Compare countries & regions
Malaysia vs Philippines
Malaysia and Philippines side by side — economy, tax, company setup, visas, housing and study, from official and open data.
Malaysia
Capital time zone: Asia/Kuala_Lumpur
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Philippines
Capital time zone: Asia/Manila
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Economy & society
| Metric | Malaysia | Philippines |
|---|---|---|
| Population (2024) | 35.56M | 115.84M |
| GDP (current US$) (2024) | $422.23B | $461.62B |
| GDP per capita (2024) | $11,874 | $3,985 |
| GDP growth (annual) (2024) | 5.1% | 5.7% |
| Inflation (annual) (2024) | 1.8% | 3.2% |
| Unemployment (2025) | 3.8% | 2.2% |
| FDI net inflows (2024) | $15.59B | $9.40B |
Business & tax
| Metric | Malaysia | Philippines |
|---|---|---|
| Corporate tax General national corporate income tax rate, national surtaxes included — where a surtax starts above a profit threshold (Portugal, France) the rate is a large company's. Sub-national tax is excluded and shown separately where it applies — a cell reading "15.825% +7–20.3% municipal" means the national rate plus a local business tax. "on trading income" and "on distributed profit" mark countries whose headline rate does not reach all profit. | 24% | 25% |
| Top income tax Top marginal rate on employment income, NATIONAL layer only — that is what makes the column comparable. Where a sub-national layer applies it is added to the cell rather than folded into the number, so "20% +29–35% municipal" is Sweden's national rate plus its municipal one. National surtaxes are included (Germany's solidarity surcharge, France's high-income contribution). Social-security contributions are excluded throughout. | 30% | 35% |
| Capital gains Default rate on long-term gains from listed securities, for an individual. Varies by asset, holding period and residency. Where one percentage cannot state the answer the cell says so instead: "effective" = a fixed share of the gain is taxed as ordinary income; "on deemed return" = the tax falls on a notional return, not on realised gains; "as income" = there is no separate capital-gains tax; "Varies" = no single general rate; "No general CGT" = individuals are not taxed on capital gains, though gains that are trading in nature and gains realised in a business still can be. "Listed shares exempt" = long-term gains on listed shares are exempt while other gains are taxed. National surtaxes are included; a sub-national layer is shown beside the rate ("+5% local"). | No general CGT | Varies |
| VAT / GST Standard statutory rate. Where one percentage cannot state it the cell says so: "effective" = the statutory rate applies to a reduced tax base; "temporary" = a time-limited rate charged instead of the statutory one, with its end date; "by supply" / "by state" = a band structure with no single standard rate; "No VAT or GST" = the tax does not exist there, which is not a 0% rate. Reduced, zero and exempt categories are not shown. A sub-national sales tax, where one applies on top, is shown beside the rate ("+0–10% provincial"). | Sales tax 5% / 10% · Service tax 6% / 8% | 12% |
| Common entity The private limited-liability form most commonly used by foreign founders. | Sdn Bhd | Inc |
| Digital nomad visa Whether a dedicated digital-nomad or remote-work visa exists. A country without one may still allow remote work on another status. | Yes | No |
| DNV income req. (mo) Minimum income the programme requires, converted to USD. Thresholds are set in local currency and move with it. "—" = no dedicated visa, or no published monthly minimum. | $2,000 | — |
Figures are headline national values gathered for comparison, not tax or legal advice. Definitions differ between countries — read each row's basis before comparing, and verify against the official authority before acting.
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Frequently asked questions
Which has lower corporate tax, Malaysia or Philippines?
Malaysia — Malaysia 24%%, Philippines 25%%.
How do VAT rates compare in Malaysia and Philippines?
Malaysia Sales tax 5% / 10% · Service tax 6% / 8%%, Philippines 12%%.
Is Malaysia or Philippines wealthier per capita?
Malaysia — Malaysia $11,874, Philippines $3,985 (World Bank, 2024/2024).
Do Malaysia and Philippines offer a digital nomad visa?
Only Malaysia does.
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