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The People of Malaysia
There are
about 21 million (July
1997) people in Malaysia from diverse
backgrounds/races. It can be said that in diversity there is unity because in
Malaysia all the races, ethnic Malays and indigenous people (sons of the soil), as well as Chinese, Indians,
Eurasians and many others work and live together.
Although
the overall population density was estimated at about 62 people per sq km, this
number is deceptive due to an unequal population distribution. East
Malaysia is much less populated (about seven times less) than West
Malaysia. The migration rate from rural to urban areas is very high due to
low urban unemployment, with urban areas containing over half the total
population. Immigrants to Malaysia are attracted by the low unemployment
rates, as well, particularly those from Indonesia, Pakistan, Bangladesh, and the
Philippines.
Malaysians
are warm and welcoming to visitors from other lands and enjoy conversing.
They have tremendous charm and are renowned for their hospitality and
exceptional friendliness.
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Population:
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28,274,729
(July 2010 est.)
country
comparison to the world:
43 |
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Age
structure:
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0-14
years: 31.4%
(male 4,153,621/female 3,914,962)
15-64
years: 63.6%
(male 8,210,373/female 8,143,043)
65
years and over: 5%
(male 569,245/female 724,575) (2010 est.)
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Median
age:
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total:
26.5
years
male: 26.4
years
female:
26.7
years (2010 est.)
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Population
growth rate:
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1.609%
(2010 est.)
country
comparison to the world:
76 |
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Birth
rate:
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21.41
births/1,000 population (2010 est.)
country
comparison to the world:
84 |
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Death
rate:
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4.92
deaths/1,000 population (July 2010 est.)
country
comparison to the world:
190 |
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Net
migration rate:
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-0.4
migrant(s)/1,000 population
country
comparison to the world:
139
note:
does
not reflect net flow of an unknown number of
illegal immigrants from other countries in the
region (2009 est.)
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Urbanization:
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urban
population: 70%
of total population (2008)
rate
of urbanization: 3%
annual rate of change (2005-10 est.)
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Sex
ratio:
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at
birth: 1.069
male(s)/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 (2010 est.)
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Infant
mortality rate:
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total:
15.5
deaths/1,000 live births
country
comparison to the world:
121
male: 17.92
deaths/1,000 live births
female:
12.91
deaths/1,000 live births (2010 est.)
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Life
expectancy at birth:
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total
population: 73.55
years
country
comparison to the world:
112
male: 70.81
years
female:
76.48
years (2010 est.)
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Total
fertility rate:
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2.7
children born/woman (2010 est.)
country
comparison to the world:
78 |
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HIV/AIDS
- adult prevalence rate:
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0.5%
(2007 est.)
country
comparison to the world:
77 |
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HIV/AIDS
- people living with HIV/AIDS:
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80,000
(2007 est.)
country
comparison to the world:
50 |
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HIV/AIDS
- deaths:
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3,900
(2007 est.)
country
comparison to the world:
52 |
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Major
infectious diseases:
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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
risk with extremely rare cases possible among US
citizens who have close contact with birds (2009)
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Nationality:
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noun: Malaysian(s)
adjective:
Malaysian
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Ethnic
groups:
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Malay
50.4%, Chinese 23.7%, indigenous 11%, Indian 7.1%,
others 7.8% (2004 est.)
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Religions:
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Muslim
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)
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Languages:
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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
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Literacy:
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definition:
age
15 and over can read and write
total
population: 88.7%
male: 92%
female:
85.4%
(2000 census)
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School
life expectancy (primary to tertiary education):
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total:
13
years
male: 12
years
female:
13
years (2007)
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Education
expenditures:
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4.5%
of GDP (2007)
country
comparison to the world:
90
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