Malaysia (MYS)

Malaysia is a country in Asia with a population of 35,417,305. Malaysia, straddling the Malay Peninsula and Borneo, is a melting pot of Malay, Chinese, Indian, and indigenous cultures. Malaysians are known for their hospitality, diverse cuisine, and colorful festivals. Islam is the official religion, but Buddhism, Christianity, Hinduism, and traditional beliefs are also practiced. Mosques, temples, and churches are found throughout the country, and spiritual life is celebrated through a variety of religious and cultural events.

People Groups of Malaysia:

Malaysia Fast Facts:

160 People Groups · 35.4M People

EngagementGroupsPopulation
Unengaged and Unreached242.1M
Engaged yet Unreached2518.5M
No Longer Unreached11114.9M

Malaysia Realities:

Weighted GSEC
3
Dying Daily
515
Dying Daily Without Christ
(97.9%) 504
Birth Rate per 1,000
14.8
Death Rate per 1,000
5.5

People Groups of Malaysia

Strategic Progress Index
All

160 people groups

PhotoPeople Group ID ▼NameCountryPopulationStrategic Progress IndexLanguageReligion
RohingyaRohingyaMalaysia48,500Engaged yet UnreachedRohingyaSunni Islam
PersiansPersiansMalaysia21,000Engaged yet UnreachedIranian PersianShia Islam
BugisBugisMalaysia500,000Engaged yet UnreachedBugineseSunni Islam
Deaf MalaysiansDeaf MalaysiansMalaysia320,000Engaged yet UnreachedMalaysian Sign LanguageEthnoreligion
Han Chinese (English)Han Chinese (English)Malaysia2,435,000No Longer UnreachedEnglishChinese Folk Religion
BengaliBengaliMalaysia500,000Engaged yet UnreachedBengaliSunni Islam
NepalisNepalisMalaysia586,000Engaged yet UnreachedNepali (individual language)Folk Hinduism
Indian MuslimsIndian MuslimsMalaysia319,000Unengaged and UnreachedTamilSunni Islam
BonggiBonggiMalaysia3,000Unengaged and UnreachedBonggiSunni Islam
VietnameseVietnameseMalaysia85,000No Longer UnreachedVietnameseConfucianism
Han Chinese (Min Nan)Han Chinese (Min Nan)Malaysia2,415,000No Longer UnreachedMin Nan ChineseChinese Folk Religion
Han Chinese (Mandarin)Han Chinese (Mandarin)Malaysia1,035,000No Longer UnreachedMandarin ChineseChinese Folk Religion
Han Chinese (Hakka)Han Chinese (Hakka)Malaysia403,000Engaged yet UnreachedHakka ChineseChinese Folk Religion
Han Chinese (Hainanese)Han Chinese (Hainanese)Malaysia80,500No Longer UnreachedHainaneseChinese Folk Religion
Han Chinese (Cantonese)Han Chinese (Cantonese)Malaysia1,935,000No Longer UnreachedYue ChineseChinese Folk Religion
Han Chinese (Teochew)Han Chinese (Teochew)Malaysia644,000Engaged yet UnreachedMin Nan ChineseChinese Folk Religion
JavaneseJavaneseMalaysia730,000Unengaged and UnreachedSabah MalayFolk Islam
JapaneseJapaneseMalaysia17,000No Longer UnreachedJapaneseShinbutsu-Shugo
JakunJakunMalaysia25,000Engaged yet UnreachedJakunAnimism
IndonesiansIndonesiansMalaysia344,000No Longer UnreachedIndonesianSunni Islam
IranunIranunMalaysia27,500Engaged yet UnreachedIranun (Malaysia)Sunni Islam
HuiHuiMalaysia18,000Unengaged and UnreachedMandarin ChineseSunni Islam
HindiHindiMalaysia69,000Engaged yet UnreachedHindiHinduism
GujaratisGujaratisMalaysia34,500Engaged yet UnreachedGujaratiHinduism
EurasiansEurasiansMalaysia69,000No Longer UnreachedEnglishRoman Catholicism
Eastern KadazanEastern KadazanMalaysia32,000No Longer UnreachedLabuk-Kinabatangan KadazanEthnoreligion
Dusun -  MurutDusun - MurutMalaysia2,600No Longer UnreachedKadazan DusunAnimism
