Malaysia Facts, Map, Population, GDP

Capital

Kuala Lumpur

Population

34,905,275 (2025 est.)

Area

329,847 sq km

Location

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

🧭 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.

🗺️ Geography

Location

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

Geographic coordinates

2 30 N, 112 30 E

Map references

Southeast Asia

Area — total

329,847 sq km

Area — land

328,657 sq km

Area — water

1,190 sq km

Area - comparative

Slightly larger than New Mexico

Land boundaries — total

2,742 km

Land boundaries — border countries

Brunei 266 km; Indonesia 1,881 km; Thailand 595 km

Coastline

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

Maritime claims — territorial sea

12 nm

Maritime claims — exclusive economic zone

200 nm

Maritime claims — continental shelf

200-m depth or to the depth of exploitation; specified boundary in the South China Sea

Climate

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

Terrain

Coastal plains rising to hills and mountains

Elevation — highest point

Gunung Kinabalu 4,095 m

Elevation — lowest point

Indian Ocean 0 m

Elevation — mean elevation

419 m

Natural resources

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

Land use — agricultural land

26.1% (2023 est.)

Land use — agricultural land: arable land

Arable land: 2.4% (2023 est.)

Land use — agricultural land: permanent crops

Permanent crops: 22.7% (2023 est.)

Land use — agricultural land: permanent pasture

Permanent pasture: 0.9% (2023 est.)

Land use — forest

57.8% (2023 est.)

Land use — other

16% (2023 est.)

Irrigated land

4,420 sq km (2022)

Population distribution

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

Natural hazards

Flooding; landslides; forest fires

Geography - note

Strategic location along Strait of Malacca and southern South China Sea

👥 People and Society⬆️ Top

Population — total

34,905,275 (2025 est.)

Population — male

17,833,074

Population — female

17,072,201

Nationality — noun

Malaysian(s)

Nationality — adjective

Malaysian

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.)

Languages — Languages

Bahasa Malaysia (official), English, Chinese (Cantonese, Mandarin, Hokkien, Hakka, Hainan, Foochow), Tamil, Telugu, Malayalam, Panjabi, Thai

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.

Religions

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.)

Age structure — 0-14 years

22.2% (male 3,947,914/female 3,730,319)

Age structure — 15-64 years

69.4% (male 12,308,938/female 11,666,947)

Age structure — 65 years and over

8.4% (2024 est.) (male 1,409,360/female 1,501,332)

Dependency ratios — total dependency ratio

44.3 (2025 est.)

Dependency ratios — youth dependency ratio

31.7 (2025 est.)

Dependency ratios — elderly dependency ratio

12.6 (2025 est.)

Dependency ratios — potential support ratio

7.9 (2025 est.)

Median age — total

32.2 years (2025 est.)

Median age — male

31.7 years

Median age — female

31.9 years

Population growth rate

0.97% (2025 est.)

Birth rate

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

Death rate

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

Net migration rate

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

Population distribution

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

Urbanization — urban population

78.7% of total population (2023)

Urbanization — rate of urbanization

1.87% annual rate of change (2020-25 est.)

Major urban areas - population

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

Sex ratio — at birth

1.07 male(s)/female

Sex ratio — 0-14 years

1.06 male(s)/female

Sex ratio — 15-64 years

1.06 male(s)/female

Sex ratio — 65 years and over

0.94 male(s)/female

Sex ratio — total population

1.05 male(s)/female (2024 est.)

Maternal mortality ratio

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

Infant mortality rate — total

6.3 deaths/1,000 live births (2025 est.)

Infant mortality rate — male

6.8 deaths/1,000 live births

Infant mortality rate — female

6 deaths/1,000 live births

Life expectancy at birth — total population

76.6 years (2024 est.)

Life expectancy at birth — male

75 years

Life expectancy at birth — female

78.4 years

Total fertility rate

1.73 children born/woman (2025 est.)

Gross reproduction rate

0.83 (2025 est.)

Drinking water source — improved: urban

Urban: 99.1% of population (2022 est.)

Drinking water source — improved: rural

Rural: 90.1% of population (2022 est.)

Drinking water source — improved: total

Total: 97.2% of population (2022 est.)

Drinking water source — unimproved: urban

Urban: 0.9% of population (2022 est.)

Drinking water source — unimproved: rural

Rural: 9.9% of population (2022 est.)

Drinking water source — unimproved: total

Total: 2.8% of population (2022 est.)

