Communications: Broadband - fixed subscriptions: subscriptions per 100 inhabitants
13 (2023 est.)
Communications: Broadband - fixed subscriptions: total
4.58 million (2023 est.)
Communications: Broadcast media
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)
Communications: Internet country code
.my
Communications: Internet users: percent of population
98.02% (2024 est.)
Communications: Telephones - fixed lines: subscriptions per 100 inhabitants
24 (2023 est.)
Communications: Telephones - fixed lines: total subscriptions
8.402 million (2023 est.)
Communications: Telephones - mobile cellular: subscriptions per 100 inhabitants
140 (2024 est.)
Communications: Telephones - mobile cellular: total subscriptions
49.7 million (2024 est.)
Economy: Agricultural products
oil palm fruit, rice, chicken, eggs, tropical fruits, coconuts, vegetables, pineapples, rubber, bananas (2023)
Economy: Average household expenditures: on alcohol and tobacco
1.6% of household expenditures (2023 est.)
Economy: Average household expenditures: on food
26.4% of household expenditures (2023 est.)
Economy: Budget: expenditures
$89.046 billion (2023 est.)
Economy: Budget: revenues
$69.055 billion (2023 est.)
Economy: Current account balance: Current account balance 2013
$11.205 billion (2013 est.)
Economy: Current account balance: Current account balance 2014
$14.846 billion (2014 est.)
Economy: Current account balance: Current account balance 2015
$9.068 billion (2015 est.)
Economy: Current account balance: Current account balance 2016
$7.133 billion (2016 est.)
Economy: Current account balance: Current account balance 2017
$8.960 billion (2017 est.)
Economy: Current account balance: Current account balance 2018
$8.026 billion (2018 est.)
Economy: Current account balance: Current account balance 2019
$12.795 billion (2019 est.)
Economy: Current account balance: Current account balance 2020
$14.138 billion (2020 est.)
Economy: Current account balance: Current account balance 2021
$14.493 billion (2021 est.)
Economy: Current account balance: Current account balance 2022
$12.738 billion (2022 est.)
Economy: Current account balance: Current account balance 2023
$6.257 billion (2023 est.)
Economy: Current account balance: Current account balance 2024
$7.15 billion (2024 est.)
Economy: Exchange rates
4.5764 (2024 est.)
Economy: Exchange rates: Currency
ringgits (MYR) per US dollar -
Economy: Exchange rates: Exchange rates 2013
3.1509 (2013 est.)
Economy: Exchange rates: Exchange rates 2014
3.2729 (2014 est.)
Economy: Exchange rates: Exchange rates 2015
3.9055 (2015 est.)
Economy: Exchange rates: Exchange rates 2016
4.1483 (2016 est.)
Economy: Exchange rates: Exchange rates 2017
4.3004 (2017 est.)
Economy: Exchange rates: Exchange rates 2018
4.0351 (2018 est.)
Economy: Exchange rates: Exchange rates 2019
4.1425 (2019 est.)
Economy: Exchange rates: Exchange rates 2020
4.2035 (2020 est.)
Economy: Exchange rates: Exchange rates 2021
4.1433 (2021 est.)
Economy: Exchange rates: Exchange rates 2022
4.4011 (2022 est.)
Economy: Exchange rates: Exchange rates 2023
4.5606 (2023 est.)
Economy: Exchange rates: Exchange rates 2024
4.5764 (2024 est.)
Economy: Exports - commodities
integrated circuits, refined petroleum, crude petroleum, natural gas, palm oil (2023)
Economy: Exports: Exports 2011
$254.020 billion (2011 est.)
Economy: Exports: Exports 2014
$249.471 billion (2014 est.)
Economy: Exports: Exports 2015
$209.287 billion (2015 est.)
Economy: Exports: Exports 2016
$201.165 billion (2016 est.)
Economy: Exports: Exports 2017
$223.414 billion (2017 est.)
Economy: Exports: Exports 2018
$245.968 billion (2018 est.)
Economy: Exports: Exports 2019
$238.380 billion (2019 est.)
Economy: Exports: Exports 2020
$207.799 billion (2020 est.)
Economy: Exports: Exports 2021
$264.015 billion (2021 est.)
Economy: Exports: Exports 2022
$312.88 billion (2022 est.)
Economy: Exports: Exports 2023
$274.1 billion (2023 est.)
Economy: Exports: Exports 2024
$301.789 billion (2024 est.)
