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Malaysia lies in Southeast Asia on a peninsula near Thailand, Cambodia and Indonesia. It also occupies the northern portion of the island of Borneo. The country lies near the equator and has a warm, wet climate. During monsoon season, heavy rains flood the countryside.

Unlike many of its neighboring countries that rely heavily on farming, Malaysia produces electronics and technology. The country has a goal to become the Silicon Valley of Asia. Malaysia was ruled by Great Britain for many years. During this time, people from China and India moved to Malaysia to work. Today, the country has a diverse culture, although most people are Muslim.

Fun Facts About Malaysia for Kids

26,121,000 people live in Malaysia.

Malaysia has 127,355 square miles of land.

People speak Bahasa Melayu, English, Chinese and other dialects.

Most people are Muslim. You'll also find Buddhist, Christian, Daoist, Hindu, Shikh and Shamanist religions in Malaysia.

Malaysia is wealthier than most countries in this region.

People in Malaysia can expect to live 73 years.

89 percent of adults can read.

Malaysia Vocabulary

All About Malaysia Video for Kids

Here's a great video for kids on Malaysia:

Malaysia Q&A:

Question: Can Americans travel to Malaysia?

Answer: People like to go to Malaysia and other countries in Asia because of the beautiful beaches, friendly people and delicious food. Malaysia is among the safer, more comfortable countries to visit.

Map of Malaysia

Here's a map of the country of Malaysia and all its cities and villages. Zoom in to get into street level or zoom out to see other countries around Malaysia! You can see the terrain, but also see the roads, images of the buildings and even take a 3D tour through the streets of the cities of Malaysia, as though you are actually there!

Enjoyed the Easy Earth Science for Kids all about Malaysia info? Take the FREE & fun all about Malaysia quiz and download FREE all about Malaysia worksheet for kids. For lengthy info click here.

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Malaysia lies in Southeast Asia on a peninsula near Thailand, Cambodia and Indonesia. It also occupies the northern portion of the island of Borneo. The country lies near the equator and has a warm, wet climate. During monsoon season, heavy rains flood the countryside.

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The country of Malaysia is a part of Southeast Asia. Malaysia consists of two areas of land that are about 400 miles (650 kilometers) apart. Kuala Lumpur is the capital and…

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Malaysia is a country in Southeast Asia. It is a federation which has 13 states. It is divided into two parts by the South China Sea. Its mainland is on the Malay Peninsula. It faces the Straits of Malacca on its west coast and the South China Sea on its east coast. The other part of this country, sometimes known as East Malaysia, is on the northern part of the island of Borneo in the South China Sea. Kuala Lumpur on the Malay Peninsula is its capital. The federal capital was recently moved to Putrajaya, a newly created city exclusively designed for administration.

The country is multi-ethnic and multi-cultural, with most people being Malay, but there are also Chinese and Indians. Its official language is Malay written in the Latin alphabet. English is a recognised language. Tamil and Chinese are also often used. There are over 130 other languages spoken in Malaysia, with 94 in Malaysian Borneo and 40 on the peninsula. Islam is the official religion, but non-Malay citizens have the freedom to practice other religions.

Between China and India, Malaysia was an ancient trading place. When Europeans came to this area, Malacca became an important trade port.

The states of Malaysia became a colony of the British Empire, starting with Penang in 1786. The peninsular part became independent on 31 August 1957 as the Federation of Malaya. In 1963, Malaya, Singapore and the Borneo part joined together to become Malaysia. In 1965, Singapore was expelled from the federation and declared independence.

Malaysia is the 66th largest country by total land area, with a land area of 329,613 km ² (127,264 sq mi). It has land borders with Thailand in West Malaysia, and Indonesia and Brunei in East Malaysia. It is linked to Singapore by a narrow causeway and a bridge. The country also has maritime boundaries with Vietnam and the Philippines. The land borders are defined in large part by geological features such as the Perlis River, the Golok River and the Pagalayan Canal, whilst some of the maritime boundaries are the subject of ongoing contention. Brunei forms what is almost an enclave in Malaysia, with the state of Sarawak dividing it into two parts. Malaysia is the only country with territory on both the Asian mainland and the Malay archipelago. Tanjung Piai, located in the southern state of Johor, is the southernmost tip of continental Asia. The Strait of Malacca, lying between Sumatra and Peninsular Malaysia, is one of the most important thoroughfares in global commerce, carrying 40 per cent of the world's trade.

