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Brunei vs Malaysia statistics compared

Updated on by Georank team

Brunei has a population of 463K (ranked 170/197), compared with 35.6M in Malaysia (ranked 44/197). Brunei's land area is 2,035 sq mi versus 126,854 sq mi for Malaysia (ranked 165th vs. 65th).

By GDP, Brunei ranks 142/197 ($15.3B) and Malaysia ranks 38/197 ($422B). By GDP per capita, Brunei ranks 36/197 ($33,153), while Malaysia ranks 79/197 ($11,874).

Main facts and rankings

Brunei Malaysia
Population
470884
36512221
Population rank 170/197 45/197
GDP
$15.3B
2024
$422B
2024
GDP rank 142/197 38/197
GDP per capita
$33,153
2024
$11,874
2024
GDP per capita rank 36/197 79/197
GDP per capita, PPP
$89,879
2024
$38,779
2024
Government debt
$351M
2024
$296B
2024
Debt-to-GDP ratio
2.29%
2024
70.1%
2024
Government debt per person
$759
2024
$8,322
2024
Government debt per person rank 153/185 62/185
Average annual personal income after taxes
$24,405
2026
$11,005
2026
Land area 2,035 sq mi 126,854 sq mi
Population density
231 ppl/mi²
2026
287 ppl/mi²
2026
Fertility rate
1.75
2023
1.55
2023
Median age
33.2 years
2024
31.5 years
2024
Life expectancy
75.8 years
2026
77.2 years
2026

Brunei and Malaysia: Comparison Charts

Brunei and Malaysia economies compared

GDP
Brunei

Malaysia
1x
Year GDP
Brunei Malaysia
2024 $15,340,808,592 $422,227,005,429
2023 $15,095,084,656 $399,949,418,753
2022 $16,681,536,467 $407,830,525,990
2021 $14,006,496,617 $373,784,553,030
2020 $12,005,799,654 $337,456,163,961
2019 $13,469,235,365 $365,177,721,022
2018 $13,566,908,391 $358,788,845,713
2017 $12,128,168,045 $319,109,094,160
2016 $11,400,266,045 $301,256,033,870
2015 $12,930,296,870 $301,355,266,965
2014 $17,097,797,386 $338,066,095,097
2013 $18,094,148,099 $323,276,235,524
2012 $19,048,443,341 $314,443,047,642
2011 $18,524,791,063 $297,951,668,675
2010 $13,707,121,038 $255,017,638,456
2009 $11,912,904,510 $202,257,453,037
2008 $15,926,456,515 $230,811,614,370
2007 $13,432,029,484 $193,549,569,478
2006 $12,644,616,419 $162,692,258,307
2005 $10,547,202,621 $143,534,405,819
2004 $8,619,178,774 $124,749,473,684
2003 $7,167,725,262 $110,202,368,421
2002 $6,333,082,876 $100,845,526,316
2001 $6,096,155,767 $92,783,947,368
2000 $6,570,999,088 $93,789,736,842
1999 $6,309,070,378 $79,148,421,053
1998 $5,550,846,020 $72,167,498,981
1997 $7,793,034,376 $100,005,323,302
1996 $7,663,377,306 $100,855,393,910
1995 $7,700,144,069 $88,705,342,903
1994 $6,467,782,518 $74,478,356,958
1993 $6,203,339,912 $66,894,966,969
1992 $6,327,966,435 $59,167,550,163
1991 $6,284,497,294 $49,143,148,094
1990 $6,039,881,087 $44,024,585,240
1989 $4,983,622,881 $38,847,965,293
1988 $4,535,130,305 $35,272,109,220
1987 $4,918,010,080 $32,181,210,158
1986 $4,190,280,003 $27,734,111,400
1985 $6,967,623,884 $31,199,633,353
1984 $7,632,788,075 $33,942,897,422
1983 $7,927,590,750 $30,347,442,111
1982 $8,932,198,186 $26,804,493,635
1981 $9,367,218,664 $25,004,285,792
1980 $10,795,432,294 $24,488,224,677
1979 $6,044,367,628 $21,213,264,962
1978 $4,100,423,674 $16,358,079,862
1977 $3,681,242,528 $13,139,488,633
1976 $3,054,765,590 $11,050,234,599
1975 $2,496,420,258 $9,298,800,799
1974 $2,319,576,214 $9,496,204,302
1973 $433,095,527 $7,662,902,678
1972 $270,822,782 $5,043,347,250
1971 $197,525,768 $4,244,395,956
1970 $179,078,929 $3,864,145,667
1969 $161,210,236 $3,664,552,041
1968 $160,818,236 $3,330,371,551
1967 $139,029,537 $3,188,924,677
1966 $132,757,528 $3,143,517,944
1965 $114,039,501 $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/facts/brunei/malaysia | CC BY

