Quality of life comparison
If you lived in Malaysia instead of Tajikistan, you would:
Health
live 4.9 years longer
In Tajikistan, the average life expectancy is 72 years (70 years for men, 74 years for women) as of 2024. In Malaysia, that number is 77 years (74 years for men, 80 years for women) as of 2024.
see 4.0 times more spent on your healthcare
Tajikistan spends $364 per person on healthcare as of 2023 (international dollars, adjusted for prices). Malaysia spends $1,441 as of 2023.
have 25.2% more doctors per person
Tajikistan has 18.7 doctors per 10,000 people as of 2023. Malaysia has 23.4 as of 2023.
have 13.4% more access to essential health services
Tajikistan scores 67 out of 100 on the universal health coverage index as of 2021. Malaysia scores 76 as of 2021.
be 2.3 times more likely to die by suicide
Tajikistan has a suicide rate of 2.4 per 100,000 people as of 2021. In Malaysia, it is 5.7 per 100,000 as of 2021.
Economy
be 45.7% less likely to be unemployed
In Tajikistan, 6.9% of the labor force is unemployed as of 2025. In Malaysia, that number is 3.8% as of 2025.
be 74.2% less likely to live below the poverty line
In Tajikistan, 19.8% live below the poverty line as of 2024. In Malaysia, however, that number is 5.1% as of 2023.
make 8.0 times more money
Tajikistan has a GDP per capita of $1,637 as of 2025, while in Malaysia, the GDP per capita is $13,125 as of 2025.
Life
be 70.2% less likely to die during infancy
In Tajikistan, approximately 23.5 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.
be 85.7% more likely to die during childbirth
In Tajikistan, approximately 14.0 women die from pregnancy or childbirth per 100,000 live births as of 2023. In Malaysia, 26.0 women do as of 2023.
have 51.2% fewer children
In Tajikistan, there are approximately 25.3 babies per 1,000 people as of 2024. In Malaysia, there are 12.4 babies per 1,000 people as of 2024.
Basic Needs
be 75.7% more likely to have internet access
In Tajikistan, approximately 55.8% of the population has internet access as of 2024. In Malaysia, about 98.0% do as of 2024.
Expenditures
spend 35.5% less on education
Tajikistan spends 5.4% of its total GDP on education as of 2023. Malaysia spends 3.5% of total GDP on education as of 2023.
spend 46.8% less on healthcare
Tajikistan spends 7.4% of its total GDP on healthcare as of 2023. In Malaysia, that number is 4.0% of GDP as of 2023.
Safety
be 18.0% less likely to be murdered
Tajikistan has a homicide rate of 0.9 per 100,000 people as of 2020. In Malaysia, that number is 0.7 per 100,000 as of 2023.
Infrastructure
find 13.8 times more home broadband
Tajikistan has 1.0 fixed broadband subscriptions per 100 people as of 2023. Malaysia has 13.6 as of 2024.
live with 95.1% less strain on fresh water
Tajikistan withdraws 70% of its available fresh water each year as of 2022. Malaysia withdraws 3% as of 2022.
use 3.4 times more electricity
Tajikistan uses 1,497 kWh of electricity per person each year as of 2023. Malaysia uses 5,084 kWh as of 2023.
Environment
be 60.4% less likely to die from air pollution
In Tajikistan, air pollution causes 159.0 deaths per 100,000 people as of 2019. In Malaysia, it causes 63.0 as of 2019.
emit 9.0 times more CO2
Tajikistan emits 0.9 tonnes of CO2 per person each year as of 2024. Malaysia emits 8.3 tonnes as of 2024.
Sources: World Bank (2020–2025), United Nations SDG Indicators (2019–2021). How we calculate this
Compare further: Tajikistan vs. Malaysia
Malaysia: At a glance
How big is Malaysia compared to Tajikistan? See an in-depth size comparison.