Singapore vs Malaysia — Country Comparison

The flag of Singapore is composed of two equal horizontal bands of red and white. On the hoist side of the red band is a fly-side facing white crescent which partially encloses five small five-pointed white stars arranged in the shape of a pentagon.Singapore VS The flag of Malaysia is composed of fourteen equal horizontal bands of red alternating with white. A blue rectangle, bearing a fly-side facing yellow crescent and a fourteen-pointed yellow star placed just outside the crescent opening, is superimposed in the canton.Malaysia

Singapore and Malaysia side by side: Malaysia is the larger country (330,803 km² vs 710 km², roughly 465.9× the size), while Malaysia has the bigger population (34.2 million vs 6.1 million). The full comparison table below covers capitals, currencies, languages, dialling codes, timezones and more.

Facts last checked 9 October 2026.

FactSingaporeMalaysia
CapitalSingaporeKuala Lumpur
Population6,110,20034,231,700
Area710 km²330,803 km²
CurrencySingapore dollarMalaysian ringgit
LanguagesChinese, English, Malay, TamilMalay, English
Dialling code+65+60
Main timezoneUTC+08:00UTC+08:00
Drives on theLeftLeft
RegionSouth-Eastern AsiaSouth-Eastern Asia
Emergency number999 (police) / 995 (fire & ambulance)999

Key differences: Singapore vs Malaysia

Want the full picture for each country? See Singapore and Malaysia, or compare their population pages: Singapore · Malaysia.

Visiting Singapore or Malaysia?

As an Amazon Associate we earn from qualifying purchases. We are also a member of the CJ Affiliate and AWIN affiliate networks. Links below are affiliate links.

AMAZON

Singapore Travel Guide
Plan a trip to Singapore.

Check Price →
AMAZON

Malaysia Travel Guide
Plan a trip to Malaysia.

Check Price →
AMAZON

Scratch Off World Map
Mark off Singapore, Malaysia and everywhere else you have been.

Check Price →

Singapore vs Malaysia — FAQ

Which is bigger, Singapore or Malaysia?

Malaysia is bigger by area: 330,803 km² vs 710 km², roughly 465.9× the size of Singapore.

Is Singapore bigger than Malaysia?

No — Malaysia is larger at 330,803 km² vs 710 km² for Singapore.

Which has more people, Singapore or Malaysia?

Malaysia has the larger population: 34,231,700 (34.2 million) vs 6,110,200 (6.1 million).

How does the size of Singapore compare to Malaysia?

Malaysia (330,803 km²) is about 465.9× larger than Singapore (710 km²).

Do Singapore and Malaysia use the same currency?

No — Singapore uses the Singapore dollar and Malaysia uses the Malaysian ringgit.

Are Singapore and Malaysia on the same continent?

Yes — both are in Asia.

What is the time difference between Singapore and Malaysia?

Singapore and Malaysia are in the same time zone (UTC+08:00).

Do Singapore and Malaysia share an official language?

Yes — both share English, Malay as an official language.

Do Singapore and Malaysia share a border?

No — Singapore and Malaysia do not share a land border.

Which is more densely populated, Singapore or Malaysia?

Singapore is more densely populated at roughly 8,606 people per km², compared to 103 for Malaysia.

How far is Singapore from Malaysia?

The distance between the geographic centres of Singapore and Malaysia is roughly 980 km (610 miles) in a straight line. Actual travel distances between cities will differ.

More comparisons

This page contains affiliate links. We may earn a small commission if you purchase through our links, at no extra cost to you. Learn more.

Last updated: