Malaysia Facts and Figures - Malaysia People

Population

26.6 million (2006) 32 million (Projected for 2015)

Multi ethnic population composition (%)

Population growth rates (%)

Age structure

Social Indicators 2006 Incidence of poverty 5.7% (2004) Urban population 63.2% Literacy rate (aged 15+) 92.5%  Crude birth rate 18.7 births/1000 population Crude death rate 4.5 deaths/1000 population Life expectancy           male 71.5 (2005)         female 76.2 (2005) Total fertility rate 2.4 children born/woman Infant mortality 6.6 per 1,000 live births Under-5 mortality 8.5 per 1,000 live births Maternal mortality 27.2 per 100,000 live births (2004) Births attended by skilled health personnel 98.4% Sex ration (male/female)           At birth 1.06         Under 15 1.06         15 - 59 1.03         65 and over 0.89         All ages 1.03 Labour force participation rates         Male 79.9%         Female 45.8%         Both sexes combined 63.1% Unemployment rate 3.3% Unemployment of 20-24 year olds 6.1% (computed from Labour Force Survey 2006)

Economy

Religions

Islam, Buddhism, Hindusim, Daoism, Christianity. Sikhism; note - in addition Shamanism is practiced in East Malaysia

Languages

Bahasa Malaysia (official), English, Chinese dialects (Cantonese, Mandarin, Hokkein, Hakka, Hainan, Foochow), Tamil, Telegu, Malayalam, Punjabi, Thai; note - in addition, several indigenous languages are spoken, the largest of which are Iban and Kadazan.