Editing Sarawak (section)

== Demographics ==
{{Main|Demographics of Sarawak}}
{{bar box
|width=250px
|barwidth=100px
|title=Ethnic groups in Sarawak (2021)<ref name="Sarawak Data"/>
|titlebar=#ddd
|left1=Ethnic
|right1=Percent
|float=right
|bars=
{{bar percent|[[Bumiputera (Malaysia)|Bumiputera]]|blue|72.1}}
{{bar percent|[[Chinese people|Chinese]]|red|22.6}}
{{bar percent|[[Indian people|Indian]]|pink|0.2}}
{{bar percent|Others|green|0.3}}
{{bar percent|[[Non-citizens]]|DarkGray|4.8}}
}}
{{Pie chart
| caption= Sub-ethnic groups of Dayak in Sarawak (2021)<ref name="Sarawak Data" />
| label1 = Iban
| value1 = 70.5
| color1 = blue
| label2 = Bidayuh
| value2 = 19.2
| color2 = green
| label3 = Orang Ulu
| value3 = 10.3
| color3 = yellow
}}

The 2020 census of Malaysia reported a population of 2,453,677 in Sarawak,<ref name="Malaysia census 2020" /> making it the fifth most populous state.<ref name="State Planning Unit, Sarawak-2017">{{cite web |year=2017 |title=Sarawak Population by Ethnic Group |url=https://data.sarawak.gov.my/home/data/dataset/c642e02c-5832-4678-99c6-e438149503c0 |url-status=dead |access-date=27 August 2018 |publisher=State Planning Unit, Sarawak |archive-date=13 August 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200813175719/https://data.sarawak.gov.my/home/data/dataset/c642e02c-5832-4678-99c6-e438149503c0}}</ref> However, this population is distributed over a large area resulting in Sarawak having the lowest population density in the country with only 20{{nbsp}}people per km<sup>2</sup>. The average population growth rate of 1.8%, from 2000 to 2010, is very close to the national average of 2.0%.<ref name="State Planning Unit stats"/> In 2014, 58% of the population resided in urban areas with the remainder in rural areas, but over the next 10 years it is predicted that the urban population would rise to 65%.<ref>{{cite news |title=Johari: Urban-rural ratio to hit 65:35 within 10 years |url=http://www.thestar.com.my/News/Community/2014/01/17/Johari-Urbanrural-ratio-to-hit-6535-within-10-years/ |access-date=24 November 2015 |newspaper=The Star (Malaysia) |date=17 January 2014}}</ref> {{As of|2011}}, the [[birth rate|crude birth rate]] in Sarawak was 16.3 per 1000 individuals, the [[mortality rate|crude death rate]] was 4.3 per 1000 population, and the [[Infant mortality|infant mortality rate]] was 6.5 per 1000 live births.<ref>{{cite web |title=Vital Statistics Summary for Births and Deaths |url=http://www.sarawak.gov.my/web/home/article_view/241/251/ |publisher=Sarawak Government |access-date=12 January 2016 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150907173809/http://www.sarawak.gov.my/web/home/article_view/241/251/ |archive-date=7 September 2015}}</ref>

