What drives Malaysia's risk?

Malaysia's highest pressures are governance (58, medium) and climate (58). Its strongest area is social (26).

How might Malaysia's climate change by 2080?

Malaysia's climate zones stay broadly stable through 2080 even under a high-emissions scenario (SSP5-8.5); its Koppen-based climate-hazard pressure index holds near 76 out of 100. This forward-looking outlook is separate from the historical ND-GAIN scores.

How much will Malaysia warm by 2080?

Under a high-emissions scenario (SSP5-8.5), Malaysia is on track to warm by +2.6 °C by 2080, with annual precipitation changing by +199 mm; under lower emissions (SSP2-4.5) the warming is about +1.8 °C. Based on CMIP6 multi-model projections against a 1970-2000 baseline.

How much will sea levels rise along Malaysia's coast?

Coastal sea level along Malaysia is projected to rise by +0.77 m by 2100 under a high-emissions scenario (SSP5-8.5), and by about +0.56 m under lower emissions (SSP2-4.5). Based on the regional median of IPCC AR6 projections.

How will water stress change in Malaysia?

The share of Malaysia under high water stress is projected to move from 1.1% today to 1.2% by 2080 under a high-emissions scenario (SSP5-8.5). Based on WRI Aqueduct projections.

How will river-flood exposure change in Malaysia?

The share of Malaysia exposed to river flooding is projected to move from 4.9% today to 6.2% by 2080 under a high-emissions scenario (SSP5-8.5). Based on WRI Aqueduct riverine-flood projections.

When was Malaysia's risk data last updated?

Updated September 2026, drawing on World Bank, INFORM Risk Index and ND-GAIN Country Index.

Malaysia Climate risk profile and hazard map

Region: Asia
Subregion: South-Eastern Asia
Income: Upper middle income
ISO: MYS

Malaysia: mid-pack overall, with governance the main pressure.

Live events

Hourly disaster feed, shown alongside the standing risk below. Open the live map

How risky is Malaysia, overall?

The composite and its five dimensions. Higher means more risk.

Medium 45 / 100

58 Climate Medium
31 Nature -1.4 Low
26 Social Low
58 Governance Medium
49 Adaptation -0.5 Medium

Which hazards threaten Malaysia most?

Physical hazard intensity. INFORM Risk Index, 0 to 10.

6.8FloodHigh
4.2DRR capacityMedium

Malaysia in global context

Risk-ranked against its cohorts. Click any country to open its page.

South-Eastern Asia

#3 of 11 · median 52

Asia

#20 of 48 · median 47

Upper middle income

#28 of 53 · median 44

Put two countries head to head

Compare with any neighbour on all risks and their 5-year trajectory.

Compare Score a site here

Malaysia: outlook from 2050 to 2100

Projected physical change under a moderate (SSP2-4.5) and a high (SSP5-8.5) emissions pathway.

By 2080 under a high-emissions pathway, Malaysia is projected to warm +2.6 °C, with annual rainfall changing +199 mm.

+2.6 °C

Temperature

20502080

Higher emissions SSP5-8.5: +1.7 °C → +2.6 °C
Lower emissions SSP2-4.5: +1.4 °C → +1.8 °C

Hottest month +2.7 °C by 2080 (SSP5-8.5).

+199 mm

Precipitation

20502080

Higher emissions SSP5-8.5: +137 mm → +199 mm
Lower emissions SSP2-4.5: +140 mm → +171 mm

Driest month -4 mm by 2080 (SSP5-8.5).

1.2%

Water stress

20502080

Higher emissions SSP5-8.5: 1.2% → 1.2%
Current path SSP3-7.0: 1.2% → 1.2%

Share of land under high or extreme water stress; 1.1% today.

6.2%

River flooding

20502080

Higher emissions SSP5-8.5: 5.7% → 6.2%
Lower emissions SSP2-4.5: 5.4% → 4.8%

Land exposed to a 100-year river flood; 4.9% today.

Sea level

Malaysia: under high emissions, a 100-year coastal flood in 2080 could reach 8 of its largest cities.

Coastal sea-level rise

20502100

Higher emissions SSP5-8.5: +0.22 m → +0.77 m
Lower emissions SSP2-4.5: +0.20 m → +0.56 m

Largest exposed cities

PopulationMax depth

Max depth: the deepest water within 12 km of the city center in a 100-year coastal flood in 2080, under RCP8.5 with high-end sea-level rise (95th percentile), ignoring flood defenses and land subsidence. Source: WRI Aqueduct Floods.

Regional estimate for the country's coast (IPCC AR6 median), not the global average.

