MYR Rates Now (2023-06-06 15:18 (GMT -4:00))

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

2 30 N, 112 30 E

Southeast Asia

total: 329,847 sq km

land: 328,657 sq km

water: 1,190 sq km

country comparison to the world: 68

total: 2,742 km

border countries (3): Brunei 266 km, Indonesia 1,881 km, Thailand 595 km

4,675 km (Peninsular Malaysia 2,068 km, East Malaysia 2,607 km)

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

tropical; annual southwest (April to October) and northeast (October to February) monsoons

coastal plains rising to hills and mountains

mean elevation: 419 m

elevation extremes: lowest point: Indian Ocean 0 m

highest point: Gunung Kinabalu 4,095 m

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

agricultural land: 23.2%

arable land 2.9%; permanent crops 19.4%; permanent pasture 0.9%

forest: 62%

other: 14.8% (2011 est.)

3,800 sq km (2012)

a highly uneven distribution with over 80% of the population residing on the Malay Peninsula

flooding; landslides; forest fires

air pollution from industrial and vehicular emissions; water pollution from raw sewage; deforestation; smoke/haze from Indonesian forest fires

party to: Biodiversity, Climate Change, Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol, Desertification, Endangered Species, Hazardous Wastes, Law of the Sea, Marine Life Conservation, Ozone Layer Protection, Ship Pollution, Tropical Timber 83, Tropical Timber 94, Wetlands

signed, but not ratified: none of the selected agreements

strategic location along Strait of Malacca and southern South China Sea

31,381,992 (July 2017 est.)

country comparison to the world: 41

noun: Malaysian(s)

adjective: Malaysian

Bumiputera 61.7% (Malays and indigenous peoples, including Orang Asli, Dayak, Anak Negeri), Chinese 20.8%, Indian 6.2%, other 0.9%, non-citizens 10.4% (2017 est.)

Bahasa Malaysia (official), English, Chinese (Cantonese, Mandarin, Hokkien, Hakka, Hainan, Foochow), Tamil, Telugu, Malayalam, Panjabi, Thai

note: Malaysia has 134 living languages - 112 indigenous languages and 22 non-indigenous languages; in East Malaysia there are several indigenous languages; most widely spoken are Iban and Kadazan

Muslim (official) 61.3%, Buddhist 19.8%, Christian 9.2%, Hindu 6.3%, Confucianism, Taoism, other traditional Chinese religions 1.3%, other 0.4%, none 0.8%, unspecified 1% (2010 est.)

total dependency ratio: 44.6

youth dependency ratio: 36.1

elderly dependency ratio: 8.5

potential support ratio: 11.8 (2015 est.)

total: 28.5 years

male: 28.2 years

female: 28.8 years (2017 est.)

country comparison to the world: 129

1.37% (2017 est.)

country comparison to the world: 82

19.1 births/1,000 population (2017 est.)

country comparison to the world: 85

5.1 deaths/1,000 population (2017 est.)

country comparison to the world: 192

-0.3 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2017 est.)

country comparison to the world: 117

a highly uneven distribution with over 80% of the population residing on the Malay Peninsula

urban population: 76% of total population (2017)

rate of urbanization: 2.19% annual rate of change (2015-20 est.)

KUALA LUMPUR (capital) 6.837 million; Johor Bahru 912,000 (2015)

at birth: 1.07 male(s)/female

0-14 years: 1.06 male(s)/female

15-24 years: 1.03 male(s)/female

25-54 years: 1.02 male(s)/female

55-64 years: 1.03 male(s)/female

65 years and over: 0.9 male(s)/female

total population: 1.03 male(s)/female (2017 est.)

40 deaths/100,000 live births (2015 est.)

country comparison to the world: 105

total: 12.5 deaths/1,000 live births

male: 14.4 deaths/1,000 live births

female: 10.4 deaths/1,000 live births (2017 est.)

country comparison to the world: 115

total population: 75.2 years

male: 72.4 years

female: 78.2 years (2017 est.)

country comparison to the world: 109

2.1 children born/woman (2015 est.)

country comparison to the world: 80

52.2% (2014)

4.2% of GDP (2014)

country comparison to the world: 163

1.53 physicians/1,000 population (2015)

1.9 beds/1,000 population (2015)

improved:

urban: 100% of population

rural: 93% of population

total: 98.2% of population

unimproved:

urban: 0% of population

rural: 7% of population

total: 1.8% of population (2015 est.)

improved:

urban: 96.1% of population

rural: 95.9% of population

total: 96% of population

unimproved:

urban: 3.9% of population

rural: 4.1% of population

total: 4% of population (2015 est.)