The two parts of Malaysia, separated from each other by the South China Sea, share a largely similar landscape in that both Peninsular and East Malaysia feature coastal plains rising to hills and mountains. Peninsular Malaysia, containing 40 per cent of Malaysia's land area, extends 740 km (460 mi) from north to south, and its maximum width is 322 km (200 mi). It is divided between its east and west coasts by the Titiwangsa Mountains, rising to a peak elevation of 2,183 metres (7,162 ft) at Mount Korbu, part of a series of mountain ranges running down the centre of the peninsula. These mountains are heavily forested, and mainly composed of granite and other igneous rocks. Much of it has been eroded, creating a karst landscape. The range is the origin of some of Peninsular Malaysia's river systems. The coastal plains surrounding the peninsula reach a maximum width of 50 kilometres (31 mi), and the peninsula's coastline is nearly 1,931 km (1,200 mi) long, although harbours are only available on the western side.

East Malaysia, on the island of Borneo, has a coastline of 2,607 km (1,620 mi). It is divided between coastal regions, hills and valleys, and a mountainous interior. The Crocker Range extends northwards from Sarawak, dividing the state of Sabah. It is the location of the 4,095 m (13,435 ft) high Mount Kinabalu, the tallest mountain in Malaysia. Mount Kinabalu is located in the Kinabalu National Park, which is protected as one of the four UNESCO World Heritage Sites in Malaysia. The highest mountain ranges form the border between Malaysia and Indonesia. Sarawak contains the Mulu Caves, the largest cave system in the world, in the Gunung Mulu National Park which is also a World Heritage Site.

Around these two halves of Malaysia are numerous islands, the largest of which is Banggi. The local climate is equatorial and characterised by the annual southwest (April to October) and northeast (October to February) monsoons. The temperature is moderated by the presence of the surrounding oceans. Humidity is usually high, and the average annual rainfall is 250 cm (98 in). The climates of the Peninsula and the East differ, as the climate on the peninsula is directly affected by wind from the mainland, as opposed to the more maritime weather of the East. Local climates can be divided into three regions, highland, lowland, and coastal. Climate change is likely to affect sea levels and rainfall, increasing flood risks and leading to droughts.

Biodiversity

Malaysia signed the Rio Convention on Biological Diversity on 12 June 1993, and became a party to the convention on 24 June 1994. It has subsequently produced a National Biodiversity Strategy and Action Plan, which was received by the convention on 16 April 1998. The country is megadiverse with a high number of species and high levels of endemism. It is estimated to contain 20 per cent of the world's animal species. High levels of endemism are found on the diverse forests of Borneo's mountains, as species are isolated from each other by lowland forest. There are about 210 mammal species in the country. Over 620 species of birds have been recorded in Peninsular Malaysia, with many endemic to the mountains there. A high number of endemic bird species are also found in Malaysian Borneo. 250 reptile species have been recorded in the country, with about 150 species of snakes and 80 species of lizards. There are about 150 species of frogs, and thousands of insect species. Malaysia's exclusive economic zone is 1.5 times larger than its land area, and some of its waters are in the Coral Triangle, a biodiversity hotspot. The waters around Sipadan island are the most biodiverse in the world. Bordering East Malaysia, the Sulu Sea is a biodiversity hotspot, with around 600 coral species and 1200 fish species. The unique biodiversity of Malaysian Caves always attracts lovers of ecotourism from all over the world.

Nearly 4,000 species of fungi, including lichen-forming species have been recorded from Malaysia. Of the two fungal groups with the largest number of species in Malaysia, the Ascomycota and their asexual states have been surveyed in some habitats (decaying wood, marine and freshwater ecosystems, as parasites of some plants, and as agents of biodegradation), but have not been or have been only poorly surveyed in other habitats (as endobionts, in soils, on dung, as human and animal pathogens); the Basidiomycota are only partly surveyed: bracket fungi, and mushrooms and toadstools have been studied, but Malaysian rust and smut fungi remain very poorly known. Without doubt, many more fungal species in Malaysia have not yet been recorded, and it is likely that many of those, when found, will be new to science.

