Updated
Overview
Malaysia has 30% more people than Australia: 35.98 million against 27.61 million (2025).
Australia's economy is 3.8 times the size of Malaysia's, at $1.80T versus $472.19B.
Per person, Australia is the wealthier of the two: $65,130 against $13,125 in GDP per capita.
Population
GDP (nominal)
GDP per capita
The full table
| Indicator | Malaysia | Australia | Years | Factbook, Jan 2026 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Economy | ||||
| GDP (nominal) | $472.19B | Higher: $1.80T | 2025 | $421.97B / $1.75T |
| GDP per capita | $13,125 | Higher: $65,130 | 2025 | — / — |
| GDP growth | Higher: 5.2% | 1.4% | 2025 | — / — |
| Inflation | Lower: 1.4% | 2.9% | 2025 | 1.8% / 3.2% |
| Unemployment | Lower: 3.8% | 4.1% | 2025 | — / — |
| Price level (US=100) | 32 | 90 | 2025 | — / — |
| Avg monthly earnings | $698 | Higher: $4,436 | 2020 / 2021 | — / — |
| Minimum wage | $328 | Higher: $2,655 | 2024 | — / — |
| Big Mac price | $3.57 | $5.95 | — | — / — |
| People | ||||
| Population | 35.98 million | 27.61 million | 2025 | 34.91 million / 27.49 million |
| Population growth | 1.2% | 1.5% | 2025 | — / — |
| Median age | 31.0 yrs | 38.3 yrs | 2025 | — / — |
| Fertility rate | 1.53 | 1.64 | 2025 | — / — |
| Life expectancy | 76.8 yrs | Higher: 83.1 yrs | 2024 | — / — |
| Urban population | 77% | 88% | 2025 | — / — |
| Internet users | Higher: 98% | 96% | 2024 | — / — |
| Geography | ||||
| Area | 330,803 km² | 7,692,024 km² | — | — / — |
| Population density | 108.8/km² | 3.6/km² | 2025 | — / — |
| Environment | ||||
| CO2 emissions | Lower: 290 Mt | 387 Mt | 2024 | — / — |
| CO2 per capita | Lower: 8.2 t | 14.5 t | 2024 | — / — |
| Military | ||||
| Military spending | $4.31B | $33.82B | 2024 | — / — |
| Military spending (% GDP) | 1.0% | 1.9% | 2024 | — / — |
| Armed forces personnel | 136,000 | 60,000 | 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 1.4%.
Inflation is comparable in both: 1.4% in Malaysia and 2.9% in Australia.
Day-to-day prices are noticeably lower in Malaysia: a price level of 32 versus 90 on a US=100 scale.
Average monthly earnings favour Australia: $4,436 against $698 (ILOSTAT, latest available years).
People and society
Malaysia is the younger society: median age 31.0 versus 38.3 years.
Life expectancy is 6.2 years longer in Australia (83.1 vs 76.8).
Australia is considerably more urbanized: 88% of people live in cities, against 77%.
Geography
By land area, Malaysia is only about 1/23 the size of Australia: 330,803 km² versus 7,692,024 km².
Malaysia is far more densely settled: 109 people per km² against 4.
Military
Australia spends 7.8 times as much on defence as Malaysia: $33.82B versus $4.31B (World Bank/SIPRI data).
Relative to its economy, Australia carries the heavier military burden: 1.9% of GDP versus 1.0%.
Malaysia fields the larger armed forces: 136,000 personnel against 60,000 (note: personnel data lags; observation years shown in the table).
Frequently asked
- Is Malaysia bigger than Australia?
- Australia is larger by land area. Malaysia covers 330,803 km² while Australia covers 7,692,024 km², so Australia is 23 times the size of the other.
- Which has more people, Malaysia or Australia?
- Malaysia has the larger population: 35.98 million versus 27.61 million (World Bank, 2025).
- Is Malaysia richer than Australia?
- Measured by GDP per capita, Australia is richer: $65,130 against $13,125. Total GDP tells the same story: $472.19B for Malaysia versus $1.80T for Australia.
- Who spends more on their military, Malaysia or Australia?
- Australia spends more: $33.82B versus $4.31B per year (World Bank, SIPRI-derived data; observation years vary).