Brunei and Malaysia economies compared

GDP per capita
Brunei

Malaysia
1x
Year GDP per capita
Brunei Malaysia
2024 $33,153 $11,874
2023 $32,891 $11,386
2022 $36,633 $11,755
2021 $31,007 $10,903
2020 $26,834 $9,958
2019 $30,427 $10,920
2018 $30,988 $10,902
2017 $28,024 $9,863
2016 $26,663 $9,477
2015 $30,625 $9,649
2014 $41,027 $11,013
2013 $44,003 $10,714
2012 $46,969 $10,601
2011 $46,383 $10,217
2010 $34,938 $8,899
2009 $30,946 $7,191
2008 $42,157 $8,372
2007 $36,217 $7,169
2006 $34,675 $6,158
2005 $29,386 $5,556
2004 $24,423 $4,939
2003 $20,678 $4,465
2002 $18,621 $4,184
2001 $18,288 $3,944
2000 $20,130 $4,084
1999 $19,752 $3,528
1998 $17,769 $3,294
1997 $25,522 $4,679
1996 $25,692 $4,837
1995 $26,443 $4,363
1994 $22,767 $3,758
1993 $22,397 $3,462
1992 $23,451 $3,141
1991 $23,932 $2,679
1990 $23,659 $2,469
1989 $20,090 $2,244
1988 $18,825 $2,100
1987 $21,030 $1,977
1986 $18,501 $1,760
1985 $31,827 $2,046
1984 $36,061 $2,300
1983 $38,720 $2,124
1982 $45,075 $1,938
1981 $48,793 $1,866
1980 $58,005 $1,886
1979 $33,501 $1,680
1978 $23,447 $1,327
1977 $21,747 $1,092
1976 $18,671 $940
1975 $15,793 $811
1974 $15,195 $848
1973 $2,939 $701
1972 $1,905 $472
1971 $1,432 $407
1970 $1,325 $380
1969 $1,226 $368
1968 $1,274 $342
1967 $1,149 $335
1966 $1,146 $339
1965 $1,029 $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/facts/brunei/malaysia | CC BY

Brunei vs. Malaysia life expectancy calculator

Life expectancy
Brunei

Malaysia
1x
Year Life expectancy, years
Brunei Malaysia
2026 75.8 77.2
2025 75.7 77
2024 75.5 76.8
2023 75.3 76.7
2022 72.9 75.4
2021 74.9 73.9
2020 75.1 76.1
2019 75 75.9
2018 75 75.7
2017 74.9 75.5
2016 74.9 75.4
2015 74.9 75.3
2014 74.9 75.3
2013 74.9 75.5
2012 74.8 75.6
2011 74.8 75.5
2010 74.8 75.4
2009 74.8 75.3
2008 74.8 75.2
2007 74.8 75
2006 74.8 74.7
2005 74.7 74.4
2004 74.6 74
2003 74.5 73.7
2002 74.4 73.5
2001 74.2 73.1
2000 74 72.7
1999 73.8 72.4
1998 73.6 72.4
1997 73.3 72.3
1996 73.1 72.1
1995 72.8 72
1994 72.6 71.9
1993 72.3 71.7
1992 72.1 71.5
1991 71.9 71.2
1990 71.6 71
1989 71.4 70.8
1988 71.2 70.6
1987 71 70.4
1986 70.8 70.1
1985 70.5 69.9
1984 70.2 69.6
1983 70 69.2
1982 69.7 68.9
1981 69.3 68.5
1980 69 68.1
1979 68.6 67.6
1978 68.3 67.2
1977 67.8 66.7
1976 67.4 66.2
1975 67 65.7
1974 66.4 65.2
1973 66 64.7
1972 65.4 64.2
1971 65 63.8
1970 64.5 63.3
1969 64 62.9
1968 63.5 62.4
1967 62.9 62
1966 62.4 61.7
1965 61.7 61.1
1964 61.3 60.4
1963 60.6 59.7
1962 58.8 58.9
1961 59.4 58
1960 58.7 57.2
1959 58 56.3
1958 57.3 55.4
1957 56.5 54.5
1956 55.7 53.7
1955 55 52.8
1954 54.2 52
1953 53.3 51.1
1952 52.4 50.1
1951 51.5 49.2
1950 50.6 48.5

