Demographics of Penang

Penang is a diverse multiethnic and multicultural society. Residents of the state are colloquially known as Penangites or "Penang-lang".[3] Traditionally regarded as a Chinese-majority state, the Bumiputera population, which includes ethnic Malays, has reached parity with that of the Chinese in recent years.

Demographics of Penang
Population1,740,405 (2020)[1]
Density1,659/km2[1]
Growth rate1.3% (2020)[1]
Birth rate11.3 births/1,000 population (2020)[2]
Death rate6.1 deaths/1,000 population (2020)[2]
Life expectancy74.2 years (2020)[2]
 • male72.0 years (2020)[2]
 • female76.7 years (2020)[2]
Fertility rate1.3 (2020)[2]
Age structure
0–14 years20.1%
15–64 years73.3%
65 and over6.6%
Nationality
Major ethnicChinese, Malay, Indians, Peranakans, Eurasians, Siamese
Language
OfficialMalay
SpokenEnglish, Malay, Penang Hokkien, Mandarin, Tamil

As of 2020, the population of Penang stood at 1,740,405, growing by about 1.3% annually. 1,599,874, or 91.9%, were Malaysian citizens, while 140,531 were non-citizens. Ethnic Chinese, Malays and Indians cumulatively comprised nearly 91% of Penang's population.[1] Total fertility rate was 1.3 that year.[2]

Penang has the highest population density of all Malaysian states at 1,659/km2 (4,300/sq mi), as well as an urbanisation rate of 92.5%, the second highest after Selangor.[1][4] Seberang Perai, Malaysia's third largest city, was home to over 54% of Penang's population, while George Town contained nearly 46%. George Town serves as the core city of the George Town Conurbation, Malaysia's second largest metropolitan area, home to a population of over 2.84 million.[1]

Islam is the state's official religion, but Buddhism, Hinduism and Christianity are cumulatively proscribed by over half of the state's population.[1][5] Within Peninsular Malaysia, Penang is the only state with a non-Muslim majority.[1] While Malay is the official language of Malaysia, English, Mandarin and Tamil are also widely used within Penang.[6] Penang Hokkien, a variant of the Southern Min group of languages, remains the unofficial lingua franca in the state.[7]

The state's diversified economy has made it one of the major recipients of interstate migrants within Malaysia.[8] Between 2015 and 2016, Penang achieved the highest migration effectiveness ratio among Malaysian states. For every 100 Malaysians that migrated into and out of Penang, the state's population increased by 58 persons.[9][10] The bulk of the interstate immigrants came from Perak, Selangor, Kedah, Johor and Kuala Lumpur.[10]

History

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Historical population
YearPop.±%
1881190,597—    
1891231,224+21.3%
1901247,808+7.2%
1911270,537+9.2%
1921292,485+8.1%
1931340,259+16.3%
1947446,321+31.2%
1957572,100+28.2%
1970776,124+35.7%
1980954,638+23.0%
19911,116,801+17.0%
20001,313,449+17.6%
20101,526,324+16.2%
20201,740,405+14.0%
Source: [1][11][12][13]

Penang Island had been sparsely populated prior to the establishment of George Town. The first British visit to Penang in 1592 recorded no people on the island but did encounter a group of Orang Asli on the mainland.[14]

Founded as an entrepot by Francis Light in 1786, George Town quickly experienced population growth fueled by immigration from various parts of Asia.[15][16] At the time of George Town's establishment, Elisha Trapaud, a member of Light's landing party, described that the island was inhabited by “58 people in Malay-style houses”.[17] Within two years, George Town's population reached 1,000, increasing to 12,000 by 1804.[16]

An official census in 1881 showed that Penang had a population of 190,597, or about 45% of the Straits Settlements’ population. Penang continued to hold the majority of the Straits Settlements’ population until 1911, when Singapore's population surpassed Penang by 311,985 to 278,003. Within the settlement of George Town, ethnic Chinese comprised nearly 63% of the population in 1911.[11][18] By 1921, the Chinese population of Penang outstripped that of the Malays by 135,288 to 110,382.[11]

By the time Malaya gained independence in 1957, Penang held a population of more than half a million.[19] By 1991, Penang's population had exceeded one million, with mainland Seberang Perai overtaking Penang Island in population at the same time.[20] However, the state's population growth had begun to slow since the 1970s. In 2020, annual population growth was at 1.3%, a reduction from 2.1% in 2010.[1]

Population distribution

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Population density by subdivisions in Penang, derived from the 2020 census.[21]

As of 2020, Seberang Perai contained a population of 946,092, or more than 54% of Penang's population. This also made Seberang Perai the third largest city in Malaysia, after Kuala Lumpur and Kajang. George Town, the capital city of Penang, was home to 794,313 residents, or nearly 46% of the state's population. As George Town has a smaller land area, George Town's population density of 2,595.8/km2 (6,723/sq mi) was double that of Seberang Perai, which stood at 1,264.8/km2 (3,276/sq mi).[1]

Within George Town, the areas with the highest density were Jelutong, Ayer Itam and Tanjong Tokong. The city centre had a population density of 6,209/km2 (16,080/sq mi). In Seberang Perai, Mukim 14 (Mak Mandin) recorded the highest population density, at 7,565/km2 (19,590/sq mi).[21]

Population density by subdivisions in Seberang Perai[21]
District Subdivision Population (2020) Area (km2) Population

density (/km2)

