Updated
Overview
Argentina has 27% more people than Malaysia: 45.85 million against 35.98 million (2025).
Argentina's economy is about 45% larger than Malaysia's, at $683.10B versus $472.19B.
Population
GDP (nominal)
GDP per capita
The full table
| Indicator | Argentina | Malaysia | Years | Factbook, Jan 2026 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Economy | ||||
| GDP (nominal) | Higher: $683.10B | $472.19B | 2025 | $633.27B / $421.97B |
| GDP per capita | Higher: $14,898 | $13,125 | 2025 | — / — |
| GDP growth | 4.4% | Higher: 5.2% | 2025 | — / — |
| Inflation | 219.9% | Lower: 1.4% | 2024 / 2025 | — / 1.8% |
| Unemployment | 7.1% | Lower: 3.8% | 2025 | — / — |
| Price level (US=100) | 46 | 32 | 2025 | — / — |
| Avg monthly earnings | Higher: $811 | $698 | 2025 / 2020 | — / — |
| Minimum wage | $297 | Higher: $328 | 2024 | — / — |
| Big Mac price | $5.91 | $3.57 | — | — / — |
| People | ||||
| Population | 45.85 million | 35.98 million | 2025 | 45.42 million / 34.91 million |
| Population growth | 0.3% | 1.2% | 2025 | — / — |
| Median age | 32.9 yrs | 31.0 yrs | 2025 | — / — |
| Fertility rate | 1.50 | 1.53 | 2025 | — / — |
| Life expectancy | Higher: 77.5 yrs | 76.8 yrs | 2024 | — / — |
| Urban population | 92% | 77% | 2025 | — / — |
| Internet users | 90% | Higher: 98% | 2024 | — / — |
| Geography | ||||
| Area | 2,780,400 km² | 330,803 km² | — | — / — |
| Population density | 16.5/km² | 108.8/km² | 2025 | — / — |
| Environment | ||||
| CO2 emissions | Lower: 171 Mt | 290 Mt | 2024 | — / — |
| CO2 per capita | Lower: 3.7 t | 8.2 t | 2024 | — / — |
| Military | ||||
| Military spending | $4.18B | $4.31B | 2024 | — / — |
| Military spending (% GDP) | 0.6% | 1.0% | 2024 | — / — |
| Armed forces personnel | 103,000 | 136,000 | 2020 | — / — |
Sources by row: World Bank WDI, IMF WEO, UN WPP 2024, ILOSTAT, The Economist. Emphasis marks the stronger figure where one direction is meaningfully better.
Reading the numbers
Economy
Malaysia is growing faster: 5.2% annual GDP growth versus 4.4%.
Inflation is a serious concern in Argentina at 219.9%, while the other economy sits at 1.4%.
Day-to-day prices are noticeably lower in Malaysia: a price level of 32 versus 46 on a US=100 scale.
Average monthly earnings favour Argentina: $811 against $698 (ILOSTAT, latest available years).
People and society
Demographically the two are similar, with median ages of 32.9 (Argentina) and 31.0 (Malaysia).
Argentina is considerably more urbanized: 92% of people live in cities, against 77%.
Geography
By land area, Argentina is 8.4 times the size of Malaysia: 2,780,400 km² versus 330,803 km².
Malaysia is far more densely settled: 109 people per km² against 16.
Military
Defence budgets are of similar magnitude: $4.18B (Argentina) and $4.31B (Malaysia).
Malaysia fields the larger armed forces: 136,000 personnel against 103,000 (note: personnel data lags; observation years shown in the table).
Frequently asked
- Is Argentina bigger than Malaysia?
- Argentina is larger by land area. Argentina covers 2,780,400 km² while Malaysia covers 330,803 km², so Argentina is 8.4 times the size of the other.
- Which has more people, Argentina or Malaysia?
- Argentina has the larger population: 45.85 million versus 35.98 million (World Bank, 2025).
- Is Argentina richer than Malaysia?
- Measured by GDP per capita, Argentina is richer: $14,898 against $13,125. Total GDP tells the same story: $683.10B for Argentina versus $472.19B for Malaysia.
- Who spends more on their military, Argentina or Malaysia?
- Malaysia spends more: $4.31B versus $4.18B per year (World Bank, SIPRI-derived data; observation years vary).