About two thirds of Malaysia was covered in forest as of 2007, with some forests believed to be 130 million years old. The forests are dominated by dipterocarps. Lowland forest covers areas below 760 m (2,490 ft), and formerly East Malaysia was covered in such rainforest, which is supported by its hot wet climate.

There are around 14,500 species of flowering plants and trees. Besides rainforests, there are over 1,425 km ² (550 sq mi) of mangroves in Malaysia, and a large amount of peat forest. At higher altitudes, oaks, chestnuts, and rhododendrons replace dipterocarps. There are an estimated 8,500 species of vascular plants in Peninsular Malaysia, with another 15,000 in the East. The forests of East Malaysia are estimated to be the habitat of around 2,000 tree species, and are one of the most biodiverse areas in the world, with 240 different species of trees every hectare. These forests host many members of the Rafflesia genus, the largest flowers in the world, with a maximum diameter of 1 m (3 ft 3 in).

Malaysia is a relatively open state-oriented and newly industrialised market economy.

In the 1970s, the predominantly mining and agricultural-based economy began a transition towards a more multi-sector economy. Since the 1980s, the industrial sector, with a high level of investment, has led the country's growth.

International trade, facilitated by the shipping route in adjacent Strait of Malacca, and manufacturing are the key sectors. Malaysia is an exporter of natural and agricultural resources, and petroleum is a major export. Malaysia has once been the largest producer of tin, rubber and palm oil in the world. Manufacturing has a large influence in the country's economy, although Malaysia's economic structure has been moving away from it. Malaysia remains one of the world's largest producers of palm oil.

In an effort to diversify the economy and make it less dependent on export goods, the government has pushed to increase tourism to Malaysia. As a result, tourism has become Malaysia's third largest source of foreign exchange, although it is threatened by the negative effects of the growing industrial economy, with large amounts of air and water pollution along with deforestation affecting tourism.

The country is one of the world's largest exporters of semiconductor devices, electrical devices, and IT and communication products. Malaysia began developing its own space programme in 2002, and in 2006, Russia agreed to transport one Malaysian to the International Space Station as part of a multibillion-dollar purchase of 18 Russian Sukhoi Su-30MKM fighter jets by the Royal Malaysian Air Force. The government has invested in building satellites in through the RazakSAT programme.

Politics and economy

Malaysia has 13 states, which are Johor, Kedah, Kelantan, Melaka, Negeri Sembilan, Pahang, Perak, Perlis, Penang, Sabah, Sarawak, Selangor and Terengganu, and three federal territories, Kuala Lumpur, Putrajaya and Labuan. The number of points of the star on the flag represents the number of states Malaysia has, but it has 14 because Singapore was one of the states in Malaysia during its creation. The 14th point now represents the federal territories, called Wilayah Persekutuan. The head of state of Malaysia is known as the Yang di-Pertuan Agong, otherwise called the "King of Malaysia". That title is currently held by Sultan Abdullah of Pahang. Malaysia's head of government is the Prime Minister. Its current prime minister is Mahathir Mohamad, upon being elected in May 2018 at age 92. It also has a parliament and a court system. It is a founding member of ASEAN. Its economy is steadily growing and it is a relatively rich country in Southeast Asia.

The following is a list of places in Malaysia. They are in order by the date they were given city status.

Malaysia is a multi-religious society, and Islam is the country's official religion. According to government census figures in 2009, the four main religions are Islam (55.4% of the people), Buddhism (27.2%), Christianity (9.1%, mostly in East Malaysia, i.e., Borneo), and Hinduism (10.8%).

Malaysia has a multi-ethnic, multicultural, and multilingual society. The original culture of the area stemmed from indigenous tribes that inhabited it, along with the Malays who later moved there. Substantial influence exists from Chinese and Indian culture, dating back to when foreign trade began. Other cultural influences include the Persian, Arabic, and British cultures. Due to the structure of the government, coupled with the social contract theory, there has been minimal cultural assimilation of ethnic minorities.

Traditional Malaysian art was mainly centred on the areas of carving, weaving, and silversmithing. Traditional art ranges from handwoven baskets from rural areas to the silverwork of the Malay courts. Common artworks included ornamental kris, beetle nut sets, and woven batik and songket fabrics. Indigenous East Malaysians are known for their wooden masks. Each ethnic group have distinct performing arts, with little overlap between them. However, Malay art does show some North Indian influence due to the historical influence of India.

