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East and Southeast Asia
Page last updated: April 24, 2024
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 Southeast Asia. However, it was the British who ultimately secured their hegemony across the territory and during the late 18th and 19th centuries established colonies and protectorates in the area that is now Malaysia. These holdings were occupied by Japan 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. The first several years of the country's independence were marred by a communist insurgency, Indonesian confrontation with Malaysia, Philippine claims to Sabah, and Singapore's expulsion in 1965. 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 May 2018, ending over 60 years of uninterrupted rule by UMNO. Since 2018, Malaysia has undergone 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 ruling coalition holds a two-thirds majority in the Malaysian parliament.
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
02°30' N, 112°30' E
Southeast Asia
Total: 329,847 km²
Land: 328,657 km²
Water: 1,190 km²
Slightly larger than New Mexico
Area comparison map:
Total: 2,742 km
Border countries (3): Brunei 266 km; Indonesia 1,881 km; Thailand 595 km
4,675 km (Peninsular Malaysia 2,068 km, East Malaysia 2,607 km)
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
Tropical; annual southwest (April to October) and northeast (October to February) monsoons
Coastal plains rising to hills and mountains
Highest point: Gunung Kinabalu 4,095 m
Lowest point: Indian Ocean 0 m
Mean elevation: 419 m
Tin, petroleum, timber, copper, iron ore, natural gas, bauxite
Agricultural land: 23.2% (2018 est.)
Arable land: 2.9% (2018 est.)
Permanent crops: 19.4% (2018 est.)
Permanent pasture: 0.9% (2018 est.)
Forest: 62% (2018 est.)
Other: 14.8% (2018 est.)
4,420 km² (2020)
A highly uneven distribution with over 80% of the population residing on the Malay Peninsula
Flooding; landslides; forest fires
Strategic location along Strait of Malacca and southern South China Sea
34,219,975 (2023 est.)
Noun: Malaysian(s)
Adjective: Malaysian
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.)
Bahasa Malaysia (official), English, Chinese (Cantonese, Mandarin, Hokkien, Hakka, Hainan, Foochow), Tamil, Telugu, Malayalam, Panjabi, Thai; note - Malaysia has 134 living languages - 112 indigenous languages and 22 non-indigenous languages; in East Malaysia, there are several indigenous languages; the most widely spoken are Iban and Kadazan
Major-language sample(s):
Buku Fakta Dunia, sumber yang diperlukan untuk maklumat asas. (Bahasa Malaysia)
The World Factbook, the indispensable source for basic information.
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.)
Malaysia’s multi-ethnic population consists of the bumiputera – Malays and other indigenous peoples – (62%), ethnic Chinese (21%), ethnic Indians (6%), and foreigners (10%). The majority of Malaysia’s ethnic Chinese and Indians trace their roots to the British colonialists’ recruitment of hundreds of thousands of Chinese and Indians as mine and plantation workers between the early-19th century and the 1930s. Most Malays have maintained their rural lifestyle, while the entrepreneurial Chinese have achieved greater wealth and economic dominance. In order to eradicate Malay poverty, the Malaysian Government in 1971 adopted policies that gave preference to the bumiputera in public university admissions, government jobs and contracts, and property ownership. Affirmative action continues to benefit well-off urban bumiputera but has done little to alleviate poverty for their more numerous rural counterparts. The policies have pushed ethnic Chinese and Indians to study at private or foreign universities (many do not return) and have created and sustained one of the world’s largest civil services, which is 85-90% Malay.
The country’s age structure has changed significantly since the 1960s, as fertility and mortality rates have declined. Malaysia’s total fertility rate (TFR) has dropped from 5 children per woman in 1970, to 3 in 1998, to 2.1 in 2015 as a result of increased educational attainment and labor participation among women, later marriages, increased use of contraception, and changes in family size preference related to urbanization. The TFR is higher among Malays, rural residents (who are mainly Malay), the poor, and the less-educated. Despite the reduced fertility rate, Malaysia’s population will continue to grow, albeit at a decreasing rate, for the next few decades because of its large number of reproductive-age women. The youth population has been shrinking, and the working-age population (15-64 year olds) has been growing steadily. Malaysia’s labor market has successfully absorbed the increasing number of job seekers, leading to sustained economic growth. However, the favorable age structure is changing, and around 2020, Malaysia will start to become a rapidly aging society. As the population ages, Malaysia will need to better educate and train its labor force, raise productivity, and continue to increase the number of women workers in order to further develop its economy.
