Latvia vs Malaysia: Compare Statistics

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

Summary

Malaysia has 19.8 times as many people as Latvia (36.4 million vs 1.84 million). Malaysia's economy is 9.5 times the size of Latvia's ($466.53 billion vs $49.29 billion GDP).

Comparing Latvia and Malaysia: Latvia leads on Major Urban Areas Population (621,000 people) against Malaysia (8.62 people); Latvia leads on Labor Force Participation Rate (954,900) against Malaysia (18.26); Malaysia leads on Irrigated Land (4,420) against Latvia (6). Across 172 compared metrics, Latvia wins on 69 and Malaysia wins on 94.

  • Communications: 9 metrics compared
  • Economy: 65 metrics compared
  • Environment: 11 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

Communications

9 metrics
MetricšŸ‡±šŸ‡» LatviašŸ‡²šŸ‡¾ MalaysiaShare
Fixed Broadband Penetration25.75 subscriptions per 100 inhabitantsā˜…13.55 subscriptions per 100 inhabitants
Internet Penetration Rate (%)92.71 %98.02 %ā˜…
Internet Usage Rate by Country (% of Population)92.71 %98.02 %ā˜…
Internet Userspercent of population: 92% (2023 est.)percent of population: 98% (2023 est.)
Mobile Internet Speed25.75 Mbpsā˜…13.55 Mbps
Press Freedom Index Score81.82 pointsā˜…56.09 points
Radios1.7610.9ā˜…
Televisions1.2210.8ā˜…
Waterways3007,200ā˜…

Economy

65 metrics
MetricšŸ‡±šŸ‡» LatviašŸ‡²šŸ‡¾ MalaysiaShare
Agriculture Value Added as a Share of GDP by Country2.70B $47.38B $ā˜…
Gross Domestic Product (GDP) by Country in Current US Dollars49.29B $466.53B $ā˜…
AI Investment (% of GDP)20.89 %21.95 %ā˜…
Apple Import Volume18.96M tonnes101.62M tonnesā˜…
Bank Account Ownership Rate94.97 %ā˜…88.69 %
Central Bank Discount Rate (%)0 %3 %ā˜…
Coal Revenue00.02ā˜…
Commercial Bank Prime Lending Rate (%)2.58 %4.61 %ā˜…
Corporate Tax Rate Trends20 %24 %ā˜…
Current Health Expenditure (% of GDP)6.2 % of GDPā˜…3.8 % of GDP
Ease of Doing Business Index94.1ā˜…83.3
Electricity Consumption6.8136.9ā˜…
Electricity Exports3.8ā˜…3
Electricity from Fossil Fuels3978ā˜…
Electricity from Hydroelectric Plants53ā˜…18
Electricity from Nuclear Fuels00
Electricity from Other Renewables8ā˜…4
Electricity Imports4.8333ā˜…
Electricity Installed Capacity2.9333ā˜…
Electricity Production6.24148.3ā˜…
Energy Consumption per Capita (USD)65.91 USD per capita113.16 USD per capitaā˜…
Female Labor Force Participation Rate74.51 %ā˜…56.67 %
Gini Index Coefficient33.740.7ā˜…
Gross Fixed Investment22.225.2ā˜…
Gross National Saving20.728.5ā˜…
High-Tech Export Percentage41.37 %63.18 %ā˜…
Highest GDP per Capita Countries38,800.54 USDā˜…35,461.45 USD
Industrial Production Growth Rate (%)-4 %4.9 %ā˜…
Inflation Rate3.75 %1.38 %ā˜…
Inflation Rate (Consumer Prices)1.3 %ā˜…1.8 %
Military Expenditures (% of GDP)3.7 % of GDPā˜…1 % of GDP
Natural Gas Consumption1.2230.44ā˜…
Natural Gas Exports038.23ā˜…
Natural Gas Imports1.252.8ā˜…
Natural Gas Production069.49ā˜…
Natural Gas Proved Reserves01.18ā˜…
Number of AI Patents Filed1 patents16 patentsā˜…
Oil Consumption41,000561,000ā˜…
Oil Exports3,457644,900ā˜…
Oil Imports37,520355,300ā˜…
Oil Production0664,800ā˜…
Oil Proved Reserves04ā˜…
Population Below Poverty Line22.5 people6.2 peopleā˜…
Public Debt36.3ā˜…64.3
R&D Expenditure (% of GDP)0.81 %1.01 %ā˜…
Real GDP Growth Rate (USD)-0.4 USD5.1 USDā˜…
Refined Petroleum Products Consumption44,600704,000ā˜…
Refined Petroleum Products Exports16,180208,400ā˜…
Refined Petroleum Products Imports54,370304,600ā˜…
Refined Petroleum Products Production0528,300ā˜…
Remittances3.1ā˜…0.4
Researchers in R&D per Million2,270.08 researchersā˜…1,218.33 researchers
Revenue from Forest Resources0.851.57ā˜…
Robotics Research Funding0.81 USD1.01 USDā˜…
Share of population in poverty ($3 a day)0.490.01ā˜…
Tax Burden (% of GDP)17.65 %12.43 %ā˜…
Tax Revenue (% of GDP)17.65 % of GDPā˜…12.43 % of GDP
Taxes and Other Revenues16.7ā˜…12.6
Top Exporting Countries28.54B USD301.22B USDā˜…
Top FDI Inflows (% of GDP)3.44 %3.69 %ā˜…
Tourism Contribution to GDP2.6 %ā˜…0.75 %
Tourism Revenue (% of GDP)2.6 %ā˜…0.75 %
Unemployment Rate6.8 %3.9 %ā˜…
Youth Labor Force Participation Rate60.52 %ā˜…66.12 %
Youth Unemployment Rate12.95 %11.95 %ā˜…

