Malaysia vs Panama: Compare Statistics

Side-by-side comparison of 173 key metrics across economy, population, geography, and more — latest data through 2026.

Summary

Malaysia has 7.9 times as many people as Panama (36.4 million vs 4.63 million). Malaysia's economy is 4.5 times the size of Panama's ($466.53 billion vs $104.39 billion GDP).

Comparing Malaysia and Panama: Panama leads on Radios (815,000) against Malaysia (10.90); Panama leads on Televisions (510,000) against Malaysia (10.80); Malaysia leads on Refined Petroleum Products Exports (208,400) against Panama (66). Across 173 compared metrics, Malaysia wins on 99 and Panama wins on 68.

  • Communications: 9 metrics compared
  • Economy: 68 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: 38 metrics compared
  • Transportation: 4 metrics compared
  • Travel and Tourism: 1 metric compared

Communications

9 metrics
MetricšŸ‡²šŸ‡¾ MalaysiašŸ‡µšŸ‡¦ PanamaShare
Fixed Broadband Penetration13.03 subscriptions per 100 inhabitants18.13 subscriptions per 100 inhabitantsā˜…
Internet Penetration Rate (%)98.02 %ā˜…72.77 %
Internet Usage Rate by Country (% of Population)97.69 %ā˜…68.55 %
Internet Userspercent of population: 98% (2023 est.)percent of population: 78% (2023 est.)
Mobile Internet Speed13.03 Mbps18.13 Mbpsā˜…
Press Freedom Index Score56.09 points66.75 pointsā˜…
Radios10.9815,000ā˜…
Televisions10.8510,000ā˜…
Waterways7,200ā˜…800

Economy

68 metrics
MetricšŸ‡²šŸ‡¾ MalaysiašŸ‡µšŸ‡¦ PanamaShare
Agriculture Value Added as a Share of GDP by Country47.38B $ā˜…2.32B $
Gross Domestic Product (GDP) by Country in Current US Dollars466.53B $ā˜…104.39B $
AI Investment (% of GDP)21.95 %33.53 %ā˜…
Apple Import Volume101.62M tonnesā˜…12.10M tonnes
Bank Account Ownership Rate88.69 %ā˜…64.1 %
Coal Revenue0.02ā˜…0
Commercial Bank Prime Lending Rate (%)4.61 %7.52 %ā˜…
Corporate Tax Rate Trends24 %25 %ā˜…
Current Health Expenditure (% of GDP)3.8 % of GDP7.3 % of GDPā˜…
Ease of Doing Business Index83.392ā˜…
Electricity Consumption136.9ā˜…8.71
Electricity Exports3139ā˜…
Electricity from Fossil Fuels78ā˜…36
Electricity from Hydroelectric Plants1851ā˜…
Electricity from Nuclear Fuels00
Electricity from Other Renewables413ā˜…
Electricity Imports33ā˜…30
Electricity Installed Capacity33ā˜…3.4
Electricity Production148.3ā˜…10.6
Energy Consumption per Capita (USD)113.16 USD per capitaā˜…78.01 USD per capita
Female Labor Force Participation Rate56.67 %61.06 %ā˜…
Gender Pay Gap Percentage-2.25 %-0.03 %ā˜…
Gender Wage Gap-2.25 %ā˜…-0.03 %
Gini Index Coefficient40.748.9ā˜…
Gross Fixed Investment25.230.1ā˜…
Gross National Saving28.538.9ā˜…
High-Tech Export Percentage63.18 %ā˜…7.69 %
Highest GDP per Capita Countries35,461.45 USD37,516.18 USDā˜…
Industrial Production Growth Rate (%)4.9 %ā˜…-2.6 %
Inflation Rate1.38 %-0.19 %ā˜…
Inflation Rate (Consumer Prices)1.8 %0.7 %ā˜…
Military Expenditures (% of GDP)1 % of GDP1.1 % of GDPā˜…
Natural Gas Consumption30.44ā˜…0
Natural Gas Exports38.23ā˜…0
Natural Gas Imports2.8ā˜…0
Natural Gas Production69.49ā˜…0
Natural Gas Proved Reserves1.18ā˜…0
Number of AI Patents Filed11 patentsā˜…2 patents
Oil Consumption561,000ā˜…97,000
Oil Exports644,900ā˜…0
Oil Imports355,300ā˜…77,910
Oil Production664,800ā˜…0
Oil Proved Reserves4ā˜…0
Population Below Poverty Line6.2 peopleā˜…21.8 people
Private Investment (% of GDP)15.89 % of GDP25.41 % of GDPā˜…
Public Debt64.337.4ā˜…
R&D Expenditure (% of GDP)1.01 %ā˜…0.18 %
Real GDP Growth Rate (USD)5.1 USDā˜…2.9 USD
Real Interest Rate Trends-2.25 %4.61 %ā˜…
Refined Petroleum Products Consumption704,000ā˜…146,000
Refined Petroleum Products Exports208,400ā˜…66
Refined Petroleum Products Imports304,600ā˜…129,200
Refined Petroleum Products Production528,300ā˜…0
Remittances0.40.6ā˜…
Researchers in R&D per Million1,218.33 researchersā˜…142.28 researchers
Revenue from Forest Resources1.57ā˜…0.08
Robotics Research Funding1.01 USDā˜…0.18 USD
Share of population in poverty ($3 a day)0.01ā˜…3.3
Tax Burden (% of GDP)12.43 %7.18 %ā˜…
Tax Revenue (% of GDP)12.43 % of GDPā˜…7.18 % of GDP
Taxes and Other Revenues12.6ā˜…7.5
Top Exporting Countries301.22B USDā˜…38.38B USD
Top FDI Inflows (% of GDP)3.69 %ā˜…2.41 %
Tourism Contribution to GDP2.67 %10 %ā˜…
Tourism Revenue (% of GDP)2.67 %10 %ā˜…
Unemployment Rate3.9 %ā˜…6.6 %
Youth Labor Force Participation Rate66.12 %ā˜…66.3 %
Youth Unemployment Rate11.95 %ā˜…19.77 %

