Energy intensity in Malaysia
Malaysia: Energy intensity was 4.49 megajoules per international-$ in 2021 prices in 2021. ▼ Falling
Energy intensity in Malaysia, 2000–2021
Source: International Energy Agency (IEA), International Renewable Energy Agency (IRENA), UN Statistics Division, World Health Organization (WHO), and World Bank (2026) – processed by Our World in Data. Measured in megajoules per international-$ in 2021 prices.
Analysis
Malaysia recorded 4.49 megajoules per international-$ in 2021 prices for energy intensity in 2021.
That represents a change of down 13.3% over ten years.
Over the whole period, energy intensity in Malaysia peaked at 5.85 megajoules per international-$ in 2021 prices in 2005 and was at its lowest, 4.28 megajoules per international-$ in 2021 prices, in 2017.
Malaysia ranks 81st of 201 countries on this measure, in the middle of the range.
The long-run direction has been consistently falling across the 22 years of available data.
Energy intensity in Malaysia, year by year
| Year | megajoules per international-$ in 2021 prices | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 2000 | 5.46 megajoules per international-$ in 2021 prices | — |
| 2001 | 5.65 megajoules per international-$ in 2021 prices | +3.5% |
| 2002 | 5.54 megajoules per international-$ in 2021 prices | -1.9% |
| 2003 | 5.61 megajoules per international-$ in 2021 prices | +1.3% |
| 2004 | 5.66 megajoules per international-$ in 2021 prices | +0.9% |
| 2005 | 5.85 megajoules per international-$ in 2021 prices | +3.4% |
| 2006 | 5.57 megajoules per international-$ in 2021 prices | -4.8% |
| 2007 | 5.59 megajoules per international-$ in 2021 prices | +0.4% |
| 2008 | 5.65 megajoules per international-$ in 2021 prices | +1.1% |
| 2009 | 5.42 megajoules per international-$ in 2021 prices | -4.1% |
| 2010 | 5.23 megajoules per international-$ in 2021 prices | -3.5% |
| 2011 | 5.18 megajoules per international-$ in 2021 prices | -1.0% |
| 2012 | 4.99 megajoules per international-$ in 2021 prices | -3.7% |
| 2013 | 5.38 megajoules per international-$ in 2021 prices | +7.8% |
| 2014 | 5.18 megajoules per international-$ in 2021 prices | -3.7% |
| 2015 | 4.72 megajoules per international-$ in 2021 prices | -8.9% |
| 2016 | 4.69 megajoules per international-$ in 2021 prices | -0.6% |
| 2017 | 4.28 megajoules per international-$ in 2021 prices | -8.7% |
| 2018 | 4.5 megajoules per international-$ in 2021 prices | +5.1% |
| 2019 | 4.44 megajoules per international-$ in 2021 prices | -1.3% |
| 2020 | 4.49 megajoules per international-$ in 2021 prices | +1.1% |
| 2021 | 4.49 megajoules per international-$ in 2021 prices | +0.0% |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2000s | 5.6 megajoules per international-$ in 2021 prices | 5.42 megajoules per international-$ in 2021 prices | 5.85 megajoules per international-$ in 2021 prices | 10 |
| 2010s | 4.86 megajoules per international-$ in 2021 prices | 4.28 megajoules per international-$ in 2021 prices | 5.38 megajoules per international-$ in 2021 prices | 10 |
| 2020s | 4.49 megajoules per international-$ in 2021 prices | 4.49 megajoules per international-$ in 2021 prices | 4.49 megajoules per international-$ in 2021 prices | 2 |
Countries ranked near Malaysia
- 78 Kyrgyzstan 4.69 megajoules per international-$ in 2021 prices compare
- 78 Republic of Moldova 4.69 megajoules per international-$ in 2021 prices compare
- 80 Lao People's Democratic Republic 4.51 megajoules per international-$ in 2021 prices compare
- 82 Antigua and Barbuda 4.48 megajoules per international-$ in 2021 prices compare
- 83 Thailand 4.44 megajoules per international-$ in 2021 prices compare
- 84 Guatemala 4.42 megajoules per international-$ in 2021 prices compare
More energy & mining data for Malaysia
- Coal consumption, per capita 0 terawatt-hours per person (2025)
- Coal consumption, per unit of GDP 0 terawatt-hours per US$ of GDP (2025)
- Coal production, per capita 0 terawatt-hours per person (2024)
- Coal production, per unit of GDP 0 terawatt-hours per US$ of GDP (2024)
- Fuel imports 12.0% (2025)
- Ores and metals imports 4.6% (2025)
- Ores and metals exports 3.8% (2025)
- Gas production 802.34 terawatt-hours (2025)
- Fossil fuel production per person, by fuel 22,301 kilowatt-hours per person (2025)
- Fossil fuel production by fuel 802.34 terawatt-hours (2025)
Frequently asked questions
- What is energy intensity in Malaysia?
- Energy intensity in Malaysia was 4.49 megajoules per international-$ in 2021 prices in 2021, according to International Energy Agency (IEA), International Renewable Energy Agency (IRENA), UN Statistics Division, World Health Organization (WHO), and World Bank (2026) – processed by Our World in Data.
- What is the highest energy intensity recorded in Malaysia?
- The highest recorded value was 5.85 megajoules per international-$ in 2021 prices in 2005.
- What is the lowest energy intensity recorded in Malaysia?
- The lowest recorded value was 4.28 megajoules per international-$ in 2021 prices in 2017.
- How does Malaysia rank for energy intensity?
- Malaysia ranks 81st out of 201 countries with data for 2021.
- Is energy intensity rising or falling in Malaysia?
- Over the last ten years it is down 13.3%. The long-run trend across the full record is falling.
- Where does this Malaysia data come from?
- The figures come from International Energy Agency (IEA), International Renewable Energy Agency (IRENA), UN Statistics Division, World Health Organization (WHO), and World Bank (2026) – processed by Our World in Data, published as part of Energy intensity. Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
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About this data
Amount of energy needed to produce one unit of economic output. A lower number means that economies produce economic value in a less energy-intensive way. This data is measured in megajoules per dollar, adjusted for inflation and differences in living costs between countries.