Malaysia vs United Arab Emirates: Compare Statistics

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

Summary

Malaysia has 3.1 times as many people as United Arab Emirates (36.4 million vs 11.66 million). United Arab Emirates's economy is 43% larger than Malaysia's ($669.39 billion vs $466.53 billion GDP).

Comparing Malaysia and United Arab Emirates: Malaysia leads on Oil Exports (644,900) against United Arab Emirates (2.40); Malaysia leads on Oil Production (664,800) against United Arab Emirates (2.81); United Arab Emirates leads on Radios (820,000) against Malaysia (10.90). Across 173 compared metrics, Malaysia wins on 74 and United Arab Emirates wins on 85.

  • Communications: 9 metrics compared
  • Economy: 64 metrics compared
  • Environment: 12 metrics compared
  • Geography: 7 metrics compared
  • Government: 9 metrics compared
  • Health: 24 metrics compared
  • Military and Security: 3 metrics compared
  • People and Society: 39 metrics compared
  • Transportation: 5 metrics compared
  • Travel and Tourism: 1 metric compared

Communications

9 metrics
MetricšŸ‡²šŸ‡¾ MalaysiašŸ‡¦šŸ‡Ŗ United Arab EmiratesShare
Fixed Broadband Penetration13.55 subscriptions per 100 inhabitants40.84 subscriptions per 100 inhabitantsā˜…
Internet Penetration Rate (%)98.02 %100 %ā˜…
Internet Usage Rate by Country (% of Population)98.02 %100 %ā˜…
Internet Userspercent of population: 98% (2023 est.)percent of population: 100% (2023 est.)
Mobile Internet Speed13.55 Mbps40.84 Mbpsā˜…
Press Freedom Index Score56.09 pointsā˜…26.91 points
Radios10.9820,000ā˜…
Televisions10.8310,000ā˜…
Waterways7,296none

Economy

64 metrics
MetricšŸ‡²šŸ‡¾ MalaysiašŸ‡¦šŸ‡Ŗ United Arab EmiratesShare
Agriculture Value Added as a Share of GDP by Country47.38B $ā˜…5.37B $
Gross Domestic Product (GDP) by Country in Current US Dollars466.53B $669.39B $ā˜…
AI Investment (% of GDP)22.8 %26.64 %ā˜…
Bank Account Ownership Rate88.37 %ā˜…85.74 %
Central Bank Discount Rate (%)3 %NA
Coal Revenue0.02ā˜…0
Commercial Bank Prime Lending Rate (%)4.61 %6 %ā˜…
Corporate Tax Rate Trends24 %ā˜…0 %
Current Health Expenditure (% of GDP)3.8 % of GDP4.2 % of GDPā˜…
Ease of Doing Business Index83.3ā˜…74.1
Electricity Consumption136.9ā˜…113.2
Electricity Exports3ā˜…0
Electricity from Fossil Fuels7899ā˜…
Electricity from Hydroelectric Plants18ā˜…0
Electricity from Nuclear Fuels00
Electricity from Other Renewables4ā˜…1
Electricity Imports33ā˜…1.14
Electricity Installed Capacity33ā˜…28.91
Electricity Production148.3ā˜…121.8
Energy Consumption per Capita (USD)113.16 USD per capita450.43 USD per capitaā˜…
Female Labor Force Participation Rate56.67 %ā˜…54.34 %
Gini Index Coefficient40.7ā˜…26.4
Gross Fixed Investment25.228.5ā˜…
Gross National Saving28.528.5
High-Tech Export Percentage63.18 %ā˜…11.79 %
Highest GDP per Capita Countries34,116.23 USD69,701.79 USDā˜…
Industrial Production Growth Rate (%)4.9 %ā˜…0.8 %
Inflation Rate1.38 %1.25 %ā˜…
Inflation Rate (Consumer Prices)1.8 %1.7 %ā˜…
Military Expenditures (% of GDP)1 % of GDP4 % of GDPā˜…
Natural Gas Consumption30.4474.48ā˜…
Natural Gas Exports38.23ā˜…7.5
Natural Gas Imports2.820.22ā˜…
Natural Gas Production69.49ā˜…62.01
Natural Gas Proved Reserves1.186.09ā˜…
Oil Consumption561,000ā˜…545,000
Oil Exports644,900ā˜…2.4
Oil Imports355,300ā˜…235,300
Oil Production664,800ā˜…2.81
Oil Proved Reserves497.8ā˜…
Population Below Poverty Line5.6 peopleā˜…19.5 people
Private Investment (% of GDP)11.37 % of GDP15.97 % of GDPā˜…
Public Debt64.319.7ā˜…
R&D Expenditure (% of GDP)0.95 %1.49 %ā˜…
Real GDP Growth Rate (USD)5.1 USDā˜…3.8 USD
Refined Petroleum Products Consumption704,000896,000ā˜…
Refined Petroleum Products Exports208,400817,700ā˜…
Refined Petroleum Products Imports304,600392,000ā˜…
Refined Petroleum Products Production528,300943,500ā˜…
Researchers in R&D per Million711.51 researchers2,581.47 researchersā˜…
Revenue from Forest Resources1.57ā˜…0
Robotics Research Funding0.95 USD1.49 USDā˜…
Share of population in poverty ($3 a day)0.030ā˜…
Tax Burden (% of GDP)12.43 %0.65 %ā˜…
Tax Revenue (% of GDP)12.43 % of GDPā˜…0.65 % of GDP
Taxes and Other Revenues12.6ā˜…0.6
Top Exporting Countries274.68B USD558.40B USDā˜…
Top FDI Inflows (% of GDP)3.69 %8.26 %ā˜…
Total Number of Billionaires19ā˜…6
Tourism Contribution to GDP0.75 %6.2 %ā˜…
Tourism Revenue (% of GDP)0.75 %6.2 %ā˜…
Unemployment Rate3.9 %2.2 %ā˜…
Youth Labor Force Participation Rate66.12 %ā˜…78.59 %
Youth Unemployment Rate11.95 %6.45 %ā˜…

