Photo: Bjørn Christian Tørrissen · CC BY-SA 3.0 · via Wikimedia Commons, shown in greyscale
Topic 05 of 18 · Country Index 2026
Malaysia: Health & Wellbeing
How long, and how well fed, do people live?
Malaysia is placed 99th of 200 countries on health & wellbeing in the Country Index 2026, from 4 of its 4 key statistics. Readings behind it: Life Expectancy at Birth 76.66 (2023); Under-Five Mortality Rate 8.309 (2024).
Share
Health & Wellbeing
99th
of 200 countries placed
Placed from 4 of 4 key statistics
- 76.66Life Expectancy at Birth, 2023Years a newborn would live at current death rates
- 8.309Under-Five Mortality Rate, 2024Deaths before age five (per 1,000 live births)
- 21.2Stunting Prevalence in Children Under Five, 2024Children under 5 who are stunted (%)
- 5.2Prevalence of Severe Food Insecurity, 2024Population in severe food insecurity (%)
01The evidence
The 4 key statistics that decide it
Only these place Malaysia on health & wellbeing — one vote each. Every value is the publisher’s own, read at the edition the Country Index 2026 used — or, for a survey-based key, each country’s latest reading; the grey ticks are every other country it was compared with, lowest on the left.
Key 1 of 4
Life Expectancy at Birth
UN DESA Population Division
2023 edition · data for 2023 · CC BY 3.0 IGO
76.66
Years a newborn would live at current death rates
Higher is better
Malaysia: 76.66. Across the 222 countries in this edition, values run from 54.46 (Nigeria) to 86.37 (Monaco); the world median is 74.63.
- World median
- 74.63
- Best in South-eastern Asia
- 83.74 Singapore
- Land neighbours
- Brunei 75.33 · Indonesia 71.15 · Thailand 76.41
Key 2 of 4
Under-Five Mortality Rate
UN Inter-agency Group for Child Mortality Estimation (UN IGME)
2024 edition · data for 2024 · CC BY 3.0 IGO
8.309
Deaths before age five (per 1,000 live births)
Lower is better
Malaysia: 8.309. Across the 200 countries in this edition, values run from 1.26 (San Marino) to 115.65 (Nigeria); the world median is 14.54.
- World median
- 14.54
- Best in South-eastern Asia
- 2.68 Singapore
- Land neighbours
- Brunei 9.944 · Indonesia 17.69 · Thailand 8.963
Key 3 of 4
Stunting Prevalence in Children Under Five
UNICEF, WHO and World Bank Group (Joint Malnutrition Estimates)
Latest reading per country, 2014–2024 · Malaysia’s is from 2022 · CC BY 3.0 IGO
21.2
Children under 5 who are stunted (%)
Lower is better
Malaysia: 21.2. Across the 162 countries at their latest reading, values run from 0.518 (Latvia) to 52.8 (Burundi); the world median is 13.8.
- World median
- 13.8
- Best in South-eastern Asia
- 4.468 Singapore
- Land neighbours
- Brunei 19.62 · Indonesia 22.01 · Thailand 12.45
Key 4 of 4
Prevalence of Severe Food Insecurity
Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO)
2024 edition · data for 2024 · CC BY 4.0
5.2
Population in severe food insecurity (%)
Lower is better
Malaysia: 5.2. Across the 125 countries in this edition, values run from 0.6 (Brazil) to 62.9 (South Sudan); the world median is 4.9.
- World median
- 4.9
- Best in South-eastern Asia
- 0.6 Thailand
- Land neighbours
- Thailand 0.6
02Over time
Which way Malaysia is moving
Each key’s published value, edition by edition, beside the world median. The Country Index 2026 is the first edition of the standing, so the standing itself has no history to chart yet.
Life Expectancy at Birth
Years a newborn would live at current death rates · higher is better
MalaysiaWorld median
Malaysia rose from 72.73 in 2000 to 76.66 in 2023; the world median went from 70.68 to 74.63.
