ry of Kuala Lumpur and the island of Labuan. The 1995 population: 20.14 million, with about 80% living in Peninsular Malaysia (Quik facts, 1997). The society is multiracial with 11.5 million Malays and indigenous peoples, 5.2 million Chinese and 1.5 million Indians (Steinberger, 1997, 28).
In Sarawak and Sabah, the Dayaks, Kadazandusans, Bajaus, Melanaus, and Muruts are the main indigenous races. Other races include Europeans and Eurasians. Population growth averaged 2.5% per year over the 1985-95 period. It was 2.4% in 1995. The birth rate is 28 per 1,000 in 1996. Average population density is low at fewer than 60 per sq. km, but higher on the Peninsula. Life expectancy is 72 years, 75 for women and 70 for men. Some 45% of the population was urban in 1995. The main towns are Kuala Lumpur (1,145,095); Johor Baharu (328,646); and Melaka (295, 343) (Malaysia at a glance, 1998). Unemployment fell to 228,000 in 1995, the total labor force having risen to 8 million. Women constitute 36% of the labor force. There is a shortage of sk
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