Key Findings Population and Housing of Malaysia 2020: Administrative District comprises statistics at small geographical levels namely administrative districts/ jajahan (160), mukim/ sub-districts (1,756) and Local Authority (PBT) (155). This key findings will be used in measuring the achievements of policy implementation by the government towards becoming a nation that achieves sustainable growth with fair and equitable distribution across income groups, ethnicities, regions and supply chains.

 

Population of Malaysia

The total population of Malaysia in 2020 was 32.4 million as compared to 27.5 million in 2010. Malaysia's population grew at a slower rate of 1.7 per cent a year for the period of 2010 and 2020 as compared to 2.2 per cent a year for the period of 2000 and 2010.

Five (5) administrative districts recorded a population of more than one million in 2020 as compared to four (4) administrative districts in 2010. All these administrative districts are located in the Klang Valley with Petaling, Selangor being the only administrative district with a population of more than two (2) million. Only two administrative districts recorded a population below the 10,000 level, namely Tanjung Manis, Sarawak (7,946 persons) and Song, Sarawak (9,961 persons). The highest population by administrative district were recorded in Petaling, Selangor (2,298,130), Johor Bahru, Johor (1,711,191) and Ulu Langat, Selangor (1,400,461).

Findings at the mukim/ sub-district level recorded the highest population in Mukim Hulu Mukim Kinta, Perak (673,771), Mukim Plentong, Johor (583,640) and Mukim Pulai, Johor (505,661).

 

Living Quarters

Living Quarters in Malaysia amounted to 9.6 million in 2020 which includes 7.7 million occupied living quarters and 1.9 million (19.4%) were vacant. Other than Federal Territory of Kuala Lumpur, the highest living quarters by administrative district were recorded in Petaling, Selangor (679,812), Johor Bahru, Johor (610,314) and Ulu Langat, Selangor (431,574). The mukim/ sub-district level recorded the highest living quarters were in Mukim Hulu Kinta, Perak (215,355), Mukim Plentong, Johor (189,386) and Mukim Pulai, Johor (174,108).

The highest percentage of vacant living quarters was recorded at the administrative district of Telang Usan, Sarawak (41.2%), Tanjung Manis, Sarawak (40.7%) and Cameron Highlands, Pahang (40.2%). Meanwhile, administrative districts of Lahad Datu, Sabah (3.1%), Kinabatangan, Sabah (3.5%) and Tambunan, Sabah (4.0%) recorded the lowest percentage of vacant living quarters by administrative district level.

Preliminary data shows that the main reasons for the vacancy of living quarters at the Malaysia level were due to newly completed/ for rent or sale (37.8%) and holiday resort/ transit house (23.3%). Other reasons for vacancy of living quarters were for repair/ renovation (5.4%), homestay (2.3%), seasonal workers quarters (2.2%) and dilapidated (2.0%).

The highest percentage of vacant living quarters at the administrative district level due to newly completed/ for rent or sale was in Selangor, namely Sepang (71.3%), Gombak (62.9%) and Petaling (62.9%). Meanwhile, the highest percentage of vacant living quarters due to resort/ stopover house were in Sarawak namely Kanowit (87.0%), Pakan (76.4%) and Tatau (69.3%).

 

Households

Households in Malaysia amounted to 8.2 million in 2020 with the state of Selangor (1.8 million; 22.3%) recording the highest number of households. The administrative districts that recorded the highest number of households were Petaling, Selangor (617.7 thousand; 33.6%), Johor Bahru, Johor (460.7 thousand; 45.3%) and Ulu Langat, Selangor (387.6 thousand; 21.1%). The three mukims that recorded the highest households were located in Johor, namely Mukim Plentong (159,095), Mukim Pulai (130,643) and Mukim Tebrau (111,865).

The average household size in Malaysia is 3.8 with the highest recorded in Kelantan (4.8) and Sabah (4.7) and Terengganu (4.1). The highest households at the mukim/ sub-district level were located in Sabah, namely in Kunak (5.8), Semporna (5.7) and 5.3 in Sandakan and Nabawan. Two (2) of the 160 administrative districts recorded an average household size below 3.0, namely Bukit Mabong (2.8) and Matu (2.9) which located in Sarawak.

 

Sex Ratio

The sex ratio increased to 110 males for every 100 females (2010: 106). The highest sex ratio by administrative district were in Bukit Mabong, Sarawak (157), Belaga, Sarawak (136) and Cameron Highlands, Pahang (132). This shows that males outnumbered females in these districts. Sex ratio below 100 indicates that females outnumbering males. There are 13 administrative districts that have more female than male population.

 

Population by Citizenship Status

The population of Malaysia comprises 91.7 per cent of Citizens amounting to 29.8 million and 8.3 per cent of Non-Citizens accounted 2.7 million. The Citizens population grew at a slower rate of 1.7 per cent (2010: 1.9%) annually between 2010 and 2020, while Non-Citizens increased 1.8 per cent annually over the same period.

 

Population by Ethnic Group

The detailed ethnic groups in the sixth census have been realigned especially for the Bumiputera Sabah and Bumiputera Sarawak sub-ethnics based on the list from the Jabatan Hal Ehwal Anak Negeri Sabah and Majlis Adat Istiadat Sarawak.

