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Malaysia vs Vietnam
Side-by-side comparison of Malaysia and Vietnam from official statistics: size, economy, people, trade, natural resources, health, infrastructure and military, with world ranks, years and sources.
Vietnam
East Asia & Pacific · nation age 1,087 years
In short
Malaysia scores 69.7 in the NationsTree Index (38th in the world) and Vietnam scores 59.0 (58th), a gap of 10.7 points. Their trees are 25 m and 27 m tall; tree height grows with real GDP and is adjusted by the index.
Vietnam has 2.8 times the population of Malaysia. Malaysia and Vietnam have a similar land area. The economy of Vietnam is 23% larger than that of Malaysia (GDP at purchasing power parity). Population: Malaysia 36.0 million and Vietnam 101.6 million (2025).
GDP per person at purchasing power parity is $41,498 in Malaysia and $18,088 in Vietnam (2025, international dollars). People in Malaysia live on average 2.1 years longer (76.8 vs 74.7 years).
Of 36 indicators reported by both countries, Malaysia ranks higher in the world on 25 and Vietnam on 11. Malaysia is clearly stronger in institutions & safety, infrastructure & digital and science & innovation. Vietnam is clearly stronger in military.
As a nation, Vietnam is the older of the two (statehood since 939, 1,087 years), compared with Malaysia (since 1963). Over the last five years Vietnam improved faster (direction score 62 vs 59 out of 100).
Where they differ most
The indicators with the biggest gap in world position between Malaysia and Vietnam.
Malaysia
70.5%
136th of 189
Vietnambetter
30.5%
36th of 189
Extreme povertySociety & health
Malaysiabetter
0.0%
1st of 108
Vietnam
1.6%
57th of 108
Government budget balanceEconomy
Malaysia
-3.5%
119th of 192
Vietnambetter
0.0%
39th of 192
Internet usersInfrastructure & digital
Malaysiabetter
98.0%
12th of 186
Vietnam
84.2%
85th of 186
Safely managed drinking waterInfrastructure & digital
Malaysiabetter
94.7%
53rd of 150
Vietnam
58.6%
104th of 150
Over time
How the two countries moved against each other, from the yearly data.
Malaysia overtook Vietnam in life expectancy in 2022 and has stayed ahead since.
Vietnam overtook Malaysia in GDP (PPP) in 2017 and has stayed ahead since.
Malaysia has been ahead of Vietnam in the NationsTree Index in every year since 1995.
Malaysia has been ahead of Vietnam in GDP per person (PPP) in every year since 1990.
Vietnam 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
MalaysiaVietnam 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 | Vietnam |
|---|---|---|
| Land & people | ||
| Surface area km² | 330,53468th/216 · 2024 | 331,33867th/216 · 2024 |
| Land area km² | 328,55066th/216 · 2024 | 313,42968th/216 · 2024 |
| Population people | 36.0 m45th/217 · 2025 | 101.6 m16th/217 · 2025 |
| Population growth % | 1.17%91st/217 · 2025 | 0.60%129th/217 · 2025 |
| Population density people/km² | 108.298th/216 · 2024 | 322.238th/216 · 2024 |
| Urban population % | 77.4%68th/217 · 2025 | 38.8%176th/217 · 2025 |
| Population aged 0–14 % | 21.3%111th/217 · 2025 | 22.9%108th/217 · 2025 |
| Population aged 65+ % | 8.0%118th/217 · 2025 | 9.5%104th/217 · 2025 |
| Economy | ||
| GDP USD | $472.19 bn34th/210 · 2025 | $514.70 bn32nd/210 · 2025 |
| GDP (PPP) intl. USD | $1.49 trn29th/199 · 2025 | $1.84 trn23rd/199 · 2025 |
| Real GDP (PPP, constant 2021 prices) intl. USD 2021 | $1.28 trn29th/199 · 2025 | $1.57 trn23rd/199 · 2025 |
| GDP per person USD | $13,12594th/210 · 2025 | $5,066138th/210 · 2025 |
| GDP per person (PPP) intl. USD | $41,49864th/199 · 2025 | $18,088113th/199 · 2025 |
| GNI per person (Atlas) USD | $12,38086th/201 · 2025 | $4,970129th/201 · 2025 |
| GDP growth % | 5.2%46th/210 · 2025 | 8.0%12th/210 · 2025 |
| Inflation % | 1.4%44th/180 · 2025 | 3.3%96th/180 · 2025 |
| Unemployment % | 3.8%64th/187 · 2025 | 1.5%11th/187 · 2025 |
| Central government debt % of GDP | 64.6%35th/55 · 2024 | — |