North Mukim 1 8,430 9.1 926
Mukim 2 6,464 16.4 394
Mukim 3 10,288 26.6 387
Mukim 4 13,366 10.5 1,273
Mukim 5 8,357 18 464
Mukim 6 53,069 39 1,361
Mukim 7 21,202 12.5 1,696
Mukim 8 18,035 12.4 1,454
Mukim 9 12,376 7.2 1,719
Mukim 10 4,746 10.8 439
Mukim 11 22,153 15.6 1,420
Mukim 12 31,160 38 820
Mukim 13 10,692 28 382
Mukim 14 21,938 2.9 7,565
Mukim 16 16,080 6.9 2,330
Butterworth 80,378 14.6 5,505
Kepala Batas 361 0.2 1,805
Central Mukim 1 48,785 17.6 2,772
Mukim 2 5,557 8.3 670
Mukim 3 8,452 4.7 1,798
Mukim 4 12,102 8.1 1,494
Mukim 5 4,889 6.4 764
Mukim 6 54,416 10.7 5,086
Mukim 7 6,056 4.1 1,477
Mukim 8 3,379 3.5 965
Mukim 9 9,183 2.2 4,174
Mukim 10 7,354 2 3,677
Mukim 11 37,704 10.5 3,591
Mukim 12 9,881 16.9 585
Mukim 13 24,982 13.9 1,797
Mukim 14 46,280 18.8 2,462
Mukim 15 68,097 16 4,256
Mukim 16 17,312 17.2 1,007
Mukim 17 3,559 22.3 160
Mukim 18 2,605 10.9 239
Mukim 19 5,802 15.8 367
Mukim 20 13,935 10.3 1,353
Mukim 21 4,431 9.3 476
Bukit Mertajam 12,079 4 3,020
Perai 16,150 5.2 3,106
South Mukim 1 2,405 6.1 394
Mukim 2 1,510 4.8 315
Mukim 3 1,730 10.3 168
Mukim 4 9,884 13.2 749
Mukim 5 8,711 8.9 979
Mukim 6 7,679 9.1 844
Mukim 7 20,102 18.4 1,093
Mukim 8 2,382 15.3 156
Mukim 9 18,802 16.1 1,168
Mukim 10 9,033 21.6 418
Mukim 11 19,586 45.9 427
Mukim 12 10,290 9.6 1,072
Mukim 13 11,409 29.5 387
Mukim 14 22,990 13.9 1,654
Mukim 15 35,638 18.5 1,926
Mukim 16 191 1.2 159
Nibong Tebal 1,425 0.7 2,036
Sungai Bakap 240 0.1 2,400
Population distribution by subdivisions in George Town[21]
District Subdivision Population (2020) Area (km2) Population

density (/km2)

Northeast Paya Terubong 226,712 32.7 6,933
Bukit Paya Terubong 1,998 4.9 408
Mukim 15 13 4.8 3
Mukim 16 1,408 3.7 381
Mukim 17 2,579 25 103
Mukim 18 18,217 9.2 1,980
Ayer Itam 16,974 1.8 9,430
Batu Ferringhi 9,046 2.3 3,933
Penang Hill 332 3.6 92
Gelugor 18,662 2.9 6,435
City centre 158,336 25.5 6,209
Jelutong 63,507 4.4 14,433
Tanjong Bungah 14,271 2.8 5,097
Tanjong Tokong 12,550 1.5 8,367
Tanjong Pinang 11,970 4.5 2,660
Southwest Pantai Acheh 4,302 23 187
Teluk Bahang 2,531 20.4 124
Bukit Sungai Pinang 1,919 6.2 310
Batu Hitam 3,574 10 357
Bukit Balik Pulau 1,282 5.2 247
Pondok Upih 7,679 8.9 863
Bukit Genting 1,509 6.1 247
Bukit Pasir Panjang 1,444 5.6 258
Bukit Gemuruh 17,379 9.6 1,810
Bukit Relau 18,755 11.5 1,631
Teluk Kumbar 21,481 6.8 3,159
Bayan Lepas 130,455 31.9 4,089
Sungai Pinang 2,323 2 1,162
Sungai Rusa 2,817 4.2 671
Permatang Pasir 2,439 6 407
Bagan Air Hitam 3,382 3.6 939
Titi Teras 2,394 3.6 665
Kongsi 2,730 1 2,730
Kampung Paya 3,981 1 3,981
Sungai Burung 1,523 2.9 525
Pulau Betong 1,551 3.9 398
Dataran Genting 2,179 2.2 990
Balik Pulau 109 0.1 1,090

Ethnicities

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Ethnic composition of Penang in 2020[1]
Ethnicity Population
Chinese
718,362
Malay
707,861
Other Bumiputeras
8,038
Indian
155,492
Others
10,121
Non-citizens
140,531
Total
1,740,405
Ethnic composition of Seberang Perai in 2020[21]
Ethnicity Population
Malay
463,633
Other Bumiputeras
3,186
Chinese
311,569
Indian
90,677
Others
3,783
Non-citizens
73,244
Total
946,092
Population by ethnic groups in Seberang Perai[21]
District Subdivision Population (2020)
Malaysian citizens Non-citizens Total
Malay Other

