Malaysia (/məˈleɪziə, -ʒə/ (About this soundlisten) mə-LAY-zee-ə, -⁠zhə; Malay: [məlejsiə]) is a

country in Southeast Asia. The federal constitutional monarchy consists of 13 states and three
federal territories, separated by the South China Sea into two similarly sized regions, Peninsular
Malaysia and East Malaysia (Malaysian Borneo). Peninsular Malaysia shares a land and maritime
border with Thailand in the north and maritime borders with Singapore in the south, Vietnam in the
northeast, and Indonesia in the west. East Malaysia shares land and maritime borders with Brunei
and Indonesia and a maritime border with the Philippines and Vietnam. Kuala Lumpur is the national
capital and largest city while Putrajaya is the seat of federal government. With a population of over
30 million, Malaysia is the world's 44th most populous country. The southernmost point of
continental Eurasia, Tanjung Piai, is in Malaysia. In the tropics, Malaysia is one of 17 megadiverse
countries, with large numbers of endemic species.

Malaysia has its origins in the Malay kingdoms which, from the 18th century, became subject to the
British Empire when the Straits Settlements became British protectorates. Peninsular Malaysia was
unified as the Malayan Union in 1946. Malaya was restructured as the Federation of Malaya in 1948,
and achieved independence on 31 August 1957. Malaya united with North Borneo, Sarawak, and
Singapore on 16 September 1963 to become Malaysia. In 1965, Singapore was expelled from the
federation.[12] The country is multi-ethnic and multi-cultural, which plays a large role in its politics.
About half the population is ethnically Malay, with large minorities of Malaysian Chinese (the second
largest community of Overseas Chinese in the world), Malaysian Indians, and indigenous peoples.
The constitution grants freedom of religion but recognises Islam as the established religion of the
state. The government system is closely modelled on the Westminster parliamentary system and the
legal system is based on common law. The head of state is the king, known as the Yang di-Pertuan
Agong. He is an elected monarch chosen from the hereditary rulers of the nine Malay states every
five years. The head of government is the Prime Minister. The country's official language is Bahasa
Melayu, commonly known as the Malay language. English remains an active second language. In
2017, English proficiency in Malaysia was ranked the 2nd best in Asia (after Singapore) and the 13th
best in the world.[13]

A member of the Commonwealth of Nations, Malaysia has had one of the best economic records in
Asia since its independence from the United Kingdom with its GDP growing at an average of 6.5%
per annum for almost 50 years. The economy has traditionally been fuelled by its natural resources,
but is expanding in the sectors of science, tourism, commerce and medical tourism. It is also one of
the few developing countries to heavily subsidise education and healthcare. Malaysian citizens are
entitled to free public education up to secondary level and public tertiary education fees are
subsidised by up to 90%.[14] Basic healthcare services at government-run clinics with prescription
cost RM1.[15] Disabled persons, senior citizens and public school students are entitled to free
healthcare. Malaysian healthcare services have been described as among the best in the world, and
the UN Development Program called the Malaysian healthcare system "a model to other developing
countries".[16][17]

Malaysia's recent rapid development has attracted millions of migrant workers from across Asia. The
majority of these migrants are undocumented, a situation which the Malaysian government is
struggling to combat, with its treatment and crackdown on migrant workers often criticised by
international human rights watchdogs.[18] Malaysia has a newly industrialised market economy,
ranked 4th largest in Southeast Asia and 38th largest in the world. With a GDP per capita of $10,430
and an HDI of 0.802, Malaysia is classified as an emerging economy by the World Bank.[11] The
International Monetary Fund (IMF) also classifies Malaysia as an emerging and developing
country.[19] Malaysia is a founding member of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations, the East
Asia Summit, and the Organisation of Islamic Cooperation and a member of the Asia-Pacific
Economic Cooperation, the Commonwealth of Nations, and the Non-Aligned Movement. In 2019,
Malaysian citizens had visa-free or visa-on-arrival access to 179 countries and territories, ranking the
Malaysian passport the 12th most accepted in the world.[20]