Malaysia vs Zambia: Compare Statistics

Side-by-side comparison of 168 key metrics across economy, population, geography, and more — latest data through 2026.

Summary

Malaysia has 62% more people than Zambia (36.4 million vs 22.51 million). Malaysia's economy is 14.4 times the size of Zambia's ($466.53 billion vs $32.38 billion GDP).

Comparing Malaysia and Zambia: Zambia leads on People Living With HIV/AIDS (1.50) against Malaysia (92,000); Zambia leads on Televisions (277,000) against Malaysia (10.80); Malaysia leads on Oil Production (664,800) against Zambia (190). Across 168 compared metrics, Malaysia wins on 106 and Zambia wins on 57.

Communications: 9 metrics compared
Economy: 62 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: 4 metrics compared
Travel and Tourism: 1 metric compared
Other: 1 metric compared

Communications

9 metrics

Metric	🇲🇾 Malaysia	🇿🇲 Zambia	Year
Fixed Broadband Penetration	13.55 subscriptions per 100 inhabitants★	0.79 subscriptions per 100 inhabitants	2024
Internet Penetration Rate (%)	98.02 %★	17.1 %	2024
Internet Usage Rate by Country (% of Population)	97.4 %★	15 %	2022
Internet Users	percent of population: 98% (2023 est.)	percent of population: 33% (2023 est.)	2025
Mobile Internet Speed	13.55 Mbps★	0.79 Mbps	2024
Press Freedom Index Score	56.09 points	57.33 points★	2025
Radios	10.9★	1.2	2002
Televisions	10.8	277,000★	2002
Waterways	7,200★	2,250	2024

Economy

62 metrics

Metric	🇲🇾 Malaysia	🇿🇲 Zambia	Year
Agriculture Value Added as a Share of GDP by Country	47.38B $★	826.47M $	2026
Gross Domestic Product (GDP) by Country in Current US Dollars	466.53B $★	32.38B $	2026
AI Investment (% of GDP)	21.95 %	23.79 %★	2024
Apple Import Volume	101.62M tonnes★	12.68M tonnes	2026
Bank Account Ownership Rate	88.69 %★	72.7 %	2024
Central Bank Discount Rate (%)	3 %	9.1 %★	2019
Coal Revenue	0.02	0.04★	2024
Commercial Bank Prime Lending Rate (%)	4.61 %	12.5 %★	2019
Current Health Expenditure (% of GDP)	3.8 % of GDP	4.9 % of GDP★	2021
Ease of Doing Business Index	83.3★	56.9	2020
Electricity Consumption	136.9★	11.04	2021
Electricity Exports	3★	1.18	2021
Electricity from Fossil Fuels	78★	5	2021
Electricity from Hydroelectric Plants	18	93★	2021
Electricity from Nuclear Fuels	0	0	2021
Electricity from Other Renewables	4★	2	2021
Electricity Imports	33★	2.19	2021
Electricity Installed Capacity	33★	2.57	2021
Electricity Production	148.3★	11.55	2021
Energy Consumption per Capita (USD)	113.16 USD per capita★	8.27 USD per capita	2025
Female Labor Force Participation Rate	56.67 %	56.75 %★	2025
Gini Index Coefficient	40.7	51.5★	2025
Gross Fixed Investment	25.2★	20.5	2012
Gross National Saving	28.5	38.3★	2020
High-Tech Export Percentage	63.18 %★	29.3 %	2022
Highest GDP per Capita Countries	35,461.45 USD★	3,742.26 USD	2025
Industrial Production Growth Rate (%)	4.9 %★	3.5 %	2025
Inflation Rate	1.38 %★	13.91 %	2025
Inflation Rate (Consumer Prices)	1.8 %★	15 %	2025
Military Expenditures (% of GDP)	1 % of GDP	1.3 % of GDP★	2025
Natural Gas Consumption	30.44★	0	2021
Natural Gas Exports	38.23★	0	2021
Natural Gas Imports	2.8★	0	2021
Natural Gas Production	69.49★	0	2021
Natural Gas Proved Reserves	1.18★	0	2021
Oil Consumption	561,000★	16,000	2011
Oil Exports	644,900★	360	2011
Oil Imports	355,300★	17,570	2011
Oil Production	664,800★	190	2011
Oil Proved Reserves	4★	0	2011
Population Below Poverty Line	6.2 people★	60 people	2025
Public Debt	64.3★	71.4	2025
R&D Expenditure (% of GDP)	0.79 %★	0.28 %	2008
Real GDP Growth Rate (USD)	5.1 USD★	4 USD	2025
Real Interest Rate Trends	4.8 %★	-3.89 %	2020
Refined Petroleum Products Consumption	704,000★	23,000	2021
Refined Petroleum Products Exports	208,400★	371	2023
Refined Petroleum Products Imports	304,600★	10,150	2023
Refined Petroleum Products Production	528,300★	13,120	2023
Remittances	0.4	0.9★	2025
Researchers in R&D per Million	598.97 researchers★	41.9 researchers	2008
Revenue from Forest Resources	1.57	4.45★	2024
Robotics Research Funding	0.79 USD★	0.28 USD	2008
Share of population in poverty ($3 a day)	0.05★	67.89	2015
Tax Burden (% of GDP)	12.43 %★	18.83 %	2024
Tax Revenue (% of GDP)	12.43 % of GDP	18.83 % of GDP★	2024
Taxes and Other Revenues	12.6	16.8★	2025
Top Exporting Countries	301.22B USD★	8.85B USD	2024
Top FDI Inflows (% of GDP)	3.69 %	9.32 %★	2024
Unemployment Rate	3.9 %★	6 %	2025
Youth Labor Force Participation Rate	66.12 %	61.93 %★	2025
Youth Unemployment Rate	11.95 %	10.47 %★	2025

