rate (Consumer Prices)4.5 %1.8 %ā˜…
Military Expenditures (% of GDP)1.1 % of GDPā˜…1 % of GDP
Natural Gas Consumption030.44ā˜…
Natural Gas Exports038.23ā˜…
Natural Gas Imports02.8ā˜…
Natural Gas Production069.49ā˜…
Natural Gas Proved Reserves01.18ā˜…
Number of AI Patents Filed1 patents11 patentsā˜…
Oil Consumption78,000561,000ā˜…
Oil Exports8,061644,900ā˜…
Oil Imports80,160355,300ā˜…
Oil Production136664,800ā˜…
Oil Proved Reserves04ā˜…
Population Below Poverty Line38.6 people6.2 peopleā˜…
Public Debt53.2ā˜…64.3
R&D Expenditure (% of GDP)0.41 %1.01 %ā˜…
Real GDP Growth Rate (USD)4.5 USD5.1 USDā˜…
Real Interest Rate Trends13.02 %ā˜…4.46 %
Refined Petroleum Products Consumption109,000704,000ā˜…
Refined Petroleum Products Exports173208,400ā˜…
Refined Petroleum Products Imports90,620304,600ā˜…
Refined Petroleum Products Production13,960528,300ā˜…
Remittances3.9ā˜…0.4
Researchers in R&D per Million168.6 researchers1,218.33 researchersā˜…
Revenue from Forest Resources1.31.57ā˜…
Robotics Research Funding0.41 USD1.01 USDā˜…
Share of population in poverty ($3 a day)46.450.01ā˜…
Tax Burden (% of GDP)14.06 %12.56 %ā˜…
Tax Revenue (% of GDP)14.06 % of GDPā˜…12.56 % of GDP
Taxes and Other Revenues14ā˜…12.6
Top Exporting Countries20.54B USD301.22B USDā˜…
Top FDI Inflows (% of GDP)0.38 %3.69 %ā˜…
Tourism Contribution to GDP4.4 %6.76 %ā˜…
Tourism Revenue (% of GDP)4.4 %6.76 %ā˜…
Unemployment Rate5.5 %3.9 %ā˜…
Youth Labor Force Participation Rate67.39 %66.12 %ā˜…
Youth Unemployment Rate15.25 %11.95 %ā˜…

Environment

11 metrics
MetricšŸ‡°šŸ‡Ŗ KenyašŸ‡²šŸ‡¾ MalaysiaShare
Annual COā‚‚ Emissions Growth (abs)39,712ā˜…13.93M
Annual Forest Area Change Rate64,470.02 %ā˜…-60,000 %
Average Annual Temperature25.8 °C25.87 °Cā˜…
Carbon Dioxide Emissions19.02ā˜…260.01
Global Precipitation Distribution613.42 mm3,150.09 mmā˜…
Population Distributionpopulation heavily concentrated in the west along the shore of Lake Victoria; other areas of high density include the capital of Nairobi, and in the southeast along the Indian Ocean 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 Adaptation14.38 sq kmā˜…13.3 sq km
Protected Land Area Percentage13.9 %ā˜…13.3 %
Total Renewable Groundwater Resources by Country3.5 Cubic meters per year64 Cubic meters per yearā˜…
Total Renewable Water Resources30.7580ā˜…
Total Threatened Mammal Species32 speciesā˜…80 species

Geography

7 metrics
MetricšŸ‡°šŸ‡Ŗ KenyašŸ‡²šŸ‡¾ MalaysiaShare
Percentage of land area by degree of urbanization7.44 %ā˜…4.11 %
Above-Ground Biomass in Forest (tonnes/ha)200.38209.87ā˜…
Agricultural land288,791 sq. kmā˜…85,710 sq. km
Airports per 1,000 Sq Km580,876.3ā˜…328,550
Coastline Length (km)536 km4,675 kmā˜…
Dam capacity per capita419.81 cubic meters per inhabitant611.58 cubic meters per inhabitantā˜…
Irrigated Land1,0304,420ā˜…

Government

9 metrics
MetricšŸ‡°šŸ‡Ŗ KenyašŸ‡²šŸ‡¾ MalaysiaShare
Rule of Law Index by Country47.74 %67.87 %ā˜…
Administrative Divisions47ā˜…13
Corruption Perception Index32 indexā˜…50 index
Corruption Perceptions Index Score32 index50 indexā˜…
Independence1231ā˜…
LGBT Rights Index Score-0.4ā˜…-2.46
Prison Population Rate81 per 100,000ā˜…206 per 100,000
Public Sector Corruption Perception32ā˜…50
Suffrage Participation Rate1818

