Penang

Penang Pulau Pinang
State
Other transcription(s)
• Mandarin	槟城 (Simplified) 檳城 (Traditional) Bīn chéng (Pinyin)
• Hokkien	庇能 Pī-néeng (Tâi-lô)
• Tamil	பினாங்கு Piṉāṅgu (Transliteration)
Flag Coat of arms
Etymology: Areca nut
Nickname(s):  "Pulau Mutiara" "Pearl of the Orient"
Motto:  "Bersatu dan Setia" "United and Loyal"
Anthem: "Untuk Negeri Kita" "For Our State"
Penang in    Malaysia
Country	Malaysia
Founded by the British East India Company	11 August 1786
Straits Settlements	1 April 1867 – 1 April 1946
Japanese occupation	19 December 1941 – 3 September 1945
Malayan Union	1 April 1946
Federation of Malaya	31 August 1957
Proclamation of Malaysia	16 September 1963
Capital	George Town 05°24′52″N 100°19′45″E / 5.41444°N 100.32917°E / 5.41444; 100.32917
Largest city	Seberang Perai
Ethnic groups (2020)[1]	41.3% Chinese 41.1% Bumiputera 40.7% Malay 0.5% indigenous groups from Sabah and Sarawak 8.9% Indian 0.6% Other ethnicities 8.1% Non-citizens
Religion (2020)[1]	45.5% Sunni Islam (official)[2] 37.6% Buddhism 8.4% Hinduism 4.3% Christianity 2.4% Other religions 1.7% No religion
Demonym(s)	Penangite
Government	Parliamentary
• Yang di-Pertua Negeri	Ahmad Fuzi Abdul Razak
• Chief Minister	Chow Kon Yeow (PH–DAP)
Legislature	Legislative Assembly
Area
• Total	1,049 km2 (405 sq mi) (12th)
Elevation	24 m (79 ft)
Highest elevation (Penang Hill)	833 m (2,733 ft)
Population
• 2020 census	1,740,405
• Density	1,659.11/km2 (4,297.1/sq mi) (3rd)
GDP (PPP)	2023 estimate
• Total	$89.925 billion (5th)
• Per capita	$50,759 (3rd)
GDP (nominal)	2023 estimate
• Total	$28.016 billion (5th)
• Per capita	$15,814 (3rd)
Gini (2022)	0.371[3] low
HDI (2022)	0.830 very high · 5th
Currency	Malaysian ringgit (RM/MYR)
Time zone	UTC+8 (Malaysian Time)
Date format	dd-mm-yyyy
Driving side	left
Calling code	+604-2, +604-6, +604-8 (George Town) +604-3, +604-5 (Seberang Perai)
Postal code	10xxx–11xxx (George Town) 12xxx-14xxx (Seberang Perai)
ISO 3166 code	MY-07
Website	www.penang.gov.my

Penang^[a] is a Malaysian state located on the northwest coast of Peninsular Malaysia along the Strait of Malacca. It has two parts: Penang Island, where the capital city, George Town, is located, and Seberang Perai on the Malay Peninsula. These two halves are physically connected by the Penang Bridge and the Second Penang Bridge. The state shares borders with Kedah to the north and east, and Perak to the south.

With 1.74 million residents and a population density of 1,659/km² (4,300/sq mi) as of 2020^[update], Penang is one of Malaysia's most densely populated and urbanised states.^[4] Seberang Perai is Malaysia's third largest city by population. Penang is culturally diverse with a population that includes Chinese, Malays, Indians, Eurasians, Siamese and expatriates.

Established by Francis Light in 1786, Penang became part of the Straits Settlements, a British crown colony also comprising Malacca and Singapore. During World War II, Japan occupied Penang, but the British regained control in 1945. Penang was later merged with the Federation of Malaya (now Malaysia), which gained independence in 1957.

Penang's economy shifted from entrepôt trade to electronics manufacturing and the tertiary sector in the late 20th century. It is one of the country's most developed economic powerhouses, with the highest GDP per capita among Malaysian states, and the fourth highest Human Development Index after Kuala Lumpur, Selangor and Labuan. Penang is Malaysia's leading exporter with over RM447 billion (US$108.94 billion) in exports in 2023, primarily through the Penang International Airport which is also the nation's third busiest in passenger traffic.

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