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Indian Population in Malaysia
India has the largest diaspora in the world, with more than 3.5 crore (35 million) NRIs and Persons of Indian Origin (PIOs) living across different countries. Malaysia is home to one of the largest and oldest Indian communities outside India, deeply rooted in the country’s history, culture, and economy.
According to the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA), there are 2,914,127 Indians (29.14 lakh) residing in Malaysia, consisting of:
- Persons of Indian Origin (PIOs) – 2,751,000 (27.51 Lakh)
- Non-Resident Indians (NRIs) – 163,127 (1.63 Lakh)
read about Population of Overseas Indians
Source: 2018 MEA report about overseas Indian population.
Indo-Malaysian Community — Who Are Malaysian Indians?
Indian Malaysians are Malaysian citizens of Indian ancestry and form the third-largest ethnic group in the country after Malays and Chinese. They are primarily descendants of Indians who migrated during the British colonial period to work in:
Plantations
Railways
Administration & trade
Today, Malaysian Indians make up around 6.6% of Malaysia’s total population, and as of 2026, the Indian population in Malaysia is estimated at 3 million (30 lakh).
They also form the 5th largest overseas Indian community in the world.
Ethnic Composition of Malaysian Indians
The majority of Malaysian Indians are ethnic Tamils, along with several other linguistic and cultural groups.
Main Indian Sub-Groups (Census Data)
| Community | Population |
|---|---|
| Tamils | 1,796,000 |
| Malayalees (Malayalam) | 228,900 |
| Telugus (Telugu) | 120,000 |
| Punjabis / Sikhs | 100,000 |
Smaller groups include Gujaratis, Sindhis, Bengalis, Marwaris and Kannadigas.
States in Malaysia With the Highest Indian Population
Indian communities are mainly concentrated in urban and industrial regions such as:
Selangor — 712,000
Perak — 293,300
Johor — 230,700
Penang — 166,000
Kuala Lumpur — 163,000
Negeri Sembilan — 154,000
Kedah — 143,200
Pahang — 66,300
Malacca — 51,400
Sabah — 12,200
Source: Census 2021
Religion of Indian population in Malaysia
The Indian community in Malaysia is religiously diverse, though the majority are Hindus, especially among Tamil Malaysians. Hinduism and Buddhism first reached the Malay Peninsula from India as early as the 2nd century AD, shaping much of the region’s early culture and heritage.
Religion-wise distribution:
Hindus — 86.2%
Christians — 6%
Muslims — 4%
Sikhs — 2%
Buddhists — 1.7%