Dietary composition by country in Malaysia
Malaysia: Dietary composition by country was 16.85 kilocalories per day per capita in 2023. ◆ Volatile
Latest (2023)
16.85 kilocalories per day per capita
Change on year
down 3.3%
World rank
75th
of 191 countries
All-time high
19.93 kilocalories per day per capita
in 2006
All-time low
0 kilocalories per day per capita
in 1973
Years of data
63
1961–2023
Dietary composition by country in Malaysia, 1961–2023
Source: Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (2025) – processed by Our World in Data. Measured in kilocalories per day per capita.
Analysis
Malaysia recorded 16.85 kilocalories per day per capita for dietary composition by country in 2023.
Compared with earlier readings it is down 3.3% on the previous year and up 29.3% over ten years.
Over the whole period, dietary composition by country in Malaysia peaked at 19.93 kilocalories per day per capita in 2006 and was at its lowest, 0 kilocalories per day per capita, in 1973.
That places Malaysia 75th out of 191 countries with data for 2023, putting it in the middle of the range.
The series is highly variable year to year, so single readings are best treated with caution.
Dietary composition by country in Malaysia, year by year
| Year | kilocalories per day per capita | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1961 | 5.16 kilocalories per day per capita | — |
| 1962 | 1.04 kilocalories per day per capita | -79.9% |
| 1963 | 4.18 kilocalories per day per capita | +302.6% |
| 1964 | 4.21 kilocalories per day per capita | +0.6% |
| 1965 | 4.23 kilocalories per day per capita | +0.5% |
| 1966 | 4.24 kilocalories per day per capita | +0.3% |
| 1967 | 4.25 kilocalories per day per capita | +0.3% |
| 1968 | 4.27 kilocalories per day per capita | +0.3% |
| 1969 | 5.35 kilocalories per day per capita | +25.3% |
| 1970 | 6.43 kilocalories per day per capita | +20.2% |
| 1971 | 5.36 kilocalories per day per capita | -16.6% |
| 1972 | 1.07 kilocalories per day per capita | -80.0% |
| 1973 | 0 kilocalories per day per capita | -100.0% |
| 1974 | 1.07 kilocalories per day per capita | — |
| 1975 | 0 kilocalories per day per capita | -100.0% |
| 1976 | 0 kilocalories per day per capita | — |
| 1977 | 2.14 kilocalories per day per capita | — |
| 1978 | 1.07 kilocalories per day per capita | -50.1% |
| 1979 | 1.07 kilocalories per day per capita | -0.1% |
| 1980 | 0 kilocalories per day per capita | -100.0% |
| 1981 | 0 kilocalories per day per capita | — |
| 1982 | 0 kilocalories per day per capita | — |
| 1983 | 1.04 kilocalories per day per capita | — |
| 1984 | 1.04 kilocalories per day per capita | -0.6% |
| 1985 | 1.03 kilocalories per day per capita | -0.5% |
| 1986 | 1.03 kilocalories per day per capita | -0.4% |
| 1987 | 1.03 kilocalories per day per capita | -0.3% |
| 1988 | 7.17 kilocalories per day per capita | +598.6% |
| 1989 | 6.14 kilocalories per day per capita | -14.4% |
| 1990 | 5.11 kilocalories per day per capita | -16.8% |
| 1991 | 6.12 kilocalories per day per capita | +19.9% |
| 1992 | 6.12 kilocalories per day per capita | -0.0% |
| 1993 | 6.12 kilocalories per day per capita | -0.0% |
| 1994 | 7.14 kilocalories per day per capita | +16.7% |
| 1995 | 7.14 kilocalories per day per capita | -0.0% |
| 1996 | 8.16 kilocalories per day per capita | +14.3% |
| 1997 | 4.08 kilocalories per day per capita | -50.0% |
| 1998 | 5.1 kilocalories per day per capita | +25.0% |
| 1999 | 3.06 kilocalories per day per capita | -40.0% |
| 2000 | 3.06 kilocalories per day per capita | -0.1% |
| 2001 | 4.07 kilocalories per day per capita | +33.0% |
| 2002 | 4.05 kilocalories per day per capita | -0.4% |
| 2003 | 3.03 kilocalories per day per capita | -25.3% |
| 2004 | 6.03 kilocalories per day per capita | +99.2% |
| 2005 | 9 kilocalories per day per capita | +49.4% |
| 2006 | 19.93 kilocalories per day per capita | +121.4% |
| 2007 | 15.89 kilocalories per day per capita | -20.3% |
| 2008 | 15.84 kilocalories per day per capita | -0.3% |
| 2009 | 14.82 kilocalories per day per capita | -6.5% |
| 2010 | 12.27 kilocalories per day per capita | -17.2% |
| 2011 | 12.15 kilocalories per day per capita | -1.0% |
| 2012 | 12.27 kilocalories per day per capita | +1.0% |
| 2013 | 13.03 kilocalories per day per capita | +6.2% |
| 2014 | 12.1 kilocalories per day per capita | -7.1% |
