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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 39/197 and 150/197 by economy size, respectively.

Malaysia has $297B in government debt (70.1% of GDP), compared to $6.87B (63.2% of GDP) in South Sudan.

The chart below compares the two countries' GDP growth in both current (nominal) and constant dollars, accounting for inflation over time.

Malaysia
GDP, current $

GDP, constant 2015 $
South Sudan
GDP, current $

GDP, constant 2015 $
Year GDP
Malaysia South Sudan
Current $ Constant $ Current $ Constant $
1960 $1,916,229,477 $10,075,053,650 - -
1961 $1,901,856,123 $10,840,555,622 - -
1962 $2,001,489,602 $11,536,630,908 - -
1963 $2,510,110,348 $12,383,281,584 - -
1964 $2,674,423,922 $13,046,897,051 - -
1965 $2,956,337,669 $14,049,533,277 - -
1966 $3,143,517,944 $15,147,744,694 - -
1967 $3,188,924,677 $15,732,015,397 - -
1968 $3,330,371,551 $16,987,114,742 - -
1969 $3,664,552,041 $17,817,535,563 - -
1970 $3,864,145,667 $18,884,189,212 - -
1971 $4,244,395,956 $20,779,153,503 - -
1972 $5,043,347,250 $22,729,992,899 - -
1973 $7,662,902,678 $25,389,647,919 - -
1974 $9,496,204,302 $27,501,726,906 - -
1975 $9,298,800,799 $27,722,034,465 - -
1976 $11,050,234,599 $30,927,669,086 - -
1977 $13,139,488,633 $33,325,509,326 - -
1978 $16,358,079,862 $35,542,952,797 - -
1979 $21,213,264,962 $38,865,898,972 - -
1980 $24,488,224,677 $41,758,231,850 - -
1981 $25,004,285,792 $44,657,131,817 - -
1982 $26,804,493,635 $47,311,173,245 - -
1983 $30,347,442,111 $50,269,176,995 - -
1984 $33,942,897,422 $54,170,965,010 - -
1985 $31,199,633,353 $53,615,577,054 - -
1986 $27,734,111,400 $54,280,729,183 - -
1987 $32,181,210,158 $57,098,947,793 - -
1988 $35,272,109,220 $62,773,281,162 - -
1989 $38,847,965,293 $68,460,289,887 - -
1990 $44,024,585,240 $74,627,553,680 - -
1991 $49,143,148,094 $81,751,102,498 - -
1992 $59,167,550,163 $89,014,784,404 - -
1993 $66,894,966,969 $97,822,746,879 - -
1994 $74,478,356,958 $106,834,219,205 - -
1995 $88,705,342,903 $117,335,045,631 - -
1996 $100,855,393,910 $129,071,719,045 - -
1997 $100,005,323,302 $138,523,307,833 - -
1998 $72,167,498,981 $128,328,802,477 - -
1999 $79,148,421,053 $136,205,126,471 - -
2000 $93,789,736,842 $148,271,359,065 - -
2001 $92,783,947,368 $149,038,923,296 - -
2002 $100,845,526,316 $157,073,594,224 - -
2003 $110,202,368,421 $166,165,798,104 - -
2004 $124,749,473,684 $177,437,551,536 - -
2005 $143,534,405,819 $186,898,768,709 - -
2006 $162,692,258,307 $197,336,779,112 - -
2007 $193,549,569,478 $209,766,600,384 - -
2008 $230,811,614,370 $219,902,039,819 $14,586,253,383 $20,185,217,786
2009 $202,257,453,037 $216,573,759,299 $12,231,264,525 $21,202,884,179
2010 $255,017,638,456 $232,654,030,399 $14,602,072,411 $22,367,646,895
2011 $297,951,668,675 $244,970,531,974 $14,907,308,933 $21,329,717,233
2012 $314,443,047,642 $258,378,881,826 $11,931,472,169 $11,500,530,835
2013 $323,276,235,524 $270,506,469,604 $18,426,469,017 $13,010,519,614
2014 $338,066,095,097 $286,755,041,078 $13,962,212,847 $13,449,448,811
2015 $301,355,266,965 $301,355,266,965 $11,997,800,760 $11,997,800,760
2016 $301,256,033,870 $314,764,917,575 - -
2017 $319,109,094,160 $333,061,328,477 - -
2018 $358,788,845,713 $349,191,778,300 - -
2019 $365,177,721,022 $364,602,265,936 - -
2020 $337,456,163,961 $344,706,479,641 - -
2021 $373,784,823,673 $356,134,704,342 - -
2022 $407,605,841,348 $387,694,727,479 - -
2023 $399,705,137,434 $401,479,163,711 - -
2024 $421,972,102,254 $422,011,432,357 - -

