Aid, poverty & equality · East Asia & Pacific · Upper-middle income
Malaysia: poverty, inequality and aid
Extreme poverty is 0.0% (2021), 144th of 151 in the world and 16th of 17 in East Asia & Pacific. Poverty, $4.20/day is 0.1% (2021), 143rd of 151 in the world and 17th of 17 in East Asia & Pacific. Poverty, $8.30/day is 2.9% (2021), 118th of 151 in the world and 15th of 17 in East Asia & Pacific.
Extreme poverty
MalaysiaEast Asia & PacificUpper-middle incomeWorld
Poverty, $4.20/day
MalaysiaEast Asia & PacificUpper-middle incomeWorld
14 indicators
Aid, poverty & equality: Malaysia in detail
Latest reported value, world rank and rank within East Asia & Pacific; values around 2000, 2010, 2020; group and world columns are World Bank aggregates.
| Indicator | Latest | World rank | In region | ~2000 | ~2010 | ~2020 | 10-year change | Region | Income group | World | Since 2000 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Extreme povertyExtreme poverty, $3.00 a day (2021 PPP), % of population | 0.0%2021 | 144/151 | 16/17 | · | 0.4%2011 | 0.0%2021 | −0.4 ppsince 2011 | 2.0% | 2.1% | 10.1% | |
| Poverty, $4.20/dayPoverty at $4.20 a day (2021 PPP), % of population | 0.1%2021 | 143/151 | 17/17 | · | 1.9%2011 | 0.1%2021 | −1.8 ppsince 2011 | 5.5% | 5.4% | 18.2% | |
| Poverty, $8.30/dayPoverty at $8.30 a day (2021 PPP), % of population | 2.9%2021 | 118/151 | 15/17 | · | 14.7%2011 | 2.9%2021 | −11.8 ppsince 2011 | 26.4% | 26.4% | 46.2% | |
| National poverty ratePoverty at national poverty lines, % of population | 5.1%2023 | 140/145 | 13/15 | · | · | 6.2%2021 | — | — | — | — | |
| Gini indexGini index of income inequality | 40.72021 | 33/151 | 1/17 | · | 43.62011 | 40.72021 | −6.7%since 2011 | — | — | — | |
| Top 10% income shareIncome share held by the richest 10% | 30.9%2021 | 38/151 | 2/17 | · | 32.8%2011 | 30.9%2021 | −1.9 ppsince 2011 | — | — | — | |
| Bottom 20% income shareIncome share held by the poorest 20% | 5.9%2021 | 110/151 | 17/17 | · | 5.2%2011 | 5.9%2021 | +0.7 ppsince 2011 | — | — | — | |
| UndernourishmentPrevalence of undernourishment, % of population | 2.5%2024 | 141/167 | 20/23 | 2.5%2001 | 3.5% | 2.7% | −1.3 ppsince 2014 | 3.5% | 4.0% | 8.1% | |
| Food insecurityModerate or severe food insecurity, % of population | 15.4%2024 | 95/155 | 14/23 | · | · | 15.4% | — | 8.8% | 12.6% | 28.0% | |
| Account ownershipAccount ownership (bank or mobile money), % of adults | 88.7%2024 | 41/145 | 10/16 | · | 66.2%2011 | 88.4%2021 | +8.0 ppsince 2014 | 82.8% | 84.0% | 78.7% | |
| Women in parliamentSeats held by women in national parliament, % | 13.5%2025 | 156/190 | 19/30 | 10.4% | 9.9% | 14.9% | +3.2 ppsince 2015 | 23.3% | 27.0% | 27.2% | |
| Net ODA receivedNet official development assistance received, US$ | $6.6m2023 | 142/145 | 23/24 | $48.6m | −$8.2m | −$4.3m | +106%since 2013 | $10.7bn | $57.4bn | $259bn | |
| ODA, % of GNINet ODA received, % of GNI | 0.0%2023 | 138/139 | 22/23 | 0.1% | 0.0% | 0.0% | ±0.0 ppsince 2013 | 0.0% | 0.2% | 0.2% | |
| ODA per personNet ODA received per capita, US$ | $0.192023 | 144/145 | 23/24 | $2.1 | −$0.29 | −$0.13 | +105%since 2013 | $4.5 | $18.8 | $32.2 |
Source: World Bank, World Development Indicators (CC BY 4.0)“·” — no value reported within two years of that date. World rank counts countries with a recent value.
Better than ten years ago
- Extreme poverty−0.4 pp0.0% in 2021
- Poverty, $4.20/day−1.8 pp0.1% in 2021
- Poverty, $8.30/day−11.8 pp2.9% in 2021
- Gini index−6.7%40.7 in 2021
Worse than ten years ago
No rated indicator got worse over the decade.
Only indicators where higher or lower is clearly better are rated (for example, unemployment down is better, life expectancy up is better).
neighbours
Malaysia and its neighbours
Countries sharing a land border with Malaysia. Latest values since 2005; the highest in each row is marked.
| Indicator | Malaysia | Indonesia | Philippines | Thailand | Singapore | Brunei |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Extreme poverty | 0.0%2021 | 3.7%2025 | 5.3%2023 | 0.0%2024 | — | — |
| Poverty, $4.20/day | 0.1%2021 | 15.5%2025 | 16.9%2023 | 0.2%2024 | — | — |
| Poverty, $8.30/day | 2.9%2021 | 64.1%2025 | 58.7%2023 | 11.7%2024 | — | — |
| National poverty rate | 5.1%2023 | 8.5%2025 | 9.7%2025 | 5.4%2022 | — | — |
| Gini index | 40.72021 | 34.42025 | 39.32023 | 33.32024 | — | — |
| Top 10% income share | 30.9%2021 | 28.7%2025 | 31.6%2023 | 26.0%2024 | — | — |
| Bottom 20% income share | 5.9%2021 | 8.3%2025 | 6.9%2023 | 7.9%2024 | — | — |
| Undernourishment | 2.5%2024 | 6.3%2024 | 3.4%2024 | 5.4%2024 | — | — |
| Food insecurity | 15.4%2024 | 4.2%2024 | 32.7%2024 | 4.5%2024 | 10.1%2024 | — |