Direct investment in Malaysia
Malaysia: Direct investment was 191.86 billion US dollar in 2025. ◆ Volatile
Direct investment in Malaysia, 1980–2025
Source: International Monetary Fund. Measured in US dollar.
Analysis
Malaysia recorded 191.86 billion US dollar for direct investment in 2025. That is the highest value across all 40 years on record.
That represents a change of up 7.0% on the previous year and up 24.7% over ten years.
Over the whole period, direct investment in Malaysia peaked at 191.86 billion US dollar in 2025 and was at its lowest, 281.24 million US dollar, in 1984.
Malaysia ranks 34th of 164 countries on this measure, in the top quarter.
The series is highly variable year to year, so single readings are best treated with caution.
Direct investment in Malaysia, year by year
| Year | US dollar | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1980 | 304.63 million US dollar | — |
| 1981 | 474.51 million US dollar | +55.8% |
| 1982 | 816.78 million US dollar | +72.1% |
| 1983 | 1.17 billion US dollar | +43.0% |
| 1984 | 281.24 million US dollar | -75.9% |
| 1985 | 412.53 million US dollar | +46.7% |
| 1986 | 535.15 million US dollar | +29.7% |
| 1987 | 716.06 million US dollar | +33.8% |
| 1988 | 1.15 billion US dollar | +60.1% |
| 1989 | 966.60 million US dollar | -15.7% |
| 1990 | 753.28 million US dollar | -22.1% |
| 1991 | 762.85 million US dollar | +1.3% |
| 1992 | 1.06 billion US dollar | +38.7% |
| 1993 | 1.44 billion US dollar | +35.9% |
| 1994 | 2.64 billion US dollar | +83.3% |
| 2001 | 11.35 billion US dollar | +330.6% |
| 2002 | 13.21 billion US dollar | +16.5% |
| 2003 | 15.74 billion US dollar | +19.2% |
| 2004 | 15.84 billion US dollar | +0.6% |
| 2005 | 24.98 billion US dollar | +57.7% |
| 2006 | 44.43 billion US dollar | +77.8% |
| 2007 | 71.11 billion US dollar | +60.1% |
| 2008 | 80.95 billion US dollar | +13.8% |
| 2009 | 92.33 billion US dollar | +14.1% |
| 2010 | 112.23 billion US dollar | +21.6% |
| 2011 | 125.07 billion US dollar | +11.4% |
| 2012 | 138.80 billion US dollar | +11.0% |
| 2013 | 146.00 billion US dollar | +5.2% |
| 2014 | 152.51 billion US dollar | +4.5% |
| 2015 | 153.80 billion US dollar | +0.8% |
| 2016 | 150.13 billion US dollar | -2.4% |
| 2017 | 154.16 billion US dollar | +2.7% |
| 2018 | 145.72 billion US dollar | -5.5% |
| 2019 | 142.69 billion US dollar | -2.1% |
| 2020 | 150.71 billion US dollar | +5.6% |
| 2021 | 158.94 billion US dollar | +5.5% |
| 2022 | 163.90 billion US dollar | +3.1% |
| 2023 | 170.89 billion US dollar | +4.3% |
| 2024 | 179.28 billion US dollar | +4.9% |
| 2025 | 191.86 billion US dollar | +7.0% |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1980s | 682.20 million US dollar | 281.24 million US dollar | 1.17 billion US dollar | 10 |
| 1990s | 1.33 billion US dollar | 753.28 million US dollar | 2.64 billion US dollar | 5 |
| 2000s | 41.11 billion US dollar | 11.35 billion US dollar | 92.33 billion US dollar | 9 |
| 2010s | 142.11 billion US dollar | 112.23 billion US dollar | 154.16 billion US dollar | 10 |
| 2020s | 169.26 billion US dollar | 150.71 billion US dollar | 191.86 billion US dollar | 6 |
Countries ranked near Malaysia
More economy & growth data for Malaysia
- Africa's Development Dynamics (AfDD) Table 04 - Annual real GDP 3.04 Percent per annum (2029)
- Africa's Development Dynamics (AfDD) Table 02 - Annual real GDP 3.97 Percent per annum (2029)
- GNI, Atlas method (current US$), annual growth rate 7.55 % change on previous year (2025)
- GNI, Atlas method (current US$), per unit of GDP 0.9432 current US$ per US$ of GDP (2025)
- GNI, Atlas method (current US$), per capita 12,379 current US$ per person (2025)
- GNI (current US$), annual growth rate 11.82 % change on previous year (2025)
- GNI (current US$), per unit of GDP 0.9657 current US$ per US$ of GDP (2025)
- GNI (current US$), per capita 12,674 current US$ per person (2025)
- GNI (current LCU), annual growth rate 4.68 % change on previous year (2025)
- GNI (current LCU), per unit of GDP 4.14 current LCU per US$ of GDP (2025)
Frequently asked questions
- What is direct investment in Malaysia?
- Direct investment in Malaysia was 191.86 billion US dollar in 2025, according to International Monetary Fund.
- What is the highest direct investment recorded in Malaysia?
- The highest recorded value was 191.86 billion US dollar in 2025.
- What is the lowest direct investment recorded in Malaysia?
- The lowest recorded value was 281.24 million US dollar in 1984.
- How does Malaysia rank for direct investment?
- Malaysia ranks 34th out of 164 countries with data for 2025.
- Is direct investment rising or falling in Malaysia?
- Over the last ten years it is up 24.7%. The long-run trend across the full record is volatile.
- Where does this Malaysia data come from?
- The figures come from International Monetary Fund, published as part of Direct investment (Assets, Positions, US dollar). Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
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About this data
The International Investment Position (IIP) is a statistical statement that shows at a point in time the value of financial assets of residents of an economy that are claims on nonresidents or are gold bullion held as reserve assets; and the liabilities of residents of an economy to nonresidents.