th rate: 5.56 deaths/1,000 population (1995 est.)

Net migration rate: 0 migrant(s)/1,000 population (1995 est.)

Infant mortality rate: 24.7 deaths/1,000 live births (1995 est.)

Life expectancy at birth:
total population: 69.48 years
male: 66.55 years
female: 72.56 years (1995 est.)

Total fertility rate: 3.47 children born/woman (1995 est.)

Nationality:
noun: Malaysian(s)
adjective: Malaysian

Ethnic divisions: Malay and other indigenous 59%, Chinese 32%, Indian
9%

Religions:
Peninsular Malaysia: Muslim (Malays), Buddhist (Chinese), Hindu
(Indians)
Sabah: Muslim 38%, Christian 17%, other 45%
Sarawak: tribal religion 35%, Buddhist and Confucianist 24%, Muslim
20%, Christian 16%, other 5%

Languages:
Peninsular Malaysia: Malay (official), English, Chinese dialects,
Tamil
Sabah: English, Malay, numerous tribal dialects, Chinese (Mandarin and
Hakka dialects predominate)
Sarawak: English, Malay, Mandarin, numerous tribal languages *** No
data for this item ***

Literacy: age 15 and over can read and write (1990 est.)
total population: 78%
male: 86%
female: 70%

Labor force: 7.627 million (1993)

@Malaysia:Government

Names:
conventional long form: none
conventional short form: Malaysia
former: Malayan Union

Digraph: MY

Type: constitutional monarchy
note: Federation of Malaysia formed 9 July 1963; nominally headed by
the paramount ruler (king) and a bicameral Parliament; Peninsular
Malaysian states - hereditary rulers in all but Melaka, where
governors are appointed by Malaysian Pulau Pinang Government; powers
of state governments are limited by federal Constitution; Sabah -
self-governing state, holds 20 seats in House of Representatives, with
foreign affairs, defense, internal security, and other powers
delegated to federal government; Sarawak - self-governing state, holds
27 seats in House of Representatives, with foreign affairs, defense,
internal security, and other powers delegated to federal government

Capital: Kuala Lumpur

Administrative divisions: 13 states (negeri-negeri, singular - negeri)
and 2 federal territories* (wilayah-wilayah persekutuan, singular -
wilayah persekutuan); Johor, Kedah, Kelantan, Labuan*, Melaka, Negeri
Sembilan, Pahang, Perak, Perlis, Pulau Pinang, Sabah, Sarawak,
Selangor, Terengganu, Wilayah Persekutuan*

Independence: 31 August 1957 (from UK)

National holiday: National Day, 31 August (1957)