Economy: GDP - composition, by end use: exports of goods and services
71.4% (2024 est.)
Economy: GDP - composition, by end use: government consumption
12% (2024 est.)
Economy: GDP - composition, by end use: household consumption
60.8% (2024 est.)
Economy: GDP - composition, by end use: imports of goods and services
-66% (2024 est.)
Economy: GDP - composition, by end use: investment in fixed capital
20.6% (2024 est.)
Economy: GDP - composition, by end use: investment in inventories
1.3% (2024 est.)
Economy: GDP - composition, by sector of origin: agriculture
8.2% (2024 est.)
Economy: GDP - composition, by sector of origin: industry
37.1% (2024 est.)
Economy: GDP - composition, by sector of origin: services
53.6% (2024 est.)
Economy: GDP - per capita (PPP)
$38,779 (2024 est.)
Economy: GDP (official exchange rate)
$421.972 billion (2024 est.)
Economy: GDP (purchasing power parity) - real
$1.379 trillion (2024 est.)
Economy: Gini Index coefficient - distribution of family income: Gini Index coefficient - distribution of family income 2015
41.1 (2015 est.)
Economy: Gini Index coefficient - distribution of family income: Gini Index coefficient - distribution of family income 2018
41.2 (2018 est.)
Economy: Gini Index coefficient - distribution of family income: Gini Index coefficient - distribution of family income 2021
40.7 (2021 est.)
Economy: Household income or consumption by percentage share: highest 10%
30.9% (2021 est.)
Economy: Household income or consumption by percentage share: lowest 10%
2.3% (2021 est.)
Economy: Imports - commodities
integrated circuits, refined petroleum, crude petroleum, coal, broadcasting equipment (2023)
Economy: Imports: Imports 2010
$181.099 billion (2010 est.)
Economy: Imports: Imports 2015
$186.603 billion (2015 est.)
Economy: Imports: Imports 2016
$181.126 billion (2016 est.)
Economy: Imports: Imports 2017
$201.496 billion (2017 est.)
Economy: Imports: Imports 2018
$221.902 billion (2018 est.)
Economy: Imports: Imports 2019
$210.893 billion (2019 est.)
Economy: Imports: Imports 2020
$186.310 billion (2020 est.)
Economy: Imports: Imports 2021
$236.990 billion (2021 est.)
Economy: Imports: Imports 2022
$283.758 billion (2022 est.)
Economy: Imports: Imports 2023
$253.665 billion (2023 est.)
Economy: Imports: Imports 2024
$279.09 billion (2024 est.)
Economy: Industrial production growth rate
4.9% (2024 est.)
Economy: Inflation rate (consumer prices): Inflation rate (consumer prices) 2015
2.10% (2015 est.)
Economy: Inflation rate (consumer prices): Inflation rate (consumer prices) 2016
2.09% (2016 est.)
Economy: Inflation rate (consumer prices): Inflation rate (consumer prices) 2017
3.87% (2017 est.)
Economy: Inflation rate (consumer prices): Inflation rate (consumer prices) 2018
0.88% (2018 est.)
Economy: Inflation rate (consumer prices): Inflation rate (consumer prices) 2019
0.66% (2019 est.)
Economy: Inflation rate (consumer prices): Inflation rate (consumer prices) 2020
-1.14% (2020 est.)
Economy: Inflation rate (consumer prices): Inflation rate (consumer prices) 2021
2.48% (2021 est.)
Economy: Inflation rate (consumer prices): Inflation rate (consumer prices) 2022
3.38% (2022 est.)
Economy: Inflation rate (consumer prices): Inflation rate (consumer prices) 2023
2.49% (2023 est.)
Economy: Inflation rate (consumer prices): Inflation rate (consumer prices) 2024
1.83% (2024 est.)
Economy: Labor force
18.264 million (2024 est.)
Economy: Population below poverty line
5.10% (2023 est.)
Economy: Public debt: Public debt 2013
53.00% (2013 est.)
Economy: Public debt: Public debt 2014
52.68% (2014 est.)
Economy: Public debt: Public debt 2016
51.89% (2016 est.)
Economy: Public debt: Public debt 2017
50.05% (2017 est.)
Economy: Public debt: Public debt 2018
51.19% (2018 est.)
Economy: Public debt: Public debt 2019
52.42% (2019 est.)
Economy: Public debt: Public debt 2020
62.01% (2020 est.)
