Background: During the late 18th and 19th centuries Great Britain established colonies and protectorates in the area of current Malaysia; these were occupied by Japan from 1942 to 1945. In 1948 the British-ruled territories on the Malay Peninsula formed the Federation of Malaya which became independent in 1957. Malaysia was formed in 1963 when the former British colonies of Singapore and the East Malaysian states of Sabah and Sarawak on the northern coast of Borneo joined the Federation. The first several years of the country's history were marred by a Communist insurgency Indonesian confrontation with Malaysia Philippine claims to Sabah and Singapore's secession from the Federation in 1965. During the 22-year term of Prime Minister MAHATHIR bin Mohamad (1981-2003) Malaysia was successful in diversifying its economy from dependence on exports of raw materials to expansion in manufacturing services and tourism. Current Prime Minister Mohamed NAJIB bin Abdul Razak (in office since April 2009) has continued these pro-business policies.

Geographic coordinates: 2 30 N 112 30 E

Map reference: Southeast Asia

Area
Total: 329,847 km²
Rank: 67
Land: 328,657 km²
Water: 1190 km²
Comparative: slightly larger than New Mexico

Land boundaries
Total: 2,669 km
Border countries: (3) Brunei 381 km; Indonesia 1782 km; Thailand 506 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
Extremes lowest point: Indian Ocean 0 m
Extremes highest point: Gunung Kinabalu 4,100 m

Natural resources: tin petroleum timber copper iron ore natural gas bauxite

Land use
Arable land: 5.46%
Permanent crops: 17.54%
Other: 77% (2005)

Irrigated land: 3,650 km² (2008)

Total renewable water resources: 580 km³ (1999)

Natural hazards: flooding; landslides; forest fires

Geography
Note: strategic location along Strait of Malacca and southern South China Sea

Population: 28,728,607 (July 2011 est.)
Rank: 43
Growth rate: 1.576% (2011 est.)
Growth rate rank: 74
Below poverty line: 3.6% (2007 est.)

Nationality
Noun: Malaysian
Adjective: Malaysian

Ethnic groups: Malay 50.4% Chinese 23.7% indigenous 11% Indian 7.1% others 7.8% (2004 est.)

Languages: Bahasa Malaysia (official) English Chinese (Cantonese Mandarin Hokkien Hakka Hainan Foochow) Tamil Telugu Malayalam Panjabi Thai
Note: in East Malaysia there are several indigenous languages; most widely spoken are Iban and Kadazan

Religions: Muslim (or Islam - official) 60.4% Buddhist 19.2% Christian 9.1% Hindu 6.3% Confucianism Taoism other traditional Chinese religions 2.6% other or unknown 1.5% none 0.8% (2000 census)

Age structure
0-14 years: 29.6%
15-64 years: 65.4% (male 9,539,972/female 9,253,574)
65 years and over: 5% (male 672,581/female 755,976) (2011 est.)

Median age
Total: 26.8 years
Male: 26.7 years
Female: 27 years (2011 est.)

Population growth rate: 1.576% (2011 est.)
Rank: 74

Birth rate: 21.08 births/1000 population (2011 est.)
Rank: 83

Death rate: 4.93 deaths/1000 population (July 2011 est.)
Rank: 188

Net migration rate: -0.39 migrant(s)/1000 population
Rank: 133
Note: does not reflect net flow of an unknown number of illegal immigrants from other countries in the region (2011 est.)

Urbanization
Urban population: 72% of total population
Rate of urbanization: 2.4% annual rate of change (2010-15 est.)

Environment
Current issues: air pollution from industrial and vehicular emissions; water pollution from raw sewage; deforestation; smoke/haze from Indonesian forest fires
International agreements 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
International agreements signed but not ratified: none of the selected agreements

Sex ratio
At birth: 1.069 male/female
Under 15 years: 1.06 male(s)/female
15-64 years: 1.01 male(s)/female
65 years and over: 0.79 male(s)/female
Total population: 1.01 male(s)/female (2011 est.)

Infant mortality rate
Total: 15.02 deaths/1000 live births
Rank: 119
Male: 17.37 deaths/1000 live births
Female: 12.52 deaths/1000 live births (2011 est.)