Health expenditure — Health expenditure (as % of GDP)

4.4% of GDP (2021)

Health expenditure — Health expenditure (as % of national budget)

8% of national budget (2022 est.)

Physician density

2.34 physicians/1,000 population (2023)

Hospital bed density

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

Sanitation facility access — improved: urban

Urban: 100% of population (2022 est.)

Sanitation facility access — improved: rural

Rural: 99.9% of population (2022 est.)

Sanitation facility access — improved: total

Total: 100% of population (2022 est.)

Sanitation facility access — unimproved: urban

Urban: 0% of population (2022 est.)

Sanitation facility access — unimproved: rural

Rural: 0.1% of population (2022 est.)

Sanitation facility access — unimproved: total

Total: 0% of population (2022 est.)

Obesity - adult prevalence rate

15.6% (2016)

Alcohol consumption per capita — total

0.64 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.)

Alcohol consumption per capita — beer

0.48 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.)

Alcohol consumption per capita — wine

0.04 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.)

Alcohol consumption per capita — spirits

0.11 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.)

Alcohol consumption per capita — other alcohols

0.01 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.)

Tobacco use — total

21.5% (2025 est.)

Tobacco use — male

41.8% (2025 est.)

Tobacco use — female

0.6% (2025 est.)

Children under the age of 5 years underweight

15.3% (2022 est.)

Education expenditure — Education expenditure (% GDP)

3.5% of GDP (2023 est.)

Education expenditure — Education expenditure (% national budget)

14.1% national budget (2023 est.)

Literacy — total population

95.8% (2022 est.)

Literacy — male

96.8% (2022 est.)

Literacy — female

94.7% (2022 est.)

School life expectancy (primary to tertiary education) — total

12 years (2023 est.)

School life expectancy (primary to tertiary education) — male

11 years (2023 est.)

School life expectancy (primary to tertiary education) — female

12 years (2023 est.)

🌿 Environment⬆️ Top

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

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

International environmental agreements — signed, but not ratified

None of the selected agreements

Climate

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

Land use — agricultural land

26.1% (2023 est.)

Land use — agricultural land: arable land

Arable land: 2.4% (2023 est.)

Land use — agricultural land: permanent crops

Permanent crops: 22.7% (2023 est.)

Land use — agricultural land: permanent pasture

Permanent pasture: 0.9% (2023 est.)

Land use — forest

57.8% (2023 est.)

Land use — other

16% (2023 est.)

Urbanization — urban population

78.7% of total population (2023)

Urbanization — rate of urbanization

1.87% annual rate of change (2020-25 est.)

Carbon dioxide emissions — total emissions

260.005 million metric tonnes of CO2 (2023 est.)

Carbon dioxide emissions — from coal and metallurgical coke

76.78 million metric tonnes of CO2 (2023 est.)

Carbon dioxide emissions — from petroleum and other liquids

90.273 million metric tonnes of CO2 (2023 est.)

Carbon dioxide emissions — from consumed natural gas

92.951 million metric tonnes of CO2 (2023 est.)

Particulate matter emissions

23.7 micrograms per cubic meter (2019 est.)

Methane emissions — energy

818.9 kt (2022-2024 est.)

Methane emissions — agriculture

182.2 kt (2019-2021 est.)

Methane emissions — waste

847.9 kt (2019-2021 est.)

Methane emissions — other

15.3 kt (2019-2021 est.)

Waste and recycling — municipal solid waste generated annually

12.983 million tons (2024 est.)

Waste and recycling — percent of municipal solid waste recycled

22.1% (2022 est.)

Total water withdrawal — municipal

1.342 billion cubic meters (2022 est.)

Total water withdrawal — industrial

1.641 billion cubic meters (2022 est.)

Total water withdrawal — agricultural

2.505 billion cubic meters (2022 est.)

Total renewable water resources

580 billion cubic meters (2022 est.)

Geoparks — total global geoparks and regional networks

2

Geoparks — global geoparks and regional networks

Kinabalu; Langkawi (2023)

🏛️ Government⬆️ Top

Country name — conventional long form

None

Country name — conventional short form

Malaysia

Country name — local long form

None

Country name — local short form

Malaysia

Country name — former

British Malaya, Malayan Union, Federation of Malaya

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 type

Federal parliamentary constitutional monarchy

Capital — name

Kuala Lumpur

Capital — geographic coordinates

3 10 N, 101 42 E

Capital — time difference

UTC+8 (13 hours ahead of Washington, DC, during Standard Time)

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)