Dusun SegamaDusun SegamaMalaysia1,100No Longer UnreachedUpper KinabatanganEthnoreligion
Daro - MatuDaro - MatuMalaysia18,500No Longer UnreachedDaro-Matu MelanauSunni Islam
Coastal KadazanCoastal KadazanMalaysia138,000No Longer UnreachedPaparEthnoreligion
MalayaliMalayaliMalaysia207,000No Longer UnreachedMalayalamHinduism
MalaysMalaysMalaysia13,670,000Engaged yet UnreachedMalay (individual language)Sunni Islam
KristangKristangMalaysia8,700Unengaged and UnreachedMalaccan Creole PortugueseRoman Catholicism
Lower MurutLower MurutMalaysia3,500No Longer UnreachedTimugon MurutAnimism
Kinabatangan SungaiKinabatangan SungaiMalaysia18,000No Longer UnreachedLabuk-Kinabatangan KadazanSunni Islam
Keningau DusunKeningau DusunMalaysia4,500No Longer UnreachedSabah MalayAnimism
KedayanKedayanMalaysia91,000Unengaged and UnreachedBruneiSunni Islam
KanareseKanareseMalaysia72,500No Longer UnreachedKannadaHinduism
Western KenyahWestern KenyahMalaysia3,100No Longer UnreachedUma' LasanProtestantism
West Coast BajauWest Coast BajauMalaysia95,500Engaged yet UnreachedWest Coast BajauSunni Islam
UrduUrduMalaysia17,000Engaged yet UnreachedUrduSunni Islam
Upper KinabatanganUpper KinabatanganMalaysia12,000No Longer UnreachedUpper KinabatanganProtestantism
UkitUkitMalaysia300No Longer UnreachedUkitAnimism
TutongTutongMalaysia29,000No Longer UnreachedBrunei BisayaAnimism
Tutoh KenyahTutoh KenyahMalaysia1,500No Longer UnreachedLong WatRoman Catholicism
TungaraTungaraMalaysia650No Longer UnreachedBookanRoman Catholicism
Tudan DusunTudan DusunMalaysia17,000No Longer UnreachedKadazan DusunAnimism
Tuaran DusunTuaran DusunMalaysia11,000No Longer UnreachedLotudAnimism
TringTringMalaysia900No Longer UnreachedTringEthnoreligion
TidungTidungMalaysia25,000No Longer UnreachedNorthern TidungAnimism
TatanaTatanaMalaysia13,000No Longer UnreachedTatanaAnimism
Tampias LobuTampias LobuMalaysia4,000No Longer UnreachedTampias LobuAnimism
Tambunan DusunTambunan DusunMalaysia24,000No Longer UnreachedKadazan DusunProtestantism
TambanuaTambanuaMalaysia17,000No Longer UnreachedTombonuoSunni Islam
Sungai DusunSungai DusunMalaysia62,500No Longer UnreachedLabuk-Kinabatangan KadazanRoman Catholicism
Sugut KadazanSugut KadazanMalaysia19,000No Longer UnreachedSugut DusunAnimism
Southern MurutSouthern MurutMalaysia32,500No Longer UnreachedLundayehAnimism
Southern Kota MaruduSouthern Kota MaruduMalaysia2,800No Longer UnreachedKadazan DusunAnimism
SonsogonSonsogonMalaysia4,800No Longer UnreachedKimaragangAnimism
SinabuSinabuMalaysia2,000No Longer UnreachedUpper KinabatanganProtestantism
Sibop KenyahSibop KenyahMalaysia4,200No Longer UnreachedSebopSunni Islam
Minokok DusunMinokok DusunMalaysia1,700No Longer UnreachedMinokokAnimism
MendriqMendriqMalaysia375Unengaged and UnreachedMinriqAnimism
MelanauMelanauMalaysia160,000No Longer UnreachedCentral MelanauFolk Islam
Central SamaCentral SamaMalaysia69,000Unengaged and UnreachedCentral SamaSunni Islam
Central MurutCentral MurutMalaysia11,500No Longer UnreachedKeningau MurutEthnoreligion
Kadazan DusunKadazan DusunMalaysia264,000No Longer UnreachedKadazan DusunRoman Catholicism
BurmeseBurmeseMalaysia32,500No Longer UnreachedBurmeseTheravada Buddhism
Bundu DusunBundu DusunMalaysia82,000No Longer UnreachedKadazan DusunProtestantism
BisayaBisayaMalaysia87,000Unengaged and UnreachedSabah BisayaSunni Islam
Batu PunanBatu PunanMalaysia125No Longer UnreachedPunan Batu 1Animism
