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Economy of Malaysia vs Uganda compared: GDP & Debt

Updated on by Georank

Malaysia has a GDP of $472B compared to $62B for Uganda, ranking 35/197 and 89/197 by economy size, respectively.

Malaysia has $334B in government debt (70.7% of GDP), compared to $33.6B (54.2% of GDP) in Uganda.

Malaysia vs Uganda GDP by year

Malaysia
Uganda
1x
Year GDP, current $
Malaysia Uganda
2025 $472,193,128,645 $61,985,829,288
2024 $422,227,005,429 $53,911,907,079
2023 $399,949,418,753 $48,768,955,863
2022 $407,830,525,990 $45,565,333,211
2021 $373,784,553,030 $40,529,788,749
2020 $337,456,163,961 $37,600,368,242
2019 $365,177,721,022 $35,353,061,003
2018 $358,788,845,713 $32,927,025,620
2017 $319,109,094,160 $30,744,473,841
2016 $301,256,033,870 $29,203,988,696
2015 $301,355,266,965 $32,387,183,730
2014 $338,066,095,097 $32,612,397,257
2013 $323,276,235,524 $28,915,786,517
2012 $314,443,047,642 $27,305,915,911
2011 $297,951,668,675 $27,871,725,241
2010 $255,017,638,456 $26,673,441,431
2009 $202,257,453,037 $25,127,805,567
2008 $230,811,614,370 $14,440,404,132
2007 $193,549,569,478 $11,902,564,495
2006 $162,692,258,307 $9,977,647,683
2005 $143,534,405,819 $9,239,221,763
2004 $124,749,473,684 $7,939,487,548
2003 $110,202,368,421 $6,606,884,275
2002 $100,845,526,316 $6,178,563,591
2001 $92,783,947,368 $5,840,503,869
2000 $93,789,736,842 $6,193,246,837
1999 $79,148,421,053 $5,998,563,258
1998 $72,167,498,981 $6,584,815,847
1997 $100,005,323,302 $6,269,333,313
1996 $100,855,393,910 $6,044,585,327
1995 $88,705,342,903 $5,755,818,842
1994 $74,478,356,958 $3,990,430,447
1993 $66,894,966,969 $3,220,439,044
1992 $59,167,550,163 $2,857,457,762
1991 $49,143,148,094 $3,321,729,160
1990 $44,024,585,240 $4,304,399,310
1989 $38,847,965,293 $5,276,480,799
1988 $35,272,109,220 $6,508,931,652
1987 $32,181,210,158 $6,269,522,042
1986 $27,734,111,400 $3,923,244,050
1985 $31,199,633,353 $3,519,695,444
1984 $33,942,897,422 $3,615,647,477
1983 $30,347,442,111 $2,240,333,333
1982 $26,804,493,635 $2,177,500,000
1981 $25,004,285,792 $1,337,300,000
1980 $24,488,224,677 $1,244,610,000
1979 $21,213,264,962 $2,139,025,000
1978 $16,358,079,862 $2,420,260,870
1977 $13,139,488,633 $2,936,470,588
1976 $11,050,234,599 $2,447,300,000
1975 $9,298,800,799 $2,359,555,556
1974 $9,496,204,302 $2,098,944,967
1973 $7,662,902,678 $1,701,829,789
1972 $5,043,347,250 $1,490,970,181
1971 $4,244,395,956 $1,417,191,656
1970 $3,864,145,667 $1,259,554,809
1969 $3,664,552,041 $1,168,556,629
1968 $3,330,371,551 $1,037,379,252
1967 $3,188,924,677 $967,240,655
1966 $3,143,517,944 $925,381,492
1965 $2,956,337,669 $884,502,310
1964 $2,674,423,922 $589,247,687
1963 $2,510,110,348 $516,315,231
1962 $2,001,489,602 $449,158,233
1961 $1,901,856,123 $441,667,335
1960 $1,916,229,477 $423,145,605