More than 1.8 million Malaysians lived abroad as of 2015, including anywhere from 350,000 to 785,000 workers, more than half of whom have an advanced level of education. The vast majority of emigrants are ethnic Chinese, seeking better educational and job opportunities abroad because of institutionalized ethnic discrimination favoring the Malays. The primary destination country is nearby Singapore, followed by Bangladesh and Australia. Hundreds of thousands of Malaysians also commute across the causeway to Singapore daily for work.
Brain drain is an impediment to Malaysia’s goal of becoming a high-income country. The situation is compounded by a migrant inflow that is composed almost entirely of low-skilled laborers who work mainly in manufacturing, agriculture, and construction. Officially, Malaysia had about 1.8 million legal foreign workers as of mid-year 2017 – largely from Indonesia, Nepal, the Philippines, and Bangladesh – but as many as 3 to 4 million are estimated to be in the country illegally. Immigrants outnumber ethnic Indians and could supplant the ethnic Chinese as Malaysia’s second largest population group around 2035.
0-14 years: 22.46% (male 3,952,311/female 3,734,607)
15-64 years: 69.42% (male 12,198,930/female 11,556,399)
65 years and over: 8.12% (2023 est.) (male 1,345,767/female 1,431,961)
2023 population pyramid:
Total dependency ratio: 43.3
Youth dependency ratio: 32.9
Elderly dependency ratio: 10.4
Potential support ratio: 9.6 (2021 est.)
Total: 31.4 years (2023 est.)
Male: 31.3 years
Female: 31.5 years
1.01% (2023 est.)
14.4 births/1,000 population (2023 est.)
5.7 deaths/1,000 population (2023 est.)
1.5 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2023 est.)
A highly uneven distribution with over 80% of the population residing on the Malay Peninsula
Urban population: 78.7% of total population (2023)
Rate of urbanization: 1.87% annual rate of change (2020-25 est.)
Total population growth rate v. urban population growth rate, 2000-2030
8.622 million KUALA LUMPUR (capital), 1.086 million Johor Bahru, 857,000 Ipoh (2023)
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 (2023 est.)
21 deaths/100,000 live births (2020 est.)
Total: 6.5 deaths/1,000 live births (2023 est.)
Male: 6.9 deaths/1,000 live births
Female: 6.1 deaths/1,000 live births
Total population: 76.4 years (2023 est.)
Male: 74.8 years
Female: 78.1 years
1.74 children born/woman (2023 est.)
0.84 (2023 est.)
52.2% (2014)
Improved: urban: 99.4% of population
Rural: 90.7% of population
Total: 97.5% of population
Unimproved: urban: 0.6% of population
Rural: 9.3% of population
Total: 2.5% of population (2020 est.)
4.1% of GDP (2020)
1.54 physicians/1,000 population (2020)
1.9 beds/1,000 population (2017)
Improved: urban: 99% of population
Rural: NA
Total: NA
Unimproved: urban: 0.1% of population
Rural: NA
Total: (2020 est.) NA
Degree of risk: intermediate (2023)
Food or waterborne diseases: bacterial diarrhea
Vectorborne diseases: dengue fever
Water contact diseases: leptospirosis
15.6% (2016)
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.)
Total: 22.5% (2020 est.)
Male: 43.8% (2020 est.)
Female: 1.1% (2020 est.)
14.1% (2019)
59.3% (2023 est.)
3.9% of GDP (2020 est.)
Definition: age 15 and over can read and write
Total population: 95%
Male: 96.2%
Female: 93.6% (2019)
Total: 13 years
Male: 13 years
Female: 14 years (2020)
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
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
Tropical; annual southwest (April to October) and northeast (October to February) monsoons
Agricultural land: 23.2% (2018 est.)
Arable land: 2.9% (2018 est.)
Permanent crops: 19.4% (2018 est.)
Permanent pasture: 0.9% (2018 est.)
Forest: 62% (2018 est.)
Other: 14.8% (2018 est.)
Urban population: 78.7% of total population (2023)
Rate of urbanization: 1.87% annual rate of change (2020-25 est.)
Total population growth rate v. urban population growth rate, 2000-2030
1.57% of GDP (2018 est.)
0.02% of GDP (2018 est.)
Particulate matter emissions: 21.52 micrograms per cubic meter (2019 est.)