Urban populations consist predominantly of [[Malaysian Malays|Malays]], Melanaus, [[malaysian Chinese|Chinese]], and a small population of urban Ibans and [[Bidayuh]]s who migrated from their home villages seeking employment.<ref name="Sarawak Convention Bureau">{{cite web |title=The Sarawak People |url=http://www.stf.org.my/sarawak/index.php?do=people |publisher=Sarawak Tourism Federation |access-date=24 November 2015 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150106051053/http://www.stf.org.my/sarawak/index.php?do=people |archive-date=6 January 2015}}</ref> The latter two are among the more than 40 [[sub-ethnic groups]] of Sarawak, many of whom still inhabit remote areas and are referred to as [[Orang Asal]].<ref>{{cite web |title=Indigenous peoples – (a) Land rights of Indigenous Peoples |url=http://www.suhakam.org.my/indigenous-people/ |publisher=[[Human Rights Commission of Malaysia]] (SUHAKAM) |access-date=30 November 2015 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20151002003359/http://www.suhakam.org.my/indigenous-people/ |archive-date=2 October 2015}}</ref> The Orang Asal, and Malays, of Peninsular Malaysia, Sarawak and Sabah are referred to collectively as [[Bumiputera (Malaysia)|Bumiputera]] (son of the soil). This classification grants them special privileges in education, jobs, finance, and political positions.<ref>{{cite journal |last1=Ting |first1=Su Hie |last2=Rose |first2=Louis |title=Ethnic Language Use and Ethnic Identity for Sarawak Indigenous Groups in Malaysia |url=https://www.questia.com/read/1G1-377286780/ethnic-language-use-and-ethnic-identity-for-sarawak |date=June 2014 |journal=[[Oceanic Linguistics]] |volume=53 |issue=1 |pages=92–109 |doi=10.1353/ol.2014.0002 |s2cid=144213737 |url-access=subscription |access-date=30 November 2015 |quote=In Malaysia, Bumiputera (literally translated as 'prince of the earth' or 'son of the land') refers to the Malay and other indigenous people.&nbsp;... The Bumiputera in general enjoy special privileges as part of the affirmative action for advancement of the community, and these include priority in university entry, scholarships, and government jobs, special finance schemes, and political positions. |archive-date=8 December 2015 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20151208144714/https://www.questia.com/read/1G1-377286780/ethnic-language-use-and-ethnic-identity-for-sarawak |url-status=dead }}</ref>

The registration for, and issuing of, national identity cards, a legally required document for accessing various services, to these remote tribes has been problematic for many years,<ref>{{cite news |last1=Sheith Khidir |first1=Abu Bakar |title=Stateless Penans demand citizenship papers |url=http://www.freemalaysiatoday.com/category/nation/2016/03/29/stateless-penans-demand-citizenship-papers/ |access-date=30 October 2016 |work=Free Malaysia Today |date=29 March 2016 |archive-date=21 August 2017 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170821125812/http://www.freemalaysiatoday.com/category/nation/2016/03/29/stateless-penans-demand-citizenship-papers/ |url-status=dead}}</ref> and in the past had even resulted in a large number of people from the Penan ethnic group being rendered effectively stateless.<ref>{{cite news |title=Penans 'stateless' because of fines |url=http://www.thestar.com.my/news/nation/2005/09/26/penans-stateless-because-of-fines/ |access-date=30 October 2016 |newspaper=The Star (Malaysia) |date=26 September 2005}}</ref> In recent years, this issue has seen progressive improvement with the implementation of systems such as mobile registration units.<ref>{{cite news |title=Mobile unit makes NRD applications easy for Penan community |url=http://www.theborneopost.com/2016/04/07/mobile-unit-makes-nrd-applications-easy-for-penan-community/ |access-date=30 October 2016 |newspaper=The Borneo Post |date=7 April 2016}}</ref>

Sarawak has a large immigrant work force with as many as 150,000 registered foreign migrant workers working as domestic workers or in plantation, manufacturing, construction, services and agriculture.<ref>{{cite news |title=Over 150,000 foreign workers in Sarawak hold temporary employment passes |url=http://www.thesundaily.my/news/1593885 |access-date=18 December 2015 |newspaper=The Sun Daily |date=26 October 2015 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20151027171855/http://www.thesundaily.my/news/1593885 |archive-date=27 October 2015}}</ref> However, this population of legally registered workers is overshadowed by a large population of between 320,000 and 350,000 illegal workers.<ref>{{cite news |last1=Sulok |first1=Tawie |title=Illegal immigrants in Sarawak a 'huge problem', deputy home minister admits |url=http://www.themalaymailonline.com/malaysia/article/illegal-immigrants-in-sarawak-a-huge-problem-deputy-home-minister-admits |access-date=18 December 2015 |newspaper=Malay Mail Online |date=11 April 2015 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20151025155243/http://www.themalaymailonline.com/malaysia/article/illegal-immigrants-in-sarawak-a-huge-problem-deputy-home-minister-admits |archive-date=25 October 2015}}</ref>