Traditional Malay music and performing arts appear to have originated in the Kelantan-Pattani region with influences from India, China, Thailand and Indonesia. The music is based around percussion instruments, the most important of which is the gendang (drum). There are at least 14 types of traditional drums. Drums and other traditional percussion instruments and are often made from natural materials. Music is traditionally used for storytelling, celebrating life-cycle events, and occasions such as a harvest. It was once used as a form of long-distance communication. In East Malaysia, gong-based musical ensembles such as agung and kulintang are commonly used in ceremonies such as funerals and weddings. These ensembles are also common in neighbouring regions such as in Mindanao in the Philippines, Kalimantan in Indonesia, and Brunei.

Malaysia has a strong oral tradition that has existed since before the arrival of writing, and continues today. Each of the Malay Sultanates created their own literary tradition, influenced by pre-existing oral stories and by the stories that came with Islam. The first Malay literature was in the Arabic script. The earliest known Malay writing is on the Terengganu stone, made in 1303. Chinese and Indian literature became common as the numbers of speakers increased in Malaysia, and locally produced works based in languages from those areas began to be produced in the 19th century. English has also become a common literary language. In 1971, the government took the step of defining the literature of different languages. Literature written in Malay was called "the national literature of Malaysia", literature in other bumiputera languages was called "regional literature", while literature in other languages was called "sectional literature". Malay poetry is highly developed, and uses many forms. The Hikayat form is popular, and the pantun has spread from Malay to other languages.

Malaysia's cuisine reflects the multi-ethnic makeup of its population. Many cultures from within the country and from surrounding regions have greatly influenced the cuisine. Much of the influence comes from the Malay, Chinese, Indian, Thai, Javanese, and Sumatran cultures, largely due to the country being part of the ancient spice route. The cuisine is very similar to that of Singapore and Brunei, and also bears resemblance to Filipino cuisine. The different states have varied dishes, and often the food in Malaysia is different from the original dishes.

Sometimes food not found in its original culture is assimilated into another; for example, Chinese restaurants in Malaysia often serve Malay dishes. Food from one culture is sometimes also cooked using styles taken from another culture, For example, sambal belacan ( shrimp paste) are commonly used as ingredients by Chinese restaurants to create the stir fried water spinach ( kangkung belacan). This means that although much of Malaysian food can be traced back to a certain culture, they have their own identity. Rice is popular in many dishes. Chili is commonly found in local cuisine, although this does not necessarily make them spicy.

Holidays and festivals

Malaysians observe a number of holidays and festivities throughout the year. Some are federally gazetted public holidays and some are observed by individual states. Other festivals are observed by particular ethnic or religion groups, and the main holiday of each major group has been declared a public holiday. The most observed national holiday is Hari Merdeka (Independence Day) on 31 August, commemorating the independence of the Federation of Malaya in 1957. Malaysia Day on 16 September commemorates federation in 1963. Other notable national holidays are Labour Day (1 May) and the King's birthday (first week of June).

Muslim holidays are prominent as Islam is the state religion; Hari Raya Puasa (also called Hari Raya Aidilfitri, Malay for Eid al-Fitr), Hari Raya Haji (also called Hari Raya Aidiladha, Malay for Eid ul-Adha), Maulidur Rasul (birthday of the Prophet), and others being observed. Malaysian Chinese celebrate festivals such as Chinese New Year and others relating to traditional Chinese beliefs. Hindus in Malaysia celebrate , the festival of lights, while Thaipusam is a religious rite which sees pilgrims from all over the country converge at the Batu Caves. Malaysia's Christian community celebrates most of the holidays observed by Christians elsewhere, most notably Christmas and Easter. In addition to this, the Dayak community in Sarawak celebrate a harvest festival known as Gawai, and the Kadazandusun community celebrate . Despite most festivals being identified with a particular ethnic or religious group, celebrations are universal. In a custom known as "open house" Malaysians participate in the celebrations of others, often visiting the houses of those who identify with the festival.

Malaysia's national sports centre is the Bukit Jalil Sports Complex. Nicol David (squash) and Lee Chong Wei (badminton) are notable athletes from Malaysia. Malaysia won 12 gold medals in the Commonwealth Games 2010 in India, and broke their Commonwealth Games target.