Data sources: United Nations | World Population Prospects (1950–2026, retrieved 2026-03-10).

GeoRank.org/facts/brunei/malaysia | CC BY

Brunei and Malaysia population clocks and comparison

Population
Brunei

Malaysia
1x
Year Population
Brunei Malaysia
2024 462,721 35,557,673
2023 458,949 35,126,298
2022 455,370 34,695,493
2021 451,721 34,282,399
2020 447,404 33,889,558
2019 442,680 33,440,596
2018 437,810 32,910,967
2017 432,772 32,355,644
2016 427,564 31,789,685
2015 422,212 31,232,798
2014 416,750 30,696,137
2013 411,202 30,174,265
2012 405,557 29,662,831
2011 399,389 29,162,039
2010 392,332 28,655,776
2009 384,952 28,124,778
2008 377,793 27,570,059
2007 370,873 26,998,389
2006 364,663 26,417,909
2005 358,916 25,836,071
2004 352,911 25,256,772
2003 346,637 24,679,602
2002 340,099 24,102,477
2001 333,345 23,526,538
2000 326,424 22,967,816
1999 319,411 22,435,531
1998 312,385 21,906,713
1997 305,341 21,375,218
1996 298,276 20,850,087
1995 291,195 20,330,599
1994 284,091 19,820,446
1993 276,971 19,322,664
1992 269,839 18,834,572
1991 262,596 18,342,464
1990 255,292 17,833,171
1989 248,064 17,314,997
1988 240,913 16,796,605
1987 233,860 16,276,737
1986 226,495 15,760,419
1985 218,919 15,252,258
1984 211,661 14,759,009
1983 204,741 14,285,907
1982 198,165 13,832,798
1981 191,977 13,399,203
1980 186,111 12,983,363
1979 180,422 12,627,862
1978 174,884 12,328,157
1977 169,277 12,035,713
1976 163,607 11,750,097
1975 158,070 11,471,914
1974 152,656 11,200,906
1973 147,369 10,935,621
1972 142,189 10,676,835
1971 137,921 10,423,453
1970 135,138 10,178,802
1969 131,446 9,947,597
1968 126,222 9,725,281
1967 121,017 9,507,099
1966 115,874 9,284,688
1965 110,838 9,056,408
1964 105,922 8,828,406
1963 101,159 8,602,160
1962 96,719 8,380,172
1961 92,517 8,164,443
1960 88,347 7,956,197

