Malaysia

East and Southeast Asia Kuala Lumpur

Population

34.91M

Area

329,847 km²

GDP

$421.97B

GDP Per Capita

$34,100

Pop. Density

106/km²

Quick Facts

Currency

RMMalaysian ringgit(MYR)

Calling Code

+60

Timezone

UTC+08:00

Languages

English, Malay

Driving Side

left

Demonym

Malaysian

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.

Historical Trends

GDP (USD)

↑159.5% since 2006

$163B (2006)$422B (2024)

Population

↑34.6% since 2006

26.4M (2006)35.6M (2024)

Life Expectancy at Birth

Latest: 76.7 years

2006: 74.7 years2023: 76.7 years

Data source: World Bank Open Data

Geography17

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
land: 328,657 sq km
water: 1,190 sq km

Area - comparative

slightly larger than New Mexico

Land boundaries

total: 2,742 km
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
exclusive economic zone: 200 nm
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
lowest point: Indian Ocean 0 m
mean elevation: 419 m

Natural resources

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

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.)

forest

57.8% (2023 est.)

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 & Society33

Population

total: 34,905,275 (2025 est.)
male: 17,833,074
female: 17,072,201

Nationality

noun: Malaysian(s)
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
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)
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)

Dependency ratios

total dependency ratio: 44.3 (2025 est.)
youth dependency ratio: 31.7 (2025 est.)
elderly dependency ratio: 12.6 (2025 est.)
potential support ratio: 7.9 (2025 est.)

Median age

total: 32.2 years (2025 est.)
male: 31.7 years
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)
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
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
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.)
male: 6.8 deaths/1,000 live births
female: 6 deaths/1,000 live births

Life expectancy at birth

total population: 76.6 years (2024 est.)
male: 75 years
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.)

improved: rural

rural: 90.1% of population (2022 est.)

improved: total

total: 97.2% of population (2022 est.)

unimproved: urban

urban: 0.9% of population (2022 est.)

unimproved: rural

rural: 9.9% of population (2022 est.)

unimproved: total

total: 2.8% of population (2022 est.)

Health expenditure

Health expenditure (as % of GDP): 4.4% of GDP (2021)
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.)

improved: rural

rural: 99.9% of population (2022 est.)

improved: total

total: 100% of population (2022 est.)

unimproved: urban

urban: 0% of population (2022 est.)

unimproved: rural

rural: 0.1% of population (2022 est.)

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.)
beer: 0.48 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.)
wine: 0.04 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.)
spirits: 0.11 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.)
other alcohols: 0.01 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.)

Tobacco use

total: 21.5% (2025 est.)
male: 41.8% (2025 est.)
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 (% national budget): 14.1% national budget (2023 est.)

Literacy

total population: 95.8% (2022 est.)
male: 96.8% (2022 est.)
female: 94.7% (2022 est.)

School life expectancy (primary to tertiary education)

total: 12 years (2023 est.)
male: 11 years (2023 est.)
female: 12 years (2023 est.)

Government25

Country name

conventional long form

none

conventional short form

Malaysia

local long form

none

local short form

Malaysia

former

British Malaya, Malayan Union, Federation of Malaya

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
geographic coordinates: 3 10 N, 101 42 E
time difference: UTC+8 (13 hours ahead of Washington, DC, during Standard Time)
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
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 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

Suffrage

18 years of age; universal

Executive branch

chief of state

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

head of government

Prime Minister ANWAR Ibrahim (since 24 November 2022)

cabinet

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

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

most recent election date

24 October 2023

expected date of next election

October 2028, with inauguration in January 2029

Legislative branch

legislature name: Parliament (Parlimen)
legislative structure: bicameral

Legislative branch - lower chamber

chamber name

House of Representatives (Dewan Rakyat)

number of seats

223 (all directly elected)

electoral system

plurality/majority

scope of elections

full renewal

term in office

5 years

most recent election date

11/19/2022

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%

expected date of next election

November 2027

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%

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
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)

chancery

3516 International Court NW, Washington, DC 20008

telephone

[1] (202) 572-9700

FAX

[1] (202) 572-9882

email address and website

[email protected]

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

consulate(s) general

Los Angeles, New York

Diplomatic representation from the US

chief of mission

Ambassador Edgard D. KAGAN (since 20 March 2024)

embassy

376 Jalan Tun Razak, 50400 Kuala Lumpur

mailing address

4210 Kuala Lumpur, Washington DC  20521-4210

telephone

[60] (3) 2168-5000

FAX

[60] (3) 2142-2207

email address and website

[email protected]

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)
lyrics/music: collective, led by Tunku ABDUL RAHMAN/Pierre Jean DE BERANGER
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)
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)

Economy31

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) 2023: $1.153 trillion (2023 est.)
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 2023: 3.6% (2023 est.)
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 2023: $32,800 (2023 est.)
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) 2023: 2.5% (2023 est.)
Inflation rate (consumer prices) 2022: 3.4% (2022 est.)

