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Economy of Cambodia vs Malaysia compared: GDP & Debt

Updated on by Georank team

Cambodia has a GDP of $46.4B compared to $422B for Malaysia, ranking 97/197 and 38/197 by economy size, respectively.

Cambodia has $12B in government debt (25.9% of GDP), compared to $296B (70.1% of GDP) in Malaysia.

Cambodia vs Malaysia GDP by year

Cambodia
Malaysia
1x
Year GDP, current $
Cambodia Malaysia
2024 $46,352,647,037 $422,227,005,429
2023 $42,335,646,896 $399,949,418,753
2022 $39,994,532,960 $407,830,525,990
2021 $36,790,163,687 $373,784,553,030
2020 $34,818,073,901 $337,456,163,961
2019 $36,685,356,408 $365,177,721,022
2018 $33,145,892,169 $358,788,845,713
2017 $29,355,665,910 $319,109,094,160
2016 $26,556,545,153 $301,256,033,870
2015 $24,174,170,369 $301,355,266,965
2014 $22,041,463,968 $338,066,095,097
2013 $19,807,135,253 $323,276,235,524
2012 $17,826,536,700 $314,443,047,642
2011 $16,032,622,024 $297,951,668,675
2010 $13,808,673,288 $255,017,638,456
2009 $12,502,901,170 $202,257,453,037
2008 $12,174,303,999 $230,811,614,370
2007 $10,127,916,460 $193,549,569,478
2006 $8,350,531,017 $162,692,258,307
2005 $7,066,296,463 $143,534,405,819
2004 $5,883,297,160 $124,749,473,684
2003 $5,046,693,484 $110,202,368,421
2002 $4,501,227,627 $100,845,526,316
2001 $4,145,665,970 $92,783,947,368
2000 $3,694,168,979 $93,789,736,842
1999 $3,517,242,477 $79,148,421,053
1998 $3,120,425,503 $72,167,498,981
1997 $3,443,413,389 $100,005,323,302
1996 $3,506,695,720 $100,855,393,910
1995 $3,441,205,693 $88,705,342,903
1994 $2,791,435,272 $74,478,356,958
1993 $2,533,727,592 $66,894,966,969
1992 $2,491,486,594 $59,167,550,163
1991 $2,054,974,089 $49,143,148,094
1990 $1,402,541,177 $44,024,585,240
1989 $1,353,137,648 $38,847,965,293
1988 $1,662,877,859 $35,272,109,220
1987 $1,036,974,910 $32,181,210,158
1986 $1,167,630,318 $27,734,111,400
1985 $1,102,669,184 $31,199,633,353
1984 $1,021,176,059 $33,942,897,422
1983 $939,291,262 $30,347,442,111
1982 $865,516,040 $26,804,493,635
1981 $815,153,652 $25,004,285,792
1980 $744,384,130 $24,488,224,677
1979 $723,738,503 $21,213,264,962
1978 $766,642,356 $16,358,079,862
1977 $716,261,764 $13,139,488,633
1976 $790,357,255 $11,050,234,599
1975 $749,129,748 $9,298,800,799
1974 - $9,496,204,302
1973 - $7,662,902,678
1972 - $5,043,347,250
1971 - $4,244,395,956
1970 - $3,864,145,667
1969 - $3,664,552,041
1968 - $3,330,371,551
1967 - $3,188,924,677
1966 - $3,143,517,944
1965 - $2,956,337,669
1964 - $2,674,423,922
1963 - $2,510,110,348
1962 - $2,001,489,602
1961 - $1,901,856,123
1960 - $1,916,229,477

Data sources: World Bank | Economy & Growth (1960–2024, retrieved 2026-04-06).

