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Malaysia vs South Korea statistics compared

Updated on by Georank team

Malaysia has a population of 35.6M (ranked 44/197), compared with 51.8M in South Korea (ranked 29/197). Malaysia's land area is 126,854 sq mi versus 37,684 sq mi for South Korea (ranked 65th vs. 105th).

By GDP, Malaysia ranks 38/197 ($422B) and South Korea ranks 12/197 ($1.88T). By GDP per capita, Malaysia ranks 79/197 ($11,874), while South Korea ranks 31/197 ($36,239).

Main facts and rankings

Malaysia South Korea
Population
36512221
51649918
Population rank 45/197 31/197
GDP
$422B
2024
$1.88T
2024
GDP rank 38/197 12/197
GDP per capita
$11,874
2024
$36,239
2024
GDP per capita rank 79/197 31/197
GDP per capita, PPP
$38,779
2024
$61,051
2024
Government debt
$296B
2024
$934B
2024
Debt-to-GDP ratio
70.1%
2024
49.8%
2024
Government debt per person
$8,322
2024
$18,052
2024
Government debt per person rank 62/185 33/185
Average annual personal income after taxes
$11,005
2026
$27,215
2026
Land area 126,854 sq mi 37,684 sq mi
Population density
287 ppl/mi²
2026
1,371 ppl/mi²
2026
Fertility rate
1.55
2023
0.72
2023
Median age
31.5 years
2024
46.1 years
2024
Life expectancy
77.2 years
2026
84.6 years
2026

Malaysia and South Korea: Comparison Charts

Malaysia and South Korea economies compared

GDP
Malaysia

South Korea
1x
Year GDP
Malaysia South Korea
2024 $422,227,005,429 $1,875,388,209,407
2023 $399,949,418,753 $1,844,800,934,392
2022 $407,830,525,990 $1,799,363,116,867
2021 $373,784,553,030 $1,942,313,560,966
2020 $337,456,163,961 $1,744,070,276,373
2019 $365,177,721,022 $1,751,045,752,055
2018 $358,788,845,713 $1,824,251,454,307
2017 $319,109,094,160 $1,710,196,756,713
2016 $301,256,033,870 $1,579,150,518,945
2015 $301,355,266,965 $1,539,212,301,136
2014 $338,066,095,097 $1,556,252,422,020
2013 $323,276,235,524 $1,434,669,686,502
2012 $314,443,047,642 $1,335,343,586,438
2011 $297,951,668,675 $1,307,103,477,219
2010 $255,017,638,456 $1,192,830,015,738
2009 $202,257,453,037 $983,065,242,417
2008 $230,811,614,370 $1,091,580,692,542
2007 $193,549,569,478 $1,220,911,904,593
2006 $162,692,258,307 $1,095,175,538,508
2005 $143,534,405,819 $971,740,329,984
2004 $124,749,473,684 $823,251,107,639
2003 $110,202,368,421 $728,516,494,684
2002 $100,845,526,316 $650,014,391,470
2001 $92,783,947,368 $567,564,806,235
2000 $93,789,736,842 $597,487,173,479
1999 $79,148,421,053 $515,697,079,289
1998 $72,167,498,981 $397,297,216,492
1997 $100,005,323,302 $589,202,526,424
1996 $100,855,393,910 $631,196,863,758
1995 $88,705,342,903 $586,286,469,401
1994 $74,478,356,958 $479,181,794,217
1993 $66,894,966,969 $405,705,302,846
1992 $59,167,550,163 $366,921,291,825
1991 $49,143,148,094 $340,851,946,804
1990 $44,024,585,240 $292,064,221,389
1989 $38,847,965,293 $254,236,243,100
1988 $35,272,109,220 $205,477,530,605
1987 $32,181,210,158 $152,240,393,646
1986 $27,734,111,400 $119,965,960,795
1985 $31,199,633,353 $103,764,281,281
1984 $33,942,897,422 $99,749,645,089
1983 $30,347,442,111 $89,621,208,322
1982 $26,804,493,635 $79,921,300,447
1981 $25,004,285,792 $74,287,368,087
1980 $24,488,224,677 $66,547,970,351
1979 $21,213,264,962 $68,083,884,298
1978 $16,358,079,862 $52,824,793,388
1977 $13,139,488,633 $39,064,462,810
1976 $11,050,234,599 $30,371,074,380
1975 $9,298,800,799 $22,126,033,058
1974 $9,496,204,302 $19,860,929,977
1973 $7,662,902,678 $14,067,523,813
1972 $5,043,347,250 $10,990,490,570
1971 $4,244,395,956 $10,005,257,131
1970 $3,864,145,667 $9,085,001,794
1969 $3,664,552,041 $7,743,940,189
1968 $3,330,371,551 $6,167,109,472
1967 $3,188,924,677 $4,895,076,718
1966 $3,143,517,944 $3,957,064,541
1965 $2,956,337,669 $3,141,131,708
1964 $2,674,423,922 $3,476,789,682
1963 $2,510,110,348 $4,007,692,308
1962 $2,001,489,602 $2,826,923,077
1961 $1,901,856,123 $2,427,244,761
1960 $1,916,229,477 $3,973,069,307

