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Economy of Malaysia vs South Sudan compared: GDP & Debt

Updated on by Georank team

Malaysia has a GDP of $422B compared to $12B for South Sudan, ranking 38/197 and 149/197 by economy size, respectively.

Malaysia has $296B in government debt (70.1% of GDP), compared to $7.04B (50.7% of GDP) in South Sudan.

Malaysia vs South Sudan GDP by year

Malaysia
South Sudan
1x
Year GDP, current $
Malaysia South Sudan
2024 $422,227,005,429 -
2023 $399,949,418,753 -
2022 $407,830,525,990 -
2021 $373,784,553,030 -
2020 $337,456,163,961 -
2019 $365,177,721,022 -
2018 $358,788,845,713 -
2017 $319,109,094,160 -
2016 $301,256,033,870 -
2015 $301,355,266,965 $11,997,800,760
2014 $338,066,095,097 $13,962,212,847
2013 $323,276,235,524 $18,426,469,017
2012 $314,443,047,642 $11,931,472,169
2011 $297,951,668,675 $14,907,308,933
2010 $255,017,638,456 $14,602,072,411
2009 $202,257,453,037 $12,231,264,525
2008 $230,811,614,370 $14,586,253,383
2007 $193,549,569,478 -
2006 $162,692,258,307 -
2005 $143,534,405,819 -
2004 $124,749,473,684 -
2003 $110,202,368,421 -
2002 $100,845,526,316 -
2001 $92,783,947,368 -
2000 $93,789,736,842 -
1999 $79,148,421,053 -
1998 $72,167,498,981 -
1997 $100,005,323,302 -
1996 $100,855,393,910 -
1995 $88,705,342,903 -
1994 $74,478,356,958 -
1993 $66,894,966,969 -
1992 $59,167,550,163 -
1991 $49,143,148,094 -
1990 $44,024,585,240 -
1989 $38,847,965,293 -
1988 $35,272,109,220 -
1987 $32,181,210,158 -
1986 $27,734,111,400 -
1985 $31,199,633,353 -
1984 $33,942,897,422 -
1983 $30,347,442,111 -
1982 $26,804,493,635 -
1981 $25,004,285,792 -
1980 $24,488,224,677 -
1979 $21,213,264,962 -
1978 $16,358,079,862 -
1977 $13,139,488,633 -
1976 $11,050,234,599 -
1975 $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/malaysia/south-sudan | CC BY

GDP per capita in Malaysia vs South Sudan by year

Malaysia
GDP per capita

GDP per capita, PPP
South Sudan
GDP per capita

GDP per capita, PPP
1x
Year Current $
Malaysia South Sudan
GDP per capita GDP per capita, PPP GDP per capita GDP per capita, PPP
2024 $11,874 $38,779 - -
2023 $11,386 $36,467 - -
2022 $11,755 $34,420 - -
2021 $10,903 $29,823 - -
2020 $9,958 $27,475 - -
2019 $10,920 $28,934 - -
2018 $10,902 $27,794 - -
2017 $9,863 $26,416 - -
2016 $9,477 $25,286 - -
2015 $9,649 $24,526 $1,080 $1,155
2014 $11,013 $24,307 $1,243 $1,373
2013 $10,714 $23,161 $1,650 $1,917
2012 $10,601 $22,639 $1,109 $1,417
2011 $10,217 $21,324 $1,449 $2,718
2010 $8,899 $20,193 $1,498 $2,948
2009 $7,191 $18,923 $1,323 $2,911
2008 $8,372 $19,480 $1,654 $2,887
2007 $7,169 $18,617 - -
2006 $6,158 $17,426 - -
2005 $5,556 $16,371 - -
2004 $4,939 $15,416 - -
2003 $4,465 $14,387 - -
2002 $4,184 $13,656 - -
2001 $3,944 $13,072 - -
2000 $4,084 $13,027 - -
1999 $3,528 $11,980 - -
1998 $3,294 $11,398 - -
1997 $4,679 $12,469 - -
1996 $4,837 $11,709 - -
1995 $4,363 $10,720 - -
1994 $3,758 $9,806 - -
1993 $3,462 $9,018 - -
1992 $3,141 $8,224 - -
1991 $2,679 $7,583 - -
1990 $2,469 $6,887 - -
1989 $2,244 - - -
1988 $2,100 - - -
1987 $1,977 - - -
1986 $1,760 - - -
1985 $2,046 - - -
1984 $2,300 - - -
1983 $2,124 - - -
1982 $1,938 - - -
1981 $1,866 - - -
1980 $1,886 - - -
1979 $1,680 - - -
1978 $1,327 - - -
1977 $1,092 - - -
1976 $940 - - -
1975 $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/malaysia/south-sudan | CC BY

Malaysia's GDP per capita is $11,874, ranking 79/197, compared to $1,080 in South Sudan, ranking 175/197. Adjusted for purchasing power (GDP per capita PPP), Malaysia ranks 60th at $38,779, while South Sudan ranks 197th at $1,155.