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

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

GDP per capita in Malaysia vs Uganda by year

Malaysia
GDP per capita

GDP per capita, PPP
Uganda
GDP per capita

GDP per capita, PPP
1x
Year Current $
Malaysia Uganda
GDP per capita GDP per capita, PPP GDP per capita GDP per capita, PPP
2025 $13,125 - $1,206 -
2024 $11,874 $38,779 $1,078 $3,273
2023 $11,386 $36,467 $1,002 $3,098
2022 $11,755 $34,420 $963 $2,919
2021 $10,903 $29,823 $883 $2,685
2020 $9,958 $27,475 $846 $2,532
2019 $10,920 $28,934 $822 $2,441
2018 $10,902 $27,794 $792 $2,312
2017 $9,863 $26,416 $765 $2,158
2016 $9,477 $25,286 $753 $2,165
2015 $9,649 $24,526 $863 $2,190
2014 $11,013 $24,307 $896 $2,134
2013 $10,714 $23,161 $818 $2,045
2012 $10,601 $22,639 $795 $2,032
2011 $10,217 $21,324 $836 $2,268
2010 $8,899 $20,193 $823 $2,092
2009 $7,191 $18,923 $799 $2,015
2008 $8,372 $19,480 $473 $1,931
2007 $7,169 $18,617 $401 $1,795
2006 $6,158 $17,426 $347 $1,660
2005 $5,556 $16,371 $330 $1,497
2004 $4,939 $15,416 $292.4 $1,405
2003 $4,465 $14,387 $250.7 $1,320
2002 $4,184 $13,656 $242 $1,255
2001 $3,944 $13,072 $236 $1,173
2000 $4,084 $13,027 $258.1 $1,124
1999 $3,528 $11,980 $257.9 $1,100
1998 $3,294 $11,398 $292.5 $1,037
1997 $4,679 $12,469 $286.8 $1,007
1996 $4,837 $11,709 $284.7 $969
1995 $4,363 $10,720 $278.5 $897
1994 $3,758 $9,806 $198.4 $809
1993 $3,462 $9,018 $165.6 $770
1992 $3,141 $8,224 $152.1 $719
1991 $2,679 $7,583 $183 $703
1990 $2,469 $6,887 $245 $666
1989 $2,244 - $310 -
1988 $2,100 - $395 -
1987 $1,977 - $393 -
1986 $1,760 - $253.6 -
1985 $2,046 - $234.3 -
1984 $2,300 - $247.5 -
1983 $2,124 - $157.5 -
1982 $1,938 - $157 -
1981 $1,866 - $98.6 -
1980 $1,886 - $93.8 -
1979 $1,680 - $164.5 -
1978 $1,327 - $190.7 -
1977 $1,092 - $237.6 -
1976 $940 - $203.3 -
1975 $811 - $201.2 -
1974 $848 - $183.7 -
1973 $701 - $152.7 -
1972 $472 - $137 -
1971 $407 - $133.5 -
1970 $380 - $122 -
1969 $368 - $116.7 -
1968 $342 - $106.9 -
1967 $335 - $102.8 -
1966 $339 - $101.4 -
1965 $326 - $100 -
1964 $303 - $68.6 -
1963 $291.8 - $62 -
1962 $238.8 - $55.5 -
1961 $232.9 - $56.2 -
1960 $240.8 - $55.4 -

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

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

Malaysia's GDP per capita is $13,125, ranking 78/197, compared to $1,206 in Uganda, ranking 173/197. Adjusted for purchasing power (GDP per capita PPP), Malaysia ranks 60th at $38,779, while Uganda ranks 176th at $3,273.

Economic indicators

Malaysia Uganda
Gross domestic product
$472B
2025
$62B
2025
GDP rank
35/197
2025
89/197
2025
GDP growth
5.17%
2024-2025
6.33%
2024-2025
GDP per capita
$13,125
2025
$1,206
2025
GDP per capita rank
78/197
2025
173/197
2025
GDP per capita, PPP
$38,779
2024
$3,273
2024
GDP per capita PPP rank
60/197
2024
176/197
2024
Government debt
$334B
2025
$33.6B
2025
Debt-to-GDP ratio
70.7%
2025
54.2%
2025
Government debt per person
$9,273
2025
$654
2025
Government debt per person rank
62/185
2025
157/185
2025
Average annual personal income after taxes
$11,034
2026
$1,595
2026
Market capitalization of domestic companies
$487B
2025
n/a
Number of billionaires
19
2026
n/a
Income share by richest 10%
30.9%
2021
34.5%
2019
Income share by poorest 10%
2.3%
2021
2.4%
2019
Government expenditure, % of GDP
23.4%
2025
22.2%
2025
Consumer prices inflation
1.38%
2024-2025
3.6%
2024-2025
Central bank interest rate
2.75%
2025
9.75%
2024
Unemployment rate
3.9%
2022
3.42%
2021
Population
36600906
53495325

