Malaysia vs Maldives: Compare Statistics
Side-by-side comparison of 156 key metrics across economy, population, geography, and more — latest data through 2026.
Summary
Malaysia has 68.5 times as many people as Maldives (36.4 million vs 531,553). Malaysia's economy is 51.9 times the size of Maldives's ($466.53 billion vs $8.99 billion GDP).
Comparing Malaysia and Maldives: Maldives leads on Major Urban Areas Population (177,000 people) against Malaysia (8.62 people); Maldives leads on Labor Force Participation Rate (270,300) against Malaysia (18.26); Maldives leads on Electricity Installed Capacity (278,000) against Malaysia (33). Across 156 compared metrics, Malaysia wins on 82 and Maldives wins on 63.
- Communications: 9 metrics compared
- Economy: 58 metrics compared
- Environment: 9 metrics compared
- Geography: 7 metrics compared
- Government: 9 metrics compared
- Health: 21 metrics compared
- Military and Security: 2 metrics compared
- People and Society: 36 metrics compared
- Transportation: 4 metrics compared
- Travel and Tourism: 1 metric compared
Communications
9 metrics| Metric | 🇲🇾 Malaysia | 🇲🇻 Maldives | Share |
|---|---|---|---|
| Fixed Broadband Penetration | 13.55 subscriptions per 100 inhabitants | 19.65 subscriptions per 100 inhabitants★ | |
| Internet Penetration Rate (%) | 98.02 %★ | 85.24 % | |
| Internet Usage Rate by Country (% of Population) | 97.69 %★ | 84.69 % | |
| Internet Users | percent of population: 98% (2023 est.) | percent of population: 85% (2023 est.) | |
| Mobile Internet Speed | 13.55 Mbps | 19.65 Mbps★ | |
| Press Freedom Index Score | 56.09 points★ | 52.46 points | |
| Radios | 10.9 | 35,000★ | |
| Televisions | 10.8 | 10,000★ | |
| Waterways | 7,296 | none |
Economy
58 metricsEnvironment
9 metrics| Metric | 🇲🇾 Malaysia | 🇲🇻 Maldives | Share |
|---|---|---|---|
| Annual CO₂ Emissions Growth (abs) | 13.93M | 100,876★ | |
| Annual Forest Area Change Rate | -60,000 % | 0 %★ | |
| Carbon Dioxide Emissions | 260.01 | 1.91★ | |
| Population Distribution | a highly uneven distribution, with over 80% of the population residing on the Malay Peninsula | about a third of the population lives in the centrally located capital city of Male and almost a tenth in southern Addu City; the remainder of the populace is spread over the 200 or so populated islands of the archipelago | |
| Protected Land Area for Adaptation | 13.3 sq km★ | 3.21 sq km | |
| Protected Land Area Percentage | 13.3 %★ | 3 % | |
| Total Renewable Groundwater Resources by Country | 64 Cubic meters per year★ | 0.03 Cubic meters per year | |
| Total Renewable Water Resources | 580★ | 30 | |
| Total Threatened Mammal Species | 80 species | 2 species★ |
Geography
7 metrics| Metric | 🇲🇾 Malaysia | 🇲🇻 Maldives | Share |
|---|---|---|---|
| Percentage of land area by degree of urbanization | 4.11 % | 4.29 %★ | |
| Above-Ground Biomass in Forest (tonnes/ha) | 209.87★ | 135 | |
| Agricultural land | 85,710 sq. km★ | 53 sq. km | |
| Airports per 1,000 Sq Km | 328,550★ | 298 | |
| Coastline Length (km) | 4,675 km★ | 644 km | |
| Dam capacity per capita | 611.58 cubic meters per inhabitant★ | 0 cubic meters per inhabitant | |
| Irrigated Land | 4,420★ | 0 |
Government
9 metrics| Metric | 🇲🇾 Malaysia | 🇲🇻 Maldives | Share |
|---|---|---|---|
| Rule of Law Index by Country | 67.87 %★ | 63.29 % | |
| Administrative Divisions | 13 | 21★ | |
| Corruption Perception Index | 50 index | 38 index★ | |
| Corruption Perceptions Index Score | 50 index★ | 38 index | |
| Independence | 31★ | 26 | |
| LGBT Rights Index Score | -2.46 | -1.43★ | |
| Prison Population Rate | 160 per 100,000★ | 276 per 100,000 | |
| Public Sector Corruption Perception | 50 | 38★ | |
| Suffrage Participation Rate | 18 | 18 |
Health
21 metricsMilitary and Security
2 metrics| Metric | 🇲🇾 Malaysia | 🇲🇻 Maldives | Share |
|---|---|---|---|
| Active Military Personnel | 113,000 personnel★ | 0 personnel | |
| Total Armed Forces Personnel (PPP) | 116,100★ | 5,000 |
People and Society
36 metricsTransportation
4 metrics| Metric | 🇲🇾 Malaysia | 🇲🇻 Maldives | Share |
|---|---|---|---|
| Air Travel Trips Per Capita (PPP) | 1.58 | 6.12★ | |
| Airports | 100★ | 20 | |
| Civil Air Travel | 53★ | 1 | |
| Heliports | 2★ | 0 |
Travel and Tourism
1 metric| Metric | 🇲🇾 Malaysia | 🇲🇻 Maldives | Share |
|---|---|---|---|
| Tourism Receipts per Capita | 24.59B USD★ | 4.80B USD |
Frequently Asked Questions About Malaysia vs Maldives
Which has a larger population, Malaysia or Maldives?▾
Malaysia. Malaysia has 68.5 times as many people as Maldives (36.4 million vs 531,553). Data for 2026.
Which has a bigger economy, Malaysia or Maldives?▾
Malaysia. Malaysia's economy is 51.9 times the size of Maldives's ($466.53 billion vs $8.99 billion GDP). Data for 2026.
Which is richer per person, Malaysia or Maldives?▾
Maldives is richer per person: GDP per capita is about $16,916 in Maldives vs $12,818 in Malaysia (2026 GDP in current US dollars divided by population).