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Asia

Malaysia

Full profile

GDP of $473 bn in 2025, real growth of 5.2% and inflation of 1.4%, by the IMF’s figures.

Malaysia was the 15th-largest U.S. goods trading partner in January–August 2026, with $79.7B of trade (up 37.0% from a year earlier), and Anchorage, AK handled the most of it (27.4% of the trade through listed ports).

Overview

Malaysia in figures

The latest figure each source reports. Annual figures come from one international source on one definition for every country, so they compare across this site’s country pages.

Output

IMF World Economic Outlook and World Bank, annual

GDP, current U.S. dollars
$473 bn
2025 · +11.9% on 2024
IMF ›
Real GDP, 2015 U.S. dollars
$444 bn
2025 · +5.2% on 2024
World Bank ›
Real GDP growth
5.2%
2025 · 0.0 pp on 2024
IMF ›
GDP per person
$13,965
2025 · +10.6% on 2024
IMF ›
GDP per person, PPP
$44,131 PPP
2025 · +6.7% on 2024
IMF ›
Population
36.0 m
2025 · +1.2% on 2024
World Bank ›

Prices and jobs

IMF and World Bank (ILO modelled estimates), annual

Inflation, annual average
1.4%
2025 · −0.4 pp on 2024
IMF ›
Unemployment rate
3.0%
2025 · −0.2 pp on 2024
IMF ›
Labour force participation
66.1%
2025 · 0.0 pp on 2024
World Bank ›
Employment to population
63.6%
2025 · +0.1 pp on 2024
World Bank ›

Public finances and the external account

IMF and World Bank, annual, % of GDP

Government gross debt
70.5%
2025 · +0.7 pp on 2024
IMF ›
Government balance
−3.5%
2025 · −0.1 pp on 2024
IMF ›
Current account balance
1.6%
2025 · +0.2 pp on 2024
IMF ›
Exports of goods and services
71.0%
2025 · −0.4 pp on 2024
World Bank ›
Imports of goods and services
65.4%
2025 · −0.6 pp on 2024
World Bank ›

Sectors

What the economy produces

Each sector’s value added as a share of GDP, and how fast it grew in real terms. World Bank, annual.

Value added, % of GDP, 2025
  • Agriculture, forestry and fishing8.2%

    8.3% in 2015 (−0.1 pp)

  • Industry, including construction35.7%

    38.4% in 2015 (−2.8 pp)

  • of which Manufacturing22.1%

    22.3% in 2015 (−0.2 pp)

  • Services54.8%

    52.0% in 2015 (+2.8 pp)

Real value added growth, % a year
SectorLatest5-year average
Agriculture, forestry and fishing2.2%20251.3%
Industry, including construction4.5%20254.6%
Manufacturing4.5%20255.4%
Services5.7%20256.0%

World Bank, World Development Indicators (national accounts). The five-year average is the compound annual rate over the last five years with figures, calculated by CK Economics.

Outlook

Where the IMF and CK see it going

The IMF’s World Economic Outlook projections next to the last two years it reports, and CK Economics’ own backtested forecasts, labelled as ours, in a table of their own.

IMF forecast

World Economic Outlook, October 2026. Shaded columns from 2026 on are the IMF’s projections, not CK Economics’.

IMF World Economic Outlook figures and projections
Indicator202420252026IMF forecast →2027 (IMF forecast)2028 (IMF forecast)2029 (IMF forecast)2030 (IMF forecast)Trend
Real GDP growth, %5.25.25.24.64.34.34.3
Inflation, annual average, %1.81.42.21.92.02.02.0
Unemployment rate, %3.23.03.03.03.13.23.2
Government balance, % of GDP−3.4−3.5−3.5−3.3−2.8−2.8−2.8
Government gross debt, % of GDP69.870.569.268.867.766.765.9
Current account balance, % of GDP1.41.62.12.12.02.02.0

International Monetary Fund, World Economic Outlook, via the IMF DataMapper. Years before 2026 are the IMF’s reported series, which for some countries include staff estimates.

CK forecast

A baseline forecast, not a scenario: an ensemble of statistical models and the IMF’s forecast, published only where its backtest beat naive. Ranges are 80%.