Bumiputeras

Chinese Indian Others
North Mukim 1 8,067 8 201 59 5 90 8,430
Mukim 2 5,997 4 383 4 3 73 6,464
Mukim 3 9,756 19 241 66 15 191 10,288
Mukim 4 12,898 26 182 41 13 206 13,366
Mukim 5 7,352 8 591 150 43 213 8,357
Mukim 6 41,757 114 5,778 3,333 117 1,970 53,069
Mukim 7 15,062 63 4,024 1,347 48 658 21,202
Mukim 8 15,885 16 395 196 43 1,500 18,035
Mukim 9 3,573 97 6,451 1,535 135 585 12,376
Mukim 10 4,701 1 18 5 2 19 4,746
Mukim 11 14,783 53 6,275 786 51 205 22,153
Mukim 12 24,257 83 3,921 1,434 70 1,395 31,160
Mukim 13 9,587 14 68 280 9 734 10,692
Mukim 14 804 75 18,990 1,139 108 822 21,938
Mukim 16 8,697 41 6,477 730 28 107 16,080
Butterworth 19,346 219 41,489 11,360 367 7,597 80,378
Kepala Batas 129 0 131 100 0 1 361
Central Mukim 1 22,147 142 11,078 7,593 426 7,399 48,785
Mukim 2 3,496 3 1,910 63 3 82 5,557
Mukim 3 7,847 6 435 104 14 46 8,452
Mukim 4 6,269 24 4,714 831 31 233 12,102
Mukim 5 4,488 8 293 21 8 71 4,889
Mukim 6 39,387 232 5,012 1,918 292 7,575 54,416
Mukim 7 4,767 46 967 200 16 60 6,056
Mukim 8 3,124 2 154 8 4 87 3,379
Mukim 9 3,575 16 5,285 222 16 69 9,183
Mukim 10 1,591 22 4,730 873 23 115 7,354
Mukim 11 7,611 175 16,824 3,092 384 9,618 37,704
Mukim 12 4,991 18 3,376 760 48 688 9,881
Mukim 13 7,223 81 8,968 3,196 206 5,308 24,982
Mukim 14 12,571 95 24,347 4,390 234 4,643 46,280
Mukim 15 16,075 176 37,786 7,842 241 5,977 68,097
Mukim 16 9,080 38 6,585 1,233 35 341 17,312
Mukim 17 809 9 2,395 320 10 16 3,559
Mukim 18 1,840 3 690 16 6 50 2,605
Mukim 19 5,364 4 288 27 61 58 5,802
Mukim 20 12,341 19 1,254 203 21 97 13,935
Mukim 21 4,376 2 6 2 4 41 4,431
Bukit Mertajam 2,536 31 8,194 981 67 270 12,079
Perai 4,012 57 5,349 4,089 91 2,552 16,150
South Mukim 1 2,144 3 212 13 5 28 2,405
Mukim 2 1,476 1 0 0 1 32 1,510
Mukim 3 431 1 1,035 238 4 21 1,730
Mukim 4 2,136 8 6,071 1,197 32 440 9,884
Mukim 5 6,257 12 1,121 1,210 12 99 8,711
Mukim 6 6,082 27 525 968 13 64 7,679
Mukim 7 8,348 48 7,063 3,862 36 745 20,102
Mukim 8 2,074 4 157 138 0 9 2,382
Mukim 9 10,724 45 5,770 1,986 58 219 18,802
Mukim 10 6,659 17 1,939 305 11 102 9,033
Mukim 11 5,766 22 8,682 4,851 52 213 19,586
Mukim 12 1,148 0 1,356 506 9 7,271 10,290
Mukim 13 6,861 17 1,735 2,114 36 646 11,409
Mukim 14 5,259 24 11,642 5,124 104 837 22,990
Mukim 15 10,556 92 16,935 7,199 111 745 35,638
Mukim 16 191 0 0 0 0 0 191
Nibong Tebal 118 0 929 367 1 10 1,425
Sungai Bakap 46 1 142 50 0 1 240
Ethnic composition of George Town in 2020[21]
Ethnicity Population
Chinese
406,793
Malay
244,228
Other Bumiputeras
4,852
Indian
64,815
Others
6,338
Non-citizens
67,287
Total
794,313
Population by ethnic groups in George Town[21]
District Subdivision Population (2020)
Malaysian citizens Non-citizens Total
Malay Other

Bumiputeras

Chinese Indian Others
Northeast Paya Terubong 52,182 1,593 127,513 21,305 2,299 21,820 226,712
Bukit Paya Terubong 59 7 1,642 83 9 198 1,998
Mukim 15 0 0 12 0 0 1 13
Mukim 16 60 6 1,168 140 14 20 1,408
Mukim 17 176 3 1,653 231 58 458 2,579
Mukim 18 1,469 64 12,444 2,318 239 1,683 18,217
Ayer Itam 2,071 48 12,316 1,903 57 579 16,974
Batu Ferringhi 1,964 38 4,128 1,408 80 1,428 9,046
Penang Hill 6 1 42 20 7 256 332
Gelugor 8,814 281 6,173 2,406 93 895 18,662
City centre 31,775 880 90,589 13,996 1,169 19,927 158,336
Jelutong 11,570 260 44,458 5,109 544 1,566 63,507
Tanjong Bungah 1,466 56 10,028 1,103 306 1,312 14,271
Tanjong Tokong 4,217 42 6,852 729 115 595 12,550
Tanjong Pinang 2,773 19 5,925 769 280 2,204 11,970
Southwest Pantai Acheh 2,940 2 1,073 229 10 48 4,302
Teluk Bahang 2,139 13 290 43 4 42 2,531
Bukit Sungai Pinang 1,466 3 399 25 3 23 1,919
Batu Hitam 1,302 15 1,932 241 17 67 3,574
Bukit Balik Pulau 295 2 772 103 2 108 1,282
Pondok Upih 4,981 36 2,288 248 28 98 7,679
Bukit Genting 1,256 2 232 2 1 16 1,509
Bukit Pasir Panjang 623 1 783 18 1 18 1,444
Bukit Gemuruh 14,288 57 2,333 471 52 178 17,379
Bukit Relau 6,485 122 10,618 1,067 99 364 18,755
Teluk Kumbar 14,532 116 4,680 1,079 99 975 21,481
Bayan Lepas 55,058 599 52,681 9,172 705 12,240 130,455
Sungai Pinang 1,504 0 808 8 2 1 2,323
Sungai Rusa 2,324 1 470 3 1 18 2,817
Permatang Pasir 2,204 6 194 20 1 14 2,439
Bagan Air Hitam 2,393 13 798 131 5 42 3,382
Titi Teras 2,121 12 148 102 4 7 2,394
Kongsi 2,022 34 522 116 15 21 2,730
Kampung Paya 3,291 8 501 152 8 21 3,981
Sungai Burung 1,507 1 1 0 2 12 1,523
Pulau Betong 1,524 1 5 6 3 12 1,551
Dataran Genting 1,852 17 239 46 6 19 2,179
Balik Pulau 12 0 83 13 0 1 109