Economy: Public debt: Public debt 2021
63.27% (2021 est.)
Economy: Public debt: Public debt 2022
60.15% (2022 est.)
Economy: Public debt: Public debt 2023
64.28% (2023 est.)
Economy: Real GDP (purchasing power parity): Real GDP (purchasing power parity) 2014
$746.116 billion (2014 est.)
Economy: Real GDP (purchasing power parity): Real GDP (purchasing power parity) 2015
$766.028 billion (2015 est.)
Economy: Real GDP (purchasing power parity): Real GDP (purchasing power parity) 2016
$803.828 billion (2016 est.)
Economy: Real GDP (purchasing power parity): Real GDP (purchasing power parity) 2017
$854.694 billion (2017 est.)
Economy: Real GDP (purchasing power parity): Real GDP (purchasing power parity) 2019
$967.568 billion (2019 est.)
Economy: Real GDP (purchasing power parity): Real GDP (purchasing power parity) 2020
$931.107 billion (2020 est.)
Economy: Real GDP (purchasing power parity): Real GDP (purchasing power parity) 2021
$1.022 trillion (2021 est.)
Economy: Real GDP (purchasing power parity): Real GDP (purchasing power parity) 2022
$1.113 trillion (2022 est.)
Economy: Real GDP (purchasing power parity): Real GDP (purchasing power parity) 2023
$1.153 trillion (2023 est.)
Economy: Real GDP (purchasing power parity): Real GDP (purchasing power parity) 2024
$1.212 trillion (2024 est.)
Economy: Real GDP growth rate: Real GDP growth rate 2015
5.09% (2015 est.)
Economy: Real GDP growth rate: Real GDP growth rate 2016
4.45% (2016 est.)
Economy: Real GDP growth rate: Real GDP growth rate 2017
5.81% (2017 est.)
Economy: Real GDP growth rate: Real GDP growth rate 2018
4.84% (2018 est.)
Economy: Real GDP growth rate: Real GDP growth rate 2019
4.41% (2019 est.)
Economy: Real GDP growth rate: Real GDP growth rate 2020
-5.46% (2020 est.)
Economy: Real GDP growth rate: Real GDP growth rate 2021
3.32% (2021 est.)
Economy: Real GDP growth rate: Real GDP growth rate 2022
9.03% (2022 est.)
Economy: Real GDP growth rate: Real GDP growth rate 2023
3.54% (2023 est.)
Economy: Real GDP growth rate: Real GDP growth rate 2024
5.11% (2024 est.)
Economy: Real GDP per capita: Real GDP per capita 2014
$24,307 (2014 est.)
Economy: Real GDP per capita: Real GDP per capita 2015
$24,526 (2015 est.)
Economy: Real GDP per capita: Real GDP per capita 2016
$25,286 (2016 est.)
Economy: Real GDP per capita: Real GDP per capita 2017
$26,416 (2017 est.)
Economy: Real GDP per capita: Real GDP per capita 2019
$28,934 (2019 est.)
Economy: Real GDP per capita: Real GDP per capita 2020
$27,475 (2020 est.)
Economy: Real GDP per capita: Real GDP per capita 2021
$29,823 (2021 est.)
Economy: Real GDP per capita: Real GDP per capita 2022
$34,420 (2022 est.)
Economy: Real GDP per capita: Real GDP per capita 2023
$36,467 (2023 est.)
Economy: Remittances: Remittances 2013
$1.423 billion (2013 est.)
Economy: Remittances: Remittances 2014
$1.580 billion (2014 est.)
Economy: Remittances: Remittances 2015
$1.644 billion (2015 est.)
Economy: Remittances: Remittances 2020
$1.427 billion (2020 est.)
Economy: Remittances: Remittances 2021
$1.552 billion (2021 est.)
Economy: Remittances: Remittances 2022
0.4% of GDP (2022 est.)
Economy: Remittances: Remittances 2023
0.4% of GDP (2023 est.)
Economy: Remittances: Remittances 2024
0.4% of GDP (2024 est.)
Economy: Reserves of foreign exchange and gold: Reserves of foreign exchange and gold 2015
$95.282 billion (2015 est.)
Economy: Reserves of foreign exchange and gold: Reserves of foreign exchange and gold 2016
$94.481 billion (2016 est.)
Economy: Reserves of foreign exchange and gold: Reserves of foreign exchange and gold 2017
$102.447 billion (2017 est.)
