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China vs Malaysia statistics compared

Updated on by Georank team

China has a population of 1.41B (ranked 2/197), compared with 35.6M in Malaysia (ranked 44/197). China's land area is 3,624,808 sq mi versus 126,854 sq mi for Malaysia (ranked 2nd vs. 65th).

By GDP, China ranks 2/197 ($18.7T) and Malaysia ranks 38/197 ($422B). By GDP per capita, China ranks 76/197 ($13,303), while Malaysia ranks 79/197 ($11,874).

Main facts and rankings

China Malaysia
Population
1402578808
36512221
Population rank 2/197 45/197
GDP
$18.7T
2024
$422B
2024
GDP rank 2/197 38/197
GDP per capita
$13,303
2024
$11,874
2024
GDP per capita rank 76/197 79/197
GDP per capita, PPP
$27,105
2024
$38,779
2024
Government debt
$16.6T
2024
$296B
2024
Debt-to-GDP ratio
88.3%
2024
70.1%
2024
Government debt per person
$11,749
2024
$8,322
2024
Government debt per person rank 47/185 62/185
Average annual personal income after taxes
$9,826
2026
$11,005
2026
Land area 3,624,808 sq mi 126,854 sq mi
Population density
387 ppl/mi²
2026
287 ppl/mi²
2026
Fertility rate
1
2023
1.55
2023
Median age
40.6 years
2024
31.5 years
2024
Life expectancy
79 years
2026
77.2 years
2026

China and Malaysia: Comparison Charts

China and Malaysia economies compared

GDP
China

Malaysia
1x
Year GDP
China Malaysia
2024 $18,743,803,170,827 $422,227,005,429
2023 $18,270,356,654,533 $399,949,418,753
2022 $18,316,765,021,690 $407,830,525,990
2021 $18,201,698,719,564 $373,784,553,030
2020 $14,996,414,166,715 $337,456,163,961
2019 $14,560,167,101,283 $365,177,721,022
2018 $14,147,765,772,964 $358,788,845,713
2017 $12,537,559,062,283 $319,109,094,160
2016 $11,456,024,084,962 $301,256,033,870
2015 $11,280,814,787,469 $301,355,266,965
2014 $10,674,533,168,257 $338,066,095,097
2013 $9,743,124,247,267 $323,276,235,524
2012 $8,673,664,713,189 $314,443,047,642
2011 $7,671,757,207,851 $297,951,668,675
2010 $6,192,564,874,453 $255,017,638,456
2009 $5,189,577,094,998 $202,257,453,037
2008 $4,667,346,414,522 $230,811,614,370
2007 $3,604,055,822,572 $193,549,569,478
2006 $2,791,498,472,804 $162,692,258,307
2005 $2,317,551,298,052 $143,534,405,819
2004 $1,984,196,551,300 $124,749,473,684
2003 $1,683,903,309,844 $110,202,368,421
2002 $1,489,821,682,051 $100,845,526,316
2001 $1,355,036,590,252 $92,783,947,368
2000 $1,223,754,919,971 $93,789,736,842
1999 $1,103,843,203,576 $79,148,421,053
1998 $1,037,134,141,760 $72,167,498,981
1997 $967,753,570,435 $100,005,323,302
1996 $868,523,936,530 $100,855,393,910
1995 $738,190,896,228 $88,705,342,903
1994 $566,929,539,493 $74,478,356,958
1993 $446,557,291,212 $66,894,966,969
1992 $428,502,354,788 $59,167,550,163
1991 $384,510,452,962 $49,143,148,094
1990 $361,560,229,446 $44,024,585,240
1989 $348,380,566,802 $38,847,965,293
1988 $312,888,888,889 $35,272,109,220
1987 $273,455,156,951 $32,181,210,158
1986 $301,310,144,928 $27,734,111,400
1985 $310,064,625,850 $31,199,633,353
1984 $260,442,857,143 $33,942,897,422
1983 $231,130,268,199 $30,347,442,111
1982 $205,480,916,031 $26,804,493,635
1981 $196,218,253,968 $25,004,285,792
1980 $191,487,500,000 $24,488,224,677
1979 $178,573,913,043 $21,213,264,962
1978 $149,788,617,886 $16,358,079,862
1977 $175,226,595,860 $13,139,488,633
1976 $154,196,810,059 $11,050,234,599
1975 $163,687,619,736 $9,298,800,799
1974 $144,418,433,058 $9,496,204,302
1973 $138,764,340,892 $7,662,902,678
1972 $113,871,930,714 $5,043,347,250
1971 $99,959,013,880 $4,244,395,956
1970 $92,752,930,873 $3,864,145,667
1969 $79,847,786,729 $3,664,552,041
1968 $70,980,323,819 $3,330,371,551
1967 $73,011,350,596 $3,188,924,677
1966 $76,854,053,259 $3,143,517,944
1965 $70,565,994,356 $2,956,337,669
1964 $59,821,862,703 $2,674,423,922
1963 $50,812,227,919 $2,510,110,348
1962 $47,310,737,754 $2,001,489,602
1961 $50,162,299,350 $1,901,856,123
1960 $59,846,235,025 $1,916,229,477

