As of July 2024, **** percent of the Malaysian population were classified as Bumiputera, **** percent were classified as ethnic Chinese, and *** 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 ** percent, while that in Sarawak was **** 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.

In 2025, **** percent of the Malaysian population were classified as Bumiputera, **** percent were classified as ethnic Chinese, and *** 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 2024, the Bumiputera share of the population in Sabah was ** percent, while that in Sarawak was **** 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.

Context

According to the Malaysian Department of Statistics, the country's population was 28,334,135 in 2010, according to a 2012 estimate, the population is increasing by 1.54 percent per year. Malaysia has a multi-ethnic, multicultural, and multilingual society. Malaysian citizens consist mainly of 3 ethnic groups, with the largest group being Bumiputra which consist mainly of Malays. Malaysian Chinese which has a population of about 20% & Malaysian Indian with about 7%.

Content

The Data consist of 1700 rows & 6columns.

• Sex: Male, Female
• Age Group: 17 different age group. E.g: 00-04 , 05-09 , 10-14 , etc.
• Year: 2010 - 2019
• Citizen category: Malaysian citizens , Non-Malaysian citizens
• Ethnic: Bumiputra , Chinese , Indian , Other , Foreigner . Malaysian citizen but not in the 3 main ethnic group are mark as Other.
• Population ('000): Population in thousands

Malaysia HIBAS: Monthly Gross Income: Median: Top 20%: Bumiputera data was reported at 11,819.000 MYR in 2016. This records an increase from the previous number of 10,301.000 MYR for 2014. Malaysia HIBAS: Monthly Gross Income: Median: Top 20%: Bumiputera data is updated yearly, averaging 11,060.000 MYR from Dec 2014 (Median) to 2016, with 2 observations. The data reached an all-time high of 11,819.000 MYR in 2016 and a record low of 10,301.000 MYR in 2014. Malaysia HIBAS: Monthly Gross Income: Median: Top 20%: Bumiputera data remains active status in CEIC and is reported by Department of Statistics. The data is categorized under Global Database’s Malaysia – Table MY.H033: Household Income and Basic Amenities Survey: Monthly Gross Income: Household Group: Median and Mean: by Ethnic Group.

Abstract

Cross-sectional study on the dietary fatty acid intake patterns, lipid profile, lipoprotein particle size and plasma fatty acid composition in an urban adult Malaysian cohort.

Geographic coverage

Sub-national coverage, only urban areas.

Analysis unit

Individuals

Kind of data

Sample survey data [ssd]

Sampling procedure

Non-probability sampling. The Malaysia Lipid Study (MLS) is a cross-sectional study investigating dietary practices and metabolic outcomes in an urban, mixed-racial population of healthy free-living adults. Malays, Chinese and Indians are among the main ethnic groups in Malaysia, and together form approximately 85% of the total population. Participant screening and subject recruitment were conducted in the urban centers of Kuala Lumpur and Petaling Jaya and surrounding suburban housing estates. Screening was facilitated through religious, community, parent-teacher associations and employer organizations at 38 community sites, between November 2012 and November 2013.

Mode of data collection

Face-to-face [f2f]

This dataset shows the Life Expectancy by Age, Ethnic Group and Sex, Malaysia 2010 - 2021. Footnote Data for year 2020 are preliminary and 2021 are estimate. Source : Department of Statistics, Malaysia

This dataset shows the Crude Birth Rate by Ethnic Group and Sex, Malaysia, 2012 - 2021. Footnote: The rates are per 1,000 population Bumiputera is included Malay and Other Bumiputera Ethnic group for Others are includes non Malaysian citizens. Source : Department of Statistics, Malaysia

Malaysia HIBAS: Main Source of Income: Property and Investment: Indians data was reported at 13.500 % in 2016. This records an increase from the previous number of 11.500 % for 2014. Malaysia HIBAS: Main Source of Income: Property and Investment: Indians data is updated yearly, averaging 11.500 % from Dec 2012 (Median) to 2016, with 3 observations. The data reached an all-time high of 13.500 % in 2016 and a record low of 9.400 % in 2012. Malaysia HIBAS: Main Source of Income: Property and Investment: Indians data remains active status in CEIC and is reported by Department of Statistics. The data is categorized under Global Database’s Malaysia – Table MY.H028: Household Income and Basic Amenities Survey: Main Source of Income: by Ethnic Group.

This dataset shows the Incidence number of hardcore poverty by ethnicity, 2002 - 2012, Malaysia. From 2014, statistics on the incidence of hardcore poverty are not published in the Household Income & Basic Amenities Survey Report.

Malaysia HIBAS: Main Source of Income: Self Employed: Indians data was reported at 10.600 % in 2016. This records a decrease from the previous number of 12.900 % for 2014. Malaysia HIBAS: Main Source of Income: Self Employed: Indians data is updated yearly, averaging 12.900 % from Dec 2012 (Median) to 2016, with 3 observations. The data reached an all-time high of 15.400 % in 2012 and a record low of 10.600 % in 2016. Malaysia HIBAS: Main Source of Income: Self Employed: Indians data remains active status in CEIC and is reported by Department of Statistics. The data is categorized under Global Database’s Malaysia – Table MY.H028: Household Income and Basic Amenities Survey: Main Source of Income: by Ethnic Group.

