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Malaysia vs New Zealand: Compare Statistics

Side-by-side comparison of 177 key metrics across economy, population, geography, and more ā€” latest data through 2026.

Malaysia
mys
Leads on 83 of 177 metrics
New Zealand
nzl
Leads on 83 of 177 metrics

Summary

Malaysia has 6.9 times as many people as New Zealand (36.4 million vs 5.29 million). Malaysia's economy is 64% larger than New Zealand's ($466.53 billion vs $284.58 billion GDP).

Comparing Malaysia and New Zealand: Malaysia leads on Apple Import Volume (101.62 million tonnes) against New Zealand (825,370 tonnes); Malaysia leads on Refined Petroleum Products Exports (208,400) against New Zealand (1,782); Malaysia leads on Real GDP Growth Rate (USD) (5.10 USD) against New Zealand (-0.10 USD). Across 177 compared metrics, Malaysia wins on 83 and New Zealand wins on 83.

  • Communications: 9 metrics compared
  • Economy: 66 metrics compared
  • Environment: 12 metrics compared
  • Geography: 7 metrics compared
  • Government: 10 metrics compared
  • Health: 23 metrics compared
  • Military and Security: 3 metrics compared
  • People and Society: 41 metrics compared
  • Transportation: 4 metrics compared
  • Travel and Tourism: 1 metric compared
  • Other: 1 metric compared

Communications

9 metrics
MetricšŸ‡²šŸ‡¾ MalaysiašŸ‡³šŸ‡æ New ZealandShare
Fixed Broadband Penetration13.55 subscriptions per 100 inhabitants38.05 subscriptions per 100 inhabitantsā˜…
Internet Penetration Rate (%)98.02 %ā˜…93.52 %
Internet Usage Rate by Country (% of Population)97.69 %ā˜…96.16 %
Internet Userspercent of population: 98% (2023 est.)percent of population: 96% (2023 est.)
Mobile Internet Speed13.55 Mbps38.05 Mbpsā˜…
Press Freedom Index Score56.09 points81.37 pointsā˜…
Radios10.9ā˜…3.75
Televisions10.8ā˜…1.93
Waterways7,296ā˜…1,609

Economy

66 metrics
MetricšŸ‡²šŸ‡¾ MalaysiašŸ‡³šŸ‡æ New ZealandShare
Agriculture Value Added as a Share of GDP by Country47.38B $ā˜…17.05B $
Gross Domestic Product (GDP) by Country in Current US Dollars466.53B $ā˜…284.58B $
AI Investment (% of GDP)21.95 %22.51 %ā˜…
Apple Import Volume101.62M tonnesā˜…825,370 tonnes
Bank Account Ownership Rate88.69 %97.86 %ā˜…
Central Bank Discount Rate (%)3 %ā˜…1.75 %
Coal Revenue0.020.03ā˜…
Commercial Bank Prime Lending Rate (%)4.61 %5.1 %ā˜…
Corporate Tax Rate Trends24 %28 %ā˜…
Current Health Expenditure (% of GDP)3.8 % of GDP9.2 % of GDPā˜…
Ease of Doing Business Index83.3100ā˜…
Electricity Consumption136.9ā˜…39.5
Electricity Exports3ā˜…0
Electricity from Fossil Fuels78ā˜…23
Electricity from Hydroelectric Plants1858ā˜…
Electricity from Nuclear Fuels00
Electricity from Other Renewables420ā˜…
Electricity Imports33ā˜…0
Electricity Installed Capacity33ā˜…9.3
Electricity Production148.3ā˜…42.53
Energy Consumption per Capita (USD)113.16 USD per capita121.65 USD per capitaā˜…
Female Labor Force Participation Rate56.67 %79.25 %ā˜…
Gini Index Coefficient41.1ā˜…36.2
Gross Fixed Investment25.2ā˜…19.5
Gross National Saving28.5ā˜…21
High-Tech Export Percentage63.18 %ā˜…16.44 %
Highest GDP per Capita Countries35,461.45 USD48,232.66 USDā˜…
Industrial Production Growth Rate (%)4.9 %ā˜…-1 %
Inflation Rate1.38 %ā˜…2.84 %
Inflation Rate (Consumer Prices)1.8 %ā˜…2.9 %
Military Expenditures (% of GDP)1 % of GDP1.2 % of GDPā˜…
Natural Gas Consumption30.44ā˜…5.18
Natural Gas Exports38.23ā˜…0
Natural Gas Imports2.8ā˜…0
Natural Gas Production69.49ā˜…5.1
Natural Gas Proved Reserves1.1833.7ā˜…
Number of AI Patents Filed5 patentsā˜…4 patents
Oil Consumption561,000ā˜…149,700
Oil Exports644,900ā˜…47,200
Oil Imports355,300ā˜…138,000
Oil Production664,800ā˜…60,480
Oil Proved Reserves4112.5ā˜…
Population Below Poverty Line5.6 peopleNA
Public Debt64.354ā˜…
R&D Expenditure (% of GDP)1.28 %ā˜…1.23 %
Real GDP Growth Rate (USD)5.1 USDā˜…-0.1 USD
Real Interest Rate Trends0.8 %1.07 %ā˜…
Refined Petroleum Products Consumption704,000ā˜…169,100
Refined Petroleum Products Exports208,400ā˜…1,782
Refined Petroleum Products Imports304,600ā˜…56,000
Refined Petroleum Products Production528,300ā˜…115,100
Remittances0.4ā˜…0.3
Researchers in R&D per Million2,256.6 researchers5,476.9 researchersā˜…
Revenue from Forest Resources1.57ā˜…0.5
Robotics Research Funding1.28 USDā˜…1.23 USD
Tax Burden (% of GDP)12.43 %ā˜…29.52 %
Tax Revenue (% of GDP)12.43 % of GDP29.52 % of GDPā˜…
Taxes and Other Revenues12.629.6ā˜…
Top Exporting Countries301.22B USDā˜…64.54B USD
Top FDI Inflows (% of GDP)3.69 %ā˜…0.67 %
Total Number of Billionaires19ā˜…5
Tourism Contribution to GDP2.67 %3.1 %ā˜…
Tourism Revenue (% of GDP)2.67 %3.1 %ā˜…
Unemployment Rate3.9 %ā˜…4.9 %
Youth Labor Force Participation Rate66.12 %ā˜…70.35 %
Youth Unemployment Rate11.95 %ā˜…14.36 %

