Contents

Country Overview

Malaysia is a Southeast Asian federation divided between the Malay Peninsula and northern Borneo. A constitutional monarchy with an elected federal parliament, it combines advanced electronics and export manufacturing with services, agricultural commodities, energy production and tourism. Its multiethnic population, longstanding maritime commercial networks and highly diverse tropical environments shape an economy integrated into ASEAN and global supply chains. Kuala Lumpur is the national capital, while Putrajaya is the federal administrative center.

Reference status: Contemporary country profile • Verified: November 6, 2026 • Source years and statistical or jurisdictional limitations are stated.

CapitalKuala LumpurPutrajaya is the federal administrative center [2]
Population34.389 millionDOSM preliminary estimate, 2026; World Bank series differs [7]
Nominal GDPUS$472.19 billionWorld Bank 2025 [6]
Head of governmentAnwar IbrahimPrime minister since 2022 [10]
2025 goods exportsUS$374.997 billionWTO / UN Comtrade [11]
UNESCO World Heritage6 propertiesFour cultural and two natural [12]

Data and status note: The Department of Statistics Malaysia (DOSM) preliminary 2026 population estimate is 34.3894 million, based on its 2020 census; the World Bank lists 35,977,838 for 2025. They are different statistical series and should not be blended or treated as an updated census total. The World Bank 2025 nominal GDP is US$472.19 billion; DOSM confirms 5.2% real growth for 2025. WTO goods exports and imports below are 2025 UN Comtrade figures, while UNESCO currently lists six World Heritage properties. Parliamentary figures describe the federal legislature, not individual state assemblies.

Identity & State Formation

Official name
Malaysia, the constitutional name of the federation. [2]
Capital city
Kuala Lumpur, the constitutionally recognized capital and parliament location. [2] [5]
Federal administrative capital
Putrajaya, site of many federal executive departments. [2]
Regional classification
Southeastern Asia in the UN M49 scheme. [1]
State form
Federal constitutional monarchy with a parliamentary system. [5] [2]
Head of state institution
Yang di-Pertuan Agong, a rotating elected constitutional monarch. [10] [2]
Head of government institution
Prime minister chosen through parliamentary confidence arrangements. [5] [2]
Federation formation
Malaysia was formed on 16 September 1963. [5]
Malayan independence
Federation of Malaya became independent on 31 August 1957. [5]
National Day
31 August, commemorating Malayan independence. [2]
Malaysia Day
16 September, marking the formation of Malaysia in 1963. [5]
Singapore's historical role
Singapore joined the 1963 federation but became independent in 1965. [5]
Constitution
Federal Constitution provides for the federation, parliamentary legislature and monarchy. [5] [4]
Official language
Bahasa Melayu (Malay), the national and official language. [3]
Other languages
English, Mandarin varieties, Tamil and indigenous languages are also used. [3]
Official national religion
Islam is the religion of the Federation under Article 3. [4]
Religion and rights
Federal Constitution also recognizes practice of other religions subject to law. [4]
National currency
Malaysian ringgit (MYR), divided into 100 sen. [8]
Currency code
MYR. [8]
Former currency convention
Ringgit has long replaced the older term Malaysian dollar. [8]
ISO alpha-2
MY. [1]
ISO alpha-3
MYS. [1]
International dialing
+60. [18]
Internet domain
.my. [18]
Time zone
Malaysia Time, UTC+08:00, nationwide and without regular daylight-saving time. [18]
National flag
Jalur Gemilang, with red and white stripes, blue canton, crescent and star. [2]
National anthem
Negaraku. [2]
National flower
Hibiscus (Bunga Raya). [2]
Federal design
Thirteen states and three federal territories. [2] [5]
Federal territories
Kuala Lumpur, Putrajaya and Labuan. [2]
National principles
Rukun Negara expresses civic aspirations and national solidarity. [2]

