Where Do Malaysians Live? Ethnic Group Breakdown by State (2025)
MALAYSIA – Malaysia is a multi-ethnic nation, but the distribution of each ethnic group varies across states. In this article, we explore the state-level distribution of major ethnic groups based on the 2025 Current Population Estimates from the Department of Statistics Malaysia (DOSM).
Scope
- This analysis is based on Current Population Estimates, Malaysia 2025 Report by DOSM (link)
- Ethnic Groups Covered:
- Malay
- Chinese
- Indian
- Other Bumiputera
Where Do Malay Malaysians Live?
1 in 4 Malay Malaysians live in Selangor.
Other high-population states include Johor, Kelantan & Kedah
Where Do Chinese Malaysians Live?
1 in 4 Chinese Malaysians live in Selangor.
Followed by Johor, W.P. Kuala Lumpur & Pulau Pinang
Notably, Putrajaya has only around 600 Chinese residents.
Where Do Indian Malaysians Live?
Nearly 40% of Indian Malaysians live in Selangor. In other words: 1 in 3 Indian Malaysians live in Selangor.
W.P. Labuan has a relatively small Indian population, with only about 900 residents.
Where Do Other Bumiputera Malaysians Live?
“Other Bumiputera” refers to non-Malay indigenous groups, such as Iban, Kadazan-Dusun, Bidayuh, Bajau, and others
1 in 2 Other Bumiputera Malaysians live in Sabah, while another 1 in 3 live in Sarawak.
Together, they make up the vast majority of this group (88%)
Ethnic Composition by State
It is also important to examine the ethnic composition: the percentage share of each group within each state’s population. This helps highlight which states are more diverse and which are predominantly composed of a single ethnic group.
Terengganu, W.P. Putrajaya, and Kelantan each have over 90% Malay population.
W.P. Kuala Lumpur and Pulau Pinang show a more balanced distribution between Malays and Chinese.
Sabah, Sarawak, and W.P. Labuan have large shares of Other Bumiputera, making up 56%, 48%, and 41% of their populations respectively.
One notable highlight: Sabah has a significant non-citizen population, making up 28% of its residents.
Table: Mid-Year Population 2025
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