=== Ethnic groups ===
{{image array|perrow = 2 |width=200| height=200 | border-width=2
| image1 = An Iban Warrior, Sarawak, Malaysia.jpg  | caption1 =an Iban warrior in his traditional dress
| image2 = Melanau girls with Baju Kurung.jpg  | caption2 = Melanau girls with the traditional Baju Kurung
| image3 = Sarawak Bidayuh girl.jpg  | caption3 = a Bidayuh girl
| image4 = Sarawak Chinese woman wearing Cheongsam.jpg | caption4 = Sarawakian Chinese woman in her traditional dress of Cheongsam
}}
Sarawak has six major ethnic groups, [[Iban people|Iban]], [[Malaysian Chinese|Chinese]], [[Malays (ethnic group)|Malay]], [[Bidayuh]], [[Melanau people|Melanau]], and [[Orang Ulu]],<ref name="Sarawak Convention Bureau"/> as well as a number of ethnic groups with smaller but still substantial populations, such as the [[Kedayan]], [[Javanese people|Javanese]], [[Bugis]], [[Murut people|Murut]], and [[Malaysian Indian|Indian]].<ref>{{cite news |last1=Leong |first1=Joe |title=Bizarre names like Tigabelas, Helicopter, Kissing in Borneo are real |url=http://www.theantdaily.com/Article.aspx?ArticleId=14911 |access-date=24 November 2015 |publisher=The Ant Daily |date=4 August 2014 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20151124022706/http://www.theantdaily.com/Article.aspx?ArticleId=14911 |archive-date=24 November 2015 |quote=There are several other minor ethnic groups placed under the 'others', such as Indian, Eurasian, Kedayan, Javanese, Bugis and Murut.}}</ref> In 2015, the Bidayuh and Iban, both indigenous ethnic groups of Sarawak, were officially recognised by the government of Malaysia as comprising the [[Dayak people]].<ref>{{cite news |title=Putrajaya approves 'Dayak' for 'Race' category in all official forms |url=http://www.themalaysianinsider.com/malaysia/article/putrajaya-approves-dayak-for-race-category-in-all-official-forms |access-date=24 November 2015 |newspaper=The Malaysian Insider |date=31 October 2015 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20151124080101/http://www.themalaysianinsider.com/malaysia/article/putrajaya-approves-dayak-for-race-category-in-all-official-forms |archive-date=24 November 2015}}</ref> There are more than 50 tribes still existing or extinct in Sarawak but only the major tribes are listed in the Malaysian Federal Constitution.<ref>{{Cite web |url=https://dayakwithgoldenhair.wordpress.com/ethnic-groups-of-sarawak/?unapproved=1899&moderation-hash=3f01f89c2d2d7a2f9cafb6ca681aeddb#comment-1899 |title=Ethnic Groups of Sarawak |date=2 August 2011 |access-date=25 November 2020 |archive-date=1 January 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230101123501/https://dayakwithgoldenhair.wordpress.com/ethnic-groups-of-sarawak/?unapproved=1899&moderation-hash=3f01f89c2d2d7a2f9cafb6ca681aeddb#comment-1899 |url-status=dead }}</ref>

