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Economy of Guyana vs Malaysia compared: GDP & Debt

Updated on by Georank

Guyana has a GDP of $27.1B compared to $472B for Malaysia, ranking 120/197 and 35/197 by economy size, respectively.

Guyana has $7.74B in government debt (28.6% of GDP), compared to $334B (70.7% of GDP) in Malaysia.

Guyana vs Malaysia GDP by year

Guyana
Malaysia
1x
Year GDP, current $
Guyana Malaysia
2025 $27,097,477,218 $472,193,128,645
2024 $24,662,714,628 $422,227,005,429
2023 $16,918,503,597 $399,949,418,753
2022 $14,718,388,489 $407,830,525,990
2021 $8,041,362,110 $373,784,553,030
2020 $5,471,256,595 $337,456,163,961
2019 $5,173,760,192 $365,177,721,022
2018 $4,787,636,998 $358,788,845,713
2017 $4,748,174,334 $319,109,094,160
2016 $4,482,697,337 $301,256,033,870
2015 $4,279,840,194 $301,355,266,965
2014 $4,127,660,152 $338,066,095,097
2013 $4,167,800,929 $323,276,235,524
2012 $4,063,088,536 $314,443,047,642
2011 $3,691,384,318 $297,951,668,675
2010 $3,432,912,517 $255,017,638,456
2009 $3,165,663,153 $202,257,453,037
2008 $3,025,187,433 $230,811,614,370
2007 $2,730,971,595 $193,549,569,478
2006 $2,379,817,991 $162,692,258,307
2005 $824,880,550 $143,534,405,819
2004 $787,814,379 $124,749,473,684
2003 $743,063,950 $110,202,368,421
2002 $726,131,435 $100,845,526,316
2001 $712,167,450 $92,783,947,368
2000 $712,667,897 $93,789,736,842
1999 $694,754,988 $79,148,421,053
1998 $717,530,683 $72,167,498,981
1997 $749,138,010 $100,005,323,302
1996 $705,406,001 $100,855,393,910
1995 $621,626,786 $88,705,342,903
1994 $545,278,380 $74,478,356,958
1993 $454,101,382 $66,894,966,969
1992 $373,573,141 $59,167,550,163
1991 $348,533,095 $49,143,148,094
1990 $396,582,263 $44,024,585,240
1989 $379,779,390 $38,847,965,293
1988 $413,799,990 $35,272,109,220
1987 $354,591,847 $32,181,210,158
1986 $504,651,140 $27,734,111,400
1985 $453,488,372 $31,199,633,353
1984 $437,631,605 $33,942,897,422
1983 $489,333,333 $30,347,442,111
1982 $482,000,000 $26,804,493,635
1981 $570,357,107 $25,004,285,792
1980 $603,200,000 $24,488,224,677
1979 $530,440,000 $21,213,264,962
1978 $507,080,000 $16,358,079,862
1977 $449,880,000 $13,139,488,633
1976 $454,440,000 $11,050,234,599
1975 $494,791,667 $9,298,800,799
1974 $433,954,545 $9,496,204,302
1973 $307,047,619 $7,662,902,678
1972 $285,380,952 $5,043,347,250
1971 $282,050,000 $4,244,395,956
1970 $267,800,000 $3,864,145,667
1969 $249,300,000 $3,664,552,041
1968 $229,750,000 $3,330,371,551
1967 $250,176,471 $3,188,924,677
1966 $228,705,882 $3,143,517,944
1965 $213,235,294 $2,956,337,669
1964 $194,774,513 $2,674,423,922
1963 $175,757,894 $2,510,110,348
1962 $194,949,513 $2,001,489,602
1961 $185,849,535 $1,901,856,123
1960 $170,216,241 $1,916,229,477

Data sources: World Bank | Economy & Growth (1960–2025, retrieved 2026-07-08).