CK Economics forecasts with 80% ranges
Indicator202620272028
Real GDP growth, %5.24.2 to 7.64.60.3 to 7.74.41.2 to 8.1
Inflation, %2.21.7 to 2.51.9−0.2 to 3.92.0−0.1 to 4.7
Unemployment rate, %3.02.8 to 3.23.02.5 to 3.5–

CK Economics, from the IMF World Economic Outlook, October 2026. Scorecards and past forecasts →

Trade

U.S. trade with Malaysia

U.S. Census Bureau goods trade between Malaysia and the United States, by month, U.S. port and product.

National totals · January–August 2026

All U.S. customs districts. Imports are general imports; exports are total exports.

Imports
$56.0B
+43.5% y/y
Exports
$23.6B
+23.9% y/y
Total trade
$79.7B
+37.0% y/y
U.S. deficit
$32.4B
$12.4B larger than a year earlier
Share of U.S. trade
2.0%
15th of 233 partners

Source: U.S. Census Bureau, International Trade API (goods trade by country, national and by U.S. port); released 2026-10-16; retrieved 2026-10-16. Not seasonally adjusted.

Official statisticCK estimateSource figures as of October 16, 2026Sources & methods
Period covered
January–August 2026
Source figures as of
October 16, 2026
Geography
U.S. trade with Malaysia, all U.S. customs districts
Sector
International trade in goods
Seasonal adjustment
Not seasonally adjusted
Transformations
Monthly values summed over the period by CK Economics. Total trade (imports + exports), balance, share of U.S. trade, rank and year-on-year changes calculated by CK Economics
Revisions
When Census publishes a new month, CK re-collects the previous 12; older months are re-collected after Census’s annual revision each June, or sooner if Census’s totals for them change. Revised figures replace earlier ones.
Data status
Each month passes CK’s release checks (complete, totals reconcile with Census’s, no sharp jumps) before it is published.
Limitations
Goods only, not services. General imports at customs value, total exports at f.a.s. value.

Full method · Research standards

Port subtotals

U.S. ports handling trade with Malaysia

Download these rows (CSV)

The 202 ports listed cover 97.4% of national trade ($77.6B of $79.7B). Another 2.6% went by mail, low-value shipments or through ports Census doesn’t name.