Every year’s figures
Year Malaysia World median 2023 76.66 74.630 2022 75.44 74.313 2021 73.92 72.433 2020 76.06 73.063 2019 75.90 74.196 2018 75.73 74.081 2017 75.54 74.029 2016 75.37 74.013 2015 75.29 73.783 2014 75.35 73.330 2013 75.46 73.386 2012 75.55 73.210 2011 75.49 73.003 2010 75.38 72.827 2009 75.27 72.426 2008 75.15 72.264 2007 74.96 72.113 2006 74.70 72.027 2005 74.37 71.876 2004 74.03 71.477 2003 73.73 71.409 2002 73.47 71.173 2001 73.08 70.926 2000 72.73 70.678 Under-Five Mortality Rate
Deaths before age five (per 1,000 live births) · lower is better
MalaysiaWorld median
Malaysia fell from 9.9 in 2000 to 8.309 in 2024; the world median went from 30.43 to 14.54.
Every year’s figures
Year Malaysia World median 2024 8.3086 14.5 2023 8.2646 15.2 2022 8.2267 14.7 2021 8.1984 15.1 2020 8.1868 15.3 2019 8.1950 15.7 2018 8.2019 16.3 2017 8.2039 16.8 2016 8.1879 17.5 2015 8.1508 17.9 2014 8.0928 18.3 2013 8.0483 18.7 2012 8.0484 18.8 2011 8.0875 19.0 2010 8.1371 19.2 2009 8.1830 20.8 2008 8.2225 20.7 2007 8.2565 21.8 2006 8.2912 22.8 2005 8.3360 24.0 2004 8.4123 25.9 2003 8.5642 26.9 2002 8.8352 28.0 2001 9.2665 29.1 2000 9.9001 30.4 Prevalence of Severe Food Insecurity
Population in severe food insecurity (%) · lower is better
MalaysiaWorld median
Malaysia fell from 7.8 in 2015 to 5.2 in 2024; the world median went from 3.4 to 4.9.
Every year’s figures
Year Malaysia World median 2024 5.2 4.9 2023 5.8 4.7 2022 5.8 5.4 2021 6.0 5.7 2020 6.3 5.6 2019 6.6 5.0 2018 6.7 4.2 2017 6.7 4.0 2016 6.7 3.4 2015 7.8 3.4
03In context
Malaysia beside its neighbours
A position reads best beside the countries around it. Every position below is a place among all 200 countries on health & wellbeing, never a place within the region.
Malaysia and the countries it borders
Standing among all 200; the key columns are the publishers’ own values.
| Country | Standing | Life Expectancy at BirthYears a newborn would live at current death rates | Under-Five Mortality RateDeaths before age five (per 1,000 live births) | Stunting Prevalence in Children Under FiveChildren under 5 who are stunted (%) | Prevalence of Severe Food InsecurityPopulation in severe food insecurity (%) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
 Thailand | 57th | 76.41 | 8.963 | 12.45 | 0.6 |
 Brunei | 82nd | 75.33 | 9.944 | 19.62 | — |
| Malaysia | 99th | 76.66 | 8.309 | 21.2 | 5.2 |
 Indonesiacompare | 137th | 71.15 | 17.69 | 22.01 | — |
“—”: no published reading in that edition. What a standing is
Across South-eastern Asia
Every country in the sub-region, by its place among all 200.
Placed either side on health & wellbeing
The countries immediately above and below Malaysia in the topic’s list.
04Context, no vote
Where Malaysia is ahead of the world, and behind
47 more statistics filed under health & wellbeing, published in full and deliberately given no vote in the standing. Select a row for the publisher, the rank and the links.
Ahead of the world median28
Statistics on which Malaysia does better than the middle country measured.
Antenatal Care Coverage, At Least Four VisitsUNICEF · 2025 · world median 8198.181No earlier reading
Malaysia: 98.1 · world median 81 · Women with a live birth who had 4+ antenatal visits (%). UNICEF, 2025 edition, data for 2025.
Published values in that edition run from 22.6 to 100; higher is better.
Position 9th of 153 · derived.
Care-Seeking for Children with Symptoms of PneumoniaUNICEF · 2024 · world median 67.791.667.7No earlier reading
Malaysia: 91.6 · world median 67.7 · Children under 5 with pneumonia symptoms taken to a health provider (%). UNICEF, 2024 edition, data for 2024.
Published values in that edition run from 14 to 99.1; higher is better.
Position 8th of 127 · derived.
