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Malaysia vs Philippines
Side-by-side comparison of Malaysia and Philippines from official statistics: size, economy, people, trade, natural resources, health, infrastructure and military, with world ranks, years and sources.
Philippines
East Asia & Pacific · nation age 461 years
In short
Malaysia scores 69.7 in the NationsTree Index (38th in the world) and Philippines scores 44.0 (113th), a gap of 25.7 points. Their trees are 25 m and 22 m tall; tree height grows with real GDP and is adjusted by the index.
Philippines has 3.2 times the population of Malaysia. Malaysia has 10% more land area than Philippines. Malaysia and Philippines have economies of similar size (GDP at purchasing power parity). Population: Malaysia 36.0 million and Philippines 116.8 million (2025).
GDP per person at purchasing power parity is $41,498 in Malaysia and $12,577 in Philippines (2025, international dollars). People in Malaysia live on average 6.9 years longer (76.8 vs 69.9 years).
Of 39 indicators reported by both countries, Malaysia ranks higher in the world on 30 and Philippines on 9. Malaysia is clearly stronger in institutions & safety, infrastructure & digital and trade. Philippines is clearly stronger in military.
As a nation, Philippines is the older of the two (statehood since 1565, 461 years), compared with Malaysia (since 1963). Over the last five years Malaysia improved faster (direction score 59 vs 26 out of 100).
Where they differ most
The indicators with the biggest gap in world position between Malaysia and Philippines.
Malaysiabetter
100.0%
1st of 215
Philippines
94.8%
155th of 215
Extreme povertySociety & health
Malaysiabetter
0.0%
1st of 108
Philippines
5.3%
77th of 108
Internet usersInfrastructure & digital
Malaysiabetter
98.0%
12th of 186
Philippines
67.3%
129th of 186
CO₂ emissions per personEnvironment & energy
Malaysia
8.32
178th of 203
Philippinesbetter
1.50
77th of 203
Homicide rateInstitutions & safety
Malaysiabetter
0.7
27th of 145
Philippines
4.3
92nd of 145
Over time
How the two countries moved against each other, from the yearly data.
Malaysia overtook Philippines in GDP (PPP) in 2020 and has stayed ahead since.
Malaysia has been ahead of Philippines in the NationsTree Index in every year since 1991.
Malaysia has been ahead of Philippines in GDP per person (PPP) and life expectancy in every year since 1990.
Philippines has been ahead of Malaysia in population in every year since 1990.
Strength by category
Average world percentile of the indicators in each category (0–100, direction taken into account). i
MalaysiaPhilippines All indicators
Latest available value for each country with its year and world rank. Green: the better world position of the two, red: the weaker one.
| Indicator | Malaysia | Philippines |
|---|---|---|
| Land & people | ||
| Surface area km² | 330,53468th/216 · 2024 | 300,00073rd/216 · 2024 |
| Land area km² | 328,55066th/216 · 2024 | 298,17072nd/216 · 2024 |
| Population people | 36.0 m45th/217 · 2025 | 116.8 m14th/217 · 2025 |
| Population growth % | 1.17%91st/217 · 2025 | 0.81%113th/217 · 2025 |