Environment

12 metrics
MetricšŸ‡²šŸ‡¾ MalaysiašŸ‡³šŸ‡æ New ZealandShare
Annual COā‚‚ Emissions Growth (abs)13.93M919,618ā˜…
Annual Forest Area Change Rate-60,000 %67,548.05 %ā˜…
Average Annual Temperature25.87 Ā°Cā˜…11.19 Ā°C
Carbon Dioxide Emissions260.0133.51ā˜…
Continental Shelf200edge of continental margin or 200 nm;
Global Precipitation Distribution3,150.09 mmā˜…1,630.68 mm
Population Distributiona highly uneven distribution, with over 80% of the population residing on the Malay Peninsulaover three quarters of New Zealanders, including the Maori, live on the North Island, primarily in urban areas
Protected Land Area for Adaptation13.3 sq km33.4 sq kmā˜…
Protected Land Area Percentage13.3 %33.4 %ā˜…
Total Renewable Groundwater Resources by Country64 Cubic meters per yearā˜…0 Cubic meters per year
Total Renewable Water Resources580ā˜…327
Total Threatened Mammal Species80 species9 speciesā˜…

Geography

7 metrics
MetricšŸ‡²šŸ‡¾ MalaysiašŸ‡³šŸ‡æ New ZealandShare
Percentage of land area by degree of urbanization4.11 %ā˜…0.92 %
Above-Ground Biomass in Forest (tonnes/ha)209.87294.65ā˜…
Agricultural land85,710 sq. km91,806 sq. kmā˜…
Airports per 1,000 Sq Km328,550ā˜…263,310
Coastline Length (km)4,675 km15,134 kmā˜…
Dam capacity per capita611.58 cubic meters per inhabitant3,118.67 cubic meters per inhabitantā˜…
Irrigated Land4,4207,000ā˜…

Government

10 metrics
MetricšŸ‡²šŸ‡¾ MalaysiašŸ‡³šŸ‡æ New ZealandShare
Rule of Law Index by Country67.87 %94.02 %ā˜…
Administrative Divisions1316ā˜…
Corruption Perception Index50 indexā˜…83 index
Corruption Perceptions Index Score50 index83 indexā˜…
Independence31ā˜…26
LGBT Rights Index Score-2.4610.8ā˜…
Political Stability Index51 index96 indexā˜…
Prison Population Rate244 per 100,000199 per 100,000ā˜…
Public Sector Corruption Perception50ā˜…83
Suffrage Participation Rate1818

Health

23 metrics
MetricšŸ‡²šŸ‡¾ MalaysiašŸ‡³šŸ‡æ New ZealandShare
Access to Safe Drinking Water94.7 %100 %ā˜…
Average BMI for Adults25.3 kg/mĀ²28.1 kg/mĀ²ā˜…
Change in Measles Immunization Rate96 %ā˜…89 %
Diabetes Deaths Per 100,000 (Age-Std)17.915.09ā˜…
Diabetes Prevalence (% of Population)21.1ā˜…6.7
Female Life Expectancy Leaders76.82 years82.01 yearsā˜…
Global Stillbirth Rate Trends0.48 per 1,000 births0.28 per 1,000 birthsā˜…
Health Care Spending per Capita1,703.34 USD6,579.86 USDā˜…
Health Coverage Index Score80 score89 scoreā˜…
Health Expenditure (% of GDP)4.4 % of GDP10 % of GDPā˜…
Highest Male Life Expectancy76.82 years82.01 yearsā˜…
HIV/AIDS Adult Prevalence Rate0.3 %(2021 est.) <0.1%
Hospital Bed Density2 people/sq km2.7 people/sq kmā˜…
Hospital Beds per Capita1.96 beds per 1,0002.51 beds per 1,000ā˜…
Low Birth Weight Prevalence13.81 %5.86 %ā˜…
Maternal Mortality Ratio (%)26 %7 %ā˜…
Nurses and Midwives Density4.05 per 1,000 people12.3 per 1,000 peopleā˜…
Obesity Adult Prevalence Rate (%)15.6 %ā˜…30.8 %
Out-of-Pocket Health Spending37.09 %12.6 %ā˜…
People Living With HIV/AIDS92,0003,600ā˜…
Psychiatrist Density Per 100,000 People1 per 100,000 people9 per 100,000 peopleā˜…
Total Number of Doctors2.293.61ā˜…
Underweight Children Under 514.1NA

