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Malaysia

Key statistics

256,428

people were displaced or stateless (or returning from forced displacement) within the country at the end of 2024

138,414

people were registered as refugees in the country at the end of 2024, mostly from Myanmar

$21.8 million

are needed in 2025 to ensure that operations and programmes in Malaysia are sustained

Malaysia hosts over 180,000 refugees and asylum-seekers, the vast majority from Myanmar – including a large Rohingya population – with others from more than 50 countries. Most live in urban areas across Peninsular Malaysia, notably in Klang Valley, Johor, and Penang.

In the absence of a legal framework for refugee protection, UNHCR leads all aspects of registration, documentation, and status determination. The organization also works with the Government of Malaysia to strengthen the protection environment and develop a more inclusive refugee policy aligned with the Sustainable Development Goals and the Global Compact on Refugees. 

Together with partners – including civil society, the private sector, and refugee communities – UNHCR advocates for greater self-reliance by promoting access to legal work, education, healthcare, and social protection.

Strategy and results

This section provides key information related to the Global Appeal and Global Report.

Strategy

Latest multi-year strategy, outlining key priorities and a comprehensive overview of operational plans as part of the Global Appeal.

Download the strategy

Indicators and targets

Indicators and targets enable operations to establish their benchmarks and targets for comparison with results.

Download indicators and targets

Annual Results Report

Latest Annual Results Report highlighting key achievements from the year and published as part of the Global Report.

Download the ARR

Population and financial overview

Malaysia

Use the year selector to access information from previous years.

Populations

Population types

Note: The "Stateless" category does not include stateless people who are also in other categories, to avoid double counting. The total number of stateless, across all categories, is  .

NB: 2025 figures are planning figures.

Source: UNHCR Refugee Data Finder for years until 2022, UNHCR planning figures (COMPASS) otherwise.

Population by country

NB: 2025 figures are planning figures.

Source: UNHCR Refugee Data Finder for years until 2022, UNHCR planning figures (COMPASS) otherwise.

Population by origin

NB: 2025 figures are planning figures.

Source: UNHCR Refugee Data Finder for years until 2022, UNHCR planning figures (COMPASS) otherwise.

Financial

Budget and expenditure trend

Source: 2025 budget was approved by ExCom in October 2024 while the 2024 budget figures include the latest supplementary appeals and are updated on a monthly basis.

Budget by pillar
Budget by objective

Note: The table presents the  budget for this operation broken down at the objective level. Resource allocation at the objective level is subject to change during the course of the year as the operational situation evolves and priorities shift. The current budget, reflected in the bottom line of this table, is updated on a monthly basis and is replaced by the final budget at year-end.

Expenditure by Outcome Area
Budget by Impact Area
Protect: Attaining favourable protection environments
Respond: Realizing rights in safe environments
Empower: Empowering communities and achieving gender equality
Solve: Securing solutions

Source: 2023 budget as approved by the Executive Committee in October 2022.
2022 current budget as approved by the High Commissioner as of October 2022; pending presentation to the ExCom's Standing Committee.

Budget by Outcome and Enabling Areas

Source: 2023 budget as approved by the Executive Committee in October 2022.
2022 current budget as approved by the High Commissioner as of October 2022; pending presentation to the ExCom's Standing Committee.

Budget by Impact Area
Protect: Attaining favourable protection environments
Respond: Realizing rights in safe environments
Empower: Empowering communities and achieving gender equality
Solve: Securing solutions

Source: 2024 budget and 2023 current budget are taken from the budget document approved by UNHCR's Executive Committee in October 2023.

Budget by Impact Area
Protect: Attaining favourable protection environments
Respond: Realizing rights in safe environments
Empower: Empowering communities and achieving gender equality
Solve: Securing solutions

Source: 2025 budget was approved by ExCom in October 2024 while the 2024 budget figures include the latest supplementary appeals and are updated on a monthly basis.

Budget by Outcome and Enabling Areas

Source: 2025 budget was approved by ExCom in October 2024 while the 2024 budget figures include the latest supplementary appeals and are updated on a monthly basis.

Budget by Outcome and Enabling Areas

Source: 2025 budget was approved by ExCom in October 2024 while the 2024 budget figures include the latest supplementary appeals and are updated on a monthly basis.

Budget by Impact Area
Protect: Attaining favourable protection environments
Respond: Realizing rights in safe environments
Empower: Empowering communities and achieving gender equality
Solve: Securing solutions
Budget by Outcome and Enabling Areas

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Strategy - Country

Strategy

For more information about our work in Malaysia:

Malaysia website

Find more information on our work in the area and the latest local news and stories.

Visit the Malaysia website (English)

 

Refworld

Find legislation, case law and UNHCR policy relating to claims for international protection.

Visit Refworld

 

Office contact details

The UNHCR Representative in Malaysia

Street Address:
570 Jalan Bukit Petaling, 50460 Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia

Mailing Address:
P.O. Box 10185, 50706 Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia

Phone:
+60 3 2118 4800

Fax:
+60 3 2141 1780

Email:
[email protected]

Time zone:
GMT +8

Working hours

  • Monday: 8:00 - 16:00
  • Tuesday: 8:00 - 16:00
  • Wednesday: 8:00 - 16:00
  • Thursday: 8:00 - 16:00
  • Friday: 8:00 - 16:00
  • Saturday: closed
  • Sunday: closed