| Indicator | Value |
|---|---|
| ISO 3166 alpha-2 | MYISO 3166 [2024] |
| ISO 3166 alpha-3 | MYSISO 3166 [2024] |
| Capital | Kuala LumpurGeoNames [2024] |
| Continent | AsiaGeoNames [2024] |
| Common name | MalaysiaCIA World Factbook [2025] · 2026 archive |
| Official name | No authoritative open source found |
| Local name | MalaysiaCIA World Factbook [2025] · 2026 archive |
| Etymology | devised in the early 19th century by British geographers; the suffix -sia was added to the name of the Malay people to form a classical-style name; the name Malay may come from the Tamil word malai, meaning "mountain"CIA World Factbook [2025] · 2026 archive |
| Government type | federal parliamentary constitutional monarchy; note: all Peninsular Malaysian states have hereditary rulers (commonly referred to as sultans) except Melaka (Malacca) and Pulau Pinang (Penang); those two states along with Sabah and Sarawak in East Malaysia have governors appointed by government; powers of state governments are limited by the federal constitution; under terms of federation, Sabah and Sarawak retain certain constitutional prerogatives (e.g., right to maintain their own immigration controls)CIA World Factbook [2025] · 2026 archive |
| Independence | 31 August 1957 (from the UK)CIA World Factbook [2025] · 2026 archive |
| National holiday | Independence Day (or Merdeka Day), 31 August (1957) (independence of Malaya); Malaysia Day, 16 September (1963) (formation of Malaysia)CIA World Factbook [2025] · 2026 archive |
| Head of state | Sultan IBRAHIM Iskandar (King)CIA World Leaders [2025] |
| Currency code (ISO 4217) | MYRISO 4217 Currency Codes [2026] |
| Currency | Malaysian RinggitISO 4217 Currency Codes [2026] |
| Administrative subdivisions | 16ISO 3166-2 Subdivisions [2026] |
| Subdivision names |
|
| Historical overview | No authoritative open source found |
| National symbols | tiger, hibiscusCIA World Factbook [2025] · 2026 archive |
| National anthem | title: "Negaraku" (My Country); lyrics/music: collective, led by Tunku ABDUL RAHMAN/Pierre Jean DE BERANGER; history: adopted 1957; full version only performed in the king's presence, the shorter version performed for the queen and lesser officialsCIA World Factbook [2025] · 2026 archive |
| National colors | gold, blackCIA World Factbook [2025] · 2026 archive |
| Citizenship rules | citizenship by birth: no; citizenship by descent only: at least one parent must be a citizen of Malaysia; dual citizenship recognized: no; residency requirement for naturalization: 10 out 12 years preceding applicationCIA World Factbook [2025] · 2026 archive |
devised in the early 19th century by British geographers; the suffix - sia was added to the name of the Malay people to form a classical-style name; the name Malay may come from the Tamil word malai , meaning "mountain"
description: 14 equal horizontal stripes of red alternating with white; a dark blue rectangle in the upper-left corner has a yellow crescent and a 14-pointed yellow star meaning: the flag is often called Jalur Gemilang (Stripes of Glory); the 14 stripes stand for the equal status of the 13 member states and the federal government; the points on the star represent the unity among these entities; the crescent is a traditional symbol of Islam; blue symbolizes the unity of the Malay people, and yellow is the royal color
Source: CIA World Factbook (Historical Archive — final edition) · CC0 · Edition 2026-05
