Malaysia vs Romania: Compare Statistics

Side-by-side comparison of 178 key metrics across economy, population, geography, and more — latest data through 2026.

Summary

Malaysia has 94% more people than Romania (36.4 million vs 18.8 million). Malaysia's economy is 5% larger than Romania's ($466.53 billion vs $442.89 billion GDP).

Comparing Malaysia and Romania: Malaysia leads on Share of population in poverty ($3 a day) (0.01) against Romania (2.03); Romania leads on Oil Proved Reserves (600) against Malaysia (4); Romania leads on Natural Gas Proved Reserves (105.50) against Malaysia (1.18). Across 178 compared metrics, Malaysia wins on 96 and Romania wins on 73.

  • Communications: 9 metrics compared
  • Economy: 68 metrics compared
  • Environment: 12 metrics compared
  • Geography: 7 metrics compared
  • Government: 9 metrics compared
  • Health: 22 metrics compared
  • Military and Security: 3 metrics compared
  • People and Society: 41 metrics compared
  • Transportation: 5 metrics compared
  • Travel and Tourism: 1 metric compared
  • Other: 1 metric compared

Communications

9 metrics
MetricšŸ‡²šŸ‡¾ MalaysiašŸ‡·šŸ‡“ RomaniaShare
Fixed Broadband Penetration13.55 subscriptions per 100 inhabitants35.8 subscriptions per 100 inhabitantsā˜…
Internet Penetration Rate (%)98.02 %ā˜…91.29 %
Internet Usage Rate by Country (% of Population)98.02 %ā˜…91.29 %
Internet Userspercent of population: 98% (2023 est.)percent of population: 89% (2023 est.)
Mobile Internet Speed13.55 Mbps35.8 Mbpsā˜…
Press Freedom Index Score56.09 points66.42 pointsā˜…
Radios10.9ā˜…7.2
Televisions10.8ā˜…5.25
Waterways7,200ā˜…1,731

Economy

68 metrics
MetricšŸ‡²šŸ‡¾ MalaysiašŸ‡·šŸ‡“ RomaniaShare
Agriculture Value Added as a Share of GDP by Country47.38B $ā˜…16.27B $
Gross Domestic Product (GDP) by Country in Current US Dollars466.53B $ā˜…442.89B $
AI Investment (% of GDP)21.95 %25 %ā˜…
Apple Import Volume101.62M tonnes102.68M tonnesā˜…
Bank Account Ownership Rate88.69 %ā˜…71.34 %
Central Bank Discount Rate (%)3 %ā˜…1.75 %
Coal Revenue0.020.03ā˜…
Commercial Bank Prime Lending Rate (%)4.61 %5.57 %ā˜…
Corporate Tax Rate Trends24 %ā˜…16 %
Current Health Expenditure (% of GDP)3.8 % of GDP5.6 % of GDPā˜…
Ease of Doing Business Index83.387.7ā˜…
Electricity Consumption136.9ā˜…49.64
Electricity Exports311.22ā˜…
Electricity from Fossil Fuels78ā˜…47
Electricity from Hydroelectric Plants1829ā˜…
Electricity from Nuclear Fuels06ā˜…
Electricity from Other Renewables419ā˜…
Electricity Imports33ā˜…4.18
Electricity Installed Capacity33ā˜…23.94
Electricity Production148.3ā˜…61.78
Energy Consumption per Capita (USD)113.16 USD per capitaā˜…59.38 USD per capita
Female Labor Force Participation Rate56.67 %57.6 %ā˜…
Gini Index Coefficient40.7ā˜…32.3
Gross Fixed Investment25.226.4ā˜…
Gross National Saving28.5ā˜…21.1
High-Tech Export Percentage63.18 %ā˜…59.4 %
Highest GDP per Capita Countries35,461.45 USD40,845.98 USDā˜…
Industrial Production Growth Rate (%)4.9 %ā˜…-0.9 %
Inflation Rate1.38 %ā˜…7.19 %
Inflation Rate (Consumer Prices)1.8 %ā˜…5.7 %
Military Expenditures (% of GDP)1 % of GDP2.3 % of GDPā˜…
Natural Gas Consumption30.44ā˜…11.58
Natural Gas Exports38.23ā˜…22.65
Natural Gas Imports2.8ā˜…1.22
Natural Gas Production69.49ā˜…10.87
Natural Gas Proved Reserves1.18105.5ā˜…
Number of AI Patents Filed5 patents12 patentsā˜…
Oil Consumption561,000ā˜…196,000
Oil Exports644,900ā˜…95,500
Oil Imports355,300ā˜…193,100
Oil Production664,800ā˜…107,100
Oil Proved Reserves4600ā˜…
Population Below Poverty Line6.2 peopleā˜…21.1 people
Private Investment (% of GDP)15.89 % of GDP19.42 % of GDPā˜…
Public Debt64.350.9ā˜…
R&D Expenditure (% of GDP)1.01 %ā˜…0.46 %
Real GDP Growth Rate (USD)5.1 USDā˜…0.8 USD
Real Interest Rate Trends5.3 %ā˜…0.29 %
Refined Petroleum Products Consumption704,000ā˜…198,000
Refined Petroleum Products Exports208,400ā˜…103,000
Refined Petroleum Products Imports304,600ā˜…49,420
Refined Petroleum Products Production528,300ā˜…232,600
Remittances0.42.5ā˜…
Researchers in R&D per Million1,218.33 researchersā˜…998.73 researchers
Revenue from Forest Resources1.57ā˜…0.16
Robotics Research Funding1.01 USDā˜…0.46 USD
Share of population in poverty ($3 a day)0.01ā˜…2.03
Tax Burden (% of GDP)12.43 %ā˜…16.21 %
Tax Revenue (% of GDP)12.43 % of GDP16.21 % of GDPā˜…
Taxes and Other Revenues12.616.2ā˜…
Top Exporting Countries301.22B USDā˜…136.20B USD
Top FDI Inflows (% of GDP)3.69 %ā˜…1.87 %
Total Number of Billionaires19ā˜…6
Tourism Contribution to GDP0.75 %1.58 %ā˜…
Tourism Revenue (% of GDP)0.75 %1.58 %ā˜…
Unemployment Rate3.9 %ā˜…5.4 %
Youth Labor Force Participation Rate66.12 %51.33 %ā˜…
Youth Unemployment Rate11.95 %ā˜…24.54 %

