Updated
Overview
The United Kingdom has about 95% more people than Malaysia: 69.49 million against 35.98 million (2025).
The United Kingdom's economy is 8.5 times the size of Malaysia's, at $4.00T versus $472.19B.
Per person, the United Kingdom is the wealthier of the two: $57,602 against $13,125 in GDP per capita.
Population
GDP (nominal)
GDP per capita
The full table
| Indicator | United Kingdom | Malaysia | Years | Factbook, Jan 2026 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Economy | ||||
| GDP (nominal) | Higher: $4.00T | $472.19B | 2025 | $3.64T / $421.97B |
| GDP per capita | Higher: $57,602 | $13,125 | 2025 | — / — |
| GDP growth | 1.4% | Higher: 5.2% | 2025 | — / — |
| Inflation | 3.9% | Lower: 1.4% | 2025 | 3.3% / 1.8% |
| Unemployment | 4.7% | Lower: 3.8% | 2025 | — / — |
| Price level (US=100) | 89 | 32 | 2025 | — / — |
| Avg monthly earnings | Higher: $3,567 | $698 | 2025 / 2020 | — / — |
| Minimum wage | Higher: $2,532 | $328 | 2024 | — / — |
| Big Mac price | $7.40 | $3.57 | — | — / — |
| People | ||||
| Population | 69.49 million | 35.98 million | 2025 | 68.75 million / 34.91 million |
| Population growth | 0.3% | 1.2% | 2025 | — / — |
| Median age | 40.1 yrs | 31.0 yrs | 2025 | — / — |
| Fertility rate | 1.54 | 1.53 | 2025 | — / — |
| Life expectancy | Higher: 81.4 yrs | 76.8 yrs | 2024 | — / — |
| Urban population | 83% | 77% | 2025 | — / — |
| Internet users | 95% | Higher: 98% | 2024 | — / — |
| Geography | ||||
| Area | 242,900 km² | 330,803 km² | — | — / — |
| Population density | 286.1/km² | 108.8/km² | 2025 | — / — |
| Environment | ||||
| CO2 emissions | 313 Mt | Lower: 290 Mt | 2024 | — / — |
| CO2 per capita | Lower: 4.5 t | 8.2 t | 2024 | — / — |
| Military | ||||
| Military spending | $81.76B | $4.31B | 2024 | — / — |
| Military spending (% GDP) | 2.3% | 1.0% | 2024 | — / — |
| Armed forces personnel | 153,000 | 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 much faster: 5.2% annual GDP growth versus 1.4%.
The United Kingdom runs the hotter price environment: 3.9% inflation versus 1.4%.
Day-to-day prices are noticeably lower in Malaysia: a price level of 32 versus 89 on a US=100 scale.
Average monthly earnings favour the United Kingdom: $3,567 against $698 (ILOSTAT, latest available years).
People and society
Malaysia is the far younger society: median age 31.0 versus 40.1 years.
Life expectancy is 4.6 years longer in the United Kingdom (81.4 vs 76.8).
Geography
By land area, the United Kingdom is 27% smaller than Malaysia: 242,900 km² versus 330,803 km².
The United Kingdom is far more densely settled: 286 people per km² against 109.
Military
The United Kingdom spends 19 times as much on defence as Malaysia: $81.76B versus $4.31B (World Bank/SIPRI data).
Relative to its economy, the United Kingdom carries the heavier military burden: 2.3% of GDP versus 1.0%.
The United Kingdom fields the larger armed forces: 153,000 personnel against 136,000 (note: personnel data lags; observation years shown in the table).
Frequently asked
- Is the United Kingdom bigger than Malaysia?
- Malaysia is larger by land area. The United Kingdom covers 242,900 km² while Malaysia covers 330,803 km², so Malaysia is 36% larger than the other.
- Which has more people, the United Kingdom or Malaysia?
- The United Kingdom has the larger population: 69.49 million versus 35.98 million (World Bank, 2025).
- Is the United Kingdom richer than Malaysia?
- Measured by GDP per capita, the United Kingdom is richer: $57,602 against $13,125. Total GDP tells the same story: $4.00T for the United Kingdom versus $472.19B for Malaysia.
- Who spends more on their military, the United Kingdom or Malaysia?
- The United Kingdom spends more: $81.76B versus $4.31B per year (World Bank, SIPRI-derived data; observation years vary).
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