Carbon dioxide emissions: 248.29 megatons (2016 est.)
Methane emissions: 51.51 megatons (2020 est.)
Municipal solid waste generated annually: 12,982,685 tons (2014 est.)
Municipal solid waste recycled annually: 2,271,970 tons (2016 est.)
Percent of municipal solid waste recycled: 17.5% (2016 est.)
Municipal: 1.34 billion cubic meters (2020 est.)
Industrial: 1.64 billion cubic meters (2020 est.)
Agricultural: 2.51 billion cubic meters (2020 est.)
580 billion cubic meters (2020 est.)
Total global geoparks and regional networks: 2
Global geoparks and regional networks: Kinabalu; Langkawi (2023)
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: the name means "Land of the Malays"
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)
Name: Kuala Lumpur; note - nearby Putrajaya is referred to as a federal government administrative center but not the capital; Parliament meets in 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 Malay word for "river junction or estuary" is kuala and lumpur means "mud"; together the words render the meaning of "muddy confluence"
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
31 August 1957 (from the UK)
Independence Day (or Merdeka Day), 31 August (1957) (independence of Malaya); Malaysia Day, 16 September (1963) (formation of Malaysia)
History: previous 1948; latest drafted 21 February 1957, effective 27 August 1957
Amendments: 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; amended many times, last in 2019
Mixed legal system of English common law, Islamic law (sharia), and customary law; judicial review of legislative acts in the Federal Court at request of supreme head of the federation
Has not submitted an ICJ jurisdiction declaration; non-party state to the ICCt
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
18 years of age; universal (2019)
Chief of state: King Sultan IBRAHIM ibni al-Marhum Sultan Iskandar (since 31 January 2024); the position of the king is primarily ceremonial, but he is the final arbiter on the appointment of the prime minister
Head of government: Prime Minister ANWAR Ibrahim (since 25 November 2022)
Cabinet: Cabinet appointed by the prime minister from among members of Parliament with the consent of the king
Elections/appointments: 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; election last held on 24 October 2023 (next to be held in October 2028 with installation in January 2029); prime minister designated from among members of the House of Representatives; following legislative elections, the leader who commands support of the majority of members in the House becomes prime minister
Description: bicameral Parliament of Malaysia or Parlimen Malaysia consists of:
Senate or Dewan Negara (70 seats; 44 members appointed by the king and 26 indirectly elected by 13 state legislatures; members serve 3-year terms)
House of Representatives or Dewan Rakyat (222 seats; members directly elected in single-seat constituencies by simple majority vote to serve 5-year terms) (2016)
Elections: Senate - appointed
House of Representatives - last held on 19 Nov 2022 (next to be held in 2027)
Election results: Senate - appointed; composition as of March 2024 - men 51, women 10, percentage women 16.4%
House of Representatives - percent of vote by party/coalition - PH 37.5%, PN 30.4%, BN 22.4%, GPS 4%, WARISAN 1.8%, GRS 1.3%, other 2.6%; seats by party/coalition - PH 90, PN 50, BN 42, GPS 18, WARISAN 7, PEJUANG 4, PBM 3, PSB 1, MUDA 1, independent 4, vacant 2; composition as of March 2024 - 192 men, 30 women; percentage women 13.5%; total Parliament percentage women 9.2%
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); note - Malaysia has a dual judicial hierarchy of civil and religious (sharia) courts
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
National Front (Barisan Nasional) or BN [Ahmad ZAHID Hamidi]:
All Malaysia Indian Progressive Front or IPF (Barisan Kemajuan India Se-Malaysia) or AMIPF [LOGANATHAN Thoraisamy]
Love Malaysia Party (Parti Cinta Malaysia) or PCM [HUAN Cheng Guan]
Malaysian Chinese Association (Persatuan Cina Malaysia) or MCA [WEE Ka Siong]