Economic indicators

Malaysia South Sudan
Gross domestic product
$422B
2024
$12B
2015
GDP rank
39/197
2024
150/197
2015
GDP growth
5.57%
2023-2024
-14.1%
2014-2015
GDP per capita
$11,867
2024
$1,080
2015
GDP per capita rank
81/197
2024
172/197
2015
GDP per capita, PPP
$38,729
2024
$1,155
2015
Government debt
$297B
2024
$6.87B
2015
Debt-to-GDP ratio
70.1%
2025
63.2%
2025
Government debt per person
$8,353
2024
$618
2015
Government debt per person rank
63/185
2024
159/185
2015
Average annual personal income after taxes
$9,650
2025
$1,540
2025
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
23.1%
2025
26.7%
2025
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
36304998
12387398

GDP per capita in Malaysia vs South Sudan

Malaysia's GDP per capita is $11,867, ranking 81/197, compared to $1,080 in South Sudan, ranking 172/197. Adjusted for purchasing power (GDP per capita PPP), Malaysia ranks 60th at $38,729, while South Sudan ranks 196th at $1,155.

Malaysia
GDP per capita

GDP per capita, PPP
South Sudan
GDP per capita

GDP per capita, PPP
Year Current $
Malaysia South Sudan
GDP per capita GDP per capita, PPP GDP per capita GDP per capita, PPP
1960 $240.8 - - -
1961 $232.9 - - -
1962 $238.8 - - -
1963 $291.8 - - -
1964 $303 - - -
1965 $326 - - -
1966 $339 - - -
1967 $335 - - -
1968 $342 - - -
1969 $368 - - -
1970 $380 - - -
1971 $407 - - -
1972 $472 - - -
1973 $701 - - -
1974 $848 - - -
1975 $811 - - -
1976 $940 - - -
1977 $1,092 - - -
1978 $1,327 - - -
1979 $1,680 - - -
1980 $1,886 - - -
1981 $1,866 - - -
1982 $1,938 - - -
1983 $2,124 - - -
1984 $2,300 - - -
1985 $2,046 - - -
1986 $1,760 - - -
1987 $1,977 - - -
1988 $2,100 - - -
1989 $2,244 - - -
1990 $2,469 $6,887 - -
1991 $2,679 $7,583 - -
1992 $3,141 $8,224 - -
1993 $3,462 $9,018 - -
1994 $3,758 $9,806 - -
1995 $4,363 $10,720 - -
1996 $4,837 $11,709 - -
1997 $4,679 $12,469 - -
1998 $3,294 $11,398 - -
1999 $3,528 $11,980 - -
2000 $4,084 $13,027 - -
2001 $3,944 $13,072 - -
2002 $4,184 $13,656 - -
2003 $4,465 $14,387 - -
2004 $4,939 $15,416 - -
2005 $5,556 $16,371 - -
2006 $6,158 $17,426 - -
2007 $7,169 $18,617 - -
2008 $8,372 $19,480 $1,654 $2,887
2009 $7,191 $18,923 $1,323 $2,911
2010 $8,899 $20,193 $1,498 $2,948
2011 $10,217 $21,324 $1,449 $2,718
2012 $10,601 $22,639 $1,109 $1,417
2013 $10,714 $23,161 $1,650 $1,917
2014 $11,013 $24,307 $1,243 $1,373
2015 $9,649 $24,526 $1,080 $1,155
2016 $9,477 $25,286 - -
2017 $9,863 $26,416 - -
2018 $10,902 $27,794 - -
2019 $10,920 $28,934 - -
2020 $9,958 $27,475 - -
2021 $10,903 $29,823 - -
2022 $11,748 $34,366 - -
2023 $11,379 $36,417 - -
2024 $11,867 $38,729 - -

Spending and national debt comparison

In 2024, Malaysia's government spending was $101B, accounting for 23.1% of its GDP, while South Sudan's spent $3.98B, or 26.7% of GDP.

Debt-to-GDP ratio is 70.1% in Malaysia and 63.2% in South Sudan, ranking 55/185 and 72/185, respectively.