Economy: Reserves of foreign exchange and gold: Reserves of foreign exchange and gold 2018
$101.453 billion (2018 est.)
Economy: Reserves of foreign exchange and gold: Reserves of foreign exchange and gold 2019
$103.630 billion (2019 est.)
Economy: Reserves of foreign exchange and gold: Reserves of foreign exchange and gold 2020
$107.644 billion (2020 est.)
Economy: Reserves of foreign exchange and gold: Reserves of foreign exchange and gold 2021
$116.916 billion (2021 est.)
Economy: Reserves of foreign exchange and gold: Reserves of foreign exchange and gold 2022
$114.659 billion (2022 est.)
Economy: Reserves of foreign exchange and gold: Reserves of foreign exchange and gold 2023
$113.463 billion (2023 est.)
Economy: Reserves of foreign exchange and gold: Reserves of foreign exchange and gold 2024
$116.229 billion (2024 est.)
Economy: Taxes and other revenues
12.6% (of GDP) (2023 est.)
Economy: Unemployment rate: Unemployment rate 2019
3.33% (2019 est.)
Economy: Unemployment rate: Unemployment rate 2020
4.54% (2020 est.)
Economy: Unemployment rate: Unemployment rate 2021
4.64% (2021 est.)
Economy: Unemployment rate: Unemployment rate 2022
3.93% (2022 est.)
Economy: Unemployment rate: Unemployment rate 2023
3.86% (2023 est.)
Economy: Unemployment rate: Unemployment rate 2024
3.85% (2024 est.)
Economy: Youth unemployment rate (ages 15-24): female
13.8% (2024 est.)
Economy: Youth unemployment rate (ages 15-24): male
11.3% (2024 est.)
Economy: Youth unemployment rate (ages 15-24): total
12.3% (2024 est.)
Energy: Coal: consumption
35.741 million metric tons (2023 est.)
Energy: Coal: exports
462,000 metric tons (2023 est.)
Energy: Coal: imports
31.706 million metric tons (2023 est.)
Energy: Coal: production
4.476 million metric tons (2023 est.)
Energy: Coal: proven reserves
226 million metric tons (2023 est.)
Energy: Electricity access: electrification - total population
100% (2022 est.)
Energy: Electricity generation sources: biomass and waste
0.6% of total installed capacity (2023 est.)
Energy: Electricity generation sources: fossil fuels
81.9% of total installed capacity (2023 est.)
Energy: Electricity generation sources: hydroelectricity
16.3% of total installed capacity (2023 est.)
Energy: Electricity generation sources: solar
1.1% of total installed capacity (2023 est.)
Energy: Electricity: consumption
178.653 billion kWh (2023 est.)
Energy: Electricity: exports
1.2 billion kWh (2023 est.)
Energy: Electricity: imports
61.678 million kWh (2023 est.)
Energy: Electricity: installed generating capacity
37.22 million kW (2023 est.)
Energy: Electricity: transmission/distribution losses
13.188 billion kWh (2023 est.)
Energy: Energy consumption per capita: Total energy consumption per capita 2023
113.163 million Btu/person (2023 est.)
Energy: Natural gas: consumption
47.112 billion cubic meters (2023 est.)
Energy: Natural gas: exports
37.451 billion cubic meters (2023 est.)
Energy: Natural gas: imports
3.359 billion cubic meters (2023 est.)
Energy: Natural gas: production
74.32 billion cubic meters (2023 est.)
Energy: Natural gas: proven reserves
1.189 trillion cubic meters (2021 est.)
Energy: Petroleum: crude oil estimated reserves
3.6 billion barrels (2021 est.)
Energy: Petroleum: refined petroleum consumption
672,000 bbl/day (2023 est.)
Energy: Petroleum: total petroleum production
582,000 bbl/day (2023 est.)
Environment: Carbon dioxide emissions: from coal and metallurgical coke
76.78 million metric tonnes of CO2 (2023 est.)
Environment: Carbon dioxide emissions: from consumed natural gas
92.951 million metric tonnes of CO2 (2023 est.)
Environment: Carbon dioxide emissions: from petroleum and other liquids
90.273 million metric tonnes of CO2 (2023 est.)
Environment: Carbon dioxide emissions: total emissions
260.005 million metric tonnes of CO2 (2023 est.)
