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Malaysia

2025 Edition · 440 data fields

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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.

Geography

Area

Land: 328,657 sq km
Total: 329,847 sq km
Water: 1,190 sq km

Area - comparative

slightly larger than New Mexico

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)

Continent

Asia

Elevation

Highest point: Gunung Kinabalu 4,095 m
Lowest point: Indian Ocean 0 m
Mean elevation: 419 m

Geographic coordinates

2 30 N, 112 30 E

Geography - note

strategic location along Strait of Malacca and southern South China Sea

Irrigated land

4,420 sq km (2022)

Land boundaries

Border countries: Brunei 266 km; Indonesia 1,881 km; Thailand 595 km
number of neighbors: 3
Total: 2,742 km

Land use

Agricultural land: 26.1% (2023 est.)
Agricultural land: arable land: arable land: 2.4% (2023 est.)
Agricultural land: permanent crops: permanent crops: 22.7% (2023 est.)
Agricultural land: permanent pasture: permanent pasture: 0.9% (2023 est.)
arable land: 2.39%
Forest: 57.8% (2023 est.)
Other: 16% (2023 est.)
permanent crops: 22.71%

Landlocked

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

Map links

Google Maps: https://goo.gl/maps/qrY1PNeUXGyXDcPy6
OpenStreetMap: https://www.openstreetmap.org/relation/2108121

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

Natural hazards

flooding; landslides; forest fires

Natural resources

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

Population distribution

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

Subregion

South-Eastern Asia

Terrain

coastal plains rising to hills and mountains

Time zone

UTC+08:00
number of time zones: 1

People and Society

Age structure

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

Alcohol consumption per capita

Beer: 0.48 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.)
Other alcohols: 0.01 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.)
Spirits: 0.11 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.)
Total: 0.64 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.)
Wine: 0.04 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.)

Birth rate

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

Children under 5 years underweight

21.2%

Children under the age of 5 years underweight

15.3% (2022 est.)

Death rate

5.8 deaths/1,000 population (2025 est.)
adult female: 84 per 1,000
adult male: 152 per 1,000

Dependency ratios

Elderly dependency ratio: 12.6 (2025 est.)
Potential support ratio: 7.9 (2025 est.)
Total dependency ratio: 44.3 (2025 est.)
Youth dependency ratio: 31.7 (2025 est.)

Drinking water source

improved total: 94.7%
Improved: rural: rural: 90.1% of population (2022 est.)
Improved: total: total: 97.2% of population (2022 est.)
Improved: urban: urban: 99.1% of population (2022 est.)
Unimproved: rural: rural: 9.9% of population (2022 est.)
Unimproved: total: total: 2.8% of population (2022 est.)
Unimproved: urban: urban: 0.9% of population (2022 est.)

Education expenditure

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

Education expenditures

4 % of GDP

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.)

Gross reproduction rate

0.83 (2025 est.)

Health expenditure

4 % of GDP
Health expenditure (as % of GDP): 4.4% of GDP (2021)
Health expenditure (as % of national budget): 8% of national budget (2022 est.)

HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate

0.13%

Hospital bed density

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

Infant mortality rate

Female: 6 deaths/1,000 live births
Male: 6.8 deaths/1,000 live births
neonatal: 4 deaths/1,000 live births
Total: 6.3 deaths/1,000 live births (2025 est.)

Languages

Languages: Bahasa Malaysia (official), English, Chinese (Cantonese, Mandarin, Hokkien, Hakka, Hainan, Foochow), Tamil, Telugu, Malayalam, Panjabi, Thai
Major-language sample(s): Buku Fakta Dunia, sumber yang diperlukan untuk maklumat asas. (Bahasa Malaysia) The World Factbook, the indispensable source for basic information.
Note: note: Malaysia has 134 languages (112 indigenous and 22 non-indigenous); in East Malaysia, there are several indigenous languages, and the most widely spoken are Iban and Kadazan
number of languages: 2

Life expectancy at birth

Female: 78.4 years
Male: 75 years
Total population: 76.6 years (2024 est.)

Literacy

Female: 94.7% (2022 est.)
Male: 96.8% (2022 est.)
Total population: 95.8% (2022 est.)

Major urban areas - population

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

Maternal mortality ratio

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

Median age

Female: 31.9 years
Male: 31.7 years
Total: 32.2 years (2025 est.)