Maps

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Chinese

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The Chingay parade is perceived as a major form of expression of the Penang Chinese identity.[22]

Ethnic Chinese immigrants and traders had arrived on Penang Island in the years immediately after the founding of George Town. Francis Light noted in his diary on 18 July 1786, one day after his arrival on the island, that a group of Chinese led by a “Captain China” presented him with a gift of fishing nets. Chinese settlers began arriving at what is now the city centre and Tanjong Tokong.[17][23] Light regarded the Chinese as "a valuable acquisition" and "the only people of the [E]ast from whom a revenue [might] be raised without expense and extraordinary efforts of government". Under his successor George Alexander William Leith, the Chinese population grew to approximately 6,000, with the wealthier class owning "valuable estates, in land and houses", while artisans, labourers, fishermen and market. Gardeners commanded high wages because they were "laboriously good workmen".[16]

The Peranakan Chinese soon evolved as an influential sub-group within George Town's Chinese community.[24][25] Descendants of mixed Malay and Chinese ancestries who had inhabited the region for generations, the Peranakans adopted Malay socio-cultural traditions in terms of cuisine, attire and language, amalgamated with Chinese beliefs. There was a distinct preference for English-medium education and consequently, the Peranakans were known as the "King’s Chinese" for their loyalty to the British Crown rather than China.[26][27] They also retained significant influence in the city's commercial and societal spheres.[26][25]

The Peranakans were distinct from waves of newer arrivals from China, known colloquially as “sin-kheh”. Originating from Fujian and Guangdong provinces, the “sin-kheh” were divided along dialect lines, establishing clan associations to assist new arrivals in accommodation, protection and employment. The Hokkiens and the Teochews formed the bulk of the new arrivals, and dominated trade, real estate, large plantation-scale commercial agriculture, and retail shopkeeping. The Cantonese arrived in smaller numbers, but were considered more hardy and robust, and they predominated as artisans and traders. Other dialect groups included the Hakkas and the Hainanese.[16] The waves of Chinese immigration also created predominantly Chinese areas within George Town such as the Clan Jetties, while in mainland Province Wellesley (now Seberang Perai), cash crop industries attracted Teochew planters to areas like Bukit Mertajam, Bukit Tambun and Batu Kawan.[16][28]

Malay

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Native merchants from Sumatra and the Malay Peninsula actively traded in Penang following the establshment of George Town. Malay merchants traded rattan, agricultural produce such as sago, rice, pepper, spices, ivory, ebony, tin and gold, in exchange for European goods.[16][29] On the island, Malays originally resided at the outskirts of the new settlement, such as at the Pinang River, Jalan Perak, Dato Keramat Road, Batu Uban and Teluk Duyung.[16] By 1798, a "Malay town" had emerged to the south of Acheen Street.[30]

In Province Wellesley (now Seberang Perai), Malays were primarily engaged in rural subsistence rice farming and coastal fishing. The Siamese invasion of neighbouring Kedah in 1821 forced an influx of Malay refugees into Province Wellesley, leading to an increase in the mainland territory's population to approximatelt 67,000 by 1858.[16]

Apart from indigenous Malays, Penang also attracted immigrants from Sumatra and Java.[29] Pepper trade drew in merchants from Aceh, which gradually assimilated with the local Malay community through commercial ties and intermarriages. Acehnese prominence in the pepper trade led to the emergence of a Malay Muslim entrepreneurial enclave centred at Acheen Street. Meanwhile, early Javanese settlers in Penang were engaged as workers in the spice and sugar plantations in Province Wellesley, as well as at the Eastern Smelting Company, George Town's sole tin smelting company. Dutch restrictions limited Javanese immigration to Penang, and the Javanese community in the colony was similarly assimilated into the wider Malay group.[16]

Local academics and politicians allege that in the decades following Malaya's independence, rapid development and rising living costs have resulted in the displacement of ethnic Malays from the city centre of George Town to mainland Seberang Perai.[31][32] By 1975, the majority of the land within the city centre was estimated to be owned by ethnic Chinese.[18] This led to underlying communal tensions, with Malay organisations such as the United Malays National Organisation (UMNO) and the Penang Malays Association (Pemenang) aggressively advocating for development initiatives specifically tailored to Malays.[33] Proposals have been made to establish a Malay enclave within downtown George Town, raising concerns about potential shifts in voting patterns.[31]

Indian

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In George Town, Thaipusam is celebrated with processions taking place throughout the city.