GeoRank.org/economy/cambodia/malaysia | CC BY

GDP per capita in Cambodia vs Malaysia by year

Cambodia
GDP per capita

GDP per capita, PPP
Malaysia
GDP per capita

GDP per capita, PPP
1x
Year Current $
Cambodia Malaysia
GDP per capita GDP per capita, PPP GDP per capita GDP per capita, PPP
2024 $2,628 $7,967 $11,874 $38,779
2023 $2,430 $7,431 $11,386 $36,467
2022 $2,325 $6,919 $11,755 $34,420
2021 $2,167 $6,226 $10,903 $29,823
2020 $2,082 $5,942 $9,958 $27,475
2019 $2,226 $6,154 $10,920 $28,934
2018 $2,037 $5,617 $10,902 $27,794
2017 $1,826 $5,050 $9,863 $26,416
2016 $1,675 $4,748 $9,477 $25,286
2015 $1,547 $4,434 $9,649 $24,526
2014 $1,432 $4,118 $11,013 $24,307
2013 $1,306 $3,891 $10,714 $23,161
2012 $1,193 $3,583 $10,601 $22,639
2011 $1,089 $3,223 $10,217 $21,324
2010 $952 $2,989 $8,899 $20,193
2009 $876 $2,854 $7,191 $18,923
2008 $866 $2,769 $8,372 $19,480
2007 $732 $2,566 $7,169 $18,617
2006 $612 $2,297 $6,158 $17,426
2005 $526 $2,038 $5,556 $16,371
2004 $444 $1,770 $4,939 $15,416
2003 $387 $1,598 $4,465 $14,387
2002 $350 $1,442 $4,184 $13,656
2001 $328 $1,357 $3,944 $13,072
2000 $296.4 $1,256 $4,084 $13,027
1999 $286.8 $1,134 $3,528 $11,980
1998 $258.8 $1,009 $3,294 $11,398
1997 $297.6 $994 $4,679 $12,469
1996 $325 $1,006 $4,837 $11,709
1995 $343 $1,006 $4,363 $10,720
1994 $302 $972 $3,758 $9,806
1993 $294.1 $1,565 $3,462 $9,018
1992 $307 $1,560 $3,141 $8,224
1991 $267.3 $1,504 $2,679 $7,583
1990 $190.2 $1,410 $2,469 $6,887
1989 $191.3 - $2,244 -
1988 $244.1 - $2,100 -
1987 $158.1 - $1,977 -
1986 $185.8 - $1,760 -
1985 $182.4 - $2,046 -
1984 $174.7 - $2,300 -
1983 $166.7 - $2,124 -
1982 $159.2 - $1,938 -
1981 $154.3 - $1,866 -
1980 $143.2 - $1,886 -
1979 $142.2 - $1,680 -
1978 $147.1 - $1,327 -
1977 $126.4 - $1,092 -
1976 $128.8 - $940 -
1975 $113.8 - $811 -
1974 - - $848 -
1973 - - $701 -
1972 - - $472 -
1971 - - $407 -
1970 - - $380 -
1969 - - $368 -
1968 - - $342 -
1967 - - $335 -
1966 - - $339 -
1965 - - $326 -
1964 - - $303 -
1963 - - $291.8 -
1962 - - $238.8 -
1961 - - $232.9 -
1960 - - $240.8 -

Data sources: World Bank | Economy & Growth (1960–2024, retrieved 2026-04-06).

GeoRank.org/economy/cambodia/malaysia | CC BY

Cambodia's GDP per capita is $2,628, ranking 145/197, compared to $11,874 in Malaysia, ranking 79/197. Adjusted for purchasing power (GDP per capita PPP), Cambodia ranks 142nd at $7,967, while Malaysia ranks 60th at $38,779.

Economic indicators

Cambodia Malaysia
Gross domestic product
$46.4B
2024
$422B
2024
GDP rank
97/197
2024
38/197
2024
GDP growth
5.98%
2023-2024
5.11%
2023-2024
GDP per capita
$2,628
2024
$11,874
2024
GDP per capita rank
145/197
2024
79/197
2024
GDP per capita, PPP
$7,967
2024
$38,779
2024
GDP per capita PPP rank
142/197
2024
60/197
2024
Government debt
$12B
2024
$296B
2024
Debt-to-GDP ratio
25.9%
2024
70.1%
2024
Government debt per person
$681
2024
$8,322
2024
Government debt per person rank
156/185
2024
62/185
2024
Average annual personal income after taxes
$2,258
2026
$11,005
2026
Market capitalization of domestic companies n/a
$449B
2024
Number of billionaires n/a
19
2025
Income share by richest 10% n/a
30.9%
2021
Income share by poorest 10% n/a
2.3%
2021
Government expenditure, % of GDP
17.3%
2024
23.9%
2024
Consumer prices inflation
0.9%
2023-2024
1.83%
2023-2024
Central bank interest rate n/a
2.75%
2025
Unemployment rate
0.26%
2023
3.93%
2022
Population
18113986
36512221