Life expectancy at birth
Total population: 73.79 years
Rank: 112
Male: 71.05 years
Female: 76.73 years (2011 est.)

Total fertility rate: 2.67 children born/woman (2011 est.)
Rank: 76

Drinking water source:

Physicians density: 0.941 physicians/1000 population (2008)
Rank: 104

Hospital bed density: 1.82 beds/1000 population (2009)
Rank: 108

Sanitation facility access:

Hivaids
Adult prevalence rate: 0.5% (2009 est.)
Adult prevalence rate rank: 68
People living with hivaids: 100,000 (2009 est.)
People living with hivaids rank: 41
Deaths: 5,800 (2009 est.)
Deaths rank: 36

Major infectious diseases
Degree of risk: high
Food or waterborne diseases: bacterial diarrhea
Vectorborne diseases: dengue fever and malaria
Note: highly pathogenic H5N1 avian influenza has been identified in this country; it poses a negligible r

Obesity adult prevalence rate: 16.3% (2006)
Rank: 28

Education expenditures: 4.1% of GDP (2008)
Rank: 98

Literacy
Definition: age 15 and over can read and write
Total population: 88.7%
Male: 92%
Female: 85.4% (2000 census)

School life expectancy primary to tertiary education
Total: 13 years
Male: 12 years
Female: 13 years (2008)

Country name
Conventional long form: none
Conventional short form: Malaysia
Local long form: none
Local short form: Malaysia
Former: Federation of Malaya

Government type: constitutional monarchy
Note: nominally headed by paramount ruler (commonly referred to as the King) and a bicameral Parliament consisting of a nonelected upper house and an elected lower house; all Peninsular Malaysian states have hereditary rulers (commonly referred to as sultans) except Melaka 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)

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)
Note: Putrajaya is referred to as administrative center not capital; Parliament meets in Kuala Lumpur

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 three components city of Kuala Lumpur Labuan and Putrajaya

Independence: 31 August 1957 (from the UK)

National holiday: Independence Day 31 August (1957) (independence of Malaya); Malaysia Day 16 September (1963) (formation of Malaysia)

Constitution: 31 August 1957; amended many times the latest in 2007

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

International law organization participation: has not submitted an ICJ jurisdiction declaration; non-party state to the ICCt

Suffrage: 21 years of age; universal

Executive branch
Chief of state: King - Tuanku Abdul HALIM Mu'adzam Shah ; the position of the king is primarily ceremonial
Head of government: Prime Minister Mohamed NAJIB bin Abdul Razak (since 3 April 2009); Deputy Prime Minister MUHYIDDIN bin Mohamed Yassin (since 9 April 2009)
Cabinet: Cabinet appointed by the prime minister from among the members of Parliament with consent of the king
Elections: kings elected by and from the hereditary rulers of nine of the states for five-year terms; selection based on principle of rotation among rulers of states; election last held on 14 October 2011 (next to be held in 2016); prime minister designated from among the members of the House of Representatives; following legislative elections the leader who commands the support of the majority of members in the House becomes prime minister (since independence this has been the leader of the UMNO party)
Election results: Tuanku Abdul HALIM Mu'adzam Shah elected king

Legislative branch: bicameral Parliament or Parlimen consists of Senate or Dewan Negara (70 seats; 44 members appointed by the king 26 elected by 13 state legislatures to serve three-year terms with a two term limit) and House of Representatives or Dewan Rakyat (222 seats; members elected by popular vote to serve up to five-year terms)
Elections: House of Representatives - last held on 8 March 2008 (next to be held by June 2013)
Election results: House of Representatives - percent of vote - BN coalition 50.3% opposition parties 46.8% others 2.9%; seats - BN coalition 140 opposition parties 82; (seats by party as of March 2011 - BN coalition 137 opposition parties 76 independents 9)

Judicial branch: civil courts include Federal Court Court of Appeal High Court of Malaya on peninsula Malaysia and High Court of Sabah and Sarawak in states of Borneo (judges are appointed by the king on the advice of the prime minister); sharia courts include Sharia Appeal Court Sharia High Court and Sharia Subordinate Courts at state-level and deal with religious and family matters such as custody divorce and inheritance only for Muslims; decisions of sharia courts cannot be appealed to civil courts