Projections from public CMIP6 (WorldClim 2.1, 5-model median, against a 1970-2000 baseline), WRI Aqueduct 4.0 and IPCC AR6 data. Monthly and bioclimatic aggregates, not daily-threshold indices. Forward-looking estimates, not a re-scored site risk.

Indicator panel

Every source-level indicator behind the dimensions above. Sort by score, value, or name.

		Year		vs world	vs region
Fossil Fuel Consumption	96.0 % of total	2022	95.8	+23.1	+9.0
Coastal Protection Needed	95.1 % coast	2020	93.7	+9.4	+3.4
Renewable Energy Share	7.50 % of total energy	2021	92.2	+16.8	+1.6
Renewable Electricity Share	17.0 % of total	2021	83.0	+7.9	0.0
Drought Index (SPEI)	1.25 index	2021	80.6	+34.2	+44.2
Cooling Degree Days	5057 degree days	2020	69.2	+17.4	+18.2
Energy Imports	-0.58 % of energy use	2022	68.8	-2.3	-1.9
Flood Risk	6.80 0-10	2026	68.0	+16.0	+2.5
Land Surface Temperature	27.9 deg C change	2021	66.3	+1.6	-1.2
Coal Electricity Share	46.8 % of total	2022	48.6	+31.9	+16.7
CO2 Emissions Per Capita	7.23 metric tons	2020	23.0	+15.3	+12.1
Energy Intensity	4.49 MJ/$2017 PPP GDP	2021	19.3	+2.7	+0.9
Energy Use Per Capita	2867 kg oil eq per capita	2022	16.8	+8.5	+7.9
Access to Clean Fuels	84.1 % population	2022	15.9	+5.7	+7.3
PM2.5 Air Pollution	16.2 ug/m3	2020	14.1	-5.1	-12.1
N2O Emissions Per Capita	0.27 kt CO2e per capita	2020	6.4	-0.6	+0.3
Heat Index	2.78 index	2020	2.0	+1.9	-0.1
Heating Degree Days	0.00 degree days	2020	0.0	-1.4	-7.6

		Year		vs world	vs region
Projected Cereal Yield Change	0.97 0-1	2023	97.2	+10.7	+19.4
Protected Areas	8.80 % of land	2023	91.1	+2.2	-2.1
Dam Capacity	0.84 0-1	2023	83.7	-9.6	-9.9
Health Expenditure Per Capita	0.82 0-1	2023	81.8	-2.4	0.0
Agricultural Capacity	0.80 0-1	2023	79.7	-12.1	-8.8
Urban Concentration	0.77 0-1	2023	77.1	+19.7	+21.7
Environmental Treaties Engagement	0.73 0-1	2023	72.9	-3.4	-7.3
Food Production Index	103 index	2022	70.2	+3.1	+10.2
Projected Warm Period Change	0.66 0-1	2023	66.3	-1.5	+1.0
Projected Vector Disease Change	0.66 0-1	2023	65.8	0.0	0.0
Population Below 5m	0.61 0-1	2023	61.2	+46.5	+43.4
Projected Flood Hazard Change	0.56 0-1	2023	56.4	+38.0	+44.3
Tsunami Risk	5.40 0-10	2026	54.0	+43.0	+29.0
Projected Annual Runoff Change	0.51 0-1	2023	51.2	+11.6	+23.6
Child Malnutrition	0.45 0-1	2023	45.5	+31.7	+27.7
Projected Hydropower Change	0.42 0-1	2023	41.7	-2.0	-2.0
Forest Area	57.9 % of land	2022	38.8	-27.5	-46.1
Age Dependency Ratio	0.38 0-1	2023	38.0	-14.8	-7.6
Projected Biome Distribution Change	0.38 0-1	2023	37.6	-20.0	-17.7
Projected Marine Biodiversity Loss	0.37 0-1	2023	37.4	+0.1	+0.7
Threatened Mammal Species	71.0 count	2018	37.2	+32.0	+30.4
Quality of Trade Infrastructure	0.36 0-1	2023	35.9	-26.3	-25.1
Protected Biome Areas	0.35 0-1	2023	34.7	-6.3	-10.2
Projected Groundwater Change	0.33 0-1	2023	32.6	+6.4	+4.0
Agricultural Land	26.1 % of land	2022	30.5	-16.8	-9.8
Natural Capital Dependency	0.30 0-1	2023	30.3	+8.5	+4.6
Disaster Preparedness	0.30 0-1	2023	30.0	0.0	+5.0
Projected Population Change	0.26 0-1	2023	25.8	+3.5	+2.2
Rural Population	0.23 0-1	2023	22.9	-19.7	-21.7
Agriculture GDP Share	7.79 % of GDP	2023	21.7	+2.8	-0.4
Paved Roads	0.19 0-1	2023	19.3	-35.8	-7.4
Earthquake Risk	1.90 0-10	2026	19.0	-16.0	-48.5
Freshwater Withdrawal	1.16 % of internal resources	2021	16.3	-34.0	-59.3
Access to Improved Sanitation	0.14 0-1	2023	14.2	-25.1	-19.0
Food Import Dependency	0.13 0-1	2023	12.7	-9.0	-6.8
Natural Resource Depletion	5.98 % of GNI	2021	10.4	+8.3	+7.8
Projected Sea Level Rise Impact	0.10 0-1	2023	10.3	-3.2	-5.7
Forest Depletion	1.75 % of GNI	2021	10.0	+9.9	+10.0
Projected Climate-Related Deaths	0.09 0-1	2023	9.1	-21.2	-12.1
Ecological Footprint	0.08 0-1	2023	8.5	-14.1	-16.4
Access to Reliable Drinking Water	0.06 0-1	2023	6.1	-14.3	-21.8
Tree Cover Loss	277554 hectares	2021	4.3	+4.2	+4.3
Freshwater Withdrawal Rate	0.01 0-1	2023	1.0	-6.5	-26.6
Water Stress	3.44 %	2021	0.1	-0.2	-1.3
Water Dependency Ratio	0.00 0-1	2023	0.0	-6.9	-7.0
Dependency Ratio	0.00 0-1	2023	0.0	-6.8	-3.9
Energy Import Dependency	0.00 0-1	2023	0.0	-25.7	-20.7
Electricity Access	0.00 0-1	2023	0.0	0.0	0.0

