Penang (Malay: Pulau Pinang, [pi.naŋ]) is a Malaysian state located on the northwest coast of Peninsular Malaysia, by the Malacca Strait. It has two parts: Penang Island, where the capital city, George Town, is located, and Seberang Perai on the Malay Peninsula. They are connected by Malaysia's two longest road bridges, the Penang Bridge and the Sultan Abdul Halim Muadzam Shah Bridge; the latter is also the second longest oversea bridge in Southeast Asia.[3] The second smallest Malaysian state by land mass, Penang, is bordered by Kedah to the north and the east, and Perak to the south.[1]

Penang is the 8th most populated state in Malaysia. Its population stood at nearly 1.767 million as of 2018, while its population density was as high as 1,684/km2 (4,360/sq mi).[4] It has among the nation's highest population densities and is one of the country's most urbanised states.[5] Seberang Perai is Malaysia's second-largest city by population.[6] Its heterogeneous population is highly diverse in ethnicity, culture, language and religion. Aside from the three main races, the Malays, Chinese, and Indians, Penang is home to significant Eurasian, Siamese and expatriate communities.[7][8][9] A resident of Penang is colloquially known as a Penangite or Penang Lang (Penang Hokkien: 庇能儂; Tâi-lô: Pī-néeng-lâng) in Penang Hokkien due to the significant Penangite Chinese population.[10]

Penang's modern history began in 1786, upon the establishment of George Town by Francis Light. Penang formed part of the Straits Settlements in 1826, which became a British crown colony in 1867. Direct British rule was only briefly interrupted during World War II, when Japan occupied Penang; the British retook Penang in 1945. Penang was later merged with the Federation of Malaya (now Malaysia), which gained independence from the British in 1957.

Following the decline of its entrepôt trade towards the 1970s, Penang's economy was reoriented by the central government towards manufacturing.[11] Today, it has become one of Malaysia's most vital economic powerhouses.[12][13][14] Penang has the third highest Human Development Index (HDI) among Malaysia's states and territories, after Kuala Lumpur and Selangor.[15][16]