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

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

Constitution — history

Previous 1948; latest drafted 21 February 1957, effective 27 August 1957

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

International law organization participation

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

Citizenship — citizenship by birth

No

Citizenship — citizenship by descent only

At least one parent must be a citizen of Malaysia

Citizenship — dual citizenship recognized

No

Citizenship — residency requirement for naturalization

10 out 12 years preceding application

Suffrage

18 years of age; universal

Executive branch — chief of state

King Sultan IBRAHIM ibni al-Marhum Sultan Iskandar (since 31 January 2024)

Executive branch — head of government

Prime Minister ANWAR Ibrahim (since 24 November 2022)

Executive branch — cabinet

Cabinet appointed by the prime minister from among members of Parliament with the consent of the king

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

Executive branch — most recent election date

24 October 2023

Executive branch — expected date of next election

October 2028, with inauguration in January 2029

Legislative branch — legislature name

Parliament (Parlimen)

Legislative branch — legislative structure

Bicameral

Legislative branch - lower chamber — chamber name

House of Representatives (Dewan Rakyat)

Legislative branch - lower chamber — number of seats

223 (all directly elected)

Legislative branch - lower chamber — electoral system

Plurality/majority

Legislative branch - lower chamber — scope of elections

Full renewal

Legislative branch - lower chamber — term in office

5 years

Legislative branch - lower chamber — most recent election date

11/19/2022

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)

Legislative branch - lower chamber — percentage of women in chamber

13.5%

Legislative branch - lower chamber — expected date of next election

November 2027

Legislative branch - upper chamber — chamber name

Senate (Dewan Negara)

Legislative branch - upper chamber — number of seats

70 (26 indirectly elected; 44 appointed)

Legislative branch - upper chamber — percentage of women in chamber

16.1%

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)

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

Judicial branch — subordinate courts

Court of Appeal; High Court; Sessions Court; Magistrates' Court

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)

Diplomatic representation in the US — chief of mission

Ambassador Tan Sri Muhammad SHAHRUL Ikram bin Yaakob (since 24 July 2025)

Diplomatic representation in the US — chancery

3516 International Court NW, Washington, DC 20008

Diplomatic representation in the US — telephone

[1] (202) 572-9700

Diplomatic representation in the US — FAX

[1] (202) 572-9882

Diplomatic representation in the US — email address and website

Mwwashington@kln.gov.my https://www.kln.gov.my/web/usa_washington/home

Diplomatic representation in the US — consulate(s) general

Los Angeles, New York

Diplomatic representation from the US — chief of mission

Ambassador Edgard D. KAGAN (since 20 March 2024)

Diplomatic representation from the US — embassy

376 Jalan Tun Razak, 50400 Kuala Lumpur

Diplomatic representation from the US — mailing address

4210 Kuala Lumpur, Washington DC 20521-4210

Diplomatic representation from the US — telephone

[60] (3) 2168-5000

Diplomatic representation from the US — FAX

[60] (3) 2142-2207

Diplomatic representation from the US — email address and website

KLACS@state.gov https://my.usembassy.gov/

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

Independence

31 August 1957 (from the UK)

National holiday

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

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

National symbol(s)

Tiger, hibiscus

National color(s)

Gold, black

National anthem(s) — title

"Negaraku" (My Country)

National anthem(s) — lyrics/music

Collective, led by Tunku ABDUL RAHMAN/Pierre Jean DE BERANGER

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

National heritage — total World Heritage Sites

6 (4 cultural, 2 natural)

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)

💹 Economy⬆️ Top

Economic overview

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

Real GDP (purchasing power parity) — Real GDP (purchasing power parity) 2024

$1.212 trillion (2024 est.)

Real GDP (purchasing power parity) — Real GDP (purchasing power parity) 2023

$1.153 trillion (2023 est.)

Real GDP (purchasing power parity) — Real GDP (purchasing power parity) 2022

$1.113 trillion (2022 est.)

Real GDP growth rate — Real GDP growth rate 2024

5.1% (2024 est.)

Real GDP growth rate — Real GDP growth rate 2023

3.6% (2023 est.)

Real GDP growth rate — Real GDP growth rate 2022

8.9% (2022 est.)

Real GDP per capita — Real GDP per capita 2024

$34,100 (2024 est.)

Real GDP per capita — Real GDP per capita 2023

$32,800 (2023 est.)

Real GDP per capita — Real GDP per capita 2022

$32,100 (2022 est.)

GDP (official exchange rate)

$421.972 billion (2024 est.)

Inflation rate (consumer prices) — Inflation rate (consumer prices) 2024

1.8% (2024 est.)