0.4% (2016 est.)

country comparison to the world: 67

97,000 (2016 est.)

country comparison to the world: 43

7,000 (2016 est.)

country comparison to the world: 26

degree of risk: intermediate

food or waterborne diseases: bacterial diarrhea

vectorborne diseases: dengue fever

water contact disease: leptospirosis (2016)

15.6% (2016)

country comparison to the world: 125

12.4% (2015)

country comparison to the world: 58

4.8% of GDP (2016)

country comparison to the world: 46

definition: age 15 and over can read and write

total population: 94.6%

male: 96.2%

female: 93.2% (2015 est.)

total: 13 years

male: 12 years

female: 13 years (2015)

total: 10.7%

male: 9.9%

female: 11.8% (2015 est.)

country comparison to the world: 124

conventional long form: none

conventional short form: Malaysia

local long form: none

local short form: Malaysia

former: Federation of Malaya

etymology: the name means "Land of the Malays"

federal parliamentary constitutional monarchy

note: all Peninsular Malaysian states have hereditary rulers (commonly referred to as sultans) except Melaka (Malacca) and Pulau Pinang (Penang); those two states along with Sabah and Sarawak in East Malaysia have governors appointed by government; powers of state governments are limited by federal constitution; under terms of federation, Sabah and Sarawak retain certain constitutional prerogatives (e.g., right to maintain their own immigration controls)

name: Kuala Lumpur; note - nearby Putrajaya is referred to as a federal government administrative center but not the capital; Parliament meets in Kuala Lumpur

geographic coordinates: 3 10 N, 101 42 E

time difference: UTC+8 (13 hours ahead of Washington, DC, during Standard Time)

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

31 August 1957 (from the UK)

Independence Day (or Merdeka Day), 31 August (1957) (independence of Malaya); Malaysia Day, 16 September (1963) (formation of Malaysia)

history: previous 1948; latest drafted 21 February 1957, effective 27 August 1957

amendments: 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; amended many times, last in 2010 (2017)

mixed legal system of English common law, Islamic law, and customary law; judicial review of legislative acts in the Federal Court at request of supreme head of the federation

has not submitted an ICJ jurisdiction declaration; non-party state to the ICCt

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

21 years of age; universal

chief of state: King MUHAMMAD V (formerly known as Tuanku Muhammad Faris Petra) (selected on 14 October 2016; installed on 13 December 2016); note - the position of the king is primarily ceremonial, but he is the final arbiter on the appointment of the prime minister

head of government: Prime Minister MAHATHIR Mohamad (since 10 May 2018); Deputy Prime Minister WAN AZIZAH Wan Ismail (since 10 May 2018)

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

elections/appointments: 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; election last held on 14 October 2016 (next to be held in 2021); prime minister designated from among members of the House of Representatives; following legislative elections, the leader who commands support of the majority of members in the House becomes prime minister

election results: Mohamed NAJIB bin Abdul Najib Razak (UMNO) sworn in as prime minister for second term on 3 April 2009

description: bicameral Parliament or Parlimen consists of the Senate or Dewan Negara (70 seats; 44 members appointed by the king and 26 indirectly elected by 13 state legislatures; members serve 3-year terms) and the House of Representatives or Dewan Rakyat (222 seats; members directly elected in single-seat constituencies by simple majority vote to serve 5-year terms)

elections: House of Representatives - last held on 9 May 2018 (next to be held in 2023)

election results: House of Representatives - percent of vote by party/coalition - People's Alliance 45.6%, BN 33.8%, PAS 16.9%, WARISAN 2.3%, other 1.4%; seats by party/coalition - People's Alliance 113, BN 79, PAS 18, WARISAN 8, STAR 1, independent 3

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 and 7 judges); note - Malaysia has a dual judicial hierarchy of civil and religious (sharia) courts

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 65

subordinate courts: Court of Appeal; High Court; Sessions Court; Magistrates' Court

National Front (Barisan Nasional) or BN: Malaysian Chinese Association (Persatuan China Malaysia) or MCA [LIOW Tiong Lai]

