Average hourly earnings of employees in Malaysia
Malaysia: Average hourly earnings of employees was 10.18 international-$ in 2021 prices in 2020. ▲ Rising
Latest (2020)
10.18 international-$ in 2021 prices
Change on year
down 3.4%
World rank
23rd
of 64 countries
All-time high
10.54 international-$ in 2021 prices
in 2019
All-time low
5.86 international-$ in 2021 prices
in 2011
Years of data
10
2011–2020
Average hourly earnings of employees in Malaysia, 2011–2020
Source: International Labour Organization (2026) – with major processing by Our World in Data. Measured in international-$ in 2021 prices.
Analysis
In 2020, average hourly earnings of employees in Malaysia stood at 10.18 international-$ in 2021 prices.
Compared with earlier readings it is down 3.4% on the previous year and up 73.8% over ten years.
Over the whole period, average hourly earnings of employees in Malaysia peaked at 10.54 international-$ in 2021 prices in 2019 and was at its lowest, 5.86 international-$ in 2021 prices, in 2011.
Malaysia ranks 23rd of 64 countries on this measure, in the middle of the range.
Average hourly earnings of employees in Malaysia, year by year
| Year | international-$ in 2021 prices | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 2011 | 5.86 international-$ in 2021 prices | — |
| 2012 | 6.52 international-$ in 2021 prices | +11.3% |
| 2013 | 6.75 international-$ in 2021 prices | +3.5% |
| 2014 | 7.16 international-$ in 2021 prices | +6.1% |
| 2015 | 7.54 international-$ in 2021 prices | +5.4% |
| 2016 | 8.74 international-$ in 2021 prices | +15.9% |
| 2017 | 9.01 international-$ in 2021 prices | +3.1% |
| 2018 | 9.8 international-$ in 2021 prices | +8.8% |
| 2019 | 10.54 international-$ in 2021 prices | +7.5% |
| 2020 | 10.18 international-$ in 2021 prices | -3.4% |
Malaysia compared with similar countries
- Malaysia's 10.18 international-$ in 2021 prices is above the median for upper middle income countries, which is 6.39 international-$ in 2021 prices, 1.6× the median. (26 countries reporting)
- Malaysia's 10.18 international-$ in 2021 prices is above the median for East Asia & Pacific, which is 6.01 international-$ in 2021 prices, 1.7× the median. (10 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2010s | 7.99 international-$ in 2021 prices | 5.86 international-$ in 2021 prices | 10.54 international-$ in 2021 prices | 9 |
| 2020s | 10.18 international-$ in 2021 prices | 10.18 international-$ in 2021 prices | 10.18 international-$ in 2021 prices | 1 |
Countries ranked near Malaysia
- 20 Uruguay 10.52 international-$ in 2021 prices compare
- 21 Mauritius 10.46 international-$ in 2021 prices compare
- 22 Panama 10.32 international-$ in 2021 prices compare
- 24 Bolivia 10.14 international-$ in 2021 prices compare
- 25 Costa Rica 9.73 international-$ in 2021 prices compare
- 26 Greece 9.62 international-$ in 2021 prices compare
More reference data data for Malaysia
- Emission Totals - Indirect emissions (N2O) - Manure applied to Soils 0.7102 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Indirect emissions (N2O) - Manure left on Pasture 0.5869 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Indirect emissions (N2O) - IPCC Agriculture 4.62 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Indirect emissions (N2O) - Crop Residues 0.1487 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Indirect emissions (N2O) - Agricultural Soils 4.62 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Emissions (N2O) - Manure applied to Soils 2.38 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Emissions (N2O) - Manure Management 1.64 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Emissions (N2O) - Manure left on Pasture 3.29 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Emissions (N2O) - IPCC Agriculture 21.1 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Emissions (N2O) - Crop Residues 0.8098 (2050)
Frequently asked questions
- What is average hourly earnings of employees in Malaysia?
- Average hourly earnings of employees in Malaysia was 10.18 international-$ in 2021 prices in 2020, according to International Labour Organization (2026) – with major processing by Our World in Data.
- What is the highest average hourly earnings of employees recorded in Malaysia?
- The highest recorded value was 10.54 international-$ in 2021 prices in 2019.
- What is the lowest average hourly earnings of employees recorded in Malaysia?
- The lowest recorded value was 5.86 international-$ in 2021 prices in 2011.
- How does Malaysia rank for average hourly earnings of employees?
- Malaysia ranks 23rd out of 64 countries with data for 2020.
- Is average hourly earnings of employees rising or falling in Malaysia?
- Over the last ten years it is up 73.8%. The long-run trend across the full record is rising.
- Where does this Malaysia data come from?
- The figures come from International Labour Organization (2026) – with major processing by Our World in Data, published as part of Average hourly earnings of employees. Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
Download this data
CSV · JSON — 10 observations, free to reuse under CC BY 4.0 (Our World in Data).
About this data
Gross remuneration for time worked or work done, vacation, and other types of paid leave.