Language details — Malaysia

This table lists languages spoken in Malaysia, including official, working, regional, and minority languages.

Percentages and speaker counts may be unavailable for some languages due to census and reporting limitations.

Language details

25 languages
Language Statuses Language presence
Malay (macrolanguage)
Official Working
75% · ≈ 27.3 m
English
Working
21% · ≈ 7.6 m
Mandarin Chinese
No special status 17% · ≈ 6.2 m
Tamil
Regional
4.2% · ≈ 1.5 m
Iban
National Regional
2.5% · ≈ 910 k
Javanese
No special status 1.2% · ≈ 437 k
Negeri Sembilan Malay
No special status 1.2% · ≈ 437 k
Ambonese Malay
Official Working
Batek
Minority
Besisi
Minority
Chewong
Minority
Jakattoe
Minority
Jakun
Minority
Jehai
Minority
Kadazan Dusun
National
Kensiu
Minority
Lanoh
Minority
Minriq
Minority
Orang Kanaq
Minority
Orang Seletar
Minority
Semai
Minority
Semaq Beri
Minority
Semelai
Minority
Temuan
Minority
Tutuba
Minority
Data compiled from national censuses and international linguistic datasets.
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