Geography & Population

Total area
About 330,800 square kilometers in standard statistical presentations. [18]
Land area
Approximately 328,550 square kilometers, excluding inland water portions. [18]
Geographic structure
Two major territories separated by the South China Sea. [18]
Peninsular Malaysia
Western national portion connected by land to Thailand and mainland Southeast Asia. [18]
East Malaysia
Sabah and Sarawak occupy northern Borneo. [18]
Peninsular boundary
Thailand borders Malaysia on the peninsula. [18]
Borneo land borders
Indonesia and Brunei border East Malaysia. [18]
Singapore connection
Southern peninsula connects with Singapore through causeways and bridges. [18]
Maritime setting
Straits of Malacca, South China Sea and Sulu and Celebes seas. [18]
Strait of Malacca
One of the world’s major maritime trade corridors along western Peninsular Malaysia. [18] [11]
Capital
Kuala Lumpur in the Klang Valley metropolitan system. [2]
Administrative center
Putrajaya lies south of Kuala Lumpur. [2]
Largest Borneo centers
Kuching and Kota Kinabalu are important state capitals. [2]
Highest mountain
Mount Kinabalu rises to about 4,095 meters in Sabah. [12]
Mount Kinabalu heritage
Kinabalu Park is a UNESCO World Heritage natural property. [12]
Rainforest regions
Peninsular highlands and Borneo contain tropical forests and unique habitats. [15] [12]
Karst ecosystems
Gunung Mulu includes extensive limestone formations and caves. [12]
Climate zone
Predominantly tropical with high rainfall and humidity. [18]
Northeast monsoon
Often creates heavy wet-season conditions on the peninsula's east coast. [18]
Southwest monsoon
Contributes to seasonal changes in rainfall and winds. [18]
Typhoon exposure
Direct tropical cyclone landfalls are less frequent than in northern Southeast Asia. [18]
Population, national estimate
DOSM preliminary estimate 34.3894 million in 2026. [7]
2025 DOSM population
34.2205 million in revised 2026 statistical series. [7]
2025 World Bank population
35,977,838; a separate international model and compilation. [6]
Population discrepancy
DOSM and World Bank series are not interchangeable census counts. [6] [7]
2020 census base
DOSM annual estimates are derived from the 2020 Population and Housing Census. [7]
2026 citizen estimate
DOSM approximately 31.0158 million citizens. [7]
2026 noncitizen estimate
DOSM approximately 3.3736 million noncitizens. [7]
2026 population growth
DOSM reports about 0.5% growth. [7]
Population distribution
Klang Valley and western peninsula host large urban concentrations. [7] [17]
Borneo settlements
Coastal, riverine and inland communities vary by accessibility and land cover. [18]
Climate change exposure
Floods, sea-level rise and storm intensity challenge infrastructure and communities. [14]
Deforestation pressure
Agriculture, development and resource extraction create biodiversity trade-offs. [15] [14]
Forest-area estimate
World Bank/FAO series lists 188,847.4 square kilometers of forest in 2025. [15]

Population series and coverage

DOSM estimates follow the 2020 national census; the World Bank uses a separate statistical compilation. The 2026 subgroups are rounded. [7] [6]

Source Reference period Residents
DOSM preliminary national estimate202634,389,400
DOSM 2025 comparison (2026 release)202534,220,500
World Bank international estimate202535,977,838
2026 DOSM citizens202631,015,800
2026 DOSM noncitizens20263,373,600

Economy & International Trade

Currency
Malaysian ringgit (MYR) managed under national monetary policy. [8]
2025 nominal GDP
US$472.19 billion in World Bank current-dollar series. [6]
2025 GDP per resident
US$13,124.6 in World Bank series. [6]
2025 real GDP growth
5.2%, according to World Bank and DOSM release. [6] [9]
2025 consumer inflation
Approximately 1.4% in World Bank indicators. [6]
2025 modeled unemployment
3.8% according to World Bank/ILO estimation. [6]
National accounts year
The 2025 GDP headline is a completed-year estimate, not a 2026 projection. [6]
2026 IMF growth outlook
IMF February 2026 projected approximately 4.6% real growth, subject to revision. [9]
2026 forecast caution
Annual IMF projections can differ from subsequent actual quarterly estimates. [9]
Merchandise exports
US$374.9970 billion in 2025 WTO/UN Comtrade series. [11]
Merchandise imports
US$339.4667 billion in 2025 WTO/UN Comtrade series. [11]
2025 goods trade balance
About US$35.53 billion surplus on WTO goods totals. [11]
Export market Singapore
15.5% of 2025 merchandise exports. [11]
Export market United States
14.5% of 2025 merchandise exports. [11]
Export market China
11.8% of 2025 merchandise exports. [11]
Import source China
24.3% of 2025 merchandise imports. [11]
Import source Singapore
10.5% of 2025 merchandise imports. [11]
Export electronics
Integrated circuits and electronic components form a major export cluster. [11]
Integrated circuit processors
13.9% of 2025 goods exports in WTO HS 854231 product classification. [11]
Other integrated circuits
7.0% of 2025 goods exports in WTO HS 854239 classification. [11]
Semiconductor supply chains
Electronics industry is linked to global assembly, testing and component production. [11] [9]
Energy sector
Oil and natural gas production and refining supplement services and manufactures. [9] [11]
Palm oil and plantation economy
Palm oil and related agribusiness remain important commodity activities. [18] [9]
Manufacturing sector
Electronics, machinery, chemicals, processed food and transport equipment contribute. [9] [11]
Services economy
Retail, finance, education, logistics and tourism form a major part of GDP. [9]
Tourism geography
Kuala Lumpur, Penang, Melaka, Langkawi and Borneo draw different visitor markets. [12] [18]
Investment and trade integration
ASEAN manufacturing networks, foreign investment and port infrastructure support commerce. [11] [9]
Shipping facilities
Port Klang and Tanjung Pelepas support international maritime logistics. [18] [11]
Islamic finance
Malaysia is a significant center for Sharia-compliant finance. [9] [8]
Monetary authority
Bank Negara Malaysia acts as central bank. [8]
Development differences
Federal territories, industrial states and rural East Malaysia have distinct economic conditions. [7] [9]
Fiscal challenges
IMF emphasizes medium-term deficit reduction, debt control and subsidy reforms. [9]
Exchange-rate note
Conversion to US dollars depends on annual exchange-rate conventions. [6] [9]
Trade basis
Merchandise figures exclude most travel, professional and other services exports. [11]