Environment

11 metrics

Metric	🇲🇾 Malaysia	🇿🇲 Zambia	Year
Annual CO₂ Emissions Growth (abs)	13.93M	212,572★	2024
Annual Forest Area Change Rate	-60,000 %★	-97,156.25 %	2025
Average Annual Temperature	25.87 °C★	22.02 °C	2025
Carbon Dioxide Emissions	260.01	9.88★	2025
Global Precipitation Distribution	3,150.09 mm★	1,119.99 mm	2025
Population Distribution	a highly uneven distribution, with over 80% of the population residing on the Malay Peninsula	one of the highest levels of urbanization in Africa; high density in the central area, particularly around the cities of Lusaka, Ndola, Kitwe, and Mufulira, as shown in this population distribution map	2025
Protected Land Area for Adaptation	13.3 sq km	41.3 sq km★	2026
Protected Land Area Percentage	13.3 %	41.3 %★	2025
Total Renewable Groundwater Resources by Country	64 Cubic meters per year★	47 Cubic meters per year	2026
Total Renewable Water Resources	580★	104.8	2025
Total Threatened Mammal Species	80 species	13 species★	2022

Geography

7 metrics

Metric	🇲🇾 Malaysia	🇿🇲 Zambia	Year
Percentage of land area by degree of urbanization	4.11 %★	0.63 %	2026
Above-Ground Biomass in Forest (tonnes/ha)	209.87★	44	2020
Agricultural land	85,710 sq. km	238,390 sq. km★	2026
Airports per 1,000 Sq Km	328,550	743,390★	2023
Coastline Length (km)	4,675 km★	0 km	2025
Dam capacity per capita	611.58 cubic meters per inhabitant	4,402.19 cubic meters per inhabitant★	2026
Irrigated Land	4,420★	1,560	2025

Government

9 metrics

Metric	🇲🇾 Malaysia	🇿🇲 Zambia	Year
Rule of Law Index by Country	67.87 %★	30.99 %	2026
Administrative Divisions	13★	10	2025
Corruption Perception Index	50 index	39 index★	2024
Corruption Perceptions Index Score	50 index★	39 index	2024
Independence	31★	24	2025
LGBT Rights Index Score	-2.46	-0.63★	2019
Prison Population Rate	206 per 100,000	109 per 100,000★	2020
Public Sector Corruption Perception	50	39★	2024
Suffrage Participation Rate	18	18	2025

Health

22 metrics

Metric	🇲🇾 Malaysia	🇿🇲 Zambia	Year
Average BMI for Adults	25.3 kg/m²★	21.3 kg/m²	2016
Change in Measles Immunization Rate	96 %★	88 %	2024
Diabetes Prevalence (% of Population)	21.1★	10.3	2024
Female Life Expectancy Leaders	76.82 years★	66.53 years	2024
Global Stillbirth Rate Trends	0.48 per 1,000 births★	1.4 per 1,000 births	2023
Health Care Spending per Capita	1,703.34 USD★	237.75 USD	2026
Health Coverage Index Score	80 score★	62 score	2023
Health Expenditure (% of GDP)	4.4 % of GDP	6.6 % of GDP★	2025
Highest Male Life Expectancy	76.82 years★	66.53 years	2024
HIV/AIDS Adult Prevalence Rate	0.3 %★	10.8 %	2022
Hospital Bed Density	1.9 people/sq km	2 people/sq km★	2024
Hospital Beds per Capita	1.91 beds per 1,000	2 beds per 1,000★	2010
Low Birth Weight Prevalence	13.81 %	11.25 %★	2020
Malaria Incidence Rate	0.07 cases per 1,000★	220.1 cases per 1,000	2017
Maternal Mortality Ratio (%)	26 %★	85 %	2025
Nurses and Midwives Density	4.03 per 1,000 people★	2.94 per 1,000 people	2022
Obesity Adult Prevalence Rate (%)	15.6 %	8.1 %★	2025
Out-of-Pocket Health Spending	37.09 %	10.29 %★	2023
People Living With HIV/AIDS	92,000	1.5★	2021
Psychiatrist Density Per 100,000 People	1 per 100,000 people★	0 per 100,000 people	2019
Total Number of Doctors	2.29★	0.32	2022
Underweight Children Under 5	15.3	11.8★	2025