The population of 1,389,926 of the [[Iban people]] in Sarawak, based on 2022 statistics, makes it the largest ethnic group in the state.<ref name="State Planning Unit, Sarawak-2017" /> The Iban were, in the past, a society that paid particular attention to social status, especially to those who displayed martial prowess as well as to those who demonstrated expertise in various fields such as farming and oratory. Specific terms were used to refer to those who belonged to particular social strata, such as the ''raja berani'' (rich and the brave), ''orang mayuh'' (ordinary people), and ''ulun'' (slaves).<ref>{{cite book |last1=Keat |first1=Gin Ooi |title=Southeast Asia: A Historical Encyclopedia, from Angkor Wat to East Timor, Volume 1 |date=2004 |publisher=[[ABC-CLIO]] |isbn=978-1-57607-770-2 |pages=623–625 |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=QKgraWbb7yoC&pg=PA623 |access-date=25 November 2015 |quote=Ibans are found in all political divisions of Borneo but in largest numbers in Sarawak.&nbsp;... Christian missionaries have been active among the Ibans for more than a century, and today majority of Ibans are Christians.}}</ref> Despite modern influences, Iban still observe many of their traditional rituals such as Gawai Antu ([[festival of the dead]]) and [[Gawai Dayak]] ([[Harvest Festival]]).<ref>{{cite web |title=Our People – Iban – The official travel website for Sarawak, Malaysian Borneo |date=6 August 2012 |url=http://sarawaktourism.com/blog/our-people-iban/ |publisher=Sarawak Tourism Board |access-date=25 November 2015 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20151125091022/http://sarawaktourism.com/blog/our-people-iban/ |archive-date=25 November 2015}}</ref>

Although the presence of Chinese in Sarawak dates back to the 6th century AD when traders first came to the state, the [[Malaysian Chinese|Chinese population]] today largely consists of communities originating from immigrants during the Brooke era.<ref name="Welman"/> This migration was driven by the employment opportunities at gold mines in Bau.
Sarawak Chinese are primarily Buddhist and Christian,<ref name="Borneotrilogy">{{cite book |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=BCrEN6gUkHEC&pg=PA177 |title=Borneo Trilogy Sarawak: Volume 1 |date=2011 |publisher=Booksmango |isbn=978-616-245-082-2 |location=Bangkok, Thailand |page=177 |last1=Frans |first1=Welman |access-date=2 November 2015}}</ref> and speak a multitude of southern Chinese languages: [[Cantonese people|Cantonese]], [[Fuzhou dialect|Fuzhou]], [[Hakka Chinese|Hakka]], [[Hokkien]], [[Teochew dialect|Teochew]], and Henghua ([[Putian people]]), in addition to Mandarin. They celebrate major cultural festivals such as [[Hungry Ghost]] Festival and the [[Chinese New Year]] much as their ancestors did.<ref name="STF">{{cite web |title=Ethnic groups |url=http://www.stf.org.my/sarawak/index.php?do=people |website=Sarawak Tourism Federation |access-date=23 March 2017 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20151021023017/http://www.stf.org.my/sarawak/index.php?do=people |archive-date=21 October 2015 |url-status=dead}}</ref> Chinese settlers in Sarawak were not limited to any one area. Those who settled in Kuching did so near the Sarawak River in an area that is now referred to as [[Chinatown, Kuching|Chinatown]].<ref name="Tourism Chinese">{{cite web |title=Our people – Chinese |url=https://sarawaktourism.com/blog/our-people-chinese/ |publisher=Sarawak Tourism Board |access-date=28 November 2015 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160130113426/http://sarawaktourism.com/our-people-chinese/ |archive-date=30 January 2016 |url-status=dead}}</ref> Fuzhounese immigrants from [[Fuzhou]], [[Fujian]], led by [[Wong Nai Siong]] in 1901, settled along the Rajang River in what is now [[Sibu]], as due to [[Boxer Rebellion]],<ref>{{cite web |last1=John |first1=Barwick |title=Huang Naishang (1844–1924) |url=http://www.bdcconline.net/en/stories/h/huang-naishang.php |publisher=Biographical Dictionary of Chinese Christianity |access-date=21 July 2015 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130518052143/http://www.bdcconline.net/en/stories/h/huang-naishang.php |archive-date=18 May 2013 |quote=Shortly thereafter, Huang decided to start a new settlement of Chinese in Malaysia in order to escape China's despotism and Fujian's poverty.&nbsp;... In 1901, Huang traveled with settlers from Fujian to Sibu, where he founded New Fuzhou.}}</ref> while those who arrived in Miri sought work in the coal mines and oilfields.<ref name="Tourism Chinese"/>