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

GeoRank.org/facts/brunei/malaysia | CC BY

Fertility rates in Brunei and Malaysia

Fertility rate
Brunei

Malaysia
1x
Year Fertility rate
Brunei Malaysia
2023 1.75 1.55
2022 1.76 1.55
2021 1.78 1.56
2020 1.8 1.68
2019 1.82 1.78
2018 1.85 1.84
2017 1.88 1.89
2016 1.92 1.94
2015 1.95 2.01
2014 1.97 2.06
2013 1.98 2.07
2012 1.97 2.12
2011 1.96 2.15
2010 1.94 2.14
2009 1.92 2.22
2008 1.92 2.26
2007 1.93 2.25
2006 1.97 2.31
2005 2.02 2.39
2004 2.1 2.49
2003 2.19 2.6
2002 2.26 2.66
2001 2.34 2.81
2000 2.4 2.94
1999 2.46 3.07
1998 2.53 3.12
1997 2.6 3.23
1996 2.68 3.3
1995 2.79 3.32
1994 2.9 3.35
1993 3.01 3.36
1992 3.11 3.37
1991 3.21 3.34
1990 3.29 3.3
1989 3.36 3.31
1988 3.44 3.5
1987 3.49 3.57
1986 3.55 3.7
1985 3.61 3.8
1984 3.68 3.89
1983 3.75 3.93
1982 3.84 3.97
1981 3.94 4
1980 4.07 4.04
1979 4.22 4.09
1978 4.39 4.18
1977 4.58 4.28
1976 4.78 4.4
1975 4.99 4.5
1974 5.18 4.62
1973 5.36 4.73
1972 5.5 4.82
1971 5.62 4.92
1970 5.8 5.04
1969 6.01 5.16
1968 6.2 5.29
1967 6.37 5.43
1966 6.51 5.64
1965 6.65 5.84
1964 6.77 6.03
1963 6.89 6.19
1962 7.03 6.3
1961 7.19 6.37
1960 7.32 6.41

Data sources: World Bank | Health (1960–2023, retrieved 2026-04-06).

GeoRank.org/facts/brunei/malaysia | CC BY

Brunei and Malaysia demographics compared

Median age
Brunei

Malaysia
1x
Year Median age, years
Brunei Malaysia
2024 33.2 31.5
2023 32.8 31.1
2022 32.3 30.6
2021 31.8 30.1
2020 31.4 29.6
2019 31 29.2
2018 30.6 28.8
2017 30.2 28.5
2016 29.8 28.1
2015 29.5 27.8
2014 29.1 27.5
2013 28.8 27.1
2012 28.4 26.8
2011 28.1 26.4
2010 28 26
2009 28 25.6
2008 28 25.1
2007 28.1 24.8
2006 27.9 24.5
2005 27.5 24.2
2004 27.1 24
2003 26.8 23.9
2002 26.4 23.7
2001 26.1 23.6
2000 25.8 23.5
1999 25.5 23.4
1998 25.2 23.1
1997 24.9 22.9
1996 24.7 22.7
1995 24.4 22.5
1994 24.1 22.3
1993 23.8 22.1
1992 23.6 21.9
1991 23.4 21.7
1990 23.1 21.5
1989 22.8 21.3
1988 22.6 21.1
1987 22.3 21
1986 22 20.9
1985 21.7 20.7
1984 21.3 20.5
1983 21 20.4
1982 20.6 20.1
1981 20.3 19.9
1980 20 19.7
1979 19.6 19.5
1978 19.4 19.3
1977 19.1 19
1976 18.8 18.8
1975 18.6 18.6
1974 18.3 18.3
1973 18.2 18.1
1972 18 17.9
1971 17.9 17.6
1970 17.8 17.4
1969 17.7 17.3
1968 17.5 17.1
1967 17.3 17
1966 17.2 16.9
1965 17 16.8
1964 17 16.9
1963 17.1 17
1962 17.5 17.1
1961 18.1 17.3
1960 18.8 17.5

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

GeoRank.org/facts/brunei/malaysia | CC BY

Interactive Maps

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National statistics comparison

Finance

Brunei Malaysia
GNI, Atlas method
$16.7B
2024
$414B
2024
Government expenditure, % of GDP
29.8%
2024
23.9%
2024
Education expenditure, % of GDP
4.43%
2016
3.51%
2023
Military expenditure, % of GDP
3.58%
2024
0.99%
2024
Armed forces personnel
8,000
2020
136,000
2020
Deficit/surplus, % of GDP
-10.2%
2024
-3.95%
2024
Unemployment rate
4.87%
2024
3.93%
2022
Services, % of GDP
39%
2024
53.7%
2024
Industry, % of GDP
61.7%
2024
37%
2024
Economic freedom index
67.5
2026
68
2026
Income share by richest 10% n/a
30.9%
2021
Income share by poorest 10% n/a
2.3%
2021
Number of billionaires n/a
19
2025
Percentage of billionaires n/a
0.00008%
2025
Listed domestic companies n/a
1,031
2024
Market capitalization of domestic companies n/a
$449B
2024
Total reserves including gold
$4.41B
2024
$116B
2024
Personal remittances received
$1M
2023
$1.61B
2024
International tourist arrivals
1,071,000
2020
4,333,000
2020
International tourism as share of exports
2.7%
2018
1.63%
2020
Banked people share n/a
88.7%
2024

