Malaysia

total: 4.58 million (2023 est.) subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 13 (2023 est.)

state-owned TV broadcaster operates 2 TV networks with relays; the leading private commercial media group operates 4 TV stations with numerous relays; satellite TV subscription service is available; state-owned radio broadcaster operates multiple national networks, as well as regional and local stations; many private commercial radio broadcasters and some subscription satellite radio services are available; about 55 radio stations overall (2019)

.my

percent of population: 98% (2023 est.)

total subscriptions: 8.402 million (2023 est.) subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 24 (2023 est.)

total subscriptions: 49.7 million (2024 est.) subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 140 (2024 est.)

oil palm fruit, rice, chicken, eggs, tropical fruits, coconuts, vegetables, pineapples, rubber, bananas (2023) note: top ten agricultural products based on tonnage

on food: 26.4% of household expenditures (2023 est.) on alcohol and tobacco: 1.6% of household expenditures (2023 est.)

revenues: $69.055 billion (2023 est.) expenditures: $89.046 billion (2023 est.) note: central government revenues and expenses (excluding grants/extrabudgetary units/social security funds) converted to US dollars at average official exchange rate for year indicated

$7.15 billion (2024 est.) $6.257 billion (2023 est.) $12.738 billion (2022 est.) note: balance of payments - net trade and primary/secondary income in current dollars

upper middle-income Southeast Asian economy; implementing key anticorruption policies; major electronics, oil, and chemicals exporter; trade sector employs over 40% of jobs; key economic equity initiative; high labor productivity

ringgits (MYR) per US dollar - 4.576 (2024 est.) 4.561 (2023 est.) 4.401 (2022 est.) 4.143 (2021 est.) 4.203 (2020 est.)

$301.789 billion (2024 est.) $274.1 billion (2023 est.) $312.88 billion (2022 est.) note: balance of payments - exports of goods and services in current dollars

integrated circuits, refined petroleum, crude petroleum, natural gas, palm oil (2023) note: top five export commodities based on value in dollars

China 21%, Singapore 12%, USA 12%, Japan 5%, Hong Kong 5% (2023) note: top five export partners based on percentage share of exports

$421.972 billion (2024 est.) note: data in current dollars at official exchange rate

household consumption: 60.8% (2024 est.) government consumption: 12% (2024 est.) investment in fixed capital: 20.6% (2024 est.) investment in inventories: 1.3% (2024 est.) exports of goods and services: 71.4% (2024 est.) imports of goods and services: -66% (2024 est.) note: figures may not total 100% due to rounding or gaps in data collection

agriculture: 8.2% (2024 est.) industry: 37.1% (2024 est.) services: 53.6% (2024 est.) note: figures may not total 100% due to non-allocated consumption not captured in sector-reported data

40.7 (2021 est.) note: index (0-100) of income distribution; higher values represent greater inequality

lowest 10%: 2.3% (2021 est.) highest 10%: 30.9% (2021 est.) note: % share of income accruing to lowest and highest 10% of population

$279.09 billion (2024 est.) $253.665 billion (2023 est.) $283.758 billion (2022 est.) note: balance of payments - imports of goods and services in current dollars

integrated circuits, refined petroleum, crude petroleum, coal, broadcasting equipment (2023) note: top five import commodities based on value in dollars

China 24%, Singapore 11%, USA 7%, Japan 5%, Taiwan 5% (2023) note: top five import partners based on percentage share of imports

4.9% (2024 est.) note: annual % change in industrial value added based on constant local currency

Peninsular Malaysia - rubber and oil palm processing and manufacturing, petroleum and natural gas, light manufacturing, pharmaceuticals, medical technology, electronics and semiconductors, timber processing; Sabah - logging, petroleum and natural gas production; Sarawak - agriculture processing, petroleum and natural gas production, logging

1.8% (2024 est.) 2.5% (2023 est.) 3.4% (2022 est.) note: annual % change based on consumer prices

18.264 million (2024 est.) note: number of people ages 15 or older who are employed or seeking work

6.2% (2021 est.) note: % of population with income below national poverty line

64.3% of GDP (2023 est.) note: central government debt as a % of GDP

$1.212 trillion (2024 est.) $1.153 trillion (2023 est.) $1.113 trillion (2022 est.) note: data in 2021 dollars

5.1% (2024 est.) 3.6% (2023 est.) 8.9% (2022 est.) note: annual GDP % growth based on constant local currency

