Malaysia's population
Population means the total number of people living in a place. Malaysia has a population of over 30 million people, made up of many ethnic groups including Malays, Chinese, Indians and the indigenous peoples of Sabah and Sarawak. This mix makes Malaysia a multiracial country.
Key idea
Population distribution describes how people are spread out over an area. Population density is the number of people living in each square kilometre.
Where do people live?
People are not spread evenly across Malaysia. Some areas are crowded (high density) while others have very few people (low density).
- Crowded areas — the west coast of Peninsular Malaysia, such as the Klang Valley (Kuala Lumpur, Petaling Jaya), because of flat land, jobs and good facilities.
- Sparse areas — highlands, thick forests and swampy areas, and much of the interior of Sabah and Sarawak, because the land is difficult to live and work on.
Example
The Klang Valley is the most densely populated area in Malaysia because it has many factories, offices, schools and hospitals that attract people looking for work.
Population change
A population grows through births and immigration (people moving in) and falls through deaths and emigration (people moving out). Malaysia's population has grown steadily due to better healthcare, which lowers the death rate. Many people also migrate from villages to cities to find work, a process called rural–urban migration.
Remember
- Population density = people per square kilometre.
- Flat lowlands with jobs and facilities attract the most people.
- Malaysia is a multiracial country with many ethnic groups.