Spending and national debt comparison by year

Cambodia
Spending

Debt
Malaysia
Spending

Debt
1x
Year % of GDP
Cambodia Malaysia
Government spending Government debt Government spending Government debt
2024 17.3% 25.9% 23.9% 70.1%
2023 19.1% 26.3% 24.9% 69.7%
2022 18.7% 25.5% 24.6% 65.5%
2021 21% 25.9% 24.5% 69.2%
2020 20.3% 25.2% 25% 67.7%
2019 17.6% 20.8% 23.6% 57.1%
2018 16.1% 21.1% 22.8% 55.6%
2017 16.2% 22.6% 22% 54.4%
2016 15.2% 21.8% 22.9% 55.8%
2015 14.5% 23.3% 24.7% 57%
2014 16.5% 24.2% 26% 55.4%
2013 16.4% 24.4% 27.8% 55.7%
2012 17.1% 24.9% 28.5% 53.8%
2011 16.5% 23.8% 27.1% 51.9%
2010 17% 23.4% 26.6% 51.2%
2009 17% 23.7% 30.9% 50.4%
2008 13.1% 23% 26.9% 39.4%
2007 12.3% 25.1% 25.9% 39.3%
2006 11.3% 26.7% 25.6% 39.7%
2005 11% 31.7% 24.5% 40.8%
2004 12.6% 38.7% 25.9% 42%
2003 14.5% 39.8% 28.1% 41.4%
2002 16.1% 37.8% 27.1% 39.5%
2001 14.5% 33.5% 28.2% 38.1%
2000 14.9% 34.9% 25.6% 32.5%
1999 13.8% 34.6% 24.6% 34.4%
1998 13.4% 37.2% 23.1% 33.6%
1997 12.4% 31.4% 21.2% 29.6%
1996 15.7% 30.1% 22.4% 32.8%
1995 - - 22.6% 38.2%
1994 - - 23.3% 43.7%
1993 - - 24.6% 51.1%
1992 - - 28.2% 59.1%
1991 - - 27.4% 67.3%
1990 - - 30.5% 74.1%

Data sources: International Monetary Fund (IMF) | Fiscal Monitor (1990–2024, retrieved 2026-02-20).

GeoRank.org/economy/cambodia/malaysia | CC BY

In 2024, Cambodia's government spending was $8B, accounting for 17.3% of its GDP, while Malaysia spent $101B, or 23.9% of GDP.

Debt-to-GDP ratio is 25.9% in Cambodia and 70.1% in Malaysia, ranking 164/185 and 58/185, respectively.

Government deficit by year

Deficit/surplus
Cambodia

Malaysia
1x
Year Deficit/surplus, % of GDP
Cambodia Malaysia
2024 -2.67% -3.95%
2023 -2.83% -3.97%
2022 -0.29% -4.56%
2021 -5.18% -6.03%
2020 -2.53% -4.9%
2019 2.19% -2.01%
2018 0.28% -2.64%
2017 -0.76% -2.41%
2016 -0.29% -2.6%
2015 -0.65% -2.55%
2014 -1.24% -2.63%
2013 -2.01% -3.48%
2012 -3.57% -3.1%
2011 -3.76% -3.57%
2010 -3.09% -4.32%
2009 -3.98% -5.88%
2008 0.43% -3.4%
2007 0.62% -2.57%
2006 -0.15% -2.6%
2005 -0.34% -2.83%
2004 -3.23% -3.35%
2003 -5.69% -4.6%
2002 -6.07% -3.96%
2001 -4.95% -4.36%
2000 -4.76% -6.05%
1999 -3.79% -3%
1998 -5.35% -0.63%
1997 -3.7% 4.84%
1996 -7.53% 3.27%
1995 - 3.1%
1994 - 5.45%
1993 - 3.44%
1992 - 1.81%
1991 - 1.6%
1990 - 0.15%

Data sources: International Monetary Fund (IMF) | Fiscal Monitor (1990–2024, retrieved 2026-02-20).

GeoRank.org/economy/cambodia/malaysia | CC BY

In 2024, Cambodia's government deficit, the difference between spending and revenue, was $1.24B, equivalent to 2.67% of GDP. This compares to Malaysia's deficit of $16.7B, or 3.95% of GDP.

Over the past 29 years, Cambodia recorded a fiscal deficit in 25 of those years, while Malaysia ran a deficit in 27 years. On average, Cambodia posted an annual deficit equal to 2.58% of GDP, compared to deficit of 3.03% of GDP for Malaysia.