During the Brooke era, [[Sarawak Malay]]s were predominantly fishermen,<ref name="STF"/> leading to their villages being concentrated along river banks. However, with the advent of urban development, many Malays have migrated to seek employment in public and private sectors. Traditionally, they are known for their silver and brass crafts, wood carvings, and textiles.<ref name="Welman"/><ref>{{cite web |title=Our people – Malay – The official website for Sarawak Malaysian Borneo |date=18 August 2012 |url=http://sarawaktourism.com/blog/our-people-malay/ |publisher=Sarawak Tourism Board |access-date=30 November 2015 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20151130135035/http://sarawaktourism.com/blog/our-people-malay/ |archive-date=30 November 2015}}</ref>

The [[Melanau]] are a native people of Sarawak that lived in areas primarily around the modern city of Mukah, where they worked as fishermen and craftsmen as well renowned boatbuilders. Historically the Melanau practised [[Animism]], a belief that spirits inhabited objects in their environment, and while this is still practised today, most Melanau have since been converted to Christianity and Islam.<ref name="Welman" /><ref name="Ohiopress">{{cite book |last1=Ishikawa |first1=Noboru |title=Between Frontiers: Nation and Identity in a Southeast Asian Borderland |date=15 March 2010 |publisher=[[Ohio University Press]] |isbn=978-0-89680-476-0 |pages=86–87 |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=2YH3lULL6-MC&pg=PA87 |access-date=9 November 2015}}</ref><ref group="note">Ishikawa, 2010 (page 169)</ref><ref>{{cite web |title=Miri Visitors' Guide – Miri's inhabitants |url=http://www.gomiri.com/en/01miri/people.htm |website=gomiri.com |access-date=8 August 2015 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150520130302/http://www.gomiri.com/en/01miri/people.htm |archive-date=20 May 2015}}</ref>

The [[Bidayuh]] are a southern Sarawak people,<ref>{{cite web |title=Our people – Bidayuh |url=http://sarawaktourism.com/blog/our-people-bidayuh/ |publisher=Sarawak Tourism Board |access-date=7 December 2015 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20151207223218/http://sarawaktourism.com/blog/our-people-bidayuh/ |archive-date=7 December 2015}}</ref> that were referred to by early European settlers as Land Dayaks because they traditionally live on steep limestone mountains.<ref>{{cite web |title=Bidayuh longhouse |url=http://www.scv.com.my/bidayuh.asp |publisher=Sarawak Cultural Village |access-date=7 December 2015 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120731165223/http://www.scv.com.my/bidayuh.asp |archive-date=31 July 2012}}</ref> They account for 7.3 per cent of the population of Sarawak and are the second most numerous of the indigenous Dayak people, after the Iban. The Bidayuh are indigenous to the areas that comprise the modern day divisions of Kuching and Serian. Their language comprises five major dialects: [[Biatah language|Biatah]] (Padawan, Penrissen and Kuching areas), Bau, formerly known as [[Jagoi language|Jagoi]] or Bau-Jagoi (Bau district), Serian, formerly called [[Bukar–Sadong language|Bukar-Sadong]] (Serian
district), and Salako and Rara (Lundu district). All these dialects are not mutually intelligible
due to insufficient [[lexicostatistics|lexicostatistical]] overlap between them for developing one standard
Bidayuh with a unified [[orthography]].<ref>{{cite journal|url=https://myjms.mohe.gov.my/index.php/ijssr/article/download/13769/7114/|title=ATTITUDES TOWARDS BIDAYUH LANGUAGE KINDERGARTENS IN SARAWAK, MALAYSIA|last1=Kayad|first1=Florence G.|last2=Ting|first2=Su-Hie|year=2021|journal=International Journal of Social Science Research |via=Malaysian Journal Management System|volume=3|eissn=2710-6276|pages=14–26|access-date=11 February 2025}}</ref> Since there is no common standardised Bidayuh language, the [[sociolinguistic]] norms of the younger generation of Bidayuhs today are influenced by [[Malaysian language]], with both [[English language|English]] and [[Sarawak Malay]] also being the [[lingua franca]].<ref>{{cite journal|url=https://borneojournal.um.edu.my/index.php/BRJ/article/view/9830/6942|title=LANGUAGE CHOICES OF DAYAK BIDAYUH UNDERGRADUATES IN THE FRIENDSHIP DOMAIN|last=Dealwis|first=Caesar|year=2010|journal=Borneo Research Journal|volume=4 |pages=209–220|access-date=11 February 2025}}</ref> Like many other indigenous peoples, the majority of the Bidayuh have been converted to Christianity,<ref name="Welman" />
but still live in villages consisting of longhouses, with the addition of the distinctive round ''baruk'' where communal gatherings were held.<ref name="Welman" />

