Malaysia

Malaysia jumped 3 places to 35th, now just behind the Philippines and ahead of Denmark. US$ GDP rose 11.8% to US$472.2 billion; real growth ran at +5.2%, but most of the dollar gain was exchange-rate and price effects.

Industry carries significant weight, at 35.7% of output, with manufacturing alone at 22.1%. Services account for 54.8% and agriculture 8.2%. Inflation stood at 1.4% and unemployment at 3.8%, while government gross debt is 70.5% of GDP.

Living costs change the picture. GDP per capita of US$13,125 ranks 79th, but Malaysia ranks 17 places higher on a PPP basis, at 62nd, because local prices are low. The economy has grown 5.0 times in dollar terms since 2000, when it ranked 44th. The IMF projects GDP of US$720.2 billion by 2030, a +53% rise that would lift it to 32nd.