Economic indicators

Malaysia South Sudan
Gross domestic product
$422B
2024
$12B
2015
GDP rank
38/197
2024
149/197
2015
GDP growth
5.11%
2023-2024
-10.8%
2014-2015
GDP per capita
$11,874
2024
$1,080
2015
GDP per capita rank
79/197
2024
175/197
2015
GDP per capita, PPP
$38,779
2024
$1,155
2015
GDP per capita PPP rank
60/197
2024
197/197
2015
Government debt
$296B
2024
$7.04B
2015
Debt-to-GDP ratio
70.1%
2024
50.7%
2024
Government debt per person
$8,322
2024
$633
2015
Government debt per person rank
62/185
2024
158/185
2015
Average annual personal income after taxes
$11,005
2026
$1,305
2026
Market capitalization of domestic companies
$449B
2024
n/a
Number of billionaires
19
2025
n/a
Income share by richest 10%
30.9%
2021
33%
2016
Income share by poorest 10%
2.3%
2021
1.8%
2016
Government expenditure, % of GDP
23.9%
2024
18.1%
2024
Consumer prices inflation
1.83%
2023-2024
91.4%
2023-2024
Central bank interest rate
2.75%
2025
15%
2023
Unemployment rate
3.93%
2022
12.3%
2008
Population
36512221
12507858

Spending and national debt comparison by year

Malaysia
Spending

Debt
South Sudan
Spending

Debt
1x
Year % of GDP
Malaysia South Sudan
Government spending Government debt Government spending Government debt
2024 23.9% 70.1% 18.1% 50.7%
2023 24.9% 69.7% 21.4% 51.9%
2022 24.6% 65.5% 29.4% 37.3%
2021 24.5% 69.2% 44.1% 50.2%
2020 25% 67.7% 34.1% 49%
2019 23.6% 57.1% 47.9% 43.1%
2018 22.8% 55.6% 54.5% 77.6%
2017 22% 54.4% 97% 178.3%
2016 22.9% 55.8% 66.5% 164.7%
2015 24.7% 57% 34% 58.6%
2014 26% 55.4% 35.8% 37.7%
2013 27.8% 55.7% 25.3% 17.6%
2012 28.5% 53.8% 31.6% 8.91%
2011 27.1% 51.9% 20.8% -
2010 26.6% 51.2% - -
2009 30.9% 50.4% - -
2008 26.9% 39.4% - -
2007 25.9% 39.3% - -
2006 25.6% 39.7% - -
2005 24.5% 40.8% - -
2004 25.9% 42% - -
2003 28.1% 41.4% - -
2002 27.1% 39.5% - -
2001 28.2% 38.1% - -
2000 25.6% 32.5% - -
1999 24.6% 34.4% - -
1998 23.1% 33.6% - -
1997 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 (1990–2024, retrieved 2026-02-20).

GeoRank.org/economy/malaysia/south-sudan | CC BY

In 2024, Malaysia's government spending was $101B, accounting for 23.9% of its GDP, while South Sudan spent $4.08B, or 18.1% of GDP.

Debt-to-GDP ratio is 70.1% in Malaysia and 50.7% in South Sudan, ranking 58/185 and 105/185, respectively.

Government deficit by year

Deficit/surplus
Malaysia

South Sudan
1x
Year Deficit/surplus, % of GDP
Malaysia South Sudan
2024 -3.95% 11.7%
2023 -3.97% 8.04%
2022 -4.56% 4.48%
2021 -6.03% -9.3%
2020 -4.9% -5.5%
2019 -2.01% 0.04%
2018 -2.64% -1.06%
2017 -2.41% 9.56%
2016 -2.6% -19.8%
2015 -2.55% -16.4%
2014 -2.63% -9.07%
2013 -3.48% -3.45%
2012 -3.1% -14.8%
2011 -3.57% 4.57%
2010 -4.32% -
2009 -5.88% -
2008 -3.4% -
2007 -2.57% -
2006 -2.6% -
2005 -2.83% -
2004 -3.35% -
2003 -4.6% -
2002 -3.96% -
2001 -4.36% -
2000 -6.05% -
1999 -3% -
1998 -0.63% -
1997 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 (1990–2024, retrieved 2026-02-20).