Malaysian Indian Congress (Kongres India Malaysia) or MIC [VIGNESWARAN Sanasee]
Malaysian Indian Muslim Congress (Kongres India Muslim Malaysia) or KIMMA [Syed IMBRAHIM Kader]
Malaysia Makkal Sakti Party (Parti Makkal Sakti Malaysia) or MMSP [R.S. THANENTHIRAN]
United Malays National Organization (Pertubuhan Kebansaan Melayu Bersatu) or UMNO [Ahmad ZAHID Hamidi]
United Sabah People's Party (Parti Bersatu Rakyat Sabah) or PBRS [Arthur Joseph KURUP]
Alliance of Hope (Pakatan Harapan) or PH [ANWAR Ibrahim]:
Democratic Action Party (Parti Tindakan Demokratik) or DAP [Anthony LOKE Siew Fook]
Malaysian United Democratic Alliance (Ikatan Demokratik Malaysia) or MUDA [Syed SADDIQ Syed Adbdul Rahman]
National Trust Party (Parti Amanah Negara) or AMANAH [MOHAMAD Sabu]
People's Justice Party (Parti Keadilan Rakyat) or PKR [ANWAR Ibrahim]
United Progressive Kinabalu Organization (Pertubuhan Kinabalu Progresif Bersatu) or UPKO [EWON Benedick]
National Alliance (Perikatan Nasional) or PN [MUHYIDDIN Yassin]:
Malaysian People's Movement Party (Parti Gerakan Rakyat Malaysia) or GERAKAN or PGRM [LAU Hoe Chai]
Malaysian United Indigenous Party (Parti Pribumi Bersatu Malaysia) or PPBM or BERSATU [MUHYIDDIN Yassin]
Pan-Malaysian Islamic Party (Parti Islam Se-Malaysia) or PAS [Abdul HADI Awang]
Sabah People's Alliance (Gabungan Rakya Sabah) or GRS [HAJIJI Noor]:
Homeland Solidarity Party (Parti Solidariti Tanah Airku) or STAR [Jeffrey KITINGAN]
Sabah People's Ideas Party (Parti Gagasan Rakyat Sabah) or GAGASAN or PGRS [HAJIJI Noor]
Sabah Progressive Party (Parti Maju Sabah) or SAPP [Yong Teck Lee]
United Sabah National Organization (Pertubuhan Kebangsaan Sabah Bersatu ((Baru)) or USNO (Baru) [PANDIKAR Amin Mulia]
United Sabah Party (Parti Bersatu Sabah) or PBS [Maximus Johnity ONGKILI]
Sarawak Parties Alliance (Gabungan Parti Sarawak) or GPS [Abang Abdul Rahman Zohari Abang Openg or ABANG JOHARI or "Abang Jo"]:
Progressive Democratic Party (Parti Demokratik Progresif) or PDP [TIONG King Sing]
Sarawak People's Party (Parti Rakyat Sarawak) or PRS [Joseph SALANG Gandum]
Sarawak United People's Party (Parti Rakyat Bersatu Sarawak) or SUPP [SIM Kui Hian]
United Bumiputera Heritage Party (Parti Pesaka Bumiputera Bersata) or PBB [Abang Abdul Rahman Zohari Abang Openg or ABANG JOHARI or "Abang Jo"]
Others receiving votes in 2022 general election:
Malaysian Nation Party (Parti Bangsa Malaysia) or PBM [Larry SNG Wei Shein]
Heritage Party (Parti Warisan) or WARISAN [SHAFIE Apdal]
Social Democratic Harmony Party (Parti Kesejahteraan Demokratik Masyarakat) or KDM [PETER Anthony]
Malaysian United Democratic Alliance (Ikatan Demokratik Malaysia) or MUDA [Syed SADDIQ]
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, UNWTO, UPU, WCO, WFTU (NGOs), WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTO
14 equal horizontal stripes of red (top) alternating with white (bottom); there is a dark blue rectangle in the upper hoist-side corner bearing a yellow crescent and a yellow 14-pointed star; the flag is often referred to as Jalur Gemilang (Stripes of Glory); the 14 stripes stand for the equal status in the federation of the 13 member states and the federal government; the 14 points on the star represent the unity between these entities; the crescent is a traditional symbol of Islam; blue symbolizes the unity of the Malay people and yellow is the royal color of Malay rulers
Note: the design is based on the flag of the US
Tiger, hibiscus; national colors: gold, black
Name: "Negaraku" (My Country)
Lyrics/music: collective, led by Tunku ABDUL RAHMAN/Pierre Jean DE BERANGER
Note: adopted 1957; full version only performed in the presence of the king; the tune, which was adopted from a popular French melody titled "La Rosalie," was originally the anthem of Perak, one of Malaysia's 13 states
Total World Heritage Sites: 4 (2 cultural, 2 natural)
Selected World Heritage Site locales: Gunung Mulu National Park (n); Kinabalu Park (n); Malacca and George Town, Historic Cities of the Straits of Malacca (c); Archaeological Heritage of the Lenggong Valley (c)
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
$963.29 billion (2022 est.)