Environment

11 metrics
MetricšŸ‡²šŸ‡¾ MalaysiašŸ‡µšŸ‡¦ PanamaShare
Annual COā‚‚ Emissions Growth (abs)13.93M-337,693ā˜…
Annual Forest Area Change Rate-60,000 %-3,014.06 %ā˜…
Average Annual Temperature25.87 °Cā˜…25.14 °C
Carbon Dioxide Emissions260.0123.46ā˜…
Global Precipitation Distribution3,150.09 mm3,521.89 mmā˜…
Population Distributiona highly uneven distribution, with over 80% of the population residing on the Malay Peninsulapopulation is concentrated towards the center of the country, particularly around the Canal, but a sizeable segment of the populace also lives in the far west around David; the eastern third of the country is sparsely inhabited
Protected Land Area for Adaptation13.3 sq km31.4 sq kmā˜…
Protected Land Area Percentage13.3 %31.4 %ā˜…
Total Renewable Groundwater Resources by Country64 Cubic meters per yearā˜…21 Cubic meters per year
Total Renewable Water Resources580ā˜…139.3
Total Threatened Mammal Species80 species18 speciesā˜…

Geography

7 metrics
MetricšŸ‡²šŸ‡¾ MalaysiašŸ‡µšŸ‡¦ PanamaShare
Percentage of land area by degree of urbanization4.11 %ā˜…1.63 %
Above-Ground Biomass in Forest (tonnes/ha)209.87ā˜…145.1
Agricultural land85,710 sq. kmā˜…21,675.24 sq. km
Airports per 1,000 Sq Km328,550ā˜…74,180
Coastline Length (km)4,675 kmā˜…2,490 km
Dam capacity per capita611.58 cubic meters per inhabitant1,959.21 cubic meters per inhabitantā˜…
Irrigated Land4,420ā˜…394

Government

9 metrics
MetricšŸ‡²šŸ‡¾ MalaysiašŸ‡µšŸ‡¦ PanamaShare
Rule of Law Index by Country67.87 %ā˜…33.75 %
Administrative Divisions13ā˜…10
Corruption Perception Index50 index33 indexā˜…
Corruption Perceptions Index Score50 indexā˜…33 index
Independence31ā˜…3
LGBT Rights Index Score-2.461.94ā˜…
Prison Population Rate244 per 100,000ā˜…533 per 100,000
Public Sector Corruption Perception5033ā˜…
Suffrage Participation Rate1818

Health

23 metrics
MetricšŸ‡²šŸ‡¾ MalaysiašŸ‡µšŸ‡¦ PanamaShare
Average BMI for Adults25.3 kg/m²26.2 kg/mĀ²ā˜…
Change in Measles Immunization Rate96 %ā˜…93 %
Diabetes Deaths Per 100,000 (Age-Std)13.34ā˜…35.75
Diabetes Prevalence (% of Population)21.1ā˜…11.1
Female Life Expectancy Leaders76.82 years79.78 yearsā˜…
Global Stillbirth Rate Trends0.48 per 1,000 birthsā˜…0.66 per 1,000 births
Health Care Spending per Capita1,703.34 USD3,859.64 USDā˜…
Health Coverage Index Score80 score82 scoreā˜…
Health Expenditure (% of GDP)4.4 % of GDP9.7 % of GDPā˜…
Highest Male Life Expectancy76.82 years79.78 yearsā˜…
HIV/AIDS Adult Prevalence Rate0.3 %NA
Hospital Bed Density2 people/sq kmā˜…1.9 people/sq km
Hospital Beds per Capita1.96 beds per 1,000ā˜…1.95 beds per 1,000
Low Birth Weight Prevalence13.81 %10.28 %ā˜…
Malaria Incidence Rate0.07 cases per 1,000ā˜…0.29 cases per 1,000
Maternal Mortality Ratio (%)26 %ā˜…37 %
Nurses and Midwives Density4.03 per 1,000 peopleā˜…3.35 per 1,000 people
Obesity Adult Prevalence Rate (%)15.6 %ā˜…22.7 %
Out-of-Pocket Health Spending37.09 %ā˜…40.46 %
People Living With HIV/AIDS92,00031,000ā˜…
Psychiatrist Density Per 100,000 People1 per 100,000 people6 per 100,000 peopleā˜…
Total Number of Doctors2.29ā˜…1.63
Underweight Children Under 515.32.9ā˜…

