Military spending, annual growth rate in Malaysia

Malaysia: Military spending, annual growth rate was 3.85 % change on previous year in 2025. ◆ Volatile

Latest (2025)
3.85 % change on previous year
Change on year
down 61.8%
World rank
95th
of 159 countries
All-time high
45.29 % change on previous year
in 1987
All-time low
-35.02 % change on previous year
in 1988
Years of data
68
1958–2025

Military spending, annual growth rate in Malaysia, 1958–2025

-40-2002040195819912025

Source: Statizoid (derived). Measured in % change on previous year.

Analysis

In 2025, military spending, annual growth rate in Malaysia stood at 3.85 % change on previous year.

That represents a change of down 61.8% on the previous year and down 49.8% over ten years.

Over the whole period, military spending, annual growth rate in Malaysia peaked at 45.29 % change on previous year in 1987 and was at its lowest, -35.02 % change on previous year, in 1988.

That places Malaysia 95th out of 159 countries with data for 2025, putting it in the middle of the range.

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

Military spending, annual growth rate in Malaysia, year by year

Annual values for Military spending, annual growth rate in Malaysia, 1958 to 2025.
Year % change on previous year Change
1958 5.15 % change on previous year
1959 -12.85 % change on previous year -349.8%
1960 -7.71 % change on previous year -40.1%
1961 -17.05 % change on previous year +121.3%
1962 2.97 % change on previous year -117.4%
1963 34.63 % change on previous year +1067.8%
1964 39.81 % change on previous year +15.0%
1965 40.3 % change on previous year +1.2%
1966 24.14 % change on previous year -40.1%
1967 -7.74 % change on previous year -132.1%
1968 3.58 % change on previous year -146.3%
1969 -2.69 % change on previous year -175.0%
1970 36.35 % change on previous year -1453.5%
1971 12.1 % change on previous year -66.7%
1972 -1.46 % change on previous year -112.1%
1973 -7.38 % change on previous year +405.4%
1974 12.39 % change on previous year -267.8%
1975 5.62 % change on previous year -54.7%
1976 3.25 % change on previous year -42.1%
1977 34.01 % change on previous year +945.8%
1978 -14.6 % change on previous year -142.9%
1979 16.92 % change on previous year -215.9%
1980 24.06 % change on previous year +42.2%
1981 34.74 % change on previous year +44.4%
1982 -4.76 % change on previous year -113.7%
1983 -10.55 % change on previous year +121.5%
1984 -7.8 % change on previous year -26.1%
1985 -10.73 % change on previous year +37.6%
1986 -14.32 % change on previous year +33.5%
1987 45.29 % change on previous year -416.3%
1988 -35.02 % change on previous year -177.3%
1989 19.83 % change on previous year -156.6%
1990 7.4 % change on previous year -62.7%
1991 36.13 % change on previous year +388.1%
1992 -0.6418 % change on previous year -101.8%
1993 6.26 % change on previous year -1076.0%
1994 8.37 % change on previous year +33.5%
1995 6.32 % change on previous year -24.4%
1996 -3.84 % change on previous year -160.8%
1997 -6.02 % change on previous year +56.5%
1998 -26.5 % change on previous year +340.6%
1999 35.29 % change on previous year -233.2%
2000 -9.22 % change on previous year -126.1%
2001 24.41 % change on previous year -364.9%
2002 13.63 % change on previous year -44.2%
2003 27.37 % change on previous year +100.8%
2004 -3.4 % change on previous year -112.4%
2005 6.97 % change on previous year -304.9%
2006 -2.14 % change on previous year -130.8%
2007 11.66 % change on previous year -643.7%
2008 2.26 % change on previous year -80.6%
2009 -5.6 % change on previous year -347.7%
2010 -12.58 % change on previous year +124.6%
2011 12.1 % change on previous year -196.2%
2012 -4.63 % change on previous year -138.3%
2013 8.96 % change on previous year -293.6%
2014 0.7775 % change on previous year -91.3%
2015 7.67 % change on previous year +886.8%
2016 -4.26 % change on previous year -155.5%
2017 -15.97 % change on previous year +274.8%
2018 -8.75 % change on previous year -45.2%
2019 -3.41 % change on previous year -61.0%
2020 6.13 % change on previous year -279.7%
2021 4.74 % change on previous year -22.6%
2022 2.7 % change on previous year -43.2%
2023 7.88 % change on previous year +192.4%
2024 10.08 % change on previous year +27.9%
2025 3.85 % change on previous year -61.8%

Malaysia compared with similar countries

  • Malaysia's 3.85 % change on previous year is below the median for upper middle income countries, which is 6.73 % change on previous year, 57% of the median. (46 countries reporting)
  • Malaysia's 3.85 % change on previous year is below the median for East Asia & Pacific, which is 9.38 % change on previous year, 41% of the median. (19 countries reporting)

Biggest year-on-year movements

Years where Military spending, annual growth rate 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.

