2007 Edition

Administrative divisions

13 states (negeri-negeri, singular - negeri) Johor, Kedah, Kelantan, Melaka, Negeri Sembilan, Pahang, Perak, Perlis, Pulau Pinang, Sabah, Sarawak, Selangor, and Terengganu; and one federal territory (wilayah persekutuan) with three components, city of Kuala Lumpur, Labuan, and Putrajaya

Age structure

0-14 years: 32.6% (male 4,093,859/female 3,862,730) 15-64 years: 62.6% (male 7,660,680/female 7,613,537) 65 years and over: 4.7% (male 509,260/female 645,792) (2006 est.)

Agriculture - products

Peninsular Malaysia - rubber, palm oil, cocoa, rice; Sabah - subsistence crops, rubber, timber, coconuts, rice; Sarawak - rubber, pepper, timber

Airports

117 (2006)

Airports - with paved runways

over 3,047 m

5 2,438 to 3,047 m: 9 1,524 to 2,437 m: 8 914 to 1,523 m: 8

total

37

under 914 m

7 (2006)

Airports - with unpaved runways

total

80 1,524 to 2,437 m: 1 914 to 1,523 m: 7

under 914 m

72 (2006)

Area

land

328,550 sq km

total

329,750 sq km

water

1,200 sq km

Area - comparative

slightly larger than New Mexico

Background

During the late 18th and 19th centuries, Great Britain established colonies and protectorates in the area of current Malaysia; these were occupied by Japan from 1942 to 1945. In 1948, the British-ruled territories on the Malay Peninsula formed the Federation of Malaya, which became independent in 1957. Malaysia was formed in 1963 when the former British colonies of Singapore and the East Malaysian states of Sabah and Sarawak on the northern coast of Borneo joined the Federation. The first several years of the country's history were marred by Indonesian efforts to control Malaysia, Philippine claims to Sabah, and Singapore's secession from the Federation in 1965. During the 22-year term of Prime Minister MAHATHIR bin Mohamad (1981-2003), Malaysia was successful in diversifying its economy from dependence on exports of raw materials, to expansion in manufacturing, services, and tourism. Geography Malaysia

Birth rate

22.86 births/1,000 population (2006 est.)

Budget

expenditures

$37 billion; including capital expenditures of $9.4 billion (2006 est.)

revenues

$31.63 billion

Capital

geographic coordinates

3 10 N, 101 42 E

name

Kuala Lumpur

note

Putrajaya is referred to as administrative center not capital; Parliament meets in Kuala Lumpur

time difference

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

Climate

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

Coastline

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

Constitution

31 August 1957; amended 16 September 1963

Country name

conventional long form

none

conventional short form

Malaysia

former

Federation of Malaysia

local long form

none

local short form

Malaysia

Currency (code)

ringgit (MYR)

Currency code

MYR

Current account balance

$17.86 billion (2006 est.)

Death rate

5.05 deaths/1,000 population (2006 est.)

Debt - external

$57.77 billion (30 June 2006 est.)

Diplomatic representation from the US

chief of mission

Ambassador Christopher J. LAFLEUR

embassy

376 Jalan Tun Razak, Kuala Lumpur 50440

mailing address

US Embassy Kuala Lumpur, APO AP 96535-8152

telephone

[60] (3) 2168-5000

Diplomatic representation in the US

chancery

3516 International Court NW, Washington, DC 20008

chief of mission

Ambassador RAJMAH binti Hussain

telephone

[1] (202) 572-9700

Disputes - international

Malaysia has asserted sovereignty over the Spratly Islands together with China, Philippines, Taiwan, Vietnam, and possibly Brunei; while the 2002 "Declaration on the Conduct of Parties in the South China Sea" has eased tensions over the Spratly Islands, it is not the legally binding "code of conduct" sought by some parties; Malaysia was not party to the March 2005 joint accord among the national oil companies of China, the Philippines, and Vietnam on conducting marine seismic activities in the Spratly Islands; disputes continue over deliveries of fresh water to Singapore, Singapore's land reclamation, bridge construction, and maritime boundaries in the Johor and Singapore Straits; in November 2007 the ICJ will hold public hearings in response to the Memorials and Countermemorials filed by the parties in 2003 and 2005 over sovereignty of Pedra Branca Island/Pulau Batu Puteh, Middle Rocks and South Ledge; ICJ awarded Ligitan and Sipadan islands, also claimed by Indonesia and Philippines, to Malaysia but left maritime boundary and sovereignty of Unarang rock in the hydrocarbon-rich Celebes Sea in dispute; separatist violence in Thailand's predominantly Muslim southern provinces prompts measures to close and monitor border with Malaysia to stem terrorist activities; Philippines retains a dormant claim to Malaysia's Sabah State in northern Borneo; Brunei and Malaysia are still considering international adjudication over their disputed offshore and deepwater seabeds, where hydrocarbon exploration was terminated in 2003; Malaysia's land boundary with Brunei around Limbang is in dispute; piracy remains a problem in the Malacca Strait

