Malaysia vs Rwanda: Compare Statistics

Side-by-side comparison of 170 key metrics across economy, population, geography, and more — latest data through 2026.

Summary

Malaysia has 2.4 times as many people as Rwanda (36.4 million vs 14.88 million). Malaysia's economy is 27.1 times the size of Rwanda's ($466.53 billion vs $17.19 billion GDP).

Comparing Malaysia and Rwanda: Rwanda leads on Radios (601,000) against Malaysia (10.90); Malaysia leads on Malaria Incidence Rate (0.07 cases per 1,000) against Rwanda (711.44 cases per 1,000); Rwanda leads on Electricity Installed Capacity (191,000) against Malaysia (33). Across 170 compared metrics, Malaysia wins on 105 and Rwanda wins on 57.

  • Communications: 9 metrics compared
  • Economy: 65 metrics compared
  • Environment: 11 metrics compared
  • Geography: 7 metrics compared
  • Government: 9 metrics compared
  • Health: 22 metrics compared
  • Military and Security: 3 metrics compared
  • People and Society: 39 metrics compared
  • Transportation: 3 metrics compared
  • Travel and Tourism: 1 metric compared
  • Other: 1 metric compared

Communications

9 metrics
MetricšŸ‡²šŸ‡¾ MalaysiašŸ‡·šŸ‡¼ RwandaShare
Fixed Broadband Penetration13.55 subscriptions per 100 inhabitantsā˜…0.6 subscriptions per 100 inhabitants
Internet Penetration Rate (%)98.02 %ā˜…31.7 %
Internet Usage Rate by Country (% of Population)97.69 %ā˜…34.2 %
Internet Userspercent of population: 98% (2023 est.)percent of population: 34% (2023 est.)
Mobile Internet Speed13.55 Mbpsā˜…0.6 Mbps
Press Freedom Index Score56.09 pointsā˜…35.84 points
Radios10.9601,000ā˜…
Televisions10.8NA; probably less than 1,000 (1997)
Waterways7,200ā˜…90

Economy

65 metrics
MetricšŸ‡²šŸ‡¾ MalaysiašŸ‡·šŸ‡¼ RwandaShare
Agriculture Value Added as a Share of GDP by Country47.38B $ā˜…3.96B $
Gross Domestic Product (GDP) by Country in Current US Dollars466.53B $ā˜…17.19B $
AI Investment (% of GDP)21.95 %25.91 %ā˜…
Bank Account Ownership Rate85.34 %ā˜…50.02 %
Central Bank Discount Rate (%)3 %7.75 %ā˜…
Coal Revenue0.02ā˜…0
Commercial Bank Prime Lending Rate (%)4.61 %17.17 %ā˜…
Current Health Expenditure (% of GDP)3.8 % of GDP7.5 % of GDPā˜…
Ease of Doing Business Index83.393.2ā˜…
Electricity Consumption136.9527.3ā˜…
Electricity Exports34ā˜…
Electricity from Fossil Fuels78ā˜…42
Electricity from Hydroelectric Plants1851ā˜…
Electricity from Nuclear Fuels00
Electricity from Other Renewables47ā˜…
Electricity Imports3342ā˜…
Electricity Installed Capacity33191,000ā˜…
Electricity Production148.3525ā˜…
Energy Consumption per Capita (USD)113.16 USD per capitaā˜…1.81 USD per capita
Female Labor Force Participation Rate56.67 %60.13 %ā˜…
Gender Pay Gap Percentage-1.43 %27.96 %ā˜…
Gender Wage Gap-1.43 %ā˜…27.96 %
Gini Index Coefficient40.743.7ā˜…
Gross Fixed Investment25.2ā˜…22.1
Gross National Saving28.5ā˜…12.5
High-Tech Export Percentage63.18 %ā˜…4.26 %
Highest GDP per Capita Countries35,461.45 USDā˜…3,558.68 USD
Industrial Production Growth Rate (%)4.9 %10 %ā˜…
Inflation Rate1.38 %ā˜…5.91 %
Inflation Rate (Consumer Prices)1.8 %1.8 %
Military Expenditures (% of GDP)1 % of GDP1.3 % 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 Reserves1.1856.63ā˜…
Oil Consumption561,000ā˜…6,000
Oil Exports644,900ā˜…0
Oil Imports355,300ā˜…5,105
Oil Production664,800ā˜…0
Oil Proved Reserves4ā˜…0
Population Below Poverty Line6.2 peopleā˜…38.2 people
Public Debt64.337.3ā˜…
R&D Expenditure (% of GDP)1.42 %ā˜…0.65 %
Real GDP Growth Rate (USD)5.1 USD8.9 USDā˜…
Real Interest Rate Trends4.46 %7.28 %ā˜…
Refined Petroleum Products Consumption704,000ā˜…6,700
Refined Petroleum Products Exports208,400ā˜…0
Refined Petroleum Products Imports304,600ā˜…6,628
Refined Petroleum Products Production528,300ā˜…0
Remittances0.43.6ā˜…
Researchers in R&D per Million2,334.08 researchersā˜…13.73 researchers
Revenue from Forest Resources1.573.75ā˜…
Robotics Research Funding1.42 USDā˜…0.65 USD
Share of population in poverty ($3 a day)0.11ā˜…65.24
Tax Burden (% of GDP)12.56 %ā˜…13.07 %
Tax Revenue (% of GDP)12.56 % of GDP13.07 % of GDPā˜…
Taxes and Other Revenues12.613.5ā˜…
Top Exporting Countries301.22B USDā˜…4.39B USD
Top FDI Inflows (% of GDP)3.69 %3.79 %ā˜…
Tourism Contribution to GDP2 %ā˜…0.9 %
Tourism Revenue (% of GDP)2 %ā˜…0.9 %
Unemployment Rate3.9 %ā˜…12 %
Youth Labor Force Participation Rate66.12 %63.68 %ā˜…
Youth Unemployment Rate11.95 %ā˜…16.41 %

