Malaysia: economy and key statistics
Malaysia is number 34 in the 311 Nations Index, with a GDP of $472.2 billion in 2025. GDP per person is $13,125. The economy grew by 5.2% in 2025. Unemployment is 3.8%. The economy is 55% services, 36% industry, 8% agriculture. In 311 Institute directories: 37 R&D labs, 2 startups, 7 investors.
Part of the 311 Nations Index (311institute.com). Last updated .
National power
Malaysia is number 40 in the 311 National Power Index, scoring 46.7 out of 100: economic 74, technology 22, military 34 and human capital 63.
Economy at a glance
| Indicator | Latest figure | Year |
|---|---|---|
| GDP | $472.2 billion | 2025 |
| GDP (purchasing power) | $1.49 trillion | 2025 |
| GDP per person | $13,125 | 2025 |
| Economic growth | +5.2% | 2025 |
| Inflation | 1.4% | 2025 |
| Unemployment | 3.8% | 2025 |
| Population | 36.0 million | 2025 |
| Labour force | 18.7 million | 2025 |
| Services share of GDP | 55% | 2025 |
| Industry share of GDP | 36% | 2025 |
| Manufacturing share of GDP | 22% | 2025 |
| Agriculture share of GDP | 8% | 2025 |
| Exports share of GDP | 71% | 2025 |
| Foreign direct investment | 3.7% of GDP | 2024 |
| High-tech share of manufactured exports | 59% | 2024 |
| Internet users | 98% of people | 2024 |
R&D labs
Startups in Malaysia
Investors in Malaysia
Main export industries
Malaysia exported goods worth about $329.5bn in 2024. Its biggest export industries:
- Electrical machinery and equipment: $121.2bn (36.8% of goods exports)
- Mineral fuels, mineral oils and products of their distillation: $47.5bn (14.4% of goods exports)
- Machinery and mechanical appliances, boilers, nuclear reactors: $31.9bn (9.7% of goods exports)
- Animal, vegetable or microbial fats and oils and their cleavage products: $18.7bn (5.7% of goods exports)
- Optical, photographic, cinematographic, measuring, checking, medical or surgical instruments and apparatus: $15.5bn (4.7% of goods exports)
Source: UN Comtrade, goods only (services exports are not included).
Other economies in Asia
- China (#2)
- Japan (#4)
- India (#6)
- South Korea (#13)
- Indonesia (#17)
- Singapore (#27)
- Thailand (#29)
- Vietnam (#32)
- Philippines (#33)
- Bangladesh (#37)
- Hong Kong (#39)
- Pakistan (#41)
- Sri Lanka (#72)
- Myanmar (#85)
- Macao (#94)
Questions and answers
How big is the economy of Malaysia?
Malaysia had a GDP of $472.2 billion in 2025, ranking number 34 in the 311 Nations Index.
What is GDP per person in Malaysia?
GDP per person in Malaysia was $13,125 in 2025.
How fast is the economy of Malaysia growing?
The economy of Malaysia grew by 5.2% in 2025.
Source: World Bank, World Development Indicators (CC BY 4.0).
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