Distribution of family income - Gini index

49.2 (1997)

Economy - overview

Malaysia, a middle-income country, transformed itself from 1971 through the late 1990s from a producer of raw materials into an emerging multi-sector economy. Growth was almost exclusively driven by exports - particularly of electronics. As a result, Malaysia was hard hit by the global economic downturn and the slump in the information technology (IT) sector in 2001 and 2002. GDP in 2001 grew only 0.5% because of an estimated 11% contraction in exports, but a substantial fiscal stimulus package equal to US $1.9 billion mitigated the worst of the recession, and the economy rebounded in 2002 with a 4.1% increase. The economy grew 4.9% in 2003, notwithstanding a difficult first half, when external pressures from Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome (SARS) and the Iraq War led to caution in the business community. Growth topped 7% in 2004 and 5% per year in 2005-06. As an oil and gas exporter, Malaysia has profited from higher world energy prices, although the rising cost of domestic gasoline and diesel fuel forced Kuala Lumpur to reduce government subsidies, contributing to higher inflation. Malaysia "unpegged" the ringgit from the US dollar in 2005 and the currency appreciated 6% against the dollar in 2006. Healthy foreign exchange reserves and a small external debt greatly reduce the risk that Malaysia will experience a financial crisis over the near term similar to the one in 1997. The economy remains dependent on continued growth in the US, China, and Japan - top export destinations and key sources of foreign investment.

Electricity - consumption

72.71 billion kWh (2004)

Electricity - exports

50 million kWh (2004)

Electricity - imports

0 kWh (2004)

Electricity - production

78.24 billion kWh (2004)

Electricity - production by source

fossil fuel

89.5%

hydro

10.5%

nuclear

0%

other

0% (2001)

Elevation extremes

highest point

Gunung Kinabalu 4,100 m

lowest point

Indian Ocean 0 m

Environment - current issues

air pollution from industrial and vehicular emissions; water pollution from raw sewage; deforestation; smoke/haze from Indonesian forest fires

Environment - international agreements

party to

Biodiversity, Climate Change, Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol, Desertification, Endangered Species, Hazardous Wastes, Law of the Sea, Marine Life Conservation, Ozone Layer Protection, Ship Pollution, Tropical Timber 83, Tropical Timber 94, Wetlands

Ethnic groups

Malay 50.4%, Chinese 23.7%, Indigenous 11%, Indian 7.1%, others 7.8% (2004 est.)

Exchange rates

ringgits per US dollar - 3.67 (2006), 3.8 (2005), 3.8 (2004), 3.8 (2003), 3.8 (2002)

Executive branch

cabinet

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

chief of state

Paramount Ruler Sultan MIZAN Zainal Abidin (since 13 December 2006)

election results

Sultan MIZAN Zainal Abidin elected paramount ruler

elections

paramount ruler elected by and from the hereditary rulers of nine of the states for five-year terms; election last held 3 November 2006 (next to be held in 2011); prime minister designated from among the members of the House of Representatives; following legislative elections, the leader of the party that wins a plurality of seats in the House of Representatives becomes prime minister

head of government

Prime Minister ABDULLAH bin Ahmad Badawi (since 31 October 2003); Deputy Prime Minister Mohamed NAJIB bin Abdul Razak (since 7 January 2004)

Exports

$158.7 billion f.o.b. (2006 est.)