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

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

China and Malaysia economies compared

GDP per capita
China

Malaysia
1x
Year GDP per capita
China Malaysia
2024 $13,303 $11,874
2023 $12,951 $11,386
2022 $12,971 $11,755
2021 $12,887 $10,903
2020 $10,627 $9,958
2019 $10,343 $10,920
2018 $10,086 $10,902
2017 $8,980 $9,863
2016 $8,255 $9,477
2015 $8,175 $9,649
2014 $7,781 $11,013
2013 $7,147 $10,714
2012 $6,405 $10,601
2011 $5,704 $10,217
2010 $4,629 $8,899
2009 $3,898 $7,191
2008 $3,523 $8,372
2007 $2,735 $7,169
2006 $2,129 $6,158
2005 $1,778 $5,556
2004 $1,531 $4,939
2003 $1,307 $4,465
2002 $1,164 $4,184
2001 $1,065 $3,944
2000 $969 $4,084
1999 $881 $3,528
1998 $835 $3,294
1997 $787 $4,679
1996 $713 $4,837
1995 $613 $4,363
1994 $476 $3,758
1993 $379 $3,462
1992 $368 $3,141
1991 $334 $2,679
1990 $319 $2,469
1989 $311 $2,244
1988 $284 $2,100
1987 $252.3 $1,977
1986 $282.4 $1,760
1985 $295 $2,046
1984 $251.2 $2,300
1983 $225.9 $2,124
1982 $203.7 $1,938
1981 $197.4 $1,866
1980 $195.1 $1,886
1979 $184.3 $1,680
1978 $156.7 $1,327
1977 $185.7 $1,092
1976 $165.7 $940
1975 $178.6 $811
1974 $160.4 $848
1973 $157.3 $701
1972 $132.1 $472
1971 $118.8 $407
1970 $113.3 $380
1969 $100.3 $368
1968 $91.6 $342
1967 $96.8 $335
1966 $104.5 $339
1965 $98.7 $326
1964 $85.7 $303
1963 $74.5 $291.8
1962 $71.1 $238.8
1961 $76 $232.9
1960 $89.7 $240.8