Environment

11 metrics
MetricšŸ‡±šŸ‡» LatviašŸ‡²šŸ‡¾ MalaysiaShare
Annual COā‚‚ Emissions Growth (abs)-127,994ā˜…13.93M
Annual Forest Area Change Rate6,566.02 %ā˜…-60,000 %
Average Annual Temperature7.95 °C25.87 °Cā˜…
Carbon Dioxide Emissions6.43ā˜…260.01
Global Precipitation Distribution833.21 mm3,150.09 mmā˜…
Population Distributionlargest concentration of people is found in and around the port and capital city of Riga; small agglomerations are scattered throughout the countrya highly uneven distribution, with over 80% of the population residing on the Malay Peninsula
Protected Land Area for Adaptation18.83 sq kmā˜…13.3 sq km
Protected Land Area Percentage18.8 %ā˜…13.3 %
Total Renewable Groundwater Resources by Country4.7 Cubic meters per year64 Cubic meters per yearā˜…
Total Renewable Water Resources34.94580ā˜…
Total Threatened Mammal Species1 speciesā˜…80 species

Geography

7 metrics
MetricšŸ‡±šŸ‡» LatviašŸ‡²šŸ‡¾ MalaysiaShare
Percentage of land area by degree of urbanization0.99 %4.11 %ā˜…
Above-Ground Biomass in Forest (tonnes/ha)128.13209.87ā˜…
Agricultural land20,058 sq. km85,710 sq. kmā˜…
Airports per 1,000 Sq Km62,230328,550ā˜…
Coastline Length (km)498 km4,675 kmā˜…
Dam capacity per capita548.72 cubic meters per inhabitant611.58 cubic meters per inhabitantā˜…
Irrigated Land64,420ā˜…

Government

9 metrics
MetricšŸ‡±šŸ‡» LatviašŸ‡²šŸ‡¾ MalaysiaShare
Rule of Law Index by Country83.95 %ā˜…67.87 %
Administrative Divisions36ā˜…13
Corruption Perception Index59 index50 indexā˜…
Corruption Perceptions Index Score59 indexā˜…50 index
Independence1831ā˜…
LGBT Rights Index Score2.92ā˜…-2.46
Prison Population Rate179 per 100,000ā˜…206 per 100,000
Public Sector Corruption Perception5950ā˜…
Suffrage Participation Rate1818

Health

23 metrics
MetricšŸ‡±šŸ‡» LatviašŸ‡²šŸ‡¾ MalaysiaShare
Access to Safe Drinking Water97.01 %ā˜…94.7 %
Average BMI for Adults27 kg/mĀ²ā˜…25.3 kg/m²
Change in Measles Immunization Rate98 %ā˜…96 %
Diabetes Deaths Per 100,000 (Age-Std)16.1713.01ā˜…
Diabetes Prevalence (% of Population)7.121.1ā˜…
Female Life Expectancy Leaders76.43 years76.82 yearsā˜…
Global Stillbirth Rate Trends0.32 per 1,000 birthsā˜…0.48 per 1,000 births
Health Care Spending per Capita4,106.96 USDā˜…1,703.34 USD
Health Coverage Index Score77 score80 scoreā˜…
Health Expenditure (% of GDP)9 % of GDPā˜…4.4 % of GDP
Highest Male Life Expectancy76.43 years76.82 yearsā˜…
HIV/AIDS Adult Prevalence Rate0.7 %0.3 %ā˜…
Hospital Bed Density5.3 people/sq kmā˜…2 people/sq km
Hospital Beds per Capita4.95 beds per 1,000ā˜…1.96 beds per 1,000
Low Birth Weight Prevalence4.23 %ā˜…13.81 %
Maternal Mortality Ratio (%)19 %ā˜…26 %
Nurses and Midwives Density4.37 per 1,000 peopleā˜…4.03 per 1,000 people
Obesity Adult Prevalence Rate (%)23.6 %15.6 %ā˜…
Out-of-Pocket Health Spending35.06 %ā˜…37.09 %
People Living With HIV/AIDS5,600ā˜…92,000
Psychiatrist Density Per 100,000 People13 per 100,000 peopleā˜…1 per 100,000 people
Total Number of Doctors3.4ā˜…2.29
Underweight Children Under 50.3ā˜…15.3