Environment

11 metrics
MetricšŸ‡²šŸ‡¾ MalaysiašŸ‡·šŸ‡¼ RwandaShare
Annual COā‚‚ Emissions Growth (abs)13.93M17,535ā˜…
Annual Forest Area Change Rate-60,000 %14,560 %ā˜…
Average Annual Temperature25.87 °Cā˜…20.12 °C
Carbon Dioxide Emissions260.011.65ā˜…
Global Precipitation Distribution3,150.09 mmā˜…1,415.68 mm
Population Distributiona highly uneven distribution, with over 80% of the population residing on the Malay Peninsulaone of Africa's most densely populated countries; large concentrations tend to be in the central regions and along the shore of Lake Kivu in the west, as shown in this population distribution map
Protected Land Area for Adaptation13.3 sq kmā˜…9.1 sq km
Protected Land Area Percentage13.3 %ā˜…9.1 %
Total Renewable Groundwater Resources by Country64 Cubic meters per yearā˜…7 Cubic meters per year
Total Renewable Water Resources580ā˜…13.3
Total Threatened Mammal Species80 species24 speciesā˜…

Geography

7 metrics
MetricšŸ‡²šŸ‡¾ MalaysiašŸ‡·šŸ‡¼ RwandaShare
Percentage of land area by degree of urbanization4.11 %60.08 %ā˜…
Above-Ground Biomass in Forest (tonnes/ha)209.87ā˜…146.06
Agricultural land85,710 sq. kmā˜…20,490.02 sq. km
Airports per 1,000 Sq Km328,550ā˜…24,670
Coastline Length (km)4,675 kmā˜…0 km
Dam capacity per capita611.58 cubic meters per inhabitantā˜…0 cubic meters per inhabitant
Irrigated Land4,420ā˜…96

Government

9 metrics
MetricšŸ‡²šŸ‡¾ MalaysiašŸ‡·šŸ‡¼ RwandaShare
Rule of Law Index by Country67.87 %ā˜…58.22 %
Administrative Divisions13ā˜…4
Corruption Perception Index50 indexā˜…57 index
Corruption Perceptions Index Score50 index57 indexā˜…
Independence31ā˜…1
LGBT Rights Index Score-2.46-0.93ā˜…
Prison Population Rate206 per 100,000ā˜…545 per 100,000
Public Sector Corruption Perception50ā˜…57
Suffrage Participation Rate1818

Health

22 metrics
MetricšŸ‡²šŸ‡¾ MalaysiašŸ‡·šŸ‡¼ RwandaShare
Average BMI for Adults25.3 kg/mĀ²ā˜…21.3 kg/m²
Change in Measles Immunization Rate96 %97 %ā˜…
Diabetes Prevalence (% of Population)21.1ā˜…2.1
Female Life Expectancy Leaders76.82 yearsā˜…68.02 years
Global Stillbirth Rate Trends0.48 per 1,000 birthsā˜…1.62 per 1,000 births
Health Care Spending per Capita1,703.34 USDā˜…243.33 USD
Health Coverage Index Score80 scoreā˜…59 score
Health Expenditure (% of GDP)4.4 % of GDP7.3 % of GDPā˜…
Highest Male Life Expectancy76.82 yearsā˜…68.02 years
HIV/AIDS Adult Prevalence Rate0.3 %ā˜…2.3 %
Hospital Bed Density2 people/sq kmā˜…0.7 people/sq km
Hospital Beds per Capita1.96 beds per 1,000ā˜…0.75 beds per 1,000
Low Birth Weight Prevalence13.81 %9.4 %ā˜…
Malaria Incidence Rate0.07 cases per 1,000ā˜…711.44 cases per 1,000
Maternal Mortality Ratio (%)26 %ā˜…229 %
Nurses and Midwives Density4.03 per 1,000 peopleā˜…1.11 per 1,000 people
Obesity Adult Prevalence Rate (%)15.6 %5.8 %ā˜…
Out-of-Pocket Health Spending37.09 %4.1 %ā˜…
People Living With HIV/AIDS92,000ā˜…220,000
Psychiatrist Density Per 100,000 People1 per 100,000 peopleā˜…0 per 100,000 people
Total Number of Doctors2.29ā˜…0.09
Underweight Children Under 515.37.7ā˜…

