Updated
Overview
The Philippines has 3.2 times the population of Malaysia: 116.79 million people against 35.98 million (2025).
Their economies are close in size: $487.09B for the Philippines and $472.19B for Malaysia.
Per person, Malaysia is the wealthier of the two: $13,125 against $4,171 in GDP per capita.
Population
GDP (nominal)
GDP per capita
The full table
| Indicator | Philippines | Malaysia | Years | Factbook, Jan 2026 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Economy | ||||
| GDP (nominal) | Higher: $487.09B | $472.19B | 2025 | $461.62B / $421.97B |
| GDP per capita | $4,171 | Higher: $13,125 | 2025 | — / — |
| GDP growth | 4.4% | Higher: 5.2% | 2025 | — / — |
| Inflation | 1.7% | Lower: 1.4% | 2025 | 3.2% / 1.8% |
| Unemployment | Lower: 2.2% | 3.8% | 2025 | — / — |
| Price level (US=100) | 33 | 32 | 2025 | — / — |
| Avg monthly earnings | $316 | Higher: $698 | 2023 / 2020 | — / — |
| Minimum wage | $145 | Higher: $328 | 2024 | — / — |
| Big Mac price | $2.74 | $3.57 | — | — / — |
| People | ||||
| Population | 116.79 million | 35.98 million | 2025 | 118.28 million / 34.91 million |
| Population growth | 0.8% | 1.2% | 2025 | — / — |
| Median age | 26.1 yrs | 31.0 yrs | 2025 | — / — |
| Fertility rate | 1.88 | 1.53 | 2025 | — / — |
| Life expectancy | 69.9 yrs | Higher: 76.8 yrs | 2024 | — / — |
| Urban population | 56% | 77% | 2025 | — / — |
| Internet users | 67% | Higher: 98% | 2024 | — / — |
| Geography | ||||
| Area | 342,353 km² | 330,803 km² | — | — / — |
| Population density | 341.1/km² | 108.8/km² | 2025 | — / — |
| Environment | ||||
| CO2 emissions | Lower: 175 Mt | 290 Mt | 2024 | — / — |
| CO2 per capita | Lower: 1.5 t | 8.2 t | 2024 | — / — |
| Military | ||||
| Military spending | $6.12B | $4.31B | 2024 | — / — |
| Military spending (% GDP) | 1.3% | 1.0% | 2024 | — / — |
| Armed forces personnel | 157,000 | 136,000 | 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 faster: 5.2% annual GDP growth versus 4.4%.
Inflation is comparable in both: 1.7% in the Philippines and 1.4% in Malaysia.
Average monthly earnings favour Malaysia: $698 against $316 (ILOSTAT, latest available years).
People and society
The Philippines is the younger society: median age 26.1 versus 31.0 years.
Life expectancy is 6.9 years longer in Malaysia (76.8 vs 69.9).
Malaysia is considerably more urbanized: 77% of people live in cities, against 56%.
Internet adoption is higher in Malaysia (98% vs 67% of the population).
Geography
By land area, the Philippines is almost exactly the same size as Malaysia: 342,353 km² versus 330,803 km².
Both sit in the same broad region but do not share a border.
The Philippines is far more densely settled: 341 people per km² against 109.
Military
The Philippines spends about 40% more on defence than Malaysia: $6.12B versus $4.31B (World Bank/SIPRI data).
The Philippines fields the larger armed forces: 157,000 personnel against 136,000 (note: personnel data lags; observation years shown in the table).
Frequently asked
- Is the Philippines bigger than Malaysia?
- The two are almost exactly the same size. The Philippines covers 342,353 km² while Malaysia covers 330,803 km², a difference of under 3%.
- Which has more people, the Philippines or Malaysia?
- The Philippines has the larger population: 116.79 million versus 35.98 million (World Bank, 2025).
- Is the Philippines richer than Malaysia?
- Measured by GDP per capita, Malaysia is richer: $13,125 against $4,171. Total GDP tells a different story: $487.09B for the Philippines versus $472.19B for Malaysia.
- Who spends more on their military, the Philippines or Malaysia?
- The Philippines spends more: $6.12B versus $4.31B per year (World Bank, SIPRI-derived data; observation years vary).