Malaysia has been ranked the third richest country in Southeast Asia and 71st globally, based on the latest 2025 data from the International Monetary Fund (IMF).
With a GDP per capita of US$14,423 (approximately RM61,903), Malaysia stands just US$27 (RM115) short of the global average of US$14,450.
Southeast Asia’s top three: Singapore, Brunei, Malaysia
Among ASEAN countries, only Singapore and Brunei were ranked higher than Malaysia.
- Singapore leads with a staggering US$93,956 (RM403,256), placing it 4th globally—outperforming many developed countries.
- Brunei ranks 35th worldwide with a per capita GDP of US$37,023 (RM158,902).
In comparison, Thailand and Indonesia posted US$7,754 (RM33,280) and US$5,248 (RM22,524) respectively.
Other Southeast Asian countries remain below the US$5,000 mark.
Malaysia near global average, far above regional mean
Malaysia’s per capita income also exceeds the average for Asia-Pacific (US$9,179 / RM39,396) and Southeast Asia (US$6,141 / RM26,357), underlining its relative economic strength in the region.
World’s wealthiest: Luxembourg tops the list
Globally, the top three richest nations in 2025 by per capita GDP are:
- Luxembourg – US$141,080 (RM605,515)
- Switzerland – US$111,716 (RM479,485)
- Ireland – US$107,243 (RM460,286)
Singapore joins the top 10, while global giants like the UK, France, and Italy fall outside the top 20. China ranks 73rd with US$13,873, while India is far behind at 141st, with just US$2,937—lower than most Southeast Asian nations.
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