What is the capital of Malaysia?

Kuala Lumpur is the federal capital and largest city of Malaysia. It serves as the country's commercial and financial hub. The administrative capital, however, is Putrajaya, where most government ministries and agencies are based.

What currency does Malaysia use?

Malaysia uses the Malaysian Ringgit (MYR), symbol RM. It is managed by Bank Negara Malaysia, the country's central bank. The ringgit is subdivided into 100 sen.

What time zone is Malaysia in?

Malaysia Standard Time (MYT) is UTC+8. Both Peninsular Malaysia and East Malaysia (Sabah and Sarawak on Borneo) use the same time zone. Malaysia does not observe daylight saving time.

What is Malaysia's international calling code?

Malaysia's country calling code is +60. When dialing from abroad, dial your country's exit code, then 60, followed by the local Malaysian number. Kuala Lumpur's area code is 3.

What languages are spoken in Malaysia?

The official language is Bahasa Malaysia (Malay). English is widely spoken in business and education. Other commonly spoken languages include Mandarin Chinese, Tamil, and various indigenous languages in Sabah and Sarawak.

What is Malaysia's population?

As of 2024, Malaysia's population is approximately 33 million. The population is ethnically diverse, comprising Malay (~69%), Chinese (~23%), Indian (~7%), and other groups including indigenous peoples.

What type of government does Malaysia have?

Malaysia is a federal constitutional monarchy. The head of state is the Yang di-Pertuan Agong (King), elected every five years from among the nine hereditary Malay state rulers. The head of government is the Prime Minister.

Malaysia Country Facts

Name: Malaysia Country Facts
Availability: InStock
Author: Nham Vu

Instantly browse key facts about Malaysia — geography, demographics, economy, and government — all in one organized reference card.

Official Name

Malaysia

Federal Capital

Kuala Lumpur

Administrative capital: Putrajaya

Total Area

329,847 km²

127,355 sq mi — 66th largest country

Continent / Region

Southeast Asia

Malay Peninsula and northern Borneo

Time Zone

MYT — UTC+8

Malaysia Standard Time — no DST observed

Bordering Countries

Thailand, Indonesia, Brunei

Also shares maritime borders with Singapore and the Philippines

Highest Point

Mount Kinabalu — 4,095 m

Located in Sabah, Borneo; UNESCO World Heritage Site

Population (2024)

~33 million

44th most populous country

Official Language

Bahasa Malaysia (Malay)

English widely used in business and education

Ethnic Groups

Malay ~69%, Chinese ~23%

Indian ~7%, indigenous and other groups ~1%

Calling Code

+60

ISO 3166-1: MY / MYS

Religions

Islam ~63%, Buddhism ~19%

Christianity ~9%, Hinduism ~6%, others ~3%

Life Expectancy

~76 years (2023)

Male ~74, female ~78

Government Type

Federal constitutional monarchy

Parliamentary democracy with elected Prime Minister

Head of State (King)

Sultan Ibrahim

Yang di-Pertuan Agong since January 31, 2024

Prime Minister

Anwar Ibrahim

In office since November 24, 2022

Independence

August 31, 1957

From British rule; Malaysia Day: September 16, 1963

Administrative Divisions

13 states, 3 federal territories

FTs: Kuala Lumpur, Putrajaya, Labuan

Currency

Malaysian Ringgit (MYR, RM)

Issued by Bank Negara Malaysia

Nominal GDP (2023)

~USD 407 billion

Rank ~36th globally (IMF estimate)

GDP per Capita (2023)

~USD 12,400

Upper-middle income country (World Bank)

Top Industries

Electronics, petroleum, palm oil

Also: rubber, tourism, automotive, manufacturing

National Oil Company

Petronas

Owns the Petronas Twin Towers in Kuala Lumpur

Internet TLD

.my

Also: .com.my, .edu.my, .gov.my, .org.my

National Day

Hari Merdeka — August 31

Malaysia Day also celebrated on September 16

ISO Codes

MY / MYS

ISO 3166-1 alpha-2 and alpha-3

Drives On

Left side of the road

Steering wheel on the right (British legacy)

Known For

Petronas Towers, Batu Caves, Langkawi

Nasi lemak, ancient rainforests, diverse cultures

National Dish

Nasi Lemak

Coconut rice with sambal, anchovies, egg, and peanuts

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Summary

Instantly browse key facts about Malaysia — geography, demographics, economy, and government — all in one organized reference card.

How it works

All facts are organized into thematic sections: Geography, People, Government, Economy, and Culture.
Use the search box to filter facts by keyword across all categories.
Click any fact card to copy the value to your clipboard.
Switch between categories using the tab bar to focus on a specific section.
All data is embedded in the page — no network requests are made.

Use cases

Quick lookup for students doing geography or social studies homework.
Travelers preparing for a trip who need currency, time zone, and calling code info.
Business professionals researching Malaysia's economy and key industries.
Journalists or writers needing accurate demographic and political facts.
Trivia enthusiasts brushing up on Malaysia country statistics.
Teachers preparing classroom materials about Southeast Asian nations.
Researchers studying Malaysia's multicultural society and federal structure.
Anyone curious about Malaysia's history, landmarks, and cultural diversity.

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Last updated: 2026-06-24 · Reviewed by Nham Vu