$34,100 (2024 est.) $32,800 (2023 est.) $32,100 (2022 est.) note: data in 2021 dollars

0.4% of GDP (2024 est.) 0.4% of GDP (2023 est.) 0.4% of GDP (2022 est.) note: personal transfers and compensation between resident and non-resident individuals/households/entities

$116.229 billion (2024 est.) $113.463 billion (2023 est.) $114.659 billion (2022 est.) note: holdings of gold (year-end prices)/foreign exchange/special drawing rights in current dollars

12.6% (of GDP) (2023 est.) note: central government tax revenue as a % of GDP

3.9% (2024 est.) 3.9% (2023 est.) 4% (2022 est.) note: % of labor force seeking employment

total: 12.3% (2024 est.) male: 11.3% (2024 est.) female: 13.8% (2024 est.) note: % of labor force ages 15-24 seeking employment

production: 4.476 million metric tons (2023 est.) consumption: 35.741 million metric tons (2023 est.) exports: 462,000 metric tons (2023 est.) imports: 31.706 million metric tons (2023 est.) proven reserves: 226 million metric tons (2023 est.)

installed generating capacity: 37.22 million kW (2023 est.) consumption: 178.653 billion kWh (2023 est.) exports: 1.2 billion kWh (2023 est.) imports: 61.678 million kWh (2023 est.) transmission/distribution losses: 13.188 billion kWh (2023 est.)

electrification - total population: 100% (2022 est.)

fossil fuels: 81.9% of total installed capacity (2023 est.) solar: 1.1% of total installed capacity (2023 est.) hydroelectricity: 16.3% of total installed capacity (2023 est.) biomass and waste: 0.6% of total installed capacity (2023 est.)

113.163 million Btu/person (2023 est.)

production: 74.32 billion cubic meters (2023 est.) consumption: 47.112 billion cubic meters (2023 est.) exports: 37.451 billion cubic meters (2023 est.) imports: 3.359 billion cubic meters (2023 est.) proven reserves: 1.189 trillion cubic meters (2021 est.)

total petroleum production: 582,000 bbl/day (2023 est.) refined petroleum consumption: 672,000 bbl/day (2023 est.) crude oil estimated reserves: 3.6 billion barrels (2021 est.)

260.005 million metric tonnes of CO2 (2023 est.) from coal and metallurgical coke: 76.78 million metric tonnes of CO2 (2023 est.) from petroleum and other liquids: 90.273 million metric tonnes of CO2 (2023 est.) from consumed natural gas: 92.951 million metric tonnes of CO2 (2023 est.)

tropical; annual southwest (April to October) and northeast (October to February) monsoons

air pollution from industrial and vehicular emissions; water pollution from raw sewage; deforestation; smoke/haze from Indonesian forest fires; endangered species; coastal reclamation damaging mangroves and turtle nesting sites

total global geoparks and regional networks: 2 global geoparks and regional networks: Kinabalu; Langkawi (2023)

party to: Antarctic-Environmental Protection, Antarctic Treaty, Biodiversity, Climate Change, Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol, Climate Change-Paris Agreement, Comprehensive Nuclear Test Ban, Desertification, Endangered Species, Hazardous Wastes, Law of the Sea, Marine Life Conservation, Nuclear Test Ban, Ozone Layer Protection, Ship Pollution, Tropical Timber 2006, Wetlands signed, but not ratified: none of the selected agreements

agricultural land: 26.1% (2023 est.) arable land: 2.4% (2023 est.) permanent crops: 22.7% (2023 est.) permanent pasture: 0.9% (2023 est.) forest: 57.8% (2023 est.) other: 16% (2023 est.)

energy: 818.9 kt (2022-2024 est.) agriculture: 182.2 kt (2019-2021 est.) waste: 847.9 kt (2019-2021 est.) other: 15.3 kt (2019-2021 est.)

23.7 micrograms per cubic meter (2019 est.)