Environment: Climate
tropical; annual southwest (April to October) and northeast (October to February) monsoons
Environment: Environmental issues
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
Environment: Geoparks: global geoparks and regional networks
Kinabalu; Langkawi (2023)
Environment: Geoparks: total global geoparks and regional networks
2
Environment: International environmental agreements: 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
Environment: International environmental agreements: signed, but not ratified
none of the selected agreements
Environment: Land use: agricultural land
26.1% (2023 est.)
Environment: Land use: agricultural land: arable land
arable land: 2.4% (2023 est.)
Environment: Land use: agricultural land: permanent crops
permanent crops: 22.7% (2023 est.)
Environment: Land use: agricultural land: permanent pasture
permanent pasture: 0.9% (2023 est.)
Environment: Land use: forest
57.8% (2023 est.)
Environment: Land use: other
16% (2023 est.)
Environment: Methane emissions: agriculture
182.2 kt (2019-2021 est.)
Environment: Methane emissions: energy
818.9 kt (2022-2024 est.)
Environment: Methane emissions: other
15.3 kt (2019-2021 est.)
Environment: Methane emissions: waste
847.9 kt (2019-2021 est.)
Environment: Particulate matter emissions
23.7 micrograms per cubic meter (2019 est.)
Environment: Total renewable water resources
580 billion cubic meters (2022 est.)
Environment: Total water withdrawal: agricultural
2.505 billion cubic meters (2022 est.)
Environment: Total water withdrawal: industrial
1.641 billion cubic meters (2022 est.)
Environment: Total water withdrawal: municipal
1.342 billion cubic meters (2022 est.)
Environment: Urbanization: rate of urbanization
1.87% annual rate of change (2020-25 est.)
Environment: Urbanization: urban population
76.92% (2024 est.)
Environment: Waste and recycling: municipal solid waste generated annually
12.983 million tons (2024 est.)
Environment: Waste and recycling: percent of municipal solid waste recycled
22.1% (2022 est.)
Geography: Area - comparative
slightly larger than New Mexico
Geography: Area: land
328,657 sq km
Geography: Area: water
1,190 sq km
Geography: Coastline
4,675 km (Peninsular Malaysia 2,068 km; East Malaysia 2,607 km)
Geography: Elevation: highest point
Gunung Kinabalu 4,095 m
Geography: Elevation: lowest point
Indian Ocean 0 m
Geography: Elevation: mean elevation
419 m
Geography: Geographic coordinates
2 30 N, 112 30 E
Geography: Geography - note
strategic location along Strait of Malacca and southern South China Sea
Geography: Irrigated land
4,420 sq km (2022)
Geography: Land boundaries: border countries
Brunei 266 km; Indonesia 1,881 km; Thailand 595 km
Geography: Land boundaries: total
2,742 km
Geography: Land use: agricultural land
26.1% (2023 est.)
Geography: Land use: agricultural land: arable land
arable land: 2.4% (2023 est.)
Geography: Land use: agricultural land: permanent crops
permanent crops: 22.7% (2023 est.)
Geography: Land use: agricultural land: permanent pasture
permanent pasture: 0.9% (2023 est.)
Geography: Land use: forest
57.8% (2023 est.)
Geography: Land use: other
16% (2023 est.)
Geography: Map references
Southeast Asia
Geography: Maritime claims: continental shelf
200-m depth or to the depth of exploitation; specified boundary in the South China Sea
Geography: Maritime claims: exclusive economic zone
200 nm
Geography: Maritime claims: territorial sea
12 nm
Geography: Natural hazards
flooding; landslides; forest fires
Geography: Population distribution
a highly uneven distribution, with over 80% of the population residing on the Malay Peninsula
Geography: Terrain
coastal plains rising to hills and mountains
Government: Administrative divisions
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
Government: Capital: 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)
Government: Capital: geographic coordinates
3 10 N, 101 42 E
Government: Capital: time difference
UTC+8 (13 hours ahead of Washington, DC, during Standard Time)
Government: Citizenship: citizenship by birth
no
Government: Citizenship: citizenship by descent only
at least one parent must be a citizen of Malaysia
Government: Citizenship: dual citizenship recognized
no
Government: Citizenship: residency requirement for naturalization
10 out 12 years preceding application
Government: Constitution: 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
Government: Constitution: history
previous 1948; latest drafted 21 February 1957, effective 27 August 1957
Government: Country name: conventional short form
Malaysia
Government: Country name: 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"
Government: Country name: former
British Malaya, Malayan Union, Federation of Malaya
Government: Country name: local long form
none
Government: Country name: local short form
Malaysia
Government: Diplomatic representation from the US: chief of mission
Ambassador Edgard D. KAGAN (since 20 March 2024)
Government: Diplomatic representation from the US: email address and website
KLACS@state.gov https://my.usembassy.gov/