Political parties and leaders: national front or bn (ruling coalition) consists of the following parties: Gerakan Rakyat Malaysia Party or PGRM [KOH Tsu Koon]; Liberal Democratic Party (Parti Liberal Demokratik - Sabah) or LDP [LIEW Vui Keong]; Malaysian Chinese Association (Persatuan China Malaysia) or MCA [CHUA Soi Lek]; Malaysian Indian Congress (Kongres India Malaysia) or MIC [Govindasamy PALANIVEL]; Parti Bersatu Rakyat Sabah or PBRS [Joseph KURUP]; Parti Bersatu Sabah or PBS [Joseph PAIRIN Kitingan]; Parti Pesaka Bumiputera Bersatu or PBB [Abdul TAIB Mahmud]; Parti Rakyat Sarawak or PRS [James MASING]; Sarawak United People's Party (Parti Bersatu Rakyat Sarawak) or SUPP [George CHAN Hong Nam]; United Malays National Organization or UMNO [NAJIB bin Abdul Razak]; United Pasokmomogun Kadazandusun Murut Organization (Pertubuhan Pasko Momogun Kadazan Dusun Bersatu) or UPKO [Bernard DOMPOK]; People's Progressive Party (Parti Progresif Penduduk Malaysia) or PPP [M.Kayveas]; Sarawak Progressive Democratic Party or SPDP [William MAWAN]); peoples alliance or pr (opposition coalition) consists of the following parties: Democratic Action Party (Parti Tindakan Demokratik) or DAP [KARPAL Singh]; Islamic Party of Malaysia (Parti Islam se Malaysia) or PAS [Abdul HADI Awang]; People's Justice Party (Parti Keadilan Rakyat) or PKR [WAN AZIZAH Wan Ismail]; Sarawak National Party or SNAP [Edwin DUNDANG]; independent party: Sabah Progressive Party (Parti Progresif Saban) or SAPP [YONG Teck Lee]

International organization participation: ADB APEC ARF ASEAN BIS C CICA (observer) CP D-8 EAS FAO G-15 G-77 IAEA IBRD ICAO ICC ICRM IDA IDB IFAD IFC IFRCS IHO ILO IMF IMO IMSO Interpol IOC IPU ISO ITSO ITU ITUC MIGA MINURSO MONUSCO NAM OIC OPCW PCA PIF (partner) UN UNAMID UNCTAD UNESCO UNIDO UNIFIL UNMIL UNMISS UNMIT UNWTO UPU WCO WFTU WHO WIPO WMO WTO

Diplomatic representation
In the us chief of mission: Ambassador JAMALUDIN Jarjis
In the us chancery: 3,516 International Court NW Washington DC 20,008
In the us telephone: [1] (202) 572-9,700
In the us fax: [1] (202) 572-9,882
In the us consulate general: Los Angeles New York
From the us chief of mission: Ambassador Paul W. JONES
From the us embassy: 376 Jalan Tun Razak 50,400 Kuala Lumpur
From the us mailing address: US Embassy Kuala Lumpur APO AP 96,535-8,152
From the us telephone: [60] (3) 2,168-5,000
From the us fax: [60] (3) 2,142-2,207

Flag description: 14 equal horizontal stripes of red (top) alternating with white (bottom); there is a 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

National symbols: tiger

National anthem
Name: 'Negaraku'
Lyricsmusic: collective led by Tunku ABDUL RAHMAN/Pierre Jean DE BERANGER
Note: adopted 1957; the full version is 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 the state of Perak