Inflation comparison by year

Inflation
Cambodia

Malaysia
1x
Year Consumer prices inflation
Cambodia Malaysia
2024 0.9% 1.83%
2023 2.1% 2.49%
2022 5.3% 3.38%
2021 2.9% 2.48%
2020 2.9% -1.14%
2019 2% 0.66%
2018 2.4% 0.88%
2017 2.9% 3.87%
2016 3% 2.09%
2015 1.2% 2.1%
2014 3.9% 3.14%
2013 2.9% 2.11%
2012 2.9% 1.66%
2011 5.5% 3.17%
2010 4% 1.62%
2009 -0.7% 0.58%
2008 25% 5.44%
2007 7.7% 2.03%
2006 6.1% 3.61%
2005 6.3% 2.98%
2004 3.9% 1.42%
2003 1% 1.09%
2002 0% 1.81%
2001 -0.1% 1.42%
2000 -0.8% 1.53%
1999 2% 2.74%
1998 12.9% 5.27%
1997 10.5% 2.66%

Data sources: International Monetary Fund (IMF) | World Economic Outlook (1997–2024, retrieved 2026-02-20); World Bank | Economy & Growth (1997–2024, retrieved 2026-04-06).

GeoRank.org/economy/cambodia/malaysia | CC BY

Over the past 28 years, Cambodia has recorded an average annual inflation rate of 4.24%, compared with 2.25% in Malaysia. In 2024, inflation was 0.9% in Cambodia and 1.83% in Malaysia.

Top exports between countries

Cambodia
Export category Export value
Raw agricultural goods $54.6M
Textiles & consumer goods $52.9M
Raw materials & minerals $18.3M
Machinery & equipment $9.39M
Processed food, beverages & tobacco $9.18M
Chemicals & pharma $1.59M
Metals $1.05M
Animal & marine products $510K
Miscellaneous $244K
Wood & paper products $19K
Malaysia
Export category Export value
Raw materials & minerals $256M
Textiles & consumer goods $175M
Metals $98.8M
Machinery & equipment $46.4M
Chemicals & pharma $42.5M
Processed food, beverages & tobacco $36.9M
Wood & paper products $7.91M
Raw agricultural goods $1.66M
Weapons & explosives $1.39M
Miscellaneous $1.22M

Balance of trade

Cambodia Malaysia
Current account balance
$228M
2024
$7.15B
2024
Current account balance ranking
65/190
2024
26/190
2024
Current account balance, % of GDP
+0.49%
2024
+1.69%
2024
Goods imports
$31.2B
2024
$223B
2024
Goods exports
$26.8B
2024
$248B
2024
Service imports
$3.08B
2024
$56.4B
2024
Service exports
$4.97B
2024
$53.4B
2024
Imports of goods and services, % of GDP
72.1%
2024
66%
2024
Exports of goods and services, % of GDP
71.4%
2024
71.3%
2024

Economic freedom indices

The indices of economic freedom below are issued by the Heritage Foundation. Higher scores indicate stronger economic health.

Cambodia Malaysia
Economic freedom 58.7 68
Economic freedom ranking 108/197 51/197
Property rights 38.1 62.7
Government integrity 18.9 52.9
Judicial effectiveness 21.2 63.4
Tax burden 90.3 83.5
Government spending 89.9 82
Fiscal health 92.7 62.5
Business freedom 60.8 79.6
Labor freedom 48.3 55.4
Monetary freedom 77 80.8
Trade freedom 67.8 83
Investment freedom 50 60
Financial freedom 50 50

Economic freedom comparison by year

Cambodia
Malaysia
1x
Year Economic freedom index
Cambodia Malaysia
2026 58.7 68
2025 58.2 67.1
2024 55.6 65.7
2023 56.5 67.3
2022 57.1 68.1
2021 57.3 74.4
2020 57.3 74.7
2019 57.8 74
2018 58.7 74.5
2017 59.5 73.8
2016 57.9 71.5
2015 57.5 70.8
2014 57.4 69.6
2013 58.5 66.1
2012 57.6 66.4
2011 57.9 66.3
2010 56.6 64.8
2009 56.6 64.6
2008 55.9 63.9
2007 55.9 63.8
2006 56.7 61.6
2005 60 61.9
2004 61.1 59.9
2003 63.7 61.1
2002 60.7 60.1
2001 59.6 60.2
2000 59.3 66
1999 59.9 68.9
1998 59.8 68.2
1997 52.8 66.8
1996 - 69.9
1995 - 71.9

Data sources: The Heritage Foundation | Economic Freedom Index (1995–2026, retrieved 2026-03-09).