INFORM Severity IndexACAPS · 2025 · world median 3.11.73.1No real change since 2021
Malaysia: 1.7 · world median 3.1 · INFORM Severity (1–5, most severe crisis). ACAPS, 2025 edition, data for 2025.
Published values in that edition run from 1.3 to 4.7; lower is better.
Position 74th of 81 · derived, 1st = worst.
Share of Population Unable to Afford a Healthy DietFAO · 2025 · world median 26.41.426.4▲ Improved since 2017
Malaysia: 1.4 · world median 26.4 · Share of the population unable to afford a healthy diet (%). Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO), 2025 edition, data for 2025.
Published values in that edition run from 0.6 to 93.9; lower is better.
Position 136th of 145 · derived, 1st = worst.
Agreement That Vaccines Are SafeWellcome Trust · 2018 · world median 77.6590.8977.65No earlier reading
Malaysia: 90.89 · world median 77.65 · People aged 15+ who agree that vaccines are safe (% of those who had heard of vaccines). Wellcome Trust, 2018 edition, data for 2018.
Published values in that edition run from 29.29 to 97.91; higher is better.
Position 22nd of 144 · derived.
Adolescent Birth Rate (Ages 15–19)UN DESA Population Division · 2023 · world median 27.465.96227.46▲ Improved since 2013
Malaysia: 5.962 · world median 27.46 · Live births per 1,000 women aged 15–19. UN DESA Population Division, 2023 edition, data for 2023.
Published values in that edition run from 0.465 to 163.09; lower is better.
Position 184th of 222 · derived, 1st = worst.
Excess Mortality During the COVID-19 PandemicAriel Karlinsky and Dmitry Kobak (World Mortality Dataset) · 2026 · world median 272.35139.5272.35No earlier reading
Malaysia: 139.5 · world median 272.35 · Excess deaths per 100,000 people, March 2020 to the end of each country's data (at most December 2023). Ariel Karlinsky and Dmitry Kobak (World Mortality Dataset), 2026 edition, data for 2026.
Published values in that edition run from -264.9 to 1,013; lower is better.
Prevalence of UndernourishmentFAO · 2023 · world median 5.22.55.2▲ Improved since 2013
Malaysia: 2.5 · world median 5.2 · Population undernourished (%). Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO), 2023 edition, data for 2023.
Published values in that edition run from 2.5 to 54.2; lower is better.
Position 104th of 104 · derived, 1st = worst.
Coefficient of Variation of Habitual Caloric ConsumptionFAO · 2024 · world median 0.250.210.25▲ Improved since 2014
Malaysia: 0.21 · world median 0.25 · Coefficient of variation of habitual calorie consumption across the population (standard deviation ÷ mean). Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO), 2024 edition, data for 2024.
Published values in that edition run from 0.17 to 0.4; lower is better.
HPV Vaccination Coverage, GirlsWUENIC · 2025 · world median 65.58165.5▼ Worsened since 2018
Malaysia: 81 · world median 65.5 · Girls in the target group given the final dose of HPV vaccine (%). WHO and UNICEF (WUENIC), 2025 edition, data for 2025.
Published values in that edition run from 1 to 99; higher is better.
Gender Inequality IndexUNDP Human Development Report Office · 2023 · world median 0.3510.1720.351▲ Improved since 2013
Malaysia: 0.172 · world median 0.351 · GII (0 = full equality, 1 = maximum inequality). UNDP Human Development Report Office, 2023 edition, data for 2023.
Published values in that edition run from 0.003 to 0.838; lower is better.
Ranked 47th of 172 by UNDP Human Development Report Office.
Early Initiation of BreastfeedingUNICEF · 2024 · world median 52.9564.352.95No earlier reading
Malaysia: 64.3 · world median 52.95 · Newborns put to the breast within one hour of birth (%). UNICEF, 2024 edition, data for 2024.
Published values in that edition run from 7.749 to 93.1; higher is better.
Position 39th of 136 · derived.
Immunisation Coverage, Measles First Dose (MCV1)WUENIC · 2025 · world median 909590▲ Improved since 2015
Malaysia: 95 · world median 90 · Infants given a first dose of measles vaccine (%). WHO and UNICEF (WUENIC), 2025 edition, data for 2025.
Published values in that edition run from 13 to 99; higher is better.
