Malay (ethnic group)
A Malay couple in traditional attire after their akad nikah (marriage solemnisation) ceremony. The groom is wearing a baju melayu paired with songkok and songket, while the bride is clad in baju kurung with a tudung.
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| Total population | |
|---|---|
| (c. 24 million) | |
| Regions with significant populations | |
 Malaysia: 14,749,378 Brunei: 261,902
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|
| Native area | . |
 Indonesia |
5,365,399 |
 Thailand |
1,964,384 |
 Singapore |
653,449 |
 Myanmar |
~27,000 |
| Diaspora | . |
 South Africa |
~200,000 |
 Sri Lanka |
40,189 |
 Australia |
33,183 |
 United Kingdom |
~33,000 |
| Languages | |
Official:
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|
| Religion | |
| A minority practicing Shia Islam as well as Christianity, Buddhism, Animism, Irreligion and Atheism. | |
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^ note: Highly naturalised population of mixed origins, but using the 'Malay' identity |
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Malays (Malay: Orang Melayu, Jawi: اورڠ ملايو) are an ethnic group of Austronesian peoples predominantly inhabiting the Malay Peninsula, eastern Sumatra and coastal Borneo, as well as the smaller islands which lie between these locations — areas that are collectively known as the Malay world. These locations today are part of the modern nations of Malaysia, Indonesia, Singapore, Brunei, and southern Thailand.
There is considerable genetic, linguistic, cultural, and social diversity among the many Malay subgroups, mainly due to hundreds of years of immigration and assimilation of various regional ethnicity and tribes within Maritime Southeast Asia. Historically, the Malay population is descended primarily from the earlier Malayic-speaking Austronesians and Austroasiatic tribes who founded several ancient maritime trading states and kingdoms, notably Brunei, Kedah, Langkasuka, Gangga Negara, Chi Tu, Nakhon Si Thammarat, Pahang, Melayu and Srivijaya
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