GeoRank.org/economy/cambodia/malaysia | CC BY

The Economic Freedom Index for Cambodia is 58.7, ranking 108/197, compared to 68 for Malaysia, ranking 51/197. The chart above displays a comparison of annual changes in economic freedom indexes.

Other economic metrics

Cambodia Malaysia
Services, % of GDP
35.6%
2024
53.7%
2024
Industry, % of GDP
41.8%
2024
37%
2024
Agriculture, forestry, and fishing, % of GDP
16.6%
2024
8.13%
2024
GNI, Atlas method
$44.9B
2024
$414B
2024
GNI per capita, PPP
$7,910
2024
$37,450
2024
Total reserves including gold
$22.5B
2024
$116B
2024
Total reserves ranking
58/177
2024
24/177
2024
Net foreign direct investment
-$4.22B
2024
-$2.55B
2024
Net inflows of foreign direct investment
$4.39B
2024
$15.6B
2024
Net outflows of foreign direct investment
$172M
2024
$13B
2024
Servicing debt to the IMF, % of GNI
7.41%
2024
n/a
Poverty at national poverty lines
17.7%
2012
5.8%
2023
Gross capital formation, % of GDP
32.2%
2024
22%
2024

GDP per capita map

1x

Data sources: World Bank | Economy & Growth (1985–2024, retrieved 2026-04-06); U.S. Census Bureau (1985–2024, retrieved 2026-02-08).

GeoRank.org/economy/cambodia/malaysia | CC BY

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Data sources:

  1. World Bank | Economy & Growth (1960–2024, retrieved 2026-04-06)
  2. International Monetary Fund (IMF) | Fiscal Monitor (1990–2024, retrieved 2026-02-20)
  3. The Heritage Foundation | Economic Freedom Index (1995–2026, retrieved 2026-03-09)
  4. U.S. Census Bureau (1985–2024, retrieved 2026-02-08)
  5. TradeMap (2024, retrieved 2026-02-08)
  6. United Nations | World Population Prospects (2026, retrieved 2026-03-10)
  7. LivingCost (2026, retrieved 2025-10-14)

Creative Commons Attribution (CC BY) — you’re free to copy, share, remix, adapt, and use even commercially as long as you give appropriate credit and clearly indicate if you made changes. Other sources may be subject to different license terms.

The current account balance is the sum of net trade in goods and services, net earnings from cross-border investments, and net transfer payments. It reflects a country's economic transactions with the rest of the world and is a fundamental component of the balance of payments. A surplus indicates that a country exports more than it imports, while a deficit shows the opposite.

Gross National Income (GNI) measures a country's total income. It encompasses income earned by residents, businesses, and foreign sources, defined as employee compensation and investment profits. GNI adds product taxes not included elsewhere and subtracts subsidies. It accounts for income from residents working abroad but excludes earnings from foreigners within the country.

A negative value for Net Foreign Direct Investment indicates a country is a net receiver of investments, as foreign inflows exceed outflows after Balance of Payments adjustments. A positive value indicates a net provider, with outflows exceeding inflows. Inflows are credits (increasing foreign claims on domestic assets), while outflows are debits (increasing domestic assets abroad).

Foreign direct investment (FDI, net inflows) shows how much capital foreign investors bring into a country after accounting for any funds that flow back in the opposite direction. It represents the net value of overseas companies establishing, expanding, or financing businesses in the reporting country. A positive number means more capital entered the country than was withdrawn, while a negative number means foreign investors pulled out more than they invested.

Foreign direct investment (FDI, net outflows) shows how much capital residents of a country invest abroad after accounting for any funds that flow back in the opposite direction. It represents the net value of domestic companies establishing, expanding, or financing businesses in other countries. A positive number means more capital was invested abroad than withdrawn, while a negative number means residents pulled back more than they invested.

Principal and interest payments to the IMF in currency, goods, or services on long-term debt expressed as a share of GNI.

Formerly gross domestic investment, gross capital formation measures the share of a country’s economic output invested in fixed assets, including buildings, machinery, and infrastructure. It indicates how much of the economy is devoted to building productive capacity.