As of July 2024, 70.4 percent of the Malaysian population were classified as Bumiputera, 22.4 percent were classified as ethnic Chinese, and 6.5 percent as ethnic Indians. Those who do not fall under these three main ethnic groups are classified as ‘Other’. Malaysia is a multi-ethnic and multi-religious society with three main ethnicities and language groups. Who are Malaysia’s Bumiputera? Bumiputera, meaning sons of the soil, is a term used to categorize the Malays, as well as the indigenous peoples of Peninsular Malaysia, also known as orang asli, and the indigenous peoples of Sabah and Sarawak. As of July 2023, the Bumiputera share of the population in Sabah was 89 percent, while that in Sarawak was 76.1 percent. Thus, the incorporation of the states of Sabah and Sarawak during the formation of Malaysia ensured that the ethnic Malays were able to maintain a majority share of the Malaysian population. Bumiputera privileges and ethnic-based politics The rights and privileges of the Malays and the natives of Sabah and Sarawak are enshrined in Article 153 of Malaysia’s constitution. This translated, in practice, to a policy of affirmative action to improve the economic situation of this particular group, through the New Economic Policy introduced in 1971. 50 years on, it is questionable whether the policy has achieved its aim. Bumiputeras still lag behind the other ethnic two major groups in terms of monthly household income. However, re-thinking this policy will certainly be met by opposition from those who have benefitted from it.

Inflation Rate in Malaysia remained unchanged at 1.40 percent in April. This dataset provides - Malaysia Inflation Rate - actual values, historical data, forecast, chart, statistics, economic calendar and news.

In 2024, approximately 300,000 of 60 kilogram bags of coffee were consumed in Malaysia. This was a decrease from around 400,000 of 60 kilogram bags consumed in the previous year. Overall, coffee consumption has been declining over the years. Coffee drinking culture For most Malaysians, drinking warm beverages such as tea and coffee has been a part of their daily lives for decades. However, as of October 2019, Milo, a combination of chocolate and malt powder normally mixed with milk or hot water to make a drink, was recorded as the most popular brand in coffee and tea brand category on YouTube. This signified that coffee was less preferred by Malaysians. Traditionally, coffee was enjoyed by older Malaysians in the local "kopitiam", which is a local coffee shop. However, Malaysians who had lived abroad and adopted coffee drinking culture started to popularize café culture. Furthermore, the expansion of international retail café businesses such as Starbucks and The Coffee Bean & The Tea Leaf, as well as local coffee shop brands such as OldTown White Coffee also contributed to its popularity among the younger generation. Coffee production The main coffee bean types that are grown in Malaysia are robusta and liberica. In 2024, Malaysia recorded robusta coffee production of 1.5 million 60 kg bags. To keep up with the demand from both domestic and global market, Malaysia imports coffee from its neighboring country, Indonesia.

This statistic shows the average inflation rate in Malaysia from 1987 to 2023, with projections up to 2029. In 2023, the average inflation rate in Malaysia amounted to about 2.49 percent compared to the previous year.

Malaysia's economy is slowly recovering

The inflation rate is the annual rate of increase of a price index, normally the consumer price index over time. If the same item bought today for 1 U.S. dollar is bought again one year from now, but for 1.03 U.S. dollars, then the inflation rate is at 3 percent. Generally, a low inflation rate is sought by every country, and a rate of 3 percent, as is estimated for Malaysia in the next few years, is considered low. However, there was a slight rise in Malaysia’s inflation rate, from close to 2 percent in 2010 to a little over 3 percent in 2011. In 2012, it dropped back down to its normal rate, but future estimates predict a slight increase once again. Perhaps this increase has come from initial worries concerning the country’s slowing economy as the country’s GDP growth slowed from 7.43 percent in 2010 to 5.19 percent in 2011, or its negative budget balance in relation to GDP which was at its recent worst in 2010 at -4.66 percent. At the same time, the country’s national debt was also rising, but predictions show that this trend is reversing. Yet, the economic outlook and inflation rate still appear stable for the future of Malaysia, and the inflation rate is below the global inflation rate. Furthermore, the country’s GDP continues to rise and totaled 326.93 billion U.S. dollars in 2013.