The numerous tribes who reside in Sarawak's interior such as the Kenyah, Kayan, [[Lun Bawang]], [[Kelabit people|Kelabit]], Penan, [[Bisaya (Borneo)|Bisaya]], and Berawan are collectively referred to as [[Orang Ulu]]. In the [[Iban language]], this name means "Upriver People", reflecting the location these tribes settled in;<ref name="Welman" /> most of them reside near the drainage basin of the Baram River.<ref name="Orang Ulu tourism">{{cite web |last1=Erivina |title=Our people – Orang Ulu |url=http://sarawaktourism.com/blog/our-people-orang-ulu/ |publisher=Sarawak Tourism Board |access-date=10 December 2015 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150207232121/http://sarawaktourism.com/blog/our-people-orang-ulu/ |archive-date=7 February 2015}}</ref> Both woodworking and artistry are highly visible aspects of Orang Ulu culture exemplified by mural covered longhouses, carved wooden boats, and tattooing.<ref name="Welman" /> Well-known musical instruments from the Orang Ulu are the Kayans' [[sapeh]] and Kenyah's sampe' and Lun Bawang's bamboo band.<ref name="Orang Ulu tourism" /> The Kelabit and Lun Bawang people are known for their production of fragrant rice.<ref name="Anisia J Sang">{{cite journal |doi=10.1109/ACCESS.2018.2883115 |last1=Sang |first1=Anisia Jati |last2=Tay |first2=Kai Meng |last3=Lim |first3=Chee Peng |last4=Saeid |first4=Nahavandi |year=2018 |title=Application of a Genetic-Fuzzy FMEA to Rainfed Lowland Rice Production in Sarawak: Environmental, Health, and Safety Perspectives |journal=IEEE Access |volume=6 |pages=74628–74647 |bibcode=2018IEEEA...674628S |s2cid=56597899 |url=http://ir.unimas.my/id/eprint/25591/1/Application%20of%20a%20Genetic-Fuzzy%20FMEA%20%28abstract%29.pdf |doi-access=free}}</ref><ref name="Orang Ulu tourism" /> As with the many other indigenous peoples of Sarawak, the majority of Orang Ulu are Christians.<ref name="Welman" />

