Taxes on income vs. taxes on goods and services in Malaysia
Malaysia: Taxes on income vs. taxes on goods and services was 3.4% in 2023. ▼ Falling
Taxes on income vs. taxes on goods and services in Malaysia, 1980–2023
Source: UNU-WIDER Government Revenue Dataset (2025) – with major processing by Our World in Data. Measured in % of GDP.
Analysis
Malaysia recorded 3.4% for taxes on income vs. taxes on goods and services in 2023.
The figure is up 6.7% on the previous year and up 14.1% over ten years.
Over the whole period, taxes on income vs. taxes on goods and services in Malaysia peaked at 5.8% in 1995 and was at its lowest, 2.9%, in 2021.
That places Malaysia 153rd out of 187 countries with data for 2023, putting it in the bottom quarter.
The long-run direction has been consistently falling across the 37 years of available data.
Taxes on income vs. taxes on goods and services in Malaysia, year by year
| Year | % of GDP | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1980 | 4.0% | — |
| 1981 | 3.9% | -4.2% |
| 1982 | 3.9% | +2.0% |
| 1983 | 4.9% | +23.2% |
| 1984 | 4.4% | -10.3% |
| 1992 | 5.1% | +17.4% |
| 1993 | 5.3% | +3.9% |
| 1994 | 5.6% | +5.0% |
| 1995 | 5.8% | +3.5% |
| 1996 | 5.8% | -0.2% |
| 1997 | 5.7% | -0.7% |
| 1998 | 4.1% | -28.1% |
| 1999 | 4.4% | +7.6% |
| 2000 | 4.0% | -10.2% |
| 2001 | 4.7% | +17.2% |
| 2002 | 4.3% | -7.4% |
| 2003 | 3.7% | -14.8% |
| 2004 | 3.5% | -6.0% |
| 2005 | 3.8% | +9.5% |
| 2006 | 3.2% | -15.5% |
| 2007 | 3.0% | -5.8% |
| 2008 | 3.1% | +4.2% |
| 2009 | 3.3% | +6.0% |
| 2010 | 3.2% | -3.6% |
| 2011 | 3.1% | -3.8% |
| 2012 | 3.1% | +0.2% |
| 2013 | 3.0% | -3.0% |
| 2014 | 2.9% | -2.2% |
| 2015 | 4.2% | +44.6% |
| 2016 | 4.9% | +16.1% |
| 2017 | 4.6% | -6.5% |
| 2018 | 3.1% | -32.0% |
| 2019 | 3.2% | +1.8% |
| 2020 | 3.1% | -2.0% |
| 2021 | 2.9% | -6.5% |
| 2022 | 3.2% | +9.8% |
| 2023 | 3.4% | +6.7% |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1980s | 4.2% | 3.9% | 4.9% | 5 |
| 1990s | 5.2% | 4.1% | 5.8% | 8 |
| 2000s | 3.7% | 3.0% | 4.7% | 10 |
| 2010s | 3.5% | 2.9% | 4.9% | 10 |
| 2020s | 3.2% | 2.9% | 3.4% | 4 |
Countries ranked near Malaysia
- 150 Suriname 3.7% compare
- 151 Guinea-Bissau 3.6% compare
- 152 Côte d'Ivoire 3.6% compare
- 154 Congo, Democratic Republic of the 3.4% compare
- 155 Indonesia 3.4% compare
- 156 Sao Tome and Principe 3.3% 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)
- 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 taxes on income vs. taxes on goods and services in Malaysia?
- Taxes on income vs. taxes on goods and services in Malaysia was 3.4% in 2023, according to UNU-WIDER Government Revenue Dataset (2025) – with major processing by Our World in Data.
- What is the highest taxes on income vs. taxes on goods and services recorded in Malaysia?
- The highest recorded value was 5.8% in 1995.
- What is the lowest taxes on income vs. taxes on goods and services recorded in Malaysia?
- The lowest recorded value was 2.9% in 2021.
- How does Malaysia rank for taxes on income vs. taxes on goods and services?
- Malaysia ranks 153rd out of 187 countries with data for 2023.
- Is taxes on income vs. taxes on goods and services rising or falling in Malaysia?
- Over the last ten years it is up 14.1%. The long-run trend across the full record is falling.
- Where does this Malaysia data come from?
- The figures come from UNU-WIDER Government Revenue Dataset (2025) – with major processing by Our World in Data, published as part of Taxes on income vs. taxes on goods and services. Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
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About this data
Total taxes on income (individual and corporate) vs. total taxes on goods and services (including VAT and sales taxes), as a share of GDP.