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

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

China vs. Malaysia life expectancy calculator

Life expectancy
China

Malaysia
1x
Year Life expectancy, years
China Malaysia
2026 79 77.2
2025 78.4 77
2024 78 76.8
2023 78 76.7
2022 78.2 75.4
2021 78.1 73.9
2020 78 76.1
2019 77.9 75.9
2018 77.7 75.7
2017 77.2 75.5
2016 77.2 75.4
2015 77 75.3
2014 76.7 75.3
2013 76.5 75.5
2012 76.2 75.6
2011 75.9 75.5
2010 75.7 75.4
2009 75.3 75.3
2008 74.8 75.2
2007 74.8 75
2006 74.4 74.7
2005 74.1 74.4
2004 73.7 74
2003 73.4 73.7
2002 73 73.5
2001 72.7 73.1
2000 72.3 72.7
1999 72 72.4
1998 71.6 72.4
1997 71.2 72.3
1996 70.8 72.1
1995 70.4 72
1994 69.8 71.9
1993 69.5 71.7
1992 69.1 71.5
1991 68.6 71.2
1990 68.2 71
1989 67.9 70.8
1988 67.6 70.6
1987 67.3 70.4
1986 66.9 70.1
1985 66.5 69.9
1984 66.1 69.6
1983 65.7 69.2
1982 65.2 68.9
1981 64.8 68.5
1980 64.2 68.1
1979 63.7 67.6
1978 63.1 67.2
1977 62.5 66.7
1976 61.2 66.2
1975 61 65.7
1974 60.2 65.2
1973 59.5 64.7
1972 58.6 64.2
1971 57.7 63.8
1970 56.8 63.3
1969 56 62.9
1968 55.2 62.4
1967 54.4 62
1966 53.7 61.7
1965 53 61.1
1964 52.3 60.4
1963 51.7 59.7
1962 51 58.9
1961 40.2 58
1960 33.4 57.2
1959 40.2 56.3
1958 48.8 55.4
1957 48.4 54.5
1956 47.8 53.7
1955 47.2 52.8
1954 46.8 52
1953 45.9 51.1
1952 45.3 50.1
1951 44.6 49.2
1950 43.8 48.5

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

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

China and Malaysia population clocks and comparison

Population
China

Malaysia
1x
Year Population
China Malaysia
2024 1,408,975,000 35,557,673
2023 1,410,710,000 35,126,298
2022 1,412,175,000 34,695,493
2021 1,412,360,000 34,282,399
2020 1,411,100,000 33,889,558
2019 1,407,745,000 33,440,596
2018 1,402,760,000 32,910,967
2017 1,396,215,000 32,355,644
2016 1,387,790,000 31,789,685
2015 1,379,860,000 31,232,798
2014 1,371,860,000 30,696,137
2013 1,363,240,000 30,174,265
2012 1,354,190,000 29,662,831
2011 1,345,035,000 29,162,039
2010 1,337,705,000 28,655,776
2009 1,331,260,000 28,124,778
2008 1,324,655,000 27,570,059
2007 1,317,885,000 26,998,389
2006 1,311,020,000 26,417,909
2005 1,303,720,000 25,836,071
2004 1,296,075,000 25,256,772
2003 1,288,400,000 24,679,602
2002 1,280,400,000 24,102,477
2001 1,271,850,000 23,526,538
2000 1,262,645,000 22,967,816
1999 1,252,735,000 22,435,531
1998 1,241,935,000 21,906,713
1997 1,230,075,000 21,375,218
1996 1,217,550,000 20,850,087
1995 1,204,855,000 20,330,599
1994 1,191,835,000 19,820,446
1993 1,178,440,000 19,322,664
1992 1,164,970,000 18,834,572
1991 1,150,780,000 18,342,464
1990 1,135,185,000 17,833,171
1989 1,118,650,000 17,314,997
1988 1,101,630,000 16,796,605
1987 1,084,035,000 16,276,737
1986 1,066,790,000 15,760,419
1985 1,051,040,000 15,252,258
1984 1,036,825,000 14,759,009
1983 1,023,310,000 14,285,907
1982 1,008,630,000 13,832,798
1981 993,885,000 13,399,203
1980 981,235,000 12,983,363
1979 969,005,000 12,627,862
1978 956,165,000 12,328,157
1977 943,455,000 12,035,713
1976 930,685,000 11,750,097
1975 916,395,000 11,471,914
1974 900,350,000 11,200,906
1973 881,940,000 10,935,621
1972 862,030,000 10,676,835
1971 841,105,000 10,423,453
1970 818,315,000 10,178,802
1969 796,025,000 9,947,597
1968 774,510,000 9,725,281
1967 754,550,000 9,507,099
1966 735,400,000 9,284,688
1965 715,185,000 9,056,408
1964 698,355,000 8,828,406
1963 682,335,000 8,602,160
1962 665,770,000 8,380,172
1961 660,330,000 8,164,443
1960 667,070,000 7,956,197