The Indians, predominantly the [[Malaysian Tamils|Tamils]] were brought by the British Government to work in estates as labourers and clerks.<ref name="Indians in Sarawak">{{cite book|last=Sandhu|first=K. S.|last2=Mani|first2=A.|title=Indian Communities in Southeast Asia (First Reprint 2006)|publisher=Institute of Southeast Asian Studies|date=2006|isbn=978-981-230-418-6|url=https://books.google.co.uk/books?id=TeExjdWUmJYC&newbks=1&newbks_redir=0&printsec=frontcover&pg=PA568&dq=indians+tamil+sarawak+british&hl=en&redir_esc=y#v=onepage&q=indians%2520tamil%2520sarawak%2520british&f=false|access-date=6 May 2025|page=568–573}}</ref> Besides, the [[Malaysian Malayalees|Malayalee]] community too exist in the cities in Sarawak.<ref>{{cite book|last=Museum|first=Sarawak|title=The Sarawak Museum Journal|publisher=Sarawak Museum|date=1989|url=https://books.google.co.uk/books?id=kI7lAAAAMAAJ&newbks=1&newbks_redir=0&printsec=frontcover&dq=malayalee+sarawak&q=malayalee+sarawak&hl=en&redir_esc=y|access-date=6 May 2025|page=259}}</ref> Today, many among the Indians are known to be employed as professionals (mainly doctors) in Sarawak.<ref>{{cite journal|url=https://www.e-mjm.org/1983/v38n4/medical-manpower.pdf|title=MEDICAL MANPOWER IN SARAWAK - THE DOCTORS|last=Supramaniam|first=V.|journal=Medical Journal of Malaysia|volume=38|issue=4|year=1983|access-date=7 May 2025|page=300|format=PDF|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20250506211136/https://www.e-mjm.org/1983/v38n4/medical-manpower.pdf|archive-date=6 May 2025|url-status=live}}</ref>

=== Languages ===
[[File:Sarawak Families Languages.png|thumb|right|The distribution of language families of Sarawak shown by colours:<br /><small>(click image to enlarge)</small>
{{legend|#FF006E|[[Malayic languages|Malayic]]}}
{{legend|#FF984F|[[North Bornean languages|North Borneo]] and [[Melanau-Kajang languages|Melanau Kajang]] languages}}
{{legend|#00FF90|[[Land Dayak languages|Land Dayak]]}}
{{legend|#A0A0A0|Areas with multiple languages}}]]
English was the official language of Sarawak from 1963 to 1974 due to opposition from First Chief Minister of Sarawak Stephen Kalong Ningkan to the use of the [[Malaysian language]] in Sarawak.<ref name=Ibanmalaysian>{{cite book |last1=John |first1=Postill |title=Media and Nation Building: How the Iban became Malaysian |date=15 May 2006 |publisher=[[Berghahn Books]] |isbn=978-0-85745-687-8 |page=58 |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=-5_gtJQFin4C&pg=PA59 |access-date=13 November 2015 |quote=because of his strong defence of English as the language of instruction in Sarawak&nbsp;... (page 58)}}</ref> In 1974, the new Chief Minister Abdul Rahman Ya'kub recognised [[Malay language|Malay]] alongside English as an official language of Sarawak.<ref name="Faisal"/><ref group=note>Faisal, 2012 ... to make Bahasa Malaysia and English as ''negeri''{{'s}} official languages. (page 84)</ref> This new status given to the Malay language was further reinforced by new education standards transitioning curriculum to Malay.<ref>{{cite news |title=Former Education Minister Calls For Return To Teaching Maths, Science In BM |url=http://education.bernama.com/index.php?sid=news_content&id=371208 |access-date=13 November 2015 |publisher=Bernama |date=12 November 2011 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110711152042/http://education.bernama.com/index.php?sid=news_content&id=371208 |archive-date=11 July 2011}}</ref> In 1985 English lost the status of an official language, leaving only Malay.<ref name=Ibanmalaysian/><ref group=note>Postill, 2006 ... Malay was accepted as the official language of Sarawak alongside English until 1985, when English was finally dropped. (page 64)</ref> Despite official policy, Sarawak opposition members argue that English remained the ''de facto'' official language of Sarawak.<ref>{{cite news |last1=Fernandez |first1=Joe |title=DAP: English remains Sarawak's official language |url=http://www.freemalaysiatoday.com/category/nation/2015/11/26/dap-english-remains-sarawaks-official-language/ |access-date=20 December 2016 |work=Free Malaysia Today |date=26 November 2015 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160112235855/http://www.freemalaysiatoday.com/category/nation/2015/11/26/dap-english-remains-sarawaks-official-language |archive-date=12 January 2016 |url-status=dead}}</ref> English is still spoken in the legal courts, and state legislative assembly.<ref>{{cite news |last1=Sulok |first1=Tawie |title=Usage of English, native languages officially still legal in Sarawak |url=http://www.thesundaily.my/news/299416 |access-date=13 November 2015 |newspaper=The Sun Daily |date=20 February 2012 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20151113112711/http://www.thesundaily.my/news/299416 |archive-date=13 November 2015}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |title=My Constitution – Sabah and Sarawak |url=http://www.malaysianbar.org.my/index.php?option=com_docman&task=doc_download&gid=2849 |archive-url=http://webarchive.loc.gov/all/20120214041818/http://www.malaysianbar.org.my/index.php?option=com_docman&task=doc_download&gid=2849 |url-status=dead |archive-date=14 February 2012 |publisher=[[Malaysian Bar]] |access-date=13 November 2015 |quote=English was the official language of the State Legislative Assemblies and Courts in Sabah and Sarawak on Malaysia Day, 16 September 1963. Any change of the official language to Bahasa Melayu can only become effective when the State Legislative Assembly of Sabah or Sarawak agrees to adopt federal laws that make Bahasa Melayu the official language.}}</ref> In 2015, Chief Minister Adenan Satem reinstated English as an official language.<ref>{{cite news |last1=Ogilvy |first1=Geryl |title=Sarawak to recognise English as official language besides Bahasa Malaysia |url=http://www.theborneopost.com/2015/11/18/sarawak-to-recognise-english-as-official-language-besides-bahasa-malaysia/ |access-date=2 April 2016 |newspaper=The Borneo Post |date=18 November 2015 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160305082141/http://www.theborneopost.com/2015/11/18/sarawak-to-recognise-english-as-official-language-besides-bahasa-malaysia/ |archive-date=5 March 2016}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.themalaymailonline.com/malaysia/article/sarawak-makes-english-official-language-along-with-bm |title=Sarawak makes English official language along with BM |work=themalaymailonline.com |date=13 August 2022}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.thesundaily.my/news/1615945 |title=Sarawak adopts English as official language |work=thesundaily.my}}</ref> Sarawak's language autonomy does not extend to the educational system, with the language syllabus controlled by the federal government.<ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.malaysia-today.net/2020/01/01/sarawak-schools-bound-by-jawi-syllabus-despite-legal-leeway-on-official-language-says-lawyer/ |title=Sarawak schools bound by Jawi syllabus despite legal leeway on official language, says lawyer |work=Malaysia Today |date=1 January 2020 |access-date=2 April 2021}}</ref>

