Country Profile: Malaysia

Malaysia is a Southeast Asian nation known for its strategic location along the Strait of Malacca, which facilitates global maritime trade. The country has a diverse population of approximately 34.6 million people, primarily residing on the Malay Peninsula. Economically, Malaysia is classified as an upper middle-income country, with a robust export sector that includes electronics, oil, and chemicals. Governed as a federal parliamentary constitutional monarchy, Malaysia's political landscape has been shaped by a history of colonialism, independence, and recent political transitions.

Geography

Malaysia is located in Southeastern Asia, comprising the Malay Peninsula and the northern third of Borneo, bordered by Thailand, Indonesia, Brunei, and the South China Sea. The country covers an area of 329,847 sq km, featuring a tropical climate characterized by monsoons and a varied terrain of coastal plains and mountains.

Coastline: 4,675 km (Peninsular Malaysia: 2,068 km, East Malaysia: 2,607 km)
Elevation: Highest point is Gunung Kinabalu at 4,095 m.
Natural Resources: Includes tin, petroleum, timber, copper, and natural gas.
Land Use: 26.1% of land is agricultural, while 57.8% is forested (2023 est.).

People and Society

Malaysia's population stands at approximately 34.5 million. The ethnic composition includes 63.8% Bumiputera (Malays and indigenous peoples), 20.6% Chinese, and 6% Indian. The major language is Bahasa Malaysia, with Islam as the official religion, practiced by 63.5% of the population.

Urbanization: 78.7% of the population lives in urban areas (2023).
Median Age: The median age is 31.8 years (2024 est.).
Literacy Rate: Approximately 95.8% of the population is literate (2022 est.).
Life Expectancy: 76.6 years (total population, 2024 est.).

Economy

Malaysia's economy is categorized as upper middle-income, primarily driven by exports in electronics, oil, and chemicals. In 2024, the real GDP is estimated to be approximately $1.212 trillion, with a growth rate of 5.1%.

GDP per Capita: $34,100 (2024 est.).
Unemployment Rate: 3.9% (2024 est.).
Composition by Sector: 8.2% agriculture, 37.1% industry, 53.6% services (2024).
Exports: Approximately $301.789 billion in 2024, key partners include China (21%) and Singapore (12%).

Government

Malaysia operates as a federal parliamentary constitutional monarchy, with Kuala Lumpur as its capital. The political system consists of a bicameral legislature, with the King serving as the head of state and the Prime Minister as the head of government.

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).
Legislature: Parliament consists of a House of Representatives (223 members) and a Senate (70 members).
Suffrage: Universal at 18 years of age.

Military and Security

The Malaysian Armed Forces consists of approximately 110,000 active personnel, encompassing the Army, Navy, and Air Force. Military expenditures are estimated at 1% of GDP for 2024.

Military Deployments: About 830 personnel in international peacekeeping missions (Lebanon).
Defense Industry: Increasing focus on modernizing military capabilities with partnerships for domestic production.
Service Age: Voluntary military service starts at 17 years and 6 months.

Energy

Malaysia has achieved full electrification for its population, with an installed electricity generation capacity of 37.22 million kW in 2023. Fossil fuels dominate electricity generation.

Electricity Consumption: 178.653 billion kWh (2023 est.).
Renewable Sources: Hydroelectricity accounts for 16.3% of the total capacity.
Natural Gas Production: 74.32 billion cubic meters (2023 est.).

Environment

Malaysia faces various environmental issues, including air and water pollution and deforestation. The country is involved in multiple international environmental agreements.

Forest Cover: 57.8% of land area is forested (2023 est.).
Carbon Dioxide Emissions: 260.005 million metric tonnes (2023 est.).

Transportation

The country's transportation infrastructure is well developed, featuring extensive rail and air transport systems.

Airports: 100 total airports (2025 est.).
Railways: Totaling 1,851 km (2014).
Merchant Marine: Comprises 1,750 vessels (2023).

Communications

Malaysia boasts a high level of connectivity, with nearly all of the population having access to telecommunication services.

Internet Users: 98% of the population (2023 est.).
Mobile Cellular Subscriptions: 50.1 million (2023).

Key Metrics

Metric	Value	Note
Population	34,564,810	2024 estimate
Area	329,847 sq km	Total area
GDP	$421.972 billion	2024 estimate
Energy Consumption	113.163 million Btu/person	2023 estimate
Birth Rate	14.2 births/1,000	2024 estimate
Unemployment Rate	3.9%	2024 estimate
Life Expectancy	76.6 years	Total population, 2024 estimate