Malaysia

Economy & industry overview

Malaysia is an upper-middle-income, newly industrialised economy in Southeast Asia, ranked among the world's top 35 economies by nominal GDP. Its economy is diversified across manufacturing (particularly electronics and semiconductors), services, palm oil and plantation agriculture, oil and gas, and Islamic finance. The country is the world's second-largest palm oil producer and a leading global exporter of electrical and electronic products. GDP grew 5.1% in 2024 and is projected to sustain robust growth in the near term, supported by strong domestic demand, foreign direct investment into data centres and semiconductors, and a recovery in tourism. Bursa Malaysia is the largest stock exchange in ASEAN by number of listings, with over 1,000 public-listed companies across its Main, ACE, and LEAP markets.

Key sectors

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Macro

GDP nominal, USD	$421.97B
GDP growth real, annual	5.1%
Inflation annual	1.8%
Population people	34.2M
GDP per capita USD	$12,366
Market cap total listed, USD	$449.47B
Market cap / GDP	106.5%
Unemployment	3.3%
Listed companies	1,073
Exchange	Bursa Malaysia (KLSE)

Data year: 2024. Sources: World Bank (GDP 2024 current USD), IMF World Economic Outlook / Article IV 2025, Department of Statistics Malaysia (DOSM), Bursa Malaysia Annual Report / Press Release Jan 2025, Bank Negara Malaysia, Ministry of Finance Malaysia, FocusEconomics, CEIC Data, Trading Economics.

Local exchange & access

Exchange	Bursa Malaysia
Code	KLSE
Website	www.bursamalaysia.com
Currency	MYR

Local broker access

Foreign investors can access Bursa Malaysia equities through international online brokers offering access to Malaysian markets (e.g. Interactive Brokers, Saxo Bank) or through local licensed brokers such as Maybank Investment Bank, CIMB Securities, Public Investment Bank, and RHB Investment Bank. A Central Depository System (CDS) account is required to hold Malaysian-listed securities. Foreign ownership limits apply to certain regulated sectors including banking, telecommunications, and media. Dividends are generally not subject to withholding tax for residents under Malaysia's single-tier tax system; verify current rules for non-residents.

Global brokers with foreign-market access

• Interactive Brokers — Direct access to 90+ markets worldwide, including many emerging exchanges.
• Saxo Bank — Multi-market access across Asia, Europe and the Middle East.
• Charles Schwab (Global) — Foreign ordinary shares on select markets; US-listed ADRs and ETFs.
• Fidelity International Trading — International stock trading on a number of developed and emerging markets.

Listed for convenience only — not a recommendation. Available markets, fees and onboarding rules differ by broker and by your country of residence.

Relocation & residency

Foreign-investor access

Malaysia My Second Home (MM2H) is the primary long-stay programme for foreigners. The programme was significantly revised in 2021 and again in 2023, introducing tiered categories (Platinum, Gold, Silver) with differing fixed-deposit and income requirements. Holders may not work in Malaysia but can own property subject to state-level minimum purchase thresholds. Healthcare, cost of living, and international schooling infrastructure are key draws for expatriates.