Malaysian Indian Congress (Kongres India Malaysia) or MIC [S. SUBRAMANIAM]

Progressive Democratic Party or PDP [TIONG King Sing]

Sarawak People's Party (Parti Rakyat Sarawak) or PRS [James MASING]

Sarawak United People's Party (Parti Bersatu Rakyat Sarawak) or SUPP [Dr. SIM Kui Hian]

United Malays National Organization or UMNO [Ahmad ZAHID Hamidi]

United Pasokmomogun Kadazandusun Murut Organization (Pertubuhan Pasko Momogun Kadazan Dusun Bersatu) or UPKO [Wilfred Madius TANGAU]

United Sabah Party (Parti Bersatu Sabah) or PBS [Joseph PAIRIN Kitingan]

United Sabah People's (Party Parti Bersatu Rakyat Sabah) or PBRS [Joseph KURUP]

United Traditional Bumiputera Party (Parti Pesaka Bumiputera Bersata) or PBB [

Coalition of Hope (Pakatan Harapan) or PH (formerly the People's Alliance):: Democratic Action Party (Parti Tindakan Demokratik) or DAP [TAN Kok Wai]

Malaysian United Indigenous Party (Parti Pribumi Bersatu Malaysia) or PPBM [MAHATHIR Mohamad]

National Trust Party (Parti Amanah Negara) or AMANAH [Mohamad SABU]

People's Justice Party (Parti Keadilan Rakyat) or PKR [WAN AZIZAH Wan Ismail]

Other: Homeland Solidarity Party or STAR [Jeffrey KATINGAN]

Islamic Party of Malaysia (Parti Islam se Malaysia) or PAS [Abdul HADI Awang]

Sabah Heritage Party or WARISAN [Shafie APDAL]

Bar Council

BERSIH (electoral reform coalition)

ISMA (Muslim NGO)

PERKASA (defense of Malay rights)

other: religious groups; women's groups; youth groups

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, UNIDO, UNIFIL, UNISFA, UNMIL, UNWTO, UPU, WCO, WFTU (NGOs), WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTO

chief of mission: Ambassador ZULHASNAN Rafique (since 9 January 2017)

chancery: 3516 International Court NW, Washington, DC 20008

telephone: [1] (202) 572-9700

FAX: [1] (202) 572-9882

consulate(s) general: Los Angeles, New York

chief of mission: Ambassador Kamala Shirin LAKHDIR (since 21 February 2017)

embassy: 376 Jalan Tun Razak, 50400 Kuala Lumpur

mailing address: US Embassy Kuala Lumpur, APO AP 96535-8152

telephone: [60] (3) 2168-5000

FAX: [60] (3) 2142-2207

14 equal horizontal stripes of red (top) alternating with white (bottom); there is a dark blue rectangle in the upper hoist-side corner bearing a yellow crescent and a yellow 14-pointed star; the flag is often referred to as Jalur Gemilang (Stripes of Glory); the 14 stripes stand for the equal status in the federation of the 13 member states and the federal government; the 14 points on the star represent the unity between these entities; the crescent is a traditional symbol of Islam; blue symbolizes the unity of the Malay people and yellow is the royal color of Malay rulers

note: the design is based on the flag of the US

tiger, hibiscus; national colors: gold, black

name: "Negaraku" (My Country)

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

note: adopted 1957; full version only performed in the presence of the king; the tune, which was adopted from a popular French melody titled "La Rosalie," was originally the anthem of Perak, one of Malaysia's 13 states

population without electricity: 100,000

electrification - total population: 99.5%

electrification - urban areas: 99.8%

electrification - rural areas: 98.7% (2013)

141.9 billion kWh (2015 est.)

country comparison to the world: 30

133 billion kWh (2015 est.)

country comparison to the world: 29

3 million kWh (2015 est.)

country comparison to the world: 94

13 million kWh (2015 est.)

country comparison to the world: 113

33.34 million kW (2015 est.)

country comparison to the world: 32

82.1% of total installed capacity (2015 est.)

country comparison to the world: 82

0% of total installed capacity (2015 est.)

country comparison to the world: 148

14% of total installed capacity (2015 est.)

country comparison to the world: 107

4% of total installed capacity (2015 est.)

country comparison to the world: 105

666,900 bbl/day (2016 est.)