Spending and national debt comparison by year

Malaysia
Spending

Debt
Uganda
Spending

Debt
1x
Year % of GDP
Malaysia Uganda
Government spending Government debt Government spending Government debt
2025 23.4% 70.7% 22.2% 54.2%
2024 24% 69.8% 18.4% 51.8%
2023 25% 69.7% 19.3% 50.4%
2022 24.6% 65.5% 19.5% 49.9%
2021 24.5% 69.2% 22% 50.3%
2020 25% 67.7% 21.4% 46.8%
2019 23.6% 57.1% 18.3% 38%
2018 22.8% 55.6% 16.2% 35%
2017 22% 54.4% 16.3% 33.6%
2016 22.9% 55.8% 15.2% 31.3%
2015 24.7% 57% 14.9% 28%
2014 26% 55.4% 13.6% 24.8%
2013 27.8% 55.7% 13.3% 22.1%
2012 28.5% 53.8% 13.1% 19.5%
2011 27.1% 51.9% 13.2% 18%
2010 26.6% 51.2% 15.4% 18.4%
2009 30.9% 50.4% 11.8% 14.8%
2008 26.9% 39.4% 12.9% 15.7%
2007 25.9% 39.3% 13.2% 17%
2006 25.6% 39.7% 13.7% 27.8%
2005 24.5% 40.8% 14.5% 42.6%
2004 25.9% 42% 15.6% 49%
2003 28.1% 41.4% 16.5% 55.1%
2002 27.1% 39.5% 16.8% 54.7%
2001 28.2% 38.1% 16.2% 51.4%
2000 25.6% 32.5% 15.2% 48.5%
1999 24.6% 34.4% 14.7% 47.7%
1998 23.1% 33.6% 14% 45.1%
1997 21.2% 29.6% 13.9% 44.2%
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/malaysia/uganda | CC BY

In 2025, Malaysia's government spending was $111B, accounting for 23.4% of its GDP, while Uganda spent $13.8B, or 22.2% of GDP.

Debt-to-GDP ratio is 70.7% in Malaysia and 54.2% in Uganda, ranking 56/185 and 93/185, respectively.

Government deficit by year

Deficit/surplus
Malaysia

Uganda
1x
Year Deficit/surplus, % of GDP
Malaysia Uganda
2025 -3.54% -7.13%
2024 -3.45% -3.93%
2023 -4.11% -4.87%
2022 -4.56% -5.44%
2021 -6.03% -7.76%
2020 -4.9% -7.76%
2019 -2.01% -4.82%
2018 -2.64% -3.02%
2017 -2.41% -3.83%
2016 -2.6% -2.64%
2015 -2.55% -2.59%
2014 -2.63% -2.74%
2013 -3.48% -3.19%
2012 -3.1% -2.39%
2011 -3.57% -2.04%
2010 -4.32% -4.64%
2009 -5.88% -1.61%
2008 -3.4% -1.99%
2007 -2.57% -0.82%
2006 -2.6% -0.64%
2005 -2.83% -0.17%
2004 -3.35% 0.34%
2003 -4.6% -0.97%
2002 -3.96% -2.07%
2001 -4.36% -0.99%
2000 -6.05% -0.62%
1999 -3% -1.24%
1998 -0.63% -0.7%
1997 4.84% -0.83%
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/malaysia/uganda | CC BY

In 2025, Malaysia's government deficit, the difference between spending and revenue, was $16.7B, equivalent to 3.54% of GDP. This compares to Uganda's deficit of $4.42B, or 7.13% of GDP.

Over the past 29 years, Malaysia recorded a fiscal deficit in 28 of those years, while Uganda ran a deficit in 28 years. On average, Malaysia posted an annual deficit equal to 3.25% of GDP, compared to deficit of 2.8% of GDP for Uganda.

Inflation comparison by year

Inflation
Malaysia

Uganda
1x
Year Consumer prices inflation
Malaysia Uganda
2025 1.38% 3.6%
2024 1.83% 3.3%
2023 2.49% 5.4%
2022 3.38% 7.2%
2021 2.48% 2.2%
2020 -1.14% 2.8%
2019 0.66% 2.1%
2018 0.88% 2.5%
2017 3.87% 5.6%
2016 2.09% 5.2%
2015 2.1% 3.7%
2014 3.14% 4.3%
2013 2.11% 5.5%
2012 1.66% 14%
2011 3.17% 18.7%
2010 1.62% 4%
2009 0.58% 13%
2008 5.44% 12%
2007 2.03% 6.1%
2006 3.61% 7.2%
2005 2.98% 8.6%
2004 1.42% 3.7%
2003 1.09% 8.7%
2002 1.81% -0.3%
2001 1.42% 1.9%
2000 1.53% 3.4%
1999 2.74% 5.8%
1998 5.27% 5.8%
1997 2.66% 7.7%

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/malaysia/uganda | CC BY

Over the past 29 years, Malaysia has recorded an average annual inflation rate of 2.22%, compared with 5.99% in Uganda. In 2025, inflation was 1.38% in Malaysia and 3.6% in Uganda.