Infant Mortality RateUN IGME · 2024 · world median 12.266.98112.26▼ Worsened since 2014
Malaysia: 6.981 · world median 12.26 · Deaths before age one (per 1,000 live births). UN Inter-agency Group for Child Mortality Estimation (UN IGME), 2024 edition, data for 2024.
Published values in that edition run from 1.214 to 71.87; lower is better.
Position 140th of 200 · derived, 1st = worst.
Neonatal Mortality RateUN IGME · 2024 · world median 8.1344.2718.134▼ Worsened since 2014
Malaysia: 4.271 · world median 8.134 · Deaths in the first 28 days (per 1,000 live births). UN Inter-agency Group for Child Mortality Estimation (UN IGME), 2024 edition, data for 2024.
Published values in that edition run from 0.544 to 39.47; lower is better.
Position 140th of 200 · derived, 1st = worst.
Stillbirth RateUN IGME · 2023 · world median 8.1634.8298.163▼ Worsened since 2013
Malaysia: 4.829 · world median 8.163 · Stillbirths (per 1,000 total births). UN Inter-agency Group for Child Mortality Estimation (UN IGME), 2023 edition, data for 2023.
Published values in that edition run from 1.18 to 34.9; lower is better.
Position 136th of 200 · derived, 1st = worst.
Immunisation Coverage, DTP3WUENIC · 2025 · world median 919591▼ Worsened since 2015
Malaysia: 95 · world median 91 · Infants given a third dose of DTP vaccine (%). WHO and UNICEF (WUENIC), 2025 edition, data for 2025.
Published values in that edition run from 39 to 99; higher is better.
Human Development IndexUNDP Human Development Report Office · 2023 · world median 0.7620.8190.762▲ Improved since 2013
Malaysia: 0.819 · world median 0.762 · HDI score (0–1). UNDP Human Development Report Office, 2023 edition, data for 2023.
Published values in that edition run from 0.388 to 0.972; higher is better.
Ranked 67th of 193 by UNDP Human Development Report Office.
Life Expectancy at Age 65UN DESA Population Division · 2023 · world median 16.3917.616.39▲ Improved since 2013
Malaysia: 17.6 · world median 16.39 · Further years a 65-year-old would live at current death rates. UN DESA Population Division, 2023 edition, data for 2023.
Published values in that edition run from 12.13 to 23.21; higher is better.
Position 79th of 222 · derived.
Human Capital IndexWorld Bank Group · 2020 · world median 0.5640.6110.564▲ Improved since 2010
Malaysia: 0.611 · world median 0.564 · HCI score (0–1). World Bank Group, 2020 edition, data for 2020.
Published values in that edition run from 0.292 to 0.879; higher is better.
Position 62nd of 172 · derived.
Mortality Rate, Ages 5–14UN IGME · 2024 · world median 2.8582.0242.858▲ Improved since 2014
Malaysia: 2.024 · world median 2.858 · Deaths between ages 5 and 14 (per 1,000 children aged 5). UN Inter-agency Group for Child Mortality Estimation (UN IGME), 2024 edition, data for 2024.
Published values in that edition run from 0.392 to 59.04; lower is better.
Position 125th of 200 · derived, 1st = worst.
Maternal Mortality RatioMMEIG · 2023 · world median 46.6526.3846.65No real change since 2013
Malaysia: 26.38 · world median 46.65 · Maternal deaths per 100,000 live births. UN Maternal Mortality Estimation Inter-Agency Group (MMEIG), 2023 edition, data for 2023.
Published values in that edition run from 0.11 to 992.83; lower is better.
Position 119th of 195 · derived, 1st = worst.
Institutional DeliveriesUNICEF · 2025 · world median 96.998.296.9No earlier reading
Malaysia: 98.2 · world median 96.9 · Live births delivered in a health facility (%). UNICEF, 2025 edition, data for 2025.
Published values in that edition run from 11.5 to 100; higher is better.
Prevalence of Moderate or Severe Food InsecurityFAO · 2024 · world median 20.915.420.9▲ Improved since 2015
Malaysia: 15.4 · world median 20.9 · Population in moderate or severe food insecurity (%). Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO), 2024 edition, data for 2024.
Published values in that edition run from 1 to 88.8; lower is better.
Position 78th of 135 · derived, 1st = worst.