Military and Security

3 metrics
MetricšŸ‡²šŸ‡¾ MalaysiašŸ‡µšŸ‡¦ PanamaShare
Active Military Personnel113,000 personnelā˜…0 personnel
Military Expenditure (% of GDP)1.04 %0 %ā˜…
Total Armed Forces Personnel (PPP)136,000ā˜…28,000

People and Society

38 metrics
MetricšŸ‡²šŸ‡¾ MalaysiašŸ‡µšŸ‡¦ PanamaShare
Currently married (Percent)58.88 %ā˜…52.57 %
Human Capital Index0.65ā˜…0.5
Life expectancy at birth80.87 years83.81 yearsā˜…
Median age of population31.44 yearsā˜…30.58 years
Population Change428,622.9 personsā˜…56,877.2 persons
Population density110.8 per sq. km62.39 per sq. kmā˜…
Total population36.40M personsā˜…4.63M persons
Academic Freedom Index0.290.91ā˜…
Beer Consumption per Capita0.51 liters5.34 litersā˜…
Birth Rate (%)14.05 %17.11 %ā˜…
Contraceptive Prevalence Rate52.2 %ā˜…50.8 %
Crude Birth Rate12.36 per 1,000 people15.87 per 1,000 peopleā˜…
Death Rate (%)5.8 %5.48 %ā˜…
Education Expenditure (% of GDP)3.5 % of GDPā˜…2.5 % of GDP
Female population of reproductive age9.69M personsā˜…1.16M persons
Female Tertiary Enrollment Rate (%)44.3 %66.32 %ā˜…
Fixed Broadband Penetration Rate13.03 %18.13 %ā˜…
Global Average Sex Ratio at Birth106.37 male/femaleā˜…105.26 male/female
Human Development Index0.480.55ā˜…
Labor Force Participation Rate18.26ā˜…2.21
Learning-adjusted years of school9.72 yearsā˜…6.58 years
Length of paid parental leave for mother0 days0 days
Major Urban Areas Population8.62 peopleā˜…1.98 people
Mean Male Height (cm)167.88168.49ā˜…
Mean Years of Schooling11.96 yearsā˜…10.44 years
Old-Age Dependency Ratio10.6 %ā˜…13.78 %
Percentage of population by degree of urbanization83.21 %ā˜…68.99 %
Physician Density2.34 people/sq kmā˜…1.63 people/sq km
Population Growth Rate0.97 %1.44 %ā˜…
Population living in slums0.2 %12.04 %ā˜…
Primary School Pupil-Teacher Ratio11.66ā˜…21.96
Total deaths179,998.3 persons21,615.5 personsā˜…
Total demand for family planning (Percent)42.17 %60.42 %ā˜…
Total fertility rate1.53 per woman2.07 per womanā˜…
Total net-migration162,673.4 personsā˜…6,740.3 persons
Under-five mortality rate5.53 per live birthsā˜…12.92 per live births
Urban Population Annual Growth Rate1.79 %ā˜…1.46 %
Voting Age Population52.24 millions80.33 millionsā˜…

Transportation

4 metrics
MetricšŸ‡²šŸ‡¾ MalaysiašŸ‡µšŸ‡¦ PanamaShare
Air Travel Trips Per Capita (PPP)1.58ā˜…0.55
Airports100ā˜…77
Civil Air Travel53ā˜…5
Heliports24ā˜…1

Travel and Tourism

1 metric
MetricšŸ‡²šŸ‡¾ MalaysiašŸ‡µšŸ‡¦ PanamaShare
Tourism Receipts per Capita24.59B USDā˜…9.08B USD

Frequently Asked Questions About Malaysia vs Panama

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

Malaysia. Malaysia has 7.9 times as many people as Panama (36.4 million vs 4.63 million). Data for 2026.

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

Malaysia. Malaysia's economy is 4.5 times the size of Panama's ($466.53 billion vs $104.39 billion GDP). Data for 2026.

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

Panama is richer per person: GDP per capita is about $22,562 in Panama vs $12,818 in Malaysia (2026 GDP in current US dollars divided by population).

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