Environment

12 metrics
MetricšŸ‡²šŸ‡¾ MalaysiašŸ‡¦šŸ‡Ŗ United Arab EmiratesShare
Annual COā‚‚ Emissions Growth (abs)13.93M11.56Mā˜…
Annual Forest Area Change Rate-60,000 %336 %ā˜…
Average Annual Temperature25.87 °C28.85 °Cā˜…
Carbon Dioxide Emissions260.01ā˜…271.7
Continental Shelf200defined by bilateral boundaries or equidistant line
Global Precipitation Distribution3,150.09 mmā˜…18.71 mm
Population Distributiona highly uneven distribution, with over 80% of the population residing on the Malay Peninsulapopulation is heavily concentrated to the northeast on the Musandam Peninsula; the three largest emirates -- Abu Dhabi, Dubai, and Sharjah -- are home to nearly 85% of the population
Protected Land Area for Adaptation13.3 sq km19.14 sq kmā˜…
Protected Land Area Percentage13.3 %19.2 %ā˜…
Total Renewable Groundwater Resources by Country64 Cubic meters per yearā˜…0.12 Cubic meters per year
Total Renewable Water Resources580ā˜…150
Total Threatened Mammal Species80 species8 speciesā˜…

Geography

7 metrics
MetricšŸ‡²šŸ‡¾ MalaysiašŸ‡¦šŸ‡Ŗ United Arab EmiratesShare
Percentage of land area by degree of urbanization4.11 %4.91 %ā˜…
Above-Ground Biomass in Forest (tonnes/ha)209.87ā˜…74.43
Agricultural land85,710 sq. kmā˜…4,014.84 sq. km
Airports per 1,000 Sq Km328,550ā˜…71,020
Coastline Length (km)4,675 kmā˜…1,318 km
Dam capacity per capita611.58 cubic meters per inhabitantā˜…5.49 cubic meters per inhabitant
Irrigated Land4,420ā˜…940

Government

9 metrics
MetricšŸ‡²šŸ‡¾ MalaysiašŸ‡¦šŸ‡Ŗ United Arab EmiratesShare
Rule of Law Index by Country67.87 %79.62 %ā˜…
Administrative Divisions13ā˜…7
Corruption Perception Index50 indexā˜…68 index
Corruption Perceptions Index Score50 index68 indexā˜…
Independence31ā˜…2
LGBT Rights Index Score-2.46ā˜…-2.53
Prison Population Rate160 per 100,000104 per 100,000ā˜…
Public Sector Corruption Perception50ā˜…68
Suffrage Participation Rate18limited note: rulers of the seven emirates each select a proportion of voters for the Federal National Council (FNC) that accounts for about 12 percent of Emirati citizens

Health

24 metrics
MetricšŸ‡²šŸ‡¾ MalaysiašŸ‡¦šŸ‡Ŗ United Arab EmiratesShare
Access to Safe Drinking Water94.7 %98.64 %ā˜…
Average BMI for Adults25.3 kg/m²28 kg/mĀ²ā˜…
Change in Measles Immunization Rate96 %98 %ā˜…
Diabetes Deaths Per 100,000 (Age-Std)13.0111.12ā˜…
Diabetes Prevalence (% of Population)21.1ā˜…20.7
Female Life Expectancy Leaders76.82 years83.07 yearsā˜…
Global Stillbirth Rate Trends0.48 per 1,000 births0.39 per 1,000 birthsā˜…
Health Care Spending per Capita1,703.34 USD3,627.31 USDā˜…
Health Coverage Index Score80 score84 scoreā˜…
Health Expenditure (% of GDP)4.4 % of GDP5.3 % of GDPā˜…
Highest Male Life Expectancy76.82 years83.07 yearsā˜…
HIV/AIDS Adult Prevalence Rate0.3 %NA
Hospital Bed Density2 people/sq km2 people/sq km
Hospital Beds per Capita1.94 beds per 1,000ā˜…1.87 beds per 1,000
Low Birth Weight Prevalence13.81 %ā˜…13.94 %
Malaria Incidence Rate0.07 cases per 1,0000 cases per 1,000ā˜…
Maternal Mortality Ratio (%)26 %3 %ā˜…
Nurses and Midwives Density4.03 per 1,000 people6.19 per 1,000 peopleā˜…
Obesity Adult Prevalence Rate (%)15.6 %ā˜…31.7 %
Out-of-Pocket Health Spending37.09 %9.67 %ā˜…
People Living With HIV/AIDS92,000<1,000 (2020)
Psychiatrist Density Per 100,000 People1 per 100,000 people4 per 100,000 peopleā˜…
Total Number of Doctors2.342.99ā˜…
Underweight Children Under 514.1NA