Economy overview: Malaysia a middle-income country has transformed itself since the 1970s from a producer of raw materials into an emerging multi-sector economy. Under current Prime Minister NAJIB Malaysia is attempting to achieve high-income status by 2020 and to move farther up the value-added production chain by attracting investments in Islamic finance high technology industries biotechnology and services. The NAJIB administration also is continuing efforts to boost domestic demand and reduce the economy's dependence on exports. Nevertheless exports - particularly of electronics oil and gas palm oil and rubber - remain a significant driver of the economy. As an oil and gas exporter Malaysia has profited from higher world energy prices although the rising cost of domestic gasoline and diesel fuel combined with strained government finances has forced Kuala Lumpur begin to reduce government subsidies. The government is also trying to lessen its dependence on state oil producer Petronas which supplies more than 40% of government revenue. The central bank maintains healthy foreign exchange reserves and its well-developed regulatory regime has limited Malaysia's exposure to riskier financial instruments and the global financial crisis. Nevertheless decreasing worldwide demand for consumer goods hurt Malaysia's exports and economic growth in 2009 although both showed signs of recovery in 2010. In order to attract increased investment NAJIB has raised possible revisions to the special economic and social preferences accorded to ethnic Malays under the New Economic Policy of 1970 but he has encountered significant opposition especially from Malay nationalists and other vested interests.

Real gdp purchasing power parity:
Rank: 30
Note: data are in 2010 US dollars

Real gdp growth rate:
Rank: 33

Real gdp per capita:
Rank: 78
Note: data are in 2010 US dollars

Gdp composition by sector of origin
Agriculture: 10.5%
Industry: 41.4%
Services: 48.2% (2010 est.)

Agriculture products: Peninsular Malaysia - rubber palm oil cocoa rice; Sabah - subsistence crops coconuts rice; rubber timber; Sarawak - rubber timber; pepper

Industries: Peninsular Malaysia - rubber and oil palm processing and manufacturing light manufacturing pharmaceuticals medical technology electronics tin mining and smelting logging timber processing; Sabah - logging petroleum production; Sarawak - agriculture processing petroleum production and refining logging

Industrial production growth rate: 7.4% (2010 est.)
Rank: 52

Labor force: 11.63 million (2010 est.)
Rank: 44
By occupation agriculture: 13%
By occupation industry: 36%
By occupation services: 51% (2005 est.)

Unemployment rate: 3.7% (2009 est.)
Rank: 26

Population below poverty line: 3.6% (2007 est.)

Household income or consumption by percentage share
Lowest 10: 1.8%
Highest 10: 34.7% (2009 est.)

Distribution of family income gini index: 49.2 (1997)
Rank: 34

Budget
Revenues: $49.56 billion
Expenditures: $63 billion (2010 est.)
Surplus or deficit: -5.6% of GDP (2010 est.)
Surplus or deficit rank: 156

Taxes and other revenues: 20.8% of GDP (2010 est.)
Rank: 151

Public debt: 53.3% of GDP (2009 est.)
Rank: 46

Inflation rate consumer prices: 0.6% (2009 est.)
Rank: 54
Note: approximately 30% of goods are price-controlled

Central bank discount rate: 2% (31 December 2009 est.)
Rank: 108

Commercial bank prime lending rate: 4.83% (31 December 2009 est.)
Rank: 164

Stock of narrow money: $58.67 billion (31 December 2009 est.)
Rank: 37

Stock of broad money: $319.2 billion (31 December 2009 est.)
Rank: 25

Stock of domestic credit: $273 billion (31 December 2009 est.)
Rank: 33

Market value of publicly traded shares:
Rank: 26

Current account balance: $31.8 billion (2009 est.)
Rank: 13

Exports: $157.7 billion (2009 est.)
Rank: 25
Commodities: electronic equipment petroleum and liquefied natural gas wood and wood products palm oil rubber textiles chemicals
Partners: Singapore 13.4% China 12.6% Japan 10.4% US 9.5% Thailand 5.3% Hong Kong 5.1% (2010 est.)

Imports: $117.4 billion (2009 est.)
Rank: 27
Commodities: electronics machinery petroleum products plastics vehicles iron and steel products chemicals
Partners: China 12.6% Japan 12.6% Singapore 11.4% US 10.7% Thailand 6.2% Indonesia 5.6% (2010 est.)