Military and Security

3 metrics
MetricšŸ‡²šŸ‡¾ MalaysiašŸ‡·šŸ‡¼ RwandaShare
Active Military Personnel113,000 personnelā˜…33,000 personnel
Military Expenditure (% of GDP)1.04 %ā˜…1.29 %
Total Armed Forces Personnel (PPP)136,000ā˜…35,000

People and Society

39 metrics
MetricšŸ‡²šŸ‡¾ MalaysiašŸ‡·šŸ‡¼ RwandaShare
Currently married (Percent)58.88 %ā˜…50.33 %
Human Capital Index0.65ā˜…0.39
Life expectancy at birth80.87 yearsā˜…70.82 years
Median age of population31.44 yearsā˜…20.15 years
Population Change428,622.9 personsā˜…325,380.5 persons
Population density110.8 per sq. kmā˜…614.1 per sq. km
Total population36.40M personsā˜…14.88M persons
Academic Freedom Index0.29ā˜…0.1
Beer Consumption per Capita0.51 liters1.71 litersā˜…
Birth Rate (%)14.05 %25.05 %ā˜…
Contraceptive Prevalence Rate52.2 %64.1 %ā˜…
Crude Birth Rate12.36 per 1,000 people28.06 per 1,000 peopleā˜…
Death Rate (%)5.8 %4.87 %ā˜…
Education Expenditure (% of GDP)3.5 % of GDP4.7 % of GDPā˜…
Female population of reproductive age9.69M personsā˜…3.93M persons
Female Tertiary Enrollment Rate (%)45.85 %ā˜…8.4 %
Fixed Broadband Penetration Rate13.55 %ā˜…0.6 %
Global Average Sex Ratio at Birth106.37 male/femaleā˜…102.08 male/female
Human Development Index0.48ā˜…0.22
Labor Force Participation Rate18.26ā˜…5.67
Learning-adjusted years of school9.72 yearsā˜…4.26 years
Length of paid parental leave for mother0 days0 days
Major Urban Areas Population8.62 peopleā˜…1.25 people
Mean Male Height (cm)167.88ā˜…162.68
Mean Years of Schooling11.96 yearsā˜…5.24 years
Military Service Age and Obligation17typically 18-30 years of age for men and women for voluntary military service (including officer candidates and those with university degrees and specialized qualifications); enlistment is either as contract (5-years, renewable twice) or career profession
Old-Age Dependency Ratio10.6 %6.54 %ā˜…
Percentage of population by degree of urbanization83.21 %94.47 %ā˜…
Physician Density2.34 people/sq kmā˜…0.09 people/sq km
Population Growth Rate0.97 %2 %ā˜…
Population living in slums0.2 %32.19 %ā˜…
Primary School Pupil-Teacher Ratio11.66ā˜…57.86
Total deaths179,998.3 persons85,584.6 personsā˜…
Total demand for family planning (Percent)42.17 %48.63 %ā˜…
Total fertility rate1.53 per woman3.52 per womanā˜…
Total net-migration162,673.4 personsā˜…4,931.3 persons
Under-five mortality rate5.53 per live birthsā˜…32.92 per live births
Urban Population Annual Growth Rate1.79 %5.55 %ā˜…
Voting Age Population62.14 millions104.31 millionsā˜…

Transportation

3 metrics
MetricšŸ‡²šŸ‡¾ MalaysiašŸ‡·šŸ‡¼ RwandaShare
Air Travel Trips Per Capita (PPP)1.58ā˜…0.04
Airports100ā˜…8
Civil Air Travel53ā˜…2

Travel and Tourism

1 metric
MetricšŸ‡²šŸ‡¾ MalaysiašŸ‡·šŸ‡¼ RwandaShare
Tourism Receipts per Capita17.90B USDā˜…710.58M USD

Other

1 metric
MetricšŸ‡²šŸ‡¾ MalaysiašŸ‡·šŸ‡¼ RwandaShare
Current Bank Rate2.75 %6.75 %ā˜…

Frequently Asked Questions About Malaysia vs Rwanda

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

Malaysia. Malaysia has 2.4 times as many people as Rwanda (36.4 million vs 14.88 million). Data for 2026.

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

Malaysia. Malaysia's economy is 27.1 times the size of Rwanda's ($466.53 billion vs $17.19 billion GDP). Data for 2026.

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

Malaysia is richer per person: GDP per capita is about $12,818 in Malaysia vs $1,155 in Rwanda (2026 GDP in current US dollars divided by population).

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