580 billion cubic meters (2022 est.)

municipal: 1.342 billion cubic meters (2022 est.) industrial: 1.641 billion cubic meters (2022 est.) agricultural: 2.505 billion cubic meters (2022 est.)

urban population: 78.7% of total population (2023) rate of urbanization: 1.87% annual rate of change (2020-25 est.)

municipal solid waste generated annually: 12.983 million tons (2024 est.) percent of municipal solid waste recycled: 22.1% (2022 est.)

total : 329,847 sq km land: 328,657 sq km water: 1,190 sq km

slightly larger than New Mexico

tropical; annual southwest (April to October) and northeast (October to February) monsoons

4,675 km (Peninsular Malaysia 2,068 km; East Malaysia 2,607 km)

highest point: Gunung Kinabalu 4,095 m lowest point: Indian Ocean 0 m mean elevation: 419 m

2 30 N, 112 30 E

strategic location along Strait of Malacca and southern South China Sea

4,420 sq km (2022)

total: 2,742 km border countries (3): Brunei 266 km; Indonesia 1,881 km; Thailand 595 km

agricultural land: 26.1% (2023 est.) arable land: 2.4% (2023 est.) permanent crops: 22.7% (2023 est.) permanent pasture: 0.9% (2023 est.) forest: 57.8% (2023 est.) other: 16% (2023 est.)

Southeastern Asia, peninsula bordering Thailand and northern one-third of the island of Borneo, bordering Indonesia, Brunei, and the South China Sea, south of Vietnam

Southeast Asia

territorial sea: 12 nm exclusive economic zone: 200 nm continental shelf: 200-m depth or to the depth of exploitation; specified boundary in the South China Sea

flooding; landslides; forest fires

tin, petroleum, timber, copper, iron ore, natural gas, bauxite

a highly uneven distribution, with over 80% of the population residing on the Malay Peninsula

coastal plains rising to hills and mountains

13 states ( negeri-negeri , singular - negeri ); Johor, Kedah, Kelantan, Melaka, Negeri Sembilan, Pahang, Perak, Perlis, Pulau Pinang, Sabah, Sarawak, Selangor, Terengganu; and 1 federal territory (Wilayah Persekutuan) with 3 components, Kuala Lumpur, Labuan, and Putrajaya

name: Kuala Lumpur geographic coordinates: 3 10 N, 101 42 E time difference: UTC+8 (13 hours ahead of Washington, DC, during Standard Time) etymology: the name means "muddy river junction," referring to the city's location on the confluence of the Kelang and Gombak rivers; it comes from the Malay words kuala (river junction or estuary) and lumpur (mud) note: nearby Putrajaya is referred to as a federal government administrative center but not as the capital; the legislature meets in Kuala Lumpur

citizenship by birth: no citizenship by descent only: at least one parent must be a citizen of Malaysia dual citizenship recognized: no residency requirement for naturalization: 10 out 12 years preceding application

history: previous 1948; latest drafted 21 February 1957, effective 27 August 1957 amendment process: proposed as a bill by Parliament; passage requires at least two-thirds majority vote by the Parliament membership in the bill s second and third readings; a number of constitutional sections are excluded from amendment or repeal

conventional long form: none conventional short form: Malaysia local long form: none local short form: Malaysia former: British Malaya, Malayan Union, Federation of Malaya etymology: devised in the early 19th century by British geographers; the suffix - sia was added to the name of the Malay people to form a classical-style name; the name Malay may come from the Tamil word malai , meaning "mountain"

chief of mission: Ambassador Edgard D. KAGAN (since 20 March 2024) embassy: 376 Jalan Tun Razak, 50400 Kuala Lumpur mailing address: 4210 Kuala Lumpur, Washington DC 20521-4210 telephone: [60] (3) 2168-5000 FAX: [60] (3) 2142-2207 email address and website: KLACS@state.gov https://my.usembassy.gov/

chief of mission: Ambassador Tan Sri Muhammad SHAHRUL Ikram bin Yaakob (since 24 July 2025) chancery: 3516 International Court NW, Washington, DC 20008 telephone: [1] (202) 572-9700 FAX: [1] (202) 572-9882 email address and website: mwwashington@kln.gov.my https://www.kln.gov.my/web/usa_washington/home consulate(s) general: Los Angeles, New York

chief of state: King Sultan IBRAHIM ibni al-Marhum Sultan Iskandar (since 31 January 2024) head of government: Prime Minister ANWAR Ibrahim (since 24 November 2022) cabinet: Cabinet appointed by the prime minister from among members of Parliament with the consent of the king election/appointment process: king elected by and from the hereditary rulers of 9 states for a 5-year term; election is on a rotational basis among rulers of the 9 states; prime minister designated from among members of the House of Representatives; following legislative elections, the leader who has support of the majority of members in the House becomes prime minister most recent election date: 24 October 2023 expected date of next election: October 2028, with inauguration in January 2029 note: the position of the king is primarily ceremonial, but he is the final arbiter on the appointment of the prime minister