Bajau BukitBajau BukitMalaysia1,500No Longer UnreachedPaparSunni Islam
ArabsArabsMalaysia18,000Unengaged and UnreachedStandard ArabicSunni Islam
Abai SungaiAbai SungaiMalaysia1,200Unengaged and UnreachedAbai SungaiSunni Islam
ThaiThaiMalaysia34,500Unengaged and UnreachedThaiTheravada Buddhism
TemoqTemoqMalaysia850Unengaged and UnreachedMalay (individual language)Animism
FilipinosFilipinosMalaysia878,000No Longer UnreachedTagalogRoman Catholicism
Southern SamaSouthern SamaMalaysia500,000Engaged yet UnreachedSouthern SamaSunni Islam
Malay ChineseMalay ChineseMalaysia34,500Engaged yet UnreachedMandarin ChineseChinese Folk Religion
SinhaleseSinhaleseMalaysia36,500No Longer UnreachedSinhalaTheravada Buddhism
SindhiSindhiMalaysia36,500Unengaged and UnreachedSindhiHinduism
SelekauSelekauMalaysia10,000No Longer UnreachedKendayanEthnoreligion
SekapanSekapanMalaysia1,800No Longer UnreachedSekapanAnimism
SebuyauSebuyauMalaysia10,500No Longer UnreachedIbanAnimism
Rejang KayanRejang KayanMalaysia7,400No Longer UnreachedRejang KayanAnimism
PunjabisPunjabisMalaysia172,000Engaged yet UnreachedPanjabiSikhism
PeranakanPeranakanMalaysia5,000No Longer UnreachedMalay (individual language)Chinese Folk Religion
PenanPenanMalaysia13,500No Longer UnreachedEastern PenanEthnoreligion
Pandewan MurutPandewan MurutMalaysia3,000No Longer UnreachedPaluanAnimism
Orang SeletarOrang SeletarMalaysia1,300No Longer UnreachedOrang SeletarAnimism
Orang KanaqOrang KanaqMalaysia80No Longer UnreachedMalay (individual language)Animism
YacanYacanMalaysia16,500Unengaged and UnreachedYakanSunni Islam
TobilangTobilangMalaysia11,500No Longer UnreachedTobilungAnimism
Timogun MurutTimogun MurutMalaysia18,500No Longer UnreachedTimugon MurutSunni Islam
TemuanTemuanMalaysia22,500No Longer UnreachedTemuanAnimism
Tempasuk DusunTempasuk DusunMalaysia14,500No Longer UnreachedKadazan DusunAnimism
TeluguTeluguMalaysia138,000No Longer UnreachedTeluguHinduism
TausugTausugMalaysia500,000Unengaged and UnreachedTausugSunni Islam
TanjongTanjongMalaysia250No Longer UnreachedKanowit-Tanjong MelanauAnimism
TamilTamilMalaysia2,620,000No Longer UnreachedTamilHinduism
Tagal MurutTagal MurutMalaysia71,500No Longer UnreachedTagal MurutRoman Catholicism
SiduanSiduanMalaysia1,000No Longer UnreachedSibu MelanauSunni Islam
SianSianMalaysia175No Longer UnreachedSianAnimism
Serudung MurutSerudung MurutMalaysia2,000No Longer UnreachedSerudung MurutAnimism
SemelaiSemelaiMalaysia8,100No Longer UnreachedSemelaiAnimism
Sembakung MurutSembakung MurutMalaysia10,500No Longer UnreachedSembakung MurutAnimism
Semoq BeriSemoq BeriMalaysia5,400No Longer UnreachedSemaq BeriAnimism
KensiuKensiuMalaysia300Unengaged and UnreachedKensiuAnimism
SemaiSemaiMalaysia60,500No Longer UnreachedSemaiAnimism
Selungai MurutSelungai MurutMalaysia600No Longer UnreachedSelungai MurutAnimism
Sea DayakSea DayakMalaysia684,000No Longer UnreachedIbanEthnoreligion
Sarawak DayakSarawak DayakMalaysia31,500No Longer UnreachedBau BidayuhAnimism
SabanSabanMalaysia1,900No Longer UnreachedSa'banAnimism
Rungus DusunRungus DusunMalaysia68,000No Longer UnreachedRungusProtestantism
Rejang PunanRejang PunanMalaysia1,100No Longer UnreachedPunan Bah-BiauAnimism
PeluanPeluanMalaysia5,700No Longer UnreachedPaluanSunni Islam
Bangingi SamaBangingi SamaMalaysia90,000Unengaged and UnreachedBalangingiSunni Islam