2025 macroeconomic benchmarks

Completed 2025 annual indicators, not 2026 projections. [6] [9]

Indicator Value Source
Nominal GDPUS$472.19 billionWorld Bank
Real GDP growth5.2%World Bank/DOSM
GDP per capitaUS$13,124.6World Bank
Consumer price inflation1.4%World Bank
Modeled unemployment3.8%World Bank/ILO

2025 merchandise-trade totals

WTO member profile uses UN Comtrade merchandise series; services are excluded. [11]

Series Value (US$ billion) Coverage
Exports374.9970Goods only
Imports339.4667Goods only
Balance+35.5303Calculated from WTO totals

2025 merchandise export destinations

Partner group definitions follow the WTO profile. [11]

Market Share US$ billion
Singapore15.5%58.246
United States14.5%54.435
China11.8%44.084
European Union8.1%30.262
Hong Kong, China6.0%22.461

Representative 2025 export products

These are product-level HS lines, not shares of the entire electronics industry. [11]

Product category WTO HS group Export share
Electronic IC processors and controllers85423113.9%
Other electronic integrated circuits8542397.0%

People & Society

National language
Malay (Bahasa Melayu) is the principal official and national language. [3]
English language
Widely used in higher education, international trade and many urban settings. [3]
Chinese languages
Mandarin and other Chinese varieties are spoken in diverse communities. [3]
Tamil language
Tamil is an important language among Malaysian Indian communities. [3]
Indigenous languages
Iban, Kadazan-Dusun, Bidayuh and Orang Asli languages reflect regional diversity. [18]
Major community categories
Bumiputera, Chinese, Indian and other groups appear in national demographic reporting. [7]
Bumiputera scope
Includes Malays and specified indigenous peoples with distinct local identities. [7]
Citizenship comparison
Official population estimates separate citizens and noncitizens. [7]
Religious framework
Islam is the religion of the Federation; other faiths are practiced. [4]
Muslim communities
Predominantly Sunni Muslim traditions among many Malay citizens. [4]
Buddhist communities
Buddhism is prominent among sections of the Chinese Malaysian population. [4]
Christian communities
Christianity is represented across East and Peninsular Malaysia. [4]
Hindu communities
Hinduism has longstanding communities particularly in urban and Indian Malaysian settings. [4]
Indigenous beliefs
Local traditional spiritual practices remain part of cultural heritage in several regions. [13] [18]
Education structure
Federal and state roles intersect with public, private and vernacular-school arrangements. [2] [3]
Higher education
National research universities and private institutions support professional and scientific training. [2]
Healthcare system
Public and private medical providers operate throughout the federation. [6] [2]
Life expectancy
World Bank reports about 77 years for 2024. [6]
Population aging
DOSM identifies growth of the elderly share as a demographic trend. [7]
International migration
Foreign workers and cross-border mobility affect the labor force and population counts. [7] [9]
Urban living
Large metropolitan clusters concentrate finance, manufacturing and universities. [7]
Food heritage
Malay, Chinese, Indian and regional cuisines contribute to shared food culture. [13]
Breakfast culture
Malaysian multiethnic breakfast culture inscribed as intangible UNESCO heritage in 2024. [13]
Pantun poetry
UNESCO inscribed Pantun in 2025. [13]
Kebaya attire
Knowledge and practice surrounding kebaya dress inscribed in 2024. [13]
Silat
Traditional martial arts heritage recognized by UNESCO in 2019. [13]
Songket
Decorative handwoven textile tradition inscribed in 2021. [13]
Mak Yong
Traditional theater inscribed on UNESCO list in 2008. [13]
UNESCO intangible total
Nine elements listed for Malaysia as of the 2026 reference date. [13]
World heritage distinction
Tangible World Heritage properties are counted separately from intangible elements. [12] [13]
Festival calendar
Hari Raya, Chinese New Year, Deepavali, Gawai and Kaamatan reflect cultural variety. [2] [13]
Sport and leisure
Badminton, football and other sports have extensive participation. [2]
Cultural preservation
Indigenous languages, traditional performance and biodiverse landscapes face preservation challenges. [13] [12]

