Malaysia

Panorama económico e industrial

Malaysia is an upper-middle-income economy in Southeast Asia with a nominal GDP of approximately USD 422 billion in 2024, making it one of the largest economies in the ASEAN region. The economy is driven by electrical and electronic manufacturing, petroleum and gas, palm oil, financial services, and a growing technology and data-centre sector. Strong foreign direct investment inflows, particularly in semiconductors and artificial intelligence infrastructure, have supported robust growth in recent years. The government's Madani Economy framework and the New Industrial Master Plan 2030 aim to move the economy up the value chain and attract high-value industries. Real GDP grew by approximately 5.2 percent in 2024, supported by private consumption, export recovery, and buoyant investment.

Sectores clave

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Macro

PIB nominal, USD	$422.20B
Crecimiento del PIB real, anual	5.2%
Inflación anual	1.8%
Población personas	34.1M
PIB per cápita USD	$12,397
Capitalización bursátil total cotizado, USD	$474.00B
Cap. bursátil / PIB	112.3%
Desempleo	3.2%
Empresas cotizadas	1,073
Bolsa	Bursa Malaysia, the national stock exchange of Malaysia, operates the Main Market, ACE Market, and LEAP Market and is headquartered in Kuala Lumpur. (XKLS)

Año de los datos: 2024. Fuentes: IMF 2026 Article IV Consultation with Malaysia, World Bank World Development Indicators, Securities Commission Malaysia Annual Report 2024, Bursa Malaysia Annual Report and Media Releases 2024, Department of Statistics Malaysia (DOSM), FocusEconomics Malaysia, Malaysia My Second Home (MM2H) Programme official guidelines. Individual figures may cover different reference periods — for example a fiscal year, or an estimate for the current year — and the overview above states these where known.

Bolsa local y acceso

Bolsa	Bursa Malaysia, the national stock exchange of Malaysia, operates the Main Market, ACE Market, and LEAP Market and is headquartered in Kuala Lumpur.
Código	XKLS
Sitio web	www.bursamalaysia.com
Moneda	MYR

Acceso a brókers locales

Foreign investors can access Bursa Malaysia equities through international online brokers that offer access to Asian exchanges, including Interactive Brokers, Saxo Bank, and several regional platforms. Local licensed brokers such as Maybank Investment Bank, CIMB Securities, Kenanga Investment Bank, and Public Investment Bank offer direct access with research coverage. Trading is conducted in Malaysian Ringgit. Settlement follows a T+2 cycle. Foreign ownership is unrestricted in most sectors, though certain industries such as telecommunications, banking, and defence retain statutory foreign-equity limits. Custodian and nominee accounts are commonly used by foreign investors. US-based investors may also gain exposure through the iShares MSCI Malaysia ETF (EWM) listed on NYSE Arca, or through OTC-traded ADRs of major Malaysian companies.

Brókers globales con acceso a mercados extranjeros

• 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.

Listado solo a efectos informativos, no constituye recomendación. Los mercados disponibles, las comisiones y los requisitos de incorporación varían según el bróker y el país de residencia.

Reubicación y residencia

Acceso para inversores extranjeros

Malaysia is a popular destination for expatriates and retirees in Southeast Asia. The cost of living is moderate relative to comparable regional cities, and English is widely spoken as a business language. Kuala Lumpur offers a range of international schools, modern healthcare, and well-developed infrastructure. Foreign nationals who are not MM2H holders may reside on employment passes tied to a local employer or on dependent passes. Property ownership by foreigners is permitted above a state-level minimum threshold, which varies by state but is typically MYR 1 million or above. Malaysia does not levy capital gains tax on most share transactions, and personal income tax applies on a territorial basis for residents.