Environment

12 metrics
MetricšŸ‡²šŸ‡¾ MalaysiašŸ‡·šŸ‡“ RomaniaShare
Annual COā‚‚ Emissions Growth (abs)13.93M685,376ā˜…
Annual Forest Area Change Rate-60,000 %5,616.02 %ā˜…
Average Annual Temperature25.87 °Cā˜…11.05 °C
Carbon Dioxide Emissions260.0161.42ā˜…
Continental Shelf200200
Global Precipitation Distribution3,150.09 mmā˜…690.52 mm
Population Distributiona highly uneven distribution, with over 80% of the population residing on the Malay Peninsulaurbanization is not particularly high, and the population distribution is fairly even throughout most of the country, with urban areas attracting larger and denser populations
Protected Land Area for Adaptation13.3 sq km24.63 sq kmā˜…
Protected Land Area Percentage13.3 %24.6 %ā˜…
Total Renewable Groundwater Resources by Country64 Cubic meters per yearā˜…8.46 Cubic meters per year
Total Renewable Water Resources580ā˜…212.01
Total Threatened Mammal Species80 species14 speciesā˜…

Geography

7 metrics
MetricšŸ‡²šŸ‡¾ MalaysiašŸ‡·šŸ‡“ RomaniaShare
Percentage of land area by degree of urbanization4.11 %ā˜…2.11 %
Above-Ground Biomass in Forest (tonnes/ha)209.87ā˜…207.5
Agricultural land85,710 sq. km118,778 sq. kmā˜…
Airports per 1,000 Sq Km328,550ā˜…230,080
Coastline Length (km)4,675 kmā˜…225 km
Dam capacity per capita611.58 cubic meters per inhabitantā˜…590.53 cubic meters per inhabitant
Irrigated Land4,4205,280ā˜…

Government

9 metrics
MetricšŸ‡²šŸ‡¾ MalaysiašŸ‡·šŸ‡“ RomaniaShare
Rule of Law Index by Country67.87 %ā˜…63.14 %
Administrative Divisions1341ā˜…
Corruption Perception Index50 index46 indexā˜…
Corruption Perceptions Index Score50 indexā˜…46 index
Independence31ā˜…9
LGBT Rights Index Score-2.464.96ā˜…
Prison Population Rate244 per 100,000129 per 100,000ā˜…
Public Sector Corruption Perception5046ā˜…
Suffrage Participation Rate1818

Health

22 metrics
MetricšŸ‡²šŸ‡¾ MalaysiašŸ‡·šŸ‡“ RomaniaShare
Access to Safe Drinking Water94.7 %ā˜…82.18 %
Average BMI for Adults25.3 kg/m²27 kg/mĀ²ā˜…
Change in Measles Immunization Rate96 %ā˜…78 %
Diabetes Deaths Per 100,000 (Age-Std)13.0110.27ā˜…
Diabetes Prevalence (% of Population)21.1ā˜…7.5
Female Life Expectancy Leaders76.82 yearsā˜…76.46 years
Global Stillbirth Rate Trends0.48 per 1,000 births0.35 per 1,000 birthsā˜…
Health Care Spending per Capita1,703.34 USD3,167.1 USDā˜…
Health Coverage Index Score80 scoreā˜…77 score
Health Expenditure (% of GDP)4.4 % of GDP6.5 % of GDPā˜…
Highest Male Life Expectancy76.82 yearsā˜…76.46 years
HIV/AIDS Adult Prevalence Rate0.3 %0.2 %ā˜…
Hospital Bed Density2 people/sq km7.1 people/sq kmā˜…
Hospital Beds per Capita1.94 beds per 1,0007.23 beds per 1,000ā˜…
Low Birth Weight Prevalence13.81 %8.82 %ā˜…
Maternal Mortality Ratio (%)26 %12 %ā˜…
Nurses and Midwives Density4.03 per 1,000 people8.25 per 1,000 peopleā˜…
Obesity Adult Prevalence Rate (%)15.6 %ā˜…22.5 %
Out-of-Pocket Health Spending37.09 %22.96 %ā˜…
People Living With HIV/AIDS92,00019,000ā˜…
Total Number of Doctors2.293.63ā˜…
Underweight Children Under 514.1NA