Malaysia
Government spending

Government debt
South Sudan
Government spending

Government debt
Year % of GDP
Malaysia South Sudan
Government spending Government debt Government spending Government debt
1990 30.5% 74.1% - -
1991 27.4% 67.3% - -
1992 28.2% 59.1% - -
1993 24.6% 51.1% - -
1994 23.3% 43.7% - -
1995 22.6% 38.2% - -
1996 22.4% 32.8% - -
1997 21.2% 29.6% - -
1998 23.1% 33.6% - -
1999 24.6% 34.4% - -
2000 25.6% 32.5% - -
2001 28.2% 38.1% - -
2002 27.1% 39.5% - -
2003 28.1% 41.4% - -
2004 25.9% 42% - -
2005 24.5% 40.8% - -
2006 25.6% 39.7% - -
2007 25.9% 39.3% - -
2008 26.9% 39.4% - -
2009 30.9% 50.4% - -
2010 26.6% 51.2% - -
2011 27.1% 51.9% 20.8% -
2012 28.5% 53.8% 31.6% 8.91%
2013 27.8% 55.7% 25.3% 17.6%
2014 26% 55.4% 36.2% 38.1%
2015 24.7% 57% 33.2% 57.2%
2016 22.9% 55.8% 60.8% 150.5%
2017 22% 54.4% 88.6% 163%
2018 22.8% 55.6% 56.4% 80.3%
2019 23.6% 57.1% 47.1% 43.1%
2020 25% 67.7% 33.5% 49%
2021 24.5% 69.2% 44.1% 51.1%
2022 24.7% 65.5% 29.7% 39.1%
2023 24.9% 69.7% 23.5% 49.7%
2024 23.9% 70.4% 20.3% 54.3%
2025 23.1% 70.1% 26.7% 63.2%

Government deficit by year

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 -$1.92B, or -16% 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 -7.78% of GDP for South Sudan.

Deficit/surplus
Malaysia

South Sudan
Year Deficit/surplus, % of GDP
Malaysia South Sudan
1990 0.15% -
1991 1.6% -
1992 1.81% -
1993 3.44% -
1994 5.45% -
1995 3.1% -
1996 3.27% -
1997 4.84% -
1998 -0.63% -
1999 -3% -
2000 -6.05% -
2001 -4.36% -
2002 -3.96% -
2003 -4.6% -
2004 -3.35% -
2005 -2.83% -
2006 -2.6% -
2007 -2.57% -
2008 -3.4% -
2009 -5.88% -
2010 -4.32% -
2011 -3.57% 4.57%
2012 -3.1% -14.8%
2013 -3.48% -3.45%
2014 -2.63% -9.18%
2015 -2.55% -16%
2016 -2.6% -18.1%
2017 -2.41% 8.74%
2018 -2.64% -1.1%
2019 -2.01% 0.84%
2020 -4.9% -4.93%
2021 -6.03% -9.3%
2022 -4.56% 2.05%
2023 -3.97% 7.85%
2024 -3.95% 3.86%
2025 -3.36% 2%

Inflation comparison by year

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.

Inflation
Malaysia

South Sudan
Year Inflation
Malaysia South Sudan Malaysia South Sudan
1996 3.49% -
1997 2.66% -
1998 5.27% -
1999 2.74% -
2000 1.53% -
2001 1.42% -
2002 1.81% -
2003 1.09% -
2004 1.42% -
2005 2.98% -
2006 3.61% -
2007 2.03% -
2008 5.44% -
2009 0.58% 5.01%
2010 1.62% 1.17%
2011 3.17% 46.9%
2012 1.66% 45.5%
2013 2.11% -0.06%
2014 3.14% 1.67%
2015 2.1% 52.8%
2016 2.09% 380%
2017 3.87% 187.9%
2018 0.88% 83.5%
2019 0.66% 87.2%
2020 -1.14% 29.7%
2021 2.48% 10.5%
2022 3.38% -6.69%
2023 2.49% 2.38%
2024 1.83% 91.4%

Balance of trade

Malaysia South Sudan
Current account balance
$7.15B
2024
$578M
2023
Current account balance ranking
25/189
2024
58/189
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
71.4%
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 67.1 41
Economic freedom ranking 50/197 186/197
Property rights 66.3 n/a
Government integrity 51.1 n/a
Judicial effectiveness 66.2 n/a
Tax burden 83.9 n/a
Government spending 82.1 n/a
Fiscal health 48.1 n/a
Business freedom 76.6 n/a
Labor freedom 58.1 n/a
Monetary freedom 79.6 n/a
Trade freedom 83.4 n/a
Investment freedom 60 n/a
Financial freedom 50 n/a

More economic indicators

Malaysia South Sudan
Services, % of GDP
53.6%
2024
56.6%
2015
Industry, % of GDP
37.1%
2024
33.1%
2015
Agriculture, forestry, and fishing, % of GDP
8.16%
2024
10.4%
2015
GNI, Atlas method
$415B
2024
$11.7B
2015
GNI per capita, PPP
$37,500
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
$42M
2017
Poverty at national poverty lines
5.8%
2023
66%
2020
Gross capital formation, % of GDP
21.9%
2024
5.75%
2015

GDP per capita map

GDP per capita

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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.