Malaysia's road network covers 98,721 kilometres (61,342 mi) and includes 1,821 kilometres (1,132 mi) of expressways. The longest highway of the country, the North-South Expressway, extends over 800 kilometres (497 mi) between the Thai border and Singapore. The road systems in Sabah and Sarawak are less developed and of lower quality in comparison to that of Peninsular Malaysia. Malaysia has 118 airports, of which 38 are paved. The official airline of Malaysia is Malaysia Airlines, providing international and domestic air service alongside two other carriers. The railway system is state-run, and covers a total of 1,849 kilometres (1,149 mi). There are also Light Rail Transit in Kuala Lumpur.

Related pages

Images for kids

In Spanish: Malasia para niños

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Malaysia's tropical rainforests are home to several endangered species, including Malayan tigers such as this one.

OFFICIAL NAME: Malaysia

FORM OF GOVERNMENT: Federal constitutional monarchy

CAPITAL: Kuala Lumpur

POPULATION: 32,400,000

OFFICIAL LANGUAGES: Malay

MONEY: Ringgit

AREA: 127,355 square miles (329,847 square kilometers)

MAJOR MOUNTAIN RANGES: Main, Crocker, Bintang, Hose, Iran

MAJOR RIVERS: Rajang, Sugut, Pahang, Klang

The country of Malaysia is two separate areas of land known as Peninsular Malaysia and East Malaysia. The two regions are separated by the South China Sea by about 400 miles. Combined, they'd be roughly the size of the state of New Mexico.

Peninsular Malaysia is on the tip of the Malay Peninsula, a long, thin landmass that snakes south from the country of Thailand toward the South China Sea. East Malaysia stretches across northern Borneo, an island Malaysia shares with the country of Indonesia.

Malaysia's capital, Kuala Lumpur, is located on the west side of Peninsular Malaysia, closer to the Indonesian island of Sumatra than to East Malaysia. East Malaysia is home to Mount Kinabalu, the country's highest point, which has an elevation of 13,455 feet (4,101 meters).

Malaysia shares borders with the Thailand to the north and Indonesia and the island of Singapore to the south. Singapore is separated from Malaysia by a bridge.

Malaysia is blanketed by tropical rainforests. Large rivers, fed by nearly 10 feet of rain (about three meters) a year, flow from the country's highlands and empty into warm tropical seas. Combined, these three ecosystems-forest, river, and marine -make Malaysia one of the world's 17 mega-diverse countries. (A mega-diverse country is one that's home to a majority of Earth's species and has a high number of endemic species, or species found only in one location on the planet.)

Malaysia's tropical rainforests are also home to several endangered species, including Sumatran rhinoceroses, pygmy elephants, and Bornean orangutans in East Malaysia. Malayan tigers and Indochinese leopards prowl the Malay Peninsula. In the South China Sea, several sea turtle species-including the olive ridley, hawksbill, green, and leatherback sea turtles -swim in the warm waters.

Malaysia has several vast nature reserves and national parks throughout the country. Taman Negara National Park, established in 1939, is the country's oldest national park. Located on the Malay Peninsula, Taman Negara protects one of the world's oldest rainforests, estimated to be more than 130 million years old-and was once home to dinosaurs.
Malayan tiger photograph by Mark Newman, FLPA / Minden Pictures

GOVERNMENT AND ECONOMY

Malaysia is a federal constitutional monarchy that consists of 13 states and three federal territories, which include the capital city region of Kuala Lumpur, the administrative capital of Putrajaya, and the island of Labuan off the coast of East Malaysia.

Malaysia's monarch is a ceremonial head of state referred to as Yang di-Pertuan Agong, or "paramount ruler." The federal government, which governs all of Malaysia, includes a Senate (the Dewan Negara), a House of Representatives (the Dewan Rakyat), and a prime minister appointed by the Yang di-Pertuan Agong.

Before the late 20th century, rubber and tin exports drove Malaysia's economy. Natural resources still remain an important part of the economy-especially rubber and palm oil- but the country also has a strong manufacturing industry, as well as growing financial and banking services.

Little is known about Malaysia's prehistory, or the period of time before the invention of writing. The first known Malay kingdoms appeared around the year A.D. 200, when Indian traders introduced the South Asian concepts of religion, government, and art to Malay natives. These kingdoms remained relatively small, however, because the Malaysian terrain couldn't support widespread agriculture. Instead, Malays were known for their ocean navigation and shipping skills.