$886.596 billion (2021 est.)
$858.293 billion (2020 est.)
Note: data in 2017 dollars
8.65% (2022 est.)
3.3% (2021 est.)
-5.46% (2020 est.)
Note: annual GDP % growth based on constant local currency
$28,400 (2022 est.)
$26,400 (2021 est.)
$25,900 (2020 est.)
Note: data in 2017 dollars
$407.027 billion (2022 est.)
Note: data in current dollars at official exchange rate
3.38% (2022 est.)
2.48% (2021 est.)
-1.14% (2020 est.)
Note: annual % change based on consumer prices
Fitch rating: BBB+ (2020)
Moody's rating: A3 (2004)
Standard & Poors rating: A- (2003)
Note: The year refers to the year in which the current credit rating was first obtained.
Agriculture: 8.8% (2017 est.)
Industry: 37.6% (2017 est.)
Services: 53.6% (2017 est.)
Comparison rankings: services 164; industry 40; agriculture 97
Household consumption: 55.3% (2017 est.)
Government consumption: 12.2% (2017 est.)
Investment in fixed capital: 25.3% (2017 est.)
Investment in inventories: 0.3% (2017 est.)
Exports of goods and services: 71.4% (2017 est.)
Imports of goods and services: -64.4% (2017 est.)
Oil palm fruit, rice, poultry, eggs, vegetables, rubber, coconuts, bananas, pineapples, pork
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
6.46% (2022 est.)
Note: annual % change in industrial value added based on constant local currency
17.129 million (2022 est.)
Note: number of people ages 15 or older who are employed or seeking work
3.63% (2022 est.)
4.08% (2021 est.)
4.54% (2020 est.)
Note: % of labor force seeking employment
Total: 15.6% (2021 est.)
Male: 14.2%
Female: 17.8%
6.2% (2021 est.)
Note: % of population with income below national poverty line
41.2 (2018 est.)
Note: index (0-100) of income distribution; higher values represent greater inequality
On food: 21.5% of household expenditures (2018 est.)
On alcohol and tobacco: 1.8% of household expenditures (2018 est.)
Lowest 10%: 2.3%
Highest 10%: 31.2% (2018 est.)
Note: % share of income accruing to lowest and highest 10% of population
0.4% of GDP (2022 est.)
0.42% of GDP (2021 est.)
0.42% of GDP (2020 est.)
Note: personal transfers and compensation between resident and non-resident individuals/households/entities
Revenues: $77.736 billion (2019 est.)
Expenditures: $85.851 billion (2019 est.)
-3% (of GDP) (2017 est.)
63.26% of GDP (2021 est.)
62.01% of GDP (2020 est.)
52.42% of GDP (2019 est.)
Note: central government debt as a % of GDP
11.21% (of GDP) (2021 est.)
Note: central government tax revenue as a % of GDP
Calendar year
$12.271 billion (2022 est.)
$14.493 billion (2021 est.)
$14.138 billion (2020 est.)
Note: balance of payments - net trade and primary/secondary income in current dollars
$312.857 billion (2022 est.)
$263.836 billion (2021 est.)
$208.217 billion (2020 est.)
Note: balance of payments - exports of goods and services in current dollars
Singapore 15%, China 14%, US 13%, Hong Kong 6%, Japan 6% (2021)
Integrated circuits, refined petroleum, palm oil, rubber apparel, natural gas, semiconductors (2021)
$283.601 billion (2022 est.)
$236.855 billion (2021 est.)
$186.613 billion (2020 est.)
Note: balance of payments - imports of goods and services in current dollars
China 29%, Singapore 11%, Japan 6%, US 6%, Taiwan 6% (2021)
Integrated circuits, refined petroleum, crude petroleum, coal, gold, semiconductors (2021)
$114.659 billion (2022 est.)
$116.916 billion (2021 est.)
$107.644 billion (2020 est.)
Note: holdings of gold (year-end prices)/foreign exchange/special drawing rights in current dollars
$224.596 billion (2019 est.)
$226.901 billion (2018 est.)
Ringgits (MYR) per US dollar -
Exchange rates:
4.401 (2022 est.)
4.143 (2021 est.)