| Population density people/km² | 108.298th/216 · 2024 | 388.530th/216 · 2024 |
| Urban population % | 77.4%68th/217 · 2025 | 55.8%140th/217 · 2025 |
| Population aged 0–14 % | 21.3%111th/217 · 2025 | 27.1%84th/217 · 2025 |
| Population aged 65+ % | 8.0%118th/217 · 2025 | 5.7%140th/217 · 2025 |
| Economy | ||
| GDP USD | $472.19 bn34th/210 · 2025 | $487.09 bn33rd/210 · 2025 |
| GDP (PPP) intl. USD | $1.49 trn29th/199 · 2025 | $1.47 trn30th/199 · 2025 |
| Real GDP (PPP, constant 2021 prices) intl. USD 2021 | $1.28 trn29th/199 · 2025 | $1.26 trn30th/199 · 2025 |
| GDP per person USD | $13,12594th/210 · 2025 | $4,171147th/210 · 2025 |
| GDP per person (PPP) intl. USD | $41,49864th/199 · 2025 | $12,577131st/199 · 2025 |
| GNI per person (Atlas) USD | $12,38086th/201 · 2025 | $4,850130th/201 · 2025 |
| GDP growth % | 5.2%46th/210 · 2025 | 4.4%67th/210 · 2025 |
| Inflation % | 1.4%44th/180 · 2025 | 1.7%52nd/180 · 2025 |
| Unemployment % | 3.8%64th/187 · 2025 | 2.2%21st/187 · 2025 |
| Central government debt % of GDP | 64.6%35th/55 · 2024 | 43.4%2014 |
| General government gross debt % of GDP | 70.5%136th/189 · 2025 | 59.1%110th/189 · 2025 |
| Government budget balance % of GDP | -3.5%119th/192 · 2025 | -4.5%141st/192 · 2025 |
| Main industries | ||
| Agriculture, forestry, fishing % of GDP | 8.2%82nd/197 · 2025 | 8.6%80th/197 · 2025 |
| Industry incl. construction % of GDP | 35.7%28th/200 · 2025 | 27.0%70th/200 · 2025 |
| Manufacturing % of GDP | 22.1%14th/192 · 2025 | 15.3%38th/192 · 2025 |
| Services % of GDP | 54.8%122nd/200 · 2025 | 64.4%59th/200 · 2025 |
| Trade | ||
| Exports of goods & services USD | $335.11 bn29th/182 · 2025 | $129.32 bn44th/182 · 2025 |
| Imports of goods & services USD | $308.95 bn29th/182 · 2025 | $196.02 bn34th/182 · 2025 |
| Exports % of GDP | 71.0%28th/183 · 2025 | 26.6%121st/183 · 2025 |
| Imports % of GDP | 65.4%46th/183 · 2025 | 40.2%103rd/183 · 2025 |
| Trade openness % of GDP | 136.4%30th/183 · 2025 | 66.8%117th/183 · 2025 |
| Fuel exports % of merchandise exports | 11.2%45th/170 · 2025 | 1.0%119th/170 · 2025 |
| Manufactures exports % of merchandise exports | 72.8%36th/171 · 2025 | 76.5%30th/171 · 2025 |
| Food exports % of merchandise exports | 10.4%115th/171 · 2025 | 10.8%112th/171 · 2025 |
| Ores & metals exports % of merchandise exports | 3.8%74th/171 · 2025 | 7.5%49th/171 · 2025 |
| High-tech exports % of manufactured exports | 58.6%6th/168 · 2024 | 60.4%4th/168 · 2024 |
| Current account balance % of GDP | 1.6%61st/191 · 2025 | -3.3%119th/191 · 2025 |
| Foreign direct investment, inflows % of GDP | 4.6%44th/196 · 2025 | 1.7%118th/196 · 2025 |
| Natural resources | ||
| Natural resource rents % of GDP | 6.9%60th/209 · 2021 | 2.0%95th/209 · 2021 |
| Oil rents % of GDP | 1.85%39th/197 · 2021 | 0.03%89th/197 · 2021 |
| Natural gas rents % of GDP | 3.35%19th/197 · 2021 | 0.16%57th/197 · 2021 |
| Coal rents % of GDP | 0.03%42nd/195 · 2021 | 0.09%30th/195 · 2021 |
| Mineral rents % of GDP | 0.00%91st/209 · 2021 | 1.52%39th/209 · 2021 |
| Forest rents % of GDP | 1.70%40th/209 · 2021 | 0.16%98th/209 · 2021 |
| Arable land % of land area | 2.6%163rd/206 · 2024 | 18.7%59th/206 · 2024 |