GeoRank.org/economy/malaysia/south-sudan | CC BY

In 2015, Malaysia's government deficit, the difference between spending and revenue, was $7.67B, equivalent to 2.55% of GDP. This compares to South Sudan's deficit of $1.97B, or 16.4% of GDP.

Over the past 5 years, Malaysia recorded a fiscal deficit in 5 of those years, while South Sudan ran a deficit in 4 years. On average, Malaysia posted an annual deficit equal to 3.06% of GDP, compared to deficit of 7.83% of GDP for South Sudan.

Inflation comparison by year

Inflation
Malaysia

South Sudan
1x
Year Consumer prices inflation
Malaysia South Sudan
2024 1.83% 91.4%
2023 2.49% 2.38%
2022 3.38% -6.69%
2021 2.48% 10.5%
2020 -1.14% 29.7%
2019 0.66% 87.2%
2018 0.88% 83.5%
2017 3.87% 187.9%
2016 2.09% 380%
2015 2.1% 52.8%
2014 3.14% 1.67%
2013 2.11% -0.06%
2012 1.66% 45.5%
2011 3.17% 46.9%
2010 1.62% 1.17%
2009 0.58% 5.01%
2008 5.44% -
2007 2.03% -
2006 3.61% -
2005 2.98% -
2004 1.42% -
2003 1.09% -
2002 1.81% -
2001 1.42% -
2000 1.53% -
1999 2.74% -
1998 5.27% -
1997 2.66% -

Data sources: World Bank | Economy & Growth (1997–2024, retrieved 2026-04-06).

GeoRank.org/economy/malaysia/south-sudan | CC BY

Over the past 16 years, Malaysia has recorded an average annual inflation rate of 1.93%, compared with 63.7% in South Sudan. In 2024, inflation was 1.83% in Malaysia and 91.4% in South Sudan.

Balance of trade

Malaysia South Sudan
Current account balance
$7.15B
2024
$578M
2023
Current account balance ranking
26/190
2024
60/190
2023
Current account balance, % of GDP
+1.69%
2024
-4.17%
2015
Goods imports
$223B
2024
$2.25B
2023
Goods exports
$248B
2024
$4.01B
2023
Service imports
$56.4B
2024
$2.19B
2023
Service exports
$53.4B
2024
$484M
2023
Imports of goods and services, % of GDP
66%
2024
28.9%
2015
Exports of goods and services, % of GDP
71.3%
2024
36.7%
2015

Economic freedom indices

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

Malaysia South Sudan
Economic freedom 68 41
Economic freedom ranking 51/197 186/197
Property rights 62.7 n/a
Government integrity 52.9 n/a
Judicial effectiveness 63.4 n/a
Tax burden 83.5 n/a
Government spending 82 n/a
Fiscal health 62.5 n/a
Business freedom 79.6 n/a
Labor freedom 55.4 n/a
Monetary freedom 80.8 n/a
Trade freedom 83 n/a
Investment freedom 60 n/a
Financial freedom 50 n/a

Other economic metrics

Malaysia South Sudan
Services, % of GDP
53.7%
2024
56.6%
2015
Industry, % of GDP
37%
2024
33.1%
2015
Agriculture, forestry, and fishing, % of GDP
8.13%
2024
10.4%
2015
GNI, Atlas method
$414B
2024
$11.7B
2015
GNI per capita, PPP
$37,450
2024
$1,010
2015
Total reserves including gold
$116B
2024
$72.9M
2023
Total reserves ranking
24/177
2024
175/177
2023
Net foreign direct investment
-$2.55B
2024
$2.21M
2019
Net inflows of foreign direct investment
$15.6B
2024
$83.4M
2024
Net outflows of foreign direct investment
$13B
2024
$0
2024
Poverty at national poverty lines
5.8%
2023
66%
2020
Gross capital formation, % of GDP
22%
2024
5.75%
2015

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/malaysia/south-sudan | 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. U.S. Census Bureau (1985–2024, retrieved 2026-02-08)
  4. The Heritage Foundation | Economic Freedom Index (2026, retrieved 2026-03-09)
  5. United Nations | World Population Prospects (2026, retrieved 2026-03-10)
  6. LivingCost (2026, retrieved 2025-10-14)
  7. Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) (2020, retrieved 2026-02-20)

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.

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.