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

GeoRank.org/facts/malaysia/south-korea | CC BY

Malaysia and South Korea economies compared

GDP per capita
Malaysia

South Korea
1x
Year GDP per capita
Malaysia South Korea
2024 $11,874 $36,239
2023 $11,386 $35,674
2022 $11,755 $34,822
2021 $10,903 $37,518
2020 $9,958 $33,646
2019 $10,920 $33,827
2018 $10,902 $35,364
2017 $9,863 $33,297
2016 $9,477 $30,832
2015 $9,649 $30,172
2014 $11,013 $30,667
2013 $10,714 $28,449
2012 $10,601 $26,601
2011 $10,217 $26,175
2010 $8,899 $24,071
2009 $7,191 $19,937
2008 $8,372 $22,252
2007 $7,169 $25,078
2006 $6,158 $22,610
2005 $5,556 $20,167
2004 $4,939 $17,122
2003 $4,465 $15,212
2002 $4,184 $13,643
2001 $3,944 $11,981
2000 $4,084 $12,710
1999 $3,528 $11,063
1998 $3,294 $8,583
1997 $4,679 $12,822
1996 $4,837 $13,865
1995 $4,363 $13,002
1994 $3,758 $10,734
1993 $3,462 $9,180
1992 $3,141 $8,387
1991 $2,679 $7,873
1990 $2,469 $6,813
1989 $2,244 $5,989
1988 $2,100 $4,889
1987 $1,977 $3,658
1986 $1,760 $2,911
1985 $2,046 $2,543
1984 $2,300 $2,469
1983 $2,124 $2,246
1982 $1,938 $2,032
1981 $1,866 $1,918
1980 $1,886 $1,746
1979 $1,680 $1,814
1978 $1,327 $1,429
1977 $1,092 $1,073
1976 $940 $847
1975 $811 $627
1974 $848 $572
1973 $701 $412
1972 $472 $328
1971 $407 $304
1970 $380 $281.8
1969 $368 $245.5
1968 $342 $200
1967 $335 $162.5
1966 $339 $134.4
1965 $326 $109.4
1964 $303 $124.2
1963 $291.8 $147
1962 $238.8 $106.6
1961 $232.9 $94.2
1960 $240.8 $158.8

