Malaysia vs Myanmar (Burma)
Malaysia vs Myanmar (Burma): Military spending per person
Military spending per person: $138 in Malaysia in 2025 and $92 in Myanmar (Burma) in 2024, by SIPRI estimates. In 2024 the value was higher in Malaysia, by $32, or 1.34 times that in Myanmar (Burma).
US dollars per person · SIPRI
What the numbers say
- Malaysia has been higher since 2012, when it overtook Myanmar (Burma).
Every year
US dollars per person · SIPRI
| Year | Malaysia | Myanmar (Burma) |
|---|---|---|
| 2025 | $138 | – |
| 2024 | $124 | $92 |
| 2023 | $112 | $46 |
| 2022 | $107 | $46 |
| 2021 | $108 | $50 |
| 2020 | $100 | $47 |
| 2019 | $98 | $29 |
| 2018 | $106 | $29 |
| 2017 | $109 | $43 |
| 2016 | $132 | $48 |
| 2015 | $146 | $50 |
| 2014 | $162 | $47 |
| 2013 | $164 | $47 |
| 2012 | $153 | $60 |
| 2011 | $162 | – |
| 2010 | $136 | – |
| 2009 | $142 | – |
| 2008 | $162 | – |
| 2007 | $149 | – |
| 2006 | $125 | – |
| 2005 | $122 | $697 |
| 2004 | $113 | $637 |
| 2003 | $118 | $521 |
| 2002 | $94 | $239 |
| 2001 | $83 | $208 |
| 2000 | $68 | $201 |
| 1999 | $75 | $156 |
| 1998 | $54 | $134 |
| 1997 | $99 | $110 |
| 1996 | $118 | $109 |
| 1995 | $122 | $93 |
| 1994 | $108 | $67 |
| 1993 | $101 | $50 |
| 1992 | $95 | $34 |
| 1991 | $87 | $24 |
| 1990 | $64 | $21 |
| 1989 | $60 | $14 |
| 1988 | $52 | $7 |
- Highly uncertain
Each country on its own
Good to know
- What the country spends on its armed forces and defence for each person living there, in US dollars of each year, not adjusted for inflation.
- Source: Information from the Stockholm International Peace Research Institute (SIPRI) Military Expenditure Database, https://doi.org/10.55163/CQGC9685.
- Marked points are SIPRI’s own: a dot where it gives the figure as its estimate, a ring where it calls the figure highly uncertain.
- Ranks count the 151 countries with a value in 2025, highest first.
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 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
- Armed forces, share of workersMalaysia: 0.81% of the labour force in 2020Myanmar (Burma): 1.94% of the labour force in 2020
- Arms importsMalaysia: 7 million TIV in 2024Myanmar (Burma): 70 million TIV in 2025