Malaysia Facts

Malaysia Facts for Kids

Here are some interesting Malaysia facts which were chosen and researched by kids especially for kids.

• Population: 32.6 million people (2022)
• Capital: Kuala Lumpur with about 8 million inhabitants, the administrative capital, however, is Putrajaya with less than 100,000 inhabitants!
• Name: Malaysia
• Motto: ‘Unity is Strength’
• Government: Constitutional monarchy. Federation of 13 states and three territories. The country also has a king who is elected every five years.
• Language: Malay (Bahasa Malaysia)
• Religion: mainly Islam (60%). There are also Buddhists (20%), Christians (9%) and Hindu (6%)
• Literacy: 93% of the population 15 years and above can read or write
• Currency: 1 Ringgit = 100 sen
• History: Signs of human settlements on the Malay Peninsula date back more than 40,000 years. The first settlers arrived from China and India around the first century AD. In the 15th century Portuguese conquered port towns such as Melaka, after this the Dutch established their rule. In the late 17th century the British ruled in the area with main settlements in Melaka, Penang and Singapore. During the second world war the Japanese invaded the country and occupied the area for three years. Malaysia gained independence in 1963.

• National Day: 31 August 
• National Symbols: Malayan tiger (national animal), hibiscus (national flower), gold and black (national colours)
• National Anthem: Negaraku which means ‘My Country’