Malaysia vs Singapore: how the neighbours compare
| Indicator | Malaysia | Singapore | Ranks |
|---|---|---|---|
| Population | |||
| Population | 36.0m2025 | 6.1m2025 | 45 · 113 |
| Area | 330,534 km²2024 | 736 km²2024 | 68 · 184 |
| Density | 108.22024 | 8,329.02024 | 98 · 3 |
| Urban share | 77.4%2025 | 100.0%2025 | 68 · 11 |
| Fertility | 1.542024 | 0.972024 | 144 · 213 |
| Aged 65+ | 8.0%2025 | 14.2%2025 | 118 · 72 |
| Economy | |||
| GDP | $472bn2025 | $604bn2025 | 34 · 27 |
| GDP per capita | $13,1252025 | $98,8142025 | 94 · 8 |
| GDP per capita, PPP | $41,4982025 | $163,3542025 | 64 · 1 |
| GDP growth | 5.2%2025 | 5.0%2025 | 46 · 50 |
| Agriculture share | 8.2%2025 | 0.0%2025 | 82 · 197 |
| Industry share | 35.7%2025 | 22.7%2025 | 28 · 107 |
| Services share | 54.8%2025 | 71.6%2025 | 123 · 30 |
| Prices & public finance | |||
| Inflation | 1.4%2025 | 0.9%2025 | 137 · 148 |
| Tax revenue | 12.4%2024 | 13.6%2024 | 103 · 94 |
| Military spending | 1.04%2025 | 3.05%2025 | 114 · 31 |
| Trade & investment | |||
| Exports | 71.0%2025 | 177.9%2025 | 28 · 4 |
| FDI inflows | 4.6%2025 | 26.3%2025 | 44 · 8 |
| Labour | |||
| Unemployment | 3.8%2025 | 2.8%2025 | 124 · 155 |
| Aid, poverty & equality | |||
| Women in parliament | 13.5%2025 | 32.3%2025 | 156 · 62 |
| Education | |||
| Tertiary enrolment | 38.5%2024 | 97.3%2023 | 100 · 12 |
| Education spending | 3.5%2023 | 2.2%2024 | 119 · 165 |
| Health | |||
| Life expectancy | 76.8 yrs2024 | 83.3 yrs2024 | 86 · 15 |
| Infant mortality | 7.02024 | 2.22024 | 138 · 184 |
| Health spending | 4.0%2023 | 4.5%2023 | 156 · 139 |
| Physicians | 2.342023 | 2.832022 | 77 · 64 |
| Digital & energy access | |||
| Internet users | 98.0%2024 | 94.4%2024 | 12 · 30 |
| Fixed broadband | 13.52024 | 27.82024 | 104 · 69 |
| Electricity access | 100.0%2024 | 100.0%2024 | 64 · 96 |
| Environment | |||
| CO₂ per person | 8.32 t2024 | 9.75 t2024 | 26 · 21 |
| Renewable energy | 7.5%2021 | 1.1%2021 | 159 · 189 |
| Forest cover | 57.7%2024 | 21.8%2024 | 37 · 129 |
Higher value in each row is highlighted; it is not always the better one (think inflation or emissions). Ranks are world positions.
GDP per capita
MalaysiaSingapore
Life expectancy
MalaysiaSingapore
Population
MalaysiaSingapore
Internet users
MalaysiaSingapore
Source: World Bank, World Development Indicators (CC BY 4.0)
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