Convicts from the Indian subcontinent were brought to Penang soon after the founding of George Town for public works. The transfer of convicts to Penang increased with the designation of Penang as a penal station in 1795, replacing Port Blair in the Andaman Islands. These arrivals were joined by soldiers from Madras – both Hindu and Muslim – who were deployed as Penang's garrison force. Commercial links with the Indian subcontinent also attracted merchants and labourers from Mumbai and Coromandel to Penang; the south Indian Muslim traders from the latter were referred to as “Chuliahs” by Francis Light himself.[16]

North Indian arrivals included Bengalis, Parsees, Punjabis, Sindhis and Gujeratis. The northern Indians and Indian Muslims were prominently involved in wholesaling, retail and distribution trade. However, the Tamils of southern India soon formed the bulk of the Indian community in Penang. Tamils primarily worked as labourers, stevedores, plantation workers and in petty trading. Money lending also became the forte of the “chettiar”, a Hindu clan.[16]

George Town has long been a home to the distinct Jawi Peranakan community, which descended from intermarriages between Indians and local Malay womenfolk, particularly from Kedah. The Jawi Peranakan traditionally dominated in money changing, jewellery, newspaper distribution, publishing, petty trading, and bakery and bread distributions. Staple dishes of the Jawi Peranakans such as nasi kandar and mee goreng have become among the more popular foods in Penang to this day.[16]

Eurasian

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Penang is home to a small Eurasian community, largely clustered around Kampung Serani in George Town. Descended from intermarriages between Europeans and Asians, Eurasians made up among the earliest immigrants to Penang; in 1786, soon after the establishment of George Town, a group of Eurasians from Kuala Kedah settled at China Street and Bishop Street. In the 1910s, another community of Eurasians from Phuket settled at what is now Kampung Serani.[16][34] Those of Portuguese ancestry proscribed to the Catholic faith, while those with Anglo-Dutch lineage tended to be Protestants. The Eurasians in Penang share a common affinity with the Peranakan Chinese due to their mixed ancestries and their Western-oriented educational background, which also allowed the Eurasians to serve in clerical positions in the colonial bureaucracy, European businesses and the professions.[16]

Siamese

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Revellers celebrating Songkran at Wat Chayamangkalaram in George Town.

Kampung Siam in George Town is an enclave established by Siamese immigrants, centred around Wat Chayamangkalaram. The area had been cleared in 1795 and by 1830, there were 648 Siamese and Burmese residents in the new settlement. Siamese and Burmese settlers worked in cash crop plantations and petty trade. Intermarriages were common between the two ethnicities and the Chinese.[35]

The close links between Siam and Penang were retained into the 20th century. In 1915, King Rama VI visited George Town, during which he laid the foundation stone of the Kek Lok Si’s pagoda. In 1962, King Bhumibol Adulyadej unveiled the Reclining Buddha statue within Wat Chayamangkalaram, in a ceremony attended by thousands of local residents.[35] To this day, Thailand maintains a consulate at Pulau Tikus, within the vicinity of Kampung Siam.[36]

Religion

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Religions in Penang in 2020[1]
Religion Population
Islam
792,187
Buddhism
654,808
Hinduism
145,871
Christianity
75,345
Other
42,025
No religion
30,169
Total
1,740,405

Islam is the official religion in Penang, prescribed by over 45% of the state's population in 2020.[1][5] Penang is one of only two states where Islam is not in the majority, the other being Sarawak. Non-Muslims collectively formed almost 55% of Penang's population.[1]

Buddhism is the second most proscribed religion in Penang, with nearly 37% of the population being adherents of either Theravada, Mahayana or Vajrayana sects.[1] Notably, Theravada Buddhism is influenced by various countries of origin, with Thai, Burmese and Sinhalese temples established throughout George Town since the colonial era.[37] Hindus made up the third largest religion in Penang, at over 8%, followed by the Christians at 4%.[1] The first Eurasian settlers in George Town brought along Catholicism, while small numbers of missionaries from the London Missionary Society sought to evangelise the non-Christian population into Protestanism. Both sects also established some of George Town's oldest mission schools, including St Xavier's Institution, Convent Light Street and St. George's Girls' School.[38][39]

The Penang state government maintains a policy of freedom of religion and religious assembly, and is also one of only three states in Malaysia to have a dedicated department for non-Muslim affairs.[5][40] In 2021, the state government formed the Penang Harmony Corporation to further enhance interreligious harmony in the state.[41] In particular, Pitt Street, within George Town's Central Business District (CBD), houses multiple places of worship belonging to Muslim, Taoist, Hindu and Christian communities, all located in close proximity to each other. This unique arrangement has earned Pitt Street the nickname "Street of Harmony".[42]

Languages

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A bilingual street sign in George Town. Bilingual street signs that display either English, Chinese, Tamil or Arabic names have been installed throughout the city since 2008.[43]

In Penang's diverse urban community, Malay, English, Hokkien, Mandarin, and Tamil are commonly used languages.[6] Penang is particularly renowned for its unique Penang Hokkien dialect.[44]

Like the rest of Malaysia, Malay is the official language in Penang. The Jawi Peranakans in the state also use a variant of the Kedah Malay dialect, slightly modified to suit the conditions of a cosmopolitan society.[45]