Military and Security

3 metrics
MetricšŸ‡²šŸ‡¾ MalaysiašŸ‡¦šŸ‡Ŗ United Arab EmiratesShare
Active Military Personnel113,000 personnelā˜…83,000 personnel
Military Expenditure (% of GDP)1.46 %ā˜…5.64 %
Total Armed Forces Personnel (PPP)136,000ā˜…63,000

People and Society

39 metrics
MetricšŸ‡²šŸ‡¾ MalaysiašŸ‡¦šŸ‡Ŗ United Arab EmiratesShare
Currently married (Percent)58.88 %69.02 %ā˜…
Human Capital Index0.650.71ā˜…
Life expectancy at birth80.87 years85.97 yearsā˜…
Median age of population31.44 years31.86 yearsā˜…
Population Change428,622.9 personsā˜…235,550.7 persons
Population density110.8 per sq. kmā˜…165.84 per sq. km
Total population36.40M personsā˜…11.66M persons
Academic Freedom Index0.29ā˜…0.2
Beer Consumption per Capita0.51 litersā˜…0.49 liters
Birth Rate (%)14.05 %ā˜…10.65 %
Contraceptive Prevalence Rate52.2 %NA
Crude Birth Rate12.36 per 1,000 peopleā˜…9.82 per 1,000 people
Death Rate (%)5.8 %1.73 %ā˜…
Education Expenditure (% of GDP)3.5 % of GDP3.9 % of GDPā˜…
Female population of reproductive age9.69M personsā˜…2.84M persons
Female Tertiary Enrollment Rate (%)45.85 %72.57 %ā˜…
Fixed Broadband Penetration Rate13.55 %40.84 %ā˜…
Global Average Sex Ratio at Birth106.37 male/femaleā˜…104.4 male/female
Human Development Index0.48ā˜…0.4
Labor Force Participation Rate18.26ā˜…7.09
Learning-adjusted years of school9.72 years10.33 yearsā˜…
Length of paid parental leave for mother0 days17.5 daysā˜…
Major Urban Areas Population8.62 peopleā˜…3.01 people
Mean Male Height (cm)167.88170.46ā˜…
Mean Years of Schooling11.96 yearsā˜…9.57 years
Military Manpower at Military Age21ā˜…18
Military Service Age and Obligation1718ā˜…
Old-Age Dependency Ratio10.6 %2.07 %ā˜…
Percentage of population by degree of urbanization83.21 %91.5 %ā˜…
Physician Density2.34 people/sq km2.99 people/sq kmā˜…
Population Growth Rate0.97 %ā˜…0.62 %
Population living in slums0.2 %ā˜…-0.04 %
Primary School Pupil-Teacher Ratio11.61ā˜…24.52
Total deaths179,998.3 persons9,956.5 personsā˜…
Total demand for family planning (Percent)42.17 %48.76 %ā˜…
Total fertility rate1.53 per womanā˜…1.23 per woman
Total net-migration162,673.4 personsā˜…125,185 persons
Under-five mortality rate5.53 per live birthsā˜…5.88 per live births
Urban Population Annual Growth Rate1.79 %4.85 %ā˜…

Transportation

5 metrics
MetricšŸ‡²šŸ‡¾ MalaysiašŸ‡¦šŸ‡Ŗ United Arab EmiratesShare
Air Travel Trips Per Capita (PPP)1.583ā˜…
Airports100ā˜…42
Annual Human Space Visits (Total)00
Civil Air Travel53ā˜…10
Heliports24204ā˜…

Travel and Tourism

1 metric
MetricšŸ‡²šŸ‡¾ MalaysiašŸ‡¦šŸ‡Ŗ United Arab EmiratesShare
Tourism Receipts per Capita116.52M USD34.44B USDā˜…

Frequently Asked Questions About Malaysia vs United Arab Emirates

Which has a larger population, Malaysia or United Arab Emirates?ā–¾

Malaysia. Malaysia has 3.1 times as many people as United Arab Emirates (36.4 million vs 11.66 million). Data for 2026.

Which has a bigger economy, Malaysia or United Arab Emirates?ā–¾

United Arab Emirates. United Arab Emirates's economy is 43% larger than Malaysia's ($669.39 billion vs $466.53 billion GDP). Data for 2026.

Which is richer per person, Malaysia or United Arab Emirates?ā–¾

United Arab Emirates is richer per person: GDP per capita is about $57,385 in United Arab Emirates vs $12,818 in Malaysia (2026 GDP in current US dollars divided by population).

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