People Groups Lists Language:  Malay

Language:  Malay

Population of Groups Speaking

24,766,000

People Groups Speaking as Primary Language

43

Scripture Status

Complete Bible

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Gospel Recordings

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Map Notes
Click column headings for sorting ▲▼
Progress Scale: ●●●●●   
☀
 = Frontier peoples
Photo People Group ▲ Country Country
Population		 Global
Population		 Indigenous Primary Religion Progress
Scale		 % Christian
Adherent		 %
Evangelical		 Est. Workers
Needed *
Acehnese Malaysia 86,000 4,093,000 Islam ☀ 0.00 % 0.00 % 2
Bajau Bukit, Papar Malaysia 2,000 2,000 ● Islam ● 4.00 % 2.00 % 1
Banjarese, Banjar Malay Malaysia 27,000 4,424,000 Islam ☀ 0.00 % 0.00 % 1
Batu Punan Malaysia 1,200 1,200 ● Ethnic Religions ● 6.00 % 1.00 % -
Bazaar Low Malay Creole Singapore 11,000 11,000 ● Islam ☀ 0.00 % 0.00 % 1
Belitung Indonesia 115,000 115,000 ● Islam ☀ 0.05 % 0.02 % 2
Buginese Malaysia 147,000 5,883,000 ● Islam ☀ 0.00 % 0.00 % 3
Malay United Arab Emirates 30,000 17,582,000 Islam ● 0.30 % 0.20 % 1
Malay Australia 177,000 17,582,000 Islam ● 0.30 % 0.25 % 4
Malay Canada 2,600 17,582,000 Islam ● 0.11 % 0.10 % 1
Malay Comoros 1,100 17,582,000 ● Islam ● 0.90 % 0.30 % 1
Malay Myanmar (Burma) 27,000 17,582,000 Islam ☀ 0.03 % 0.02 % 1
Malay Cambodia 18,000 17,582,000 Islam ☀ 0.00 % 0.00 % 1
Malay Denmark 800 17,582,000 Islam ● 1.00 % 1.00 % 1
Malay China, Hong Kong 15,000 17,582,000 Islam ● 0.50 % 0.45 % 1
Malay Indonesia 3,284,000 17,582,000 ● Islam ☀ 0.01 % 0.00 % 66
Malay Japan 9,800 17,582,000 Islam ● 0.60 % 0.20 % 1
Malay Korea, South 9,600 17,582,000 Islam ● 1.00 % 0.50 % 1
Malay Christmas Island 400 17,582,000 Islam ● 0.50 % 0.50 % 1
Malay Madagascar 34,000 17,582,000 Islam ● 0.50 % 0.10 % 1
Malay Malaysia 13,192,000 17,582,000 ● Islam ☀ 0.10 % 0.08 % 264
Malay Netherlands 1,500 17,582,000 Islam ● 1.00 % 0.50 % 1
Malay New Zealand 20,000 17,582,000 Islam ● 0.90 % 0.30 % 1
Malay Saudi Arabia 18,000 17,582,000 Islam ● 0.80 % 0.20 % 1
Malay Singapore 549,000 17,582,000 ● Islam ● 0.60 % 0.20 % 11
Malay Taiwan 21,000 17,582,000 Islam ● 0.50 % 0.30 % 1
Malay United States 20,000 17,582,000 Islam ● 1.00 % 0.10 % 1
Malay Yemen 44,000 17,582,000 Islam ● 1.00 % 0.50 % 1
Malay, Cocos Islands Malaysia 5,900 8,200 ● Islam ☀ 0.00 % 0.00 % 1
Malay, Ketapang Indonesia 312,000 312,000 ● Islam ☀ 0.00 % 0.00 % 6
Malay, Malaysian Ireland 3,500 17,582,000 Islam ● 0.50 % 0.45 % 1
Malay, Malaysian United Kingdom 61,000 17,582,000 Islam ● 0.50 % 0.10 % 1
Malay, Pontianak Indonesia 323,000 323,000 ● Islam ● 3.00 % 0.01 % 6
Malay, Riau Singapore 17,000 1,917,000 Islam ● 0.30 % 0.05 % 1
Malay, Riau Indonesia 1,900,000 1,917,000 ● Islam ☀ 0.08 % 0.00 % 38
Malay, Sambas Indonesia 510,000 510,000 ● Islam ☀ 0.03 % 0.00 % 10
Malay, Sumatera North Indonesia 2,290,000 2,290,000 ● Islam ☀ 0.05 % 0.00 % 46
Malayali, Malayalam Malaysia 353,000 1,597,000 Islam ● 23.00 % 12.00 % -
Mamak, Talang Malaysia 127,000 154,000 ● Islam ☀ 0.00 % 0.00 % 3
Minangkabau, Orang Negeri Malaysia 955,000 955,000 ● Islam ☀ 0.00 % 0.00 % 19
Orang Kanaq Malaysia 200 200 ● Ethnic Religions ● 4.00 % 0.00 % 1
Tamiang Indonesia 46,000 46,000 ● Islam ☀ 0.00 % 0.00 % 1
Temoq Malaysia 800 800 ● Ethnic Religions ● 1.00 % 0.00 % 1
  Totals:  43           41 ●     507
Download Data Data Sources Definitions Prayer Cards
Click column headings for sorting ▲▼
Progress Scale: ●●●●●   
☀
 = Frontier peoples
Photo People Group ▲ Country Population Global
Population		 Indigenous Primary Religion Progress
Scale		 % Christian
Adherent		 %
Evangelical		 Est. Workers
Needed *
Bangka Indonesia 445,000 445,000 ● Islam ● 0.50 % 0.00 % 9
Kelabit Indonesia 800 6,600 ● Christianity ● 60.00 % 3.00 % -
Kelabit Malaysia 5,800 6,600 ● Christianity ● 72.00 % 5.00 % -
  Totals:  3           1 ●     9
Download Data Data Sources Definitions