Exports - commodities

electronic equipment, petroleum and liquefied natural gas, wood and wood products, palm oil, rubber, textiles, chemicals

Exports - partners

US 19.7%, Singapore 15.6%, Japan 9.3%, China 6.6%, Hong Kong 5.8%, Thailand 5.4% (2005)

FAX

[1] (202) 572-9882

[60] (3) 2142-2207

consulate(s) general

Los Angeles, New York

Fiscal year

calendar year Communications Malaysia

Flag description

14 equal horizontal stripes of red (top) alternating with white (bottom); there is a blue rectangle in the upper hoist-side corner bearing a yellow crescent and a yellow 14-pointed star; the crescent and the star are traditional symbols of Islam; the design was based on the flag of the US Economy Malaysia

GDP - composition by sector

agriculture

8.3%

industry

48.1%

services

43.6% (2006 est.)

GDP - per capita (PPP)

$12,700 (2006 est.)

GDP - real growth rate

5.5% (2006 est.)

GDP (official exchange rate)

$131.8 billion (2006 est.)

GDP (purchasing power parity)

$308.8 billion (2006 est.)

Geographic coordinates

2 30 N, 112 30 E

Geography - note

strategic location along Strait of Malacca and southern South China Sea People Malaysia

Government type

constitutional monarchy

note

nominally headed by paramount ruler and a bicameral Parliament consisting of a nonelected upper house and an elected lower house; all Peninsular Malaysian states have hereditary rulers except Melaka 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 federal constitution; under terms of federation, Sabah and Sarawak retain certain constitutional prerogatives (e.g., right to maintain their own immigration controls); Sabah holds 25 seats in House of Representatives; Sarawak holds 28 seats in House of Representatives

Heliports

2 (2006)

HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate

0.4% (2003 est.)

HIV/AIDS - deaths

2,000 (2003 est.)

HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS

52,000 (2003 est.)

Household income or consumption by percentage share

highest 10%

39.2% (2003 est.)

lowest 10%

1.4%

Illicit drugs

regional transit point for some illicit drugs; drug trafficking prosecuted vigorously and carries severe penalties This page was last updated on 8 February, 2007

Imports

$127.3 billion f.o.b. (2006 est.)

Imports - commodities

electronics, machinery, petroleum products, plastics, vehicles, iron and steel products, chemicals

Imports - partners

Japan 14.6%, US 13%, Singapore 11.8%, China 11.6%, Taiwan 5.6%, Thailand 5.3%, South Korea 5%, Germany 4.5% (2005)

Independence

31 August 1957 (from UK)

Industrial production growth rate

5.8% (2006 est.)

Industries

Peninsular Malaysia - rubber and oil palm processing and manufacturing, light manufacturing industry, electronics, tin mining and smelting, logging, timber processing; Sabah - logging, petroleum production; Sarawak - agriculture processing, petroleum production and refining, logging

Infant mortality rate

female

14.25 deaths/1,000 live births (2006 est.)

male

19.87 deaths/1,000 live births

total

17.16 deaths/1,000 live births

Inflation rate (consumer prices)

3.8% (2006 est.)

International organization participation

APEC, APT, ARF, AsDB, ASEAN, BIS, C, CP, EAS, FAO, G-15, G-77, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICC, ICRM, IDA, IDB, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, IHO, ILO, IMF, IMO, Interpol, IOC, IPU, ISO, ITU, ITUC, MIGA, MINURSO, MONUC, NAM, OIC, OPCW, PCA, PIF (partner), UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, UNMEE, UNMIL, UNMIS, UNWTO, UPU, WCL, WCO, WFTU, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTO

Internet country code

.my

Internet hosts

158,650 (2006)

Internet Service Providers (ISPs)

7 (2000)

Internet users

11.016 million (2005) Transportation Malaysia

Investment (gross fixed)

19.9% of GDP (2006 est.)

Irrigated land

3,650 sq km (2003)

Judicial branch

Federal Court (judges appointed by the paramount ruler on the advice of the prime minister)

Labor force

10.73 million (2006 est.)

Labor force - by occupation

agriculture

14.5%

industry

36%

services

49.5% (2000 est.)

