Malaysia
Country statistics · 1990–present
Malaysia at a Glance
Malaysia is home to 35.6 million people as of 2024, with a population that is growing steadily. At a GDP per capita of $17,852, it is an upper-middle-income economy — reflecting a diversifying economy with growing consumer markets. Life expectancy at birth stands at 76.8 years, close to the global average.
Population Trends
The total resident population stood at 35.6 million as of 2024. With a birth rate of 12.4 and a death rate of 5.3 per 1,000 people (2024), the natural growth rate stands at 7.1 per 1,000 — equivalent to roughly 252,000 additional residents each year from natural change alone.
Economy & Development
Malaysia is a mid-sized economy, with a total GDP that is projected at $631 billion (2029 IMF projection). At $17,852 per person, it is classified as an upper-middle-income economy — reflecting a diversifying economy with growing consumer markets. Real GDP growth is projected at 4.3% in 2029, representing solid growth. The unemployment rate is projected at 3.0% (2029 IMF projection), indicating a relatively tight labour market.
Health & Society
Life expectancy at birth is 76.8 years (2024), close to the global average. Current health expenditure per person is $450 (2023), representing limited per-capita healthcare spending. The adult literacy rate stands at 95.8% (2022), reflecting high literacy rates. 98.0% of the population use the internet (2024), indicating near-universal internet access. Access to safe drinking water reaches 94.7% of the population (2024), representing broad access to safe drinking water.