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Malaysia vs Vietnam: Compare Statistics

Side-by-side comparison of 176 key metrics across economy, population, geography, and more ā€” latest data through 2026.

Malaysia
mys
Leads on 87 of 176 metrics
Vietnam
vnm
Leads on 78 of 176 metrics

Summary

Vietnam has 2.8 times as many people as Malaysia (102.21 million vs 36.4 million). Vietnam's economy is 15% larger than Malaysia's ($538.13 billion vs $466.53 billion GDP).

Comparing Malaysia and Vietnam: Vietnam leads on Natural Gas Proved Reserves (699.40) against Malaysia (1.18); Vietnam leads on Electricity Exports (713) against Malaysia (3); Vietnam leads on Oil Proved Reserves (600) against Malaysia (4). Across 176 compared metrics, Malaysia wins on 87 and Vietnam wins on 78.

  • Communications: 9 metrics compared
  • Economy: 65 metrics compared
  • Environment: 12 metrics compared
  • Geography: 7 metrics compared
  • Government: 10 metrics compared
  • Health: 23 metrics compared
  • Military and Security: 3 metrics compared
  • People and Society: 40 metrics compared
  • Transportation: 5 metrics compared
  • Travel and Tourism: 1 metric compared
  • Other: 1 metric compared

Communications

9 metrics
MetricšŸ‡²šŸ‡¾ MalaysiašŸ‡»šŸ‡³ VietnamShare
Fixed Broadband Penetration13.55 subscriptions per 100 inhabitants23.71 subscriptions per 100 inhabitantsā˜…
Internet Penetration Rate (%)98.02 %ā˜…84.15 %
Internet Usage Rate by Country (% of Population)98.02 %ā˜…84.15 %
Internet Userspercent of population: 98% (2023 est.)percent of population: 78% (2023 est.)
Mobile Internet Speed13.55 Mbps23.71 Mbpsā˜…
Press Freedom Index Score56.09 pointsā˜…19.74 points
Radios10.9ā˜…8.2
Televisions10.8ā˜…3.57
Waterways7,20047,130ā˜…

Economy

65 metrics
MetricšŸ‡²šŸ‡¾ MalaysiašŸ‡»šŸ‡³ VietnamShare
Agriculture Value Added as a Share of GDP by Country47.38B $59.61B $ā˜…
Gross Domestic Product (GDP) by Country in Current US Dollars466.53B $538.13B $ā˜…
AI Investment (% of GDP)21.95 %30.56 %ā˜…
Bank Account Ownership Rate88.69 %ā˜…70.55 %
Central Bank Discount Rate (%)3 %4.25 %ā˜…
Coal Revenue0.020.35ā˜…
Commercial Bank Prime Lending Rate (%)4.61 %7.07 %ā˜…
Corporate Tax Rate Trends24 %ā˜…20 %
Current Health Expenditure (% of GDP)3.8 % of GDP5.9 % of GDPā˜…
Ease of Doing Business Index83.3ā˜…70.8
Electricity Consumption136.9143.2ā˜…
Electricity Exports3713ā˜…
Electricity from Fossil Fuels78ā˜…56
Electricity from Hydroelectric Plants1843ā˜…
Electricity from Nuclear Fuels00
Electricity from Other Renewables4ā˜…1
Electricity Imports33ā˜…2.73
Electricity Installed Capacity3340.77ā˜…
Electricity Production148.3158.2ā˜…
Energy Consumption per Capita (USD)113.16 USD per capitaā˜…40.26 USD per capita
Female Labor Force Participation Rate56.67 %75.12 %ā˜…
Gender Pay Gap Percentage-2.25 %3.13 %ā˜…
Gender Wage Gap-2.25 %ā˜…3.13 %
Gini Index Coefficient40.7ā˜…36.1
Gross Fixed Investment25.228.2ā˜…
Gross National Saving28.529ā˜…
High-Tech Export Percentage63.18 %ā˜…57.48 %
Highest GDP per Capita Countries35,461.45 USDā˜…15,457.35 USD
Industrial Production Growth Rate (%)4.9 %8.2 %ā˜…
Inflation Rate1.38 %ā˜…3.31 %
Inflation Rate (Consumer Prices)1.8 %ā˜…3.6 %
Military Expenditures (% of GDP)1 % of GDP1.8 % of GDPā˜…
Natural Gas Consumption30.44ā˜…8.1
Natural Gas Exports38.23ā˜…0
Natural Gas Imports2.8ā˜…0
Natural Gas Production69.49ā˜…8.1
Natural Gas Proved Reserves1.18699.4ā˜…
Oil Consumption561,000ā˜…320,000
Oil Exports644,900ā˜…277,300
Oil Imports355,300ā˜…182,300
Oil Production664,800ā˜…343,200
Oil Proved Reserves4600ā˜…
Population Below Poverty Line6.2 people4.3 peopleā˜…
Public Debt64.358.5ā˜…
R&D Expenditure (% of GDP)1.28 %ā˜…0.36 %
Real GDP Growth Rate (USD)5.1 USD7.1 USDā˜…
Real Interest Rate Trends7.3 %ā˜…7.01 %
Refined Petroleum Products Consumption704,000ā˜…438,000
Refined Petroleum Products Exports208,400ā˜…25,620
Refined Petroleum Products Imports304,600ā˜…282,800
Refined Petroleum Products Production528,300ā˜…153,800
Remittances0.43.2ā˜…
Researchers in R&D per Million2,256.6 researchersā˜…681.68 researchers
Revenue from Forest Resources1.57ā˜…1.49
Robotics Research Funding1.28 USDā˜…0.36 USD
Share of population in poverty ($3 a day)0.03ā˜…2.24
Taxes and Other Revenues11.6524.8ā˜…
Top Exporting Countries301.22B USD429.48B USDā˜…
Top FDI Inflows (% of GDP)3.69 %4.23 %ā˜…
Total Number of Billionaires19ā˜…5
Tourism Contribution to GDP0.75 %1.97 %ā˜…
Tourism Revenue (% of GDP)0.75 %1.97 %ā˜…
Unemployment Rate3.9 %1.5 %ā˜…
Youth Labor Force Participation Rate66.12 %ā˜…72.78 %
Youth Unemployment Rate11.95 %6.17 %ā˜…