Mother's mean age at first birth

6 births/1,000 women 15-19

Nationality

Adjective: Malaysian
Noun: Malaysian(s)

Net migration rate

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

Obesity - adult prevalence rate

15.6% (2016)

Physician density

2.34 physicians/1,000 population (2023)

Population

Female: 17,072,201
Male: 17,833,074
Total: 34,905,275 (2025 est.)

Population growth rate

0.97% (2025 est.)

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.)

Sanitation facility access

improved total: 85.79%
Improved: rural: rural: 99.9% of population (2022 est.)
Improved: total: total: 100% of population (2022 est.)
Improved: urban: urban: 100% of population (2022 est.)
Unimproved: rural: rural: 0.1% of population (2022 est.)
Unimproved: total: total: 0% of population (2022 est.)
Unimproved: urban: urban: 0% of population (2022 est.)

School life expectancy (primary to tertiary education)

Female: 12 years (2023 est.)
Male: 11 years (2023 est.)
Total: 12 years (2023 est.)

Sex ratio

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

Tobacco use

Female: 0.6% (2025 est.)
Male: 41.8% (2025 est.)
Total: 21.5% (2025 est.)

Total fertility rate

1.73 children born/woman (2025 est.)

Urbanization

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

Vaccination rate

measles: 96%

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

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)
Geographic coordinates: 3 10 N, 101 42 E
Name: Kuala Lumpur
Note: note: nearby Putrajaya is referred to as a federal government administrative center but not as the capital; the legislature meets in Kuala Lumpur
Time difference: UTC+8 (13 hours ahead of Washington, DC, during Standard Time)

Citizenship

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

Coat of arms

svg: https://mainfacts.com/media/images/coats_of_arms/my.svg

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
History: previous 1948; latest drafted 21 February 1957, effective 27 August 1957

Country name

alternative spellings: MY
Conventional long form: none
Conventional short form: Malaysia
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"
FIFA code: MAS
Former: British Malaya, Malayan Union, Federation of Malaya
Local long form: none
local long form (eng): Malaysia
Local short form: Malaysia

Diplomatic representation from the US

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

Diplomatic representation in the US

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

Executive branch

Cabinet: Cabinet appointed by the prime minister from among members of Parliament with the consent of the king
Chief of state: King Sultan IBRAHIM ibni al-Marhum Sultan Iskandar (since 31 January 2024)
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
Expected date of next election: October 2028, with inauguration in January 2029
Head of government: Prime Minister ANWAR Ibrahim (since 24 November 2022)
Most recent election date: 24 October 2023
Note: note: the position of the king is primarily ceremonial, but he is the final arbiter on the appointment of the prime minister

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
note: note: the design is based on the US flag

Flag description

The flag of Malaysia is composed of fourteen equal horizontal bands of red alternating with white. A blue rectangle, bearing a fly-side facing yellow crescent and a fourteen-pointed yellow star placed just outside the crescent opening, is superimposed in the canton.

Flag image

svg: https://flagcdn.com/my.svg

Government type

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

Independence

31 August 1957 (from the UK)

International law organization participation

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

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

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)
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
Note: note: Malaysia has a dual judicial hierarchy of civil and religious (sharia) courts
Subordinate courts: Court of Appeal; High Court; Sessions Court; Magistrates' Court

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

Legislative branch

Legislative structure: bicameral
Legislature name: Parliament (Parlimen)

Legislative branch - lower chamber

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

Legislative branch - upper chamber

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

National color(s)

gold, black

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)
Total World Heritage Sites: 6 (4 cultural, 2 natural)

National holiday

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

National symbol(s)

tiger, hibiscus

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)

Start of week

Sunday

Suffrage

18 years of age; universal

UN Member

Yes

Economy

Agricultural products

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

Average household expenditures

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

Budget

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

Currency

code: MYR
name: Malaysian ringgit (MYR) [RM]

Current account balance

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

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

Exchange rates

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

Exports

$301.22 billion
Exports 2022: $312.88 billion (2022 est.)
Exports 2023: $274.1 billion (2023 est.)
Exports 2024: $301.789 billion (2024 est.)
Note: note: balance of payments - exports of goods and services in current dollars

Exports - commodities

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

Exports - partners

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

Foreign direct investment

net inflows: $15.59 billion

GDP - composition, by end use

Exports of goods and services: 71.4% (2024 est.)
Government consumption: 12% (2024 est.)
Household consumption: 60.8% (2024 est.)
Imports of goods and services: -66% (2024 est.)
Investment in fixed capital: 20.6% (2024 est.)
Investment in inventories: 1.3% (2024 est.)
Note: note: figures may not total 100% due to rounding or gaps in data collection

GDP - composition, by sector of origin

Agriculture: 8.2% (2024 est.)
Industry: 37.1% (2024 est.)
Note: note: figures may not total 100% due to non-allocated consumption not captured in sector-reported data
Services: 53.6% (2024 est.)