Inflation rate (consumer prices) — Inflation rate (consumer prices) 2023

2.5% (2023 est.)

Inflation rate (consumer prices) — Inflation rate (consumer prices) 2022

3.4% (2022 est.)

GDP - composition, by sector of origin — agriculture

8.2% (2024 est.)

GDP - composition, by sector of origin — industry

37.1% (2024 est.)

GDP - composition, by sector of origin — services

53.6% (2024 est.)

GDP - composition, by end use — household consumption

60.8% (2024 est.)

GDP - composition, by end use — government consumption

12% (2024 est.)

GDP - composition, by end use — investment in fixed capital

20.6% (2024 est.)

GDP - composition, by end use — investment in inventories

1.3% (2024 est.)

GDP - composition, by end use — exports of goods and services

71.4% (2024 est.)

GDP - composition, by end use — imports of goods and services

-66% (2024 est.)

Agricultural products

Oil palm fruit, rice, chicken, eggs, tropical fruits, coconuts, vegetables, pineapples, rubber, bananas (2023)

Industries

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

Industrial production growth rate

4.9% (2024 est.)

Labor force

18.264 million (2024 est.)

Unemployment rate — Unemployment rate 2024

3.9% (2024 est.)

Unemployment rate — Unemployment rate 2023

3.9% (2023 est.)

Unemployment rate — Unemployment rate 2022

4% (2022 est.)

Youth unemployment rate (ages 15-24) — total

12.3% (2024 est.)

Youth unemployment rate (ages 15-24) — male

11.3% (2024 est.)

Youth unemployment rate (ages 15-24) — female

13.8% (2024 est.)

Population below poverty line

6.2% (2021 est.)

Gini Index coefficient - distribution of family income — Gini Index coefficient - distribution of family income 2021

40.7 (2021 est.)

Average household expenditures — on food

26.4% of household expenditures (2023 est.)

Average household expenditures — on alcohol and tobacco

1.6% of household expenditures (2023 est.)

Household income or consumption by percentage share — lowest 10%

2.3% (2021 est.)

Household income or consumption by percentage share — highest 10%

30.9% (2021 est.)

Remittances — Remittances 2024

0.4% of GDP (2024 est.)

Remittances — Remittances 2023

0.4% of GDP (2023 est.)

Remittances — Remittances 2022

0.4% of GDP (2022 est.)

Budget — revenues

$69.055 billion (2023 est.)

Budget — expenditures

$89.046 billion (2023 est.)

Public debt — Public debt 2023

64.3% of GDP (2023 est.)

Taxes and other revenues

12.6% (of GDP) (2023 est.)

Current account balance — Current account balance 2024

$7.15 billion (2024 est.)

Current account balance — Current account balance 2023

$6.257 billion (2023 est.)

Current account balance — Current account balance 2022

$12.738 billion (2022 est.)

Exports — Exports 2024

$301.789 billion (2024 est.)

Exports — Exports 2023

$274.1 billion (2023 est.)

Exports — Exports 2022

$312.88 billion (2022 est.)

Exports - partners

China 21%, Singapore 12%, USA 12%, Japan 5%, Hong Kong 5% (2023)

Exports - commodities

Integrated circuits, refined petroleum, crude petroleum, natural gas, palm oil (2023)

Imports — Imports 2024

$279.09 billion (2024 est.)

Imports — Imports 2023

$253.665 billion (2023 est.)

Imports — Imports 2022

$283.758 billion (2022 est.)

Imports - partners

China 24%, Singapore 11%, USA 7%, Japan 5%, Taiwan 5% (2023)

Imports - commodities

Integrated circuits, refined petroleum, crude petroleum, coal, broadcasting equipment (2023)

Reserves of foreign exchange and gold — Reserves of foreign exchange and gold 2024

$116.229 billion (2024 est.)

Reserves of foreign exchange and gold — Reserves of foreign exchange and gold 2023

$113.463 billion (2023 est.)

Reserves of foreign exchange and gold — Reserves of foreign exchange and gold 2022

$114.659 billion (2022 est.)

Exchange rates — Currency

Ringgits (MYR) per US dollar -

Exchange rates — Exchange rates 2024

4.576 (2024 est.)

Exchange rates — Exchange rates 2023

4.561 (2023 est.)

Exchange rates — Exchange rates 2022

4.401 (2022 est.)

Exchange rates — Exchange rates 2021

4.143 (2021 est.)

Exchange rates — Exchange rates 2020

4.203 (2020 est.)

