Updated
Overview
The United States has 9.5 times the population of Malaysia: 341.78 million people against 35.98 million (2025).
The United States' economy is 65 times the size of Malaysia's, at $30.77T versus $472.19B.
Per person, the United States is the wealthier of the two: $90,027 against $13,125 in GDP per capita.
Population
GDP (nominal)
GDP per capita
The full table
| Indicator | United States | Malaysia | Years | Factbook, Jan 2026 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Economy | ||||
| GDP (nominal) | Higher: $30.77T | $472.19B | 2025 | $29.18T / $421.97B |
| GDP per capita | Higher: $90,027 | $13,125 | 2025 | — / — |
| GDP growth | 2.2% | Higher: 5.2% | 2025 | — / — |
| Inflation | 2.9% | Lower: 1.4% | 2024 / 2025 | — / 1.8% |
| Unemployment | 4.2% | Lower: 3.8% | 2025 | — / — |
| Price level (US=100) | 100 | 32 | 2025 | — / — |
| Avg monthly earnings | Higher: $6,273 | $698 | 2025 / 2020 | — / — |
| Minimum wage | Higher: $1,257 | $328 | 2026 / 2024 | — / — |
| Big Mac price | $6.22 | $3.57 | — | — / — |
| People | ||||
| Population | 341.78 million | 35.98 million | 2025 | 338.02 million / 34.91 million |
| Population growth | 0.5% | 1.2% | 2025 | — / — |
| Median age | 38.5 yrs | 31.0 yrs | 2025 | — / — |
| Fertility rate | 1.62 | 1.53 | 2025 | — / — |
| Life expectancy | Higher: 78.9 yrs | 76.8 yrs | 2024 | — / — |
| Urban population | 80% | 77% | 2025 | — / — |
| Internet users | 95% | Higher: 98% | 2024 | — / — |
| Geography | ||||
| Area | 9,833,517 km² | 330,803 km² | — | — / — |
| Population density | 34.8/km² | 108.8/km² | 2025 | — / — |
| Environment | ||||
| CO2 emissions | 4,904 Mt | Lower: 290 Mt | 2024 | — / — |
| CO2 per capita | 14.2 t | Lower: 8.2 t | 2024 | — / — |
| Military | ||||
| Military spending | $997.31B | $4.31B | 2024 | — / — |
| Military spending (% GDP) | 3.4% | 1.0% | 2024 | — / — |
| Armed forces personnel | 1.4 million | 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 2.2%.
Inflation is comparable in both: 2.9% in the United States and 1.4% in Malaysia.
Day-to-day prices are noticeably lower in Malaysia: a price level of 32 versus 100 on a US=100 scale.
Average monthly earnings favour the United States: $6,273 against $698 (ILOSTAT, latest available years).
People and society
Malaysia is the younger society: median age 31.0 versus 38.5 years.
Life expectancy is 2.1 years longer in the United States (78.9 vs 76.8).
Geography
By land area, the United States is 30 times the size of Malaysia: 9,833,517 km² versus 330,803 km².
Malaysia is far more densely settled: 109 people per km² against 35.
Military
The United States spends 231 times as much on defence as Malaysia: $997.31B versus $4.31B (World Bank/SIPRI data).
Relative to its economy, the United States carries the heavier military burden: 3.4% of GDP versus 1.0%.
The United States fields the larger armed forces: 1.4 million personnel against 136,000 (note: personnel data lags; observation years shown in the table).
Frequently asked
- Is the United States bigger than Malaysia?
- The United States is larger by land area. The United States covers 9,833,517 km² while Malaysia covers 330,803 km², so the United States is 30 times the size of the other.
- Which has more people, the United States or Malaysia?
- The United States has the larger population: 341.78 million versus 35.98 million (World Bank, 2025).
- Is the United States richer than Malaysia?
- Measured by GDP per capita, the United States is richer: $90,027 against $13,125. Total GDP tells the same story: $30.77T for the United States versus $472.19B for Malaysia.
- Who spends more on their military, the United States or Malaysia?
- The United States spends more: $997.31B versus $4.31B per year (World Bank, SIPRI-derived data; observation years vary).