Atlas · Asia-Pacific · MYS
Malaysia
- Output · rank 35/187
- $489B
- People · rank 44/187
- 35.8M
- Land · rank 65/187
- 329K km²
- GDP per person
- $13,659
- Density
- 109.0 /km²
Government debt
66.8%gross debt, share of GDP
$327Boutstanding, rank 30 of 178
- Perimeter
- General government
- Basis
- Gross, not net
- Valuation
- Nominal
- Debt per person
- $9,126
- Net of assets
- 58.9%
- Source
- IMF World Economic Outlook / Fiscal Monitor
Gross debt is 66.8%; net of the government’s financial assets it is 58.9%, a 7.9% gap.
What this number does not tell youThe most misread figure in public finance. Perimeter varies by country — the IMF notes its Fiscal Monitor tables use a narrower perimeter for China than its Article IV estimates, and published figures for Japan range from roughly 200% to 250% depending on perimeter and valuation, both citing the IMF. Debt in a currency the government issues is a fundamentally different instrument from debt it must earn or borrow to service; this ratio does not distinguish them.
Private-sector debt
- Households
- 68.1% of GDP
- Non-financial corporations
- 78.9% of GDP
- Total private
- 147.0% of GDP
Government debt is only one layer. Household and corporate borrowing is where financial fragility often actually sits — and here it totals 147.0% of GDP, larger than the public debt above.
Currency & monetary policy
Issues its own currency and sets its own policy rate — meaningful room to manage local-currency debt.
House prices
The real figure strips out inflation and is the one that tells you whether housing actually became more expensive.
Payment rails
| System | Type | Live since |
|---|---|---|
| DuitNow | Instant retail | 2019 |
| RENTAS | Large-value RTGS | 1999 |
Against its region and the world
Where Malaysia sits relative to the Asia-Pacific average and the world average.
GDP per person (USD)
This country13,659
Region average8,736
World average14,013
Population density (per km²)
This country109
Region average135
World average64
Debt to GDP (%)
This country67
Region average97
World average95
Major banks
Largest institutions headquartered in Malaysia, by total assets. Assets, not market value — the two rank very differently.
| Institution | Total assets | |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Maybank | $250B |
All figures
- Nominal GDP
- $489B
- Share of world output
- 0.42%
- Population
- 35.8M
- Share of world population
- 0.44%
- Land area
- 328,550 km²
- Share of world land
- 0.25%
- GDP per person
- $13,659
- GDP per km²
- $1,488,358
- Population density
- 109.0 /km²
- Government debt
- 66.8%
- Debt outstanding
- $327B
Closest by output in Asia-Pacific
| Bangladesh | $482B | 40.4% |
| Vietnam | $506B | 34.9% |
| Philippines | $508B | 58.3% |
| Thailand | $546B | 63.9% |
| Hong Kong SAR | $422B | 11.9% |
Nearest neighbours by nominal output within the same region. Third column is debt to GDP.
Where these figures come from
- Nominal GDPGross domestic product at current market prices, converted to US dollars at market exchange rates. Not adjusted for purchasing power.
- IMF World Economic Outlook
2025 estimate - PopulationTotal resident population, mid-year estimate.
- UN World Population Prospects
2025 estimate - Land areaTotal land area, excluding inland water where the source reports it separately.
- UN Statistics Division
2024 - General government gross debtGross debt of the general government sector as a share of GDP. Gross means government-held financial assets are not netted off.
- IMF World Economic Outlook / Fiscal Monitor
2025–26 estimate - Bank total assetsTotal assets for the most recent reporting period: cash, loans, investments, property and equipment.
- S&P Global Market Intelligence
2026 ranking - Net government debtGovernment debt net of its financial assets, as a share of GDP.
- IMF Fiscal Monitor
2025–26 estimate - Household debtCredit to households and non-profits serving them, as a share of GDP.
- BIS credit statistics
2024–25 - Corporate debtCredit to non-financial corporations, as a share of GDP.
- BIS credit statistics
2024–25 - Exchange rate regimeHow the currency is managed: free floating, floating, pegged, currency board, or no separate legal tender.
- IMF AREAER
2025 - Central bank policy rateThe main policy interest rate set by the central bank.
- Central banks / BIS
mid-2026, live - Residential house pricesYear-on-year change in residential property prices, nominal and inflation-adjusted.
- BIS / OECD residential property
latest quarter