GDP (official exchange rate)

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

GDP per capita (nominal)

$11,874

Gini Index coefficient - distribution of family income

41.1 (2015)
Gini Index coefficient - distribution of family income 2021: 40.7 (2021 est.)
Note: note: index (0-100) of income distribution; higher values represent greater inequality

GNI (gross national income)

$407.78 billion

GNI per capita

$11,650

Gross domestic investment

22 % of GDP

Household income or consumption by percentage share

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

Imports

$278.76 billion
Imports 2022: $283.758 billion (2022 est.)
Imports 2023: $253.665 billion (2023 est.)
Imports 2024: $279.09 billion (2024 est.)
Note: note: balance of payments - imports of goods and services in current dollars

Imports - commodities

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

Imports - partners

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

Industrial production growth rate

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

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

Inflation rate (consumer prices)

1.83%
Inflation rate (consumer prices) 2022: 3.4% (2022 est.)
Inflation rate (consumer prices) 2023: 2.5% (2023 est.)
Inflation rate (consumer prices) 2024: 1.8% (2024 est.)
Note: note: annual % change based on consumer prices

Labor force

18.264 million (2024 est.)
note: note: number of people ages 15 or older who are employed or seeking work
total: 18.72 million persons

Labor force - by occupation

agriculture: 9.18%
industry: 25.96%
services: 64.86%

Population below poverty line

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

Public debt

64 % of GDP
Note: note: central government debt as a % of GDP
Public debt 2023: 64.3% of GDP (2023 est.)

Real GDP (purchasing power parity)

$1.38 trillion
Note: note: data in 2021 dollars
Real GDP (purchasing power parity) 2022: $1.113 trillion (2022 est.)
Real GDP (purchasing power parity) 2023: $1.153 trillion (2023 est.)
Real GDP (purchasing power parity) 2024: $1.212 trillion (2024 est.)

Real GDP growth rate

5.11%
Note: note: annual GDP % growth based on constant local currency
Real GDP growth rate 2022: 8.9% (2022 est.)
Real GDP growth rate 2023: 3.6% (2023 est.)
Real GDP growth rate 2024: 5.1% (2024 est.)

Real GDP per capita

$38,779
Note: note: data in 2021 dollars
Real GDP per capita 2022: $32,100 (2022 est.)
Real GDP per capita 2023: $32,800 (2023 est.)
Real GDP per capita 2024: $34,100 (2024 est.)

Remittances

$1.61 billion
Note: note: personal transfers and compensation between resident and non-resident individuals/households/entities
Remittances 2022: 0.4% of GDP (2022 est.)
Remittances 2023: 0.4% of GDP (2023 est.)
Remittances 2024: 0.4% of GDP (2024 est.)

Reserves of foreign exchange and gold

$116.23 billion
Note: note: holdings of gold (year-end prices)/foreign exchange/special drawing rights in current dollars
Reserves of foreign exchange and gold 2022: $114.659 billion (2022 est.)
Reserves of foreign exchange and gold 2023: $113.463 billion (2023 est.)
Reserves of foreign exchange and gold 2024: $116.229 billion (2024 est.)

Revenue (excl grants)

17 % of GDP

Tax revenue

13 % of GDP

Taxes and other revenues

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

Unemployment rate

3.76%
Note: note: % of labor force seeking employment
Unemployment rate 2022: 4% (2022 est.)
Unemployment rate 2023: 3.9% (2023 est.)
Unemployment rate 2024: 3.9% (2024 est.)

Youth unemployment rate (ages 15-24)

Female: 13.8% (2024 est.)
Male: 11.3% (2024 est.)
Note: note: % of labor force ages 15-24 seeking employment
Total: 12.3% (2024 est.)

Energy

Coal

Consumption: 35.741 million metric tons (2023 est.)
Exports: 462,000 metric tons (2023 est.)
Imports: 31.706 million metric tons (2023 est.)
Production: 4.476 million metric tons (2023 est.)
Proven reserves: 226 million metric tons (2023 est.)

Electricity

Consumption: 178.653 billion kWh (2023 est.)
consumption per capita: 4,986 kWh
Exports: 1.2 billion kWh (2023 est.)
Imports: 61.678 million kWh (2023 est.)
Installed generating capacity: 37.22 million kW (2023 est.)
Transmission/distribution losses: 13.188 billion kWh (2023 est.)

