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Geo Factbook

Malawi vs Malaysia: Compare Statistics

Side-by-side comparison of 169 key metrics across economy, population, geography, and more ā€” latest data through 2026.

Malawi
mwi
Leads on 51 of 169 metrics
Malaysia
mys
Leads on 112 of 169 metrics

Summary

Malaysia has 60% more people than Malawi (36.4 million vs 22.78 million). Malaysia's economy is 38.0 times the size of Malawi's ($466.53 billion vs $12.28 billion GDP).

Comparing Malawi and Malaysia: Malawi leads on Electricity Installed Capacity (375,000) against Malaysia (33); Malaysia leads on Malaria Incidence Rate (0.07 cases per 1,000) against Malawi (264.44 cases per 1,000); Malaysia leads on Tourism Receipts per Capita (17.90 billion USD) against Malawi (30.00 million USD). Across 169 compared metrics, Malawi wins on 51 and Malaysia wins on 112.

  • Communications: 9 metrics compared
  • Economy: 64 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‡²šŸ‡¼ MalawišŸ‡²šŸ‡¾ MalaysiaShare
Fixed Broadband Penetration0.09 subscriptions per 100 inhabitants13.55 subscriptions per 100 inhabitantsā˜…
Internet Penetration Rate (%)18.96 %98.02 %ā˜…
Internet Usage Rate by Country (% of Population)17.99 %97.69 %ā˜…
Internet Userspercent of population: 18% (2023 est.)percent of population: 98% (2023 est.)
Mobile Internet Speed0.09 Mbps13.55 Mbpsā˜…
Press Freedom Index Score59.2 pointsā˜…56.09 points
Radios2.610.9ā˜…
TelevisionsNA10.8
Waterways7007,200ā˜…

Economy

64 metrics
MetricšŸ‡²šŸ‡¼ MalawišŸ‡²šŸ‡¾ MalaysiaShare
Agriculture Value Added as a Share of GDP by Country4.84B $47.38B $ā˜…
Gross Domestic Product (GDP) by Country in Current US Dollars12.28B $466.53B $ā˜…
AI Investment (% of GDP)14.48 %22.8 %ā˜…
Apple Import Volume1.11M tonnes101.62M tonnesā˜…
Bank Account Ownership Rate50.37 %88.69 %ā˜…
Central Bank Discount Rate (%)16 %ā˜…3 %
Coal Revenue0.03ā˜…0.02
Commercial Bank Prime Lending Rate (%)38.1 %ā˜…4.61 %
Current Health Expenditure (% of GDP)9.3 % of GDPā˜…3.8 % of GDP
Ease of Doing Business Index77.983.3ā˜…
Electricity Consumption1.32136.9ā˜…
Electricity Exports03ā˜…
Electricity from Fossil Fuels178ā˜…
Electricity from Hydroelectric Plants93ā˜…18
Electricity from Nuclear Fuels00
Electricity from Other Renewables6ā˜…4
Electricity Imports033ā˜…
Electricity Installed Capacity375,000ā˜…33
Electricity Production1.42148.3ā˜…
Energy Consumption per Capita (USD)1.79 USD per capita113.16 USD per capitaā˜…
Female Labor Force Participation Rate58.96 %ā˜…56.67 %
Gender Pay Gap Percentage18.83 %ā˜…-3.19 %
Gender Wage Gap18.83 %-3.19 %ā˜…
Gini Index Coefficient38.540.7ā˜…
Gross Fixed Investment23.125.2ā˜…
Gross National Saving3.928.5ā˜…
High-Tech Export Percentage52.07 %63.18 %ā˜…
Highest GDP per Capita Countries1,623.02 USD35,461.45 USDā˜…
Industrial Production Growth Rate (%)2.1 %4.9 %ā˜…
Inflation Rate28.37 %1.38 %ā˜…
Inflation Rate (Consumer Prices)32.2 %1.8 %ā˜…
Military Expenditures (% of GDP)0.8 % of GDP1 % of GDPā˜…
Natural Gas Consumption030.44ā˜…
Natural Gas Exports038.23ā˜…
Natural Gas Imports02.8ā˜…
Natural Gas Production069.49ā˜…
Natural Gas Proved Reserves01.18ā˜…
Oil Consumption8,000561,000ā˜…
Oil Exports0644,900ā˜…
Oil Imports7,124355,300ā˜…
Oil Production0664,800ā˜…
Oil Proved Reserves04ā˜…
Population Below Poverty Line50.7 people6.2 peopleā˜…
Public Debt55.6ā˜…64.3
Real GDP Growth Rate (USD)1.8 USD5.1 USDā˜…
Real Interest Rate Trends9.96 %ā˜…4.46 %
Refined Petroleum Products Consumption6,000704,000ā˜…
Refined Petroleum Products Exports0208,400ā˜…
Refined Petroleum Products Imports4,769304,600ā˜…
Refined Petroleum Products Production0528,300ā˜…
Remittances1.4ā˜…0.4
Researchers in R&D per Million50.11 researchers1,452.73 researchersā˜…
Revenue from Forest Resources6.19ā˜…1.57
Share of population in poverty ($3 a day)64.561.71ā˜…
Tax Burden (% of GDP)15.6 %12.43 %ā˜…
Tax Revenue (% of GDP)15.6 % of GDPā˜…12.43 % of GDP
Taxes and Other Revenues13.5ā˜…12.6
Top Exporting Countries1.50B USD274.68B USDā˜…
Top FDI Inflows (% of GDP)2.28 %3.69 %ā˜…
Tourism Contribution to GDP1.6 %2 %ā˜…
Tourism Revenue (% of GDP)1.6 %2 %ā˜…
Unemployment Rate5.1 %3.9 %ā˜…
Youth Labor Force Participation Rate62.58 %ā˜…66.12 %
Youth Unemployment Rate6.95 %ā˜…11.95 %