| Renewable freshwater per person m³ | 16,71736th/183 · 2022 | 4,20368th/183 · 2022 |
| Tourism | ||
| International tourist arrivals arrivals | 4.3 m40th/194 · 2020 | 1.5 m81st/194 · 2020 |
| Tourism receipts USD | $3.39 bn38th/175 · 2020 | $2.77 bn42nd/175 · 2020 |
| Tourism receipts % of exports | 1.6%138th/168 · 2020 | 3.5%99th/168 · 2020 |
| Outbound trips departures | 30.8 m2004 | 1.5 m58th/107 · 2020 |
| Society & health | ||
| Life expectancy years | 76.886th/217 · 2024 | 69.9154th/217 · 2024 |
| Under-5 mortality per 1,000 births | 8.360th/196 · 2024 | 26.5133rd/196 · 2024 |
| Physicians per 1,000 people | 2.3476th/174 · 2023 | 0.79109th/174 · 2021 |
| Hospital beds per 1,000 people | 2.087th/145 · 2023 | 1.0121st/145 · 2021 |
| DPT immunization % of children 12–23 months | 93%81st/193 · 2024 | 71%166th/193 · 2024 |
| Completed lower secondary, 25+ % of adults | 80.6%71st/153 · 2022 | 61.9%98th/153 · 2022 |
| Secondary enrolment % gross | 80.3%127th/173 · 2024 | 85.3%118th/173 · 2024 |
| Social protection coverage (incl. pensions) % of population | 76.7%2016 | 43.0%2018 |
| Old-age dependency ratio % of working-age population | 11.4%120th/217 · 2025 | 8.5%142nd/217 · 2025 |
| Health spending % of GDP | 4.0%156th/193 · 2023 | 5.1%124th/193 · 2023 |
| Adult literacy % | 95.8%34th/98 · 2022 | 98.5%19th/98 · 2020 |
| Tertiary enrolment % gross | 38.5%95th/150 · 2024 | 47.4%83rd/150 · 2024 |
| Human Development Index index 0–1 | 0.81967th/193 · 2023 | 0.720117th/193 · 2023 |
| Income inequality (Gini) index | 40.789th/108 · 2021 | 39.382nd/108 · 2023 |
| Extreme poverty % of population | 0.0%1st/108 · 2021 | 5.3%77th/108 · 2023 |
| Infrastructure & digital | ||
| Access to electricity % of population | 100.0%1st/215 · 2024 | 94.8%155th/215 · 2024 |
| Safely managed drinking water % of population | 94.7%53rd/150 · 2024 | 48.5%109th/150 · 2024 |
| Safely managed sanitation % of population | 85.8%42nd/144 · 2024 | 62.2%72nd/144 · 2024 |
| Internet users % of population | 98.0%12th/186 · 2024 | 67.3%129th/186 · 2024 |
| Mobile subscriptions per 100 people | 14043rd/210 · 2024 | 115106th/210 · 2024 |
| Fixed broadband per 100 people | 13.5104th/208 · 2024 | 7.1132nd/208 · 2024 |
| Trade & transport infrastructure quality (LPI) score 1–5 | 3.6029th/164 · 2022 | 3.2046th/164 · 2022 |
| Rail lines route-km | 1,65557th/82 · 2021 | 5092016 |
| Air passengers carried passengers | 46.7 m24th/161 · 2023 | 41.5 m27th/161 · 2023 |
| Environment & energy | ||
| CO₂ emissions per person t CO₂e | 8.32178th/203 · 2024 | 1.5077th/203 · 2024 |
| Renewable energy % of final energy use | 7.5%159th/212 · 2021 | 28.0%84th/212 · 2021 |
| Air pollution (PM2.5) µg/m³ | 15.991st/200 · 2023 | 22.2130th/200 · 2023 |
| Forest area % of land area | 57.7%37th/214 · 2024 | 24.8%119th/214 · 2024 |
| Energy use per person kg oil eq. | 3,17632nd/149 · 2024 | 612114th/149 · 2024 |
| Institutions & safety | ||
| Government effectiveness score 0–100 | 71.941st/205 · 2025 | 56.390th/205 · 2025 |
| Control of corruption score 0–100 | 59.463rd/207 · 2025 | 36.5140th/207 · 2025 |
| Rule of law score 0–100 | 65.478th/207 · 2025 | 50.9132nd/207 · 2025 |
