Who are the rakyat?
Malaysia's population, ethnic make-up and age structure
Malaysia is home to 34.2 million people. Bumiputera make up 63.6% of the population, Chinese 20.0% and Indians 5.9%, with non-citizens about 9.9%. Selangor is the most populous state (7.2M), and the country has just crossed into an 'ageing society', 8.0% are now 65 or older.
Malaysia's age structure
The population by 5-year age band (2025). The base is narrowing, fewer children, while the top is slowly growing as Malaysia ages.
Who lives here, by ethnic group
Malaysia's population by ethnic group (2025). Bumiputera (Malays plus other indigenous peoples) are the majority.
Where Malaysians live, by state
Population by state (2023). Selangor alone holds more than 1 in 5 Malaysians.
What it means
- Malaysia has 34.2 million people. Selangor alone is home to 7.2M, more than 1 in 5 Malaysians.
- By ethnicity: Bumiputera 63.6%, Chinese 20.0%, Indian 5.9% of the population; non-citizens are about 9.9%.
- Malaysia has crossed into an 'ageing society', 8.0% are aged 65+, while the under-15 share has slipped to 21.6%.
- The biggest single age group is 20–24, a large young-adult cohort, but the pyramid is narrowing at the base as birth rates fall.
- Publisher
- Department of Statistics Malaysia (DOSM) · Government, national statistics office
- Document
- Current Population Estimates, Malaysia
- Published
- 2025
- Source link
- https://open.dosm.gov.my/dashboard/population
- Retrieved
- 2026-06-30
- Coverage
- Population total, ethnic composition and age structure are 2025 estimates; state breakdown is the 2023 estimate. Figures in millions of people. Shares are of the total population (citizens and non-citizens).
Frequently asked
What is the population of Malaysia?
Malaysia's population is about 34.2 million (2025 estimate), according to the Department of Statistics Malaysia (DOSM).
What is the ethnic composition of Malaysia?
Of the total population (2025): Bumiputera 63.6%, Chinese 20.0%, Indian 5.9%, with non-citizens about 9.9% and other citizens the remainder.
Which is the most populous state in Malaysia?
Selangor, with about 7.2 million people, followed by Johor (4.1M) and Sabah (3.6M).
Malaysia, decoded monthly
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