country comparison to the world: 26

310,900 bbl/day (2014 est.)

country comparison to the world: 25

194,400 bbl/day (2014 est.)

country comparison to the world: 31

3.6 billion bbl (1 January 2017 est.)

country comparison to the world: 29

512,900 bbl/day (2014 est.)

country comparison to the world: 31

760,000 bbl/day (2015 est.)

country comparison to the world: 29

231,400 bbl/day (2014 est.)

country comparison to the world: 32

409,500 bbl/day (2014 est.)

country comparison to the world: 23

63.43 billion cu m (2015 est.)

country comparison to the world: 14

40.67 billion cu m (2015 est.)

country comparison to the world: 29

34.99 billion cu m (2015 est.)

country comparison to the world: 10

3.27 billion cu m (2015 est.)

country comparison to the world: 41

1.183 trillion cu m (1 January 2017 est.)

country comparison to the world: 25

208 million Mt (2013 est.)

country comparison to the world: 27

total subscriptions: 4,837,200

subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 15 (July 2016 est.)

country comparison to the world: 30

total: 43,912,600

subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 140 (July 2016 est.)

country comparison to the world: 34

general assessment: modern system featuring good intercity service on Peninsular Malaysia provided mainly by microwave radio relay and an adequate intercity microwave radio relay network between Sabah and Sarawak via Brunei; international service excellent

domestic: domestic satellite system with 2 earth stations; combined fixed-line and mobile-cellular teledensity exceeds 155 per 100 persons

international: country code - 60; landing point for several major international submarine cable networks that provide connectivity to Asia, Middle East, and Europe; satellite earth stations - 2 Intelsat (1 Indian Ocean, 1 Pacific Ocean) (2016)

state-owned TV broadcaster operates 2 TV networks with relays throughout the country, and the leading private commercial media group operates 4 TV stations with numerous relays throughout the country; 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 (2012)

.my

total: 24,384,952

percent of population: 78.8% (July 2016 est.)

country comparison to the world: 30

number of registered air carriers: 12

inventory of registered aircraft operated by air carriers: 263

annual passenger traffic on registered air carriers: 50,347,149

annual freight traffic on registered air carriers: 2,005,979,379 mt-km (2015)

9M (2016)

114 (2013)

country comparison to the world: 51

total: 39

over 3,047 m: 8

2,438 to 3,047 m: 8

1,524 to 2,437 m: 7

914 to 1,523 m: 8

under 914 m: 8 (2017)

total: 75

914 to 1,523 m: 6

under 914 m: 69 (2013)

4 (2013)

condensate 354 km; gas 6,439 km; liquid petroleum gas 155 km; oil 1,937 km; oil/gas/water 43 km; refined products 114 km; water 26 km (2013)

total: 1,851 km

standard gauge: 59 km 1.435-m gauge (59 km electrified)

narrow gauge: 1,792 km 1.000-m gauge (339 km electrified) (2014)

country comparison to the world: 77

total: 144,403 km (excludes local roads)

paved: 116,169 km (includes 1,821 km of expressways)

unpaved: 28,234 km (2010)

country comparison to the world: 35

7,200 km (Peninsular Malaysia 3,200 km; Sabah 1,500 km; Sarawak 2,500 km) (2011)

country comparison to the world: 19

total: 1,690

by type: bulk carrier 12, container ship 26, general cargo 188, oil tanker 129, other 1,335 (2017)

country comparison to the world: 14

major seaport(s): Bintulu, Johor Bahru, George Town (Penang), Port Kelang (Port Klang), Tanjung Pelepas

container port(s) (TEUs): George Town (Penang) (1,317,000), Port Kelang (Port Klang) (11,887,000), Tanjung Pelepas (8,797,000) (2015)

LNG terminal(s) (export): Bintulu (Sarawak)

LNG terminal(s) (import): Sungei Udang

1.41% of GDP (2016)

1.53% of GDP (2015)

1.46% of GDP (2014)

1.52% of GDP (2013)

1.43% of GDP (2012)

country comparison to the world: 83

Malaysian Armed Forces (Angkatan Tentera Malaysia, ATM): Malaysian Army (Tentera Darat Malaysia), Royal Malaysian Navy (Tentera Laut Diraja Malaysia, TLDM), Royal Malaysian Air Force (Tentera Udara Diraja Malaysia, TUDM) (2013)