Environment

11 metrics
MetricšŸ‡²šŸ‡¼ MalawišŸ‡²šŸ‡¾ MalaysiaShare
Annual COā‚‚ Emissions Growth (abs)28,911ā˜…13.93M
Annual Forest Area Change Rate-42,000 %ā˜…-60,000 %
Average Annual Temperature22.29 Ā°C25.87 Ā°Cā˜…
Carbon Dioxide Emissions2.27ā˜…260.01
Global Precipitation Distribution1,548.92 mm3,150.09 mmā˜…
Population Distributionpopulation density is highest south of Lake Nyasa, 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 Adaptation23.16 sq kmā˜…13.3 sq km
Protected Land Area Percentage23.1 %ā˜…13.3 %
Total Renewable Groundwater Resources by Country2.5 Cubic meters per year64 Cubic meters per yearā˜…
Total Renewable Water Resources17.28580ā˜…
Total Threatened Mammal Species10 speciesā˜…80 species

Geography

7 metrics
MetricšŸ‡²šŸ‡¼ MalawišŸ‡²šŸ‡¾ MalaysiaShare
Percentage of land area by degree of urbanization19.72 %ā˜…4.11 %
Above-Ground Biomass in Forest (tonnes/ha)78.7209.87ā˜…
Agricultural land62,626 sq. km85,710 sq. kmā˜…
Airports per 1,000 Sq Km94,280328,550ā˜…
Coastline Length (km)0 km4,675 kmā˜…
Dam capacity per capita1.8 cubic meters per inhabitant611.58 cubic meters per inhabitantā˜…
Irrigated Land7404,420ā˜…

Government

9 metrics
MetricšŸ‡²šŸ‡¼ MalawišŸ‡²šŸ‡¾ MalaysiaShare
Rule of Law Index by Country48.89 %67.87 %ā˜…
Administrative Divisions28ā˜…13
Corruption Perception Index34 indexā˜…50 index
Corruption Perceptions Index Score34 index50 indexā˜…
Independence631ā˜…
LGBT Rights Index Score0.46ā˜…-2.46
Prison Population Rate71 per 100,000ā˜…206 per 100,000
Public Sector Corruption Perception34ā˜…50
Suffrage Participation Rate1818

Health

22 metrics
MetricšŸ‡²šŸ‡¼ MalawišŸ‡²šŸ‡¾ MalaysiaShare
Access to Safe Drinking Water18.18 %94.7 %ā˜…
Average BMI for Adults22.6 kg/mĀ²25.3 kg/mĀ²ā˜…
Change in Measles Immunization Rate89 %96 %ā˜…
Diabetes Prevalence (% of Population)5.721.1ā˜…
Female Life Expectancy Leaders67.56 years76.82 yearsā˜…
Global Stillbirth Rate Trends1.58 per 1,000 births0.48 per 1,000 birthsā˜…
Health Care Spending per Capita152.6 USD1,703.34 USDā˜…
Health Coverage Index Score52 score80 scoreā˜…
Health Expenditure (% of GDP)7.4 % of GDPā˜…4.4 % of GDP
Highest Male Life Expectancy67.56 years76.82 yearsā˜…
HIV/AIDS Adult Prevalence Rate7.7 %0.3 %ā˜…
Hospital Bed Density1.3 people/sq km1.9 people/sq kmā˜…
Hospital Beds per Capita1.3 beds per 1,0001.9 beds per 1,000ā˜…
Low Birth Weight Prevalence15.58 %13.81 %ā˜…
Malaria Incidence Rate264.44 cases per 1,0000.07 cases per 1,000ā˜…
Maternal Mortality Ratio (%)225 %26 %ā˜…
Nurses and Midwives Density0.51 per 1,000 people4.03 per 1,000 peopleā˜…
Obesity Adult Prevalence Rate (%)5.8 %ā˜…15.6 %
Out-of-Pocket Health Spending12 %ā˜…37.09 %
People Living With HIV/AIDS990,00092,000ā˜…
Total Number of Doctors0.052.29ā˜…
Underweight Children Under 511.6ā˜…15.3