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

GDP per capita in Guyana vs Malaysia by year

Guyana
GDP per capita

GDP per capita, PPP
Malaysia
GDP per capita

GDP per capita, PPP
1x
Year Current $
Guyana Malaysia
GDP per capita GDP per capita, PPP GDP per capita GDP per capita, PPP
2025 $32,414 - $13,125 -
2024 $29,675 $80,155 $11,874 $38,779
2023 $20,474 $54,729 $11,386 $36,467
2022 $17,913 $39,711 $11,755 $34,420
2021 $9,861 $22,866 $10,903 $29,823
2020 $6,776 $16,819 $9,958 $27,475
2019 $6,406 $13,241 $10,920 $28,934
2018 $6,048 $12,443 $10,902 $27,794
2017 $6,179 $12,243 $9,863 $26,416
2016 $5,871 $11,516 $9,477 $25,286
2015 $5,640 $11,408 $9,649 $24,526
2014 $5,473 $11,145 $11,013 $24,307
2013 $5,557 $11,200 $10,714 $23,161
2012 $5,444 $10,627 $10,601 $22,639
2011 $4,947 $10,066 $10,217 $21,324
2010 $4,582 $9,337 $8,899 $20,193
2009 $4,209 $8,824 $7,191 $18,923
2008 $4,009 $8,437 $8,372 $19,480
2007 $3,608 $8,110 $7,169 $18,617
2006 $3,136 $7,346 $6,158 $17,426
2005 $1,084 $6,761 $5,556 $16,371
2004 $1,033 $6,673 $4,939 $15,416
2003 $974 $6,392 $4,465 $14,387
2002 $951 $6,304 $4,184 $13,656
2001 $932 $6,131 $3,944 $13,072
2000 $932 $5,860 $4,084 $13,027
1999 $909 $5,812 $3,528 $11,980
1998 $940 $5,573 $3,294 $11,398
1997 $983 $5,615 $4,679 $12,469
1996 $928 $5,210 $4,837 $11,709
1995 $820 $4,753 $4,363 $10,720
1994 $721 $4,447 $3,758 $9,806
1993 $603 $4,027 $3,462 $9,018
1992 $498 $3,651 $3,141 $8,224
1991 $466 $3,322 $2,679 $7,583
1990 $529 $3,022 $2,469 $6,887
1989 $503 - $2,244 -
1988 $545 - $2,100 -
1987 $464 - $1,977 -
1986 $657 - $1,760 -
1985 $588 - $2,046 -
1984 $565 - $2,300 -
1983 $631 - $2,124 -
1982 $621 - $1,938 -
1981 $735 - $1,866 -
1980 $779 - $1,886 -
1979 $689 - $1,680 -
1978 $663 - $1,327 -
1977 $593 - $1,092 -
1976 $604 - $940 -
1975 $664 - $811 -
1974 $588 - $848 -
1973 $421 - $701 -
1972 $395 - $472 -
1971 $396 - $407 -
1970 $381 - $380 -
1969 $361 - $368 -
1968 $340 - $342 -
1967 $378 - $335 -
1966 $353 - $339 -
1965 $336 - $326 -
1964 $313 - $303 -
1963 $288.8 - $291.8 -
1962 $327 - $238.8 -
1961 $319 - $232.9 -
1960 $299.1 - $240.8 -

Data sources: World Bank | Economy & Growth (1960–2025, retrieved 2026-07-08).

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

Guyana's GDP per capita is $32,414, ranking 40/197, compared to $13,125 in Malaysia, ranking 78/197. Adjusted for purchasing power (GDP per capita PPP), Guyana ranks 15th at $80,155, while Malaysia ranks 60th at $38,779.

Economic indicators

Guyana Malaysia
Gross domestic product
$27.1B
2025
$472B
2025
GDP rank
120/197
2025
35/197
2025
GDP growth
19.3%
2024-2025
5.17%
2024-2025
GDP per capita
$32,414
2025
$13,125
2025
GDP per capita rank
40/197
2025
78/197
2025
GDP per capita, PPP
$80,155
2024
$38,779
2024
GDP per capita PPP rank
15/197
2024
60/197
2024
Government debt
$7.74B
2025
$334B
2025
Debt-to-GDP ratio
28.6%
2025
70.7%
2025
Government debt per person
$9,255
2025
$9,273
2025
Government debt per person rank
63/185
2025
62/185
2025
Average annual personal income after taxes
$13,307
2026
$11,034
2026
Market capitalization of domestic companies n/a
$487B
2025
Number of billionaires n/a
19
2026
Income share by richest 10%
34.4%
1998
30.9%
2021
Income share by poorest 10%
1.1%
1998
2.3%
2021
Government expenditure, % of GDP
23.9%
2025
23.4%
2025
Consumer prices inflation
3.3%
2024-2025
1.38%
2024-2025
Central bank interest rate n/a
2.75%
2025
Unemployment rate
14.7%
2021
3.9%
2022
Population
843423
36600906

