Total area: 329,750 sq km (127,316 sq mi)
Population (2010 est.): 26,160,256
Capital and largest city (2003 est.): Kuala Lumpur - 3,688,200 (metro. area)
Other large cities: Kelang - 683,200; Johor Bharu - 682,100
Currency: Ringgit
Languages: Bahasa Melayu (Malay, official), English, Chinese dialects (Cantonese, Mandarin, Hokkien, Hakka, Hainan, Foochow), Tamil, Telugu, Malayalam, Panjabi, Thai; several indigenous languages (including Iban, Kadazan) in East Malaysia
Ethnicity: Malay 50.4%, Chinese 23.7%, Indigenous 11%, Indian 7.1%, others 7.8% (2004 est.)
Religions: Muslim, Buddhist, Daoist, Hindu, Christian, Sikh; Shamanism (East Malaysia)
Time zone: GMT+8; Daylight Saving Time is not observed
Electricity: AC 240V/50Hz; the British three-pin rectangular blade plug is used
Kuala Lumpur at night |
Malaysia is a country in central Southeast Asia, bordering
Thailand in the north,
Singapore to the south and
Indonesia to the south and west. The country has also maritime boundaries with
Vietnam and the
Philippines. Malaysia's territory comprises Peninsular Malaysia and the states of Sabah and Sarawak on the north coast of the island of Borneo, 650 to 950km (404 to 600 mi) across the South
China Sea.
The terrain of Peninsular Malaysia features forested mountain ranges running north-south with low-lying coastal plains on both of its sides. The west coast is covered mostly by mangrove swamps and mudflats while the east coast comprises tranquil beaches backed by dense jungle.
The total length of the Peninsular Malaysia's coastline is about 1,900 km (1,200 mi).
Malaysia's major islands are Langkawi (a group of 99 islands), Penang and Pangkor off the west coast and Tioman, Redang, Kapas, Perhentian and Rawa off the east coast.
The terrain of Malaysian Borneo features swampy coastal plains in Sarawak and narrow coastal plain followed by mountains and jungle in Sabah state. Sabah is home to the highest peak in Malaysia, Mount Kinabalu at 4,094m (13,432ft).