GDP - composition, by sector of origin

agriculture: 8.2% (2024 est.)
industry: 37.1% (2024 est.)
services: 53.6% (2024 est.)

GDP - composition, by end use

household consumption

60.8% (2024 est.)

government consumption

12% (2024 est.)

investment in fixed capital

20.6% (2024 est.)

investment in inventories

1.3% (2024 est.)

exports of goods and services

71.4% (2024 est.)

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 2023: 3.9% (2023 est.)
Unemployment rate 2022: 4% (2022 est.)

Youth unemployment rate (ages 15-24)

total: 12.3% (2024 est.)
male: 11.3% (2024 est.)
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.)
on alcohol and tobacco: 1.6% of household expenditures (2023 est.)

Household income or consumption by percentage share

lowest 10%: 2.3% (2021 est.)
highest 10%: 30.9% (2021 est.)

Remittances

Remittances 2024: 0.4% of GDP (2024 est.)
Remittances 2023: 0.4% of GDP (2023 est.)
Remittances 2022: 0.4% of GDP (2022 est.)

Budget

revenues: $69.055 billion (2023 est.)
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 2023: $6.257 billion (2023 est.)
Current account balance 2022: $12.738 billion (2022 est.)

Exports

Exports 2024: $301.789 billion (2024 est.)
Exports 2023: $274.1 billion (2023 est.)
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 2023: $253.665 billion (2023 est.)
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 2023: $113.463 billion (2023 est.)
Reserves of foreign exchange and gold 2022: $114.659 billion (2022 est.)

Exchange rates

Currency

ringgits (MYR) per US dollar -

Exchange rates 2024

4.576 (2024 est.)

Exchange rates 2023

4.561 (2023 est.)

Exchange rates 2022

4.401 (2022 est.)

Exchange rates 2021

4.143 (2021 est.)

Exchange rates 2020

4.203 (2020 est.)

Energy7

Electricity access

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

Electricity

installed generating capacity: 37.22 million kW (2023 est.)
consumption: 178.653 billion kWh (2023 est.)
exports: 1.2 billion kWh (2023 est.)
imports: 61.678 million kWh (2023 est.)
transmission/distribution losses: 13.188 billion kWh (2023 est.)

Electricity generation sources

fossil fuels: 81.9% of total installed capacity (2023 est.)
solar: 1.1% of total installed capacity (2023 est.)
hydroelectricity: 16.3% of total installed capacity (2023 est.)
biomass and waste: 0.6% of total installed capacity (2023 est.)

Coal

production: 4.476 million metric tons (2023 est.)
consumption: 35.741 million metric tons (2023 est.)
exports: 462,000 metric tons (2023 est.)
imports: 31.706 million metric tons (2023 est.)
proven reserves: 226 million metric tons (2023 est.)

Petroleum

total petroleum production: 582,000 bbl/day (2023 est.)
refined petroleum consumption: 672,000 bbl/day (2023 est.)
crude oil estimated reserves: 3.6 billion barrels (2021 est.)

Natural gas

production: 74.32 billion cubic meters (2023 est.)
consumption: 47.112 billion cubic meters (2023 est.)
exports: 37.451 billion cubic meters (2023 est.)
imports: 3.359 billion cubic meters (2023 est.)
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.)

Communications6

Telephones - fixed lines

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

Telephones - mobile cellular

total subscriptions: 49.7 million (2024 est.)
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.)
subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 13 (2023 est.)

Transportation6

Civil aircraft registration country code prefix

Airports

100 (2025)

Heliports

24 (2025)

Railways

total: 1,851 km (2014)
standard gauge: 59 km (2014) 1.435-m gauge (59 km electrified)
narrow gauge: 1,792 km (2014) 1.000-m gauge (339 km electrified)

Merchant marine

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

Ports

total ports

35 (2024)

large

medium

small

very small

ports with oil terminals

key ports

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

Military & Security7

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 2023: 0.9% of GDP (2023 est.)
Military Expenditures 2022: 1.1% of GDP (2022 est.)
Military Expenditures 2021: 1% of GDP (2021 est.)
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)

Transnational Issues1

Refugees and internally displaced persons

refugees: 191,343 (2024 est.)
stateless persons: 120,857 (2024 est.)

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