The modern Malay culture began to develop during the 15th century, when Islam arrived to the country. During this time, the port of Melaka grew to become one of the world's great port cities. When the Portuguese sailed into Melaka in the 16th century, they became the first Europeans to arrive in Malaysia.

In 1786, Great Britain bought Malaysia's Penang island in an attempt to increase trade with China. Over the next century, British influence in Malaysia grew, and by 1915, Great Britain had acquired several additional Malaysian states.

During World War II, Malaysia was occupied by the Japanese from 1941 to 1945. The end of the war brought a desire for independence throughout the country, with Malays wanting to create a Bangsa Melayu, or Malay nation. British officials promised independence to the nation and began working with Malay leaders to create an independent Malaysia. On August 31, 1957, the independent Federation of Malaya was formed, with Tunku Abdul Rahman as its first prime minister.

Malaysia was recognized as a country in 1963; at the time, it included Singapore. Singapore separated from Malaysia in 1965.

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This Southeast Asian country consists of two regions separated by the South China Sea.

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Here are some interesting Malaysia facts which were chosen and researched by kids especially for kids.

Population: 32.6 million people (2022)

Capital: Kuala Lumpur with about 8 million inhabitants, the administrative capital, however, is Putrajaya with less than 100,000 inhabitants!

Name: Malaysia

Motto: 'Unity is Strength'

Government: Constitutional monarchy. Federation of 13 states and three territories. The country also has a king who is elected every five years.

Language: Malay (Bahasa Malaysia)

Religion: mainly Islam (60%). There are also Buddhists (20%), Christians (9%) and Hindu (6%)

Literacy: 93% of the population 15 years and above can read or write

History: Signs of human settlements on the Malay Peninsula date back more than 40,000 years. The first settlers arrived from China and India around the first century AD. In the 15th century Portuguese conquered port towns such as Melaka, after this the Dutch established their rule. In the late 17th century the British ruled in the area with main settlements in Melaka, Penang and Singapore. During the second world war the Japanese invaded the country and occupied the area for three years. Malaysia gained independence in 1963.

National Day: 31 August

National Symbols: Malayan tiger (national animal), hibiscus (national flower), gold and black (national colours)

National Anthem: Negaraku which means 'My Country'

Malaysia Geography

The country is located on the Asian continent, more specifically Malaysia is a country in Southeast Asia. Malaysia consists of two regions:

Peninsular Malaysia is linked to Singapore by a causeway and a bridge.

East Malaysia is on the island of Borneo and consists of two states: Sabah and Sarawak.

Malaysia has four neighbouring countries. These are:

Thailand is located to the north,

Indonesia on the island of Borneo

Brunei on the island or Borneo

and Singapore is located to the south

Malaysia is slightly larger in area than the state of New Mexico/USA or slightly larger than Norway.

Flying from London/UK to Kuala Lumpur takes around 13 hours and from New York/USA about 21 hours.

Malaysia Facts
Geo Superlatives

Malaysia has 13 states, the biggest state called 'Sarawak' and the smallest is 'Perlis'.

Malaysia has hundreds of islands along the coastline. Pulau Langkawi is the biggest island of the country. Pulau means island in Malaysian.

Malaysia's highest point is Mount Kinabalu, which is on the island of Borneo. Mount Kinabalu is 4,095 m/ 13,435 ft high.

The longest river is the Rajang river with 563 km/ 350 ft.

Malaysia's Mulu Caves on the island of Borneo are one of the largest cave systems in the world and is home to millions of bats and swiftlets.

There are four UNESCO world heritage sites in Malaysia among them the towns of Melaka, referred to as Malacca, and Penang, formerly called Georgetown. Find out more about the heritage sites here.

The Rafflesia is the world's largest and heaviest flower. The rafflesia arnoldii can grown up to 1 m/3 ft in diameter and can weigh up to 10 kg/22 lb! It is often called 'The Monster Flower' as it is so big and has a foul odour that attracts insects. The huge red flower with five petals does not have a stem, leaves or even roots, but is a parasite growing on a host vine. The Rafflesia is named after explorer Stamford Raffles and was first discovered by Joseph Arnold in 1818.