Top exports between countries

Malaysia
Export category Export value
Chemicals & pharma $8.62M
Wood & paper products $4.26M
Processed food, beverages & tobacco $3.54M
Machinery & equipment $3.2M
Textiles & consumer goods $1.34M
Raw materials & minerals $1.08M
Metals $375K
Raw agricultural goods $88K
Miscellaneous $14K
Uganda
Export category Export value
Processed food, beverages & tobacco $112M
Raw agricultural goods $1.07M
Machinery & equipment $701K
Animal & marine products $549K
Chemicals & pharma $67K
Metals $57K
Textiles & consumer goods $18K
Miscellaneous $1K
Wood & paper products $1K

Balance of trade

Malaysia Uganda
Current account balance
$7.15B
2024
-$4.19B
2024
Current account balance ranking
29/190
2024
160/190
2024
Current account balance, % of GDP
+1.69%
2024
-7.78%
2024
Goods imports
$223B
2024
$11.7B
2024
Goods exports
$248B
2024
$8.67B
2024
Service imports
$56.4B
2024
$4.45B
2024
Service exports
$53.4B
2024
$2.56B
2024
Imports of goods and services, % of GDP
65.4%
2025
28.8%
2025
Exports of goods and services, % of GDP
71%
2025
21.4%
2025

Economic freedom indices

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

Malaysia Uganda
Economic freedom 68 52.4
Economic freedom ranking 51/197 149/197
Property rights 62.7 42.2
Government integrity 52.9 25.1
Judicial effectiveness 63.4 29.4
Tax burden 83.5 73.4
Government spending 82 89
Fiscal health 62.5 58.3
Business freedom 79.6 50.2
Labor freedom 55.4 55.9
Monetary freedom 80.8 77.1
Trade freedom 83 58
Investment freedom 60 30
Financial freedom 50 40

Economic freedom comparison by year

Malaysia
Uganda
1x
Year Economic freedom index
Malaysia Uganda
2026 68 52.4
2025 67.1 51.3
2024 65.7 50.7
2023 67.3 51.4
2022 68.1 54.2
2021 74.4 58.6
2020 74.7 59.5
2019 74 59.7
2018 74.5 62
2017 73.8 60.9
2016 71.5 59.3
2015 70.8 59.7
2014 69.6 59.9
2013 66.1 61.1
2012 66.4 61.9
2011 66.3 61.7
2010 64.8 62.2
2009 64.6 63.5
2008 63.9 63.8
2007 63.8 63.1
2006 61.6 63.9
2005 61.9 62.9
2004 59.9 64.1
2003 61.1 60.1
2002 60.1 61
2001 60.2 60.4
2000 66 58.2
1999 68.9 64.8
1998 68.2 64.7
1997 66.8 66.6
1996 69.9 66.2
1995 71.9 62.9

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

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

The Economic Freedom Index for Malaysia is 68, ranking 51/197, compared to 52.4 for Uganda, ranking 149/197. The chart above displays a comparison of annual changes in economic freedom indexes.

Other economic metrics

Malaysia Uganda
Services, % of GDP
54.8%
2025
42.1%
2025
Industry, % of GDP
35.7%
2025
24.3%
2025
Agriculture, forestry, and fishing, % of GDP
8.22%
2025
26.1%
2025
GNI, Atlas method
$445B
2025
$57.8B
2025
GNI per capita, PPP
$40,070
2025
$3,410
2025
Total reserves including gold
$126B
2025
$3.48B
2024
Total reserves ranking
25/177
2025
116/177
2024
Net foreign direct investment
-$2.55B
2024
-$3.26B
2024
Net inflows of foreign direct investment
$15.6B
2024
$3.26B
2024
Net outflows of foreign direct investment
$13B
2024
$400K
2024
Servicing debt to the IMF, % of GNI n/a
2.97%
2024
Poverty at national poverty lines
5.1%
2023
16.1%
2023
Gross capital formation, % of GDP
20.5%
2025
22.6%
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/malaysia/uganda | 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 (2024–2025, retrieved 2026-07-08)
  6. United Nations | World Population Prospects (2026, retrieved 2026-07-08)
  7. LivingCost (2026, 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.