Nestled in the heart of Southeast Asia, Malaysia is a land where the modern skyline of Kuala Lumpur stands in harmonious contrast to the ancient rainforests of Borneo. Here, the iconic Petronas Towers reach for the sky, while the majestic Mount Kinabalu presides over a lush paradise below.
Its diverse population, a harmonious blend of Malay, Chinese, Indian, and indigenous cultures, also paints a vivid picture of multiculturalism that is most evident in its cityscapes and its culinary delights.
It is one of the richer nations in Asia but has maintained reasonable prices compared to other developed countries in its vicinity, like Singapore.
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Malaysia Info & Stats
34 million
330,803 km2
101/km2
$1.3 trillion
Malaysia
At a Glance
- Language: Malaysia is one of the few Asian countries with an extensive use of English. The national language is Malay.
- Population: 32+ million (2019 est.)
- Timezone: UTC +8
- Ethnic Make-up: Malay 50.4%, Chinese 23.7%, indigenous 11%, Indian 7.1%, others 7.8%
- Religions: Muslim 60.4%, Buddhist 19.2%, Christian 9.1%, Hindu 6.3%, Confucianism, Taoism, other traditional Chinese religions 2.6%, other or unknown 1.5%, none 0.8%
- Government: constitutional monarchy
- Currency: Malaysian ringgit (MYR).
- Credit Cards: Within the cities, credit cards are widely accepted.
- Electricity: Socket type G, 240 volt / 50 hertz
- Tipping Customs: Not expected, but appreciated
- Haggling Culture: Common in markets and street stalls
Climate & Seasons
The average temperature is 27°C. Being a city near the equator, the weather is even throughout the year, namely tropical, hot, and humid. However, it does not receive as much rain as, say, Singapore’s neighbor. Between May and July and December and February, the humidity is lower. When I visited in May, the weather was absolutely wonderful and did not feel like other southeast Asian cities, although the sun did hit like a brick.
Entry Requirements
Most nationalities can enter Malaysia without a visa and can reside there for 14 to 90 days, depending on their nationality. Refer to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs for current information regarding visa requirements and stay periods.
Nationals of Bangladesh, Bhutan, China, India, Montenegro, Myanmar, Nepal, Pakistan, Serbia, and Sri Lanka need a visa but can apply for an e-visa.
Click the map to see details on visa requirements for each country
Alternatively, input your passport citizenship and quickly see the requirements that apply to you:
Safety
Safety: The violent crime rates are low. In the cities, the biggest issue is scamming and petty theft.
Natural risks: On the coastlines, there is a higher risk of tsunamis.
Emergencies number: 999
Safety Indices
Learn more on the data source and the methodologies of ranking in the Global Safety Indices page.