U.S. goods trade with Malaysia by U.S. port, January–August 2026
U.S. port, activate to sortImports, activate to sortExports, activate to sortTotal trade, sorted descending; activate to reverseBalance, activate to sortShare of listed-port trade, activate to sortTrade y/y, activate to sort
Anchorage, AK3126Mainly air$18.5B$2.8B$21.3B−$15.8B27.4%+137.2%
Los Angeles International Airport, CA2720Mainly air$3.8B$2.4B$6.1B−$1.4B7.9%+18.7%
San Francisco International Airport, CA2801Mainly air$3.3B$2.3B$5.6B−$1.0B7.2%+11.3%
Chicago, IL3901Mainly air$3.0B$2.4B$5.4B−$569.2M7.0%+26.7%
Los Angeles, CA2704Mainly vessel$4.3B$609.5M$4.9B−$3.7B6.4%+1.5%
New Orleans, LA2002Mainly air$4.0B$609.3M$4.6B−$3.4B5.9%+106.4%
Cleveland, OH4101Mainly air$1.4B$1.5B$2.9B$106.6M3.8%+37.1%
Seattle-Tacoma International Airport, WA3029Mainly air$147.9M$2.7B$2.8B$2.5B3.6%+52.6%
Dallas-Fort Worth, TX5501Mainly air$1.7B$564.6M$2.2B−$1.1B2.9%+16.3%
Newark, NJ1003Mainly vessel$1.9B$129.0M$2.1B−$1.8B2.7%−3.4%
Atlanta, GA1704Mainly air$1.8B$156.9M$1.9B−$1.6B2.5%+77.7%
JFK International Airport, NY1012Mainly air$661.2M$1.1B$1.8B$433.9M2.3%+99.4%
Houston, TX5301Mainly vessel$679.3M$734.2M$1.4B$54.9M1.8%+15.4%
Norfolk-Newport News, VA1401Mainly vessel$839.3M$402.4M$1.2B−$436.8M1.6%−15.4%
Savannah, GA1703Mainly vessel$1.0B$184.3M$1.2B−$857.9M1.6%−5.6%
Long Beach, CA2709Mainly vessel$1.1B$105.9M$1.2B−$958.3M1.5%−9.7%
Charleston, SC1601Mainly vessel$883.5M$254.8M$1.1B−$628.7M1.5%−9.1%
Corpus Christi, TX5312Mainly vessel$0$936.4M$936.4M$936.4M1.2%+49.6%
Oakland, CA2811Mainly vessel$635.2M$265.8M$901.0M−$369.4M1.2%−9.1%
Honolulu International Airport, HI3205Mainly air$61.5M$688.4M$749.8M$626.9M0.97%−11.1%
Cincinnati-Lawrenceburg, OH4102Mainly air$556.7M$28.7M$585.3M−$528.0M0.75%−8.4%
Baltimore, MD1303Mainly vessel$316.3M$150.1M$466.4M−$166.2M0.60%+31.6%
Tacoma, WA3002Mainly vessel$304.7M$139.2M$443.9M−$165.5M0.57%−0.2%
New York, NY1001Mainly vessel$91.2M$345.1M$436.3M$254.0M0.56%+13.8%
Miami International Airport, FL5206Mainly air$155.3M$225.2M$380.5M$69.9M0.49%−39.8%
Logan Airport, MA0417Mainly air$174.7M$141.8M$316.4M−$32.9M0.41%−12.6%
Houston Intercontinental Airport, TX5309Mainly air$204.9M$94.0M$298.9M−$110.9M0.38%−32.3%
Ysleta, TX2401Mainly land/other$264.9M$0$264.9M−$264.9M0.34%+100.6%
Laredo, TX2304Mainly land/other$249.7M$13.7M$263.5M−$236.0M0.34%+23.5%
Portland International Airport, WA2910Mainly air$6.1M$206.1M$212.2M$200.0M0.27%+804.4%
Seattle, WA3001Mainly vessel$107.1M$96.0M$203.2M−$11.1M0.26%−17.0%
Louisville, KY4115Mainly air$164.2M$1.9M$166.1M−$162.3M0.21%+667.2%
Milwaukee, WI3701Mixed$142.1M$8.1K$142.1M−$142.1M0.18%+284.7%
Phoenix, AZ2605Mainly air$46.6M$94.5M$141.1M$47.9M0.18%−43.2%
Richmond, CA2812Mainly vessel$104.0M$27.6M$131.7M−$76.4M0.17%+4199.8%
Mobile, AL1901Mainly vessel$96.6M$30.4M$127.0M−$66.2M0.16%+10.4%
Indianapolis, IN4110Mainly air$125.9M$999.2K$126.9M−$124.9M0.16%+29.9%
Memphis, TN2006Mainly land/other$102.3M$17.8M$120.1M−$84.5M0.15%+36.2%
Washington, DC5401Mainly air$101.2M$18.1M$119.3M−$83.1M0.15%−34.3%
San Pablo Bay, CA2829Mainly vessel$112.6M$0$112.6M−$112.6M0.15%−40.9%
Miami, FL5201Mainly vessel$85.2M$22.6M$107.8M−$62.6M0.14%+19.5%
Jacksonville, FL1803Mainly vessel$77.3M$21.7M$99.0M−$55.6M0.13%−4.4%
FedEx Corp Honolulu, HI3279Mainly air$95.8M$0$95.8M−$95.8M0.12%+26.4%
Otay Mesa, CA2506Mainly land/other$94.9M$0$94.9M−$94.9M0.12%+14.6%
Tampa, FL1801Mainly vessel$56.7M$27.0M$83.7M−$29.7M0.11%+30.8%
San Jose International Airport, CA2834Mainly air$0$78.4M$78.4M$78.4M0.10%+106.8%
Sacramento International Airport, CA2835Mainly air$76.9M$483.8K$77.4M−$76.4M0.10%+10.9%
Austin, TX5506Mainly air$71.4M$4.4M$75.7M−$67.0M0.10%−36.6%
Boston, MA0401Mainly vessel$49.1M$24.7M$73.8M−$24.4M0.10%+8.9%
Beaumont, TX2104Mainly vessel$27.5M$45.9M$73.4M$18.4M0.09%−31.1%

Port figures are subtotals: they add up to the listed-port total, not the national total above. Shares are of trade through the ports listed. Main mode is each port’s mode by trade value over the latest twelve months, not its gateway type. Source: U.S. Census Bureau, International Trade API (goods trade by country, national and by U.S. port); released 2026-10-16; retrieved 2026-10-16. Not seasonally adjusted.