4.203 (2020 est.)
4.142 (2019 est.)
4.035 (2018 est.)
Electrification - total population: 100% (2021)
Installed generating capacity: 34.959 million kW (2020 est.)
Consumption: 150.062 billion kWh (2019 est.)
Exports: 669 million kWh (2019 est.)
Imports: 19 million kWh (2019 est.)
Transmission/distribution losses: 12.124 billion kWh (2019 est.)
Comparison rankings: installed generating capacity 33; transmission/distribution losses 185; imports 116; exports 69; consumption 24
Fossil fuels: 87.5% of total installed capacity (2020 est.)
Nuclear: 0% of total installed capacity (2020 est.)
Solar: 0.7% of total installed capacity (2020 est.)
Wind: 0% of total installed capacity (2020 est.)
Hydroelectricity: 10.9% of total installed capacity (2020 est.)
Tide and wave: 0% of total installed capacity (2020 est.)
Geothermal: 0% of total installed capacity (2020 est.)
Biomass and waste: 1% of total installed capacity (2020 est.)
Production: 2.977 million metric tons (2020 est.)
Consumption: 35.268 million metric tons (2020 est.)
Exports: 17,000 metric tons (2020 est.)
Imports: 37.295 million metric tons (2020 est.)
Proven reserves: 226 million metric tons (2019 est.)
Total petroleum production: 593,800 bbl/day (2021 est.)
Refined petroleum consumption: 718,600 bbl/day (2019 est.)
Crude oil and lease condensate exports: 303,600 bbl/day (2018 est.)
Crude oil and lease condensate imports: 182,300 bbl/day (2018 est.)
Crude oil estimated reserves: 3.6 billion barrels (2021 est.)
528,300 bbl/day (2015 est.)
208,400 bbl/day (2015 est.)
304,600 bbl/day (2015 est.)
Production: 74,985,350,000 cubic meters (2019 est.)
Consumption: 39,586,915,000 cubic meters (2019 est.)
Exports: 34,197,548,000 cubic meters (2020 est.)
Imports: 4,008,073,000 cubic meters (2020 est.)
Proven reserves: 1,189,306,000,000 cubic meters (2021 est.)
254.764 million metric tonnes of CO2 (2019 est.)
From coal and metallurgical coke: 81.726 million metric tonnes of CO2 (2019 est.)
From petroleum and other liquids: 94.934 million metric tonnes of CO2 (2019 est.)
From consumed natural gas: 78.104 million metric tonnes of CO2 (2019 est.)
123.755 million Btu/person (2019 est.)
Total subscriptions: 8,452,900 (2022 est.)
Subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 25 (2021 est.)
Total subscriptions: 47,201,700 (2021 est.)
Subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 141 (2021 est.)
General assessment: as part of a diverse range of initiatives designed to move the country from developing to developed status by 2025, Malaysia has enabled and encouraged open competition in its telecommunications market; the result is very high penetration levels in both the mobile (147%) and mobile broadband (127%) segments, and near-universal coverage of 4G LTE networks; steady growth is occurring as more fiber optic cable networks are being deployed around the country; consumers are the main beneficiaries of the highly competitive market; they enjoy widespread access to high-speed mobile services as well as attractive offers on bundles to keep data use up but prices low; the downside is that most of Malaysia’s MNOs and MVNOs have struggled to increase revenue in line with growth in subscriber numbers as well as demand for broadband data; while the operators have been very successful in moving a significant proportion (now over 30%) of customers from prepaid over to higher-value postpaid accounts, ARPU continues to fall year after year as a result of competitive pricing pressures; the mobile market, in particular, has become overcrowded and the government is keen to see further rationalization and consolidation with the operators; while customers will no doubt continue to enjoy high quality services at competitive rates, the new entity will be hopeful of squeezing better margins through improved economies of scale; in 2022, the government abandoned its single wholesale 5G network model and committed to deploying a dual 5G network; currently, 80 percent of Malaysia’s population is covered by 5G (2023)
Domestic: fixed-line roughly 25 per 100 and mobile-cellular teledensity roughly 141 per 100 persons (2021)
International: country code - 60; landing points for BBG, FEA, SAFE, SeaMeWe-3 & 4 & 5, AAE-1, JASUKA, BDM, Dumai-Melaka Cable System, BRCS, ACE, AAG, East-West Submarine Cable System, SEAX-1, SKR1M, APCN-2, APG, BtoBe, BaSICS, and Labuan-Brunei Submarine and MCT submarine cables providing connectivity to Asia, the Middle East, Southeast Asia, Australia and Europe; satellite earth stations - 2 Intelsat (1 Indian Ocean, 1 Pacific Ocean); launch of Kacific-1 satellite in 2019 (2019)
State-owned TV broadcaster operates 2 TV networks with relays throughout the country, and the leading private commercial media group operates 4 TV stations with numerous relays throughout the country; 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
Total: 32.98 million (2021 est.)