Spending and national debt comparison by year

Guyana
Spending

Debt
Malaysia
Spending

Debt
1x
Year % of GDP
Guyana Malaysia
Government spending Government debt Government spending Government debt
2025 23.9% 28.6% 23.4% 70.7%
2024 23.3% 24.3% 24% 69.8%
2023 23.7% 26.7% 25% 69.7%
2022 20.4% 24.8% 24.6% 65.5%
2021 24.8% 38.9% 24.5% 69.2%
2020 30.5% 47.4% 25% 67.7%
2019 28.1% 34.2% 23.6% 57.1%
2018 27.6% 37.4% 22.8% 55.6%
2017 26.3% 35.2% 22% 54.4%
2016 25.2% 35.7% 22.9% 55.8%
2015 21.7% 42.2% 24.7% 57%
2014 23.1% 38.7% 26% 55.4%
2013 21.4% 41.4% 27.8% 55.7%
2012 21.8% 44.7% 28.5% 53.8%
2011 23.5% 51.7% 27.1% 51.9%
2010 23.9% 53.1% 26.6% 51.2%
2009 25.4% 52.3% 30.9% 50.4%
2008 24.1% 48.2% 26.9% 39.4%
2007 25.5% 47.7% 25.9% 39.3%
2006 29% 74.5% 25.6% 39.7%
2005 28.4% 90.7% 24.5% 40.8%
2004 23.7% 91.8% 25.9% 42%
2003 23.5% 95.6% 28.1% 41.4%
2002 23.1% 105.1% 27.1% 39.5%
2001 24% 104.6% 28.2% 38.1%
2000 22.9% 97.2% 25.6% 32.5%
1999 17.6% 97.1% 24.6% 34.4%
1998 19.7% 108% 23.1% 33.6%
1997 20.9% 101.3% 21.2% 29.6%
1996 - - 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 (1990–2025, retrieved 2026-07-08).

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

In 2025, Guyana's government spending was $6.48B, accounting for 23.9% of its GDP, while Malaysia spent $111B, or 23.4% of GDP.

Debt-to-GDP ratio is 28.6% in Guyana and 70.7% in Malaysia, ranking 160/185 and 56/185, respectively.

Government deficit by year

Deficit/surplus
Guyana

Malaysia
1x
Year Deficit/surplus, % of GDP
Guyana Malaysia
2025 -5.37% -3.54%
2024 -7.27% -3.45%
2023 -5.62% -4.11%
2022 -5.1% -4.56%
2021 -6.94% -6.03%
2020 -7.78% -4.9%
2019 -2.52% -2.01%
2018 -2.52% -2.64%
2017 -3.14% -2.41%
2016 -3.21% -2.6%
2015 -0.75% -2.55%
2014 -3.88% -2.63%
2013 -2.16% -3.48%
2012 -3.11% -3.1%
2011 -2.13% -3.57%
2010 -1.88% -4.32%
2009 -2.5% -5.88%
2008 -2.78% -3.4%
2007 -3.35% -2.57%
2006 -6.16% -2.6%
2005 -6.54% -2.83%
2004 -2.88% -3.35%
2003 -4.81% -4.6%
2002 -2.42% -3.96%
2001 -3.71% -4.36%
2000 -2.27% -6.05%
1999 -0.47% -3%
1998 -2.67% -0.63%
1997 -1.7% 4.84%
1996 - 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 (1990–2025, retrieved 2026-07-08).

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

In 2025, Guyana's government deficit, the difference between spending and revenue, was $1.46B, equivalent to 5.37% of GDP. This compares to Malaysia's deficit of $16.7B, or 3.54% of GDP.

Over the past 29 years, Guyana recorded a fiscal deficit in 29 of those years, while Malaysia ran a deficit in 28 years. On average, Guyana posted an annual deficit equal to 3.64% of GDP, compared to deficit of 3.25% of GDP for Malaysia.

Inflation comparison by year

Inflation
Guyana

Malaysia
1x
Year Consumer prices inflation
Guyana Malaysia
2025 3.3% 1.38%
2024 2.9% 1.83%
2023 2.8% 2.49%
2022 6.9% 3.38%
2021 4.5% 2.48%
2020 0.7% -1.14%
2019 2.1% 0.66%
2018 1.3% 0.88%
2017 1.9% 3.87%
2016 0.8% 2.09%
2015 -0.9% 2.1%
2014 0.7% 3.14%
2013 1.9% 2.11%
2012 2.4% 1.66%
2011 4.4% 3.17%
2010 4.3% 1.62%
2009 3% 0.58%
2008 8.1% 5.44%
2007 12.2% 2.03%
2006 6.7% 3.61%
2005 6.9% 2.98%
2004 4.7% 1.42%
2003 6% 1.09%
2002 5.4% 1.81%
2001 2.6% 1.42%
2000 6.1% 1.53%
1999 7.5% 2.74%
1998 4.6% 5.27%
1997 3.6% 2.66%

Data sources: International Monetary Fund (IMF) | World Economic Outlook (1997–2025, retrieved 2026-07-08); World Bank | Economy & Growth (1997–2025, retrieved 2026-07-08).

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

Over the past 29 years, Guyana has recorded an average annual inflation rate of 4.05%, compared with 2.22% in Malaysia. In 2025, inflation was 3.3% in Guyana and 1.38% in Malaysia.