Electricity access

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

Electricity generation sources

Biomass and waste: 0.6% of total installed capacity (2023 est.)
Fossil fuels: 81.9% of total installed capacity (2023 est.)
hydroelectric: 16.61%
Hydroelectricity: 16.3% of total installed capacity (2023 est.)
nuclear: 0%
renewable: 17%
Solar: 1.1% of total installed capacity (2023 est.)

Energy consumption per capita

2,867 kg of oil equivalent
Total energy consumption per capita 2023: 113.163 million Btu/person (2023 est.)

Natural gas

Consumption: 47.112 billion cubic meters (2023 est.)
Exports: 37.451 billion cubic meters (2023 est.)
Imports: 3.359 billion cubic meters (2023 est.)
Production: 74.32 billion cubic meters (2023 est.)
Proven reserves: 1.189 trillion cubic meters (2021 est.)

Petroleum

Crude oil estimated reserves: 3.6 billion barrels (2021 est.)
Refined petroleum consumption: 672,000 bbl/day (2023 est.)
Total petroleum production: 582,000 bbl/day (2023 est.)

Renewable energy consumption

7.5%

Communications

Broadband - fixed subscriptions

per 100 inhabitants: 13 per 100
Subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 13 (2023 est.)
Total: 4.58 million (2023 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.)

Postal code format

#####

Telephone calling code

+60

Telephones - fixed lines

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

Telephones - mobile cellular

subscriptions per 100: 143 per 100
Subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 140 (2024 est.)
Total subscriptions: 49.7 million (2024 est.)

Transportation

Air transport

passengers carried: 46.7 million passengers
registered carrier departures: 359,378 departures

Airports

100 (2025)

Civil aircraft registration country code prefix

Driving side

Left

Heliports

24 (2025)

Merchant marine

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

Ports

Key ports: Johor, Kota Kinabalu, Port Dickson, Port Klang, Pulau Pinang, Tanjung Pelepas, Tapis Marine Terminal A
Large: 3
Medium: 4
Ports with oil terminals: 24
Small: 10
Total ports: 35 (2024)
Very small: 18

Railways

Narrow gauge: 1,792 km (2014) 1.000-m gauge (339 km electrified)
Standard gauge: 59 km (2014) 1.435-m gauge (59 km electrified)
Total: 1,851 km (2014)

Vehicle registration code

MAL

Military and Security

Land forces

armored vehicles
tanks

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 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)
active duty personnel: 136,000
note: note: the Royal Malaysia Police includes the General Operations Force, a paramilitary force with a variety of roles, including patrolling borders, counterterrorism, maritime security, and counterinsurgency
percent of total labor force: 0.81 %

Military and security service personnel strengths

approximately 110,000 active Malaysian Armed Forces (2025)

Military deployments

825 Lebanon (UNIFIL) (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 expenditures

1 % of GDP
current USD: $4,312,858,467
Military Expenditures 2020: 1.1% of GDP (2020 est.)
Military Expenditures 2021: 1% of GDP (2021 est.)
Military Expenditures 2022: 1.1% of GDP (2022 est.)
Military Expenditures 2023: 0.9% of GDP (2023 est.)
Military Expenditures 2024: 1% of GDP (2024 est.)
percent of central government expenditure: 4.52 %
percent of GDP: 0.99 % of GDP

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 strength ranking

PowerIndex score: 0.7379

Transnational Issues

Refugees and internally displaced persons

Refugees: 191,343 (2024 est.)
Stateless persons: 120,857 (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 agency/agencies

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

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)

Terrorism

Terrorist group(s)

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

Environment

Carbon dioxide emissions

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

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

Geoparks

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

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
Signed, but not ratified: none of the selected agreements

Methane emissions

Agriculture: 182.2 kt (2019-2021 est.)
Energy: 818.9 kt (2022-2024 est.)
Other: 15.3 kt (2019-2021 est.)
Waste: 847.9 kt (2019-2021 est.)

Particulate matter emissions

23.7 micrograms per cubic meter (2019 est.)

Protected areas

8 % of total land area

Renewable electricity output

0 % of total

Total renewable water resources

580 billion cubic meters (2022 est.)

Total water withdrawal

1 % of internal resources
Agricultural: 2.505 billion cubic meters (2022 est.)
Industrial: 1.641 billion cubic meters (2022 est.)
Municipal: 1.342 billion cubic meters (2022 est.)

Waste and recycling

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