description: 14 equal horizontal stripes of red alternating with white; a dark blue rectangle in the upper-left corner has a yellow crescent and a 14-pointed yellow star meaning: the flag is often called Jalur Gemilang (Stripes of Glory); the 14 stripes stand for the equal status of the 13 member states and the federal government; the points on the star represent the unity among these entities; the crescent is a traditional symbol of Islam; blue symbolizes the unity of the Malay people, and yellow is the royal color note: the design is based on the US flag

federal parliamentary constitutional monarchy note: all Peninsular Malaysian states have hereditary rulers (commonly referred to as sultans) except Melaka (Malacca) and Pulau Pinang (Penang); those two states along with Sabah and Sarawak in East Malaysia have governors appointed by government; powers of state governments are limited by the federal constitution; under terms of federation, Sabah and Sarawak retain certain constitutional prerogatives (e.g., right to maintain their own immigration controls)

31 August 1957 (from the UK)

has not submitted an ICJ jurisdiction declaration; non-party state to the ICCt

ADB, APEC, ARF, ASEAN, BIS, C, CICA (observer), CP, D-8, EAS, FAO, G-15, G-77, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICC (national committees), ICRM, IDA, IDB, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, IHO, ILO, IMF, IMO, IMSO, Interpol, IOC, IPU, ISO, ITSO, ITU, ITUC (NGOs), MIGA, MINURSO, MONUSCO, NAM, OIC, OPCW, PCA, PIF (partner), UN, UNAMID, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNHRC, UNIDO, UNIFIL, UNISFA, UNMIL, UNOOSA, UNWTO, UPU, WCO, WFTU (NGOs), WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTO

highest court(s): Federal Court (consists of the chief justice, president of the Court of Appeal, chief justice of the High Court of Malaya, chief judge of the High Court of Sabah and Sarawak, 8 judges, and 1 "additional" judge) judge selection and term of office: Federal Court justices appointed by the monarch on advice of the prime minister; judges serve until mandatory retirement at age 66 with the possibility of a single 6-month extension subordinate courts: Court of Appeal; High Court; Sessions Court; Magistrates' Court note: Malaysia has a dual judicial hierarchy of civil and religious (sharia) courts

mixed system of English common law, Islamic law (sharia), and customary law; the Federal Court can review legislative acts at the request of the supreme head of the federation

legislature name: Parliament (Parlimen) legislative structure: bicameral

chamber name: House of Representatives (Dewan Rakyat) number of seats: 223 (all directly elected) electoral system: plurality/majority scope of elections: full renewal term in office: 5 years most recent election date: 11/19/2022 parties elected and seats per party: Pakatan Harapan (PH) (76); National Alliance (PN) (52); National Front (BN) (30); Sarawak Parties Alliance (GPS) (23); Pan-Malaysian Islamic Party (PAS) (22); Other (19) percentage of women in chamber: 13.5% expected date of next election: November 2027

chamber name: Senate (Dewan Negara) number of seats: 70 (26 indirectly elected; 44 appointed) percentage of women in chamber: 16.1%

title: "Negaraku" (My Country) lyrics/music: collective, led by Tunku ABDUL RAHMAN/Pierre Jean DE BERANGER history: adopted 1957; full version only performed in the king's presence, the shorter version performed for the queen and lesser officials

gold, black

total World Heritage Sites: 6 (4 cultural, 2 natural) selected World Heritage Site locales: Gunung Mulu National Park (n); Kinabalu Park (n); Melaka and George Town, Historic Cities of the Straits of Melaka (c); Archaeological Heritage of the Lenggong Valley (c); The Archaeological Heritage of Niah National Park s Caves Complex (c); Forest Research Institute Malaysia Forest Park Selangor (c)