| 2015 | 12.64 kilocalories per day per capita | +4.5% |
| 2016 | 14.47 kilocalories per day per capita | +14.5% |
| 2017 | 16.13 kilocalories per day per capita | +11.5% |
| 2018 | 16.35 kilocalories per day per capita | +1.4% |
| 2019 | 15.48 kilocalories per day per capita | -5.3% |
| 2020 | 17.34 kilocalories per day per capita | +12.0% |
| 2021 | 16.63 kilocalories per day per capita | -4.1% |
| 2022 | 17.42 kilocalories per day per capita | +4.8% |
| 2023 | 16.85 kilocalories per day per capita | -3.3% |
Malaysia compared with similar countries
- Malaysia's 16.85 kilocalories per day per capita is below the median for upper middle income countries, which is 19.84 kilocalories per day per capita, 85% of the median. (57 countries reporting)
- Malaysia's 16.85 kilocalories per day per capita is below the median for East Asia & Pacific, which is 22.61 kilocalories per day per capita, 75% of the median. (32 countries reporting)
Biggest year-on-year movements
Years where Dietary composition by country in Malaysia changed far more than this series normally does. A large move can be a real event or a change in how the figure was measured — the source note below says who published it.
| Year | Change | From | To |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1988 | +598.6% | 1.03 kilocalories per day per capita | 7.17 kilocalories per day per capita |
| 1963 | +302.6% | 1.04 kilocalories per day per capita | 4.18 kilocalories per day per capita |
| 2006 | +121.4% | 9 kilocalories per day per capita | 19.93 kilocalories per day per capita |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1960s | 4.1 kilocalories per day per capita | 1.04 kilocalories per day per capita | 5.35 kilocalories per day per capita | 9 |
| 1970s | 1.82 kilocalories per day per capita | 0 kilocalories per day per capita | 6.43 kilocalories per day per capita | 10 |
| 1980s | 1.85 kilocalories per day per capita | 0 kilocalories per day per capita | 7.17 kilocalories per day per capita | 10 |
| 1990s | 5.81 kilocalories per day per capita | 3.06 kilocalories per day per capita | 8.16 kilocalories per day per capita | 10 |
| 2000s | 9.57 kilocalories per day per capita | 3.03 kilocalories per day per capita | 19.93 kilocalories per day per capita | 10 |
| 2010s | 13.69 kilocalories per day per capita | 12.1 kilocalories per day per capita | 16.35 kilocalories per day per capita | 10 |
| 2020s | 17.06 kilocalories per day per capita | 16.63 kilocalories per day per capita | 17.42 kilocalories per day per capita | 4 |
Countries ranked near Malaysia
- 72 Kiribati 18.2 kilocalories per day per capita compare
- 73 Uruguay 17.56 kilocalories per day per capita compare
- 74 Netherlands Antilles 17.22 kilocalories per day per capita compare
- 76 Iraq 16.81 kilocalories per day per capita compare
- 77 Romania 16.33 kilocalories per day per capita compare
- 78 Vanuatu 16.24 kilocalories per day per capita 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 dietary composition by country in Malaysia?
- Dietary composition by country in Malaysia was 16.85 kilocalories per day per capita in 2023, according to Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (2025) – processed by Our World in Data.
- What is the highest dietary composition by country recorded in Malaysia?
- The highest recorded value was 19.93 kilocalories per day per capita in 2006.
- What is the lowest dietary composition by country recorded in Malaysia?
- The lowest recorded value was 0 kilocalories per day per capita in 1973.
- How does Malaysia rank for dietary composition by country?
- Malaysia ranks 75th out of 191 countries with data for 2023.
- Is dietary composition by country rising or falling in Malaysia?
- Over the last ten years it is up 29.3%. The long-run trend across the full record is volatile.
- Where does this Malaysia data come from?
- The figures come from Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (2025) – processed by Our World in Data, published as part of Dietary composition by country. Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
Download this data
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About this data
Quantity that is available for consumption at the end of the supply chain. It does not account for consumer waste, so the quantity that is actually consumed may be lower.