Updated
Overview
Malaysia has 6.4 times the population of Norway: 35.98 million people against 5.61 million (2025).
Norway's economy is 12% larger than Malaysia's, at $530.76B versus $472.19B.
Per person, Norway is the wealthier of the two: $94,594 against $13,125 in GDP per capita.
Population
GDP (nominal)
GDP per capita
The full table
| Indicator | Malaysia | Norway | Years | Factbook, Jan 2026 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Economy | ||||
| GDP (nominal) | $472.19B | Higher: $530.76B | 2025 | $421.97B / $483.73B |
| GDP per capita | $13,125 | Higher: $94,594 | 2025 | — / — |
| GDP growth | Higher: 5.2% | 1.1% | 2025 | — / — |
| Inflation | Lower: 1.4% | 3.1% | 2025 | 1.8% / 3.1% |
| Unemployment | Lower: 3.8% | 4.6% | 2025 | — / — |
| Price level (US=100) | 32 | 91 | 2025 | — / — |
| Avg monthly earnings | $698 | Higher: $6,440 | 2020 / 2025 | — / — |
| Minimum wage | $328 | — | 2024 | — / — |
| Big Mac price | $3.57 | $8.05 | — | — / — |
| People | ||||
| Population | 35.98 million | 5.61 million | 2025 | 34.91 million / 5.51 million |
| Population growth | 1.2% | 0.7% | 2025 | — / — |
| Median age | 31.0 yrs | 39.8 yrs | 2025 | — / — |
| Fertility rate | 1.53 | 1.42 | 2025 | — / — |
| Life expectancy | 76.8 yrs | Higher: 83.2 yrs | 2024 | — / — |
| Urban population | 77% | 84% | 2025 | — / — |
| Internet users | 98% | Higher: 99% | 2024 | — / — |
| Geography | ||||
| Area | 330,803 km² | 323,802 km² | — | — / — |
| Population density | 108.8/km² | 17.3/km² | 2025 | — / — |
| Environment | ||||
| CO2 emissions | 290 Mt | Lower: 37 Mt | 2024 | — / — |
| CO2 per capita | 8.2 t | Lower: 6.7 t | 2024 | — / — |
| Military | ||||
| Military spending | $4.31B | $10.44B | 2024 | — / — |
| Military spending (% GDP) | 1.0% | 2.1% | 2024 | — / — |
| Armed forces personnel | 136,000 | 25,000 | 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 1.1%.
Inflation is comparable in both: 1.4% in Malaysia and 3.1% in Norway.
Day-to-day prices are noticeably lower in Malaysia: a price level of 32 versus 91 on a US=100 scale.
Average monthly earnings favour Norway: $6,440 against $698 (ILOSTAT, latest available years).
People and society
Malaysia is the far younger society: median age 31.0 versus 39.8 years.
Life expectancy is 6.3 years longer in Norway (83.2 vs 76.8).
Geography
By land area, Malaysia is almost exactly the same size as Norway: 330,803 km² versus 323,802 km².
Malaysia is far more densely settled: 109 people per km² against 17.
Military
Norway spends 2.4 times as much on defence as Malaysia: $10.44B versus $4.31B (World Bank/SIPRI data).
Relative to its economy, Norway carries the heavier military burden: 2.1% of GDP versus 1.0%.
Malaysia fields the larger armed forces: 136,000 personnel against 25,000 (note: personnel data lags; observation years shown in the table).
Frequently asked
- Is Malaysia bigger than Norway?
- The two are almost exactly the same size. Malaysia covers 330,803 km² while Norway covers 323,802 km², a difference of under 2%.
- Which has more people, Malaysia or Norway?
- Malaysia has the larger population: 35.98 million versus 5.61 million (World Bank, 2025).
- Is Malaysia richer than Norway?
- Measured by GDP per capita, Norway is richer: $94,594 against $13,125. Total GDP tells the same story: $472.19B for Malaysia versus $530.76B for Norway.
- Who spends more on their military, Malaysia or Norway?
- Norway spends more: $10.44B versus $4.31B per year (World Bank, SIPRI-derived data; observation years vary).