Malaysia: capital, population, area and flag
Malaysia is a country in Southeast Asia (Asia). It has more than one capital: Kuala Lumpur, Putrajaya. The population is about 36M (#45 of 193) and the area is about 330,534 km² (#67 of 193).
Key facts
- Capitals
- Kuala Lumpur, Putrajaya
- Region
- Asia / Southeast Asia
- Population
- 35,977,838 (2025) #45 of 193
- Total area
- 330,534 km² (2024) #67 of 193
- Population density
- 108.2 people/km² (2024) #81 of 193
- GDP (total)
- $472B (2025) #34 of 189
- GDP per capita
- $13,125 (2025) #74 of 189
- Life expectancy
- 76.8 years (2024) #67 of 193
- Distance from Japan
- 5,320 km #171 of 192
- Area compared with Japan
- about 0.9 times that of Japan
- Population compared with Japan
- about 1/3 that of Japan
- Main languages
- Malay
- Currency
- Malaysian Ringgit (MYR)
- Calling code
- +60
- Time zone (capital)
- UTC+8
- Time difference from Japan (standard time)
- 1 h behind Japan
- Driving side
- Left
- Capital location
- 3.15°N 101.70°E
Population of Malaysia, 1950–2100 (Japanese)
See past estimates, future projections and the population pyramid in the World Population Time Machine.
Map of Malaysia
Capital: Kuala Lumpur, Putrajaya
Malaysia: number one in the world
Malaysia ranks first in the world for these crops, animals, seafood and farm products (latest FAO data). Select one to see the whole ranking.
Malaysia: in the world’s top 10 for food & farming
Malaysia ranks among the world’s top 10 for these crops, animals, seafood and farm products (latest FAO data).
- #2 Palm oil 18.6M t
- #3 Milkfish 4.72K t
- #5 African sharptooth catfish 45K t
- #5 Largehead hairtail (cutlassfish) 15.7K t
- #6 Bighead carp 4.1K t
- #7 Sharks and rays 18.9K t
- #8 Giant tiger prawn 22.3K t
- #8 Seaweeds and other aquatic plants 220K t
- #9 Giant river prawn 238 t
- #10 Black pepper (Piper spp.) 34.4K t
- #10 Shrimps and prawns 163K t
Neighbors by land
Top rankings
Malaysia is in the top 10 for:
Malaysia in world rankings
How Malaysia compares with other countries, indicator by indicator. Click an indicator to see the full ranking.
Questions about Malaysia
What is the capital of Malaysia?
Malaysia has more than one capital: Kuala Lumpur, Putrajaya. The first one listed is the main capital.
What is the population of Malaysia?
Malaysia has a population of about 36M (2025), #45 of 193 among countries.
How big is Malaysia?
Malaysia covers about 330,534 km², #67 of 193 among countries.
Which continent is Malaysia in?
Malaysia is in Asia, in the region of Southeast Asia.
What is Malaysia number one in the world for in food and farming?
Malaysia ranks first in the world for: Barramundi (giant sea perch) 64.3K t (FAO data).
What currency and languages are used in Malaysia?
The currency is the Malaysian Ringgit. Main languages: Malay.
How does Malaysia compare with Japan in size and population?
The area of Malaysia is about 0.9 times that of Japan, and its population is about 1/3 that of Japan.
How far is Malaysia from Japan?
The capital, Kuala Lumpur, is about 5,320 km from Tokyo, the capital of Japan, in a straight line.
What is the time difference between Malaysia and Japan?
The capital, Kuala Lumpur, is on UTC+8 in standard time: 1 h behind Japan.
More countries in Southeast Asia
Play with Malaysia
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