Percent of population: 97% (2021 est.)
Total: 3,358,800 (2020 est.)
Subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 10 (2020 est.)
Number of registered air carriers: 13 (2020)
Inventory of registered aircraft operated by air carriers: 270
Annual passenger traffic on registered air carriers: 60,481,772 (2018)
Annual freight traffic on registered air carriers: 1,404,410,000 (2018) mt-km
9M
102 (2024)
24 (2024)
354 km condensate, 6,439 km gas, 155 km liquid petroleum gas, 1,937 km oil, 43 km oil/gas/water, 114 km refined products, 26 km water (2013)
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)
Total: 144,403 km (excludes local roads)
Paved: 116,169 km (includes 1,821 km of expressways)
Unpaved: 28,234 km (2010)
7,200 km (2011) (Peninsular Malaysia 3,200 km; Sabah 1,500 km; Sarawak 2,500 km)
Total: 1,750 (2023)
By type: bulk carrier 14, container ship 35, general cargo 169, oil tanker 148, other 1,384
Major seaport(s): Bintulu, Johor Bahru, George Town (Penang), Pelabuhan Klang (Port Klang), Tanjung Pelepas
Container port(s) (TEUs): Port Kelang (Port Klang) (13,724,460), Tanjung Pelepas (11,200,000) (2021)
LNG terminal(s) (export): Bintulu (Sarawak)
LNG terminal(s) (import): Sungei Udang
Malaysian Armed Forces (Angkatan Tentera Malaysia, ATM): Malaysian Army (Tentera Darat Malaysia), Royal Malaysian Navy (Tentera Laut Diraja Malaysia, TLDM), Royal Malaysian Air Force (Tentera Udara Diraja Malaysia, TUDM) (2024)
Note 1: the Royal Malaysia Police (RMP or Polis Diraja Malaysia, PDRM) are under the Ministry of Home Affairs; the PRMD includes the General Operations Force, a paramilitary force with a variety of roles, including patrolling borders, counter-terrorism, maritime security, and counterinsurgency; the Ministry of Home Affairs also includes the Malaysian Maritime Enforcement Agency (MMEA; aka Malaysian Coast Guard)
Note 2: Malaysia created a National Special Operations Force in 2016 for combating terrorism threats; the force is comprised of personnel from the ATM, the PRMD, and the MMEA
1.1% of GDP (2022 est.)
1% of GDP (2021)
1.1% of GDP (2020)
1% of GDP (2019)
1% of GDP (2018)
Approximately 110,000 active-duty troops (80,000 Army; 15,000 Navy; 15,000 Air Force) (2023)
The military fields a diverse array of mostly older weapons systems along with a modest mix of modern equipment; its inventory originates from a wide variety of suppliers across Europe, Asia, and the US; in recent years it has received military equipment from approximately 20 countries with South Korea as one of the leading suppliers (2023)
17 years 6 months of age for voluntary military service for men and women (younger with parental consent and proof of age); maximum age of 27 to enlist; mandatory retirement age 60; no conscription (2023)
Note: in 2020, the military announced a goal of having 10% of the active force comprised of women
830 Lebanon (UNIFIL) (2024)
The Malaysian military is primarily focused on internal and maritime security and responding to natural disasters; maritime security has received increased emphasis in recent years, particularly anti-piracy operations in the Strait of Malacca and countering Chinese incursions in Malaysia’s Economic Exclusion Zone, as well as addressing identified shortfalls in maritime capabilities; as such, Malaysia has undertaken efforts to procure more modern ships, improve air and maritime surveillance, expand the Navy’s support infrastructure (particularly bases/ports) and domestic ship-building capacities, restructure naval command and control, and increase naval cooperation with regional and international partners; as of 2023, for example, the Navy had five frigates on order (due in 2026-2029), which would increase the number of operational frigates from two to seven, and complement its small inventory of littoral combat ships (comparable to light frigates in capabilities) and offshore patrol vessels; in addition, the Navy conducts air and naval patrols with Indonesia and the Philippines; it also cooperates with the US military, including on maritime surveillance and training
The Army’s force structure reflects its traditional focus on counterinsurgency operations and terrorist threats; its four divisional commands are comprised largely of infantry brigades; it also has separate brigades of airborne, security, and special operations forces; Malaysia does not have a marine corps, but places considerable emphasis on amphibious capabilities for some of its Army ground units; the Air Force has a mix of about 50 combat aircraft and helicopters
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 (2023)