English had been the official language in Penang during British rule. The growth of English and mission schools throughout George Town contributed significantly to the widespread use of the language in the state.[46] The importance of English for global trade has also encouraged its adoption by the Chinese and Indian communities.[6] In recent years, there have been calls to reinstate English as one of Penang's official languages.[47][48]

Tamil is the most widely spoken language amongst ethnic Indians. In addition to Tamil, the other Indian languages used by minority Indians are Telugu and Punjabi, who hailed from diverse ancestries in the Indian subcontinent.[46][49][50] On the other hand, Penang's Chinese population uses a variety of Chinese dialects, including Teochew, Hakka and Cantonese.[46][6] Mandarin, which is more commonly used by youths for pragmatic reasons, has been the medium of instruction in Chinese schools throughout the state.[7]

Penang Hokkien serves as the lingua franca between the various ethnicities in Penang.[44][51][52] Originally a variant of the Southern Min group of languages, the dialect has absorbed numerous loanwords from Malay and English, yet another legacy of the Peranakan Chinese culture. Community efforts have been made to preserve the relevance of Penang Hokkien in the face of the rising prevalence of Mandarin and English among youths.[53][54]

Age distribution

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As of 2020, Penang was the second “oldest” state in the country after Perak. 14.9% of Penang's population were aged 60 and older, and it was anticipated that the state will have the highest proportion of residents over 60s in Malaysia by 2040.[55] The state and local governments have begun formulating age-friendly policies to support a rapidly ageing population, including more inclusive infrastructure, improving access to healthcare and encouraging active ageing.[56][57]

