Quality of life comparison
If you lived in Malaysia instead of China, you would:
Health
be 36.9% less likely to die by suicide
China has a suicide rate of 8.9 per 100,000 people as of 2021. In Malaysia, it is 5.7 per 100,000 as of 2021.
live 1.2 years less
In China, the average life expectancy is 78 years (75 years for men, 81 years for women) as of 2024. In Malaysia, that number is 77 years (74 years for men, 80 years for women) as of 2024.
be 2.5 times more likely to be obese
In China, 9.3% of adults are obese as of 2024. In Malaysia, that number is 23.3% of people as of 2024.
have 24.8% fewer doctors per person
China has 31.1 doctors per 10,000 people as of 2022. Malaysia has 23.4 as of 2023.
Economy
be 18.6% less likely to be unemployed
In China, 4.6% of the labor force is unemployed as of 2025. In Malaysia, that number is 3.8% as of 2025.
Life
have 82.6% more children
In China, there are approximately 6.8 babies per 1,000 people as of 2024. In Malaysia, there are 12.4 babies per 1,000 people as of 2024.
be 62.5% more likely to die during childbirth
In China, approximately 16.0 women die from pregnancy or childbirth per 100,000 live births as of 2023. In Malaysia, 26.0 women do as of 2023.
be 70.7% more likely to die during infancy
In China, approximately 4.1 children (per 1,000 live births) die before they reach the age of one as of 2024. In Malaysia, on the other hand, 7.0 children do as of 2024.
Expenditures
spend 10.0% less on education
China spends 3.9% of its total GDP on education as of 2023. Malaysia spends 3.5% of total GDP on education as of 2023.
spend 33.3% less on healthcare
China spends 5.9% of its total GDP on healthcare as of 2023. In Malaysia, that number is 4.0% of GDP as of 2023.
Geography
see 67.8% less coastline
China has a total of 14,500 km of coastline. In Malaysia, that number is 4,675 km.
Safety
be 20.1% less likely to die in a road accident
In China, road accidents kill 17.4 people per 100,000 as of 2021. In Malaysia, they kill 13.9 per 100,000 as of 2021.
be 46.0% more likely to be murdered
China has a homicide rate of 0.5 per 100,000 people as of 2020. In Malaysia, that number is 0.7 per 100,000 as of 2023.
Infrastructure
live with 91.7% less strain on fresh water
China withdraws 42% of its available fresh water each year as of 2022. Malaysia withdraws 3% as of 2022.
find 71.3% less home broadband
China has 47.2 fixed broadband subscriptions per 100 people as of 2024. Malaysia has 13.6 as of 2024.
use 22.1% less electricity
China uses 6,524 kWh of electricity per person each year as of 2023. Malaysia uses 5,084 kWh as of 2023.
Environment
emit 10.7% less CO2
China emits 9.3 tonnes of CO2 per person each year as of 2024. Malaysia emits 8.3 tonnes as of 2024.
Sources: World Bank (2020–2025), World Health Organization (2024), The World Factbook, United Nations SDG Indicators (2021). How we calculate this
Compare further: China vs. Malaysia
Malaysia: At a glance
How big is Malaysia compared to China? See an in-depth size comparison.