⚡ Energy⬆️ Top

Electricity access — electrification - total population

100% (2022 est.)

Electricity — installed generating capacity

37.22 million kW (2023 est.)

Electricity — consumption

178.653 billion kWh (2023 est.)

Electricity — exports

1.2 billion kWh (2023 est.)

Electricity — imports

61.678 million kWh (2023 est.)

Electricity — transmission/distribution losses

13.188 billion kWh (2023 est.)

Electricity generation sources — fossil fuels

81.9% of total installed capacity (2023 est.)

Electricity generation sources — solar

1.1% of total installed capacity (2023 est.)

Electricity generation sources — hydroelectricity

16.3% of total installed capacity (2023 est.)

Electricity generation sources — biomass and waste

0.6% of total installed capacity (2023 est.)

Coal — production

4.476 million metric tons (2023 est.)

Coal — consumption

35.741 million metric tons (2023 est.)

Coal — exports

462,000 metric tons (2023 est.)

Coal — imports

31.706 million metric tons (2023 est.)

Coal — proven reserves

226 million metric tons (2023 est.)

Petroleum — total petroleum production

582,000 bbl/day (2023 est.)

Petroleum — refined petroleum consumption

672,000 bbl/day (2023 est.)

Petroleum — crude oil estimated reserves

3.6 billion barrels (2021 est.)

Natural gas — production

74.32 billion cubic meters (2023 est.)

Natural gas — consumption

47.112 billion cubic meters (2023 est.)

Natural gas — exports

37.451 billion cubic meters (2023 est.)

Natural gas — imports

3.359 billion cubic meters (2023 est.)

Natural gas — proven reserves

1.189 trillion cubic meters (2021 est.)

Energy consumption per capita — Total energy consumption per capita 2023

113.163 million Btu/person (2023 est.)

📡 Communications⬆️ Top

Telephones - fixed lines — total subscriptions

8.402 million (2023 est.)

Telephones - fixed lines — subscriptions per 100 inhabitants

24 (2023 est.)

Telephones - mobile cellular — total subscriptions

49.7 million (2024 est.)

Telephones - mobile cellular — subscriptions per 100 inhabitants

140 (2024 est.)

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)

Internet country code

.my

Internet users — percent of population

98% (2023 est.)

Broadband - fixed subscriptions — total

4.58 million (2023 est.)

Broadband - fixed subscriptions — subscriptions per 100 inhabitants

13 (2023 est.)

🚚 Transportation⬆️ Top

Civil aircraft registration country code prefix

9M

Airports

100 (2025)

Heliports

24 (2025)

Railways — total

1,851 km (2014)

Railways — standard gauge

59 km (2014) 1.435-m gauge (59 km electrified)

Railways — narrow gauge

1,792 km (2014) 1.000-m gauge (339 km electrified)

Merchant marine — total

1,750 (2023)

Merchant marine — by type

Bulk carrier 14, container ship 35, general cargo 169, oil tanker 148, other 1,384

Ports — total ports

35 (2024)

Ports — large

3

Ports — medium

4

Ports — small

10

Ports — very small

18

Ports — ports with oil terminals

24

Ports — key ports

Johor, Kota Kinabalu, Port Dickson, Port Klang, Pulau Pinang, Tanjung Pelepas, Tapis Marine Terminal A

🛡️ Military and Security⬆️ Top

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 expenditures — Military Expenditures 2024

1% of GDP (2024 est.)

Military expenditures — Military Expenditures 2023

0.9% of GDP (2023 est.)

Military expenditures — Military Expenditures 2022

1.1% of GDP (2022 est.)

Military expenditures — Military Expenditures 2021

1% of GDP (2021 est.)

Military expenditures — Military Expenditures 2020

1.1% of GDP (2020 est.)

Military and security service personnel strengths

Approximately 110,000 active Malaysian Armed Forces (2025)

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 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)

Military deployments

825 Lebanon (UNIFIL) (2025)

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)

🛰️ Space⬆️ Top

Space agency/agencies

Malaysian Space Agency (MYSA; established 2019) (2025)

Space launch site(s)

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

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)

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

🚨 Terrorism⬆️ Top

Terrorist group(s)

Abu Sayyaf Group, al-Qa'ida, Islamic State of Iraq and ash-Sham (ISIS)

🌐 Transnational Issues⬆️ Top

Refugees and internally displaced persons — refugees

191,343 (2024 est.)

Refugees and internally displaced persons — stateless persons

120,857 (2024 est.)