YearChange FromTo
1970 +1453.5% -2.69 % change on previous year 36.35 % change on previous year
1993 +1076.0% -0.6418 % change on previous year 6.26 % change on previous year
1963 +1067.8% 2.97 % change on previous year 34.63 % change on previous year
1977 +945.8% 3.25 % change on previous year 34.01 % change on previous year
2015 +886.8% 0.7775 % change on previous year 7.67 % change on previous year

Averages by decade

DecadeAverage LowestHighest Years
1950s -3.85 % change on previous year -12.85 % change on previous year 5.15 % change on previous year 2
1960s 11.03 % change on previous year -17.05 % change on previous year 40.3 % change on previous year 10
1970s 9.72 % change on previous year -14.6 % change on previous year 36.35 % change on previous year 10
1980s 4.07 % change on previous year -35.02 % change on previous year 45.29 % change on previous year 10
1990s 6.28 % change on previous year -26.5 % change on previous year 36.13 % change on previous year 10
2000s 6.59 % change on previous year -9.22 % change on previous year 27.37 % change on previous year 10
2010s -2.01 % change on previous year -15.97 % change on previous year 12.1 % change on previous year 10
2020s 5.9 % change on previous year 2.7 % change on previous year 10.08 % change on previous year 6

Countries ranked near Malaysia

  1. 92 Namibia 4.97 % change on previous year compare
  2. 93 Guinea 4.21 % change on previous year compare
  3. 94 Congo 4.19 % change on previous year compare
  4. 96 Niger 3.22 % change on previous year compare
  5. 97 Slovakia 3.04 % change on previous year compare
  6. 98 Australia 3.02 % change on previous year compare

See the full ranking of 159 places →

More reference data data for Malaysia

All data for Malaysia →

Frequently asked questions

What is military spending, annual growth rate in Malaysia?
Military spending, annual growth rate in Malaysia was 3.85 % change on previous year in 2025, according to Statizoid (derived).
What is the highest military spending, annual growth rate recorded in Malaysia?
The highest recorded value was 45.29 % change on previous year in 1987.
What is the lowest military spending, annual growth rate recorded in Malaysia?
The lowest recorded value was -35.02 % change on previous year in 1988.
How does Malaysia rank for military spending, annual growth rate?
Malaysia ranks 95th out of 159 countries with data for 2025.
Is military spending, annual growth rate rising or falling in Malaysia?
Over the last ten years it is down 49.8%. The long-run trend across the full record is volatile.
Where does this Malaysia data come from?
The figures come from Statizoid (derived), published as part of Military spending, annual growth rate. Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.

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Military spending, annual growth rate in Malaysia. Statizoid, drawing on Statizoid (derived). Retrieved 21 September 2026, from https://reference.statizoid.com/stat/military-spending-annual-growth-rate/malaysia/

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<a href="https://reference.statizoid.com/stat/military-spending-annual-growth-rate/malaysia/">Military spending, annual growth rate in Malaysia</a> — Statizoid

How this figure is calculated

The year-on-year percentage change in Military spending. Computed from consecutive annual observations; years either side of a gap are skipped rather than bridged.

Computed from

Statizoid computes this series; the underlying measurements belong to the publishers named above. The arithmetic is applied to every country and year where both inputs report, and nothing is estimated unless the page says so.

About this data

Indicator
Military spending, annual growth rate
Unit
% change on previous year
Source
Statizoid (derived)
Licence
Derived by Statizoid from the sources named on the page
Coverage
159 places, 7,905 data points, 1950–2025
Last refreshed

The year-on-year percentage change in Military spending. Computed from consecutive annual observations; years either side of a gap are skipped rather than bridged.