		Year		vs world	vs region
Hospital Beds	2.01 per 1,000	2021	86.7	+2.8	+1.4
Uprooted People	7.20 0-10	2026	72.0	+13.0	+18.5
Unmet Contraception Need	26.7 %	2022	67.1	+19.7	+49.1
Net Migration	181071 persons	2023	61.2	+6.2	+6.3
Income Share Bottom 20%	5.90 %	2021	60.6	+20.5	+21.2
Overweight Adults	54.9 % adults	2022	55.4	-0.6	+0.7
Gini Coefficient	40.7 0-100	2021	53.5	+20.8	+18.7
GDP Growth	3.56 % annual	2023	47.8	-1.1	0.0
School Gender Parity	1.04 ratio	2020	43.3	-13.6	-13.1
Primary School Enrollment	98.8 % gross	2023	41.1	-0.9	+0.1
Gender Labor Ratio	65.8 ratio F/M	2023	39.8	+12.8	0.0
Education Expenditure	17.1 % of govt	2023	33.9	-13.2	-17.5
Life Expectancy	76.7 years	2023	30.4	-9.1	-2.8
Labor Participation	69.8 % (15+)	2023	29.2	-0.9	-2.0
ESG Performance Score	2.25 0-100	2018	26.9	+1.9	+0.5
Communicable Disease Deaths	18.1 %	2019	26.4	+10.3	+12.2
Shared Prosperity Growth	3.06 % annual	2021	23.2	-27.0	+7.1
Children Under 5	2.00 0-10	2026	20.0	+9.0	+7.0
Food Security	1.80 0-10	2026	18.0	0.0	0.0
Aging Population	7.45 % population	2023	16.9	+0.5	+3.1
Development and Deprivation	1.60 0-10	2026	16.0	-14.0	-9.5
Fertility Rate	1.55 births per woman	2023	15.3	-8.0	-7.9
Sanitation Access	86.0 % population	2022	14.4	-25.6	-20.0
Unemployment Rate	3.87 %	2023	10.7	-3.5	-0.9
Safe Drinking Water	93.9 % population	2022	6.5	-15.0	-23.7
Health Conditions	0.60 0-10	2026	6.0	-2.0	+2.0
Under-5 Mortality Rate	8.10 per 1,000	2023	5.9	-6.3	-4.6
Adult Literacy Rate	96.0 %	2022	5.5	-15.8	-2.8
Recent Shocks	0.30 0-10	2026	3.0	+2.0	0.0
Poverty Rate (National)	6.20 % population	2021	3.0	-17.6	-13.7
Internet Users	97.7 % population	2023	2.6	-18.3	-13.8
Aid Dependency	0.10 0-10	2026	1.0	-24.0	-20.0
Population Density	106 people/km2	2022	0.6	+0.1	0.0
Access to Electricity	100 % population	2023	0.0	0.0	0.0
Undernourishment	2.50 % population	2022	0.0	-5.8	-5.6