Adult Mortality (Probability of Dying Between 15 and 60)UN DESA Population Division · 2023 · world median 133.7120.11133.7▼ Worsened since 2013
Malaysia: 120.11 · world median 133.7 · Deaths before age 60 per 1,000 people alive at 15, at that year's death rates. UN DESA Population Division, 2023 edition, data for 2023.
Published values in that edition run from 25.15 to 415.44; lower is better.
Position 124th of 222 · derived, 1st = worst.
Days Above 35°CECMWF · 2025 · world median 3.481.763.48▲ Improved since 2015
Malaysia: 1.76 · world median 3.48 · Days a year with a maximum temperature above 35°C, averaged over the country’s land. World Bank Group (Climate Change Knowledge Portal), from Copernicus ERA5 (ECMWF), 2025 edition, data for 2025.
Published values in that edition run from 0 to 222.89; lower is better.
Share of Dietary Energy Supply from Cereals, Roots and TubersFAO · 2022 · world median 413941▲ Improved since 2012
Malaysia: 39 · world median 41 · Share of dietary energy supply from cereals, roots and tubers (%). Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO), 2022 edition, data for 2022.
Published values in that edition run from 21 to 82; lower is better.
Overweight Prevalence in Children Under FiveUNICEF, WHO and World Bank Group (Joint Malnutrition Estimates) · 2024 · world median 5.55.265.5▲ Improved since 2014
Malaysia: 5.26 · world median 5.5 · Children under 5 who are overweight (%). UNICEF, WHO and World Bank Group (Joint Malnutrition Estimates), 2024 edition, data for 2024.
Published values in that edition run from 0.623 to 26.43; lower is better.
Position 89th of 163 · derived, 1st = worst.
Behind the world median9
Statistics on which Malaysia does worse than the middle country measured.
Dietary Energy SupplyFAO · 2024 · world median 2,9822,9752,982▼ Worsened since 2014
Malaysia: 2,975 · world median 2,982 · Dietary energy supply (kcal per person per day). Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO), 2024 edition, data for 2024.
Published values in that edition run from 1,757 to 3,962; higher is better.
Position 79th of 155 · derived.
Exclusive Breastfeeding Under Six MonthsUNICEF · 2024 · world median 40.7440.340.74No earlier reading
Malaysia: 40.3 · world median 40.74 · Infants under 6 months exclusively breastfed (%). UNICEF, 2024 edition, data for 2024.
Published values in that edition run from 3.497 to 83.3; higher is better.
Position 72nd of 136 · derived.
PM2.5 Air Pollution ExposureAtmospheric Composition Analysis Group, Washington University in St. Louis · 2023 · world median 14.4516.714.45▲ Improved since 2013
Malaysia: 16.7 · world median 14.45 · Population-weighted PM2.5 concentration (µg/m³). Atmospheric Composition Analysis Group, Washington University in St. Louis, 2023 edition, data for 2023.
Published values in that edition run from 2.5 to 68.2; lower is better.
Position 92nd of 220 · derived, 1st = worst.
Vegetable Supply per PersonFAO · 2023 · world median 102.6964.9102.69▼ Worsened since 2013
Malaysia: 64.9 · world median 102.69 · Vegetables available as food (kg per person per year). Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO), 2023 edition, data for 2023.
Published values in that edition run from 6.89 to 412.72; higher is better.
Fruit Supply per PersonFAO · 2023 · world median 84.8359.9984.83▲ Improved since 2013
Malaysia: 59.99 · world median 84.83 · Fruit available as food, excluding wine (kg per person per year). Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO), 2023 edition, data for 2023.
Published values in that edition run from 4.27 to 379.63; higher is better.
Low Birthweight PrevalenceUNICEF and WHO (Joint Low Birthweight Estimates) · 2020 · world median 10.2113.8110.21▼ Worsened since 2010
Malaysia: 13.81 · world median 10.21 · Live births weighing under 2,500 g (%). UNICEF and WHO (Joint Low Birthweight Estimates), 2020 edition, data for 2020.
Published values in that edition run from 3.993 to 27.44; lower is better.
Position 42nd of 158 · derived, 1st = worst.