TemiarTemiarMalaysia19,500Engaged yet UnreachedTemiarAnimism
NaromNaromMalaysia5,300No Longer UnreachedNaromSunni Islam
Murik KayanMurik KayanMalaysia2,700No Longer UnreachedMurik (Malaysia)Animism
MolbogMolbogMalaysia3,400Unengaged and UnreachedMolbogFolk Islam
MillikinMillikinMalaysia5,500No Longer UnreachedRemunAnimism
MinangkabauMinangkabauMalaysia774,000Engaged yet UnreachedNegeri Sembilan MalaySunni Islam
Mah MeriMah MeriMalaysia5,300Engaged yet UnreachedBesisiAnimism
MadangMadangMalaysia23,500No Longer UnreachedMainstream KenyahProtestantism
LelakLelakMalaysia550Unengaged and UnreachedMalay (individual language)Sunni Islam
LaraLaraMalaysia17,500No Longer UnreachedRara Bakati'Animism
LanohLanohMalaysia375No Longer UnreachedLanohAnimism
Lanas LobuLanas LobuMalaysia6,100No Longer UnreachedLanas LobuAnimism
LahananLahananMalaysia900Unengaged and UnreachedLahananAnimism
Kwijau DusunKwijau DusunMalaysia12,500No Longer UnreachedKuijauAnimism
Klias River KadazanKlias River KadazanMalaysia2,500No Longer UnreachedKlias River KadazanAnimism
KiputKiputMalaysia4,100Unengaged and UnreachedKiputSunni Islam
KintaqKintaqMalaysia350Engaged yet UnreachedKintaqAnimism
KimaraganKimaraganMalaysia36,500No Longer UnreachedKimaragangProtestantism
KayamanKayamanMalaysia1,200No Longer UnreachedKajamanAnimism
KanowitKanowitMalaysia425No Longer UnreachedKanowit-Tanjong MelanauAnimism
KalabuanKalabuanMalaysia13,000No Longer UnreachedUpper KinabatanganSunni Islam
KalabitKalabitMalaysia6,700No Longer UnreachedKelabitProtestantism
Kalabakan MurutKalabakan MurutMalaysia3,500No Longer UnreachedKalabakanSunni Islam
JahaiJahaiMalaysia1,700Engaged yet UnreachedJehaiAnimism
Jah HutJah HutMalaysia5,400No Longer UnreachedJah HutAnimism
Idahan DusunIdahan DusunMalaysia18,500No Longer UnreachedIda'anAnimism
DumpasDumpasMalaysia1,700No Longer UnreachedDumpasEthnoreligion
DuanoDuanoMalaysia4,300Engaged yet UnreachedMalay (individual language)Sunni Islam
ChewongChewongMalaysia750Engaged yet UnreachedChewongAnimism
ChavacanoChavacanoMalaysia1,000No Longer UnreachedChavacanoRoman Catholicism
ButoneseButoneseMalaysia20,500Unengaged and UnreachedWolioSunni Islam
Bukar SadongBukar SadongMalaysia72,500No Longer UnreachedBukar-Sadung BidayuhAnimism
BritishBritishMalaysia17,000No Longer UnreachedEnglishUnaffiliated
BintuluBintuluMalaysia10,500No Longer UnreachedBintuluAnimism
BiatahBiatahMalaysia91,000No Longer UnreachedBiatah BidayuhRoman Catholicism
BerawanBerawanMalaysia1,400No Longer UnreachedWest BerawanAnimism
BeketanBeketanMalaysia450No Longer UnreachedBukitanRoman Catholicism
BateqBateqMalaysia1,800No Longer UnreachedBatekAnimism
Baram KayanBaram KayanMalaysia10,000No Longer UnreachedBaram KayanRoman Catholicism
BaokanBaokanMalaysia4,300No Longer UnreachedBookanAnimism
BalauBalauMalaysia12,000No Longer UnreachedIbanAnimism
Bakong KenyahBakong KenyahMalaysia2,100No Longer UnreachedMainstream KenyahSunni Islam
Jama MapunJama MapunMalaysia6,500Unengaged and UnreachedMapunSunni Islam

To download a comprehensive people group list in spreadsheet form, visit our Research Data page.

Peoplegroups.org relies on updates from the field and other organizations for much of our data, so if you have any updates, please contact us. We use various international naming standards. For a list of these standards and fields, visit our Data Standards section.

Scroll to Top