Government: Diplomatic representation from the US: embassy
376 Jalan Tun Razak, 50400 Kuala Lumpur
Government: Diplomatic representation from the US: FAX
[60] (3) 2142-2207
Government: Diplomatic representation from the US: mailing address
4210 Kuala Lumpur, Washington DC 20521-4210
Government: Diplomatic representation from the US: telephone
[60] (3) 2168-5000
Government: Diplomatic representation in the US: chancery
3516 International Court NW, Washington, DC 20008
Government: Diplomatic representation in the US: chief of mission
Ambassador Tan Sri Muhammad SHAHRUL Ikram bin Yaakob (since 24 July 2025)
Government: Diplomatic representation in the US: consulate(s) general
Los Angeles, New York
Government: Diplomatic representation in the US: email address and website
mwwashington@kln.gov.my https://www.kln.gov.my/web/usa_washington/home
Government: Diplomatic representation in the US: FAX
[1] (202) 572-9882
Government: Diplomatic representation in the US: telephone
[1] (202) 572-9700
Government: Executive branch: cabinet
Cabinet appointed by the prime minister from among members of Parliament with the consent of the king
Government: Executive branch: chief of state
King Sultan IBRAHIM ibni al-Marhum Sultan Iskandar (since 31 January 2024)
Government: Executive branch: 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
Government: Executive branch: expected date of next election
October 2028, with inauguration in January 2029
Government: Executive branch: head of government
Prime Minister ANWAR Ibrahim (since 24 November 2022)
Government: Executive branch: most recent election date
24 October 2023
Government: Flag
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
Government: International law organization participation
has not submitted an ICJ jurisdiction declaration; non-party state to the ICCt
Government: International organization participation
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
Government: Judicial branch: 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)
Government: Judicial branch: 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
Government: Judicial branch: subordinate courts
Court of Appeal; High Court; Sessions Court; Magistrates' Court
Government: Legal system
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
Government: Legislative branch - lower chamber: chamber name
House of Representatives (Dewan Rakyat)
Government: Legislative branch - lower chamber: electoral system
plurality/majority
Government: Legislative branch - lower chamber: expected date of next election
November 2027
Government: Legislative branch - lower chamber: most recent election date
11/19/2022
Government: Legislative branch - lower chamber: number of seats
223 (all directly elected)
Government: Legislative branch - lower chamber: 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)
Government: Legislative branch - lower chamber: percentage of women in chamber
13.5%
Government: Legislative branch - lower chamber: scope of elections
full renewal
Government: Legislative branch - lower chamber: term in office
5 years
Government: Legislative branch - upper chamber: chamber name
Senate (Dewan Negara)
Government: Legislative branch - upper chamber: number of seats
70 (26 indirectly elected; 44 appointed)
Government: Legislative branch - upper chamber: percentage of women in chamber
16.1%
Government: Legislative branch: legislative structure
bicameral
Government: Legislative branch: legislature name
Parliament (Parlimen)
Government: National anthem(s): history
adopted 1957; full version only performed in the king's presence, the shorter version performed for the queen and lesser officials
Government: National anthem(s): lyrics/music
collective, led by Tunku ABDUL RAHMAN/Pierre Jean DE BERANGER
Government: National color(s)
gold, black
Government: National heritage: 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)
Government: National heritage: total World Heritage Sites
6 (4 cultural, 2 natural)
Government: National holiday
Independence Day (or Merdeka Day), 31 August (1957) (independence of Malaya); Malaysia Day, 16 September (1963) (formation of Malaysia)
Government: National symbol(s)
tiger, hibiscus
Government: Political parties
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)
Government: Suffrage
18 years of age; universal
Introduction: Background
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.
Military and Security: Military - note
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)
Military and Security: Military and security forces
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)
Military and Security: Military and security service personnel strengths
approximately 110,000 active Malaysian Armed Forces (2025)
Military and Security: Military deployments
825 Lebanon (UNIFIL) (2025)
Military and Security: Military equipment inventories and acquisitions
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 Türkiye in areas such as armored vehicles and naval vessels (2025)
Military and Security: Military expenditures: Military Expenditures 2015
1.50% (2015 est.)
