Foreign liabilities in Malaysia

Malaysia: Foreign liabilities was 454.30 billion current US$ in 2020. ◆ Volatile

Latest (2020)
454.30 billion current US$
Change on year
up 2.1%
World rank
37th
of 151 countries
All-time high
454.30 billion current US$
in 2020
All-time low
86.12 billion current US$
in 1998
Years of data
26
1995–2020

Foreign liabilities in Malaysia, 1995–2020

100.0B200.0B300.0B400.0B500.0B1995200720201995: 87.3B current US$1996: 106.1B current US$1997: 96.4B current US$1998: 86.1B current US$1999: 98.8B current US$2000: 96.1B current US$2001: 98.8B current US$2002: 106.0B current US$2003: 118.8B current US$2004: 142.7B current US$2005: 139.6B current US$2006: 172.2B current US$2007: 242.2B current US$2008: 202.2B current US$2009: 230.8B current US$2010: 304.0B current US$2011: 346.1B current US$2012: 406.6B current US$2013: 427.0B current US$2014: 420.8B current US$2015: 362.1B current US$2016: 370.0B current US$2017: 425.8B current US$2018: 430.6B current US$2019: 444.9B current US$2020: 454.3B current US$

Source: World Bank. Measured in current US$.

Analysis

The most recent figure for foreign liabilities in Malaysia is 454.30 billion current US$, measured in 2020. That is the highest value across all 26 years on record.

Compared with earlier readings it is up 2.1% on the previous year and up 49.5% over ten years.

Over the whole period, foreign liabilities in Malaysia peaked at 454.30 billion current US$ in 2020 and was at its lowest, 86.12 billion current US$, in 1998.

That places Malaysia 37th out of 151 countries with data for 2020, putting it in the top quarter.

The series is highly variable year to year, so single readings are best treated with caution.

Foreign liabilities in Malaysia, year by year

Annual values for Foreign liabilities (current US$) in Malaysia, 1995 to 2020.
Year current US$ Change
1995 87.31 billion current US$
1996 106.08 billion current US$ +21.5%
1997 96.39 billion current US$ -9.1%
1998 86.12 billion current US$ -10.6%
1999 98.77 billion current US$ +14.7%
2000 96.14 billion current US$ -2.7%
2001 98.85 billion current US$ +2.8%
2002 105.96 billion current US$ +7.2%
2003 118.81 billion current US$ +12.1%
2004 142.69 billion current US$ +20.1%
2005 139.65 billion current US$ -2.1%
2006 172.25 billion current US$ +23.3%
2007 242.15 billion current US$ +40.6%
2008 202.23 billion current US$ -16.5%
2009 230.76 billion current US$ +14.1%
2010 303.96 billion current US$ +31.7%
2011 346.05 billion current US$ +13.8%
2012 406.59 billion current US$ +17.5%
2013 426.99 billion current US$ +5.0%
2014 420.81 billion current US$ -1.4%
2015 362.13 billion current US$ -13.9%
2016 370.04 billion current US$ +2.2%
2017 425.75 billion current US$ +15.1%
2018 430.59 billion current US$ +1.1%
2019 444.92 billion current US$ +3.3%
2020 454.30 billion current US$ +2.1%

Malaysia compared with similar countries

  • Malaysia's 454.30 billion current US$ is above the median for upper middle income countries, which is 72.55 billion current US$, 6.3× the median. (43 countries reporting)
  • Malaysia's 454.30 billion current US$ is above the median for East Asia & Pacific, which is 407.23 billion current US$, 1.1× the median. (16 countries reporting)

Averages by decade

DecadeAverage LowestHighest Years
1990s 94.93 billion current US$ 86.12 billion current US$ 106.08 billion current US$ 5
2000s 154.95 billion current US$ 96.14 billion current US$ 242.15 billion current US$ 10
2010s 393.78 billion current US$ 303.96 billion current US$ 444.92 billion current US$ 10
2020s 454.30 billion current US$ 454.30 billion current US$ 454.30 billion current US$ 1

Countries ranked near Malaysia

  1. 34 Thailand 569.52 billion current US$ compare
  2. 35 Saudi Arabia 549.66 billion current US$ compare
  3. 36 Mauritius 469.65 billion current US$ compare
  4. 38 Chile 440.67 billion current US$ compare
  5. 39 South Africa 439.14 billion current US$ compare
  6. 40 Israel 412.74 billion current US$ compare

See the full ranking of 151 places →

More reference data data for Malaysia

All data for Malaysia →

Frequently asked questions

What is foreign liabilities in Malaysia?
Foreign liabilities in Malaysia was 454.30 billion current US$ in 2020, according to the World Bank.
What is the highest foreign liabilities recorded in Malaysia?
The highest recorded value was 454.30 billion current US$ in 2020.
What is the lowest foreign liabilities recorded in Malaysia?
The lowest recorded value was 86.12 billion current US$ in 1998.
How does Malaysia rank for foreign liabilities?
Malaysia ranks 37th out of 151 countries with data for 2020.
Is foreign liabilities rising or falling in Malaysia?
Over the last ten years it is up 49.5%. The long-run trend across the full record is volatile.
Where does this Malaysia data come from?
The figures come from the World Bank, published as part of Foreign liabilities (current US$). Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.

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Foreign liabilities in Malaysia. Statizoid. Retrieved 24 September 2026, from https://reference.statizoid.com/stat/foreign-liabilities-current-us/malaysia/

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About this data

Indicator
Foreign liabilities (current US$)
Unit
current US$
Source
World Bank
Licence
CC BY 4.0 (World Bank Open Data)
Coverage
151 places, 3,851 data points, 1995–2020
Last refreshed