Quality of life comparison

compared to

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

Health

live 7.9 years longer

In Ethiopia, the average life expectancy is 68 years (66 years for men, 70 years for women) as of 2022. In Malaysia, that number is 76 years (74 years for men, 78 years for women) as of 2022.

be 3.5 times more likely to be obese

In Ethiopia, 4.5% of adults are obese as of 2016. In Malaysia, that number is 15.6% of people as of 2016.

Economy

make 12.0 times more money

Ethiopia has a GDP per capita of $2,800 as of 2023, while in Malaysia, the GDP per capita is $33,600 as of 2023.

be 73.6% less likely to live below the poverty line

In Ethiopia, 23.5% live below the poverty line as of 2015. In Malaysia, however, that number is 6.2% as of 2021.

pay a 20.0% lower top tax rate

Ethiopia has a top tax rate of 35.0% as of 2016. In Malaysia, the top tax rate is 28.0% as of 2016.

be 10.3% more likely to be unemployed

In Ethiopia, 3.5% of adults are unemployed as of 2023. In Malaysia, that number is 3.9% as of 2023.

Life

be 92.1% less likely to die during childbirth

In Ethiopia, approximately 267.0 women per 100,000 births die during labor as of 2020. In Malaysia, 21.0 women do as of 2020.

be 83.4% more likely to be literate

In Ethiopia, the literacy rate is 51.8% as of 2017. In Malaysia, it is 95.0% as of 2019.

be 80.3% less likely to die during infancy

In Ethiopia, approximately 33.5 children (per 1,000 live births) die before they reach the age of one as of 2022. In Malaysia, on the other hand, 6.6 children do as of 2022.

have 52.0% fewer children

In Ethiopia, there are approximately 29.6 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 81.8% more likely to have access to electricity

In Ethiopia, approximately 55% of the population has electricity access as of 2022. In Malaysia, 100% of the population do as of 2022.

be 5.7 times more likely to have internet access

In Ethiopia, approximately 17.0% of the population has internet access as of 2021. In Malaysia, about 97.0% do as of 2021.

be 27.6% more likely to have access to improved drinking water

In Ethiopia, approximately 76% of people have improved drinking water access (98% in urban areas, and 70% in rural areas) as of 2020. In Malaysia, that number is 98% of people on average (99% in urban areas, and 91% in rural areas) as of 2020.

Expenditures

spend 13.3% less on education

Ethiopia spends 4.5% of its total GDP on education as of 2019. Malaysia spends 3.9% of total GDP on education as of 2020.

spend 17.1% more on healthcare

Ethiopia spends 3.5% of its total GDP on healthcare as of 2020. In Malaysia, that number is 4.1% of GDP as of 2020.

The statistics above were calculated using the following data sources: The World Factbook, Inland Revenue Board of Malaysia, Ethiopian Revenues and Customs Authority.

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 Ethiopia? See an in-depth size comparison.

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