Government & Institutions

Head of state
Sultan Ibrahim Iskandar, Yang di-Pertuan Agong since January 2024. [10]
Head of government
Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim, in office since November 2022. [10] [19]
System
Federal parliamentary constitutional monarchy. [5] [2]
Federal Parliament
Bicameral, comprising House of Representatives and Senate with the King. [5]
Lower chamber
Dewan Rakyat (House of Representatives). [5]
Elected House size
222 seats in the current constitutional legislature design. [5]
Upper chamber
Dewan Negara (Senate). [5]
Senate size
70 members under the constitutional structure. [5]
Last general election
November 2022 national House election. [16]
Election outcome framework
2022 federal election generated a multiparty coalition government. [16] [10]
House mandate
Federal general elections normally take place within five years subject to dissolution rules. [5]
King selection
Conference of Rulers selects the Yang di-Pertuan Agong from eligible hereditary rulers. [2]
Monarch's term
The King generally serves a five-year term under the rotating federal scheme. [2]
Executive administration
Cabinet led by prime minister implements federal policy. [10] [2]
Prime minister's constitutional role
Must command confidence of the majority in the House of Representatives. [5] [2]
Federal states
13 states with distinct governments and assemblies. [5] [2]
Federal territories
3, governed through federal administrative arrangements. [2]
State rulers
Several states are headed by hereditary rulers; others have appointed governors. [2]
Federal-state division
Constitution distributes responsibilities between federal and state levels. [2] [5]
Judicial system
National judicial hierarchy with civil superior courts and state Islamic-law jurisdictions. [2] [4]
Constitutional Islam
Islam is the religion of the Federation under Article 3. [4]
Other religions
The constitutional framework recognizes religious practice beyond Islam. [4]
Article 152
Provides status of Malay as national and official language. [3]
Electoral administration
National Election Commission conducts parliamentary and state-level elections. [16]
Political parties
Coalition parties and regional organizations contest elections across the federation. [16]
Sabah and Sarawak
Borneo states retain distinctive constitutional and administrative arrangements. [2]
Public budget
Federal fiscal policy includes taxation, spending and subsidy decisions. [9]
Central bank
Bank Negara Malaysia supervises monetary conditions and major financial institutions. [8]
Local governance
Municipal and district authorities provide subnational urban services. [2]
Constitutional protections
Citizens have enumerated rights subject to constitutional qualifications and statutes. [2] [4]
Religious personal law
Islamic law matters generally operate through applicable state-level institutions. [4] [2]
Public-sector policy
National economic plans address wages, investment, transport and regional development. [9] [2]

