Malaysia has achieved broad access to health services at all levels of care, and relatively effective financial protection against catastrophic health spending, especially for the poor, with a modest level of government expenditure on health. Improvements in utilization and health outcomes since the 1960s have been achieved over the years, with spending on health services ranging from 2.0 percent to 4.0 percent of GDP (WHO 2000). Between 1990 ̶ 2020, life expectancy at birth increased significantly (Malaysia Department of Statistics 2020c; Yu, Whynes, and Sach 2008). Malaysia’s child mortality rates are comparable to high-income countries, with under-five mortality reduced by over 75 percent and infant mortality by 70 percent from 1965 ̶ 1990. Infant mortality fell a further 62 percent from 1990 ̶ 2005 (Jarrah 2018; Yu, Whynes, and Sach 2008).

This country brief is part of the country briefs series: Social Protection in action: building social protection floors for all.