Malaysia lies close to the equator and thus has an equatorial climate with two rainy seasons. The humidity is very high.

Singapore is linked to Johor Bahru/Malaysia by a bridge or causeway that is 26 km/ 16 miles long.

Malaysia Facts
Tourist Attractions in Malaysia

Kuala Lumpur: the capital city with its historic colonial buildings and the buzzing markets, botanical gardens and the luxurious shopping malls. The famous Petronas Twin Towers provide the tourists a bird's eye view of the city. You can also visit the old railway station and the Sultan Abdul Samad building which is has a 40 m/ 131 ft high clock tower.

Borneo's Mount Kinabalu is the highest mountain in Malaysia. The two- or three-day trek up the mountain can be undertaken by adventurous families who come prepared. Read more.

Penang, also called Georgetown, is known as the food capital of Malaysia. The local Nonya cuisine, which includes Chinese and Malay cooking traditions is well worth a visit. The historic city with its British colonial buildings, Chinese shophouses and modern graffiti paintings is a must-see.
Read more about Penang as seen by our writing competition winner from 2017 here.

Langkawi: The archipelago of 99 islands is located off the Malaysian north-western coastline, close also to the southernmost region of Thailand. Only four islands of the archipelago are inhabited. The main island Pulau Langkawi is known for its cable car, skybridge and beautiful beaches.

Cameron Highlands: these lush green rolling hills with tea plantations are located on a plateau in central Malaysia, roughly 200 km/ 120 miles north of Kuala Lumpur. This is one of the favourite tourist destinations in Malaysia due to its mild and cool climate, abundant wildlife and rainforests.

Malacc a: This city is famous for their historical significance such as the ancient collections at Baba & Nyonya Heritage. Besides, The Stadthuys and A Famosa. Not forgetting their renowned Jonker Street which has wide array of stalls selling many interesting items.

Then there are the other beautiful hills and mountain resorts such as Fraser Hill and Maxwell Hill or the attractive beaches along with exotic islands like Tioman Island, Batu Ferringhi and Sipadan Island.

Malaysia Facts | Malaysia Economy

The economy in Malaysia is mainly driven by the rubber and palm oil industries, as well as petroleum and natural gas production. Agricultural products include palm oil, cocoa and rice. The tourism sector is also dominant in many regions.

Singapore, China, the USA and Japan are the country's main export and import partners.

Malaysia exports mainly palm oil, petroleum and liquefied natural gas as well as electrical appliances, wood products and textiles. It mainly imports electronics, plastics, vehicles and machinery.

Major Malaysia cities are Kuala Lumpur its twin sister Petaling Jaya and others such as Georgetown, Ipoh, Johor Bahru and Kota Kinabalu.

Malaysia People and Languages

Malaysia is a multiracial country with a rich cultural heritage.Almost 60% of the population are Malay or indigenous people. About 21% are Chinese and 6% are Indian.

The majority of Malaysians (80%) live on the Peninsula which only occupies only about 40% of the land area. Malaysian cities are modern and also have shiny tall skyscrapers.

However, people in rural Malaysia are still often quite poor and only have access to basic facilities such as markets instead of shopping malls. Healthcare is also poor in many places with few clinics in larger villages or towns.

The population in rural East Malaysia lives in typical long houses.

Almost 44% of all Malaysians are under 24 years of age. Malaysian children go to primary school from 7 years of age and then attend school for up to 13 years until their final exams. Most kids, however, already take part in pre-school classes from the age of three.

The majority of Malaysians are Sunni Muslims. The second largest mosque in Malaysia is the beautiful Blue Mosque in Shah Alam in Malaysia. The mosque is called Sultan Salahuddin Abdul Aziz Mosque and known for its blue dome.

This mosque is the one of the largest mosques in Southeast Asia! Shah Alam is a city near Kuala Lumpur. The largest mosque in Malaysia is the Tuanku Mizan Zainal Abidin Mosque which also known as Iron Mosque. This mosque is located in Putrajaya. The largest mosque in Southeast Asia is located in Jakarta in Indonesia.

Malaysia Facts
Languages in Malaysia

People in Malaysia usually communicate in Bahasa Melayu. This is Malaysia's national language and also as known as Bahasa Malaysia. And more than 112 indigenous languages are spoken in Malaysia! The most common indigenous language is Iban.

