Updated
Overview
Malaysia has 2.0 times the population of the Netherlands: 35.98 million people against 18.09 million (2025).
The Netherlands' economy is 2.8 times the size of Malaysia's, at $1.33T versus $472.19B.
Per person, the Netherlands is the wealthier of the two: $73,684 against $13,125 in GDP per capita.
Population
GDP (nominal)
GDP per capita
The full table
| Indicator | Malaysia | Netherlands | Years | Factbook, Jan 2026 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Economy | ||||
| GDP (nominal) | $472.19B | Higher: $1.33T | 2025 | $421.97B / $1.23T |
| GDP per capita | $13,125 | Higher: $73,684 | 2025 | — / — |
| GDP growth | Higher: 5.2% | 1.8% | 2025 | — / — |
| Inflation | Lower: 1.4% | 3.3% | 2025 | 1.8% / 3.3% |
| Unemployment | Lower: 3.8% | 3.9% | 2025 | — / — |
| Price level (US=100) | 32 | 84 | 2025 | — / — |
| Avg monthly earnings | $698 | Higher: $6,402 | 2020 / 2025 | — / — |
| Minimum wage | $328 | Higher: $2,538 | 2024 / 2025 | — / — |
| Big Mac price | $3.57 | — | — | — / — |
| People | ||||
| Population | 35.98 million | 18.09 million | 2025 | 34.91 million / 17.83 million |
| Population growth | 1.2% | 0.5% | 2025 | — / — |
| Median age | 31.0 yrs | 41.5 yrs | 2025 | — / — |
| Fertility rate | 1.53 | 1.44 | 2025 | — / — |
| Life expectancy | 76.8 yrs | Higher: 82.0 yrs | 2024 | — / — |
| Urban population | 77% | 96% | 2025 | — / — |
| Internet users | Higher: 98% | 97% | 2024 | — / — |
| Geography | ||||
| Area | 330,803 km² | 41,850 km² | — | — / — |
| Population density | 108.8/km² | 432.2/km² | 2025 | — / — |
| Environment | ||||
| CO2 emissions | 290 Mt | Lower: 115 Mt | 2024 | — / — |
| CO2 per capita | 8.2 t | Lower: 6.3 t | 2024 | — / — |
| Military | ||||
| Military spending | $4.31B | $23.18B | 2024 | — / — |
| Military spending (% GDP) | 1.0% | 1.9% | 2024 | — / — |
| Armed forces personnel | 136,000 | 41,000 | 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 1.8%.
Inflation is comparable in both: 1.4% in Malaysia and 3.3% in the Netherlands.
Day-to-day prices are noticeably lower in Malaysia: a price level of 32 versus 84 on a US=100 scale.
Average monthly earnings favour the Netherlands: $6,402 against $698 (ILOSTAT, latest available years).
People and society
Malaysia is the far younger society: median age 31.0 versus 41.5 years.
Life expectancy is 5.1 years longer in the Netherlands (82.0 vs 76.8).
The Netherlands is considerably more urbanized: 96% of people live in cities, against 77%.
Geography
By land area, Malaysia is 7.9 times the size of the Netherlands: 330,803 km² versus 41,850 km².
The Netherlands is far more densely settled: 432 people per km² against 109.
Military
The Netherlands spends 5.4 times as much on defence as Malaysia: $23.18B versus $4.31B (World Bank/SIPRI data).
Relative to its economy, the Netherlands carries the heavier military burden: 1.9% of GDP versus 1.0%.
Malaysia fields the larger armed forces: 136,000 personnel against 41,000 (note: personnel data lags; observation years shown in the table).
Frequently asked
- Is Malaysia bigger than the Netherlands?
- Malaysia is larger by land area. Malaysia covers 330,803 km² while the Netherlands covers 41,850 km², so Malaysia is 7.9 times the size of the other.
- Which has more people, Malaysia or the Netherlands?
- Malaysia has the larger population: 35.98 million versus 18.09 million (World Bank, 2025).
- Is Malaysia richer than the Netherlands?
- Measured by GDP per capita, the Netherlands is richer: $73,684 against $13,125. Total GDP tells the same story: $472.19B for Malaysia versus $1.33T for the Netherlands.
- Who spends more on their military, Malaysia or the Netherlands?
- The Netherlands spends more: $23.18B versus $4.31B per year (World Bank, SIPRI-derived data; observation years vary).