Share of population living on less than $4.20 per day vs. share in Malaysia
Malaysia: Share of population living on less than $4.20 per day vs. share was 0.1% in 2021. ◆ Volatile
Share of population living on less than $4.20 per day vs. share in multidimensional poverty in Malaysia, 1984–2021
Source: World Bank Poverty and Inequality Platform (2026) – with major processing by Our World in Data. Measured in %.
Analysis
Malaysia recorded 0.1% for share of population living on less than $4.20 per day vs. share in multidimensional poverty in 2021. That is the lowest value across all 14 years on record.
That represents a change of down 48.2% on the previous year and down 94.7% over ten years.
Over the whole period, share of population living on less than $4.20 per day vs. share in multidimensional poverty in Malaysia peaked at 15.4% in 1984 and was at its lowest, 0.1%, in 2021.
Malaysia ranks 112th of 120 countries on this measure, in the bottom quarter.
The series is highly variable year to year, so single readings are best treated with caution.
Share of population living on less than $4.20 per day vs. share in Malaysia, year by year
| Year | % | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1984 | 15.4% | — |
| 1987 | 15.0% | -2.2% |
| 1989 | 14.2% | -5.4% |
| 1992 | 13.7% | -4.0% |
| 1995 | 13.5% | -1.5% |
| 1997 | 8.5% | -37.2% |
| 2003 | 8.4% | -0.6% |
| 2006 | 5.0% | -41.0% |
| 2008 | 5.4% | +9.3% |
| 2011 | 1.9% | -65.3% |
| 2013 | 0.6% | -68.4% |
| 2015 | 0.4% | -33.1% |
| 2018 | 0.2% | -51.7% |
| 2021 | 0.1% | -48.2% |
Malaysia compared with similar countries
- Malaysia's 0.1% is below the median for upper middle income countries, which is 4.2%, 2% of the median. (35 countries reporting)
- Malaysia's 0.1% is below the median for East Asia & Pacific, which is 1.6%, 6% of the median. (11 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1980s | 14.9% | 14.2% | 15.4% | 3 |
| 1990s | 11.9% | 8.5% | 13.7% | 3 |
| 2000s | 6.3% | 5.0% | 8.4% | 3 |
| 2010s | 0.8% | 0.2% | 1.9% | 4 |
| 2020s | 0.1% | 0.1% | 0.1% | 1 |
Countries ranked near Malaysia
- 109 Netherlands 0.1% compare
- 110 Luxembourg 0.1% compare
- 111 Taiwan 0.1% compare
- 113 Switzerland 0.1% compare
- 114 Belgium 0.1% compare
- 115 France 0.1% compare
More poverty & inequality data for Malaysia
- Number of income/consumption surveys in the past decade available via the World Bank 2 surveys (2025)
- Number of income/consumption surveys in the past decade available via 0 surveys per person (2025)
- Number of income/consumption surveys in the past decade available via 0 surveys per US$ 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 share of population living on less than $4.20 per day vs. share in multidimensional poverty in Malaysia?
- Share of population living on less than $4.20 per day vs. share in multidimensional poverty in Malaysia was 0.1% in 2021, according to World Bank Poverty and Inequality Platform (2026) – with major processing by Our World in Data.
- What is the highest share of population living on less than $4.20 per day vs. share in multidimensional poverty recorded in Malaysia?
- The highest recorded value was 15.4% in 1984.
- What is the lowest share of population living on less than $4.20 per day vs. share in multidimensional poverty recorded in Malaysia?
- The lowest recorded value was 0.1% in 2021.
- How does Malaysia rank for share of population living on less than $4.20 per day vs. share in multidimensional poverty?
- Malaysia ranks 112th out of 120 countries with data for 2021.
- Is share of population living on less than $4.20 per day vs. share in multidimensional poverty rising or falling in Malaysia?
- Over the last ten years it is down 94.7%. The long-run trend across the full record is volatile.
- Where does this Malaysia data come from?
- The figures come from World Bank Poverty and Inequality Platform (2026) – with major processing by Our World in Data, published as part of Share of population living on less than $4.20 per day vs. share in multidimensional poverty. Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
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About this data
Percentage of population living in households with an income or consumption below $4.20 per day.