Demand for Family Planning Satisfied by Modern MethodsUN DESA Population Division · 2023 · world median 71.2552.771.25▼ Worsened since 2013
Malaysia: 52.7 · world median 71.25 · Share of women aged 15–49 wanting to avoid pregnancy who use a modern method (%). UN DESA Population Division, 2023 edition, data for 2023.
Published values in that edition run from 8.4 to 92.4; higher is better.
Position 149th of 196 · derived.
Wasting Prevalence in Children Under FiveUNICEF, WHO and World Bank Group (Joint Malnutrition Estimates) · 2024 · world median 3.546113.546No earlier reading
Malaysia: 11 · world median 3.546 · Children under 5 who are wasted (%). UNICEF, WHO and World Bank Group (Joint Malnutrition Estimates), 2024 edition, data for 2024.
Published values in that edition run from 0.1 to 22.74; lower is better.
Position 13th of 163 · derived, 1st = worst.
Oral Rehydration Salts for Children with DiarrhoeaUNICEF · 2024 · world median 41.517.741.5No earlier reading
Malaysia: 17.7 · world median 41.5 · Children under 5 with diarrhoea given oral rehydration salts (%). UNICEF, 2024 edition, data for 2024.
Published values in that edition run from 9.9 to 95.4; higher is better.
Position 119th of 127 · derived.
No better end10
These describe the shape of a country — more is not better or worse, only different — so they are never ahead or behind.
Fish and Seafood Supply per PersonFAO · 2023 · world median 16.1751.0316.17Moved since 2013
Malaysia: 51.03 · world median 16.17 · Fish and seafood available as food (kg per person per year, live-weight equivalent). Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO), 2023 edition, data for 2023.
Published values in that edition run from 0.38 to 83.81.
Average Weekly Hours WorkedILO · 2025 · world median 38.8944.4938.89No real change since 2015
Malaysia: 44.49 · world median 38.89 · Average weekly hours actually worked per employed person. International Labour Organization (ILO), 2025 edition, data for 2025.
Published values in that edition run from 23.64 to 54.7.
Position 26th of 182 · derived, counted from the highest value.
Caesarean Section RateUNICEF · 2025 · world median 20.6526.220.65No earlier reading
Malaysia: 26.2 · world median 20.65 · Live births delivered by caesarean section (%). UNICEF, 2025 edition, data for 2025.
Published values in that edition run from 0.6 to 72.2.
Meat Supply per PersonFAO · 2023 · world median 57.8369.0757.83Moved since 2013
Malaysia: 69.07 · world median 57.83 · Meat available as food (kg per person per year, carcass weight). Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO), 2023 edition, data for 2023.
Published values in that edition run from 3.49 to 156.95.
Pesticide Use per HectareFAO · 2024 · world median 1.732.731.73Moved since 2014
Malaysia: 2.73 · world median 1.73 · Pesticide use (kg per hectare of cropland). Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO), 2024 edition, data for 2024.
Published values in that edition run from 0 to 37.72.
Position 75th of 178 · derived, counted from the highest value.
Adults Who Have Been Too Anxious or Depressed to Carry OnWellcome Trust · 2020 · world median 20.0519.3420.05No earlier reading
Malaysia: 19.34 · world median 20.05 · People aged 15+ who have ever been too anxious or depressed to continue their usual activities for two weeks or more (%). Wellcome Trust, 2020 edition, data for 2020.
Published values in that edition run from 2.934 to 49.35.
Cost of a Healthy DietFAO · 2025 · world median 4.554.424.55Moved since 2017
Malaysia: 4.42 · world median 4.55 · Cost of the cheapest locally available healthy diet, PPP dollars per person per day. Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO), 2025 edition, data for 2025.
Published values in that edition run from 2.66 to 8.27.
Contraceptive Prevalence (Any Method)UN DESA Population Division · 2023 · world median 41.2529.541.25Moved since 2013
Malaysia: 29.5 · world median 41.25 · Share of all women aged 15–49 using any contraceptive method (%). UN DESA Population Division, 2023 edition, data for 2023.
Published values in that edition run from 6.6 to 78.7.
Modern Contraceptive PrevalenceUN DESA Population Division · 2023 · world median 35.421.835.4Moved since 2013
Malaysia: 21.8 · world median 35.4 · Share of all women aged 15–49 using a modern contraceptive method (%). UN DESA Population Division, 2023 edition, data for 2023.