Malaysian Space Agency (MYSA); MYSA was established in 2019 through the merging of the National Space Agency (ANGKASA; established 2002) and Malaysian Remote Sensing Agency (MRSA; established 1998); Astronautic Technology Sd Bhd (ATSB; established 1995) (2023)
Has a growing space program focused on the areas of remote sensing (RS), communication, and navigational services to support domestic economic sectors; also 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 has relations with a variety of foreign space agencies and industries, including those of the European Space Agency and some of its individual member states, India, Japan, Russia, South Korea, the UK, and the US (2023)
Note: further details about the key activities, programs, and milestones of the country’s space program, as well as government spending estimates on the space sector, appear in Appendix S
Terrorist group(s): Islamic State of Iraq and ash-Sham (ISIS); Jemaah Islamiyah (JI); Abu Sayyaf Group (ASG)
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 Appendix-T
Refugees (country of origin): 157,731 (Burma) (refugees and asylum seekers) (2023)
Stateless persons: 113,930 (2022); note - Malaysia's stateless population consists of Rohingya refugees from Burma, ethnic Indians, and the children of Filipino and Indonesian illegal migrants; Burma stripped the Rohingya of their nationality in 1982; Filipino and Indonesian children who have not been registered for birth certificates by their parents or who received birth certificates stamped "foreigner" are not eligible to attend government schools; these children are vulnerable to statelessness should they not be able to apply to their parents' country of origin for passports
Tier rating: Tier 2 Watch List — Malaysia does not fully meet the minimum standards for the elimination of trafficking but is making significant efforts to do so; the government made key achievements during the reporting period, therefore Malaysia was upgraded to Tier 2 Watch List; officials initiated more investigations, prosecuted and convicted more traffickers, and prosecuted complicit officials; the government identified more victims, funded efforts to raise awareness of trafficking and increase victim access to services and shelters, and increased training for officials and victim service providers; however, the government did not sufficiently press criminal prosecution of labor traffickers in several sectors; Standard Operating Procedures were not systematically implemented countrywide to identify victims, including those who came in contact with officials during law enforcement raids or other situations; authorities likely detained, arrested, and deported some victims; delays in prosecution, insufficient interagency coordination, and inadequate services for victims discouraged victim participation in criminal proceedings and hindered anti-trafficking law enforcement efforts (2023)
Trafficking profile: human traffickers exploit domestic and foreign victims in Malaysia and Malaysians abroad; most victims in Malaysia are documented and undocumented migrant workers from Bangladesh, Burma, Cambodia, China, India, Indonesia, Laos, Nepal, Pakistan, the Philippines, Sri Lanka, Thailand, and Vietnam; employers and agents exploit some migrants through debt-based coercion, and large organized crime syndicates are involved in some trafficking; Chinese nationals working for Chinese state-affiliated construction projects in Malaysia are vulnerable to forced labor; some young foreign women and girls—mainly from Southeast Asia, although also from Nigeria, Tanzania, and Uganda—are forced into commercial sex work in Malaysia after false recruitment for work in restaurants, hotels, beauty salons, or brokered marriages; refugees, Rohingya and other asylum-seekers, and stateless individuals are vulnerable to sex and labor trafficking; traffickers force Malaysian orphans and children to beg, and exploit Malaysian women and children in forced labor; corrupt immigration officials facilitate trafficking by accepting bribes from brokers and smugglers at the borders and airports, and other government officials profit from bribes or extortion from and exploitation of migrants (2023)
Not a source country for illicit drugs bound for the United States but is a significant transit country for drugs destined for Australia; drugs trafficked to Malaysia include crystal methamphetamine and lesser quantities of MDMA (ecstasy), cannabis, heroin, and ketamine; significant number of the population abuse drugs especially methamphetamine