		Year		vs world	vs region
Patent Applications	883 count	2021	99.9	-0.1	-0.1
Scientific Articles	26506 count	2022	97.1	-2.8	-2.7
R&D Expenditure	0.95 % of GDP	2020	84.2	-1.8	-11.3
Women in Parliament	13.5 % seats	2023	77.9	+19.7	+8.7
Voice and Accountability	0.09 -2.5 to +2.5	2023	48.2	-0.6	-17.3
Political Stability	0.17 -2.5 to +2.5	2023	46.6	-3.2	-9.0
Control of Corruption	0.30 -2.5 to +2.5	2023	44.1	-11.5	-14.2
Disaster Risk Reduction	4.20 0-10	2026	42.0	+0.5	+6.0
Legal Rights Strength	7.00 0-12	2019	41.7	-8.3	-8.3
INFORM Governance Index	4.10 0-10	2026	41.0	-15.0	-16.5
Rule of Law	0.57 -2.5 to +2.5	2023	38.6	-14.4	-14.5
Regulatory Quality	0.66 -2.5 to +2.5	2023	36.8	-16.0	-17.8
Government Effectiveness	0.88 -2.5 to +2.5	2023	32.5	-19.2	-18.2
Physical Infrastructure	2.90 0-10	2026	29.0	-1.0	-0.5
Healthcare Access	2.70 0-10	2026	27.0	-10.0	-6.0
Communication Infrastructure	1.10 0-10	2026	11.0	-9.0	-3.5

		Year		vs world	vs region
Innovation (Readiness)	0.12 0-1	2023	87.7	-7.0	-6.6
Education (Readiness)	0.25 0-1	2023	75.3	+2.3	+2.4
Social Inequality (Readiness)	0.34 0-1	2023	66.4	+14.9	+23.5
Control of Corruption (Readiness)	0.49 0-1	2023	50.7	-13.6	-17.1
ICT Infrastructure	0.59 0-1	2023	41.3	-6.4	-4.2
Political Stability (Readiness)	0.60 0-1	2023	40.1	-3.0	-8.2
Doing Business Score	0.61 0-1	2023	39.4	-19.0	-11.7
Regulatory Quality (Readiness)	0.62 0-1	2023	37.9	-14.1	-13.9
Rule of Law (Readiness)	0.64 0-1	2023	36.4	-16.2	-17.1

These indicators have site-level resolution. Score your exact location.

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Common questions

Answer-first, drawn from the same data above.

How risky is Malaysia?
Malaysia: mid-pack overall, with governance the main pressure. Its overall risk score is 45 out of 100 (medium), blended from World Bank, INFORM Risk Index and ND-GAIN Country Index.
What drives Malaysia's risk?
Malaysia's highest pressures are governance (58, medium) and climate (58). Its strongest area is social (26).
How might Malaysia's climate change by 2080?
Malaysia's climate zones stay broadly stable through 2080 even under a high-emissions scenario (SSP5-8.5); its Koppen-based climate-hazard pressure index holds near 76 out of 100. This forward-looking outlook is separate from the historical ND-GAIN scores.
How much will Malaysia warm by 2080?
Under a high-emissions scenario (SSP5-8.5), Malaysia is on track to warm by +2.6 °C by 2080, with annual precipitation changing by +199 mm; under lower emissions (SSP2-4.5) the warming is about +1.8 °C. Based on CMIP6 multi-model projections against a 1970-2000 baseline.
How much will sea levels rise along Malaysia's coast?
Coastal sea level along Malaysia is projected to rise by +0.77 m by 2100 under a high-emissions scenario (SSP5-8.5), and by about +0.56 m under lower emissions (SSP2-4.5). Based on the regional median of IPCC AR6 projections.
How will water stress change in Malaysia?
The share of Malaysia under high water stress is projected to move from 1.1% today to 1.2% by 2080 under a high-emissions scenario (SSP5-8.5). Based on WRI Aqueduct projections.
How will river-flood exposure change in Malaysia?
The share of Malaysia exposed to river flooding is projected to move from 4.9% today to 6.2% by 2080 under a high-emissions scenario (SSP5-8.5). Based on WRI Aqueduct riverine-flood projections.
When was Malaysia's risk data last updated?
Updated September 2026, drawing on World Bank, INFORM Risk Index and ND-GAIN Country Index.