Environment

12 metrics
MetricšŸ‡²šŸ‡¾ MalaysiašŸ‡»šŸ‡³ VietnamShare
Annual COā‚‚ Emissions Growth (abs)13.93Mā˜…23.53M
Annual Forest Area Change Rate-60,000 %22,572.07 %ā˜…
Average Annual Temperature25.87 Ā°Cā˜…23.97 Ā°C
Carbon Dioxide Emissions260.01ā˜…305.4
Continental Shelf200edge of continental margin or 200 nm;
Global Precipitation Distribution3,150.09 mmā˜…2,376.58 mm
Population Distributiona highly uneven distribution, with over 80% of the population residing on the Malay Peninsulathough it has one of the highest population densities in the world, the population is not evenly dispersed; clustering is heaviest along the South China Sea and Gulf of Tonkin, with the Mekong Delta (in the south) and the Red River Valley (in the north) h
Protected Land Area for Adaptation13.3 sq kmā˜…7.6 sq km
Protected Land Area Percentage13.3 %ā˜…7.6 %
Total Renewable Groundwater Resources by Country64 Cubic meters per year71.42 Cubic meters per yearā˜…
Total Renewable Water Resources580884.12ā˜…
Total Threatened Mammal Species80 species63 speciesā˜…

Geography

7 metrics
MetricšŸ‡²šŸ‡¾ MalaysiašŸ‡»šŸ‡³ VietnamShare
Percentage of land area by degree of urbanization4.11 %17.75 %ā˜…
Above-Ground Biomass in Forest (tonnes/ha)209.87ā˜…62.71
Agricultural land85,710 sq. km125,053 sq. kmā˜…
Airports per 1,000 Sq Km328,550ā˜…313,429
Coastline Length (km)4,675 kmā˜…3,444 km
Dam capacity per capita611.58 cubic meters per inhabitantā˜…432.08 cubic meters per inhabitant
Irrigated Land4,42046,000ā˜…

Government

10 metrics
MetricšŸ‡²šŸ‡¾ MalaysiašŸ‡»šŸ‡³ VietnamShare
Rule of Law Index by Country67.87 %ā˜…47.72 %
Administrative Divisions1358ā˜…
Corruption Perception Index50 index40 indexā˜…
Corruption Perceptions Index Score50 indexā˜…40 index
Independence31ā˜…2
LGBT Rights Index Score-2.462.07ā˜…
Political Stability Index51 indexā˜…45 index
Prison Population Rate188 per 100,000135 per 100,000ā˜…
Public Sector Corruption Perception5040ā˜…
Suffrage Participation Rate1818

Health

23 metrics
MetricšŸ‡²šŸ‡¾ MalaysiašŸ‡»šŸ‡³ VietnamShare
Access to Safe Drinking Water94.7 %ā˜…58.58 %
Average BMI for Adults25.3 kg/mĀ²ā˜…21.9 kg/mĀ²
Change in Measles Immunization Rate96 %98 %ā˜…
Diabetes Prevalence (% of Population)21.1ā˜…3.4
Female Life Expectancy Leaders76.82 yearsā˜…74.74 years
Global Stillbirth Rate Trends0.48 per 1,000 birthsā˜…0.65 per 1,000 births
Health Care Spending per Capita1,703.34 USDā˜…790.44 USD
Health Coverage Index Score80 scoreā˜…71 score
Health Expenditure (% of GDP)4.4 % of GDP4.6 % of GDPā˜…
Highest Male Life Expectancy76.82 yearsā˜…74.74 years
HIV/AIDS Adult Prevalence Rate0.3 %0.3 %
Hospital Bed Density2 people/sq km2.6 people/sq kmā˜…
Hospital Beds per Capita1.89 beds per 1,0002.52 beds per 1,000ā˜…
Low Birth Weight Prevalence13.81 %6.31 %ā˜…
Malaria Incidence Rate0.07 cases per 1,000ā˜…0.08 cases per 1,000
Maternal Mortality Ratio (%)26 %ā˜…48 %
Nurses and Midwives Density4.02 per 1,000 peopleā˜…1.44 per 1,000 people
Obesity Adult Prevalence Rate (%)15.6 %2.1 %ā˜…
Out-of-Pocket Health Spending37.09 %ā˜…39.2 %
People Living With HIV/AIDS92,000ā˜…250,000
Psychiatrist Density Per 100,000 People1 per 100,000 people1 per 100,000 people
Total Number of Doctors2.27ā˜…1.11
Underweight Children Under 515.39.7ā˜…