Although the official form of Malay, [[Bahasa Malaysia]], is spoken by the government administration, it is used infrequently in colloquial conversation. The local dialect of [[Sarawak Malay|''Bahasa Sarawak'' (Sarawak Malay)]] dominates the vernacular. Bahasa Sarawak is the most common language of Sarawak Malays and other indigenous tribes. The Iban language, which has minor regional variations, is the most widely spoken native language, with 60 per cent of the Sarawak population speaking it as a first language. The Bidayuh language, with six major dialects, is spoken by 10 per cent of the population. The Orang Ulu have about 30 different language dialects. While the ethnic Chinese originate from a variety of backgrounds and speak many different Southern Chinese languages such as Cantonese, Hokkien, Hakka, Fuzhou, and Teochew, they also converse in [[Malaysian Mandarin]].<ref>{{cite news |title=Sarawak, a land of many tongues |url=http://www.theborneopost.com/2010/12/23/sarawak-a-land-of-many-tongues/ |access-date=7 January 2016 |newspaper=The Borneo Post |date=23 December 2010 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20151113120315/http://www.theborneopost.com/2010/12/23/sarawak-a-land-of-many-tongues/ |archive-date=13 November 2015}}</ref> [[Tamil language]] is spoken by the Indians in Sarawak.<ref name="Indians in Sarawak"/>