GeoRealityMatch

The UK Foreign Office advises against all but essential travel to parts of the country. FCDO travel advice, read 29 October 2026.

Aerial view of Kuala Lumpur skyline featuring Petronas Towers and KL Tower shrouded in cloudy sky.A captivating view of Kuala Lumpur's skyline and river, showcasing modern architecture and evening lights.

Malaysia

Asia · South-Eastern Asia

Very high safetyVery affordable cost of livingVery high development

It is one of the most peaceful countries, and human development is high.

Digital NomadOffers a digital nomad visa and home internet at 166 Mbps.BackpackerCombines very affordable cost of living and very high safety.ExpatCombines very high development, very high safety and very affordable cost of living.
vs Thailandvs Singaporevs Indonesia
Safety

12th most peaceful of 161

Global Peace Index
1.513lower is more peacefulVery high safety
#12 of 161
IEP GPI · 2026
Homicides
0.7per 100,000 people a yearVery lowUNODC / World Bank · 2023
Safety index
52Numbeo's safety index, higher is saferModerateNumbeo · 2026
Money

Incomes above the median country

GNI per person
$12,380national income per person, US dollarsHigh
World Bank · 2025
Rent index
9.2New York = 100AffordableNumbeo · 2026
Property price to income
8.8years of median income to buy a median flatAffordableNumbeo · 2026

Income and inflation over time

Income per person rose 113% in current dollars from 2006 to 2025, and rose 65% after inflation.

GDP per person, current US$At purchasing power parityInflation

$0$25K$50K$41,498 PPP$13,125Inflation, % a year6%0200620102015202020252006, $6,158 a person, $17,426 at PPP, inflation 3.6%2007, $7,169 a person, $18,617 at PPP, inflation 2%2008, $8,372 a person, $19,480 at PPP, inflation 5.4%2009, $7,191 a person, $18,923 at PPP, inflation 0.6%2010, $8,899 a person, $20,193 at PPP, inflation 1.6%2011, $10,217 a person, $21,324 at PPP, inflation 3.2%2012, $10,601 a person, $22,639 at PPP, inflation 1.7%2013, $10,714 a person, $23,161 at PPP, inflation 2.1%2014, $11,013 a person, $24,307 at PPP, inflation 3.1%2015, $9,649 a person, $24,526 at PPP, inflation 2.1%2016, $9,477 a person, $25,286 at PPP, inflation 2.1%2017, $9,863 a person, $26,416 at PPP, inflation 3.9%2018, $10,902 a person, $27,794 at PPP, inflation 0.9%2019, $10,920 a person, $28,934 at PPP, inflation 0.7%2020, $9,958 a person, $27,475 at PPP, inflation -1.1%2021, $10,903 a person, $29,823 at PPP, inflation 2.5%2022, $11,755 a person, $34,414 at PPP, inflation 3.4%2023, $11,386 a person, $36,497 at PPP, inflation 2.5%2024, $11,874 a person, $38,836 at PPP, inflation 1.8%2025, $13,125 a person, $41,498 at PPP, inflation 1.4%$0$25K$50KInflation, % a year6%0200620102015202020252006, $6,158 a person, $17,426 at PPP, inflation 3.6%2007, $7,169 a person, $18,617 at PPP, inflation 2%2008, $8,372 a person, $19,480 at PPP, inflation 5.4%2009, $7,191 a person, $18,923 at PPP, inflation 0.6%2010, $8,899 a person, $20,193 at PPP, inflation 1.6%2011, $10,217 a person, $21,324 at PPP, inflation 3.2%2012, $10,601 a person, $22,639 at PPP, inflation 1.7%2013, $10,714 a person, $23,161 at PPP, inflation 2.1%2014, $11,013 a person, $24,307 at PPP, inflation 3.1%2015, $9,649 a person, $24,526 at PPP, inflation 2.1%2016, $9,477 a person, $25,286 at PPP, inflation 2.1%2017, $9,863 a person, $26,416 at PPP, inflation 3.9%2018, $10,902 a person, $27,794 at PPP, inflation 0.9%2019, $10,920 a person, $28,934 at PPP, inflation 0.7%2020, $9,958 a person, $27,475 at PPP, inflation -1.1%2021, $10,903 a person, $29,823 at PPP, inflation 2.5%2022, $11,755 a person, $34,414 at PPP, inflation 3.4%2023, $11,386 a person, $36,497 at PPP, inflation 2.5%2024, $11,874 a person, $38,836 at PPP, inflation 1.8%2025, $13,125 a person, $41,498 at PPP, inflation 1.4%

World Bank: GDP per person in current US dollars and at PPP, real GDP per person, consumer price inflation. Observed years only.

Health

Above-average life expectancy

Life expectancy
76.8years, at birthHigh
#68 of 195
World Bank · 2024
Health coverage
80WHO universal health coverage index, 0 to 100HighWHO · 2023
Air pollution
17.6PM2.5, micrograms per cubic metre, national averageModerateWHO · 2023
Work and internet

Very fast home internet

Unemployment rate
3.8%share of the labour force without a jobWorld Bank · 2025
Home internet
166 Mbpsmedian download speedVery fastOokla Speedtest · 2025
English proficiency
581EF English Proficiency Index scoreHighEF EPI · 2025

Internet speeds

Home internet166 MbpsVery fast
Mobile149 MbpsFast

Ookla Speedtest Global Index, median download speed, ranked among the countries Ookla lists.

