Proportion of total government spending on essential services in Malaysia

Malaysia: Proportion of total government spending on essential services was 18.9% in 2023. ▼ Falling

Latest (2023)
18.9%
Change on year
up 3.6%
World rank
13th
of 116 countries
All-time high
28.8%
in 2002
All-time low
18.2%
in 2022
Years of data
21
2002–2023

Proportion of total government spending on essential services in Malaysia, 2002–2023

01020302002201220232002: 28.82003: 25.92004: 21.72005: 21.12006: 21.92007: 22.82008: 22.92009: 24.82010: 24.82011: 21.72012: 21.82013: 21.62014: 222015: 22.22016: 22.22017: 23.32018: 222019: 20.32021: 19.72022: 18.22023: 18.9

Source: United Nations Statistics Division, SDG Global Database.

Analysis

Malaysia recorded 18.9% for proportion of total government spending on essential services in 2023.

Compared with earlier readings it is up 3.6% on the previous year and down 12.6% over ten years.

Over the whole period, proportion of total government spending on essential services in Malaysia peaked at 28.8% in 2002 and was at its lowest, 18.2%, in 2022.

That places Malaysia 13th out of 116 countries with data for 2023, putting it in the top quarter.

The long-run direction has been consistently falling across the 21 years of available data.

Proportion of total government spending on essential services in Malaysia, year by year

Annual values for Proportion of total government spending on essential services, education (%) in Malaysia, 2002 to 2023.
Year Value Change
2002 28.8%
2003 25.9% -10.0%
2004 21.7% -16.1%
2005 21.1% -2.7%
2006 21.9% +3.6%
2007 22.8% +4.1%
2008 22.9% +0.5%
2009 24.8% +8.1%
2010 24.8% +0.3%
2011 21.7% -12.5%
2012 21.8% +0.2%
2013 21.6% -0.8%
2014 22.0% +1.9%
2015 22.2% +1.0%
2016 22.2% -0.0%
2017 23.3% +4.8%
2018 22.0% -5.6%
2019 20.3% -7.4%
2021 19.7% -3.1%
2022 18.2% -7.5%
2023 18.9% +3.6%

Averages by decade

DecadeAverage LowestHighest Years
2000s 23.7% 21.1% 28.8% 8
2010s 22.2% 20.3% 24.8% 10
2020s 18.9% 18.2% 19.7% 3

Countries ranked near Malaysia

  1. 10 Dominican Republic 19.9% compare
  2. 11 Chile 19.9% compare
  3. 12 Guatemala 19.3% compare
  4. 14 Burkina Faso 18.8% compare
  5. 15 Bangladesh 18.6% compare
  6. 16 Kenya 18.4% compare

See the full ranking of 127 places →

More education data for Malaysia

All data for Malaysia →

Frequently asked questions

What is proportion of total government spending on essential services in Malaysia?
Proportion of total government spending on essential services in Malaysia was 18.9% in 2023, according to United Nations Statistics Division, SDG Global Database.
What is the highest proportion of total government spending on essential services recorded in Malaysia?
The highest recorded value was 28.8% in 2002.
What is the lowest proportion of total government spending on essential services recorded in Malaysia?
The lowest recorded value was 18.2% in 2022.
How does Malaysia rank for proportion of total government spending on essential services?
Malaysia ranks 13th out of 116 countries with data for 2023.
Is proportion of total government spending on essential services rising or falling in Malaysia?
Over the last ten years it is down 12.6%. The long-run trend across the full record is falling.
Where does this Malaysia data come from?
The figures come from United Nations Statistics Division, SDG Global Database, published as part of Proportion of total government spending on essential services, education (%). Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.

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Proportion of total government spending on essential services in Malaysia. Statizoid, drawing on United Nations Statistics Division, SDG Global Database. Retrieved 01 September 2026, from https://education.statizoid.com/stat/proportion-of-total-government-spending-on-essential-services-education-percent/malaysia/

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About this data

Indicator
Proportion of total government spending on essential services, education (%)
Source
United Nations Statistics Division, SDG Global Database
Licence
UN SDG Global Database (open, attribution requested)
Coverage
127 places, 2,344 data points, 2000–2025
Last refreshed