Quality of life comparison

compared to

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

Health

live 1.0 years longer

In Malaysia, the average life expectancy is 77 years (74 years for men, 80 years for women) as of 2024. In Iran, that number is 78 years (76 years for men, 80 years for women) as of 2024.

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be 28.0% less likely to die by suicide

Malaysia has a suicide rate of 5.7 per 100,000 people as of 2021. In Iran, it is 4.1 per 100,000 as of 2021.

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see 26.2% less spent on your healthcare

Malaysia spends $1,441 per person on healthcare as of 2023 (international dollars, adjusted for prices). Iran spends $1,064 as of 2023.

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have 22.6% fewer doctors per person

Malaysia has 23.4 doctors per 10,000 people as of 2023. Iran has 18.1 as of 2023.

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Economy

be 2.2 times more likely to be unemployed

In Malaysia, 3.8% of the labor force is unemployed as of 2025. In Iran, that number is 8.3% as of 2025.

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make 70.1% less money

Malaysia has a GDP per capita of $13,125 as of 2025, while in Iran, the GDP per capita is $3,924 as of 2025.

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Life

be 38.5% less likely to die during childbirth

In Malaysia, approximately 26.0 women die from pregnancy or childbirth per 100,000 live births as of 2023. In Iran, 16.0 women do as of 2023.

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be 47.1% more likely to die during infancy

In Malaysia, approximately 7.0 children (per 1,000 live births) die before they reach the age of one as of 2024. In Iran, on the other hand, 10.3 children do as of 2024.

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Basic Needs

be 12.9% less likely to have internet access

In Malaysia, approximately 98.0% of the population has internet access as of 2024. In Iran, about 85.3% do as of 2024.

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Expenditures

spend 19.7% less on education

Malaysia spends 3.5% of its total GDP on education as of 2023. Iran spends 2.8% of total GDP on education as of 2023.

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spend 52.3% more on healthcare

Malaysia spends 4.0% of its total GDP on healthcare as of 2023. In Iran, that number is 6.0% of GDP as of 2023.

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Geography

see 47.8% less coastline

Malaysia has a total of 4,675 km of coastline. In Iran, that number is 2,440 km.

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Safety

be 48.2% more likely to die in a road accident

In Malaysia, road accidents kill 13.9 people per 100,000 as of 2021. In Iran, they kill 20.6 per 100,000 as of 2021.

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Infrastructure

find 11.0% less home broadband

Malaysia has 13.6 fixed broadband subscriptions per 100 people as of 2024. Iran has 12.1 as of 2024.

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live with 23.6 times more strain on fresh water

Malaysia withdraws 3% of its available fresh water each year as of 2022. Iran withdraws 81% as of 2022.

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use 25.0% less electricity

Malaysia uses 5,084 kWh of electricity per person each year as of 2023. Iran uses 3,815 kWh as of 2023.

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Environment

be 19.0% less likely to die from air pollution

In Malaysia, air pollution causes 63.0 deaths per 100,000 people as of 2019. In Iran, it causes 51.0 as of 2019.

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Sources: World Bank (2021–2025), United Nations SDG Indicators (2019–2021), The World Factbook. How we calculate this

Compare further: Malaysia vs. Iran

Cost of Living Comparison · 7 categories - 2026 data
Iran is 41.0% cheaper than Malaysia overall
→
Size Comparison · See true size
Malaysia is about 5 times smaller than Iran.
→
Moving from Malaysia to Iran · Cost, visas & climate
Compare cost of living, salary and climate.
→
City Size Comparison · See true size
Compare the size of Kuala Lumpur vs Tehran
→

Iran: At a glance

Iran is a sovereign country in Middle East, with a total land area of approximately 1,531,595 sq km. Known as Persia until 1935, Iran became an Islamic republic in 1979 after the ruling monarchy was overthrown and Shah Mohammad Reza PAHLAVI was forced into exile. Conservative clerical forces led by Ayatollah Ruhollah KHOMEINI established a theocratic system of government with ultimate political authority vested in a learned religious scholar referred to commonly as the Supreme Leader who, according to the constitution, is accountable only to the Assembly of Experts - a popularly elected 86-member body of clerics. US-Iranian relations became strained when a group of Iranian students seized the US Embassy in Tehran in November 1979 and held embassy personnel hostages until mid-January 1981. The US cut off diplomatic relations with Iran in April 1980. During the period 1980-88, Iran fought a bloody, indecisive war with Iraq that eventually expanded into the Persian Gulf and led to clashes between US Navy and Iranian military forces. Iran has been designated a state sponsor of terrorism for its activities in Lebanon and elsewhere in the world and remains subject to US, UN, and EU economic sanctions and export controls because of its continued involvement in terrorism and concerns over possible military dimensions of its nuclear program. Following the election of reformer Hojjat ol-Eslam Mohammad KHATAMI as president in 1997 and a reformist Majles (legislature) in 2000, a campaign to foster political reform in response to popular dissatisfaction was initiated. The movement floundered as conservative politicians, supported by the Supreme Leader, unelected institutions of authority like the Council of Guardians, and the security services reversed and blocked reform measures while increasing security repression. Starting with nationwide municipal elections in 2003 and continuing through Majles elections in 2004, conservatives reestablished control over Iran's elected government institutions, which culminated with the August 2005 inauguration of hardliner Mahmud AHMADI-NEJAD as president. His controversial reelection in June 2009 sparked nationwide protests over allegations of electoral fraud. These protests were quickly suppressed, and the political opposition that arouse as a consequence of AHMADI-NEJAD's election was repressed. Deteriorating economic conditions due primarily to government mismanagement and international sanctions prompted at least two major economically based protests in July and October 2012, but Iran's internal security situation remained stable. President AHMADI-NEJAD's independent streak angered regime establishment figures, including the Supreme Leader, leading to conservative opposition to his agenda for the last year of his presidency, and an alienation of his political supporters. In June 2013 Iranians elected a moderate conservative cleric, Dr. Hasan Fereidun RUHANI to the presidency. He is a long-time senior member in the regime, but has made promises of reforming society and Iran's foreign policy. The UN Security Council has passed a number of resolutions calling for Iran to suspend its uranium enrichment and reprocessing activities and comply with its IAEA obligations and responsibilities, but in November 2013 the five permanent members, plus Germany, (P5+1) signed a joint plan with Iran to provide the country with incremental relief from international pressure for positive steps toward transparency of their nuclear program.
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