Item Value
Status
Living
Ethnologue Code zlm
Written Yes
Bible Translation Complete Bible
Progress Scale ●

Language Alternate Names
Akit
Bahasa Daerah
Bahasa Malayu
Bahasa Melayu
coastal Jambi
Coastal Terengganu
Colloquial Malay
Informal Malay
Jugra-Muar-Melaka-Johor
Kapuas Hulu
Landak
Local Malay
Lubu
Malayu
Northwestern Kalimantan
Orang Hulu
Orang Kuala
Pahang
Riau islands
Riau islands (Sea Tribe dialects)
Riau Mainland
S
Sakai
Sanggau
Sarawak (Sarawak Malay)
Sarawak Malay
Sea Tribe dialects
Sekadau
Sintang
Southeast Island
Tamiang

Dialects
Bangka
Belitung
Bulongan
Daya
Deli
Inland Terengganu
Kelantan
Ketapang
Lengkayap
Malay
Mali
Mentuka
Paga Alam
Pontianak
Riau
Sambas
Sarawak
Southwestern Coastal Kalimantan
Sukadana
Tanjung Raja
Tebang
Tembaga
Upstream Western Kalimantan
West Borneo Coast Malay

Dialect Alternate Names
Bahasa Bangka
Bulongan Malay
Colloquial Malay
Deli Malay
Doih
Johor
Local Malay
Malay
Malay: Bangka
Malay: Belitung
Malay: Daya
Malay: Riau
Malay: Ritok
Malay: Sambas
Malay: Sarawak
Malayisch
Malayu
Melayu Bangka
Melayu Sambas
Melayu: Bulongan
Melayu: Daya
Melayu: Paga Alam
Melayu: Pontianak
Melayu: Riau
Melayu: Sambas
Melayu: Tanjung Raja
Mentuka-Doih
Riouw-lingga
Ritok
Sarawak
Sarawak Malay
Siantan
Tobak
Toba'k
Disclaimers:
  1. Joshua Project data is drawn from many sources and of varying accuracy depending on source and editorial decisions. Populations are scaled to the current year. Other data may have varying ages. We welcome suggested updates.
  2. A displayed zero can mean true zero, a very small rounded number or sometimes unknown. Blanks mean an unknown value.
  3. The data is sometimes not as precise as it appears. Values for %Christian Adherent and %Evangelical (which determine unreached status) are often informed estimates, some more accurate than others. We recommend against using %Christian Adherent and %Evangelical to calculate absolute numbers.
  4. Joshua Project makes every effort to ensure that the subject in an image is in fact from the specific people group. In rare instances a representative photo may be used.
  5. Joshua Project may be able to provide more information than what is published on this site. Please contact us.
  6. On-the-ground reality may vary from what is presented here. Before making travel plans based on data presented here, please confirm with other sources to the extent possible.
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