Military and Security

3 metrics
MetricšŸ‡²šŸ‡¾ MalaysiašŸ‡³šŸ‡æ New ZealandShare
Active Military Personnel113,000 personnelā˜…9,000 personnel
Military Expenditure (% of GDP)1.04 %ā˜…1.1 %
Total Armed Forces Personnel (PPP)136,000ā˜…10,000

People and Society

41 metrics
MetricšŸ‡²šŸ‡¾ MalaysiašŸ‡³šŸ‡æ New ZealandShare
Currently married (Percent)58.88 %ā˜…57.19 %
Human Capital Index0.650.77ā˜…
Life expectancy at birth80.87 years84.03 yearsā˜…
Median age of population31.44 years37.98 yearsā˜…
Population Change428,622.9 personsā˜…50,085.3 persons
Population density110.8 per sq. km19.96 per sq. kmā˜…
Total population36.40M personsā˜…5.29M persons
Academic Freedom Index0.290.85ā˜…
Average Female Breast Size by Country: Worldwide Data & RankingsAABā˜…
Beer Consumption per Capita0.51 liters3.13 litersā˜…
Birth Rate (%)14.05 %ā˜…12.4 %
Contraceptive Prevalence Rate52.2 %79.9 %ā˜…
Crude Birth Rate12.36 per 1,000 peopleā˜…11.03 per 1,000 people
Death Rate (%)5.8 %ā˜…6.93 %
Education Expenditure (% of GDP)3.5 % of GDP5.3 % of GDPā˜…
Female population of reproductive age9.69M personsā˜…1.20M persons
Female Tertiary Enrollment Rate (%)45.85 %96.26 %ā˜…
Fixed Broadband Penetration Rate13.55 %38.05 %ā˜…
Global Average Sex Ratio at Birth106.37 male/femaleā˜…105.3 male/female
Human Development Index0.480.81ā˜…
Labor Force Participation Rate18.26ā˜…3.12
Learning-adjusted years of school9.72 years11.2 yearsā˜…
Length of paid parental leave for mother0 days0 days
Major Urban Areas Population8.62 peopleā˜…1.67 people
Mean Male Height (cm)167.88177.74ā˜…
Mean Years of Schooling11.96 yearsā˜…10.81 years
Military Manpower at Military Age21ā˜…20
Military Service Age and Obligation1717
Old-Age Dependency Ratio10.6 %ā˜…25.89 %
Percentage of population by degree of urbanization83.21 %ā˜…76.31 %
Physician Density2.34 people/sq km3.61 people/sq kmā˜…
Population Growth Rate0.97 %ā˜…0.83 %
Population living in slums0.2 %ā˜…0 %
Primary School Pupil-Teacher Ratio11.66ā˜…14.92
Total deaths179,998.3 persons40,098.2 personsā˜…
Total demand for family planning (Percent)42.17 %68.32 %ā˜…
Total fertility rate1.53 per woman1.65 per womanā˜…
Total net-migration162,673.4 personsā˜…31,423.4 persons
Under-five mortality rate5.53 per live births4.26 per live birthsā˜…
Urban Population Annual Growth Rate1.79 %ā˜…0.73 %
Voting Age Population53.4 millions77.84 millionsā˜…

Transportation

4 metrics
MetricšŸ‡²šŸ‡¾ MalaysiašŸ‡³šŸ‡æ New ZealandShare
Air Travel Trips Per Capita (PPP)1.583.76ā˜…
Airports100206ā˜…
Civil Air Travel53about 40 major transport aircraft
Heliports2462ā˜…

Travel and Tourism

1 metric
MetricšŸ‡²šŸ‡¾ MalaysiašŸ‡³šŸ‡æ New ZealandShare
Tourism Receipts per Capita24.59B USDā˜…9.57B USD

Other

1 metric
MetricšŸ‡²šŸ‡¾ MalaysiašŸ‡³šŸ‡æ New ZealandShare
Current Bank Rate2.75 %ā˜…2.25 %

Frequently Asked Questions About Malaysia vs New Zealand

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

Malaysia. Malaysia has 6.9 times as many people as New Zealand (36.4 million vs 5.29 million). Data for 2026.

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

Malaysia. Malaysia's economy is 64% larger than New Zealand's ($466.53 billion vs $284.58 billion GDP). Data for 2026.

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

New Zealand is richer per person: GDP per capita is about $53,797 in New Zealand vs $12,818 in Malaysia (2026 GDP in current US dollars divided by population).

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