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

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

Fertility rates in China and Malaysia

Fertility rate
China

Malaysia
1x
Year Fertility rate
China Malaysia
2023 1 1.55
2022 1.03 1.55
2021 1.12 1.56
2020 1.24 1.68
2019 1.5 1.78
2018 1.54 1.84
2017 1.8 1.89
2016 1.77 1.94
2015 1.67 2.01
2014 1.77 2.06
2013 1.71 2.07
2012 1.8 2.12
2011 1.67 2.15
2010 1.69 2.14
2009 1.71 2.22
2008 1.7 2.26
2007 1.67 2.25
2006 1.64 2.31
2005 1.62 2.39
2004 1.61 2.49
2003 1.57 2.6
2002 1.57 2.66
2001 1.56 2.81
2000 1.63 2.94
1999 1.53 3.07
1998 1.52 3.12
1997 1.53 3.23
1996 1.55 3.3
1995 1.59 3.32
1994 1.63 3.35
1993 1.69 3.36
1992 1.78 3.37
1991 1.93 3.34
1990 2.51 3.3
1989 2.52 3.31
1988 2.54 3.5
1987 2.76 3.57
1986 2.72 3.7
1985 2.63 3.8
1984 2.61 3.89
1983 2.56 3.93
1982 2.97 3.97
1981 2.79 4
1980 2.74 4.04
1979 2.75 4.09
1978 2.72 4.18
1977 2.84 4.28
1976 3.24 4.4
1975 3.57 4.5
1974 4.17 4.62
1973 4.73 4.73
1972 5.11 4.82
1971 5.52 4.92
1970 6.09 5.04
1969 6.18 5.16
1968 6.51 5.29
1967 5.81 5.43
1966 6.31 5.64
1965 6.61 5.84
1964 6.67 6.03
1963 7.51 6.19
1962 6.09 6.3
1961 3.86 6.37
1960 4.45 6.41

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

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

China and Malaysia demographics compared

Median age
China

Malaysia
1x
Year Median age, years
China Malaysia
2024 40.6 31.5
2023 40.1 31.1
2022 39.6 30.6
2021 39 30.1
2020 38.5 29.6
2019 38.1 29.2
2018 37.7 28.8
2017 37.4 28.5
2016 37.1 28.1
2015 36.7 27.8
2014 36.3 27.5
2013 36 27.1
2012 35.7 26.8
2011 35.5 26.4
2010 35.1 26
2009 34.7 25.6
2008 34.2 25.1
2007 33.7 24.8
2006 33.1 24.5
2005 32.6 24.2
2004 32.1 24
2003 31.6 23.9
2002 31.1 23.7
2001 30.5 23.6
2000 30 23.5
1999 29.4 23.4
1998 28.8 23.1
1997 28.3 22.9
1996 27.8 22.7
1995 27.2 22.5
1994 26.6 22.3
1993 26.1 22.1
1992 25.6 21.9
1991 25.1 21.7
1990 24.7 21.5
1989 24.4 21.3
1988 23.9 21.1
1987 23.6 21
1986 23.4 20.9
1985 23.2 20.7
1984 23 20.5
1983 22.6 20.4
1982 22.1 20.1
1981 21.8 19.9
1980 21.6 19.7
1979 21.4 19.5
1978 21.2 19.3
1977 20.8 19
1976 20.4 18.8
1975 20.1 18.6
1974 19.7 18.3
1973 19.5 18.1
1972 19.3 17.9
1971 19.2 17.6
1970 19.1 17.4
1969 19.1 17.3
1968 19.2 17.1
1967 19.2 17
1966 19.3 16.9
1965 19.6 16.8
1964 19.9 16.9
1963 20.4 17
1962 21 17.1
1961 21.1 17.3
1960 20.9 17.5

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

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

Interactive Maps

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National statistics comparison

