THE nation’s latest demographic data paints the picture of a country entering a critical social and economic transition, with slowing population growth and declining birth rates increasingly signalling the emergence of an ageing nation.
Figures released by the Department of Statistics Malaysia (DOSM) showed the country’s population was estimated at 34.4 million in the first quarter of 2026, up from 34.2 million during the same period last year.
However, the annual growth rate slowed to 0.5 per cent, reinforcing concerns that demographic momentum is weakening.
Chief Statistician Datuk Seri Dr. Mohd Uzir Mahidin said the male population rose to 18 million from 17.9 million a year earlier, while the female population increased to 16.3 million from 16.2 million.
“The sex ratio is 110 males for every 100 females, while the sex ratio for citizens is 102.
“The composition of the elderly population aged 65 years and above increased from 7.9 per cent to 8.0 per cent in the first quarter of 2026.
“At the same time, the young population aged 0 to 14 years declined from 21.8 per cent to 21.6 per cent. The working-age population aged 15 to 64 years increased from 70.3 per cent to 70.4 per cent during the same period,” he said in a statement.
While the changes may appear incremental, they point to broader structural shifts that economists and policymakers increasingly view as among Malaysia’s most pressing long-term challenges.
The rise in the elderly population, coupled with shrinking proportions of younger Malaysians, suggests the country is moving gradually towards ageing nation status, a transition that often places mounting pressure on healthcare systems, pension structures, labour supply and productivity growth.
The falling number of births is likely to intensify those concerns.
According to the report, live births declined further to 94,807 in the first quarter of 2026, compared with 97,843 births recorded during the same period in 2025.
Male births continued to outnumber female births, with 49,137 boys born compared with 45,670 girls.
“Selangor recorded the highest number of live births with 17,990 births, while the Federal Territory of Labuan recorded the lowest with 294 births,” Mohd Uzir said.
The demographic slowdown mirrors trends seen across several middle-income Asian economies where rising living costs, delayed marriages, urbanisation and changing social priorities have contributed to declining fertility rates.
At the same time, Malaysia’s ethnic composition remained largely stable, although subtle shifts continue to emerge.
Malays accounted for 58.3 per cent of the total population in the first quarter of 2026, compared with 58.2 per cent a year earlier.
The proportion of other Bumiputera groups and Indians remained unchanged at 12.3 per cent and 6.5 per cent respectively, while the Chinese population share declined slightly from 22.2 per cent to 22.1 per cent.
Among the broader Bumiputera population, Bumiputera communities in Sabah accounted for 55.3 per cent, comprising Kadazan/Dusun, Bajau, Murut and other indigenous Sabah groups.
Meanwhile, Bumiputera communities in Sarawak represented 32.3 per cent, with Iban forming the largest subgroup, followed by Bidayuh, Melanau and other Sarawak indigenous communities.
The report also showed that total deaths declined slightly.
A total of 49,139 deaths were recorded in the first quarter of 2026, down 1.5 per cent from 49,863 deaths during the same period last year.
“Selangor recorded the highest number of deaths with 8,042 deaths, while the Federal Territory of Putrajaya recorded the lowest number with 81 deaths,” Mohd Uzir said.
Older Malaysians aged 60 and above accounted for the overwhelming majority of deaths at 71.5 per cent, highlighting the country’s increasingly ageing demographic structure.
As Malaysia balances economic ambitions with social transformation, the latest figures suggest demographic change may soon become one of the defining policy issues shaping the nation’s future. - May 14, 2026
