Income share of the richest 1%: World Inequality Database vs. World Bank in Malaysia
Malaysia: Income share of the richest 1%: World Inequality Database vs. World Bank was 11.5% in 2022. ▼ Falling
Income share of the richest 1%: World Inequality Database vs. World Bank in Malaysia, 1984–2022
Source: World Inequality Database (WID.world) (2026) – with major processing by Our World in Data. Measured in %.
Analysis
Malaysia recorded 11.5% for income share of the richest 1%: world inequality database vs. world bank in 2022.
The figure is up 9.8% on the previous year and down 14.2% over ten years.
Over the whole period, income share of the richest 1%: world inequality database vs. world bank in Malaysia peaked at 17.3% in 1989 and was at its lowest, 10.1%, in 2016.
That places Malaysia 68th out of 109 countries with data for 2022, putting it in the middle of the range.
The long-run direction has been consistently falling across the 15 years of available data.
Income share of the richest 1%: World Inequality Database vs. World Bank in Malaysia, year by year
| Year | % | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1984 | 16.7% | — |
| 1987 | 16.9% | +0.8% |
| 1989 | 17.3% | +2.7% |
| 1992 | 16.7% | -3.5% |
| 1995 | 17.1% | +2.2% |
| 1997 | 17.1% | +0.2% |
| 2002 | 15.3% | -10.8% |
| 2004 | 14.2% | -7.3% |
| 2007 | 15.5% | +9.2% |
| 2009 | 15.1% | -2.4% |
| 2012 | 13.4% | -11.4% |
| 2014 | 12.1% | -9.8% |
| 2016 | 10.1% | -16.3% |
| 2019 | 10.4% | +3.5% |
| 2022 | 11.5% | +9.8% |
Malaysia compared with similar countries
- Malaysia's 11.5% is below the median for upper middle income countries, which is 15.1%, 76% of the median. (30 countries reporting)
- Malaysia's 11.5% is below the median for East Asia & Pacific, which is 14.7%, 78% of the median. (14 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1980s | 17.0% | 16.7% | 17.3% | 3 |
| 1990s | 17.0% | 16.7% | 17.1% | 3 |
| 2000s | 15.0% | 14.2% | 15.5% | 4 |
| 2010s | 11.5% | 10.1% | 13.4% | 4 |
| 2020s | 11.5% | 11.5% | 11.5% | 1 |
Countries ranked near Malaysia
- 65 South Korea 11.9% compare
- 66 Mali 11.6% compare
- 67 Argentina 11.6% compare
- 69 Cote d'Ivoire 11.5% compare
- 70 Moldova 11.2% compare
- 71 Guinea-Bissau 10.8% 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 income share of the richest 1%: world inequality database vs. world bank in Malaysia?
- Income share of the richest 1%: world inequality database vs. world bank in Malaysia was 11.5% in 2022, according to World Inequality Database (WID.world) (2026) – with major processing by Our World in Data.
- What is the highest income share of the richest 1%: world inequality database vs. world bank recorded in Malaysia?
- The highest recorded value was 17.3% in 1989.
- What is the lowest income share of the richest 1%: world inequality database vs. world bank recorded in Malaysia?
- The lowest recorded value was 10.1% in 2016.
- How does Malaysia rank for income share of the richest 1%: world inequality database vs. world bank?
- Malaysia ranks 68th out of 109 countries with data for 2022.
- Is income share of the richest 1%: world inequality database vs. world bank rising or falling in Malaysia?
- Over the last ten years it is down 14.2%. The long-run trend across the full record is falling.
- Where does this Malaysia data come from?
- The figures come from World Inequality Database (WID.world) (2026) – with major processing by Our World in Data, published as part of Income share of the richest 1%: World Inequality Database vs. World Bank. Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
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About this data
Share of income received by the richest 1% of the population. Income here is measured after taxes and benefits.