Land boundaries

border countries

Brunei 381 km, Indonesia 1,782 km, Thailand 506 km

total

2,669 km

Land use

arable land

5.46%

other

77% (2005)

permanent crops

17.54%

Languages

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

note

in East Malaysia there are several indigenous languages; most widely spoken are Iban and Kadazan

Legal system

based on English common law; judicial review of legislative acts in the Supreme Court at request of supreme head of the federation; has not accepted compulsory ICJ jurisdiction; Islamic law is applied to Muslims in matters of family law and religion

Legislative branch

bicameral Parliament or Parlimen consists of the Senate or Dewan Negara (70 seats; 44 appointed by the paramount ruler, 26 appointed by the state legislatures) and the House of Representatives or Dewan Rakyat (219 seats; members elected by popular vote to serve five-year terms)

election results

House of Representatives - percent of vote by party - BN 91%, DAP 5%, PAS 3%, other 1%; seats by party - BN 199, DAP 12, PAS 6, PKR 1, independent 1

elections

House of Representatives - last held 21 March 2004 (next must be held by 2009)

Life expectancy at birth

female

75.38 years (2006 est.)

male

69.8 years

total population

72.5 years

Literacy

definition

age 15 and over can read and write

female

85.4% (2002) Government Malaysia

male

92%

total population

88.7%

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

Major infectious diseases

degree of risk

high

food or waterborne diseases

bacterial diarrhea, hepatitis A, and typhoid fever

vectorborne diseases

dengue fever and malaria are high risks in some locations (2007)

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) (2006)

Manpower available for military service

females age 18-49

5,510,345 (2005 est.)

males age 18-49

5,584,231

Manpower fit for military service

females age 18-49

4,613,321 (2005 est.)

males age 18-49

4,574,854

Manpower reaching military service age annually

females age 18-49

231,896 (2005 est.)

males age 18-49

244,418

Map references

Southeast Asia

Maritime claims

continental shelf

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

exclusive economic zone

200 nm

territorial sea

12 nm

Median age

female

24.8 years (2006 est.)

male

23.6 years

total

24.1 years

Merchant marine

by type

bulk carrier 19, cargo 99, chemical tanker 38, container 48, liquefied gas 27, livestock carrier 1, passenger/cargo 8, petroleum tanker 61, roll on/roll off 5, vehicle carrier 6

foreign-owned

66 (China 1, Germany 2, Hong Kong 14, Japan 4, South Korea 1, Singapore 44)

registered in other countries

68 (Bahamas 12, Belize 1, Cayman Islands 1, Mongolia 1, Panama 13, Philippines 1, Singapore 35, US 4) (2006)

total

312 ships (1000 GRT or over) 5,542,727 GRT/7,544,154 DWT

Military expenditures - dollar figure

$1.69 billion (FY00 est.)

Military expenditures - percent of GDP

2.03% (FY00) Transnational Issues Malaysia

Military service age and obligation

18 years of age for voluntary military service (2005)

National holiday

Independence Day/Malaysia Day, 31 August (1957)

Nationality

adjective

Malaysian

noun

Malaysian(s)

Natural gas - consumption

32.97 billion cu m (2004 est.)

Natural gas - exports

29.46 billion cu m (2004 est.)

Natural gas - imports

0 cu m (2004 est.)

Natural gas - production

62.43 billion cu m (2004 est.)

Natural gas - proved reserves

2.124 trillion cu m (1 January 2005 est.)

Natural hazards

flooding, landslides, forest fires

Natural resources

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

Net migration rate

0 migrant(s)/1,000 population

note

does not reflect net flow of an unknown number of illegal immigrants from other countries in the region (2006 est.)

Oil - consumption

515,000 bbl/day (2004 est.)

Oil - exports

230,200 bbl/day (2003)

Oil - imports

NA bbl/day (2003)

Oil - production

770,000 bbl/day (2005 est.)

Oil - proved reserves

3.1 billion bbl (2006 est.)

Pipelines

condensate 282 km; gas 5,372 km; oil 1,715 km; oil/gas/water 19 km; refined products 114 km (2006)