Military and Security

3 metrics
MetricšŸ‡²šŸ‡¾ MalaysiašŸ‡»šŸ‡³ VietnamShare
Active Military Personnel113,000 personnel482,000 personnelā˜…
Military Expenditure (% of GDP)1.04 %ā˜…2.15 %
Total Armed Forces Personnel (PPP)136,000522,000ā˜…

People and Society

40 metrics
MetricšŸ‡²šŸ‡¾ MalaysiašŸ‡»šŸ‡³ VietnamShare
Currently married (Percent)58.88 %71.66 %ā˜…
Human Capital Index0.650.71ā˜…
Life expectancy at birth80.87 yearsā˜…79.71 years
Median age of population31.44 years33.9 yearsā˜…
Population Change428,622.9 persons531,764.7 personsā˜…
Population density110.8 per sq. kmā˜…326.41 per sq. km
Total population36.40M persons102.21M personsā˜…
Academic Freedom Index0.29ā˜…0.22
Average Female Breast Size by Country: Worldwide Data & RankingsAAAA
Beer Consumption per Capita0.51 liters3.46 litersā˜…
Birth Rate (%)14.05 %14.58 %ā˜…
Contraceptive Prevalence Rate52.2 %72.8 %ā˜…
Crude Birth Rate12.36 per 1,000 people13.42 per 1,000 peopleā˜…
Death Rate (%)5.8 %ā˜…5.81 %
Education Expenditure (% of GDP)3.5 % of GDPā˜…2.9 % of GDP
Female population of reproductive age9.69M persons26.05M personsā˜…
Female Tertiary Enrollment Rate (%)45.85 %ā˜…40.86 %
Fixed Broadband Penetration Rate13.55 %23.71 %ā˜…
Global Average Sex Ratio at Birth106.37 male/female110.48 male/femaleā˜…
Human Development Index0.48ā˜…0.31
Labor Force Participation Rate18.2657.13ā˜…
Learning-adjusted years of school9.72 years10.97 yearsā˜…
Length of paid parental leave for mother0 days0 days
Major Urban Areas Population8.62 people9.32 peopleā˜…
Mean Male Height (cm)167.88ā˜…164.45
Mean Years of Schooling11.96 yearsā˜…8.35 years
Military Manpower at Military Age21ā˜…17
Military Service Age and Obligation1718ā˜…
Old-Age Dependency Ratio10.6 %ā˜…12.71 %
Percentage of population by degree of urbanization83.21 %87.65 %ā˜…
Physician Density2.34 people/sq kmā˜…1.11 people/sq km
Population Growth Rate0.97 %ā˜…0.86 %
Population living in slums0.2 %28.17 %ā˜…
Primary School Pupil-Teacher Ratio11.66ā˜…19.65
Total deaths179,998.3 personsā˜…686,302 persons
Total demand for family planning (Percent)42.17 %61.77 %ā˜…
Total fertility rate1.53 per woman1.86 per womanā˜…
Total net-migration162,673.4 personsā˜…-74,652.2 persons
Under-five mortality rate5.53 per live birthsā˜…19 per live births
Urban Population Annual Growth Rate1.79 %ā˜…1.48 %

Transportation

5 metrics
MetricšŸ‡²šŸ‡¾ MalaysiašŸ‡»šŸ‡³ VietnamShare
Air Travel Trips Per Capita (PPP)1.58ā˜…0.46
Airports100ā˜…36
Annual Human Space Visits (Total)00
Civil Air Travel53controlled by military
Heliports2426ā˜…

Travel and Tourism

1 metric
MetricšŸ‡²šŸ‡¾ MalaysiašŸ‡»šŸ‡³ VietnamShare
Tourism Receipts per Capita116.52M USD149.00M USDā˜…

Other

1 metric
MetricšŸ‡²šŸ‡¾ MalaysiašŸ‡»šŸ‡³ VietnamShare
Current Bank Rate2.75 %4.5 %ā˜…

Frequently Asked Questions About Malaysia vs Vietnam

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

Vietnam. Vietnam has 2.8 times as many people as Malaysia (102.21 million vs 36.4 million). Data for 2026.

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

Vietnam. Vietnam's economy is 15% larger than Malaysia's ($538.13 billion vs $466.53 billion GDP). Data for 2026.

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

Malaysia is richer per person: GDP per capita is about $12,818 in Malaysia vs $5,265 in Vietnam (2026 GDP in current US dollars divided by population).

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