Official statisticCK estimateSource figures as of October 16, 2026Sources & methods
Period covered
January–August 2026
Source figures as of
October 16, 2026
Geography
Listed U.S. ports of entry and exit handling trade with Malaysia
Sector
International trade in goods
Seasonal adjustment
Not seasonally adjusted
Transformations
Monthly values summed over the period by CK Economics. Total trade (imports + exports), balance, shares of the listed-port total, ranks and year-on-year changes calculated by CK Economics
Revisions
When Census publishes a new month, CK re-collects the previous 12; older months are re-collected after Census’s annual revision each June, or sooner if Census’s totals for them change. Revised figures replace earlier ones.
Data status
Each month passes CK’s release checks (complete, totals reconcile with Census’s, no sharp jumps) before it is published.
Limitations
Goods only, not services. General imports at customs value, total exports at f.a.s. value. Port figures are subtotals and don’t add up to the national total. Listed ports only: Census’s pseudo-ports (mail, low-value shipments, vessels under their own power) and unnamed ports are left out.

Full method · Research standards

Largest ports for trade with Malaysia, by trade

U.S. dollars · January–August 2026 · port subtotals

  • Imports
  • Exports
  • Anchorage, AK
    Imports: $18.5B
    Exports: $2.8B
  • Los Angeles International Airport, CA
    Imports: $3.8B
    Exports: $2.4B
  • San Francisco International Airport, CA
    Imports: $3.3B
    Exports: $2.3B
  • Chicago, IL
    Imports: $3.0B
    Exports: $2.4B
  • Los Angeles, CA
    Imports: $4.3B
    Exports: $609.5M
  • New Orleans, LA
    Imports: $4.0B
    Exports: $609.3M
  • Cleveland, OH
    Imports: $1.4B
    Exports: $1.5B
  • Seattle-Tacoma International Airport, WA
    Imports: $147.9M
    Exports: $2.7B
  • Dallas-Fort Worth, TX
    Imports: $1.7B
    Exports: $564.6M
  • Newark, NJ
    Imports: $1.9B
    Exports: $129.0M

Top 10 = 74.7% of U.S. trade with Malaysia through the ports listed.

Source: U.S. Census Bureau, International Trade API (goods trade by country, national and by U.S. port); released 2026-10-16; retrieved 2026-10-16. Not seasonally adjusted.

Official statisticCK estimateSource figures as of October 16, 2026Sources & methods
Period covered
January–August 2026
Source figures as of
October 16, 2026
Geography
Listed U.S. ports of entry and exit handling trade with Malaysia
Sector
International trade in goods
Seasonal adjustment
Not seasonally adjusted
Transformations
Monthly values summed over the period by CK Economics. Total trade (imports + exports), balance, shares of the listed-port total, ranks and year-on-year changes calculated by CK Economics
Revisions
When Census publishes a new month, CK re-collects the previous 12; older months are re-collected after Census’s annual revision each June, or sooner if Census’s totals for them change. Revised figures replace earlier ones.
Data status
Each month passes CK’s release checks (complete, totals reconcile with Census’s, no sharp jumps) before it is published.
Limitations
Goods only, not services. General imports at customs value, total exports at f.a.s. value. Port figures are subtotals and don’t add up to the national total. Listed ports only: Census’s pseudo-ports (mail, low-value shipments, vessels under their own power) and unnamed ports are left out.