Published values in that edition run from 2 to 73.8.
Children with Functional DifficultiesUNICEF · 2024 · world median 135.613No earlier reading
Malaysia: 5.6 · world median 13 · Children aged 5-17 with a functional difficulty (%). UNICEF, 2024 edition, data for 2024.
Published values in that edition run from 0.9 to 35.2.
No current reading for Malaysia
Births Attended by Skilled Health Staff (last 2022), Catastrophic Out-of-Pocket Health Spending, Fatal Occupational Injuries (last 2022), Female Genital Mutilation Prevalence, Global Multidimensional Poverty Index, Global Report on Food Crises, Insecticide-Treated Net Use, Malaria Incidence (P. falciparum) (last 2017), Malaria Incidence (P. vivax) (last 2017), Malaria Mortality (P. falciparum) (last 2017), Minimum Dietary Diversity, Children Aged 6–23 Months, Postnatal Care for Newborns Within Two Days, Severe Child Food Poverty, Children Aged 6–23 Months and Violent Discipline of Children. Listed rather than hidden, so the page can be checked against it.
“Position · derived” is this site’s ordering of the published values, 1st = best unless the row says otherwise; the publisher ranks no country on it. Rank, position and standing
05Country Index 2026
Health & Wellbeing among Malaysia’s 15 topics
Health & Wellbeing is Malaysia’s 12th best-placed topic of 15. Strongest first, each marker at its share of that topic’s field.
- Mobility & Trade6th of 1774/4 keys
- Governance & Institutions40th of 1944/4 keys
- Digital & Technology41st of 1984/4 keys
- Economy & Innovation40th of 1764/4 keys
- Poverty & Inequality41st of 1593/3 keys
- Work & Labour63rd of 1824/4 keys
- Peace & Security62nd of 1774/4 keys
- Development & Human Capital91st of 1963/3 keys
- Food & Agriculturejoint 86th of 1844/4 keys
- Democracy & Civil Liberties95th of 1984/4 keys
- Risk & Resilience95th of 1934/4 keys
- Health & Wellbeing99th of 2004/4 keys
- Education & Knowledgejoint 131st of 1984/4 keys
- Gender & Equalityjoint 131st of 1834/4 keys
- Environment & Sustainabilityjoint 158th of 1864/4 keys
No standing on Energy: too few of those topics’ key statistics are published for this country.
06The top of the list
Who leads on health & wellbeing
The three countries placed highest of 200, and the leaders Malaysia can most readily be measured against.
1
San MarinoSouthern Europe
1st of 200 · 2 of 4 keys
Photo: Matl derivative work: Jjtkk · CC BY-SA 3.0, greyscale
2
MonacoWestern Europe
2nd of 200 · 2 of 4 keys
Photo: Martin Weber derivative work: Jjtkk · CC BY-SA 3.0, greyscale
3
AndorraSouthern Europe
3rd of 200 · 2 of 4 keys
Photo: Tiia Monto derivative work: Jjtkk · CC BY-SA 3.0, greyscale
Placed highest nearby
Highest placed on all 4 keys
South Korea5th4/4 keysHighest in South-eastern Asia
Singapore28th3/4 keysThis page
Malaysia99th4/4 keys
Positions out of 200 placed on the topic. A country needs readings on enough keys to be placed, and the top of the list is often held on fewer of them.
07Analysis
Charts and analysis about Malaysia and health & wellbeing
On health & wellbeing
Global Hunger Index 2025: Countries with the Most Alarming Hunger Crisis
Thirteen countries scored across four editions — 2000, 2008, 2016 and 2025 — and five the report could not score at all. DR Congo and South Sudan share 121st place on 37.5.
On health & wellbeing
World Happiness Report 2025: Finland Leads Again as the US and UK Face Major Declines
The ten highest life evaluations of 2025, drawn on a world map, and the six things the report uses to explain them. Costa Rica and Mexico are the only two outside Europe and the Middle East.
08Questions
Malaysia on health & wellbeing: questions answered
Every answer is built from the numbers on this page, so none can say something the page does not.
How does Malaysia rank on health & wellbeing?