Military and Security

3 metrics

Metric	🇲🇾 Malaysia	🇿🇲 Zambia	Year
Active Military Personnel	113,000 personnel★	15,000 personnel	2022
Military Expenditure (% of GDP)	1.04 %★	1.26 %	2025
Total Armed Forces Personnel (PPP)	136,000★	16,000	2020

People and Society

39 metrics

Metric	🇲🇾 Malaysia	🇿🇲 Zambia	Year
Currently married (Percent)	58.88 %★	52.13 %	2026
Human Capital Index	0.65★	0.41	2026
Life expectancy at birth	80.87 years★	70.69 years	2026
Median age of population	31.44 years★	18.13 years	2026
Population Change	428,622.9 persons	624,260.3 persons★	2026
Population density	110.8 per sq. km	30.24 per sq. km★	2026
Total population	36.40M persons★	22.51M persons	2026
Academic Freedom Index	0.29	0.84★	2025
Beer Consumption per Capita	0.51 liters	1.19 liters★	2022
Birth Rate (%)	14.05 %	29.6 %★	2025
Contraceptive Prevalence Rate	52.2 %★	49.6 %	2024
Crude Birth Rate	12.36 per 1,000 people	32.72 per 1,000 people★	2024
Death Rate (%)	5.8 %	4.91 %★	2025
Education Expenditure (% of GDP)	3.5 % of GDP	4.1 % of GDP★	2025
Female population of reproductive age	9.69M persons★	5.74M persons	2026
Female Tertiary Enrollment Rate (%)	43.29 %★	3.41 %	2012
Fixed Broadband Penetration Rate	13.55 %★	0.79 %	2024
Global Average Sex Ratio at Birth	106.37 male/female★	100.39 male/female	2023
Human Development Index	0.48★	0.28	2020
Labor Force Participation Rate	18.26★	7.41	2025
Learning-adjusted years of school	9.72 years★	4.64 years	2026
Length of paid parental leave for mother	0 days	0 days	2026
Major Urban Areas Population	8.62 people★	3.18 people	2025
Mean Male Height (cm)	167.88★	166.52	1996
Mean Years of Schooling	11.96 years★	8.37 years	2020
Military Service Age and Obligation	17	18★	2025
Old-Age Dependency Ratio	10.6 %	3.38 %★	2023
Percentage of population by degree of urbanization	83.21 %★	55.41 %	2026
Physician Density	2.34 people/sq km★	0.32 people/sq km	2025
Population Growth Rate	0.97 %	2.51 %★	2025
Population living in slums	0.2 %	45.09 %★	2026
Primary School Pupil-Teacher Ratio	11.66★	42.06	2017
Total deaths	179,998.3 persons	103,544 persons★	2026
Total demand for family planning (Percent)	42.17 %	52.58 %★	2026
Total fertility rate	1.53 per woman	3.9 per woman★	2026
Total net-migration	162,673.4 persons★	8,443.7 persons	2026
Under-five mortality rate	5.53 per live births★	47.18 per live births	2026
Urban Population Annual Growth Rate	1.79 %	3.75 %★	2025
Voting Age Population	53.4 millions★	34.18 millions	2008

Transportation

4 metrics

Metric	🇲🇾 Malaysia	🇿🇲 Zambia	Year
Air Travel Trips Per Capita (PPP)	1.58★	0.05	2019
Airports	100	120★	2025
Civil Air Travel	53★	12	1992
Heliports	24★	4	2025

Travel and Tourism

1 metric

Metric	🇲🇾 Malaysia	🇿🇲 Zambia	Year	Share
Tourism Receipts per Capita	17.90B USD★	800.66M USD	2023

Other

1 metric

Metric	🇲🇾 Malaysia	🇿🇲 Zambia	Year	Share
Current Bank Rate	2.75 %	13.5 %★	2026

Frequently Asked Questions About Malaysia vs Zambia

Which has a larger population, Malaysia or Zambia?▾

Malaysia. Malaysia has 62% more people than Zambia (36.4 million vs 22.51 million). Data for 2026.

Which has a bigger economy, Malaysia or Zambia?▾

Malaysia. Malaysia's economy is 14.4 times the size of Zambia's ($466.53 billion vs $32.38 billion GDP). Data for 2026.

Which is richer per person, Malaysia or Zambia?▾

Malaysia is richer per person: GDP per capita is about $12,818 in Malaysia vs $1,438 in Zambia (2026 GDP in current US dollars divided by population).