Malaysia

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Not to be confused with Malesia.
Coordinates:  2°30′N 112°30′E

Malaysia

Flag

Coat of arms

Motto: Bersekutu Bertambah Mutu[1]

"Unity Is Strength"

Anthem: Negaraku
(English: "My Country")

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 Show globe Show map of Southeast Asia Show all
Location of Malaysia (dark green)
– in Asia (dark gray & white)
– in ASEAN (dark gray)

Capital Kuala Lumpur

3°8′N 101°41′E
Putrajaya (administrative)
2.9430952°N 101.699373°E

Largest city Kuala Lumpur

Official Malaysian[n 1][n 2][n 3]

language
and national
language

Recognised English[n 3]
language

Ethnic groups   68.8% Bumiputera
(2018) [2]
 (Malay, Orang Asli, indigenous
groups of Sabah and Sarawak)
 23.2% Chinese
  7.0% Indian
 1.0% Others

Religion  61.3% Islam (official)[3]
 19.8% Buddhism
  9.2% Christianity
  6.3% Hinduism
  1.3% Chinese folk religion
  1.7% Unknown
  0.4% Others[4]

Demonym(s) Malaysian

Government Federal parliamentary constitutional elective
monarchy

• Monarch Abdullah Ahmad Shah[5]

• Prime Minister Muhyiddin Yassin

Legislature Parliament

• Upper house Dewan Negara (Senate)

• Lower house Dewan Rakyat (House of Representatives)
 Independence 
from the United Kingdom
• Independence of 31 August 1957[6]
the Federation of
Malaya
• Sarawak self- 22 July 1963
governance
• North Borneo self- 31 August 1963
governance
• Proclamation of 16 September 1963
Malaysia

Area
• Total 330,803 km2 (127,724 sq mi) (67th)
• Water (%) 0.3

Population
• Q1 2020 estimate  32,730,000[7] (43rd)

• 2010 census 28,334,135[8]
• Density 92/km2 (238.3/sq mi) (116th)

GDP (PPP) 2020 estimate
• Total  $900.426 billion[9] (30th)

• Per capita  $27,287[9] (51st)

GDP (nominal) 2020 estimate
• Total  $336.330 billion[9] (36th)

• Per capita  $10,192[9] (60th)

Gini (2015)  41[10]
medium

HDI (2019)  0.810[11]
very high · 62nd

Currency Ringgit (RM) (MYR)

Time zone UTC+8 (MST)

Date format dd-mm-yyyy

Driving side left

Calling code +60

 ISO 3166 code MY

Internet TLD .my

Malaysia (/məˈleɪziə, -ʒə/ ( listen) mə-LAY-zee-ə, -zhə; Malay: [məlejsiə]) is a country

in Southeast Asia. The federal constitutional monarchy consists of thirteen states and
three federal territories, separated by the South China Sea into two regions, Peninsular
Malaysia and Borneo's East Malaysia. Peninsular Malaysia shares a land and
maritime border with Thailand and maritime borders with Singapore, Vietnam,
and Indonesia. East Malaysia shares land and maritime borders with Brunei and
Indonesia and a maritime border with the Philippines and Vietnam. Kuala Lumpur is the
national capital and largest city while Putrajaya is the seat of the federal government.
With a population of over 32 million, Malaysia is the world's 43rd-most populous
country. The southernmost point of continental Eurasia is in Tanjung Piai. In the tropics,
Malaysia is one of 17 megadiverse countries, home to a number of endemic species.
Malaysia has its origins in the Malay kingdoms which, from the 18th century, became
subject to the British Empire, along with the British Straits Settlements protectorate.
Peninsular Malaysia was unified as the Malayan Union in 1946. Malaya was
restructured as the Federation of Malaya in 1948 and achieved independence on 31
August 1957. Malaya united with North Borneo, Sarawak, and Singapore on 16
September 1963 to become Malaysia. In 1965, Singapore was expelled from the
federation.[12]
The country is multi-ethnic and multi-cultural, which has a significant effect on its
politics. About half the population is ethnically Malay, with minorities
of Chinese, Indians, and indigenous peoples. The country's official language
is Malaysian, a standard form of the Malay language. English remains an active second
language. While recognising Islam as the country's established religion, the constitution
grants freedom of religion to non-Muslims. The government is modelled on
the Westminster parliamentary system and the legal system is based on common law.
The head of state is an elected monarch, chosen from among the nine state
sultans every five years. The head of government is the Prime Minister.
After independence, the Malaysian GDP grew at an average of 6.5% per annum for
almost 50 years. The economy has traditionally been fuelled by its natural resources but
is expanding in the sectors of science, tourism, commerce and medical tourism.
Malaysia has a newly industrialised market economy, ranked third-largest in Southeast
Asia and 33rd-largest in the world.[13] It is a founding member of ASEAN, EAS, OIC and
a member of APEC, the Commonwealth and the Non-Aligned Movement.