17 years 6 months of age for voluntary military service (younger with parental consent and proof of age); mandatory retirement age 60; women serve in the Malaysian Armed Forces; no conscription (2013)

the International Maritime Bureau reports that the territorial and offshore waters in the Strait of Malacca and South China Sea remain high risk for piracy and armed robbery against ships; in the past, commercial vessels have been attacked and hijacked both at anchor and while underway; hijacked vessels are often disguised and cargo diverted to ports in East Asia; crews have been murdered or cast adrift; seven attacks were reported in 2016 including five ships boarded, two hijacked, and 47 crew taken hostage, this is down from 13 attacks in 2015; during the first half of 2017, three attacks were reported including two ships that were boarded and one that was hijacked

while the 2002 "Declaration on the Conduct of Parties in the South China Sea" has eased tensions over the Spratly Islands, it is not the legally binding "code of conduct" sought by some parties; Malaysia was not party to the March 2005 joint accord among the national oil companies of China, the Philippines, and Vietnam on conducting marine seismic activities in the Spratly Islands; disputes continue over deliveries of fresh water to Singapore, Singapore's land reclamation, bridge construction, and maritime boundaries in the Johor and Singapore Straits; in 2008, ICJ awarded sovereignty of Pedra Branca (Pulau Batu Puteh/Horsburgh Island) to Singapore, and Middle Rocks to Malaysia, but did not rule on maritime regimes, boundaries, or disposition of South Ledge; land and maritime negotiations with Indonesia are ongoing, and disputed areas include the controversial Tanjung Datu and Camar Wulan border area in Borneo and the maritime boundary in the Ambalat oil block in the Celebes Sea; separatist violence in Thailand's predominantly Muslim southern provinces prompts measures to close and monitor border with Malaysia to stem terrorist activities; Philippines retains a dormant claim to Malaysia's Sabah State in northern Borneo; per Letters of Exchange signed in 2009, Malaysia in 2010 ceded two hydrocarbon concession blocks to Brunei in exchange for Brunei's sultan dropping claims to the Limbang corridor, which divides Brunei; piracy remains a problem in the Malacca Strait

refugees (country of origin): 87,036 (Burma) (2016)

stateless persons: 10,931 (2016); note - Malaysia's stateless population consists of Rohingya refugees from Burma, ethnic Indians, and the children of Filipino and Indonesian illegal migrants; Burma stripped the Rohingya of their nationality in 1982; Filipino and Indonesian children who have not been registered for birth certificates by their parents or who received birth certificates stamped "foreigner" are not eligible to attend government schools; these children are vulnerable to statelessness should they not be able to apply to their parents' country of origin for passports

current situation: Malaysia is a destination and, to a lesser extent, a source and transit country for men, women, and children subjected to forced labor and women and children subjected to sex trafficking; Malaysia is mainly a destination country for foreign workers who migrate willingly from countries, including Indonesia, Bangladesh, the Philippines, Nepal, Burma, and other Southeast Asian countries, but subsequently encounter forced labor or debt bondage in agriculture, construction, factories, and domestic service at the hands of employers, employment agents, and labor recruiters; women from Southeast Asia and, to a much lesser extent, Africa, are recruited for legal work in restaurants, hotels, and salons but are forced into prostitution; refugees, including Rohingya adults and children, are not legally permitted to work and are vulnerable to trafficking; a small number of Malaysians are trafficked internally and subjected to sex trafficking abroad

tier rating: Tier 2 Watch list - Malaysia does not fully comply with the minimum standards for the elimination of trafficking; however, it is making significant efforts to do so; in 2014, amendments to strengthen existing anti-trafficking laws, including enabling victims to move freely and to work and for NGOs to run protective facilities, were drafted by the government and are pending approval from Parliament; authorities more than doubled investigations and prosecutions but convicted only three traffickers for forced labor and none for sex trafficking, a decline from 2013 and a disproportionately small number compared to the scale of the country’s trafficking problem; NGOs provided the majority of victim rehabilitation and counseling services with no financial support from the government (2015)

drug trafficking prosecuted vigorously, including enforcement of the death penalty; heroin still primary drug of abuse, but synthetic drug demand remains strong; continued ecstasy and methamphetamine producer for domestic users and, to a lesser extent, the regional drug market