Full method · Research standards

View data table
Largest ports for trade with Malaysia, by trade, U.S. dollars · January–August 2026 · port subtotals
PortImportsExports
Anchorage, AK$18.5B$2.8B
Los Angeles International Airport, CA$3.8B$2.4B
San Francisco International Airport, CA$3.3B$2.3B
Chicago, IL$3.0B$2.4B
Los Angeles, CA$4.3B$609.5M
New Orleans, LA$4.0B$609.3M
Cleveland, OH$1.4B$1.5B
Seattle-Tacoma International Airport, WA$147.9M$2.7B
Dallas-Fort Worth, TX$1.7B$564.6M
Newark, NJ$1.9B$129.0M

Trade with Malaysia by the ports’ main mode

U.S. dollars · January–August 2026 · every listed port

  • Imports
  • Exports
  • Mainly vessel
    Imports: $13.1B
    Exports: $4.7B
  • Mainly air
    Imports: $40.2B
    Exports: $18.1B
  • Mainly land/other
    Imports: $1.2B
    Exports: $156.0M
  • Mixed
    Imports: $143.9M
    Exports: $8.1K

Ports grouped by their main mode by trade value over the latest twelve months (vessel or air at least half; land/other when vessel and air together are under half; otherwise mixed). A port’s group says how most of its trade moves, not what kind of gateway it is.

Source: U.S. Census Bureau, International Trade API (goods trade by country, national and by U.S. port); released 2026-10-16; retrieved 2026-10-16. Not seasonally adjusted.

Official statisticCK estimateSource figures as of October 16, 2026Sources & methods
Period covered
January–August 2026
Source figures as of
October 16, 2026
Geography
Listed U.S. ports handling trade with Malaysia
Sector
International trade in goods
Seasonal adjustment
Not seasonally adjusted
Transformations
Monthly values summed over the period by CK Economics. Ports grouped by their main mode over the latest twelve months, and each group summed, by CK Economics
Revisions
When Census publishes a new month, CK re-collects the previous 12; older months are re-collected after Census’s annual revision each June, or sooner if Census’s totals for them change. Revised figures replace earlier ones.
Data status
Each month passes CK’s release checks (complete, totals reconcile with Census’s, no sharp jumps) before it is published.
Limitations
Goods only, not services. General imports at customs value, total exports at f.a.s. value. A port’s group says how most of its trade moves, not what kind of gateway it is.

Full method · Research standards

View data table
Trade with Malaysia by the ports’ main mode, U.S. dollars · January–August 2026 · every listed port
Main mode by valueImportsExports
Mainly vessel$13.1B$4.7B
Mainly air$40.2B$18.1B
Mainly land/other$1.2B$156.0M
Mixed$143.9M$8.1K

Monthly U.S. imports from and exports to Malaysia

U.S. dollars · January 2025–August 2026 · national totals

  • Imports
  • Exports

Source: U.S. Census Bureau, International Trade API (goods trade by country, national and by U.S. port); released 2026-10-16; retrieved 2026-10-16. Not seasonally adjusted.

Official statisticSource figures as of October 16, 2026Sources & methods
Period covered
January 2025–August 2026
Source figures as of
October 16, 2026
Geography
U.S. trade with Malaysia, all U.S. customs districts
Sector
International trade in goods
Seasonal adjustment
Not seasonally adjusted
Transformations
None: figures as published
Revisions
When Census publishes a new month, CK re-collects the previous 12; older months are re-collected after Census’s annual revision each June, or sooner if Census’s totals for them change. Revised figures replace earlier ones.
Data status
Each month passes CK’s release checks (complete, totals reconcile with Census’s, no sharp jumps) before it is published.
Limitations
Goods only, not services. General imports at customs value, total exports at f.a.s. value.

Full method · Research standards

View data table
Monthly U.S. imports from and exports to Malaysia, U.S. dollars · January 2025–August 2026 · national totals
MonthImportsExports
Jan 2025$4.6B$2.3B
Feb 2025$4.3B$2.0B
Mar 2025$5.6B$2.1B
Apr 2025$4.7B$2.4B
May 2025$5.0B$2.7B
Jun 2025$5.2B$2.3B
Jul 2025$5.1B$2.5B
Aug 2025$4.4B$2.8B
Sep 2025$4.9B$2.6B
Oct 2025$4.8B$2.5B
Nov 2025$5.0B$2.1B
Dec 2025$5.7B$2.4B
Jan 2026$5.1B$2.2B
Feb 2026$6.1B$2.8B
Mar 2026$6.9B$2.7B
Apr 2026$6.3B$3.6B
May 2026$7.9B$3.4B
Jun 2026$7.6B$3.1B
Jul 2026$7.5B$2.7B
Aug 2026$8.6B$3.1B

Monthly U.S. goods balance with Malaysia

U.S. dollars, exports − imports · January 2025–August 2026 · national totals

  • Deficit (below zero)
  • Surplus (above zero)

Source: U.S. Census Bureau, International Trade API (goods trade by country, national and by U.S. port); released 2026-10-16; retrieved 2026-10-16. Not seasonally adjusted.

