Malaysia vs Singapore
Malaysia
Singapore
| Metric | Malaysia | Singapore |
|---|---|---|
| Capital | Kuala Lumpur | Singapore |
| Population | 35,977,838 | 5,870,750 |
| Area (km²) | 330,803 | 745 |
| Population density (/km²) | 109 | 7,880 |
| GDP per capita (USD) | $13,100 | $98,800 |
| Region | South-Eastern Asia | South-Eastern Asia |
| Currency | MYR | SGD |
| Languages | Malay | English, Malay, Mandarin, Tamil |
| Main religions | Islam, Buddhism | Buddhism, Christianity, Islam |
| Time zone | UTC+8 | UTC+8 |
Green highlights the higher value (or higher GDP per capita). Figures are approximate.
At a glance
Malaysia and Singapore are both located in Asia (both in South-Eastern Asia). Malaysia has the larger population — about 6.1× the population of Singapore, while Malaysia covers more land area.
For full geographic detail, see the Malaysia map and the Singapore map.
Together, then apart
Singapore was part of the British Straits Settlements, alongside Penang and Malacca, and in 1963 it joined Malaya, Sabah and Sarawak to form Malaysia. The union lasted under two years: political and ethnic tensions led to Singapore's separation on 9 August 1965, now its National Day. The two shared a currency until 1967, when each began issuing its own; the ringgit and the Singapore dollar have diverged widely in value since.
A city and a federation
The contrast in scale is extreme. Malaysia is a federation of 13 states and three federal territories covering more than 450 times Singapore's land area, with mountains, rainforest and two separate regions on the Malay Peninsula and Borneo. Singapore is a single, highly urbanised island city-state with one of the highest GDPs per capita in the world. Malaysia is a middle-income economy with oil and gas, palm oil and electronics manufacturing.
Both are multi-ethnic, but in different proportions: Malays form the majority in Malaysia, ethnic Chinese in Singapore. Malay is Malaysia's national language; Singapore has four official languages (English, Malay, Mandarin and Tamil), with English as the working language, while Malay remains its symbolic national language.
Water, rocks and rail
Singapore buys raw water from Johor under a 1962 agreement that runs until 2061. A long-running sovereignty case over Pedra Branca was decided by the International Court of Justice in 2008: the island went to Singapore and nearby Middle Rocks to Malaysia. The two countries have since cooperated on cross-border projects, including a Johor–Singapore Special Economic Zone agreed in 2025.
Crossing the strait
The narrow Johor Strait is crossed by the Causeway (opened in 1924) between Johor Bahru and Woodlands and the Second Link (1998) to Tuas. Huge numbers of people commute across daily, many of them Malaysians working in Singapore. The Johor Bahru–Singapore RTS Link, a short rail shuttle, is expected to open to passengers in early 2027. For the trip to Kuala Lumpur, see Kuala Lumpur to Singapore.
Frequently asked questions
- Was Singapore part of Malaysia?
- Yes, from 1963 until 9 August 1965, when Singapore separated and became an independent country.
- How do you get from Singapore to Malaysia by land?
- Two road crossings link Singapore with Johor: the Causeway at Woodlands and the Second Link at Tuas. Buses, cars and a shuttle train use the Causeway, and the RTS Link rail line is expected to open to passengers in early 2027.