| General government gross debt % of GDP | 70.5%136th/189 · 2025 | 30.5%36th/189 · 2025 |
| Government budget balance % of GDP | -3.5%119th/192 · 2025 | 0.0%39th/192 · 2025 |
| Main industries | ||
| Agriculture, forestry, fishing % of GDP | 8.2%82nd/197 · 2025 | 11.6%63rd/197 · 2025 |
| Industry incl. construction % of GDP | 35.7%28th/200 · 2025 | 37.6%21st/200 · 2025 |
| Manufacturing % of GDP | 22.1%14th/192 · 2025 | 24.5%10th/192 · 2025 |
| Services % of GDP | 54.8%122nd/200 · 2025 | 42.7%175th/200 · 2025 |
| Trade | ||
| Exports of goods & services USD | $335.11 bn29th/182 · 2025 | $505.66 bn21st/182 · 2025 |
| Imports of goods & services USD | $308.95 bn29th/182 · 2025 | $474.00 bn21st/182 · 2025 |
| Exports % of GDP | 71.0%28th/183 · 2025 | 98.2%9th/183 · 2025 |
| Imports % of GDP | 65.4%46th/183 · 2025 | 92.1%15th/183 · 2025 |
| Trade openness % of GDP | 136.4%30th/183 · 2025 | 190.3%10th/183 · 2025 |
| Fuel exports % of merchandise exports | 11.2%45th/170 · 2025 | 1.0%120th/170 · 2023 |
| Manufactures exports % of merchandise exports | 72.8%36th/171 · 2025 | 85.0%12th/171 · 2023 |
| Food exports % of merchandise exports | 10.4%115th/171 · 2025 | 9.4%117th/171 · 2023 |
| Ores & metals exports % of merchandise exports | 3.8%74th/171 · 2025 | 1.1%133rd/171 · 2023 |
| High-tech exports % of manufactured exports | 58.6%6th/168 · 2024 | 44.3%10th/168 · 2023 |
| Current account balance % of GDP | 1.6%61st/191 · 2025 | 6.7%26th/191 · 2025 |
| Foreign direct investment, inflows % of GDP | 4.6%44th/196 · 2025 | 4.3%50th/196 · 2025 |
| Natural resources | ||
| Natural resource rents % of GDP | 6.9%60th/209 · 2021 | 2.5%90th/209 · 2021 |
| Oil rents % of GDP | 1.85%39th/197 · 2021 | 0.67%50th/197 · 2021 |
| Natural gas rents % of GDP | 3.35%19th/197 · 2021 | 0.33%45th/197 · 2021 |
| Coal rents % of GDP | 0.03%42nd/195 · 2021 | 0.38%16th/195 · 2021 |
| Mineral rents % of GDP | 0.00%91st/209 · 2021 | 0.10%69th/209 · 2021 |
| Forest rents % of GDP | 1.70%40th/209 · 2021 | 1.07%53rd/209 · 2021 |
| Arable land % of land area | 2.6%163rd/206 · 2024 | 21.5%52nd/206 · 2024 |
| Renewable freshwater per person m³ | 16,71736th/183 · 2022 | 3,60675th/183 · 2022 |
| Tourism | ||
| International tourist arrivals arrivals | 4.3 m40th/194 · 2020 | 3.8 m47th/194 · 2020 |
| Tourism receipts USD | $3.39 bn38th/175 · 2020 | $3.23 bn39th/175 · 2020 |
| Tourism receipts % of exports | 1.6%138th/168 · 2020 | 1.1%151st/168 · 2020 |
| Outbound trips departures | 30.8 m2004 | — |
| Society & health | ||
| Life expectancy years | 76.886th/217 · 2024 | 74.7108th/217 · 2024 |
| Under-5 mortality per 1,000 births | 8.360th/196 · 2024 | 17.3113th/196 · 2024 |
| Physicians per 1,000 people | 2.3476th/174 · 2023 | 1.11103rd/174 · 2021 |
| Hospital beds per 1,000 people | 2.087th/145 · 2023 | 2.52017 |
| DPT immunization % of children 12–23 months | 93%81st/193 · 2024 | 97%29th/193 · 2024 |
| Completed lower secondary, 25+ % of adults | 80.6%71st/153 · 2022 | 66.0%89th/153 · 2023 |
| Secondary enrolment % gross | 80.3%127th/173 · 2024 | 93.4%86th/173 · 2022 |
| Social protection coverage (incl. pensions) % of population | 76.7%2016 | 89.4%4th/55 · 2020 |
| Old-age dependency ratio % of working-age population | 11.4%120th/217 · 2025 | 14.0%103rd/217 · 2025 |
| Health spending % of GDP | 4.0%156th/193 · 2023 | 4.6%135th/193 · 2023 |
| Adult literacy % | 95.8%34th/98 · 2022 | 96.1%32nd/98 · 2022 |
| Tertiary enrolment % gross | 38.5%95th/150 · 2024 | 37.6%99th/150 · 2024 |
| Human Development Index index 0–1 | 0.81967th/193 · 2023 | 0.76693rd/193 · 2023 |
| Income inequality (Gini) index | 40.789th/108 · 2021 | 36.167th/108 · 2022 |
| Extreme poverty % of population | 0.0%1st/108 · 2021 | 1.6%57th/108 · 2022 |
| Infrastructure & digital | ||
| Access to electricity % of population | 100.0%1st/215 · 2024 | 100.0%1st/215 · 2024 |
| Safely managed drinking water % of population | 94.7%53rd/150 · 2024 | 58.6%104th/150 · 2024 |
