Quality of life comparison

compared to

If you lived in Malaysia instead of China, you would:

Health

be 2.5 times more likely to be obese

In China, 6.2% of adults are obese as of 2016. In Malaysia, that number is 15.6% of people as of 2016.

Economy

make 52.0% more money

China has a GDP per capita of $22,100 as of 2023, while in Malaysia, the GDP per capita is $33,600 as of 2023.

be 17.3% less likely to be unemployed

In China, 4.7% of adults are unemployed as of 2023. In Malaysia, that number is 3.9% as of 2023.

pay a 37.8% lower top tax rate

China has a top tax rate of 45.0% as of 2016. In Malaysia, the top tax rate is 28.0% as of 2016.

Life

have 39.2% more children

In China, there are approximately 10.2 babies per 1,000 people as of 2024. In Malaysia, there are 14.2 babies per 1,000 people as of 2024.

Basic Needs

be 32.9% more likely to have internet access

In China, approximately 73.0% of the population has internet access as of 2021. In Malaysia, about 97.0% do as of 2021.

Expenditures

spend 26.8% less on healthcare

China spends 5.6% of its total GDP on healthcare as of 2020. In Malaysia, that number is 4.1% of GDP as of 2020.

Geography

see 67.8% less coastline

China has a total of 14,500 km of coastline. In Malaysia, that number is 4,675 km.

The statistics above were calculated using the following data sources: The World Factbook, Inland Revenue Board of Malaysia, State Administration of Taxation.

Malaysia: At a glance

Malaysia is a sovereign country in East/Southeast Asia, with a total land area of approximately 328,657 sq km. During the late 18th and 19th centuries, Great Britain established colonies and protectorates in the area of current Malaysia; these were occupied by Japan from 1942 to 1945. In 1948, the British-ruled territories on the Malay Peninsula except Singapore formed the Federation of Malaya, which became independent in 1957. Malaysia was formed in 1963 when the former British colonies of Singapore, as well as Sabah and Sarawak on the northern coast of Borneo, joined the Federation. The first several years of the country's independence were marred by a communist insurgency, Indonesian confrontation with Malaysia, Philippine claims to Sabah, and Singapore's withdrawal in 1965. During the 22-year term of Prime Minister MAHATHIR bin Mohamad (1981-2003), Malaysia was successful in diversifying its economy from dependence on exports of raw materials to the development of manufacturing, services, and tourism. Prime Minister Mohamed NAJIB bin Abdul Razak (in office since April 2009) has continued these pro-business policies and has introduced some civil reforms.
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How big is Malaysia compared to China? See an in-depth size comparison.

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