Independence Day (or Merdeka Day), 31 August (1957) (independence of Malaya); Malaysia Day, 16 September (1963) (formation of Malaysia)

tiger, hibiscus

National Front (Barisan Nasional) or BN: Malaysian Chinese Association (Persatuan Cina Malaysia) or MCA Malaysian Indian Congress (Kongres India Malaysia) or MIC United Malays National Organization (Pertubuhan Kebansaan Melayu Bersatu) or UMNO United Sabah People's Party (Parti Bersatu Rakyat Sabah) or PBRS Alliance of Hope (Pakatan Harapan) or PH: Democratic Action Party (Parti Tindakan Demokratik) or DAP National Trust Party (Parti Amanah Negara) or AMANAH People's Justice Party (Parti Keadilan Rakyat) or PKR United Progressive Kinabalu Organization (Pertubuhan Kinabalu Progresif Bersatu) or UPKO National Alliance (Perikatan Nasional) or PN: Malaysian People's Movement Party (Parti Gerakan Rakyat Malaysia) or GERAKAN or PGRM Malaysian United Indigenous Party (Parti Pribumi Bersatu Malaysia) or PPBM or BERSATU Pan-Malaysian Islamic Party (Parti Islam Se-Malaysia) or PAS Sabah People's Alliance (Gabungan Rakya Sabah) or GRS: Homeland Solidarity Party (Parti Solidariti Tanah Airku) or STAR Love Sabah Party (Parti Cinta Sabah) or PCS Sabah People's Ideas Party (Parti Gagasan Rakyat Sabah) or GAGASAN or PGRS Sarawak Parties Alliance (Gabungan Parti Sarawak) or GPS: Progressive Democratic Party (Parti Demokratik Progresif) or PDP Sarawak People's Party (Parti Rakyat Sarawak) or PRS Sarawak United People's Party (Parti Rakyat Bersatu Sarawak) or SUPP United Bumiputera Heritage Party (Parti Pesaka Bumiputera Bersata) or PBB Homeland Movement/Party (Gerakan Tanah Air) or GTA Homeland Fighter's Party (Parti Pejuang Tanah Air) or PEJUANG Perkasa Bumiputera Party of Malaysia (Parti Bumiputera Perkasa Malaysia) All-Malaysian Jemaah Islamiah Front (Barisan Jemaah Islamiah Se-Malaysia) National All India Muslim Alliance Party (Parti Perikatan India Muslim Nasional) others: Malaysian Nation Party (Parti Bangsa Malaysia) or PBM Heritage Party (Parti Warisan) or WARISAN Malaysian United Democratic Alliance (Ikatan Demokratik Malaysia) or MUDA United Sarawak Party (PSB)

18 years of age; universal

Malaysia s location has long made it an important cultural, economic, historical, social, and trade link between the islands of Southeast Asia and the mainland. Through the Strait of Malacca, which separates the Malay Peninsula from the archipelago, flowed maritime trade and with it influences from China, India, the Middle East, and the east coast of Africa. Prior to the 14th century, several powerful maritime empires existed in what is modern-day Malaysia, including the Srivijayan, which controlled much of the southern part of the peninsula between the 7th and 13th centuries, and the Majapahit Empire, which took control over most of the peninsula and the Malay Archipelago between the 13th and 14th centuries. The adoption of Islam between the 13th and 17th centuries also saw the rise of a number of powerful maritime states and sultanates on the Malay Peninsula and the island of Borneo, such as the port city of Malacca (Melaka), which at its height in the 15th century had a navy and hosted thousands of Chinese, Arab, Persian, and Indian merchants. The Portuguese in the 16th century and the Dutch in the 17th century were the first European colonial powers to establish themselves on the Malay Peninsula and in Southeast Asia. However, it was the British who ultimately secured hegemony across the territory and during the late 18th and 19th centuries established colonies and protectorates in the area that is now Malaysia. Japan occupied these holdings from 1942 to 1945. In 1948, the British-ruled territories on the Malay Peninsula (except Singapore) formed the Federation of Malaya, which became independent in 1957. Malaysia was formed in 1963 when the former British colonies of Singapore, as well as Sabah and Sarawak on the northern coast of Borneo, joined the Federation. A communist insurgency, confrontations with Indonesia, Philippine claims to Sabah, and Singapore's expulsion in 1965 marred the first several years of the country's independence. During the 22-year term of Prime Minister MAHATHIR Mohamad (1981-2003), Malaysia was successful in diversifying its economy from dependence on exports of raw materials to the development of manufacturing, services, and tourism. Former Prime Minister MAHATHIR and a newly formed coalition of opposition parties defeated Prime Minister Mohamed NAJIB bin Abdul Razak's United Malays National Organization (UMNO) in 2018, ending over 60 years of uninterrupted UMNO rule. From 2018-2022, Malaysia underwent considerable political upheaval, with a succession of coalition governments holding power. Following legislative elections in 2022, ANWAR Ibrahim was appointed prime minister after more than 20 years in opposition. His political coalition, Pakatan Harapan (PH), joined its longtime UNMO rival to form a government, but the two groups have remained deeply divided on many issues.