Besides English, many people speak a Chinese language (such as Hokkien or Cantonese). Tamil, Telugu as well as Thai are also spoken in the northern parts of the country. Malay and English are compulsory languages in public schools. In high schools also Mandarin (Simplified Chinese) or Tamil classes are usually taught.

Malaysia Facts:
Food in Malaysia

Bananas, coconuts, cocoa, pineapples and rice are the main agricultural products in Malaysia.

Most Malaysian dishes contain: rice (called nasi) or noodles ( mee), coconut, shell fish and beef, chicken, peanuts and chill.

Here are some typical Malaysian foods and dishes:

Nasi Lemak: coconut rice (rice that has been cooked in coconut milk) with boiled egg, vegetables, curried meat such as chicken or beef and sambal (chilli sauce)

Mee Goreng: Yellow fried noodle dish with chili and soy sauce and fried vegetables as well as beef or chicken strips and sometimes shrimps are added in as well.

Beef Rendang: beef stewed in curried coconut milk and lots of spices, usually served with rice

Asam Laksa: spicy fish stew with rice noodles and tamarind

Murtabak: fried and folded pancake which is filled with minced meat and vegetables

Roti John: flat pancake sandwich filled with minced meat, eggs and cheese - typical street vendor or hawker centre food

Ice Kacang: shaved ice topped with sugary syrup in various bright colours - usually sits on a mount of red bean jelly and served with various fruits. Very sweet but delicious. It comes in many flavours!

Rojak: fruit and vegetable mix served as salad or even in fried dough parcels that are filled with the mixed fruits and vegetables such as pineapples and cucumbers

Goreng pisang: deep fried banana fritters sprinkled with sugar

Read more about great Malaysian recipes here
Malays usually use forks and knives when eating. It is also custom to use the right hand which is tradition with Indian Malaysians too, while Chinese Malaysians eat with chopsticks.

Malaysia Animals

Malaysia is among the seventeen megadiverse countries. This means there is extremely high biodiversity in Malaysia.

The Borneo Orang-Utan is among the most fascinating species in the world. Orang-Utans are the largest mammals that live in the tree canopies of the tropical rainforests in Malaysia's Borneo or Indonesia's Sumatra.

The Malayan tiger also inhabits the southern parts of the Malaysian Peninsula and a critically endangered species. The tiger is threatened by poaching and other human activities such as deforestation.

Malaysia Facts: Did you know...?

The island of Borneo is not only the largest island in Asia, but the third largest island in the world!

The Malaysian part of Borneo is smaller than the Indonesian part as it covers less than ⅓ of the island. The country of Brunei is surrounded by Malaysia and is the third country sharing the island.

Malaysia Facts
Resources and Further Reading
Resources for Malaysia Facts:

Central Intelligence Agency. "Malaysia." WorldFactbook. Last updated 11 January 2023. Last accessed 24 January 2023

World Wildlife Fund. "Malayan Tiger." . Last accessed 24 January 2023

"MuluCaves." . Last accessed 10 June 2022

Bee. "Malaysian Recipes." RasaMalaysia. Last accessed 24 January 2023

Special Thanks go to Maya Vardhini Rajanikanth from St. Andrews School in Bangkok/Thailand, Harshinee Marzammutu from SJKT Mahanganesa Viddyasalai in Perak, Kugharuban R. Vamadevan from SJKT Kulim Kedah, Hong Jee Ning, Ho Rou Xuan and Seng Thing Xuan from Ruby's English Language Corner Taman Perling, Varrnika Mogan from SJKT Sentul in Kuala Lumpur and Nicole Angela from Maktab Rendah Sains Mara Mukah in Sarawak. Image Credits on Malaysia Facts: shutterstock.com and wikicommons, if not otherwise stated. Go from Malaysia Facts to Asia Continent Facts Back from Malaysia Facts to Kids-World-Travel-Guide

Please take note: We will add more information in the coming weeks when we will also create some new pages for the Malaysia country information received from several schools in Malaysia. We hope you enjoyed reading our Malaysia Facts. Please bookmark this page and spread the word.

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Malaysia Facts for Kids | Geography | Food | People | Malaysia

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Our Malaysia Facts on Kids World Travel Guide will inform about the country and people, attractions and cultures, food and so much more