THE WORLD FACTBOOK — Reference Edition 2026

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.

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

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.)

Environmental issues: air pollution from industrial and vehicular emissions; water pollution from raw sewage; deforestation; smoke/haze from Indonesian forest fires; endangered species; coastal reclamation damaging mangroves and turtle nesting sites
International environmental agreements: party to: Antarctic-Environmental Protection, Antarctic Treaty, Biodiversity, Climate Change, Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol, Climate Change-Paris Agreement, Comprehensive Nuclear Test Ban, Desertification, Endangered Species, Hazardous Wastes, Law of the Sea, Marine Life Conservation, Nuclear Test Ban, Ozone Layer Protection, Ship Pollution, Tropical Timber 2006, Wetlands
signed, but not ratified: none of the selected agreements
Climate: tropical; annual southwest (April to October) and northeast (October to February) monsoons
Land use: agricultural land: 26.1% (2023 est.)
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.)
Urbanization: urban population: 78.7% of total population (2023)
rate of urbanization: 1.87% annual rate of change (2020-25 est.)
Carbon dioxide emissions: total emissions: 260.005 million metric tonnes of CO2 (2023 est.)
from coal and metallurgical coke: 76.78 million metric tonnes of CO2 (2023 est.)
from petroleum and other liquids: 90.273 million metric tonnes of CO2 (2023 est.)
from consumed natural gas: 92.951 million metric tonnes of CO2 (2023 est.)
Particulate matter emissions: 23.7 micrograms per cubic meter (2019 est.)
Methane emissions: energy: 818.9 kt (2022-2024 est.)
agriculture: 182.2 kt (2019-2021 est.)
waste: 847.9 kt (2019-2021 est.)
other: 15.3 kt (2019-2021 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.)
Total water withdrawal: municipal: 1.342 billion cubic meters (2022 est.)
industrial: 1.641 billion cubic meters (2022 est.)
agricultural: 2.505 billion cubic meters (2022 est.)
Total renewable water resources: 580 billion cubic meters (2022 est.)
Geoparks: total global geoparks and regional networks: 2
global geoparks and regional networks: Kinabalu; Langkawi (2023)

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 PCSSabah 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 GTAHomeland 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 PBMHeritage 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: mwwashington@kln.gov.myhttps://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: KLACS@state.govhttps://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)

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.)

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.)

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.)

Civil aircraft registration country code prefix: 9M
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: 3
medium: 4
small: 10
very small: 18
ports with oil terminals: 24
key ports: Johor, Kota Kinabalu, Port Dickson, Port Klang, Pulau Pinang, Tanjung Pelepas, Tapis Marine Terminal A

Military and security forces: Malaysian Armed Forces (Angkatan Tentera Malaysia, ATM): Malaysian Army, Royal Malaysian Navy, Royal Malaysian Air ForceMinistry 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 USMalaysia is a member of the Five Powers Defense Arrangements (FPDA), a series of mutual assistance agreements reached in 1971 embracing Australia, Malaysia, New Zealand, Singapore, and the UK; the FPDA commits the members to consult with one another in the event or threat of an armed attack on any of the members and to mutually decide what measures should be taken, jointly or separately; there is no specific obligation to intervene militarily (2025)

Space agency/agencies: Malaysian Space Agency (MYSA; established 2019) (2025)
Space launch site(s): has launched feasibility studies for potential space launch sites in Pahang, Sabah, and Sarawak (2025)
Space program overview: has a national space policy and program focused on the areas of remote sensing (RS), navigational services, and telecommunications to support domestic economic sectors; seeks to promote a domestic space industry; acquires, manufactures, and operates satellites; conducts research in RS capabilities and space sciences such as astronomy, atmospherics, space environment, and weather; has an astronaut training exchange program with Russia and works with a variety of foreign space agencies and industries, including those of the ESA, individual ESA member states, India, Japan, Russia, South Korea, the UK, and the US (2025)
Key space-program milestones: 1996 - first of a series of domestically produced commercial communications satellites (MEASAT) launched on European rocket2000 - first multipurpose (remote sensing/RS, communications, scientific) microsatellite (TiungSat-1) produced with technology and training from the UK and launched by Russia2007 - first Malaysian astronaut (trained in Russia) to space on International Space Station2009 - first RS satellite (RazakSat) built with assistance from South Korea and launched by US2011 - completed construction of a satellite assembly, integration, and testing facility2025 - first commercial high-resolution RS satellite (UzmaSat-1) launched by US; signed US-led Artemis Accords

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

Refugees and internally displaced persons: refugees: 191,343 (2024 est.)
stateless persons: 120,857 (2024 est.)

Malaysia