Military and Security

3 metrics
MetricšŸ‡²šŸ‡¼ MalawišŸ‡²šŸ‡¾ MalaysiaShare
Active Military Personnel11,000 personnel113,000 personnelā˜…
Military Expenditure (% of GDP)1.15 %1.04 %ā˜…
Total Armed Forces Personnel (PPP)15,000136,000ā˜…

People and Society

39 metrics
MetricšŸ‡²šŸ‡¼ MalawišŸ‡²šŸ‡¾ MalaysiaShare
Currently married (Percent)59.17 %ā˜…58.88 %
Human Capital Index0.450.65ā˜…
Life expectancy at birth72.03 years80.87 yearsā˜…
Median age of population18.35 years31.44 yearsā˜…
Population Change579,788 personsā˜…428,622.9 persons
Population density240.56 per sq. km110.8 per sq. kmā˜…
Total population22.78M persons36.40M personsā˜…
Academic Freedom Index0.8ā˜…0.29
Beer Consumption per Capita0.15 liters0.51 litersā˜…
Birth Rate (%)28.04 %ā˜…14.05 %
Contraceptive Prevalence Rate65.6 %ā˜…52.2 %
Crude Birth Rate31.14 per 1,000 peopleā˜…12.36 per 1,000 people
Death Rate (%)3.57 %ā˜…5.8 %
Education Expenditure (% of GDP)2.7 % of GDP3.5 % of GDPā˜…
Female population of reproductive age6.07M persons9.69M personsā˜…
Female Tertiary Enrollment Rate (%)2.23 %43.7 %ā˜…
Fixed Broadband Penetration Rate0.09 %13.55 %ā˜…
Global Average Sex Ratio at Birth100.76 male/female106.37 male/femaleā˜…
Human Development Index0.270.48ā˜…
Labor Force Participation Rate8.618.26ā˜…
Learning-adjusted years of school5.77 years9.72 yearsā˜…
Length of paid parental leave for mother0 days0 days
Major Urban Areas Population1.28 people8.62 peopleā˜…
Mean Male Height (cm)162.23167.88ā˜…
Mean Years of Schooling5.41 years11.96 yearsā˜…
Military Service Age and Obligation18ā˜…17
Old-Age Dependency Ratio4.62 %ā˜…10.6 %
Percentage of population by degree of urbanization71.82 %83.21 %ā˜…
Physician Density0.05 people/sq km2.34 people/sq kmā˜…
Population Growth Rate2.16 %ā˜…0.97 %
Population living in slums33.18 %ā˜…0.2 %
Primary School Pupil-Teacher Ratio69.5111.52ā˜…
Total deaths110,901 personsā˜…179,998.3 persons
Total demand for family planning (Percent)61.79 %ā˜…42.17 %
Total fertility rate3.46 per womanā˜…1.53 per woman
Total net-migration-4,828.6 persons162,673.4 personsā˜…
Under-five mortality rate36.16 per live births5.53 per live birthsā˜…
Urban Population Annual Growth Rate4.43 %ā˜…1.79 %
Voting Age Population58.46 millionsā˜…52.24 millions

Transportation

3 metrics
MetricšŸ‡²šŸ‡¼ MalawišŸ‡²šŸ‡¾ MalaysiaShare
Air Travel Trips Per Capita (PPP)0.011.58ā˜…
Airports27100ā˜…
Civil Air Travel553ā˜…

Travel and Tourism

1 metric
MetricšŸ‡²šŸ‡¼ MalawišŸ‡²šŸ‡¾ MalaysiaShare
Tourism Receipts per Capita30.00M USD17.90B USDā˜…

Other

1 metric
MetricšŸ‡²šŸ‡¼ MalawišŸ‡²šŸ‡¾ MalaysiaShare
Current Bank Rate24 %ā˜…2.75 %

Frequently Asked Questions About Malawi vs Malaysia

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

Malaysia. Malaysia has 60% more people than Malawi (36.4 million vs 22.78 million). Data for 2026.

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

Malaysia. Malaysia's economy is 38.0 times the size of Malawi's ($466.53 billion vs $12.28 billion GDP). Data for 2026.

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

Malaysia is richer per person: GDP per capita is about $12,818 in Malaysia vs $539.28 in Malawi (2026 GDP in current US dollars divided by population).

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