Top exports between countries

Guyana
Export category Export value
Machinery & equipment $789K
Metals $42K
Chemicals & pharma $29K
Animal & marine products $18K
Raw materials & minerals $9K
Textiles & consumer goods $4K
Miscellaneous $2K
Wood & paper products $2K
Malaysia
Export category Export value
Processed food, beverages & tobacco $7.15M
Machinery & equipment $4.06M
Raw materials & minerals $3.23M
Animal & marine products $1.34M
Chemicals & pharma $642K
Textiles & consumer goods $603K
Raw agricultural goods $328K
Metals $55K
Miscellaneous $41K
Wood & paper products $7K

Balance of trade

Guyana Malaysia
Current account balance
$2.35B
2023
$7.15B
2024
Current account balance ranking
42/190
2023
29/190
2024
Current account balance, % of GDP
+13.9%
2023
+1.69%
2024
Goods imports
$6B
2023
$223B
2024
Goods exports
$13.2B
2023
$248B
2024
Service imports
$4.95B
2023
$56.4B
2024
Service exports
$529M
2023
$53.4B
2024
Imports of goods and services, % of GDP
109.7%
2005
65.4%
2025
Exports of goods and services, % of GDP
84.6%
2005
71%
2025

Economic freedom indices

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

Guyana Malaysia
Economic freedom 58.7 68
Economic freedom ranking 109/197 51/197
Property rights 46.7 62.7
Government integrity 38.8 52.9
Judicial effectiveness 48.6 63.4
Tax burden 76.4 83.5
Government spending 85 82
Fiscal health 39.9 62.5
Business freedom 70.9 79.6
Labor freedom 76 55.4
Monetary freedom 78.5 80.8
Trade freedom 59.2 83
Investment freedom 55 60
Financial freedom 30 50

Economic freedom comparison by year

Guyana
Malaysia
1x
Year Economic freedom index
Guyana Malaysia
2026 58.7 68
2025 58.2 67.1
2024 57.3 65.7
2023 56.9 67.3
2022 59.5 68.1
2021 57.4 74.4
2020 56.2 74.7
2019 56.8 74
2018 58.7 74.5
2017 58.5 73.8
2016 55.4 71.5
2015 55.5 70.8
2014 55.7 69.6
2013 53.8 66.1
2012 51.3 66.4
2011 49.4 66.3
2010 48.4 64.8
2009 48.4 64.6
2008 48.8 63.9
2007 53.7 63.8
2006 56.6 61.6
2005 56.5 61.9
2004 53 59.9
2003 50.3 61.1
2002 54.3 60.1
2001 53.3 60.2
2000 52.4 66
1999 53.3 68.9
1998 52.7 68.2
1997 53.2 66.8
1996 50.1 69.9
1995 45.7 71.9

Data sources: The Heritage Foundation | Economic Freedom Index (1995–2026, retrieved 2026-07-08).

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

The Economic Freedom Index for Guyana is 58.7, ranking 109/197, compared to 68 for Malaysia, ranking 51/197. The chart above displays a comparison of annual changes in economic freedom indexes.

Other economic metrics

Guyana Malaysia
Services, % of GDP
14.8%
2025
54.8%
2025
Industry, % of GDP
75.1%
2025
35.7%
2025
Agriculture, forestry, and fishing, % of GDP
7.73%
2025
8.22%
2025
GNI, Atlas method
$23.8B
2025
$445B
2025
GNI per capita, PPP
$80,300
2025
$40,070
2025
Total reserves including gold
$1.36B
2025
$126B
2025
Total reserves ranking
136/177
2025
25/177
2025
Net foreign direct investment
$1.14B
2023
-$2.55B
2024
Net inflows of foreign direct investment
$8.63B
2024
$15.6B
2024
Net outflows of foreign direct investment
$5.7M
2024
$13B
2024
Servicing debt to the IMF, % of GNI
2.84%
2024
n/a
Poverty at national poverty lines
35%
2020
5.1%
2023
Gross capital formation, % of GDP
32.3%
2005
20.5%
2025

GDP per capita map

1x

Data sources: World Bank | Economy & Growth (1985–2025, retrieved 2026-07-08); U.S. Census Bureau (1985–2025, retrieved 2026-07-08).

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

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Data sources:

  1. World Bank | Economy & Growth (1960–2025, retrieved 2026-07-08)
  2. International Monetary Fund (IMF) | Fiscal Monitor (1990–2025, retrieved 2026-07-08)
  3. The Heritage Foundation | Economic Freedom Index (1995–2026, retrieved 2026-07-08)
  4. U.S. Census Bureau (1985–2025, retrieved 2026-07-08)
  5. TradeMap (2023–2025, retrieved 2026-07-08)
  6. United Nations | World Population Prospects (2026, retrieved 2026-07-08)
  7. LivingCost (2026, retrieved 2026-07-08)
  8. Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) (2020, retrieved 2026-07-08)

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.