Reserves of foreign exchange and gold: $96.71 billion (31 December 2009 est.)
Rank: 19

Debt external: $70.18 billion (31 December 2010 est.)
Rank: 47

Stock of direct foreign investment at home: $74.64 billion (31 December 2009 est.)
Rank: 44

Stock of direct foreign investment abroad: $75.62 billion (31 December 2009 est.)
Rank: 27

Exchange rates:

Electricity
Production: 101.1 billion kWh (2009 est.)
Production rank: 32
Consumption: 93.8 billion kWh (2009 est.)
Consumption rank: 31
Exports: 91.7 million kWh (2009 est.)
Imports: 0 kWh (2009 est.)

Natural gas
Production: 58.6 billion m³ (2009 est.)
Production rank: 16
Consumption: 29.07 billion m³ (2009 est.)
Consumption rank: 28
Exports: 30.79 billion m³ (2009 est.)
Exports rank: 9
Imports: 1.269 billion m³ (2009 est.)
Imports rank: 55
Proven reserves: 2.35 trillion m³ (1 January 2011 est.)
Proven reserves rank: 16

Telephones
Main lines in use: 4.573 million (2010)
Main lines in use rank: 33
Mobile cellular: 34.456 million (2010)
Mobile cellular rank: 30

Telephone system
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 135 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) (2008)

Broadcast media: state-owned television 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; large number of private commercial radio broadcasters and some subscription satellite radio services are available; about 400 radio stations overall (2008)

Internet
Country code: .my
Hosts: 344,452 (2010)
Hosts rank: 56
Users: 15.355 million (2009)
Users rank: 26

Military expenditures: 2.03% of GDP (2005 est.)
Rank: 69

Military service age and obligation: 18 years of age for voluntary military service (2005)

Airports: 118 (2010)
Rank: 50
With paved runways total: 38
With paved runways over 3047 m: 7
With paved runways 2438 to 3047 m: 10
With paved runways 15-24 to 2437 m: 6
With paved runways 914 to 1523 m: 8
With paved runways under 914 m: 7 (2010)
With unpaved runways total: 80
With unpaved runways 914 to 1523 m: 7
With unpaved runways under 914 m: 73 (2010)

Heliports: 3 (2010)

Pipelines: condensate 3 km; gas 1757 km; liquid petroleum gas 155 km; oil 30 km; refined products 114 km (2010)

Railways
Total: 1849 km
Rank: 75
Standard gauge: 57 km 1.435-m gauge (57 km electrified)
Narrow gauge: 1792 km 1.000-m gauge (150 km electrified) (2010)

Roadways
Total: 98,721 km
Rank: 43
Paved: 80,280 km (includes 1821 km of expressways)
Unpaved: 18,441 km (2004)

Waterways: 7,200 km (Peninsular Malaysia 3,200 km; Sabah 1500 km; Sarawak 2,500 km) (2011)
Rank: 20

Merchant marine
Total: 321
Rank: 30
By type: bulk carrier 9 cargo 97 carrier 2 chemical tanker 45 container 44 liquefied gas 35 passenger/cargo 4 petroleum tanker 79 roll on/roll off 2 vehicle carrier 4
Foreign owned: 35 (Denmark 1 Hong Kong 8 Japan 4 Nigeria 1 Russia 2 Singapore 19)
Registered in other countries: 79 (Bahamas 13 India 1 Indonesia 1 Malta 1 Marshall Islands 11 Panama 12 Papua New Guinea 1 Philippines 1 Saint Kitts and Nevis 1 Sierra Leone 1 Singapore 27 Thailand 3 Tuvalu 1 US 2 unknown 3) (2010)

Ports and terminals: Bintulu Johor Bahru George Town (Penang) Port Kelang (Port Klang) Tanjung Pelepas

Disputes international: 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 awards sovereignty of Pedra Branca (Pulau Batu Puteh/Horsburgh Island) to Singapore and Middle Rocks to Malaysia but does not rule on maritime regimes boundaries or disposition of South Ledge; ICJ awarded Ligitan and Sipadan islands also claimed by Indonesia and Philippines to Malaysia but left maritime boundary and sovereignty of Unarang rock in the hydrocarbon-rich Celebes Sea in dispute; 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 and internally displaced persons
Refugees: 15,174 (Indonesia); 21,544 (Burma) (2007)

Illicit drugs: drug trafficking prosecuted vigorously and carries severe penalties; 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