Malaysia vs Singapore: Compare Statistics
Side-by-side comparison of 171 key metrics across economy, population, geography, and more — latest data through 2026.
Summary
Malaysia has 6.2 times as many people as Singapore (36.4 million vs 5.91 million). Singapore's economy is 41% larger than Malaysia's ($655.64 billion vs $466.53 billion GDP).
Comparing Malaysia and Singapore: Malaysia leads on Refined Petroleum Products Consumption (704,000) against Singapore (1.32); Malaysia leads on Oil Consumption (561,000) against Singapore (1.08); Malaysia leads on Oil Exports (644,900) against Singapore (1.37). Across 171 compared metrics, Malaysia wins on 81 and Singapore wins on 80.
- Communications: 9 metrics compared
- Economy: 67 metrics compared
- Environment: 9 metrics compared
- Geography: 7 metrics compared
- Government: 10 metrics compared
- Health: 22 metrics compared
- Military and Security: 3 metrics compared
- People and Society: 38 metrics compared
- Transportation: 4 metrics compared
- Travel and Tourism: 1 metric compared
- Other: 1 metric compared
Communications
9 metrics| Metric | 🇲🇾 Malaysia | 🇸🇬 Singapore | Share |
|---|---|---|---|
| Fixed Broadband Penetration | 13.55 subscriptions per 100 inhabitants | 27.81 subscriptions per 100 inhabitants★ | |
| Internet Penetration Rate (%) | 98.02 %★ | 94.38 % | |
| Internet Usage Rate by Country (% of Population) | 98.02 %★ | 94.38 % | |
| Internet Users | percent of population: 98% (2023 est.) | percent of population: 94% (2023 est.) | |
| Mobile Internet Speed | 13.55 Mbps | 27.81 Mbps★ | |
| Press Freedom Index Score | 56.09 points★ | 45.78 points | |
| Radios | 10.9★ | 2.6 | |
| Televisions | 10.8★ | 1.33 | |
| Waterways | 7,296 | none |
Economy
67 metricsEnvironment
9 metrics| Metric | 🇲🇾 Malaysia | 🇸🇬 Singapore | Share |
|---|---|---|---|
| Annual CO₂ Emissions Growth (abs) | 13.93M | 2.85M★ | |
| Annual Forest Area Change Rate | -55,896.09 % | -134 %★ | |
| Carbon Dioxide Emissions | 260.01 | 238.96★ | |
| Population Distribution | a highly uneven distribution, with over 80% of the population residing on the Malay Peninsula | most of the urbanization is along the southern coast, with relatively dense population clusters found in the central areas | |
| Protected Land Area for Adaptation | 13.3 sq km★ | 4.3 sq km | |
| Protected Land Area Percentage | 13.3 %★ | 4.6 % | |
| Total Renewable Groundwater Resources by Country | 64 Cubic meters per year★ | 0 Cubic meters per year | |
| Total Renewable Water Resources | 580 | 600★ | |
| Total Threatened Mammal Species | 80 species | 17 species★ |
Geography
7 metrics| Metric | 🇲🇾 Malaysia | 🇸🇬 Singapore | Share |
|---|---|---|---|
| Percentage of land area by degree of urbanization | 4.11 % | 49.48 %★ | |
| Above-Ground Biomass in Forest (tonnes/ha) | 209.87★ | 135.71 | |
| Agricultural land | 85,710 sq. km★ | 6.6 sq. km | |
| Airports per 1,000 Sq Km | 328,550★ | 718 | |
| Coastline Length (km) | 4,675 km★ | 193 km | |
| Dam capacity per capita | 611.58 cubic meters per inhabitant★ | 13.45 cubic meters per inhabitant | |
| Irrigated Land | 4,420★ | 0 |
Government
10 metrics| Metric | 🇲🇾 Malaysia | 🇸🇬 Singapore | Share |
|---|---|---|---|
| Rule of Law Index by Country | 67.87 % | 99.12 %★ | |
| Administrative Divisions | 13 | no first-order administrative divisions; five community development councils: Central Singapore Development Council, North East Development Council, North West Development Council, South East Development Council, South West Development Council (2019) | |
| Corruption Perception Index | 50 index★ | 84 index | |
| Corruption Perceptions Index Score | 50 index | 84 index★ | |
| Independence | 31★ | 9 | |
| LGBT Rights Index Score | -2.46 | -0.21★ | |
| Political Stability Index | 51 index | 97 index★ | |
| Prison Population Rate | 206 per 100,000 | 185 per 100,000★ | |
| Public Sector Corruption Perception | 50★ | 84 | |
| Suffrage Participation Rate | 18 | 21★ |
Health
22 metricsMilitary and Security
3 metrics| Metric | 🇲🇾 Malaysia | 🇸🇬 Singapore | Share |
|---|---|---|---|
| Active Military Personnel | 113,000 personnel★ | 51,000 personnel | |
| Military Expenditure (% of GDP) | 1.04 %★ | 3.05 % | |
| Total Armed Forces Personnel (PPP) | 136,000★ | 59,000 |
People and Society
38 metricsTransportation
4 metrics| Metric | 🇲🇾 Malaysia | 🇸🇬 Singapore | Share |
|---|---|---|---|
| Air Travel Trips Per Capita (PPP) | 1.58 | 4.21★ | |
| Airports | 100★ | 9 | |
| Civil Air Travel | 53★ | 38 | |
| Heliports | 24★ | 1 |
Travel and Tourism
1 metric| Metric | 🇲🇾 Malaysia | 🇸🇬 Singapore | Share |
|---|---|---|---|
| Tourism Receipts per Capita | 24.59B USD★ | 23.85B USD |
Other
1 metric| Metric | 🇲🇾 Malaysia | 🇸🇬 Singapore | Share |
|---|---|---|---|
| Current Bank Rate | 2.75 %★ | 2.5 % |
Frequently Asked Questions About Malaysia vs Singapore
Which has a larger population, Malaysia or Singapore?▾
Malaysia. Malaysia has 6.2 times as many people as Singapore (36.4 million vs 5.91 million). Data for 2026.
Which has a bigger economy, Malaysia or Singapore?▾
Singapore. Singapore's economy is 41% larger than Malaysia's ($655.64 billion vs $466.53 billion GDP). Data for 2026.
Which is richer per person, Malaysia or Singapore?▾
Singapore is richer per person: GDP per capita is about $110,953 in Singapore vs $12,818 in Malaysia (2026 GDP in current US dollars divided by population).