the Malaysian military is responsible for defense of the country's national interests, sovereignty, and territorial integrity; it also has some domestic responsibilities, such as responding to natural disasters; key areas of focus for the military include cyber defense, crime and piracy in the Strait of Malacca, and tensions in the South China Sea; the Army has traditionally been the dominant service, but air and maritime security have received increased emphasis in recent years; Malaysia has undertaken efforts to procure more modern aircraft and ships, improve air and maritime surveillance, expand the Navy s support infrastructure (particularly bases/ports) and domestic ship-building capacities, and increase cooperation with regional and international partners such as Australia, Indonesia, the Philippines, Singapore, and the US Malaysia is a member of the Five Powers Defense Arrangements (FPDA), a series of mutual assistance agreements reached in 1971 embracing Australia, Malaysia, New Zealand, Singapore, and the UK; the FPDA commits the members to consult with one another in the event or threat of an armed attack on any of the members and to mutually decide what measures should be taken, jointly or separately; there is no specific obligation to intervene militarily (2025)

Malaysian Armed Forces (Angkatan Tentera Malaysia, ATM): Malaysian Army, Royal Malaysian Navy, Royal Malaysian Air Force Ministry of Home Affairs: Royal Malaysia Police (RMP or Polis Diraja Malaysia, PDRM), Malaysian Maritime Enforcement Agency (MMEA; aka Malaysian Coast Guard) (2025) note: the Royal Malaysia Police includes the General Operations Force, a paramilitary force with a variety of roles, including patrolling borders, counterterrorism, maritime security, and counterinsurgency

approximately 110,000 active Malaysian Armed Forces (2025)

825 Lebanon (UNIFIL) (2025)

the military fields a diverse array of mostly older but growing quantities of more modern weapons and equipment; its inventory originates from a variety of suppliers across Europe, Asia, and the US; Malaysia has a domestic defense industry that has some co-production agreements with countries such as France, Germany, and T rkiye in areas such as armored vehicles and naval vessels (2025)

1% of GDP (2024 est.) 0.9% of GDP (2023 est.) 1.1% of GDP (2022 est.) 1% of GDP (2021 est.) 1.1% of GDP (2020 est.)

17 years 6 months of age for voluntary military service for men and women (younger with parental consent and proof of age); mandatory retirement age 60; no conscription (2025)

0-14 years: 22.2% (male 3,947,914/female 3,730,319) 15-64 years: 69.4% (male 12,308,938/female 11,666,947) 65 years and over: 8.4% (2024 est.) (male 1,409,360/female 1,501,332)

total: 0.64 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.) beer: 0.48 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.) wine: 0.04 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.) spirits: 0.11 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.) other alcohols: 0.01 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.)

14.05 births/1,000 population (2025 est.)

15.3% (2022 est.)

5.8 deaths/1,000 population (2025 est.)

total dependency ratio: 44.3 (2025 est.) youth dependency ratio: 31.7 (2025 est.) elderly dependency ratio: 12.6 (2025 est.) potential support ratio: 7.9 (2025 est.)

urban: 99.1% of population (2022 est.) rural: 90.1% of population (2022 est.) total: 97.2% of population (2022 est.) urban: 0.9% of population (2022 est.) rural: 9.9% of population (2022 est.) total: 2.8% of population (2022 est.)

3.5% of GDP (2023 est.) 14.1% national budget (2023 est.)

Bumiputera 63.8% (Malay 52.8% and indigenous peoples, including Orang Asli, Dayak, Anak Negeri, 11%), Chinese 20.6%, Indian 6%, other 0.6%, non-citizens 9% (2023 est.)

0.83 (2025 est.)

4.4% of GDP (2021) 8% of national budget (2022 est.)

2 beds/1,000 population (2021 est.)

total: 6.3 deaths/1,000 live births (2025 est.) male: 6.8 deaths/1,000 live births female: 6 deaths/1,000 live births

Bahasa Malaysia (official), English, Chinese (Cantonese, Mandarin, Hokkien, Hakka, Hainan, Foochow), Tamil, Telugu, Malayalam, Panjabi, Thai major-language sample(s): Buku Fakta Dunia, sumber yang diperlukan untuk maklumat asas. (Bahasa Malaysia) The World Factbook, the indispensable source for basic information. note: Malaysia has 134 languages (112 indigenous and 22 non-indigenous); in East Malaysia, there are several indigenous languages, and the most widely spoken are Iban and Kadazan

total population: 76.6 years (2024 est.) male: 75 years female: 78.4 years

total population: 95.8% (2022 est.) male: 96.8% (2022 est.) female: 94.7% (2022 est.)

