Updated
Overview
Malaysia has 3.0 times the population of Belgium: 35.98 million people against 11.94 million (2025).
Belgium's economy is about 55% larger than Malaysia's, at $725.47B versus $472.19B.
Per person, Belgium is the wealthier of the two: $60,750 against $13,125 in GDP per capita.
Population
GDP (nominal)
GDP per capita
The full table
| Indicator | Malaysia | Belgium | Years | Factbook, Jan 2026 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Economy | ||||
| GDP (nominal) | $472.19B | Higher: $725.47B | 2025 | $421.97B / $664.56B |
| GDP per capita | $13,125 | Higher: $60,750 | 2025 | — / — |
| GDP growth | Higher: 5.2% | 1.0% | 2025 | — / — |
| Inflation | Lower: 1.4% | 2.5% | 2025 | 1.8% / 3.1% |
| Unemployment | Lower: 3.8% | 5.9% | 2025 | — / — |
| Price level (US=100) | 32 | 81 | 2025 | — / — |
| Avg monthly earnings | $698 | Higher: $7,044 | 2020 / 2025 | — / — |
| Minimum wage | $328 | Higher: $2,387 | 2024 / 2025 | — / — |
| Big Mac price | $3.57 | — | — | — / — |
| People | ||||
| Population | 35.98 million | 11.94 million | 2025 | 34.91 million / 11.96 million |
| Population growth | 1.2% | 0.7% | 2025 | — / — |
| Median age | 31.0 yrs | 41.9 yrs | 2025 | — / — |
| Fertility rate | 1.53 | 1.39 | 2025 | — / — |
| Life expectancy | 76.8 yrs | Higher: 82.3 yrs | 2024 | — / — |
| Urban population | 77% | 88% | 2025 | — / — |
| Internet users | Higher: 98% | 96% | 2024 | — / — |
| Geography | ||||
| Area | 330,803 km² | 30,528 km² | — | — / — |
| Population density | 108.8/km² | 391.2/km² | 2025 | — / — |
| Environment | ||||
| CO2 emissions | 290 Mt | Lower: 85 Mt | 2024 | — / — |
| CO2 per capita | 8.2 t | Lower: 7.3 t | 2024 | — / — |
| Military | ||||
| Military spending | $4.31B | $8.56B | 2024 | — / — |
| Military spending (% GDP) | 1.0% | 1.3% | 2024 | — / — |
| Armed forces personnel | 136,000 | 24,000 | 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 1.0%.
Inflation is comparable in both: 1.4% in Malaysia and 2.5% in Belgium.
Day-to-day prices are noticeably lower in Malaysia: a price level of 32 versus 81 on a US=100 scale.
Average monthly earnings favour Belgium: $7,044 against $698 (ILOSTAT, latest available years).
People and society
Malaysia is the far younger society: median age 31.0 versus 41.9 years.
Life expectancy is 5.5 years longer in Belgium (82.3 vs 76.8).
Belgium is considerably more urbanized: 88% of people live in cities, against 77%.
Geography
By land area, Malaysia is 11 times the size of Belgium: 330,803 km² versus 30,528 km².
Belgium is far more densely settled: 391 people per km² against 109.
Military
Belgium spends 2.0 times as much on defence as Malaysia: $8.56B versus $4.31B (World Bank/SIPRI data).
Malaysia fields the larger armed forces: 136,000 personnel against 24,000 (note: personnel data lags; observation years shown in the table).
Frequently asked
- Is Malaysia bigger than Belgium?
- Malaysia is larger by land area. Malaysia covers 330,803 km² while Belgium covers 30,528 km², so Malaysia is 11 times the size of the other.
- Which has more people, Malaysia or Belgium?
- Malaysia has the larger population: 35.98 million versus 11.94 million (World Bank, 2025).
- Is Malaysia richer than Belgium?
- Measured by GDP per capita, Belgium is richer: $60,750 against $13,125. Total GDP tells the same story: $472.19B for Malaysia versus $725.47B for Belgium.
- Who spends more on their military, Malaysia or Belgium?
- Belgium spends more: $8.56B versus $4.31B per year (World Bank, SIPRI-derived data; observation years vary).