The decennial publication provides users with the final Malaysian Census population figures for basic demographic characteristics such as gender, age distribution, ethnic group, citizenship, religion and marital status at the state and the administrative district levels.

The data in the decennial publication represent final Malaysian Census population figures for respective decades.

As in censuses in most other countries, the information obtained during enumeration is subject to coverage and content errors.

In term of coverage errors, part of living quarters, households or population maybe left out, erroneously included or duplicated.

Content errors in particular were based on erroneous responses on gender, age, ethnic group, citizenship, religion and marital status.

As a result, the figures were "adjusted" based on the estimates of under-enumeration derived from the Census Coverage Evaluation Survey.

This includes: The following categories were excluded from the census count on the basis that they were staying in the country for less than six months in the year 2010: Urban areas adopted by the previous censuses refer to gazetted local council areas with a specified population threshold.

Classification of 2010 Census ethnic group is as set by Inter-Agency Technical Committee (IATC) in Appendix 1.

IATC is a committee formed to co-ordinate and monitor the implementation and use of standardised codes, classifications and definitions used by the Department of Statistics, Malaysia and other government agencies.

For the purpose of tabulation and analysis, as well as taking into account the diverse ethnic group in Peninsular Malaysia, Sabah, Federal Territory of Labuan and Sarawak, major ethnic groups according to region as follows: Malay Malay Kadazan-Dusun Bajau Murut Malay Iban Bidayuh Melanau Other Bumiputera Non-Bumiputera Chinese Indian Others Information collected in the census including ethnic group and citizenship was based on respondent's answer and did not refer to any official document.

Information on citizenship should be used with caution as it is subject to content and coverage errors especially for non-citizens as in censuses in most countries.

For the purpose of tabulation and analysis, the classification for religion is as follows: After the year 2000, there were several new areas created or boundary changes that were gazetted by the relevant authority for federal territory and administrative districts.

Meanwhile, the new administrative districts such as Ledang and Kulaijaya in Johor; Pokok Sena in Kedah; Kampar in Perak; Putatan in Sabah; and Pakan and Selangau in Sarawak.