Consisting of two regions separated by some 640 miles of the South China Sea, Malaysia is a federation of 13 states and three federal territories. It is one of the region's key tourist destinations, offering excellent beaches, brilliant scenery and spectacular wildlife.

Malaysia made the transformation from a farm-based economy Ethnic Malays comprise some 60% of the population. Chinese constitute around 26%; Indians and indigenous tribes make up the rest. The communities coexist in relative harmony, although there is little racial interaction.

Malaysia made the transformation from a farm-based economy

During the late 18th and 19th centuries, Great Britain established colonies and protectorates in the area of current Malaysia; these were occupied by Japan from 1942 to 1945. In 1948, the British-ruled territories on the Malay Peninsula formed the Federation of Malaya, which became independent in 1957. Malaysia was formed in 1963 when the former British colonies of Singapore and the East Malaysian states of Sabah and Sarawak on the northern coast of Borneo joined the Federation. The first several years of the country's history were marred by Indonesian efforts to control Malaysia, Philippine claims to Sabah, and Singapore's secession from the Federation in 1965.

Facts

Location: Southeastern Asia, peninsula bordering Thailand and northern one-third of the island of Borneo, bordering Indonesia, Brunei, and the South China Sea, south of Vietnam
Geographic coordinates: 2 30 N, 112 30 E
Population: 27,544,000 (2007, estimated)
Capital: Kuala Lumpur 
Major languages: Malay (official), English, Chinese dialects, Tamil, Telugu, Malayalam
Major religions: Islam, Buddhism, Taoism, Hinduism, Christianity, Sikhism
Life expectancy: 71 years (men), 75 years (women)
Monetary unit: 1 ringgit = 100 sen Main exports: Electronic equipment, petroleum and liquefied natural gas, chemicals, palm oil, wood and wood products, rubber, textiles
GNI per capita: US $4,650 (World Bank, 2005)
Internet domain: .my
International dialling code: +60
Area: total: 329,750 sq km land: 328,550 sq km water: 1,200 sq km
Area - comparative: Slightly larger than New Mexico
Land boundaries: total: 2,669 km border countries: Brunei 381 km, Indonesia 1782 km, Thailand 506 km
Coastline: 4,675 km (Peninsular Malaysia 2068 km, East Malaysia 2607 km)
Maritime claims: continental shelf: 200 NM depth or to the depth of exploitation; specified boundary in the South China Sea territorial sea: 12 NM exclusive economic zone: 200 NM
Climate: Tropical; annual southwest (April to October) and northeast (October to February) monsoons
Terrain: Coastal plains rising to hills and mountains
Elevation extremes: lowest point: Indian Ocean 0 m highest point: Gunung Kinabalu 4,100 m
Natural resources: Tin, petroleum, timber, copper, iron ore, natural gas, bauxite
Land use: arable land: 5.48% permanent crops: 17.61% other: 76.91% (2001)
Irrigated land: 3,650 sq km (1998 est.)
Natural hazards: Flooding, landslides, forest fires
Environment - current issues: Air pollution from industrial and vehicular emissions; water pollution from raw sewage; deforestation; smoke/haze from Indonesian forest fires
Environment - international agreements: party to: Biodiversity, Climate Change, Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol, Desertification, Endangered Species, Hazardous Wastes, Law of the Sea, Marine Life Conservation, Ozone Layer Protection, Ship Pollution, Tropical Timber 83, Tropical Timber 94, Wetlands signed, but not ratified: NA |
Geography - Note: Strategic location along Strait of Malacca and southern South China Sea

Courtesy of Yahoo World Factbook