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.
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
- External balance on goods and services as a percent of GDP 5.5% (2025)
- Inflation of consumer prices 1.4% (2025)
- GDP per capita 12,352 constant 2015 US$ (2025)
- Share of manufacturing in gross domestic product (GDP) 22.1% (2025)
- Gross domestic product (GDP) 444.41 billion constant 2015 US$ (2025)
- GDP per capita in international and market dollars 12,352 constant 2015 US$ (2025)
- DEC alternative conversion factor 4.28 LCU per US$ (2025)
- Net secondary income (Net current transfers from abroad) -10.77 billion current LCU (2025)
- Net secondary income (Net current transfers from abroad) -2.51 billion current US$ (2025)
- Taxes less subsidies on products 26.06 billion current LCU (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
The 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.