Visas and moving

Digital nomad visaMedium

Minimum income
$2,000 a month
Duration
12 months
Renewable
Yes
Application fee
RM1,000about $290
  • Tax treatmentLocal rates apply
  • Processing timeAbout 14 days
  • Health insuranceRequired
  • DependantsAllowed, $107 each
  • Apply onlineYes
  • Path to residencyNo
  • NationalitiesSome are restricted
Official page
A captivating view of Kuala Lumpur's skyline and river, showcasing modern architecture and evening lights.
How it changed

Malaysia's Human Development Index

0.819Very high human development

67th of 193 in UNDP's 2023 ranking, 15th of 43 in Asia.

UNDP builds the index from three dimensions: a long and healthy life, being knowledgeable, and a decent standard of living. They are measured by life expectancy at birth, mean and expected years of schooling, and gross national income per capita. UNDP Human Development Report 2025.

Nearest countries by HDI

  1. #65Belarus0.824
  2. #66Bahamas0.820
  3. #67Malaysia0.819
  4. #68North Macedonia0.815
  5. #69Armenia0.811
Full HDI ranking, all 193 countries

HDI since 1990

Year by year

Human development rose from 0.653 in 1990 to 0.819 in 2023.

0.600.720.850.81919902000201020231990: 0.6531991: 0.6611992: 0.6701993: 0.6771994: 0.6841995: 0.6911996: 0.7011997: 0.7131998: 0.7181999: 0.7232000: 0.7332001: 0.7312002: 0.7322003: 0.7372004: 0.7392005: 0.7362006: 0.7422007: 0.7542008: 0.7652009: 0.7732010: 0.7792011: 0.7822012: 0.7872013: 0.7912014: 0.7952015: 0.8002016: 0.8052017: 0.8072018: 0.8092019: 0.8122020: 0.8102021: 0.8022022: 0.8102023: 0.8190.600.720.8519902000201020231990: 0.6531991: 0.6611992: 0.6701993: 0.6771994: 0.6841995: 0.6911996: 0.7011997: 0.7131998: 0.7181999: 0.7232000: 0.7332001: 0.7312002: 0.7322003: 0.7372004: 0.7392005: 0.7362006: 0.7422007: 0.7542008: 0.7652009: 0.7732010: 0.7792011: 0.7822012: 0.7872013: 0.7912014: 0.7952015: 0.8002016: 0.8052017: 0.8072018: 0.8092019: 0.8122020: 0.8102021: 0.8022022: 0.8102023: 0.819

UNDP Human Development Report, 2025 edition. 34 annual values, none interpolated.

Twenty years here

Year by yearThe world report
Life expectancy at birth
76.8 years2024at birthUp 2.4 years from 74.4 years in 2005
Internet users
98%2024of people onlineUp 46 points from 52% in 2006
Urban population
77%2025of people in towns and citiesUp 9 points from 68% in 2006
Births per woman
1.542024births per womanDown 0.85 from 2.39 in 2005
Renewable share of energy
8%2021of energy usedUp 4 points from 3% in 2004
Access to electricity
100%2024of people with electricityUp 1 point from 99% in 2005
Infant mortality
72024deaths before age one, per 1,000 birthsUp 1 from 7 in 2005
CO2 emissions per person
8.3 t2024of CO2 per person a yearUp 1.3 t from 7 t in 2005
Forest area
58%2023of land under forestDown 1 point from 59% in 2004

World Bank, from the first to the last observed year of each indicator; each has its own window.

Our take

English-friendly and low cost; multicultural, with the Malaysia My Second Home visa available. The case for living here is peace and very high human development.

About Malaysia

Malaysia is a Southeast Asian country of remarkable diversity, where the rainforest-covered highlands of Borneo and the Peninsula, the street food culture of Penang, the colonial heritage of Malacca, and the skyline of Kuala Lumpur all form part of the same journey. The population is a blend of Malay, Chinese, Indian, and indigenous cultures, and this is reflected most deliciously in the food, which is arguably the best in the region. It suits a very wide range of travellers and is consistently underrated.

Practical facts

  • CapitalKuala Lumpur
  • LanguagesEnglish, Malay
  • CurrencyMalaysian ringgit (MYR)
  • Area328,550 km²
  • Plug typeType G
  • Drives on theleft
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Borders

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Quick answers

What is Malaysia's Human Development Index?

Malaysia's Human Development Index is 0.819 for 2023 (UNDP Human Development Report 2025), ranked #67 of 193 by UNDP.

Is Malaysia safe?

Malaysia scores 1.51 on the Global Peace Index (lower is more peaceful), ranked #12 of 161 countries by the Institute for Economics & Peace. That measures national-level peace, not street crime; both are covered below.

How expensive is Malaysia?

Numbeo's cost-of-living index puts Malaysia at 34.0 (New York = 100); that is #43 cheapest of 143 countries with data.

What is life expectancy in Malaysia?

Life expectancy at birth in Malaysia is 76.8 yrs (World Bank), ranked #68 of 195 countries.

What is the quality of life in Malaysia?

Numbeo's quality-of-life index scores Malaysia at 135.2, ranked #51 of 87 countries with data. It composites purchasing power, safety, healthcare, cost of living, commute and pollution from resident surveys, so it reflects what residents report rather than what an economy produces.