8.622 million KUALA LUMPUR (capital), 1.086 million Johor Bahru, 857,000 Ipoh (2023)

26 deaths/100,000 live births (2023 est.)

total: 32.2 years (2025 est.) male: 31.7 years female: 31.9 years

noun: Malaysian(s) adjective: Malaysian

1.43 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2025 est.)

15.6% (2016)

2.34 physicians/1,000 population (2023)

total: 34,905,275 (2025 est.) male: 17,833,074 female: 17,072,201

a highly uneven distribution, with over 80% of the population residing on the Malay Peninsula

0.97% (2025 est.)

Muslim (official) 63.5%, Buddhist 18.7%, Christian 9.1%, Hindu 6.1%, other (Confucianism, Taoism, other traditional Chinese religions) 0.9%, none/unspecified 1.8% (2020 est.)

urban: 100% of population (2022 est.) rural: 99.9% of population (2022 est.) total: 100% of population (2022 est.) urban: 0% of population (2022 est.) rural: 0.1% of population (2022 est.) total: 0% of population (2022 est.)

total: 12 years (2023 est.) male: 11 years (2023 est.) female: 12 years (2023 est.)

at birth: 1.07 male(s)/female 0-14 years: 1.06 male(s)/female 15-64 years: 1.06 male(s)/female 65 years and over: 0.94 male(s)/female total population: 1.05 male(s)/female (2024 est.)

total: 21.5% (2025 est.) male: 41.8% (2025 est.) female: 0.6% (2025 est.)

1.73 children born/woman (2025 est.)

urban population: 78.7% of total population (2023) rate of urbanization: 1.87% annual rate of change (2020-25 est.)

1996 - first of a series of domestically produced commercial communications satellites (MEASAT) launched on European rocket 2000 - first multipurpose (remote sensing/RS, communications, scientific) microsatellite (TiungSat-1) produced with technology and training from the UK and launched by Russia 2007 - first Malaysian astronaut (trained in Russia) to space on International Space Station 2009 - first RS satellite (RazakSat) built with assistance from South Korea and launched by US 2011 - completed construction of a satellite assembly, integration, and testing facility 2025 - first commercial high-resolution RS satellite (UzmaSat-1) launched by US; signed US-led Artemis Accords

Malaysian Space Agency (MYSA; established 2019) (2025) note: MYSA was established through the merging of the National Space Agency (ANGKASA; established 2002) and the Malaysian Remote Sensing Agency (MRSA; established 1998)

has launched feasibility studies for potential space launch sites in Pahang, Sabah, and Sarawak (2025)

has a national space policy and program focused on the areas of remote sensing (RS), navigational services, and telecommunications to support domestic economic sectors; seeks to promote a domestic space industry; acquires, manufactures, and operates satellites; conducts research in RS capabilities and space sciences such as astronomy, atmospherics, space environment, and weather; has an astronaut training exchange program with Russia and works with a variety of foreign space agencies and industries, including those of the ESA, individual ESA member states, India, Japan, Russia, South Korea, the UK, and the US (2025)

Abu Sayyaf Group, al-Qa'ida, Islamic State of Iraq and ash-Sham (ISIS) note: details about the history, aims, leadership, organization, areas of operation, tactics, targets, weapons, size, and sources of support of the group(s) appear(s) in the Terrorism reference guide

refugees: 191,343 (2024 est.) stateless persons: 120,857 (2024 est.)

100 (2025)

9M

24 (2025)

total: 1,750 (2023) by type: bulk carrier 14, container ship 35, general cargo 169, oil tanker 148, other 1,384

total ports: 35 (2024) large: 3 medium: 4 small: 10 very small: 18 ports with oil terminals: 24 key ports: Johor, Kota Kinabalu, Port Dickson, Port Klang, Pulau Pinang, Tanjung Pelepas, Tapis Marine Terminal A

total: 1,851 km (2014) standard gauge: 59 km (2014) 1.435-m gauge (59 km electrified) narrow gauge: 1,792 km (2014) 1.000-m gauge (339 km electrified)