Proportion of total government spending on essential services in Malaysia

Malaysia: Proportion of total government spending on essential services was 14.1% in 2023. ▼ Falling

Latest (2023)
14.1%
Change on year
down 30.0%
World rank
65th
of 170 countries
All-time high
25.9%
in 2002
All-time low
14.0%
in 2008
Years of data
23
2000–2023

Proportion of total government spending on essential services in Malaysia, 2000–2023

01020302000201120232000: 21.42001: 24.32002: 25.92003: 24.52004: 212006: 16.72007: 16.12008: 142009: 18.52010: 18.42011: 212012: 19.92013: 19.52014: 19.82015: 19.82016: 20.82017: 21.22018: 19.62019: 17.62020: 15.62021: 20.52022: 20.12023: 14.1

Source: United Nations Statistics Division, SDG Global Database.

Analysis

The most recent figure for proportion of total government spending on essential services in Malaysia is 14.1%, measured in 2023.

The figure is down 30.0% on the previous year and down 27.5% over ten years.

Over the whole period, proportion of total government spending on essential services in Malaysia peaked at 25.9% in 2002 and was at its lowest, 14.0%, in 2008.

That places Malaysia 65th out of 170 countries with data for 2023, putting it in the middle of the range.

The long-run direction has been consistently falling across the 23 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 [UIS methodology] (%) in Malaysia, 2000 to 2023.
Year Value Change
2000 21.4%
2001 24.3% +13.8%
2002 25.9% +6.4%
2003 24.5% -5.3%
2004 21.0% -14.4%
2006 16.7% -20.3%
2007 16.1% -3.7%
2008 14.0% -12.9%
2009 18.5% +31.5%
2010 18.4% -0.3%
2011 21.0% +14.0%
2012 19.9% -5.4%
2013 19.5% -2.0%
2014 19.8% +1.8%
2015 19.8% +0.1%
2016 20.8% +4.9%
2017 21.2% +2.0%
2018 19.6% -7.4%
2019 17.6% -10.2%
2020 15.6% -11.4%
2021 20.5% +31.0%
2022 20.1% -1.5%
2023 14.1% -30.0%

Averages by decade

DecadeAverage LowestHighest Years
2000s 20.3% 14.0% 25.9% 9
2010s 19.8% 17.6% 21.2% 10
2020s 17.6% 14.1% 20.5% 4

Countries ranked near Malaysia

  1. 62 Oman 14.2% compare
  2. 63 Denmark 14.2% compare
  3. 64 India 14.2% compare
  4. 66 Rwanda 13.9% compare
  5. 67 Kuwait 13.8% compare
  6. 68 Cameroon 13.8% compare

See the full ranking of 204 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 14.1% 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 25.9% in 2002.
What is the lowest proportion of total government spending on essential services recorded in Malaysia?
The lowest recorded value was 14.0% in 2008.
How does Malaysia rank for proportion of total government spending on essential services?
Malaysia ranks 65th out of 170 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 27.5%. 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 [UIS methodology] (%). 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 28 August 2026, from https://education.statizoid.com/stat/proportion-of-total-government-spending-on-essential-services-education-uis-methodology/malaysia/

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About this data

Indicator
Proportion of total government spending on essential services, education [UIS methodology] (%)
Source
United Nations Statistics Division, SDG Global Database
Licence
UN SDG Global Database (open, attribution requested)
Coverage
204 places, 3,724 data points, 2000–2025
Last refreshed