Military and Security: Military expenditures: Military Expenditures 2016
1.38% (2016 est.)
Military and Security: Military expenditures: Military Expenditures 2017
1.10% (2017 est.)
Military and Security: Military expenditures: Military Expenditures 2018
0.96% (2018 est.)
Military and Security: Military expenditures: Military Expenditures 2019
0.89% (2019 est.)
Military and Security: Military expenditures: Military Expenditures 2020
1.00% (2020 est.)
Military and Security: Military expenditures: Military Expenditures 2021
0.98% (2021 est.)
Military and Security: Military expenditures: Military Expenditures 2022
0.90% (2022 est.)
Military and Security: Military expenditures: Military Expenditures 2023
0.98% (2023 est.)
Military and Security: Military expenditures: Military Expenditures 2024
0.99% (2024 est.)
Military and Security: Military service age and obligation
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)
People and Society: Age structure: 0-14 years
22.2% (male 3,947,914/female 3,730,319)
People and Society: Age structure: 15-64 years
69.4% (male 12,308,938/female 11,666,947)
People and Society: Age structure: 65 years and over
8.4% (2024 est.) (male 1,409,360/female 1,501,332)
People and Society: Alcohol consumption per capita: beer
0.48 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.)
People and Society: Alcohol consumption per capita: other alcohols
0.01 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.)
People and Society: Alcohol consumption per capita: spirits
0.11 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.)
People and Society: Alcohol consumption per capita: total
0.64 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.)
People and Society: Alcohol consumption per capita: wine
0.04 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.)
People and Society: Birth rate
14.05 births/1,000 population (2025 est.)
People and Society: Children under the age of 5 years underweight
15.3% (2022 est.)
People and Society: Current health expenditure
3.96% (2023 est.)
People and Society: Death rate
5.8 deaths/1,000 population (2025 est.)
People and Society: Dependency ratios: elderly dependency ratio
12.6 (2025 est.)
People and Society: Dependency ratios: potential support ratio
7.9 (2025 est.)
People and Society: Dependency ratios: total dependency ratio
44.3 (2025 est.)
People and Society: Dependency ratios: youth dependency ratio
31.7 (2025 est.)
People and Society: Drinking water source: improved: rural
rural: 90.1% of population (2022 est.)
People and Society: Drinking water source: improved: total
total: 97.2% of population (2022 est.)
People and Society: Drinking water source: improved: urban
urban: 99.1% of population (2022 est.)
People and Society: Drinking water source: unimproved: rural
rural: 9.9% of population (2022 est.)
People and Society: Drinking water source: unimproved: total
total: 2.8% of population (2022 est.)
People and Society: Drinking water source: unimproved: urban
urban: 0.9% of population (2022 est.)
People and Society: Education expenditure: Education expenditure (% GDP)
3.5% of GDP (2023 est.)
People and Society: Education expenditure: Education expenditure (% national budget)
14.1% national budget (2023 est.)
People and Society: Education expenditures
3.51% (2023 est.)
People and Society: Ethnic groups
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.)
People and Society: Gross reproduction rate
0.83 (2025 est.)
People and Society: Health expenditure: Health expenditure (as % of GDP)
4.4% of GDP (2021)
People and Society: Health expenditure: Health expenditure (as % of national budget)
8% of national budget (2022 est.)
People and Society: HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate
0.30% (2024 est.)
People and Society: Hospital bed density
2.0 beds/1,000 population (2023 est.)
People and Society: Infant mortality rate: female
6 deaths/1,000 live births
People and Society: Infant mortality rate: male
6.8 deaths/1,000 live births
People and Society: Infant mortality rate: total
7.0 deaths/1,000 live births (2024 est.)
People and Society: Languages: Languages
Bahasa Malaysia (official), English, Chinese (Cantonese, Mandarin, Hokkien, Hakka, Hainan, Foochow), Tamil, Telugu, Malayalam, Panjabi, Thai
People and Society: Languages: major-language sample(s)
Buku Fakta Dunia, sumber yang diperlukan untuk maklumat asas. (Bahasa Malaysia) The World Factbook, the indispensable source for basic information.
People and Society: Life expectancy at birth: female
79.5 years (2024 est.)
People and Society: Life expectancy at birth: male
74.4 years (2024 est.)
People and Society: Literacy: female
94.7% (2022 est.)
People and Society: Literacy: male
96.8% (2022 est.)