Health

22 metrics
MetricšŸ‡°šŸ‡Ŗ KenyašŸ‡²šŸ‡¾ MalaysiaShare
Average BMI for Adults22.1 kg/m²25.3 kg/mĀ²ā˜…
Change in Measles Immunization Rate88 %96 %ā˜…
Diabetes Prevalence (% of Population)3.121.1ā˜…
Female Life Expectancy Leaders63.83 years76.82 yearsā˜…
Global Stillbirth Rate Trends1.63 per 1,000 births0.48 per 1,000 birthsā˜…
Health Care Spending per Capita327.76 USD1,703.34 USDā˜…
Health Coverage Index Score57 score80 scoreā˜…
Health Expenditure (% of GDP)4.5 % of GDPā˜…4.4 % of GDP
Highest Male Life Expectancy63.83 years76.82 yearsā˜…
HIV/AIDS Adult Prevalence Rate4 %0.3 %ā˜…
Hospital Bed Density1.3 people/sq km2 people/sq kmā˜…
Hospital Beds per Capita1.33 beds per 1,0001.9 beds per 1,000ā˜…
Low Birth Weight Prevalence9.97 %ā˜…13.81 %
Malaria Incidence Rate76.85 cases per 1,0000.07 cases per 1,000ā˜…
Maternal Mortality Ratio (%)379 %26 %ā˜…
Nurses and Midwives Density2.27 per 1,000 people4.05 per 1,000 peopleā˜…
Obesity Adult Prevalence Rate (%)7.1 %ā˜…15.6 %
Out-of-Pocket Health Spending24.25 %ā˜…37.09 %
People Living With HIV/AIDS1.4ā˜…92,000
Psychiatrist Density Per 100,000 People0 per 100,000 people1 per 100,000 peopleā˜…
Total Number of Doctors0.292.34ā˜…
Underweight Children Under 59.8ā˜…15.3

Military and Security

3 metrics
MetricšŸ‡°šŸ‡Ŗ KenyašŸ‡²šŸ‡¾ MalaysiaShare
Active Military Personnel24,000 personnel113,000 personnelā˜…
Military Expenditure (% of GDP)1.07 %1.04 %ā˜…
Total Armed Forces Personnel (PPP)24,000136,000ā˜…

People and Society

39 metrics
MetricšŸ‡°šŸ‡Ŗ KenyašŸ‡²šŸ‡¾ MalaysiaShare
Currently married (Percent)52.3 %58.88 %ā˜…
Human Capital Index0.560.65ā˜…
Life expectancy at birth67.26 years80.87 yearsā˜…
Median age of population20.29 years31.44 yearsā˜…
Population Change1.15M personsā˜…428,622.9 persons
Population density100.9 per sq. kmā˜…110.8 per sq. km
Total population58.63M personsā˜…36.40M persons
Academic Freedom Index0.86ā˜…0.29
Beer Consumption per Capita0.86 litersā˜…0.51 liters
Birth Rate (%)25.93 %ā˜…14.05 %
Contraceptive Prevalence Rate64.6 %ā˜…52.2 %
Crude Birth Rate26.97 per 1,000 peopleā˜…12.36 per 1,000 people
Death Rate (%)4.72 %ā˜…5.8 %
Education Expenditure (% of GDP)4 % of GDPā˜…3.5 % of GDP
Female population of reproductive age15.72M personsā˜…9.69M persons
Female Tertiary Enrollment Rate (%)9.23 %45.85 %ā˜…
Fixed Broadband Penetration Rate3.04 %13.55 %ā˜…
Global Average Sex Ratio at Birth101.52 male/female106.37 male/femaleā˜…
Human Development Index0.310.48ā˜…
Labor Force Participation Rate23.78ā˜…18.26
Learning-adjusted years of school9.74 yearsā˜…9.72 years
Length of paid parental leave for mother0 days0 days
Major Urban Areas Population5.33 people8.62 peopleā˜…
Mean Male Height (cm)169.64ā˜…167.88
Mean Years of Schooling6.73 years11.96 yearsā˜…
Military Service Age and Obligation18ā˜…17
Old-Age Dependency Ratio4.88 %ā˜…10.6 %
Percentage of population by degree of urbanization77.4 %83.21 %ā˜…
Physician Density0.29 people/sq km2.34 people/sq kmā˜…
Population Growth Rate2.15 %ā˜…0.97 %
Population living in slums39.89 %ā˜…0.2 %
Primary School Pupil-Teacher Ratio30.6511.52ā˜…
Total deaths399,364.9 persons179,998.3 personsā˜…
Total demand for family planning (Percent)52.14 %ā˜…42.17 %
Total fertility rate3.07 per womanā˜…1.53 per woman
Total net-migration-11,734 persons162,673.4 personsā˜…
Under-five mortality rate36.49 per live births5.53 per live birthsā˜…
Urban Population Annual Growth Rate2.92 %ā˜…1.79 %
Voting Age Population46.1 millions63.6 millionsā˜…

Transportation

3 metrics
MetricšŸ‡°šŸ‡Ŗ KenyašŸ‡²šŸ‡¾ MalaysiaShare
Air Travel Trips Per Capita (PPP)0.111.58ā˜…
Airports368ā˜…100
Civil Air Travel1953ā˜…

Travel and Tourism

1 metric
MetricšŸ‡°šŸ‡Ŗ KenyašŸ‡²šŸ‡¾ MalaysiaShare
Tourism Receipts per Capita1.74B USD17.90B USDā˜…

Other

1 metric
MetricšŸ‡°šŸ‡Ŗ KenyašŸ‡²šŸ‡¾ MalaysiaShare
Current Bank Rate8.75 %ā˜…2.75 %

Frequently Asked Questions About Kenya vs Malaysia

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

Kenya. Kenya has 61% more people than Malaysia (58.63 million vs 36.4 million). Data for 2026.

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

Malaysia. Malaysia's economy is 3.7 times the size of Kenya's ($466.53 billion vs $125.39 billion GDP). Data for 2026.

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

Malaysia is richer per person: GDP per capita is about $12,818 in Malaysia vs $2,139 in Kenya (2026 GDP in current US dollars divided by population).

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