Political parties and leaders

ruling-coalition National Front (Barisan Nasional) or BN,

consisting of the following parties

Gerakan Rakyat Malaysia Party or PGRM [LIM Keng Yaik]; Liberal Democratic Party (Parti Liberal Demokratik - Sabah) or LDP [LIEW Vui Keong]; Malaysian Chinese Association (Persatuan China Malaysia) or MCA [ONG Ka Ting]; Malaysian Indian Congress (Kongresi India Malaysia) or MIC [S. Samy VELLU]; Parti Bersatu Rakyat Sabah or PBRS [Joseph KURUP]; Parti Bersatu Sabah or PBS [Joseph PAIRIN Kitingan]; Parti Pesaka Bumiputera Bersatu or PBB [Patinggi Haji Abdul TAIB Mahmud]; Parti Rakyat Sarawak or PRS [James MASING]; Sabah Progressive Party (Parti Progresif Sabah) or SAPP [YONG Teck Lee]; Sarawak United People's Party (Parti Bersatu Rakyat Sarawak) or SUPP [George CHAN Hong Nam]; United Malays National Organization or UMNO [ABDULLAH bin Ahmad Badawi]; United Pasokmomogun Kadazandusun Murut Organization (Pertubuhan Pasko Momogun Kadazan Dusun Bersatu) or UPKO [Bernard DOMPOK]; People's Progressive Party (Parti Progresif Penduduk Malaysia) or PPP [M.Keyveas]; Sarawak Progressive Democratic Party or SPDP [William MAWANI]; opposition parties: Democratic Action Party (Parti Tindakan Demokratik) or DAP [KARPAL Singh]; Islamic Party of Malaysia (Parti Islam se Malaysia) or PAS [Abdul HADI Awang]; People's Justice Party (Parti Keadilan Rakyat) or PKR [WAN AZIZAH Wan Ismael]; Sarawak National Party or SNAP [Edwin DUNDANG]; opposition coalition Alternative Front (Barisan Alternatif) or BA - consists of PAS and PKR

Political pressure groups and leaders

NA

Population

24,385,858 (July 2006 est.)

Population below poverty line

8% (1998 est.)

Population growth rate

1.78% (2006 est.)

Ports and terminals

Bintulu, Johor, Labuan, Lahad Datu, Lumut, Miri, George Town (Penang), Port Kelang, Tanjung Pelepas Military Malaysia

Public debt

46.7% of GDP (2006 est.)

Radio broadcast stations

AM 35, FM 391, shortwave 15 (2001)

Radios

10.9 million (1999)

Railways

narrow gauge

1,833 km 1.000-m gauge (150 km electrified) (2005)

standard gauge

57 km 1.435-m gauge (57 km electrified)

total

1,890 km

Refugees and internally displaced persons

refugees (country of origin)

19,153 (Indonesia), 14,208 (Burma) (2006)

Religions

Muslim, Buddhist, Daoist, Hindu, Christian, Sikh; note - in addition, Shamanism is practiced in East Malaysia

Reserves of foreign exchange and gold

$82.3 billion (2006 est.)

Roadways

paved

80,280 km (including 1,821 km of expressways)

total

98,721 km

unpaved

18,441 km (2004)

Sex ratio

at birth

1.07 male(s)/female

total population

1.01 male(s)/female (2006 est.)

under 15 years

1.06 male(s)/female 15-64 years: 1.01 male(s)/female 65 years and over: 0.79 male(s)/female

Suffrage

21 years of age; universal

Telephone system

domestic

good intercity service provided on Peninsular Malaysia mainly by microwave radio relay; adequate intercity microwave radio relay network between Sabah and Sarawak via Brunei; domestic satellite system with 2 earth stations

general assessment

modern system; international service excellent

international

country code - 60; submarine cables to India, Hong Kong, and Singapore; satellite earth stations - 2 Intelsat (1 Indian Ocean and 1 Pacific Ocean) (2001)

Telephones - main lines in use

4.366 million (2005)

Telephones - mobile cellular

19.545 million (2005)

Television broadcast stations

mainland Malaysia 51; Sabah 16; Sarawak 21; note - many are low power stations (2006)

Televisions

10.8 million (1999)

Terrain

coastal plains rising to hills and mountains

Total fertility rate

3.04 children born/woman (2006 est.)

Trafficking in persons

current situation

Malaysia is a destination and, to a lesser extent, a source and transit country for men and women trafficked for the purposes of sexual exploitation and forced labor; foreign victims, mostly women and girls from China, Indonesia, Thailand, the Philippines, and Vietnam, are trafficked to Malaysia for commercial sexual exploitation; economic migrants from countries in the region who work as domestic servants or laborers in the construction and agricultural sectors face exploitative conditions in Malaysia that meet the definition of involuntary servitude; some Malaysian women, primarily of Chinese ethnicity, are trafficked abroad for sexual exploitation

tier rating

Tier 2 Watch List - Malaysia is placed on Tier 2 Watch List for its failure to provide evidence of increasing efforts to combat trafficking, particularly its failure to provide protection for victims of trafficking

Unemployment rate

3.5% (2006 est.)

Waterways

7,200 km

note

Peninsular Malaysia 3,200 km, Sabah 1,500 km, Sarawak 2,500 km (2005)