Age distribution of residents in Seberang Perai in 2020[21]
District Subdivision Population by age group (2020) Overall dependency ratio
0-14 15-64 65+
2010 2020 2010 2020 2010 2020 2010 2020
North Mukim 1 2,555 1,830 5,571 5,980 569 620 56.1 41.0
Mukim 2 1,979 1,548 4,120 4,328 512 588 60.5 49.4
Mukim 3 2,801 1,881 6,228 7,960 768 447 57.3 29.2
Mukim 4 4,084 3,098 7,038 9,677 607 591 66.7 38.1
Mukim 5 2,352 2,206 5,361 5,727 604 424 55.1 45.9
Mukim 6 12,079 13,774 23,187 37,416 1,399 1,879 58.1 41.8
Mukim 7 5,103 4,449 11,926 15,427 1,082 1,326 51.9 37.4
Mukim 8 4,227 3,867 10,877 13,062 916 1,106 47.3 38.1
Mukim 9 2,835 2,167 8,944 9,028 882 1,181 41.6 37.1
Mukim 10 1,261 1,093 2,818 3,245 412 408 59.4 46.3
Mukim 11 5,512 5,237 13,003 15,457 1,225 1,459 51.8 43.3
Mukim 12 7,893 7,574 16,495 21,669 1,647 1,917 57.8 43.8
Mukim 13 2,230 2,610 4,456 7,609 476 473 60.7 40.5
Mukim 14 3,967 3,434 14,481 16,448 1,158 2,056 35.4 33.4
Mukim 16 3,042 3,933 7,865 11,050 672 1,097 47.2 45.5
Butterworth 14,982 15,555 51,093 59,065 4,839 5,758 38.8 36.1
Kepala Batas 107 52 377 253 75 56 48.3 42.7
Central Mukim 1 9,272 9,852 32,532 36,229 2,072 2,704 34.9 34.7
Mukim 2 1,372 1,365 3,488 3,833 402 359 50.9 45.0
Mukim 3 2,234 2,161 4,539 5,882 399 409 58.0 43.7
Mukim 4 2,498 2,862 7,516 8,467 669 773 42.1 42.9
Mukim 5 1,290 1,106 2,722 3,432 328 351 59.4 42.5
Mukim 6 10,981 11,206 35,982 41,870 963 1,340 33.2 30.0
Mukim 7 1,451 1,546 3,475 4,179 214 331 47.9 44.9
Mukim 8 986 768 2,315 2,340 274 271 54.4 44.4
Mukim 9 1,837 1,784 5,649 6,826 752 573 45.8 34.5
Mukim 10 1,350 1,491 3,902 5,282 516 581 47.8 39.2
Mukim 11 5,315 6,244 25,512 28,972 1,687 2,488 27.4 30.1
Mukim 12 1,888 2,064 4,807 7,165 453 652 48.7 37.9
Mukim 13 4,748 4,441 13,828 19,458 635 1,083 38.9 28.4
Mukim 14 8,324 9,507 23,559 34,274 2,158 2,499 44.5 35.0
Mukim 15 13,864 12,427 41,719 51,202 2,973 4,468 40.4 33.0
Mukim 16 3,721 3,989 9,208 12,403 935 920 50.6 39.6
Mukim 17 607 801 2,246 2,513 262 245 38.7 41.6
Mukim 18 577 746 2,779 1,677 246 182 29.6 55.3
Mukim 19 982 1,611 2,407 3,881 256 310 51.4 49.5
Mukim 20 3,464 3,291 9,109 9,649 759 995 46.4 44.4
Mukim 21 1,298 1,176 2,731 2,892 253 363 56.8 53.2
Bukit Mertajam 2,309 2,352 9,331 8,304 1,457 1,423 40.4 45.5
Perai 3,219 3,043 10,580 12,283 634 824 36.4 31.5
South Mukim 1 900 507 1,994 1,782 216 116 56.0 35.0
Mukim 2 674 298 1,258 1,168 110 44 62.3 29.3
Mukim 3 562 335 1,367 1,282 79 113 46.9 34.9
Mukim 4 2,671 2,033 6,157 7,347 468 504 51.0 34.5
Mukim 5 2,960 1,990 5,351 6,439 386 282 62.5 35.3
Mukim 6 1,041 2,391 2,036 5,183 51 105 53.6 48.2
Mukim 7 4,889 3,863 13,326 15,535 818 704 42.8 29.4
Mukim 8 591 612 1,919 1,609 215 161 42.0 48.0
Mukim 9 6,096 3,851 13,326 13,799 855 1,152 52.2 36.3
Mukim 10 2,914 1,734 6,031 6,676 744 623 60.7 35.3
Mukim 11 5,898 4,053 15,296 14,295 1,571 1,238 48.8 37.0
Mukim 12 520 585 1,484 9,526 297 179 55.1 8.0
Mukim 13 2,083 3,055 3,303 8,135 151 219 67.6 40.2
Mukim 14 6,682 4,964 16,930 17,044 966 982 45.2 34.9
Mukim 15 8,348 7,796 19,134 26,401 1,183 1,441 49.8 35.0
Mukim 16 109 34 263 129 19 28 48.7 48.1
Nibong Tebal 392 219 1,408 1,046 245 160 45.2 36.2
Sungai Bakap 76 47 265 183 57 10 50.2 31.1
Age distribution of residents in George Town in 2020[21]
District Subdivision Population by age group Overall dependency ratio
0-14 15-64 65+
2010 2020 2010 2020 2010 2020 2010 2020
Northeast Paya Terubong 40,076 40,879 151,915 170,748 11,482 15,085 33.9 32.8
Bukit Paya Terubong 291 208 1,197 1,547 211 243 41.9 29.2
Mukim 15 0 0 4 13 0 0 0 0
Mukim 16 237 234 1,139 982 184 192 37.0 43.4
Mukim 17 922 342 2,499 1,930 157 307 43.2 33.6
Mukim 18 2,194 2,912 9,387 13,764 1,219 1,541 36.4 32.4
Ayer Itam 2,503 2,925 11,845 11,145 2,934 2,904 45.9 52.3
Batu Ferringhi 3,767 1,567 8,674 6,637 1,045 842 55.5 36.3
Penang Hill 34 51 100 253 39 28 73.0 31.2
Gelugor 1,970 2,549 9,583 15,128 1,309 985 34.2 23.4
City centre 24,254 27,778 105,542 115,337 15,586 15,221 37.7 37.3
Jelutong 13,158 13,472 47,899 43,965 5,161 6,070 38.2 44.4
Tanjong Bungah 2,508 1,831 11,038 10,446 1,598 1,994 37.2 36.6
Tanjong Tokong 2,594 2,580 9,784 8,605 1,540 1,365 42.3 45.8
Tanjong Pinang 786 2,517 2,474 8,801 157 652 38.1 36.0
Southwest Pantai Acheh 1,344 888 3,414 3,008 340 406 49.3 43.0
Teluk Bahang 692 584 1,758 1,756 174 191 49.3 44.1
Bukit Sungai Pinang 147 452 444 1,300 44 167 43.0 47.6
Batu Hitam 732 848 2,045 2,461 249 265 48.0 45.2
Bukit Balik Pulau 30 288 127 916 23 78 41.7 40.0
Pondok Upih 2,095 1,632 5,030 5,508 522 539 52.0 39.4
Bukit Genting 387 393 950 953 125 163 53.9 58.3
Bukit Pasir Panjang 272 425 824 945 89 74 43.8 52.8
Bukit Gemuruh 4,518 5,026 9,834 11,679 573 674 51.8 48.8
Bukit Relau 789 4,232 1,680 13,872 204 651 59.1 35.2
Teluk Kumbar 4,731 4,849 10,743 15,808 584 824 49.5 35.9
Bayan Lepas 28,698 25,329 87,786 96,641 5,823 8,485 39.3 35.0
Sungai Pinang 443 500 1,099 1,604 154 219 54.3 44.8
Sungai Rusa 531 615 1,036 2,025 91 177 60.0 39.1
Permatang Pasir 771 705 1,545 1,588 171 146 61.0 53.6
Bagan Air Hitam 463 793 1,313 2,309 181 280 49.0 46.5
Titi Teras 519 599 1,299 1,667 180 128 53.8 43.6
Kongsi 687 728 1,905 1,834 253 168 49.3 48.9
Kampung Paya 893 1,128 1,863 2,738 106 115 53.6 45.4
Sungai Burung 275 426 764 1,013 89 84 47.6 50.3
Pulau Betong 343 382 879 1,087 111 82 51.6 42.7
Dataran Genting 273 585 699 1,467 130 127 57.7 48.5
Balik Pulau 46 24 161 77 38 8 52.2 41.6

