Singapore vs Malaysia
Head-to-head on World Bank economic and development indicators.
Comparing Singapore and Malaysia: the larger economy is Singapore ($547.4B vs $422.2B GDP), while the higher GDP per capita belongs to Singapore ($90,674 vs $11,874). Life expectancy is higher in Singapore (83.3 vs 76.8 years). The full side-by-side table is below. All figures are World Bank, latest available year.
Source: World Bank Open Data. Data as of June 2026.
Singapore vs Malaysia: side by side
| Indicator | Singapore | Malaysia | Leads |
|---|---|---|---|
| GDP (current US$) | $547.4B | $422.2B | Singapore |
| GDP per capita (current US$) | $90,674 | $11,874 | Singapore |
| Population, total | 6,036,860 | 35,557,673 | Malaysia |
| Population growth (annual %) | 2.0% | 1.2% | Singapore |
| GDP growth (annual %) | 4.4% | 5.1% | Malaysia |
| Inflation, consumer prices (annual %) | 2.4% | 1.8% | Malaysia |
| Unemployment, total (% of labour force, modelled ILO) | 2.8% | 3.8% | Singapore |
| Life expectancy at birth, total (years) | 83.3 | 76.8 | Singapore |
| Individuals using the Internet (% of population) | 94.4% | 98.0% | Malaysia |
| Urban population (% of total) | 100.0% | 76.9% | Singapore |
| CO2 emissions per capita (tonnes) | 9.75 | 8.32 | Malaysia |
Source: World Bank Open Data (CC BY 4.0), retrieved June 2026. Values are each indicator's latest available year, which can differ between the two countries.
Who leads on what
- GDP (size of economy): Singapore
- GDP per capita (income): Singapore
- Life expectancy: Singapore
- Internet users: Malaysia
- Lower inflation: Malaysia
- Lower unemployment: Singapore
Frequently asked questions
Is Singapore or Malaysia richer?
Singapore is richer on GDP per capita — Singapore at $90,674 versus $11,874 for Malaysia (World Bank). By total GDP, the larger economy is Singapore ($547.4B vs $422.2B).
Which has a bigger economy, Singapore or Malaysia?
Singapore has the larger economy: Singapore's GDP is $547.4B and Malaysia's is $422.2B in current US dollars (World Bank, latest available year).
Which is bigger by population, Singapore or Malaysia?
Malaysia is more populous: Singapore has about 6.0 million people and Malaysia about 35.6 million.
Where do people live longer, Singapore or Malaysia?
Life expectancy is higher in Singapore: 83.3 years in Singapore versus 76.8 in Malaysia (World Bank).
Full profiles & more comparisons
Last updated: 2026-06-20