Malaysia has one of the strongest economies in Southeast Asia and is said to be a model for economic success in the region. Booming service, tourism, and manufacturing industries are largely responsible for its wealth and development. The official language is Malay, but many languages are spoken among its diverse population of 27.5 million citizens. Malays comprise the largest ethnic group, roughly 60 percent. Another 25 percent are Chinese and 10 percent are Indian.

In recent decades, many of Malaysia's development indicators, such as high literacy rates, high GDP, low levels of poverty, and low infant mortality, have significantly improved. Additionally, Malaysia has met six of the eight UN Millennium Development Goals. Environmental concerns in this tropical country still need to be addressed. At one time, Malaysia was in the most biodiverse region in the world; however, aggressive deforestation, mining, and manufacturing have significantly changed the landscape, and high pollution rates now threaten Malaysia's well-being. These concerns may pose challenges to the country's further development.