Malaysia Income Share Top 10%
Income share held by highest 10% SI.DST.10TH.10
Malaysia's income share top 10% was 30.90% in 2021, ranked 65th globally. This represents a 1.0% decrease from 2020. Data from World Bank, covering 1984–2021.
Overview
Malaysia's income share top 10% stood at 30.90% in 2021, a decline of +0.30pp from 2018. Malaysia ranked 65th globally.
Malaysia’s share of income accruing to the top 10 % of earners fell from an all‑time peak of 38.40 % in 1997 to a trough of 30.90 % in 2021, the latest figure reported by the World Bank, placing the country 65th globally. The decline, observed over a 14‑year coverage period, reflects a gradual compression of top‑income concentration that began after the Asian financial crisis and continued through successive reform phases. By 2021 Malaysia’s top‑10 % share was marginally higher than Uruguay’s 30.80 % and slightly lower than Cameroon’s 31.10 %, situating it among middle‑ranked peers in the distribution of income. The downward trajectory suggests that policy measures such as progressive taxation and expanded social protection have modestly mitigated inequality, yet the share remains above the regional average. Future movements will hinge on the effectiveness of fiscal reforms and labour‑market policies, which could either sustain the decline or reverse it if growth becomes increasingly skewed toward high‑income groups.
Data & projection
| Year | Income Share Top 10% | YoY change | Rank |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 30.90% | −0.30pp | #65 |
| 2018 | 31.20% | −0.10pp | #75 |
| 2015 | 31.30% | −0.50pp | #60 |
| 2013 | 31.80% | −1.40pp | #60 |
| 2011 | 33.20% | −0.90pp | #67 |
| 2008 | 34.10% | +0.30pp | #62 |
| 2006 | 33.80% | −1.30pp | #64 |
| 2003 | 35.10% | −3.30pp | #53 |
| 1997 | 38.40% | +0.50pp | #28 |
| 1995 | 37.90% | +0.90pp | #38 |
| 1992 | 37.00% | +0.60pp | #30 |
| 1989 | 36.40% | −0.50pp | #15 |
| 1987 | 36.90% | −1.40pp | #23 |
| 1984 | 38.30% | – | #11 |
Detected Pattern
Analysis
Malaysia matched the Export Boom Cycle pattern in 2011. Historically, 71% of countries showing this pattern (546 out of 768) saw income share top 10% improve within 24 months. View full analysis →
Frequently Asked Questions
Malaysia's income share top 10% was 30.90% in 2021. Ranked 65th globally. This represents a 1.0% decrease from the previous year.
Malaysia's income share top 10% peaked at 38.40% in 1997.
The lowest income share top 10% in Malaysia was 30.90% in 2021.
Malaysia ranks 65th globally in income share top 10% as of 2021.
The World Bank indicator code is SI.DST.10TH.10. Data sourced from World Bank.
The income share top 10% of Malaysia in 2021 was 30.90%. This ranks 65th in the world.
Cite this page
@misc{historysaid_malaysia_income-top-10,
title = {Malaysia Income Share Top 10%},
url = {https://historysaid.com/malaysia/income-top-10/},
publisher = {HistorySaid},
year = {2026}
}