Prosperity gap (average shortfall from a prosperity standard) in Malaysia
Malaysia: Prosperity gap (average shortfall from a prosperity standard) was 1.2 average shortfall from a prosperity standard of $28/day in 2021. ▼ Falling
Prosperity gap in Malaysia, 1984–2021
Source: World Bank, Poverty and Inequality Platform. Data are based on primary household survey data obtained from government statistical agencies and World Bank country departments. Data for high-income econ. Measured in average shortfall from a prosperity standard of $28/day.
Analysis
Malaysia recorded 1.2 average shortfall from a prosperity standard of $28/day for prosperity gap in 2021. That is the lowest value across all 14 years on record.
The figure is down 7.7% on the previous year and down 40.0% over ten years.
Over the whole period, prosperity gap in Malaysia peaked at 3.8 average shortfall from a prosperity standard of $28/day in 1984 and was at its lowest, 1.2 average shortfall from a prosperity standard of $28/day, in 2021.
That places Malaysia 95th out of 123 countries with data for 2021, putting it in the bottom quarter.
The long-run direction has been consistently falling across the 14 years of available data.
Prosperity gap (average shortfall from a prosperity standard) in Malaysia, year by year
| Year | average shortfall from a prosperity standard of $28/day | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1984 | 3.8 average shortfall from a prosperity standard of $28/day | — |
| 1987 | 3.7 average shortfall from a prosperity standard of $28/day | -2.6% |
| 1989 | 3.7 average shortfall from a prosperity standard of $28/day | +0.0% |
| 1992 | 3.5 average shortfall from a prosperity standard of $28/day | -5.4% |
| 1995 | 3.5 average shortfall from a prosperity standard of $28/day | +0.0% |
| 1997 | 2.8 average shortfall from a prosperity standard of $28/day | -20.0% |
| 2003 | 3 average shortfall from a prosperity standard of $28/day | +7.1% |
| 2006 | 2.6 average shortfall from a prosperity standard of $28/day | -13.3% |
| 2008 | 2.6 average shortfall from a prosperity standard of $28/day | +0.0% |
| 2011 | 2 average shortfall from a prosperity standard of $28/day | -23.1% |
| 2013 | 1.6 average shortfall from a prosperity standard of $28/day | -20.0% |
| 2015 | 1.4 average shortfall from a prosperity standard of $28/day | -12.5% |
| 2018 | 1.3 average shortfall from a prosperity standard of $28/day | -7.1% |
| 2021 | 1.2 average shortfall from a prosperity standard of $28/day | -7.7% |
Malaysia compared with similar countries
- Malaysia's 1.2 average shortfall from a prosperity standard of $28/day is below the median for upper middle income countries, which is 2.65 average shortfall from a prosperity standard of $28/day, 45% of the median. (38 countries reporting)
- Malaysia's 1.2 average shortfall from a prosperity standard of $28/day is below the median for East Asia & Pacific, which is 2.4 average shortfall from a prosperity standard of $28/day, 50% of the median. (11 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1980s | 3.73 average shortfall from a prosperity standard of $28/day | 3.7 average shortfall from a prosperity standard of $28/day | 3.8 average shortfall from a prosperity standard of $28/day | 3 |
| 1990s | 3.27 average shortfall from a prosperity standard of $28/day | 2.8 average shortfall from a prosperity standard of $28/day | 3.5 average shortfall from a prosperity standard of $28/day | 3 |
| 2000s | 2.73 average shortfall from a prosperity standard of $28/day | 2.6 average shortfall from a prosperity standard of $28/day | 3 average shortfall from a prosperity standard of $28/day | 3 |
| 2010s | 1.57 average shortfall from a prosperity standard of $28/day | 1.3 average shortfall from a prosperity standard of $28/day | 2 average shortfall from a prosperity standard of $28/day | 4 |
| 2020s | 1.2 average shortfall from a prosperity standard of $28/day | 1.2 average shortfall from a prosperity standard of $28/day | 1.2 average shortfall from a prosperity standard of $28/day | 1 |
Countries ranked near Malaysia
More poverty & inequality data for Malaysia
- Number of income/consumption surveys in the past decade available via the World Bank 2 surveys (2025)
- Number of income/consumption surveys in the past decade available via 0 surveys per person (2025)
- Number of income/consumption surveys in the past decade available via 0 surveys per US$ of GDP (2025)
- Fertility rate vs. share living in extreme poverty 1.55 live births per woman (2023)
- Cereal yield vs. share in extreme poverty 3,524 kg per hectare (2023)
- Cereal yield vs extreme poverty, per unit of GDP 0 units per US$ of GDP (2023)
- Cereal yield vs extreme poverty, annual growth rate -1.48 % change on previous year (2023)
- Tax revenues vs income inequality, gaps filled 12.57 (2023)
- Tax revenue as share of GDP vs. income inequality 12.6% (2023)
- Tax revenues vs income inequality, per unit of GDP 0 units per US$ of GDP (2023)
Frequently asked questions
- What is prosperity gap in Malaysia?
- Prosperity gap in Malaysia was 1.2 average shortfall from a prosperity standard of $28/day in 2021, according to World Bank, Poverty and Inequality Platform. Data are based on primary household survey data obtained from government statistical agencies and World Bank country departments. Data for high-income econ.
- What is the highest prosperity gap recorded in Malaysia?
- The highest recorded value was 3.8 average shortfall from a prosperity standard of $28/day in 1984.
- What is the lowest prosperity gap recorded in Malaysia?
- The lowest recorded value was 1.2 average shortfall from a prosperity standard of $28/day in 2021.
- How does Malaysia rank for prosperity gap?
- Malaysia ranks 95th out of 123 countries with data for 2021.
- Is prosperity gap rising or falling in Malaysia?
- Over the last ten years it is down 40.0%. The long-run trend across the full record is falling.
- Where does this Malaysia data come from?
- The figures come from World Bank, Poverty and Inequality Platform. Data are based on primary household survey data obtained from government statistical agencies and World Bank country departments. Data for high-income econ, published as part of Prosperity gap (average shortfall from a prosperity standard of $28/day). Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
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About this data
The average shortfall from a prosperity standard of $28 per day (adjusted for differences in purchasing power parity across countries). It is measured as the average factor by which incomes fall short of $28.