Malaysia HIBAS: Main Source of Income: Current Transfers: Bumiputera data was reported at 9.700 % in 2016. This records an increase from the previous number of 8.520 % for 2014. Malaysia HIBAS: Main Source of Income: Current Transfers: Bumiputera data is updated yearly, averaging 8.520 % from Dec 2012 (Median) to 2016, with 3 observations. The data reached an all-time high of 9.700 % in 2016 and a record low of 7.100 % in 2012. Malaysia HIBAS: Main Source of Income: Current Transfers: Bumiputera data remains active status in CEIC and is reported by Department of Statistics. The data is categorized under Global Database’s Malaysia – Table MY.H028: Household Income and Basic Amenities Survey: Main Source of Income: by Ethnic Group.

In 2023, the crude death rate of the ethnic Indian in Malaysia was 8.3 deaths for every 1,000 people, the highest among other ethnic groups. By comparison, the crude death rate of the Bumiputera, the largest ethnic group in Malaysia, was at 5.8 deaths per 1,000 people.

This dataset shows the Incidence of poverty by ethnicity, 2002 - 2019, Malaysia. Source : DEPARTMENT OF STATISTICS MALAYSIA

This dataset shows the Percentage Distribution of Employed Persons by Ethnic Group, 2000 - 2021, Malaysia. Footnote The 2011-2014 statistics was updated based on the years population estimates. Source : Department of Statistics, Malaysia No. of Views : 38

Malaysia HIBAS: Main Source of Income: Self Employed: Others data was reported at 20.700 % in 2016. This records a decrease from the previous number of 21.300 % for 2014. Malaysia HIBAS: Main Source of Income: Self Employed: Others data is updated yearly, averaging 21.300 % from Dec 2012 (Median) to 2016, with 3 observations. The data reached an all-time high of 30.200 % in 2012 and a record low of 20.700 % in 2016. Malaysia HIBAS: Main Source of Income: Self Employed: Others data remains active status in CEIC and is reported by Department of Statistics. The data is categorized under Global Database’s Malaysia – Table MY.H028: Household Income and Basic Amenities Survey: Main Source of Income: by Ethnic Group.

This dataset shows Population by Age Group, Sex and Ethnic Group, Malaysia, 1970-2022 notes: Value for year 1970 based on the adjusted data 1970 Population and Housing Census of Malaysia. Value for year 1980 based on the adjusted data 1980 Population and Housing Census of Malaysia. Value for year 1991 based on the adjusted data 1991 Population and Housing Census of Malaysia. Value for year 2010 based on the adjusted data 2010 Population and Housing Census of Malaysia. Value for year 1971-1979, 1981-1990, 1992-1999, 2001-2009, 2011-2022 base on Intercensal mid-year population estimates The added total may differ due to rounding. Population ethnic group only available from 1980 onward Value for 2022 are preliminary Source: Department of Statistics, Malaysia No. of Views : 991

In 2022, ethnic Chinese households had the highest mean monthly household income in Malaysia, at around ****** Malaysian ringgit. This was more than ***** ringgit higher than Bumiputera households. Despite the implementation of affirmative action through Article 153 of the Malaysian constitution, the economic position of the Bumiputera vis-à-vis other ethnicities still left much room for improvement. Historical policies, ethnicity, and the urban-rural divide The Bumiputera make up the majority of the Malaysian population, yet have one of the lowest average monthly household incomes in Malaysia. This economic disparity could be explained by the effects of colonial policies that kept the Bumiputera largely in the countryside. This resulted in an urban-rural divide that was characterized by ethnicity, with the immigrant Chinese and Indian laborers concentrated in the urban centers, a demographic pattern that is still evident today. There was a considerable difference in urban and rural household incomes in Malaysia, with urban household income being around ***** ringgit more than rural households. This was largely due to the fact that wages in urban areas had to keep up with the higher cost of living there. This thus impacted the average monthly incomes of the largely rural-based Bumiputera and the largely urban-based ethnic Chinese. This visible wealth inequality has led to racial tensions in Malaysia, and it is still one of the problem in the country amidst a new government led by Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim, who was elected in 2022.

Respondent characteristics by ethnicity. (DOCX)

The total population in Malaysia was estimated at 34.1 million people in 2024, according to the latest census figures and projections from Trading Economics. This dataset provides - Malaysia Population - actual values, historical data, forecast, chart, statistics, economic calendar and news.

This data set shows Population by age, sex and ethnic group, W.P Kuala Lumpur, 1980-2020notes: Value for year 1980 based on the adjusted data 1980 Population and Housing Census of Malaysia.Value for year 1991 based on the adjusted data 1991 Population and Housing Census of Malaysia.Value for year 2010 based on the adjusted data 2010 Population and Housing Census of Malaysia.Value for year 1981-1990, 1992-199, 2001-2009, 2011-2020 base on Intercensal mid-year population estimatesThe added total may differ due to rounding.