AGUACYCLE
East Asia & Pacific

Malaysia

Capital: Kuala Lumpur · Upper middle income · Pop. 35.6 million

94.7%
Safely managed drinking water
85.79%
Safely managed sanitation
16,717
m³ freshwater / person / yr
1%
Water stress · Low

Source: World Bank Open Data (WHO/UNICEF JMP & FAO AQUASTAT) · drinking water 2024

In Malaysia, 94.7% of the population uses safely managed drinking water — an improved source, located on premises, available when needed, and free from contamination (2024 estimate). That leaves roughly 1.9 million people without safely managed drinking water at home.

Sanitation tracks closely: 85.79% use safely managed sanitation services and 96.02% have at least a basic service (2024).

Malaysia has about 16,717 cubic meters of renewable internal freshwater per person each year. It withdraws the equivalent of 1% of those internal resources annually (low water stress).

Agriculture accounts for about 46% of Malaysia's water withdrawals, the rest going to households and industry.

Common questions

How many people in Malaysia have safe drinking water?

94.7% of Malaysia's population uses safely managed drinking water (2024), per WHO/UNICEF data; about 1.9 million people do not.

Does Malaysia have enough freshwater?

Malaysia has roughly 16,717 m³ of renewable internal freshwater per person per year, and uses about 1% of it annually (low stress).

Elsewhere in East Asia & Pacific