International Profile

United Nations membership
Malaysia became a UN member following Malayan independence in 1957. [1]
ASEAN membership
Founding member of ASEAN (1967) and active regional coordinator. [18]
WTO membership
WTO member; publishes tariff and merchandise-trade notifications. [11]
Commonwealth
Member of the Commonwealth of Nations. [18]
OIC membership
Participates in Organization of Islamic Cooperation. [18]
Regional role
Southeast Asian diplomacy spans maritime trade, environmental and security cooperation. [18]
Land-neighbor relations
Thailand, Indonesia and Brunei share land borders. [18]
Singapore relationship
Connected by major road and rail links and intensive commercial trade. [18] [11]
China trade link
China is Malaysia's largest 2025 merchandise import partner by WTO data. [11]
United States trade
US represented 14.5% of 2025 merchandise exports. [11]
South China Sea
Offshore maritime boundary claims intersect with wider regional disputes. [18]
Maritime law
Coastal and Borneo jurisdictions engage with marine resource and shipping questions. [18]
Energy diplomacy
Oil, gas and climate transition have regional economic and policy implications. [9]
Strait of Malacca
Strategic international transit corridor bordering western Malaysia. [18]
Climate negotiations
Malaysia participates in global environmental and conservation frameworks. [14]
Biodiversity
Conservation of Borneo rainforests and marine ecosystems is internationally significant. [12] [15]
World Heritage Convention
Malaysia ratified in December 1988. [12]
World Heritage total
Six inscribed properties as of November 2026. [12]
Natural World Heritage
Gunung Mulu National Park and Kinabalu Park. [12]
Cultural World Heritage
Lenggong Valley, Melaka/George Town, Niah Caves and Forest Research Institute Malaysia Forest Park Selangor. [12]
2024 inscription
Niah National Park Caves Complex received World Heritage status in 2024. [12]
2025 inscription
Forest Research Institute Malaysia Forest Park Selangor inscribed in 2025. [12]
Heritage tentative list
Three listed tentative properties under UNESCO profile. [12]
Intangible cultural heritage
Nine separately listed elements, including poetry and textile arts. [13]
Heritage counting caution
UNESCO transnational intangible elements should not be confused with physical World Heritage counts. [13] [12]
Education diplomacy
Higher education and professional training attract international students. [2]
Tourism and migration
Cross-border travel links Gulf, East Asia and surrounding ASEAN markets. [18] [9]
Trade corridors
Ports and industrial parks support global electrical and electronic supply chains. [11]
Development partnership
IMF and World Bank engage on financial stability and sustainable growth. [9] [6]
International measurement
Global estimates may differ from national population statistics and fiscal years. [6] [7]

UNESCO World Heritage properties

Six properties are inscribed; tentative and intangible heritage are excluded. [12]

Property Year inscribed Type
Gunung Mulu National Park2000Natural
Kinabalu Park2000Natural
Melaka and George Town2008Cultural
Archaeological Heritage of Lenggong Valley2012Cultural
Niah National Park Caves Complex2024Cultural
FRIM Forest Park Selangor2025Cultural

Sources and Methodology

Population estimates, fiscal-year output, World Bank GDP, and WTO trade must retain their respective reference years. Malaysia DOSM preliminary population for 2026 (about 34.4 million) differs from the World Bank 2025 estimate (about 36.0 million); use the method and date attached to each rather than silently reconciling them. Export HS items are product-level classifications. UNESCO lists are separated by conventions and inscription status.

Editorial cutoff: November 6, 2026 (Pacific Time). All stated population counts, prices, elections, and legal statuses have specific reference dates or qualifications. This page should be updated following major new statistical releases or changes of government.

  1. UN Statistics Division — M49 — Southeastern Asia classification and geographic coding.
  2. Government of Malaysia — Official Portal — national institutions, symbols and government structure.
  3. Government of Malaysia — Official Language — Malay national and official language; use of other languages.
  4. Government of Malaysia — Official Religion — federal constitutional provisions for religion.
  5. Parliament of Malaysia — Structure — bicameral 222-member House and 70-member Senate.
  6. World Bank — Malaysia data — 2025 population, GDP, inflation and social indicators.
  7. Department of Statistics Malaysia — 2026 population estimates — 2026 preliminary 34.4 million residents, citizens and migration.
  8. Bank Negara Malaysia — National summary data — official population and economic statistical data.
  9. IMF — Malaysia Article IV 2026 — 2025–2026 economic outlook and risks.
  10. CIA World Leaders — Malaysia — king, prime minister and governing offices.
  11. WTO — Malaysia tariff and trade profile — 2025 merchandise imports and exports by partner and product.
  12. UNESCO World Heritage Centre — Malaysia — six inscribed World Heritage properties and tentative list.
  13. UNESCO Intangible Cultural Heritage — Malaysia — nine inscribed intangible cultural elements.
  14. World Bank — Malaysia climate and environment indicators — forests and environment indicators.
  15. World Bank — Malaysia forest area — forest-cover estimate and definitions.
  16. Inter-Parliamentary Union — Malaysia — November 2022 last federal general election and bicameral profile.
  17. Malaysian Government — Population data and statistics — official statistics and census base.
  18. SESRIC — Malaysia country information — geography, national data and society.
  19. Maldives Presidency — September 2026 Malaysia visit — September 2026 confirmation of Malaysian prime minister.