| Political stability score 0–100 | 71.688th/207 · 2025 | 51.0171st/207 · 2025 |
| Regulatory quality score 0–100 | 67.344th/205 · 2025 | 58.581st/205 · 2025 |
| Voice & accountability score 0–100 | 55.8108th/205 · 2025 | 53.0117th/205 · 2025 |
| Homicide rate per 100,000 | 0.727th/145 · 2023 | 4.392nd/145 · 2023 |
| Military | ||
| Military expenditure USD | $4.93 bn51st/156 · 2025 | $6.38 bn41st/156 · 2025 |
| Military expenditure % of GDP | 1.0%114th/156 · 2025 | 1.3%100th/156 · 2025 |
| Military expenditure % of government spending | 4.4%94th/154 · 2025 | 5.4%74th/154 · 2025 |
| Armed forces personnel people | 136,00045th/170 · 2020 | 157,00040th/170 · 2020 |
| Armed forces personnel % of labour force | 0.81%87th/168 · 2020 | 0.37%135th/168 · 2020 |
| Arms imports (SIPRI TIV) TIV | 7.0 m117th/163 · 2024 | 846.0 m10th/163 · 2025 |
| Arms exports (SIPRI TIV) TIV | 20.0 m43rd/65 · 2024 | 4.0 m2007 |
| Science & innovation | ||
| R&D spending % of GDP | 1.01%42nd/110 · 2022 | 0.28%76th/110 · 2020 |
| Patent applications by residents applications | 84135th/137 · 2024 | 87334th/137 · 2024 |
| Scientific articles articles | 23,69121st/197 · 2023 | 4,75262nd/197 · 2023 |
Questions and answers
Which has more people, Malaysia or Philippines?
Philippines has the larger population: 116.8 m (2025) compared with 36.0 m for Malaysia (2025). Source: World Bank, SP.POP.TOTL.
Which is bigger by area, Malaysia or Philippines?
Malaysia is larger: 330,534 km² (2024) compared with 300,000 km² for Philippines (2024). Source: World Bank, AG.SRF.TOTL.K2.
Which economy is larger, Malaysia or Philippines?
Malaysia has the larger economy at purchasing power parity: $1.49 trn intl. (2025) compared with $1.47 trn intl. for Philippines (2025). Source: World Bank, NY.GDP.MKTP.PP.CD.
Which is richer per person, Malaysia or Philippines?
Malaysia has the higher GDP per person (PPP): $41,498 intl. (2025) compared with $12,577 intl. for Philippines (2025). Source: World Bank, NY.GDP.PCAP.PP.CD.
Where do people live longer, in Malaysia or Philippines?
Malaysia has the higher life expectancy at birth: 76.8 years (2024) compared with 69.9 years for Philippines (2024). Source: World Bank, SP.DYN.LE00.IN.
Which spends more on the military, Malaysia or Philippines?
Philippines spends more on the military: $6.38 bn (2025) compared with $4.93 bn for Malaysia (2025). Source: World Bank, MS.MIL.XPND.CD.
Which ranks higher in the NationsTree Index, Malaysia or Philippines?
Malaysia: 69.7 points (38th in the world); Philippines: 44.0 points (113th). The index combines foundations, economic strength, quality of life, problems and 5-year direction from public statistics.
Australia
Singapore
Thailand
Vietnam
Hong KongSources
World Bank World Development Indicators and Worldwide Governance Indicators, compiling UN agencies, the IMF, WHO, SIPRI and national statistical offices; every row links to its world ranking with the source series. See Sources & licences and Methodology.
Cite as: NationsTree (2026). Malaysia vs Philippines — country comparison. https://nationstree.org/compare/malaysia-vs-philippines. Data as of 26 October 2026.