Updated
Overview
Malaysia has 5.9 times the population of Singapore: 35.98 million people against 6.11 million (2025).
Singapore's economy is 28% larger than Malaysia's, at $603.87B versus $472.19B.
Per person, Singapore is the wealthier of the two: $98,814 against $13,125 in GDP per capita.
Population
GDP (nominal)
GDP per capita
The full table
| Indicator | Malaysia | Singapore | Years | Factbook, Jan 2026 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Economy | ||||
| GDP (nominal) | $472.19B | Higher: $603.87B | 2025 | $421.97B / $547.39B |
| GDP per capita | $13,125 | Higher: $98,814 | 2025 | — / — |
| GDP growth | Higher: 5.2% | 5.0% | 2025 | — / — |
| Inflation | 1.4% | Lower: 0.9% | 2025 | 1.8% / 2.4% |
| Unemployment | 3.8% | Lower: 2.8% | 2025 | — / — |
| Price level (US=100) | 32 | 60 | 2025 | — / — |
| Avg monthly earnings | $698 | Higher: $3,483 | 2020 / 2021 | — / — |
| Minimum wage | $328 | — | 2024 | — / — |
| Big Mac price | $3.57 | $5.77 | — | — / — |
| People | ||||
| Population | 35.98 million | 6.11 million | 2025 | 34.91 million / 6.08 million |
| Population growth | 1.2% | 1.2% | 2025 | — / — |
| Median age | 31.0 yrs | 36.2 yrs | 2025 | — / — |
| Fertility rate | 1.53 | 0.96 | 2025 | — / — |
| Life expectancy | 76.8 yrs | Higher: 83.3 yrs | 2024 | — / — |
| Urban population | 77% | 100% | 2025 | — / — |
| Internet users | Higher: 98% | 94% | 2024 | — / — |
| Geography | ||||
| Area | 330,803 km² | 719 km² | — | — / — |
| Population density | 108.8/km² | 8499.5/km² | 2025 | — / — |
| Environment | ||||
| CO2 emissions | 290 Mt | Lower: 54 Mt | 2024 | — / — |
| CO2 per capita | Lower: 8.2 t | 9.2 t | 2024 | — / — |
| Military | ||||
| Military spending | $4.31B | $15.06B | 2024 | — / — |
| Military spending (% GDP) | 1.0% | 2.8% | 2024 | — / — |
| Armed forces personnel | 136,000 | 59,000 | 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
Both economies are growing at a similar pace (5.2% for Malaysia, 5.0% for Singapore).
Inflation is comparable in both: 1.4% in Malaysia and 0.9% in Singapore.
Day-to-day prices are noticeably lower in Malaysia: a price level of 32 versus 60 on a US=100 scale.
Average monthly earnings favour Singapore: $3,483 against $698 (ILOSTAT, latest available years).
People and society
Malaysia is the younger society: median age 31.0 versus 36.2 years.
Life expectancy is 6.5 years longer in Singapore (83.3 vs 76.8).
Singapore is considerably more urbanized: 100% of people live in cities, against 77%.
Geography
By land area, Malaysia is 460 times the size of Singapore: 330,803 km² versus 719 km².
Both sit in the same broad region but do not share a border.
Singapore is far more densely settled: 8500 people per km² against 109.
Military
Singapore spends 3.5 times as much on defence as Malaysia: $15.06B versus $4.31B (World Bank/SIPRI data).
Relative to its economy, Singapore carries the heavier military burden: 2.8% of GDP versus 1.0%.
Malaysia fields the larger armed forces: 136,000 personnel against 59,000 (note: personnel data lags; observation years shown in the table).
Frequently asked
- Is Malaysia bigger than Singapore?
- Malaysia is larger by land area. Malaysia covers 330,803 km² while Singapore covers 719 km², so Malaysia is 460 times the size of the other.
- Which has more people, Malaysia or Singapore?
- Malaysia has the larger population: 35.98 million versus 6.11 million (World Bank, 2025).
- Is Malaysia richer than Singapore?
- Measured by GDP per capita, Singapore is richer: $98,814 against $13,125. Total GDP tells the same story: $472.19B for Malaysia versus $603.87B for Singapore.
- Who spends more on their military, Malaysia or Singapore?
- Singapore spends more: $15.06B versus $4.31B per year (World Bank, SIPRI-derived data; observation years vary).