GDP per capita in Malaysia
Malaysia: GDP per capita was 12,898 international-$ in 1990 prices in 2020. ◆ Volatile
Latest (2020)
12,898 international-$ in 1990 prices
World rank
42nd
of 162 countries
All-time high
12,898 international-$ in 1990 prices
in 2020
All-time low
662 international-$ in 1990 prices
in 1870
Years of data
24
1870–2020
GDP per capita in Malaysia, 1870–2020
Source: Leandro Prados de la Escosura (2021) – with minor processing by Our World in Data. Measured in international-$ in 1990 prices.
Analysis
Malaysia recorded 12,898 international-$ in 1990 prices for gdp per capita in 2020. That is the highest value across all 24 years on record.
The figure is up 28.0% over ten years.
Over the whole period, gdp per capita in Malaysia peaked at 12,898 international-$ in 1990 prices in 2020 and was at its lowest, 662 international-$ in 1990 prices, in 1870.
Malaysia ranks 42nd of 162 countries on this measure, in the middle of the range.
The series is highly variable year to year, so single readings are best treated with caution.
GDP per capita in Malaysia, year by year
| Year | international-$ in 1990 prices | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1870 | 662 international-$ in 1990 prices | — |
| 1880 | 710.86 international-$ in 1990 prices | +7.4% |
| 1890 | 763.32 international-$ in 1990 prices | +7.4% |
| 1900 | 819.65 international-$ in 1990 prices | +7.4% |
| 1913 | 900.13 international-$ in 1990 prices | +9.8% |
| 1925 | 1,201 international-$ in 1990 prices | +33.4% |
| 1929 | 1,682 international-$ in 1990 prices | +40.1% |
| 1933 | 1,440 international-$ in 1990 prices | -14.4% |
| 1938 | 1,361 international-$ in 1990 prices | -5.4% |
| 1950 | 1,559 international-$ in 1990 prices | +14.5% |
| 1955 | 1,460 international-$ in 1990 prices | -6.3% |
| 1960 | 1,530 international-$ in 1990 prices | +4.8% |
| 1965 | 1,804 international-$ in 1990 prices | +17.9% |
| 1970 | 2,079 international-$ in 1990 prices | +15.2% |
| 1975 | 2,648 international-$ in 1990 prices | +27.4% |
| 1980 | 3,657 international-$ in 1990 prices | +38.1% |
| 1985 | 4,157 international-$ in 1990 prices | +13.7% |
| 1990 | 5,131 international-$ in 1990 prices | +23.4% |
| 1995 | 7,093 international-$ in 1990 prices | +38.2% |
| 2000 | 7,860 international-$ in 1990 prices | +10.8% |
| 2005 | 8,803 international-$ in 1990 prices | +12.0% |
| 2010 | 10,074 international-$ in 1990 prices | +14.4% |
| 2015 | 12,078 international-$ in 1990 prices | +19.9% |
| 2020 | 12,898 international-$ in 1990 prices | +6.8% |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1870s | 662 international-$ in 1990 prices | 662 international-$ in 1990 prices | 662 international-$ in 1990 prices | 1 |
| 1880s | 710.86 international-$ in 1990 prices | 710.86 international-$ in 1990 prices | 710.86 international-$ in 1990 prices | 1 |
| 1890s | 763.32 international-$ in 1990 prices | 763.32 international-$ in 1990 prices | 763.32 international-$ in 1990 prices | 1 |
| 1900s | 819.65 international-$ in 1990 prices | 819.65 international-$ in 1990 prices | 819.65 international-$ in 1990 prices | 1 |
| 1910s | 900.13 international-$ in 1990 prices | 900.13 international-$ in 1990 prices | 900.13 international-$ in 1990 prices | 1 |
| 1920s | 1,442 international-$ in 1990 prices | 1,201 international-$ in 1990 prices | 1,682 international-$ in 1990 prices | 2 |
| 1930s | 1,401 international-$ in 1990 prices | 1,361 international-$ in 1990 prices | 1,440 international-$ in 1990 prices | 2 |
| 1950s | 1,510 international-$ in 1990 prices | 1,460 international-$ in 1990 prices | 1,559 international-$ in 1990 prices | 2 |
| 1960s | 1,667 international-$ in 1990 prices | 1,530 international-$ in 1990 prices | 1,804 international-$ in 1990 prices | 2 |
| 1970s | 2,364 international-$ in 1990 prices | 2,079 international-$ in 1990 prices | 2,648 international-$ in 1990 prices | 2 |
| 1980s | 3,907 international-$ in 1990 prices | 3,657 international-$ in 1990 prices | 4,157 international-$ in 1990 prices | 2 |
| 1990s | 6,112 international-$ in 1990 prices | 5,131 international-$ in 1990 prices | 7,093 international-$ in 1990 prices | 2 |
| 2000s | 8,332 international-$ in 1990 prices | 7,860 international-$ in 1990 prices | 8,803 international-$ in 1990 prices | 2 |
| 2010s | 11,076 international-$ in 1990 prices | 10,074 international-$ in 1990 prices | 12,078 international-$ in 1990 prices | 2 |
| 2020s | 12,898 international-$ in 1990 prices | 12,898 international-$ in 1990 prices | 12,898 international-$ in 1990 prices | 1 |
Countries ranked near Malaysia
- 39 Czechia 14,421 international-$ in 1990 prices compare
- 40 Kazakhstan 13,971 international-$ in 1990 prices compare
- 41 Armenia 13,380 international-$ in 1990 prices compare
- 43 Equatorial Guinea 12,890 international-$ in 1990 prices compare
- 44 Uruguay 12,523 international-$ in 1990 prices compare
- 45 Qatar 12,140 international-$ in 1990 prices compare
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)
- Gross capital formation (constant 2015 US$), annual growth rate 9.11 % change on previous year (2025)
- Gross capital formation (constant 2015 US$), per unit of GDP 0.2141 constant 2015 US$ per US$ of GDP (2025)
- Gross capital formation (constant 2015 US$), per capita 2,810 constant 2015 US$ per person (2025)
- Imports of goods and services (current US$), annual growth rate 10.83 % change on previous year (2025)
- Imports of goods and services (current US$), per unit of GDP 0.6543 current US$ per US$ of GDP (2025)
- Imports of goods and services (current US$), per capita 8,587 current US$ per person (2025)
- Imports of goods and services (current LCU), annual growth rate 3.76 % change on previous year (2025)
- Imports of goods and services (current LCU), per unit of GDP 2.8 current LCU per US$ of GDP (2025)
Frequently asked questions
- What is gdp per capita in Malaysia?
- Gdp per capita in Malaysia was 12,898 international-$ in 1990 prices in 2020, according to Leandro Prados de la Escosura (2021) – with minor processing by Our World in Data.
- What is the highest gdp per capita recorded in Malaysia?
- The highest recorded value was 12,898 international-$ in 1990 prices in 2020.
- What is the lowest gdp per capita recorded in Malaysia?
- The lowest recorded value was 662 international-$ in 1990 prices in 1870.
- How does Malaysia rank for gdp per capita?
- Malaysia ranks 42nd out of 162 countries with data for 2020.
- Is gdp per capita rising or falling in Malaysia?
- Over the last ten years it is up 28.0%. The long-run trend across the full record is volatile.
- Where does this Malaysia data come from?
- The figures come from Leandro Prados de la Escosura (2021) – with minor processing by Our World in Data, published as part of GDP per capita. Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
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About this data
GDP per capita expressed in international-$ at 1990 prices to account for inflation and differences in the cost of living between countries.