471 ovarian tumours were available for study from 1980 to 1987. Epidemiological breakdown by race, age and the histological type of the tumours was obtained. The diagnosis of the individual tumours was based on the World Health Organisation (WHO) histological classification of ovarian tumours. There were 324 (68.8%) benigh and 147 (31.2%) malignant tumours. 253 (53.7%) of the tumours were seen in the Malays. The third decade was the peak age for the benigh tumours, and for the malignant tumours, the fourth and fifth decades. 138 (42.6%) of the benign ovarian tumours were cystic teratomas and 45 (30.6%) of the malignant tumours were cystadenocarcinoma.