Part 455

Location: Southeastern Asia, peninsula and northern one-third of the island of Borneo, bordering Indonesia and the South China Sea, south of Vietnam

Geographic coordinates: 2 30 N, 112 30 E

Map references: Southeast Asia

Area: total area: 329,750 sq km land area: 328,550 sq km comparative area: slightly larger than New Mexico

Land boundaries: total: 2,669 km border countries: Brunei 381 km, Indonesia 1,782 km, Thailand 506 km

Coastline: 4,675 km (Peninsular Malaysia 2,068 km, East Malaysia 2,607 km)

Maritime claims: continental shelf: 200-m depth or to the depth of exploitation; specified boundary in the South China Sea exclusive fishing zone: 200 nm exclusive economic zone: 200 nm territorial sea: 12 nm

International disputes: involved in a complex dispute over the Spratly Islands with China, Philippines, Taiwan, Vietnam, and possibly Brunei; State of Sabah claimed by the Philippines; Brunei may wish to purchase the Malaysian salient that divides Brunei into two parts; two islands in dispute with Singapore; two islands in dispute with Indonesia

Climate: tropical; annual southwest (April to October) and northeast (October to February) monsoons

Terrain: coastal plains rising to hills and mountains lowest point: Indian Ocean 0 m highest point: Mount Kinabalu 4,100 m

Natural resources: tin, petroleum, timber, copper, iron ore, natural gas, bauxite

Land use: arable land: 3% permanent crops: 10% meadows and pastures: 0% forest and woodland: 63% other: 24%

Irrigated land: 3,420 sq km (1989 est.)

Environment: current issues: air pollution from industrial and vehicular emissions; water pollution from raw sewage; deforestation natural hazards: flooding international agreements: party to - Biodiversity, Climate Change, Endangered Species, Hazardous Wastes, Marine Life Conservation, Nuclear Test Ban, Ozone Layer Protection, Tropical Timber 83, Tropical Timber 94, Whaling; signed, but not ratified - Desertification, Law of the Sea

Geographic note: strategic location along Strait of Malacca and southern South China Sea

People ------

Population: 19,962,893 (July 1996 est.)

Age structure: 0-14 years: 36% (male 3,684,510; female 3,483,893) 15-64 years: 60% (male 5,996,369; female 6,017,327) 65 years and over: 4% (male 342,742; female 438,052) (July 1996 est.)

Population growth rate: 2.07% (1996 est.)

Birth rate: 26.2 births/1,000 population (1996 est.)

Death rate: 5.49 deaths/1,000 population (1996 est.)

Net migration rate: 0 migrant(s)/1,000 population (1996 est.)

Sex ratio: at birth: 1.07 male(s)/female under 15 years: 1.06 male(s)/female 15-64 years: 1 male(s)/female 65 years and over: 0.78 male(s)/female all ages: 1.01 male(s)/female (1996 est.)

Infant mortality rate: 24 deaths/1,000 live births (1996 est.)

Life expectancy at birth: total population: 69.75 years male: 66.82 years female: 72.89 years (1996 est.)

Total fertility rate: 3.27 children born/woman (1996 est.)

Nationality: noun: Malaysian(s) adjective: Malaysian

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