Government spending as share of GDP in Malaysia
Malaysia: Government spending as share of GDP was 23.9% in 2024. ▼ Falling
Government spending as share of GDP in Malaysia, 1990–2024
Source: International Monetary Fund (2025) – with minor processing by Our World in Data. Measured in % of GDP.
Analysis
Malaysia recorded 23.9% for government spending as share of gdp in 2024.
The figure is down 4.2% on the previous year and down 8.1% over ten years.
Over the whole period, government spending as share of gdp in Malaysia peaked at 30.9% in 2009 and was at its lowest, 21.2%, in 1997.
Malaysia ranks 101st of 151 countries on this measure, in the middle of the range.
The long-run direction has been consistently falling across the 35 years of available data.
Government spending as share of GDP in Malaysia, year by year
| Year | % of GDP | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1990 | 30.5% | — |
| 1991 | 27.4% | -10.3% |
| 1992 | 28.2% | +3.0% |
| 1993 | 24.6% | -12.7% |
| 1994 | 23.3% | -5.5% |
| 1995 | 22.6% | -2.9% |
| 1996 | 22.4% | -0.9% |
| 1997 | 21.2% | -5.5% |
| 1998 | 23.1% | +9.3% |
| 1999 | 24.6% | +6.6% |
| 2000 | 25.6% | +4.0% |
| 2001 | 28.2% | +10.1% |
| 2002 | 27.1% | -3.8% |
| 2003 | 28.1% | +3.4% |
| 2004 | 25.9% | -7.8% |
| 2005 | 24.5% | -5.2% |
| 2006 | 25.6% | +4.2% |
| 2007 | 25.9% | +1.2% |
| 2008 | 26.9% | +4.0% |
| 2009 | 30.9% | +14.7% |
| 2010 | 26.6% | -13.9% |
| 2011 | 27.1% | +1.8% |
| 2012 | 28.5% | +5.2% |
| 2013 | 27.8% | -2.5% |
| 2014 | 26.0% | -6.6% |
| 2015 | 24.7% | -4.8% |
| 2016 | 22.9% | -7.5% |
| 2017 | 22.0% | -3.6% |
| 2018 | 22.8% | +3.4% |
| 2019 | 23.6% | +3.4% |
| 2020 | 25.0% | +6.2% |
| 2021 | 24.5% | -2.4% |
| 2022 | 24.6% | +0.8% |
| 2023 | 24.9% | +1.1% |
| 2024 | 23.9% | -4.2% |
Malaysia compared with similar countries
- Malaysia's 23.9% is below the median for upper middle income countries, which is 30.9%, 77% of the median. (44 countries reporting)
- Malaysia's 23.9% is below the median for East Asia & Pacific, which is 30.8%, 77% of the median. (21 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1990s | 24.8% | 21.2% | 30.5% | 10 |
| 2000s | 26.9% | 24.5% | 30.9% | 10 |
| 2010s | 25.2% | 22.0% | 28.5% | 10 |
| 2020s | 24.6% | 23.9% | 25.0% | 5 |
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)
- Foreign direct investment, net outflows (BoP, current US$), gaps 13.04 billion BoP, current US$ (2024)
- Foreign direct investment, net outflows (BoP, current US$), per unit 0.0309 BoP, current US$ per US$ of GDP (2024)
- Foreign direct investment, net outflows (BoP, current US$), per capita 366.69 BoP, current US$ per person (2024)
- Foreign direct investment, net inflows (BoP, current US$), gaps filled 15.59 billion BoP, current US$ (2024)
- Foreign direct investment, net inflows (BoP, current US$), annual 96.92 % change on previous year (2024)
- Foreign direct investment, net inflows (BoP, current US$), per unit 0.0369 BoP, current US$ per US$ of GDP (2024)
- Foreign direct investment, net inflows (BoP, current US$), per capita 438.53 BoP, current US$ per person (2024)
- Total reserves (includes gold, current US$), annual growth rate 8.09 % change on previous year (2025)
Frequently asked questions
- What is government spending as share of gdp in Malaysia?
- Government spending as share of gdp in Malaysia was 23.9% in 2024, according to International Monetary Fund (2025) – with minor processing by Our World in Data.
- What is the highest government spending as share of gdp recorded in Malaysia?
- The highest recorded value was 30.9% in 2009.
- What is the lowest government spending as share of gdp recorded in Malaysia?
- The lowest recorded value was 21.2% in 1997.
- How does Malaysia rank for government spending as share of gdp?
- Malaysia ranks 101st out of 151 countries with data for 2024.
- Is government spending as share of gdp rising or falling in Malaysia?
- Over the last ten years it is down 8.1%. The long-run trend across the full record is falling.
- Where does this Malaysia data come from?
- The figures come from International Monetary Fund (2025) – with minor processing by Our World in Data, published as part of Government spending as share of GDP. Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
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About this data
Sum of all the money spent by the government on goods and services, as a percentage of GDP. It includes interest paid on government debt.