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Malaysia vs Palau: Compare Statistics

Side-by-side comparison of 66 key metrics across economy, population, geography, and more — latest data through 2026.

Malaysia
mys
Leads on 34 of 66 metrics
Palau
plw
Leads on 30 of 66 metrics

Summary

Malaysia has 2,065 times as many people as Palau (36.4 million vs 17,630). Malaysia's economy is 1,905 times the size of Palau's ($466.53 billion vs $244.89 million GDP).

Comparing Malaysia and Palau: Malaysia leads on Total net-migration (162,673 persons) against Palau (-13.20 persons); Malaysia leads on Population Change (428,623 persons) against Palau (-41.50 persons); Malaysia leads on Top Exporting Countries (274.68 billion USD) against Palau (72.73 million USD). Across 66 compared metrics, Malaysia wins on 34 and Palau wins on 30.

  • Communications: 4 metrics compared
  • Economy: 10 metrics compared
  • Environment: 5 metrics compared
  • Geography: 4 metrics compared
  • Government: 2 metrics compared
  • Health: 15 metrics compared
  • Military and Security: 1 metric compared
  • People and Society: 24 metrics compared
  • Travel and Tourism: 1 metric compared

Communications

4 metrics
Metric🇲🇾 Malaysia🇵🇼 PalauShare
Fixed Broadband Penetration13.03 subscriptions per 100 inhabitants★7.33 subscriptions per 100 inhabitants
Internet Penetration Rate (%)98.02 %★83.93 %
Internet Usage Rate by Country (% of Population)42.25 %★26.97 %
Mobile Internet Speed13.03 Mbps★7.33 Mbps

Economy

10 metrics
Metric🇲🇾 Malaysia🇵🇼 PalauShare
Gross Domestic Product (GDP) by Country in Current US Dollars466.53B $★244.89M $
AI Investment (% of GDP)22.8 %35.62 %★
Highest GDP per Capita Countries35,461.45 USD★19,698.59 USD
Inflation Rate1.38 %-0.42 %★
Tax Burden (% of GDP)10.88 %★18.08 %
Tax Revenue (% of GDP)10.88 % of GDP18.08 % of GDP★
Top Exporting Countries274.68B USD★72.73M USD
Top FDI Inflows (% of GDP)3.69 %21.49 %★
Tourism Contribution to GDP2 %9.76 %★
Tourism Revenue (% of GDP)2 %9.76 %★

Environment

5 metrics
Metric🇲🇾 Malaysia🇵🇼 PalauShare
Annual CO₂ Emissions Growth (abs)13.93M9,890★
Annual Forest Area Change Rate-60,000 %90 %★
Protected Land Area for Adaptation13.3 sq km27.56 sq km★
Protected Land Area Percentage13.3 %31.4 %★
Total Threatened Mammal Species80 species5 species★

Geography

4 metrics
Metric🇲🇾 Malaysia🇵🇼 PalauShare
Percentage of land area by degree of urbanization4.11 %★1.69 %
Above-Ground Biomass in Forest (tonnes/ha)209.87416.21★
Agricultural land85,710 sq. km★43 sq. km
Airports per 1,000 Sq Km328,550★460

Government

2 metrics
Metric🇲🇾 Malaysia🇵🇼 PalauShare
Rule of Law Index by Country67.87 %85.39 %★
LGBT Rights Index Score-2.461.07★

Health

15 metrics
Metric🇲🇾 Malaysia🇵🇼 PalauShare
Access to Safe Drinking Water94.7 %★90.78 %
Average BMI for Adults25.3 kg/m²29.5 kg/m²★
Change in Measles Immunization Rate96 %96 %
Diabetes Prevalence (% of Population)21.1★19.3
Female Life Expectancy Leaders76.82 years★69.38 years
Global Stillbirth Rate Trends0.48 per 1,000 births★0.84 per 1,000 births
Health Care Spending per Capita1,703.34 USD1,890.68 USD★
Health Coverage Index Score80 score★75 score
Highest Male Life Expectancy76.82 years★69.38 years
Hospital Beds per Capita1.91 beds per 1,0004.34 beds per 1,000★
Low Birth Weight Prevalence13.81 %13.53 %★
Nurses and Midwives Density4.05 per 1,000 people6.61 per 1,000 people★
Out-of-Pocket Health Spending37.09 %12.1 %★
Psychiatrist Density Per 100,000 People1 per 100,000 people11 per 100,000 people★
Total Number of Doctors2.34★1.81

Military and Security

1 metric
Metric🇲🇾 Malaysia🇵🇼 PalauShare
Active Military Personnel113,000 personnel★0 personnel

People and Society

24 metrics
Metric🇲🇾 Malaysia🇵🇼 PalauShare
Currently married (Percent)58.88 %★43.58 %
Human Capital Index0.650.65★
Life expectancy at birth80.87 years★72.3 years
Median age of population31.44 years38.89 years★
Population Change428,622.9 persons★-41.5 persons
Population density110.8 per sq. km38.34 per sq. km★
Total population36.40M persons★17,629.5 persons
Crude Birth Rate12.36 per 1,000 people★10.69 per 1,000 people
Female population of reproductive age9.69M persons★3,735.85 persons
Female Tertiary Enrollment Rate (%)45.85 %86.55 %★
Fixed Broadband Penetration Rate13.03 %★7.33 %
Global Average Sex Ratio at Birth106.37 male/female106.45 male/female★
Learning-adjusted years of school9.72 years10.02 years★
Length of paid parental leave for mother0 days0 days
Mean Male Height (cm)167.88★167.69
Old-Age Dependency Ratio10.6 %★15.42 %
Percentage of population by degree of urbanization83.21 %★39.51 %
Population living in slums0.2 %0.36 %★
Total deaths179,998.3 persons211.2 persons★
Total demand for family planning (Percent)42.17 %★39.78 %
Total fertility rate1.53 per woman1.84 per woman★
Total net-migration162,673.4 persons★-13.2 persons
Under-five mortality rate5.53 per live births★20.68 per live births
Urban Population Annual Growth Rate1.79 %★-0.09 %

Travel and Tourism

1 metric
Metric🇲🇾 Malaysia🇵🇼 PalauShare
Tourism Receipts per Capita7.89B USD★14.99M USD

Frequently Asked Questions About Malaysia vs Palau

Which has a larger population, Malaysia or Palau?▾

Malaysia. Malaysia has 2,065 times as many people as Palau (36.4 million vs 17,630). Data for 2026.

Which has a bigger economy, Malaysia or Palau?▾

Malaysia. Malaysia's economy is 1,905 times the size of Palau's ($466.53 billion vs $244.89 million GDP). Data for 2026.

Which is richer per person, Malaysia or Palau?▾

Palau is richer per person: GDP per capita is about $13,891 in Palau vs $12,818 in Malaysia (2026 GDP in current US dollars divided by population).

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