Energy

Brunei Malaysia
Energy use, kg of oil equivalent per capita
9,537 kg
2022
2,867 kg
2022
GDP PPP per kg equivalent of energy use
$8.58
2022
$12
2022
Carbon dioxide (CO2) emissions
9.37 megatons
2024
296 megatons
2024
CO2 emissions per capita
20.2 tons
2024
8.32 tons
2024
Fossil fuel energy use share
100%
2022
96%
2022
Renewable energy use share
0%
2021
7.5%
2021
Alternative and nuclear energy use share
0.01%
2022
2.88%
2022
Net energy imports use share
-172.6%
2022
-0.58%
2022
Electric power consumption per capita
11,197 kWh
2022
4,986 kWh
2022
Renewable electricity output share
0.02%
2021
17%
2021
Hydroelectric share
0%
2021
16.6%
2022
Nuclear share
0%
2021
0%
2021
Electricity access
100%
2023
100%
2023

Society

Brunei Malaysia
% of world population
0.006%
2024
0.44%
2024
Annual migration change
+0
2025
+166,615
2025
Urban population
74.9%
2024
76.9%
2024
Male:Female ratio
53.1:46.9
2024
52.4:47.6
2024
Average male height
5.46 ft
2025
5.55 ft
2025
Average female height
5.08 ft
2025
5.15 ft
2025
Quality of life index
73.9
2026
68.2
2026
Corruption Perceptions Index
63
2025
52
2025
Higher education index
50
2026
76
2026
Homicides per 100K people
0.49
2013
0.72
2021
Road traffic mortality per 100K people
7.5
2019
22.5
2019
Visa free countries
152
2025
174
2025
Adult literacy rate
97.6%
2021
95.8%
2022
English speaking
37.8%
2023
57.3%
2023
People using the Internet
99%
2023
98%
2024

Health

Brunei Malaysia
Government health expenditure per capita
$733
2023
$450
2023
Out-of-pocket health expenditure per capita
$54.3
2023
$167
2023
Life expectancy
75.8 years
2026
77.2 years
2026
Foreign aid share of health expenditure
0%
2023
0.001%
2023
Physicians per 1,000 people
1.89
2021
2.34
2023
Maternal mortality per 100K births
36
2023
26
2023
Mortality rate before reaching 5 years of age
9.4
2023
8.1
2023
Obesity rate n/a
22.4%
2022
Diabetes prevalence
13.7%
2024
21.1%
2024
Air quality index
62
2026
41
2026
Tobacco use prevalence
16.4%
2022
22%
2022
Pure alcohol consumption per capita
0.51 liters
2020
0.74 liters
2020

Territory

Brunei Malaysia
% of world land
0.004%
2026
0.22%
2026
Land area per capita
4,397 sq mi
2024
3,568 sq mi
2024
Agricultural land area
51.7 sq mi
2026
33,093 sq mi
2026
Forest area
1,467 sq mi
2026
73,219 sq mi
2026
Roads length
1,849 mi
2014
173,898 mi
2022

In-depth comparisons

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Data sources:

  1. World Bank | Health (1960–2025, retrieved 2026-04-06)
  2. United Nations | World Population Prospects (1950–2026, retrieved 2026-03-10)
  3. U.S. Census Bureau (1960–2025, retrieved 2026-02-08)
  4. Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) (2000–2019, retrieved 2026-02-20)
  5. International Monetary Fund (IMF) | Fiscal Monitor (2024, retrieved 2026-02-20)
  6. LivingCost (2026, retrieved 2025-10-14)
  7. Passport Index (2025, retrieved 2026-02-08)
  8. Transparency International (2025, retrieved 2026-02-10)
  9. The Heritage Foundation | Economic Freedom Index (2026, retrieved 2026-03-09)
  10. EduRank (2026, retrieved 2025-10-13)
  11. World Obesity Federation (2022, retrieved 2026-02-08)

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.