Updated
Overview
China has 39 times the population of Malaysia: 1.41 billion people against 35.98 million (2025).
China's economy is 41 times the size of Malaysia's, at $19.50T versus $472.19B.
Population
GDP (nominal)
GDP per capita
The full table
| Indicator | China | Malaysia | Years | Factbook, Jan 2026 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Economy | ||||
| GDP (nominal) | Higher: $19.50T | $472.19B | 2025 | $18.74T / $421.97B |
| GDP per capita | Higher: $13,862 | $13,125 | 2025 | — / — |
| GDP growth | 5.0% | Higher: 5.2% | 2025 | — / — |
| Inflation | Lower: 0.1% | 1.4% | 2025 | 0.2% / 1.8% |
| Unemployment | 4.6% | Lower: 3.8% | 2025 | — / — |
| Price level (US=100) | 47 | 32 | 2025 | — / — |
| Avg monthly earnings | Higher: $807 | $698 | 2022 / 2020 | — / — |
| Minimum wage | $268 | Higher: $328 | 2024 | — / — |
| Big Mac price | $3.91 | $3.57 | — | — / — |
| People | ||||
| Population | 1.41 billion | 35.98 million | 2025 | 1.41 billion / 34.91 million |
| Population growth | -0.2% | 1.2% | 2025 | — / — |
| Median age | 40.1 yrs | 31.0 yrs | 2025 | — / — |
| Fertility rate | 1.02 | 1.53 | 2025 | — / — |
| Life expectancy | Higher: 78.0 yrs | 76.8 yrs | 2024 | — / — |
| Urban population | 66% | 77% | 2025 | — / — |
| Internet users | 92% | Higher: 98% | 2025 / 2024 | — / — |
| Geography | ||||
| Area | 9,596,960 km² | 330,803 km² | — | — / — |
| Population density | 146.6/km² | 108.8/km² | 2025 | — / — |
| Environment | ||||
| CO2 emissions | 12,289 Mt | Lower: 290 Mt | 2024 | — / — |
| CO2 per capita | 8.7 t | Lower: 8.2 t | 2024 | — / — |
| Military | ||||
| Military spending | $313.66B | $4.31B | 2024 | — / — |
| Military spending (% GDP) | 1.7% | 1.0% | 2024 | — / — |
| Armed forces personnel | 2.5 million | 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
Both economies are growing at a similar pace (5.0% for China, 5.2% for Malaysia).
Inflation is comparable in both: 0.1% in China and 1.4% in Malaysia.
Day-to-day prices are noticeably lower in Malaysia: a price level of 32 versus 47 on a US=100 scale.
Average monthly earnings favour China: $807 against $698 (ILOSTAT, latest available years).
People and society
Malaysia is the far younger society: median age 31.0 versus 40.1 years.
Life expectancy is 1.2 years longer in China (78.0 vs 76.8).
Malaysia is considerably more urbanized: 77% of people live in cities, against 66%.
Geography
By land area, China is 29 times the size of Malaysia: 9,596,960 km² versus 330,803 km².
Both sit in the same broad region but do not share a border.
Military
China spends 73 times as much on defence as Malaysia: $313.66B versus $4.31B (World Bank/SIPRI data).
China fields the larger armed forces: 2.5 million personnel against 136,000 (note: personnel data lags; observation years shown in the table).
Frequently asked
- Is China bigger than Malaysia?
- China is larger by land area. China covers 9,596,960 km² while Malaysia covers 330,803 km², so China is 29 times the size of the other.
- Which has more people, China or Malaysia?
- China has the larger population: 1.41 billion versus 35.98 million (World Bank, 2025).
- Is China richer than Malaysia?
- Measured by GDP per capita, China is richer: $13,862 against $13,125. Total GDP tells the same story: $19.50T for China versus $472.19B for Malaysia.
- Who spends more on their military, China or Malaysia?
- China spends more: $313.66B versus $4.31B per year (World Bank, SIPRI-derived data; observation years vary).