Malaysia vs Myanmar (Burma)
Malaysia vs Myanmar (Burma): Armed forces, share of workers
Armed forces, share of workers in 2020: 0.81% of the labour force in Malaysia and 1.94% of the labour force in Myanmar (Burma), by IISS estimates. In 2020 the value was higher in Myanmar (Burma), by 1.13 percentage points, or 2.41 times that in Malaysia.
% of the labour force · IISS
What the numbers say
- Myanmar (Burma) has been higher since 1993, when it overtook Malaysia.
- In 2020, Malaysia ranked 87 and Myanmar (Burma) ranked 30 of 168 countries, counting from the highest.
- The world as a whole: 0.79% of the labour force in 2020.
Every year
% of the labour force · IISS
| Year | Malaysia | Myanmar (Burma) | World |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2020 | 0.81 | 1.94 | 0.79 |
| 2019 | 0.82 | 2.16 | 0.79 |
| 2018 | 0.84 | 2.12 | 0.8 |
| 2017 | 0.86 | 2.15 | 0.8 |
| 2016 | 0.87 | 2.13 | 0.81 |
| 2015 | 0.88 | 2.11 | 0.82 |
| 2014 | 0.91 | 2.13 | 0.82 |
| 2013 | 0.94 | 2.16 | 0.83 |
| 2012 | 0.98 | 2.18 | 0.87 |
| 2011 | 1.02 | 2.21 | 0.88 |
| 2010 | 1.05 | 2.23 | 0.89 |
| 2009 | 1.09 | 2.25 | 0.89 |
| 2008 | 1.13 | 2.27 | 0.89 |
| 2007 | 1.17 | 2.29 | 0.89 |
| 2006 | 1.21 | 2.31 | 0.95 |
| 2005 | 1.26 | 2.2 | 0.96 |
| 2004 | 1.26 | 2.21 | 0.94 |
| 2003 | 1.24 | 2.76 | 0.98 |
| 2002 | 1.25 | 2.55 | 1 |
| 2001 | 1.29 | 2.11 | 1.01 |
| 2000 | 1.29 | 2.06 | 1.07 |
| 1999 | 1.44 | 2.1 | 1.09 |
| 1998 | 1.55 | 2.16 | 1.13 |
| 1997 | 1.63 | 2.17 | 1.15 |
| 1996 | 1.79 | 2.1 | 1.18 |
| 1995 | 1.86 | 1.95 | 1.2 |
| 1994 | 1.58 | 1.72 | 0.94 |
| 1993 | 1.64 | 1.76 | 0.98 |
| 1992 | 1.89 | 1.59 | 1.03 |
| 1991 | 1.96 | 1.62 | 1.03 |
| 1990 | 2.06 | 1.33 | 1.11 |
Each country on its own
Good to know
- Active-duty military personnel as a share of everyone working or looking for work, by the IISS Military Balance.
- Source: IISS, The Military Balance, via the World Bank.
- Ranks count the 168 countries with a value in 2020, highest first.
- The faint line is the world as a whole, as the same source counts it.
How the layers work, where their data comes from and what they can’t tell you: Countries through time
Malaysia vs Myanmar (Burma)
Health
- Life expectancyMalaysia: 76.7 years in 2023Myanmar (Burma): 66.9 years in 2023
- Child mortalityMalaysia: 0.8 per 100 live births in 2024Myanmar (Burma): 3.7 per 100 live births in 2024
- Infant mortalityMalaysia: 6.4 per 1,000 live births in 2023Myanmar (Burma): 31.8 per 1,000 live births in 2023
- Safe drinking waterMalaysia: 93.9% in 2022Myanmar (Burma): 57.4% in 2022
- DepressionMalaysia: 3.52% in 2017Myanmar (Burma): 2.3% in 2017
- Suicide rateMalaysia: 7.8 per 100,000 people in 2017Myanmar (Burma): 5 per 100,000 people in 2017
People
- PopulationMalaysia: 35.1 million people in 2023Myanmar (Burma): 54.1 million people in 2023
- Population growthMalaysia: 1.24% a year in 2023Myanmar (Burma): 0.69% a year in 2023
- Fertility rateMalaysia: 1.55 births per woman in 2023Myanmar (Burma): 2.12 births per woman in 2023
- Urban populationMalaysia: 77.4% in 2025Myanmar (Burma): 30.6% in 2025
- Median ageMalaysia: 30.1 years in 2023Myanmar (Burma): 29.5 years in 2023
- People aged 65 and overMalaysia: 7.5% in 2023Myanmar (Burma): 7.1% in 2023
- Net migration rateMalaysia: 5.2 per 1,000 people in 2023Myanmar (Burma): -0.6 per 1,000 people in 2023
Economy
- GDP per personMalaysia: $12,350 in 2025Myanmar (Burma): $1,128 in 2025
- GDP growthMalaysia: 5.2% a year in 2025Myanmar (Burma): -12% a year in 2021
- InflationMalaysia: 1.4% a year in 2025Myanmar (Burma): 27.6% a year in 2023
- Government debtMalaysia: 70.5% of GDP in 2025Myanmar (Burma): 37.6% of GDP in 2019
Education
Politics
Conflict
Military
- Military spendingMalaysia: 1.04% of GDP in 2025Myanmar (Burma): 6.61% of GDP in 2024
- Military spending in US dollarsMalaysia: $4.55B in 2025Myanmar (Burma): $4.65B in 2024
- Military spending per personMalaysia: $138 in 2025Myanmar (Burma): $92 in 2024
- Military share of state spendingMalaysia: 4.4% of government spending in 2025Myanmar (Burma): 32% of government spending in 2024
- Armed forces personnelMalaysia: 136,000 people in 2020Myanmar (Burma): 463,000 people in 2020
- National powerMalaysia: 0.46% of world capability in 2022Myanmar (Burma): 0.53% of world capability in 2022
- Arms importsMalaysia: 7 million TIV in 2024Myanmar (Burma): 70 million TIV in 2025