| Safely managed sanitation % of population | 85.8%42nd/144 · 2024 | 45.4%90th/144 · 2024 |
| Internet users % of population | 98.0%12th/186 · 2024 | 84.2%85th/186 · 2024 |
| Mobile subscriptions per 100 people | 14043rd/210 · 2024 | 12864th/210 · 2024 |
| Fixed broadband per 100 people | 13.5104th/208 · 2024 | 23.780th/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 | 3,15939th/82 · 2021 |
| Air passengers carried passengers | 46.7 m24th/161 · 2023 | 55.1 m20th/161 · 2023 |
| Environment & energy | ||
| CO₂ emissions per person t CO₂e | 8.32178th/203 · 2024 | 4.27140th/203 · 2024 |
| Renewable energy % of final energy use | 7.5%159th/212 · 2021 | 24.2%94th/212 · 2021 |
| Air pollution (PM2.5) µg/m³ | 15.991st/200 · 2023 | 24.8139th/200 · 2023 |
| Forest area % of land area | 57.7%37th/214 · 2024 | 47.1%64th/214 · 2024 |
| Energy use per person kg oil eq. | 3,17632nd/149 · 2024 | 1,18886th/149 · 2024 |
| Institutions & safety | ||
| Government effectiveness score 0–100 | 71.941st/205 · 2025 | 56.093rd/205 · 2025 |
| Control of corruption score 0–100 | 59.463rd/207 · 2025 | 45.996th/207 · 2025 |
| Rule of law score 0–100 | 65.478th/207 · 2025 | 55.7110th/207 · 2025 |
| Political stability score 0–100 | 71.688th/207 · 2025 | 67.7106th/207 · 2025 |
| Regulatory quality score 0–100 | 67.344th/205 · 2025 | 53.1106th/205 · 2025 |
| Voice & accountability score 0–100 | 55.8108th/205 · 2025 | 34.5170th/205 · 2025 |
| Homicide rate per 100,000 | 0.727th/145 · 2023 | 1.52011 |
| Military | ||
| Military expenditure USD | $4.93 bn51st/156 · 2025 | $10.49 bn32nd/156 · 2025 |
| Military expenditure % of GDP | 1.0%114th/156 · 2025 | 2.2%53rd/156 · 2025 |
| Military expenditure % of government spending | 4.4%94th/154 · 2025 | 9.9%31st/154 · 2025 |
| Armed forces personnel people | 136,00045th/170 · 2020 | 522,00012th/170 · 2020 |
| Armed forces personnel % of labour force | 0.81%87th/168 · 2020 | 0.95%72nd/168 · 2020 |
| Arms imports (SIPRI TIV) TIV | 7.0 m117th/163 · 2024 | 177.0 m40th/163 · 2025 |
| Arms exports (SIPRI TIV) TIV | 20.0 m43rd/65 · 2024 | 10.0 m2018 |
| Science & innovation | ||
| R&D spending % of GDP | 1.01%42nd/110 · 2022 | 0.41%65th/110 · 2023 |
| Patent applications by residents applications | 84135th/137 · 2024 | 1,22626th/137 · 2024 |
| Scientific articles articles | 23,69121st/197 · 2023 | 10,64442nd/197 · 2023 |
Questions and answers
Which has more people, Malaysia or Vietnam?
Vietnam has the larger population: 101.6 m (2025) compared with 36.0 m for Malaysia (2025). Source: World Bank, SP.POP.TOTL.
Which is bigger by area, Malaysia or Vietnam?
Vietnam is larger: 331,338 km² (2024) compared with 330,534 km² for Malaysia (2024). Source: World Bank, AG.SRF.TOTL.K2.
Which economy is larger, Malaysia or Vietnam?
Vietnam has the larger economy at purchasing power parity: $1.84 trn intl. (2025) compared with $1.49 trn intl. for Malaysia (2025). Source: World Bank, NY.GDP.MKTP.PP.CD.
Which is richer per person, Malaysia or Vietnam?
Malaysia has the higher GDP per person (PPP): $41,498 intl. (2025) compared with $18,088 intl. for Vietnam (2025). Source: World Bank, NY.GDP.PCAP.PP.CD.
Where do people live longer, in Malaysia or Vietnam?
Malaysia has the higher life expectancy at birth: 76.8 years (2024) compared with 74.7 years for Vietnam (2024). Source: World Bank, SP.DYN.LE00.IN.
Which spends more on the military, Malaysia or Vietnam?
Vietnam spends more on the military: $10.49 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 Vietnam?
Malaysia: 69.7 points (38th in the world); Vietnam: 59.0 points (58th). The index combines foundations, economic strength, quality of life, problems and 5-year direction from public statistics.
Australia
Philippines
Singapore
Thailand
South KoreaSources
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 Vietnam — country comparison. https://nationstree.org/compare/malaysia-vs-vietnam. Data as of 26 October 2026.