This report is an indispensable reference guide to Malaysia, putting key facts and figures, political and economic information at your fingertips, without having to trawl through other books and websites. And it's not just dry data: the report combines key economic indicators with our expert analysis to bring you the most comprehensive overview of the Malaysian market.
 

 
Through a unique combination of macroeconomic and market data, this country profile gives you quick access to country data points, trends and analysis including:
 

 
the country's political and government make-up
 

 
the country's economic performance and GDP
 

 
the potential for development
 

 
detailed market and industry analysis of the country's business environment
 

TABLE OF CONTENTS
 
EXECUTIVE SUMMARY 3
 
CHAPTER 1 INTRODUCTION 8
 
1.1 What is this report about? 8
 
1.2 Who is the target reader? 8
 
1.3 How to use this report 8
 
CHAPTER 2 Key Facts & Overview 10
 
2.1 Key Facts 10
 
2.2 Overview 11
 
CHAPTER 3 Politics & Government 13
 
3.1 Summary 13
 
3.2 Elections and Government Make-up 14
 
3.3 Policy and Business 16
 
3.4 External Relations 17
 
CHAPTER 4 Economy 19
 
4.1 Summary 19
 
4.2 Economic Performance 19
 
4.3 Major Trading Partners 21
 
4.4 Major Issues 22
 
4.5 Prospects 23
 
CHAPTER 5 Macroeconomic Data 24
 
5.1 GDP 24
 
5.2 Population by age and gender 30
 
5.3 Exchange rate 32
 
5.4 Employment 33
 
5.5 Unemployment 34
 
5.6 Working women 36
 

 

 

 
LIST OF TABLES
 
Table 1: Malaysian real GDP (MYR million), 1998-2003 24
 
Table 2: Malaysian real GDP forecast (MYR million), 2003-2008 25
 
Table 3: Malaysian real GDP (US$ billion), 1998-2003 26
 
Table 4: Malaysian real GDP forecast (US$ billion), 2003-2008 27
 
Table 5: GDP per capita in Malaysia compared to major Asia-Pacific nations, 2003 28
 
Table 6: GDP growth per capita in Malaysia compared to major Asia-Pacific nations, 1998-2003 and forecast 2003-08 28
 
Table 7: Malaysian population by age and gender (thousands), 2003 30
 
Table 8: Exchange rate, MYR-US$, 1990-2003 (annual average) 32
 
Table 9: Malaysian employed population (thousands), 1990-2003 33
 
Table 10: Malaysia unemployed population (thousands), 1990-2003 34
 
Table 11: Percentage of Malaysian labor force that is unemployed, 1990-2003 35
 
Table 12: Number of working women in Malaysia (thousands), 1990-2003 36
 
Table 13: Percentage of Malaysian employed population that is female, compared to major Asia-Pacific nations, 1990-2003 37
 

 

 

 
LIST OF CHARTS
 
Figure 1: Malaysian real GDP (MYR million), 1998-2003 24
 
Figure 2: Malaysian real GDP forecast (MYR million), 2003-2008 25
 
Figure 3: Malaysian real GDP (US$ billion), 1998-2003 26
 
Figure 4: Malaysian real GDP forecast (US$ billion), 2003-2008 27
 
Figure 5: Per capita GDP and growth rates in South Korea compared to major Asia-Pacific nations 29
 
Figure 6: Malaysian population by age and gender (thousands), 2003 31
 
Figure 7: Exchange rate, MYR-US$, 1990-2003 (annual average) 32
 
Figure 8: Malaysian employed population (millions), 1990-2003 33
 
Figure 9: Malaysia unemployed population (thousands), 1990-2003 34
 
Figure 10: Percentage of Malaysian labor force that is unemployed, 1990-2003 35
 
Figure 11: Number of working women in Malaysia (millions), 1990-2003 36
 
Figure 12: Percentage of Malaysian employed population that is female, compared to major Asia-Pacific nations, 1990-2003 37