Gender composition

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Gender composition in Seberang Perai in 2020
District Subdivision Population Sex ratio
Male Female
North Mukim 1 4,280 4,150 103
Mukim 2 3,270 3,194 102
Mukim 3 5,210 5,078 103
Mukim 4 6,881 6,485 106
Mukim 5 4,259 4,098 104
Mukim 6 27,341 25,728 106
Mukim 7 10,694 10,508 102
Mukim 8 9,610 8,425 114
Mukim 9 6,367 6,009 106
Mukim 10 2,312 2,434 95
Mukim 11 11,227 10,926 103
Mukim 12 15,959 15,201 105
Mukim 13 5,675 5,017 113
Mukim 14 11,141 10,797 103
Mukim 16 8,129 7,951 102
Butterworth 39,924 40,454 99
Kepala Batas 169 192 88
Central Mukim 1 26,122 22,663 115
Mukim 2 2,819 2,738 103
Mukim 3 4,348 4,104 106
Mukim 4 6,182 5,920 104
Mukim 5 2,414 2,475 98
Mukim 6 29,989 24,427 123
Mukim 7 3,090 2,966 104
Mukim 8 1,656 1,723 96
Mukim 9 4,632 4,551 102
Mukim 10 3,680 3,674 100
Mukim 11 19,210 18,494 104
Mukim 12 5,213 4,668 112
Mukim 13 14,364 10,618 135
Mukim 14 24,829 21,451 116
Mukim 15 36,847 31,250 118
Mukim 16 9,190 8,122 113
Mukim 17 1,815 1,744 104
Mukim 18 1,327 1,278 104
Mukim 19 2,860 2,942 97
Mukim 20 7,006 6,929 101
Mukim 21 2,220 2,211 100
Bukit Mertajam 5,994 6,085 99
Perai 8,899 7,251 123
South Mukim 1 1,227 1,178 104
Mukim 2 765 745 103
Mukim 3 872 858 102
Mukim 4 5,231 4,653 112
Mukim 5 4,500 4,211 107
Mukim 6 3,994 3,685 108
Mukim 7 11,266 8,836 128
Mukim 8 1,273 1,109 115
Mukim 9 9,701 9,101 107
Mukim 10 4,587 4,446 103
Mukim 11 10,246 9,340 110
Mukim 12 1,589 8,701 18
Mukim 13 6,033 5,376 112
Mukim 14 12,199 10,791 113
Mukim 15 18,336 17,302 106
Mukim 16 91 100 91
Nibong Tebal 724 701 103
Sungai Bakap 131 109 120
Gender composition in George Town in 2020
District Subdivision Population Sex ratio
Male Female
Northeast Paya Terubong 114,008 112,704 101
Bukit Paya Terubong 1,008 990 102
Mukim 15 13 - -
Mukim 16 688 720 96
Mukim 17 1,281 1,298 99
Mukim 18 8,994 9,223 98
Ayer Itam 8,396 8,578 98
Batu Ferringhi 4,559 4,487 102
Penang Hill 189 143 132
Gelugor 9,231 9,431 98
City centre 82,757 75,579 109
Jelutong 31,700 31,807 100
Tanjong Bungah 7,271 7,000 104
Tanjong Tokong 6,383 6,167 104
Tanjong Pinang 5,954 6,016 99
Southwest Pantai Acheh 2,232 2,070 108
Teluk Bahang 1,281 1,250 102
Bukit Sungai Pinang 998 921 108
Batu Hitam 1,840 1,734 106
Bukit Balik Pulau 677 605 112
Pondok Upih 3,912 3,767 104
Bukit Genting 831 678 123
Bukit Pasir Panjang 741 703 105
Bukit Gemuruh 9,085 8,294 110
Bukit Relau 9,651 9,104 106
Teluk Kumbar 10,683 10,798 99
Bayan Lepas 65,389 65,066 100
Sungai Pinang 1,187 1,136 104
Sungai Rusa 1,411 1,406 100
Permatang Pasir 1,233 1,206 102
Bagan Air Hitam 1,701 1,681 101
Titi Teras 1,142 1,252 91
Kongsi 1,395 1,335 104
Kampung Paya 2,141 1,840 116
Sungai Burung 737 786 94
Pulau Betong 774 777 100
Dataran Genting 1,111 1,068 104
Balik Pulau 51 58 107

Fertility and mortality

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Fertility and mortality in Seberang Perai by constituencies[58]
State constituency Live births per 1,000 people Death rate per 1,000 people
Penaga 23.6 6.4
Bertam 23.8 6.0
Pinang Tunggal 23.3 6.2
Permatang Berangan 23.8 6.3
Sungai Dua 23.6 6.4
Telok Ayer Tawar 23.2 6.2
Sungai Puyu 22.8 6.1
Bagan Jermal 21.1 6.0
Bagan Dalam 23.4 6.2
Seberang Jaya 23.2 6.0
Permatang Pasir 23.5 6.4
Penanti 23.2 6.3
Berapit 23.6 5.9
Machang Bubuk 24.1 6.2
Padang Lalang 23.6 6.4
Perai 25.6 6.2
Bukit Tengah 24.5 5.8
Bukit Tambun 19.2 5.6
Jawi 24.6 6.4
Sungai Bakap 24.4 6.3
Sungai Acheh 22.9 6.0
State average 23.1 6.1
Fertility and mortality in George Town by constituencies[58]
State constituency Live births per 1,000 people Death rate per 1,000 people
Tanjong Bunga 23.2 6.3
Air Putih 235.5 28.9
Kebun Bunga 22.9 6.4
Pulau Tikus 20.3 5.6
Padang Kota 23.2 4.7
Pengkalan Kota 22.2 5.2
Komtar 21.7 4.2
Datok Keramat 23.0 6.2
Sungai Pinang 22.9 6.4
Batu Lancang 23.6 6.4
Seri Delima 23.2 6.2
Air Itam 22.4 6.0
Paya Terubong 22.3 6.0
Batu Uban 21.8 6.2
Pantai Jerejak 25.5 6.3
Batu Maung 22.9 6.4
Bayan Lepas 24.0 6.4
Pulau Betong 24.5 6.5
Telok Bahang 23.9 6.4
State average 23.1 6.1

See also

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References

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