Finance

China Malaysia
GNI, Atlas method
$19.3T
2024
$414B
2024
Government expenditure, % of GDP
32.9%
2024
23.9%
2024
Education expenditure, % of GDP
4%
2023
3.51%
2023
Military expenditure, % of GDP
1.71%
2024
0.99%
2024
Armed forces personnel
2,535,000
2020
136,000
2020
Deficit/surplus, % of GDP
-7.34%
2024
-3.95%
2024
Unemployment rate
5.11%
2021
3.93%
2022
Services, % of GDP
56.7%
2024
53.7%
2024
Industry, % of GDP
36.5%
2024
37%
2024
Economic freedom index
48.3
2026
68
2026
Income share by richest 10%
28.4%
2022
30.9%
2021
Income share by poorest 10%
3.1%
2022
2.3%
2021
Number of millionaires
6,327,000
2025
n/a
Percentage of millionaires
0.57%
2025
n/a
Number of billionaires
450
2025
19
2025
Percentage of billionaires
0.00004%
2025
0.00008%
2025
Listed domestic companies
11,231
2024
1,031
2024
Market capitalization of domestic companies
$11.8T
2024
$449B
2024
Total reserves including gold
$3.46T
2024
$116B
2024
Personal remittances received
$31.4B
2024
$1.61B
2024
International tourist arrivals
30,402,000
2020
4,333,000
2020
International tourism as share of exports
4.59%
2004
1.63%
2020
Banked people share
89.4%
2024
88.7%
2024

Energy

China Malaysia
Energy use, kg of oil equivalent per capita
2,851 kg
2023
2,867 kg
2022
GDP PPP per kg equivalent of energy use
$8.83
2023
$12
2022
Carbon dioxide (CO2) emissions
13,125 megatons
2024
296 megatons
2024
CO2 emissions per capita
9.32 tons
2024
8.32 tons
2024
Fossil fuel energy use share
86.7%
2022
96%
2022
Renewable energy use share
15.2%
2021
7.5%
2021
Alternative and nuclear energy use share
9.76%
2023
2.88%
2022
Net energy imports use share
24%
2023
-0.58%
2022
Electric power consumption per capita
6,524 kWh
2023
4,986 kWh
2022
Renewable electricity output share
28.4%
2021
17%
2021
Hydroelectric share
13.5%
2023
16.6%
2022
Nuclear share
4.55%
2023
0%
2021
Electricity access
100%
2023
100%
2023

Society

China Malaysia
% of world population
17.3%
2024
0.44%
2024
Annual migration change
-268,126
2025
+166,615
2025
Urban population
65.9%
2024
76.9%
2024
Male:Female ratio
50.9:49.1
2024
52.4:47.6
2024
Average male height
5.76 ft
2025
5.55 ft
2025
Average female height
5.36 ft
2025
5.15 ft
2025
Quality of life index
52.3
2026
68.2
2026
Corruption Perceptions Index
43
2025
52
2025
Higher education index
87
2026
76
2026
Homicides per 100K people
0.5
2020
0.72
2021
Road traffic mortality per 100K people
17.4
2019
22.5
2019
Visa free countries
92
2025
174
2025
Adult literacy rate
96.7%
2020
95.8%
2022
English speaking
0.7%
2023
57.3%
2023
People using the Internet
92%
2024
98%
2024

Health

China Malaysia
Government health expenditure per capita
$763
2023
$450
2023
Out-of-pocket health expenditure per capita
$245.6
2023
$167
2023
Life expectancy
79 years
2026
77.2 years
2026
Foreign aid share of health expenditure
0.005%
2023
0.001%
2023
Physicians per 1,000 people
3.11
2022
2.34
2023
Maternal mortality per 100K births
16
2023
26
2023
Mortality rate before reaching 5 years of age
6.2
2023
8.1
2023
Obesity rate
8.37%
2022
22.4%
2022
Diabetes prevalence
11.9%
2024
21.1%
2024
Air quality index
14
2026
41
2026
Tobacco use prevalence
23.4%
2022
22%
2022
Pure alcohol consumption per capita
4.58 liters
2020
0.74 liters
2020

Territory

China Malaysia
% of world land
6.3%
2026
0.22%
2026
Land area per capita
2,573 sq mi
2024
3,568 sq mi
2024
Agricultural land area
2,009,326 sq mi
2026
33,093 sq mi
2026
Forest area
871,112 sq mi
2026
73,219 sq mi
2026
Roads length
3,411,576 mi
2024
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. World Obesity Federation (2022, retrieved 2026-02-08)
  8. Passport Index (2025, retrieved 2026-02-08)
  9. Transparency International (2025, retrieved 2026-02-10)
  10. The Heritage Foundation | Economic Freedom Index (2026, retrieved 2026-03-09)
  11. EduRank (2026, retrieved 2025-10-13)

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