Updated
Overview
Malaysia has 77 times the population of Brunei: 35.98 million people against 466,330 (2025).
Malaysia's economy is 31 times the size of Brunei's, at $472.19B versus $15.03B.
Per person, Brunei is the wealthier of the two: $32,235 against $13,125 in GDP per capita.
Population
GDP (nominal)
GDP per capita
The full table
| Indicator | Malaysia | Brunei | Years | Factbook, Jan 2026 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Economy | ||||
| GDP (nominal) | Higher: $472.19B | $15.03B | 2025 | $421.97B / $15.46B |
| GDP per capita | $13,125 | Higher: $32,235 | 2025 | — / — |
| GDP growth | Higher: 5.2% | 0.7% | 2025 | — / — |
| Inflation | 1.4% | Lower: -0.3% | 2025 | 1.8% / -0.4% |
| Unemployment | Lower: 3.8% | 5.3% | 2025 | — / — |
| Price level (US=100) | 32 | 35 | 2025 | — / — |
| Avg monthly earnings | $698 | — | 2020 | — / — |
| Minimum wage | $328 | — | 2024 | — / — |
| Big Mac price | $3.57 | — | — | — / — |
| People | ||||
| Population | 35.98 million | 466,330 | 2025 | 34.91 million / 491,900 |
| Population growth | 1.2% | 0.8% | 2025 | — / — |
| Median age | 31.0 yrs | 32.7 yrs | 2025 | — / — |
| Fertility rate | 1.53 | 1.71 | 2025 | — / — |
| Life expectancy | Higher: 76.8 yrs | 75.5 yrs | 2024 | — / — |
| Urban population | 77% | 75% | 2025 | — / — |
| Internet users | Higher: 98% | 96% | 2024 | — / — |
| Geography | ||||
| Area | 330,803 km² | 5,765 km² | — | — / — |
| Population density | 108.8/km² | 80.9/km² | 2025 | — / — |
| Environment | ||||
| CO2 emissions | 290 Mt | Lower: 12 Mt | 2024 | — / — |
| CO2 per capita | Lower: 8.2 t | 26.0 t | 2024 | — / — |
| Military | ||||
| Military spending | $4.31B | $558.61M | 2024 | — / — |
| Military spending (% GDP) | 1.0% | 3.6% | 2024 | — / — |
| Armed forces personnel | 136,000 | 8,000 | 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 0.7%.
Inflation is comparable in both: 1.4% in Malaysia and -0.3% in Brunei.
People and society
Demographically the two are similar, with median ages of 31.0 (Malaysia) and 32.7 (Brunei).
Life expectancy is 1.3 years longer in Malaysia (76.8 vs 75.5).
Geography
By land area, Malaysia is 57 times the size of Brunei: 330,803 km² versus 5,765 km².
The two share a land border, which shapes their trade, migration, and security relationship.
Military
Malaysia spends 7.7 times as much on defence as Brunei: $4.31B versus $558.61M (World Bank/SIPRI data).
Relative to its economy, Brunei carries the heavier military burden: 3.6% of GDP versus 1.0%.
Malaysia fields the larger armed forces: 136,000 personnel against 8,000 (note: personnel data lags; observation years shown in the table).
Frequently asked
- Is Malaysia bigger than Brunei?
- Malaysia is larger by land area. Malaysia covers 330,803 km² while Brunei covers 5,765 km², so Malaysia is 57 times the size of the other.
- Which has more people, Malaysia or Brunei?
- Malaysia has the larger population: 35.98 million versus 466,330 (World Bank, 2025).
- Is Malaysia richer than Brunei?
- Measured by GDP per capita, Brunei is richer: $32,235 against $13,125. Total GDP tells a different story: $472.19B for Malaysia versus $15.03B for Brunei.
- Who spends more on their military, Malaysia or Brunei?
- Malaysia spends more: $4.31B versus $558.61M per year (World Bank, SIPRI-derived data; observation years vary).