People and Society: Literacy: total population
95.77% (2022 est.)
People and Society: Major urban areas - population
8.622 million KUALA LUMPUR (capital), 1.086 million Johor Bahru, 857,000 Ipoh (2023)
People and Society: Maternal mortality ratio
26 deaths/100,000 live births (2023 est.)
People and Society: Median age: female
31.9 years
People and Society: Median age: male
31.7 years
People and Society: Nationality: adjective
Malaysian
People and Society: Net migration rate
1.43 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2025 est.)
People and Society: Obesity - adult prevalence rate
15.6% (2016)
People and Society: Physician density
2.34 physicians/1,000 population (2023)
People and Society: Population
35,557,673 (2024 est.)
People and Society: Population distribution
a highly uneven distribution, with over 80% of the population residing on the Malay Peninsula
People and Society: Population growth rate
1.22% (2024 est.)
People and Society: Population: female
17,072,201
People and Society: Population: male
17,833,074
People and Society: Sanitation facility access: improved: rural
rural: 99.9% of population (2022 est.)
People and Society: Sanitation facility access: improved: total
total: 100% of population (2022 est.)
People and Society: Sanitation facility access: improved: urban
urban: 100% of population (2022 est.)
People and Society: Sanitation facility access: unimproved: rural
rural: 0.1% of population (2022 est.)
People and Society: Sanitation facility access: unimproved: total
total: 0% of population (2022 est.)
People and Society: Sanitation facility access: unimproved: urban
urban: 0% of population (2022 est.)
People and Society: School life expectancy (primary to tertiary education): female
12 years (2023 est.)
People and Society: School life expectancy (primary to tertiary education): male
11 years (2023 est.)
People and Society: School life expectancy (primary to tertiary education): total
12 years (2023 est.)
People and Society: Sex ratio: 0-14 years
1.06 male(s)/female
People and Society: Sex ratio: 15-64 years
1.06 male(s)/female
People and Society: Sex ratio: 65 years and over
0.94 male(s)/female
People and Society: Sex ratio: at birth
1.07 male(s)/female
People and Society: Sex ratio: total population
1.05 male(s)/female (2024 est.)
People and Society: Tobacco use: female
0.6% (2025 est.)
People and Society: Tobacco use: male
41.8% (2025 est.)
People and Society: Tobacco use: total
21.5% (2025 est.)
People and Society: Total fertility rate
1.54 children born/woman (2024 est.)
People and Society: Urbanization: rate of urbanization
1.87% annual rate of change (2020-25 est.)
People and Society: Urbanization: urban population
76.92% (2024 est.)
Space: Key space-program milestones
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
Space: Space agency/agencies
Malaysian Space Agency (MYSA; established 2019) (2025)
Space: Space launch site(s)
has launched feasibility studies for potential space launch sites in Pahang, Sabah, and Sarawak (2025)
Space: Space program overview
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)
Terrorism: Terrorist group(s)
Abu Sayyaf Group, al-Qa'ida, Islamic State of Iraq and ash-Sham (ISIS)
Transnational Issues: Refugees and internally displaced persons: refugees
191,343 (2024 est.)
Transnational Issues: Refugees and internally displaced persons: stateless persons
120,857 (2024 est.)
Transportation: Airports
100 (2025)
Transportation: Civil aircraft registration country code prefix
9M
Transportation: Heliports
24 (2025)
Transportation: Merchant marine: by type
bulk carrier 14, container ship 35, general cargo 169, oil tanker 148, other 1,384
Transportation: Merchant marine: total
1,750 (2023)
Transportation: Ports: key ports
Johor, Kota Kinabalu, Port Dickson, Port Klang, Pulau Pinang, Tanjung Pelepas, Tapis Marine Terminal A
Transportation: Ports: large
3
Transportation: Ports: medium
4
Transportation: Ports: ports with oil terminals
24
Transportation: Ports: small
10
Transportation: Ports: total ports
35 (2024)
Transportation: Ports: very small
18
Transportation: Railways: narrow gauge
1,792 km (2014) 1.000-m gauge (339 km electrified)
Transportation: Railways: standard gauge
59 km (2014) 1.435-m gauge (59 km electrified)
Transportation: Railways: total
1,851 km (2014)
Warning: Some information might be outdated or incorrect, please check statistics before using(most of the economical stats are correct, its mostly the Population stats that are incorrect). Some dates are listed but some are missed, if you have any issues please report it to the Github at github.com.