Military and Security

3 metrics
MetricšŸ‡±šŸ‡» LatviašŸ‡²šŸ‡¾ MalaysiaShare
Active Military Personnel7,000 personnel113,000 personnelā˜…
Military Expenditure (% of GDP)3.61 %1.04 %ā˜…
Total Armed Forces Personnel (PPP)9,000136,000ā˜…

People and Society

40 metrics
MetricšŸ‡±šŸ‡» LatviašŸ‡²šŸ‡¾ MalaysiaShare
Currently married (Percent)47.4 %58.88 %ā˜…
Human Capital Index0.75ā˜…0.65
Life expectancy at birth81.82 yearsā˜…80.87 years
Median age of population43.65 yearsā˜…31.44 years
Population Change-19,647.5 persons428,622.9 personsā˜…
Population density29.78 per sq. kmā˜…110.8 per sq. km
Total population1.84M persons36.40M personsā˜…
Academic Freedom Index0.93ā˜…0.29
Beer Consumption per Capita4.36 litersā˜…0.51 liters
Birth Rate (%)7.24 %14.05 %ā˜…
Contraceptive Prevalence RateNA52.2 %
Crude Birth Rate6.9 per 1,000 people12.36 per 1,000 peopleā˜…
Death Rate (%)14.68 %5.8 %ā˜…
Education Expenditure (% of GDP)4.3 % of GDPā˜…3.5 % of GDP
Female population of reproductive age381,057.45 persons9.69M personsā˜…
Female Tertiary Enrollment Rate (%)99.5 %ā˜…45.85 %
Fixed Broadband Penetration Rate25.75 %ā˜…13.55 %
Global Average Sex Ratio at Birth106.39 male/femaleā˜…106.37 male/female
Human Development Index0.69ā˜…0.48
Labor Force Participation Rate954,900ā˜…18.26
Learning-adjusted years of school11.63 yearsā˜…9.72 years
Length of paid parental leave for mother0 days0 days
Major Urban Areas Population621,000 peopleā˜…8.62 people
Mean Male Height (cm)181.42ā˜…167.88
Mean Years of Schooling11.96 years11.96 years
Military Manpower at Military Age1821ā˜…
Military Service Age and Obligationmandatory military service for all men 18-24; men and women 18-27 may volunteer for military service; service length 11 months in the Armed Forces or National Guard, or 5 years in the National Guard as a whole, with a minimum of 21 days of individual trai17
Old-Age Dependency Ratio33.86 %10.6 %ā˜…
Percentage of population by degree of urbanization58.52 %83.21 %ā˜…
Physician Density3.4 people/sq kmā˜…2.34 people/sq km
Population Growth Rate-1.27 %0.97 %ā˜…
Population living in slums0.26 %ā˜…0.2 %
Primary School Pupil-Teacher Ratio11.54ā˜…11.66
Total deaths24,417.4 personsā˜…179,998.3 persons
Total demand for family planning (Percent)63.77 %ā˜…42.17 %
Total fertility rate1.24 per woman1.53 per womanā˜…
Total net-migration-7,474 persons162,673.4 personsā˜…
Under-five mortality rate3.24 per live birthsā˜…5.53 per live births
Urban Population Annual Growth Rate-0.77 %1.79 %ā˜…
Voting Age Population60.85 millions63.6 millionsā˜…

Transportation

4 metrics
MetricšŸ‡±šŸ‡» LatviašŸ‡²šŸ‡¾ MalaysiaShare
Air Travel Trips Per Capita (PPP)1.451.58ā˜…
Airports55100ā˜…
Civil Air TravelNA major transport aircraft53
Heliports524ā˜…

Travel and Tourism

1 metric
MetricšŸ‡±šŸ‡» LatviašŸ‡²šŸ‡¾ MalaysiaShare
Tourism Receipts per Capita1.34B USD24.59B USDā˜…

Frequently Asked Questions About Latvia vs Malaysia

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

Malaysia. Malaysia has 19.8 times as many people as Latvia (36.4 million vs 1.84 million). Data for 2026.

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

Malaysia. Malaysia's economy is 9.5 times the size of Latvia's ($466.53 billion vs $49.29 billion GDP). Data for 2026.

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

Latvia is richer per person: GDP per capita is about $26,856 in Latvia vs $12,818 in Malaysia (2026 GDP in current US dollars divided by population).

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