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

GeoRank.org/facts/malaysia/south-korea | CC BY

Malaysia vs. South Korea life expectancy calculator

Life expectancy
Malaysia

South Korea
1x
Year Life expectancy, years
Malaysia South Korea
2026 77.2 84.6
2025 77 84.5
2024 76.8 84.4
2023 76.7 84.3
2022 75.4 82.7
2021 73.9 83.9
2020 76.1 83.7
2019 75.9 83.7
2018 75.7 83.3
2017 75.5 83.3
2016 75.4 82.9
2015 75.3 82.5
2014 75.3 82.4
2013 75.5 81.8
2012 75.6 81.3
2011 75.5 81.2
2010 75.4 80.7
2009 75.3 80.6
2008 75.2 80
2007 75 79.4
2006 74.7 79
2005 74.4 78.4
2004 74 78
2003 73.7 77.5
2002 73.5 77.2
2001 73.1 76.9
2000 72.7 76.2
1999 72.4 75.6
1998 72.4 75
1997 72.3 74.5
1996 72.1 74
1995 72 73.4
1994 71.9 72.9
1993 71.7 72.7
1992 71.5 72.2
1991 71.2 71.4
1990 71 71
1989 70.8 70.7
1988 70.6 70.2
1987 70.4 69.3
1986 70.1 69
1985 69.9 68.4
1984 69.6 68.1
1983 69.2 66.7
1982 68.9 67.1
1981 68.5 67.1
1980 68.1 64.8
1979 67.6 66.1
1978 67.2 65
1977 66.7 64.6
1976 66.2 65
1975 65.7 64.7
1974 65.2 64.2
1973 64.7 63.8
1972 64.2 63.2
1971 63.8 62.7
1970 63.3 62.2
1969 62.9 61.4
1968 62.4 60.9
1967 62 60.9
1966 61.7 55.4
1965 61.1 55.8
1964 60.4 55.3
1963 59.7 55
1962 58.9 55
1961 58 54.4
1960 57.2 53.8
1959 56.3 52.9
1958 55.4 51.8
1957 54.5 51.6
1956 53.7 50.2
1955 52.8 48.4
1954 52 46.1
1953 51.1 40.5
1952 50.1 36.6
1951 49.2 26.6
1950 48.5 22.2

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

GeoRank.org/facts/malaysia/south-korea | CC BY

Malaysia and South Korea population clocks and comparison

Population
Malaysia

South Korea
1x
Year Population
Malaysia South Korea
2024 35,557,673 51,751,065
2023 35,126,298 51,712,619
2022 34,695,493 51,672,569
2021 34,282,399 51,769,539
2020 33,889,558 51,836,239
2019 33,440,596 51,764,822
2018 32,910,967 51,585,058
2017 32,355,644 51,361,911
2016 31,789,685 51,217,803
2015 31,232,798 51,014,947
2014 30,696,137 50,746,659
2013 30,174,265 50,428,893
2012 29,662,831 50,199,853
2011 29,162,039 49,936,638
2010 28,655,776 49,554,112
2009 28,124,778 49,307,835
2008 27,570,059 49,054,708
2007 26,998,389 48,683,638
2006 26,417,909 48,438,292
2005 25,836,071 48,184,561
2004 25,256,772 48,082,519
2003 24,679,602 47,892,330
2002 24,102,477 47,644,736
2001 23,526,538 47,370,164
2000 22,967,816 47,008,111
1999 22,435,531 46,616,677
1998 21,906,713 46,286,503
1997 21,375,218 45,953,580
1996 20,850,087 45,524,681
1995 20,330,599 45,092,991
1994 19,820,446 44,641,540
1993 19,322,664 44,194,628
1992 18,834,572 43,747,962
1991 18,342,464 43,295,704
1990 17,833,171 42,869,283
1989 17,314,997 42,449,038
1988 16,796,605 42,031,247
1987 16,276,737 41,621,690
1986 15,760,419 41,213,674
1985 15,252,258 40,805,744
1984 14,759,009 40,405,956
1983 14,285,907 39,910,403
1982 13,832,798 39,326,352
1981 13,399,203 38,723,248
1980 12,983,363 38,123,775
1979 12,627,862 37,534,236
1978 12,328,157 36,969,185
1977 12,035,713 36,411,795
1976 11,750,097 35,848,523
1975 11,471,914 35,280,725
1974 11,200,906 34,692,266
1973 10,935,621 34,103,149
1972 10,676,835 33,505,406
1971 10,423,453 32,882,704
1970 10,178,802 32,240,827
1969 9,947,597 31,544,266
1968 9,725,281 30,838,302
1967 9,507,099 30,130,983
1966 9,284,688 29,435,571
1965 9,056,408 28,704,674
1964 8,828,406 27,984,155
1963 8,602,160 27,261,747
1962 8,380,172 26,513,030
1961 8,164,443 25,765,673
1960 7,956,197 25,012,374

