Updated
Overview
Germany has 2.3 times the population of Malaysia: 83.49 million people against 35.98 million (2025).
Germany's economy is 11 times the size of Malaysia's, at $5.05T versus $472.19B.
Per person, Germany is the wealthier of the two: $60,496 against $13,125 in GDP per capita.
Population
GDP (nominal)
GDP per capita
The full table
| Indicator | Germany | Malaysia | Years | Factbook, Jan 2026 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Economy | ||||
| GDP (nominal) | Higher: $5.05T | $472.19B | 2025 | $4.66T / $421.97B |
| GDP per capita | Higher: $60,496 | $13,125 | 2025 | — / — |
| GDP growth | 0.2% | Higher: 5.2% | 2025 | — / — |
| Inflation | 2.2% | Lower: 1.4% | 2025 | 2.3% / 1.8% |
| Unemployment | Lower: 3.7% | 3.8% | 2025 | — / — |
| Price level (US=100) | 80 | 32 | 2025 | — / — |
| Avg monthly earnings | Higher: $4,647 | $698 | 2022 / 2020 | — / — |
| Minimum wage | Higher: $2,442 | $328 | 2025 / 2024 | — / — |
| Big Mac price | — | $3.57 | — | — / — |
| People | ||||
| Population | 83.49 million | 35.98 million | 2025 | 84.01 million / 34.91 million |
| Population growth | 0.0% | 1.2% | 2025 | — / — |
| Median age | 45.5 yrs | 31.0 yrs | 2025 | — / — |
| Fertility rate | 1.46 | 1.53 | 2025 | — / — |
| Life expectancy | Higher: 80.8 yrs | 76.8 yrs | 2024 | — / — |
| Urban population | 82% | 77% | 2025 | — / — |
| Internet users | 93% | Higher: 98% | 2024 | — / — |
| Geography | ||||
| Area | 357,114 km² | 330,803 km² | — | — / — |
| Population density | 233.8/km² | 108.8/km² | 2025 | — / — |
| Environment | ||||
| CO2 emissions | 572 Mt | Lower: 290 Mt | 2024 | — / — |
| CO2 per capita | Lower: 6.8 t | 8.2 t | 2024 | — / — |
| Military | ||||
| Military spending | $88.46B | $4.31B | 2024 | — / — |
| Military spending (% GDP) | 1.9% | 1.0% | 2024 | — / — |
| Armed forces personnel | 183,000 | 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 much faster: 5.2% annual GDP growth versus 0.2%.
Inflation is comparable in both: 2.2% in Germany and 1.4% in Malaysia.
Day-to-day prices are noticeably lower in Malaysia: a price level of 32 versus 80 on a US=100 scale.
Average monthly earnings favour Germany: $4,647 against $698 (ILOSTAT, latest available years).
People and society
Malaysia is the far younger society: median age 31.0 versus 45.5 years.
Life expectancy is 4.0 years longer in Germany (80.8 vs 76.8).
Geography
By land area, Germany is almost exactly the same size as Malaysia: 357,114 km² versus 330,803 km².
Germany is far more densely settled: 234 people per km² against 109.
Military
Germany spends 21 times as much on defence as Malaysia: $88.46B versus $4.31B (World Bank/SIPRI data).
Relative to its economy, Germany carries the heavier military burden: 1.9% of GDP versus 1.0%.
Germany fields the larger armed forces: 183,000 personnel against 136,000 (note: personnel data lags; observation years shown in the table).
Frequently asked
- Is Germany bigger than Malaysia?
- The two are almost exactly the same size. Germany covers 357,114 km² while Malaysia covers 330,803 km², a difference of under 8%.
- Which has more people, Germany or Malaysia?
- Germany has the larger population: 83.49 million versus 35.98 million (World Bank, 2025).
- Is Germany richer than Malaysia?
- Measured by GDP per capita, Germany is richer: $60,496 against $13,125. Total GDP tells the same story: $5.05T for Germany versus $472.19B for Malaysia.
- Who spends more on their military, Germany or Malaysia?
- Germany spends more: $88.46B versus $4.31B per year (World Bank, SIPRI-derived data; observation years vary).