Malaysia is placed 99th of 200 countries on Health & Wellbeing in the Country Index 2026, from 4 of its 4 key statistics (Life Expectancy at Birth, Under-Five Mortality Rate, Stunting Prevalence in Children Under Five and Prevalence of Severe Food Insecurity). The position is this site’s ordering of published statistics, not a rank any publisher printed.
What is the latest Life Expectancy at Birth figure for Malaysia?
76.66 in 2023 (years a newborn would live at current death rates), according to UN DESA Population Division. The world median in the same edition was 74.63.
What is the latest Under-Five Mortality Rate figure for Malaysia?
8.309 in 2024 (deaths before age five (per 1,000 live births)), according to UN Inter-agency Group for Child Mortality Estimation (UN IGME). The world median in the same edition was 14.54.
How does Malaysia compare with Indonesia on health & wellbeing?
Indonesia is placed 137th of 200, and Malaysia 99th. Life Expectancy at Birth: Indonesia 71.15, Malaysia 76.66; Under-Five Mortality Rate: Indonesia 17.69, Malaysia 8.309; Stunting Prevalence in Children Under Five: Indonesia 22.01, Malaysia 21.2.
How have Malaysia’s health & wellbeing figures changed?
Life Expectancy at Birth rose from 72.73 in 2000 to 76.66 in 2023; Under-Five Mortality Rate fell from 9.9 in 2000 to 8.309 in 2024; Prevalence of Severe Food Insecurity fell from 7.8 in 2015 to 5.2 in 2024.
Which health & wellbeing statistics are missing for Malaysia?
No current reading is published for Malaysia on Births Attended by Skilled Health Staff, Catastrophic Out-of-Pocket Health Spending, Fatal Occupational Injuries, Female Genital Mutilation Prevalence, Global Multidimensional Poverty Index, Global Report on Food Crises, Insecticide-Treated Net Use, Malaria Incidence (P. falciparum), Malaria Incidence (P. vivax), Malaria Mortality (P. falciparum), Minimum Dietary Diversity, Children Aged 6–23 Months, Postnatal Care for Newborns Within Two Days, Severe Child Food Poverty, Children Aged 6–23 Months and Violent Discipline of Children. They are listed rather than hidden, so the evidence on the page can be checked against it.
09Method
Method, sources and how to cite
What this topic does not measure
Health spending, hospital beds and doctors per person are not measured, because more of any of them does not guarantee better outcomes. Mental health and self-reported happiness are not part of this topic. Food supply per person is measured under Food & Agriculture. Maternal mortality and many other indicators are published here as context; maternal mortality is a key in Development & Human Capital instead.
How the Health & Wellbeing standing is decided
A standing is this site’s ordering, named with its edition — never a publisher’s rank. 4 key statistics vote, one vote each; every country’s published value becomes a place within that key’s own field, the places are averaged, and the average is never published. A country needs 2 of the 4 keys to be placed.
The health & wellbeing method, step by stepHow every standing on this site is built
The key statistics and their licences
- Life Expectancy at Birth — UN DESA Population Division, CC BY 3.0 IGO
- Under-Five Mortality Rate — UN Inter-agency Group for Child Mortality Estimation (UN IGME), CC BY 3.0 IGO
- Stunting Prevalence in Children Under Five — UNICEF, WHO and World Bank Group (Joint Malnutrition Estimates), CC BY 3.0 IGO
- Prevalence of Severe Food Insecurity — Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO), CC BY 4.0
The other 47 statistics on this page come from 16 publishers, each named beside its numbers, with every edition and licence on the datasets pages.
The standing itself is part of the Country Index 2026, published under CC BY-SA 4.0.
Photographs
Malaysia’s banner and the countries placed highest, from their profiles: Wikimedia Commons, shown in greyscale, each used under the licence named.
- Malaysia (banner) — Bjørn Christian Tørrissen, CC BY-SA 3.0
- San Marino — Matl derivative work: Jjtkk, CC BY-SA 3.0
- Monaco — Martin Weber derivative work: Jjtkk, CC BY-SA 3.0
- Andorra — Tiia Monto derivative work: Jjtkk, CC BY-SA 3.0
Cite this page
Nations Inquiry (2026). Malaysia: Health & Wellbeing — standing and statistics, Country Index 2026. https://nationsinquiry.com/countries/malaysia/health