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

GeoRank.org/facts/malaysia/south-korea | CC BY

Fertility rates in Malaysia and South Korea

Fertility rate
Malaysia

South Korea
1x
Year Fertility rate
Malaysia South Korea
2023 1.55 0.72
2022 1.55 0.78
2021 1.56 0.81
2020 1.68 0.84
2019 1.78 0.92
2018 1.84 0.98
2017 1.89 1.05
2016 1.94 1.17
2015 2.01 1.24
2014 2.06 1.21
2013 2.07 1.19
2012 2.12 1.3
2011 2.15 1.24
2010 2.14 1.23
2009 2.22 1.15
2008 2.26 1.19
2007 2.25 1.26
2006 2.31 1.13
2005 2.39 1.09
2004 2.49 1.16
2003 2.6 1.19
2002 2.66 1.18
2001 2.81 1.31
2000 2.94 1.48
1999 3.07 1.43
1998 3.12 1.46
1997 3.23 1.54
1996 3.3 1.57
1995 3.32 1.63
1994 3.35 1.66
1993 3.36 1.65
1992 3.37 1.76
1991 3.34 1.71
1990 3.3 1.57
1989 3.31 1.56
1988 3.5 1.55
1987 3.57 1.53
1986 3.7 1.58
1985 3.8 1.66
1984 3.89 1.74
1983 3.93 2.06
1982 3.97 2.39
1981 4 2.57
1980 4.04 2.82
1979 4.09 2.9
1978 4.18 2.64
1977 4.28 2.99
1976 4.4 3
1975 4.5 3.43
1974 4.62 3.77
1973 4.73 4.07
1972 4.82 4.12
1971 4.92 4.54
1970 5.04 4.53
1969 5.16 4.45
1968 5.29 4.51
1967 5.43 4.62
1966 5.64 4.78
1965 5.84 4.89
1964 6.03 5.07
1963 6.19 5.33
1962 6.3 5.56
1961 6.37 5.8
1960 6.41 5.99

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

GeoRank.org/facts/malaysia/south-korea | CC BY

Malaysia and South Korea demographics compared

Median age
Malaysia

South Korea
1x
Year Median age, years
Malaysia South Korea
2024 31.5 46.1
2023 31.1 45.5
2022 30.6 44.9
2021 30.1 44.4
2020 29.6 43.8
2019 29.2 43.1
2018 28.8 42.5
2017 28.5 41.9
2016 28.1 41.4
2015 27.8 40.8
2014 27.5 40.2
2013 27.1 39.5
2012 26.8 38.8
2011 26.4 38.2
2010 26 37.6
2009 25.6 37
2008 25.1 36.4
2007 24.8 35.8
2006 24.5 35.2
2005 24.2 34.5
2004 24 33.9
2003 23.9 33.4
2002 23.7 32.8
2001 23.6 32.3
2000 23.5 31.7
1999 23.4 31.2
1998 23.1 30.7
1997 22.9 30.2
1996 22.7 29.8
1995 22.5 29.4
1994 22.3 28.9
1993 22.1 28.3
1992 21.9 27.8
1991 21.7 27.2
1990 21.5 26.7
1989 21.3 26.3
1988 21.1 25.8
1987 21 25.3
1986 20.9 24.8
1985 20.7 24.2
1984 20.5 23.7
1983 20.4 23.3
1982 20.1 22.8
1981 19.9 22.5
1980 19.7 22.1
1979 19.5 21.6
1978 19.3 21.1
1977 19 20.7
1976 18.8 20.2
1975 18.6 19.9
1974 18.3 19.6
1973 18.1 19.3
1972 17.9 19.1
1971 17.6 19
1970 17.4 18.9
1969 17.3 18.8
1968 17.1 18.7
1967 17 18.6
1966 16.9 18.5
1965 16.8 18.6
1964 16.9 18.8
1963 17 19
1962 17.1 19.1
1961 17.3 19.2
1960 17.5 19.3

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

GeoRank.org/facts/malaysia/south-korea | CC BY

Interactive Maps

Use the buttons below to switch between world maps comparing statistics for Malaysia and South Korea.

