Inflation rates by country and year

-1.1%3.5%8.1%12.7%17.3%
-1.1%3.5%8.1%12.7%17.3%
19600.1%
19924.8%
20251.4%
Source: World Bank

Data: World Bank, annual %. For information only — not financial advice.

Year2025Inflation Rate1.4%

Behind the curve

Turning points in Malaysia

  1. 1973↑ Upward pressure

    The first oil shock — Wikipedia (opens in a new tab)

    Malaysia's reliance on imported oil and food made it vulnerable to the 1973 shock, which raised costs and inflation through the mid-1970s.

    Bank Negara Malaysia
  2. 1998↕ Mixed effects

    The Asian financial crisis — Wikipedia (opens in a new tab)

    The ringgit's depreciation during the 1997–98 crisis raised import costs, but the deep recession and capital controls dampened demand.

    Bank Negara Malaysia
  3. 2008↑ Upward pressure

    The world food price crisis — Wikipedia (opens in a new tab)

    The 2007–08 global food and fuel surge pushed Malaysian inflation to a peak in 2008.

    Bank Negara Malaysia
  4. 2022↑ Upward pressure

    The post-pandemic inflation surge — Wikipedia (opens in a new tab)

    Higher global food and energy prices lifted Malaysian inflation in 2022.

    Bank Negara Malaysia

These are selected historical influences, not a complete account of inflation. An upward-pressure event can coincide with a peak when its inflationary effect has already occurred or when other forces begin pushing inflation lower. The markers show the years in which events occurred, although their effects may extend into later years.

What is the inflation in Malaysia?

The annual inflation rate in Malaysia was 1.4% in 2025, the most recent year in the World Bank dataset. That means prices rose 1.4% on average compared with the year before. Use the chart above to explore Malaysia's full inflation history from 1960 to 2025, and to compare it with any other country.

How inflation in Malaysia has changed

Inflation in Malaysia peaked at 17.3% in 1974 and reached its lowest point at -1.1% in 2020. Averaged across the 66 years of available data (1960–2025), the rate has been 2.9% per year.

Frequently asked questions about inflation in Malaysia

What is the current inflation rate in Malaysia?

The latest available annual figure is 1.4% in 2025, from the World Bank. Because the figures are reported annually, they may not reflect the most recent monthly reading published by Malaysia's statistical office.

What was the highest inflation rate in Malaysia?

The highest annual inflation rate on record is 17.3%, reached in 1974.

What was the lowest inflation rate in Malaysia?

The lowest annual inflation rate on record is -1.1%, recorded in 2020.

Where does the inflation data for Malaysia come from?

All figures come from the World Bank's World Development Indicators (indicator FP.CPI.TOTL.ZG), which report annual consumer price inflation for more than 200 countries and territories from 1960 onward.