Military and Security

3 metrics
MetricšŸ‡²šŸ‡¾ MalaysiašŸ‡·šŸ‡“ RomaniaShare
Active Military Personnel113,000 personnelā˜…72,000 personnel
Military Expenditure (% of GDP)1.04 %ā˜…2.28 %
Total Armed Forces Personnel (PPP)136,000ā˜…128,000

People and Society

41 metrics
MetricšŸ‡²šŸ‡¾ MalaysiašŸ‡·šŸ‡“ RomaniaShare
Currently married (Percent)58.88 %ā˜…53.04 %
Human Capital Index0.65ā˜…0.58
Life expectancy at birth80.87 years81.09 yearsā˜…
Median age of population31.44 years43.42 yearsā˜…
Population Change428,622.9 personsā˜…-92,387.5 persons
Population density110.8 per sq. km81.9 per sq. kmā˜…
Total population36.40M personsā˜…18.80M persons
Academic Freedom Index0.290.75ā˜…
Average Female Breast Size by Country: Worldwide Data & RankingsAAA-Bā˜…
Beer Consumption per Capita0.51 liters4.95 litersā˜…
Birth Rate (%)14.05 %ā˜…8.45 %
Contraceptive Prevalence Rate52.2 %NA
Crude Birth Rate12.36 per 1,000 peopleā˜…7.5 per 1,000 people
Death Rate (%)5.8 %ā˜…14.28 %
Education Expenditure (% of GDP)3.5 % of GDPā˜…3.3 % of GDP
Female population of reproductive age9.69M personsā˜…3.98M persons
Female Tertiary Enrollment Rate (%)44.3 %62.96 %ā˜…
Fixed Broadband Penetration Rate13.55 %35.8 %ā˜…
Global Average Sex Ratio at Birth106.37 male/femaleā˜…105.42 male/female
Human Development Index0.480.55ā˜…
Labor Force Participation Rate18.26ā˜…8.26
Learning-adjusted years of school9.72 yearsā˜…8.2 years
Length of paid parental leave for mother0 days30 daysā˜…
Major Urban Areas Population8.62 peopleā˜…1.78 people
Mean Male Height (cm)167.88174.74ā˜…
Mean Years of Schooling11.96 yearsā˜…11.28 years
Military Manpower at Military Age21ā˜…20
Military Service Age and Obligation17typically 18-35 years of age for voluntary service for men and women; compulsory service ended in 2007 (2025) note: in 2025, the Romanian Government approved a voluntary service plan for citizens aged 18 to 35 to apply for a four-month basic military trai
Old-Age Dependency Ratio10.6 %ā˜…30.68 %
Percentage of population by degree of urbanization83.21 %ā˜…55.21 %
Physician Density2.34 people/sq km3.63 people/sq kmā˜…
Population Growth Rate0.97 %ā˜…-0.86 %
Population living in slums0.2 %1.91 %ā˜…
Primary School Pupil-Teacher Ratio11.66ā˜…19.33
Total deaths179,998.3 personsā˜…224,274.3 persons
Total demand for family planning (Percent)42.17 %59.15 %ā˜…
Total fertility rate1.53 per woman1.71 per womanā˜…
Total net-migration162,673.4 personsā˜…-44,837 persons
Under-five mortality rate5.53 per live birthsā˜…5.91 per live births
Urban Population Annual Growth Rate1.79 %ā˜…-0.16 %
Voting Age Population53.4 millionsā˜…40.48 millions

Transportation

5 metrics
MetricšŸ‡²šŸ‡¾ MalaysiašŸ‡·šŸ‡“ RomaniaShare
Air Travel Trips Per Capita (PPP)1.58ā˜…0.61
Airports100103ā˜…
Annual Human Space Visits (Total)00
Civil Air Travel5359ā˜…
Heliports2424

Travel and Tourism

1 metric
MetricšŸ‡²šŸ‡¾ MalaysiašŸ‡·šŸ‡“ RomaniaShare
Tourism Receipts per Capita24.59B USDā˜…6.15B USD

Other

1 metric
MetricšŸ‡²šŸ‡¾ MalaysiašŸ‡·šŸ‡“ RomaniaShare
Current Bank Rate2.75 %6.5 %ā˜…

Frequently Asked Questions About Malaysia vs Romania

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

Malaysia. Malaysia has 94% more people than Romania (36.4 million vs 18.8 million). Data for 2026.

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

Malaysia. Malaysia's economy is 5% larger than Romania's ($466.53 billion vs $442.89 billion GDP). Data for 2026.

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

Romania is richer per person: GDP per capita is about $23,555 in Romania vs $12,818 in Malaysia (2026 GDP in current US dollars divided by population).

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