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National statistics comparison

Finance

Malaysia South Korea
GNI, Atlas method
$414B
2024
$1.9T
2024
Government expenditure, % of GDP
23.9%
2024
22.5%
2024
Education expenditure, % of GDP
3.51%
2023
5.81%
2022
Military expenditure, % of GDP
0.99%
2024
2.56%
2024
Armed forces personnel
136,000
2020
569,000
2020
Deficit/surplus, % of GDP
-3.95%
2024
-0.78%
2024
Unemployment rate
3.93%
2022
2.78%
2024
Services, % of GDP
53.7%
2024
57.5%
2024
Industry, % of GDP
37%
2024
33.9%
2024
Economic freedom index
68
2026
73.7
2026
Income share by richest 10%
30.9%
2021
24.6%
2021
Income share by poorest 10%
2.3%
2021
2.9%
2021
Number of millionaires n/a
1,301,000
2025
Percentage of millionaires n/a
2.96%
2025
Number of billionaires
19
2025
30
2025
Percentage of billionaires
0.00008%
2025
0.00007%
2025
Listed domestic companies
1,031
2024
2,599
2024
Market capitalization of domestic companies
$449B
2024
$1.56T
2024
Total reserves including gold
$116B
2024
$418B
2024
Personal remittances received
$1.61B
2024
$7.45B
2024
International tourist arrivals
4,333,000
2020
2,519,000
2020
International tourism as share of exports
1.63%
2020
1.94%
2020
Banked people share
88.7%
2024
96.9%
2024

Energy

Malaysia South Korea
Energy use, kg of oil equivalent per capita
2,867 kg
2022
5,337 kg
2023
GDP PPP per kg equivalent of energy use
$12
2022
$10.8
2023
Carbon dioxide (CO2) emissions
296 megatons
2024
588 megatons
2024
CO2 emissions per capita
8.32 tons
2024
11.4 tons
2024
Fossil fuel energy use share
96%
2022
79.1%
2023
Renewable energy use share
7.5%
2021
3.6%
2021
Alternative and nuclear energy use share
2.88%
2022
18.5%
2023
Net energy imports use share
-0.58%
2022
84.6%
2023
Electric power consumption per capita
4,986 kWh
2022
11,426 kWh
2023
Renewable electricity output share
17%
2021
6.59%
2021
Hydroelectric share
16.6%
2022
1.23%
2023
Nuclear share
0%
2021
29.6%
2023
Electricity access
100%
2023
100%
2023

Society

Malaysia South Korea
% of world population
0.44%
2024
0.64%
2024
Annual migration change
+166,615
2025
+65,731
2025
Urban population
76.9%
2024
81.2%
2024
Male:Female ratio
52.4:47.6
2024
49.9:50.1
2024
Average male height
5.55 ft
2025
5.76 ft
2025
Average female height
5.15 ft
2025
5.35 ft
2025
Quality of life index
68.2
2026
87.4
2026
Corruption Perceptions Index
52
2025
63
2025
Higher education index
76
2026
86
2026
Homicides per 100K people
0.72
2021
0.48
2023
Road traffic mortality per 100K people
22.5
2019
8.6
2019
Visa free countries
174
2025
172
2025
Adult literacy rate
95.8%
2022
98.8%
2018
English speaking
57.3%
2023
20%
2025
People using the Internet
98%
2024
97.9%
2024

Health

Malaysia South Korea
Government health expenditure per capita
$450
2023
$3,137
2024
Out-of-pocket health expenditure per capita
$167
2023
$1,058
2024
Life expectancy
77.2 years
2026
84.6 years
2026
Foreign aid share of health expenditure
0.001%
2023
0%
2023
Physicians per 1,000 people
2.34
2023
2.61
2022
Age at first childbirth n/a
32.2 years
2025
Maternal mortality per 100K births
26
2023
4
2023
Mortality rate before reaching 5 years of age
8.1
2023
2.8
2023
Obesity rate
22.4%
2022
7.24%
2022
Diabetes prevalence
21.1%
2024
9.6%
2024
Air quality index
41
2026
46
2026
Tobacco use prevalence
22%
2022
20%
2022
Pure alcohol consumption per capita
0.74 liters
2020
7.79 liters
2020

Territory

Malaysia South Korea
% of world land
0.22%
2026
0.07%
2026
Land area per capita
3,568 sq mi
2024
728 sq mi
2024
Agricultural land area
33,093 sq mi
2026
6,054 sq mi
2026
Forest area
73,219 sq mi
2026
24,158 sq mi
2026
Roads length
173,898 mi
2022
68,794 mi
2018

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) (2000–2025, 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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