Official statisticCK estimateSource figures as of October 16, 2026Sources & methods
Period covered
January 2025–August 2026
Source figures as of
October 16, 2026
Geography
U.S. trade with Malaysia, all U.S. customs districts
Sector
International trade in goods
Seasonal adjustment
Not seasonally adjusted
Transformations
Balance (exports − imports) calculated by CK Economics
Revisions
When Census publishes a new month, CK re-collects the previous 12; older months are re-collected after Census’s annual revision each June, or sooner if Census’s totals for them change. Revised figures replace earlier ones.
Data status
Each month passes CK’s release checks (complete, totals reconcile with Census’s, no sharp jumps) before it is published.
Limitations
Goods only, not services. General imports at customs value, total exports at f.a.s. value.

Full method · Research standards

View data table
Monthly U.S. goods balance with Malaysia, U.S. dollars, exports − imports · January 2025–August 2026 · national totals
MonthBalance
Jan 2025−$2.3B
Feb 2025−$2.3B
Mar 2025−$3.5B
Apr 2025−$2.3B
May 2025−$2.3B
Jun 2025−$3.0B
Jul 2025−$2.6B
Aug 2025−$1.6B
Sep 2025−$2.3B
Oct 2025−$2.3B
Nov 2025−$2.9B
Dec 2025−$3.4B
Jan 2026−$2.9B
Feb 2026−$3.3B
Mar 2026−$4.2B
Apr 2026−$2.6B
May 2026−$4.5B
Jun 2026−$4.5B
Jul 2026−$4.9B
Aug 2026−$5.5B

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Malaysia: Labour force participation rate

People aged 15 and over who are economically active (employed or looking for work), as a percentage of the population aged 15 and over. ILO modelled estimate.

Official statisticSource figures as of October 8, 2026Sources & methods
Sources
World Bank
Period covered
1990 – 2025
Source figures as of
October 8, 2026
Geography
Malaysia
Sector
Whole economy (not a single sector)
Seasonal adjustment
Not applicable
Transformations
None: figures as published
Revisions
Replaced with the source’s latest figures whenever it revises them.
Data status
Current

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Definitions

Read the figures alike

Every figure keeps its source’s definition; where two sound alike but are measured differently, the difference is here.

GDP in dollars
The IMF converts GDP at current prices at each year’s market exchange rate, so the dollar figure moves with the currency. GDP per person at purchasing power parity converts at the cost of the same basket of goods in every country instead, which suits comparisons of living standards. The World Bank’s GDP at constant 2015 prices takes price changes out, so it measures volume: use it, or the growth rates, to see how much output changed.
Unemployment
The IMF’s annual unemployment rate follows each country’s national definition (age limits, what counts as looking for work), so levels are not strictly comparable across countries. Labour force participation and employment to population are ILO modelled estimates for everyone aged 15 and over, on one definition for every country; national figures, often for ages 16 to 64, are higher.
Trade
The Trade section is U.S. Census Bureau goods trade between this country and the United States only, month by month. Exports and imports as a share of GDP are the World Bank’s figures for goods and services with every partner. The current account (IMF) is the balance of goods and services trade with every partner plus income flows.
Sectors
Sector shares are value added as a percentage of GDP. They don’t add up to 100%: GDP also includes taxes less subsidies on products. Manufacturing is part of industry, which also covers mining, construction and utilities. Sector growth is the change in real value added at constant local-currency prices.
Latest values and forecasts
Each latest figure is the most recent period the source does not label a projection; for some countries the IMF’s latest years are its staff estimates. Values the IMF projects are labelled “IMF forecast” wherever they appear. They are the IMF’s, not CK Economics’.

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