Bumiputera population includes Malays, Orang Asli, Sabah Bumiputera and Sarawak Bumiputera ethnics. The top three composition of Malay ethnic group by administrative districts were in Setiu, Terengganu (99.5%), Pasir Puteh (98.8%) and Bachok (98.6%). The administrative districts that recorded the highest composition of Other Bumiputera were in Nabawan, Sabah (99.0%), Tambunan, Sabah (98.4%) and Pakan, Sarawak (97.8%). The main sub-ethnic in Nabawan, Sabah is Murut with a composition of 88.8 per cent, while the majority of the population in Tambunan is from the Kadazan Dusun sub-ethnic (97.6%) and Pakan from the Iban sub-ethnic (96.8%). The Chinese ethnic composition was highest in the administrative districts of Timur Laut, Pualu Pinang (64.5%), Kampar, Perak (49.3%) and Sibu, Sarawak (48.7%). The ethnic composition of Indians was the highest in the administrative districts of Bagan Datuk, Perak (23.5%), Klang, Selangor (19.1%) and Port Dickson, Negeri Sembilan (18.7%).

The largest ethnic group for Sabah Bumiputera consists of Kadazan/ Dusun with the highest population of 698.3 thousand, followed by Bajau (592.4 thousand persons) and Murut (112.9 thousand persons). The highest population according to Sarawak Bumiputera ethnicity is Iban (753.5 thousand persons), Bidayuh (215.7 thousand people) and Melanau (142.4 thousand persons).

 

Population by Age Group

The working age population (15-64 years) is the largest group with a composition of 69.3 per cent and a total of 22.5 million people. Meanwhile 7.8 million people in the age group 0-14 years (young age) accounted for 24.0 per cent and 2.2 million people in the age group of 65 years and over (old age) accounted for 6.8 per cent.

The highest composition of the young age population (0-14 years) by administrative district/ jajahan was recorded in Kecil Lojing, Kelantan (38.2%), followed by W.P. Putrajaya (38.0%) and Gua Musang, Kelantan (36.1%). Kinabatangan, Sabah recorded the highest composition of working age population (15-64 years) at 78.8 per cent, followed by two districts in Sarawak, namely Sebauh (78.7%) and Belaga (76.6%). In terms of the composition of the old age group (65 years and above), three districts in Sarawak recorded the highest composition, namely Lubok Antu (13.5%), Song (12.4%) and Sri Aman (11.9%).

 

Population by Religion

Muslims in 2020 amounted 20.6 million, Christians 2.9 million, Buddhists 6.1 million, Hindus 2.0 million and Others 860 thousand. The highest number of Muslims by administrative district were in Petaling, Selangor (1.2 million), followed by W.P. Kuala Lumpur (0.9 million) and Ulu Langat, Selangor (0.89 million). The highest Buddhists were in W.P. Kuala Lumpur (0.64 million), Petaling (0.63 million) and Johor Bahru (0.57 million). Meanwhile, the highest number of Hindus located in the of administrative district of Petaling (0.22 million), Klang (0.18 million) and W.P. Kuala Lumpur (0.16 million). The highest number of Christians is in the administrative districts of Kuching (0.2 million), Petaling (0.18 million) and Sibu (0.15 million).

 

Population by Marital Status

Marital status shows that the population who have never been married were 8.4 million or 34.0 per cent of the 24.7 million population aged 15 years and above. Married population was 13.7 million (55.5%), Widowed was 946.2 thousand (3.8%) and Divorced/ Separated was 393.4 thousand (1.6%).

The highest Never Married population by administrative district was recorded in Petaling, Selangor (569 thousand), W.P. Kuala Lumpur (467 thousand) and Johor Bahru (429 thousand). The highest Married population by administrative district was recorded in Petaling, Selangor (1 million), W.P. Kuala Lumpur (891 thousand) and Johor Bahru (776 thousand). The highest number of widowed were in W.P. Kuala Lumpur (46 thousand), Kinta, Perak (38 thousand), Johor Bahru (32 thousand). Residents with Divorced/ Separated status are the highest in Petaling, Selangor (32 thousand), W.P. Kuala Lumpur (25 thousand) and Johor Bahru (24 thousand).

 

Population Density

On average, Malaysia has a population density of 98 people per square kilometer in 2020 compared to 83 people per square kilometer in 2010. W.P. Kuala Lumpur has the highest population density with 8,157 persons per square kilometer, followed by Petaling (4,719 persons) and the Timur Laut (4,403 persons).

 

Urbanisation

The administrative district that accounts for 100 per cent of the city is W.P. Kuala Lumpur, W.P. Putrajaya, Melaka Tengah, Timur Laut, Petaling and Putatan. The MyCensus 2020 recorded 45 out of 160 administrative districts with 100 per cent rural status.

 

Local Authority

Kuala Lumpur City Hall and Kajang Municipal Council are two local authorities with a population of over one million. Among the 17 local authorities in the state capitals, Johor Bahru City Council (MB) recorded the highest population growth with 5.5 per cent followed by Perbadanan Putrajaya 4.7 per cent and MB Shah Alam with 4.1 per cent.

Key Findings of Population of Housing Census of Malaysia 2020: Administrative District shows that Kuala Lumpur City Hall was the most populous (1,982,112), followed Kajang Municipal Council (MP) (1,047,356) and MB Seberang Perai (946,092).

Total population for City Hall/ City Council in 2020 was 12,296,301 million (38%) as compared to 6,017,926 (22%) in 2010. Annual population growth for City Hall and City Council was 7.2 per cent. This rapid growth is consistent with the country's urbanisation rate, 75.1 per cent in 2020 as compared to 70.9 per cent in 2010.

According to the Ministry of Housing and Local Government (KPKT), threshold of population for the City Council category is 500,000 persons while 150,000 for Municipal Council. Based on MyCensus 2020 findings, there are 17 local governments that have a population of more than 500,000. Five local governments have surpassed the threshold of City Council namely MP Kajang, MP Klang, MP Selayang, MP Sungai Petani and MP Ampang Jaya.

Thirteen District Councils (MD) have exceeded the threshold of municipal council at 150,000. The District Council with the highest population include MD Pasir Mas (230,424), MD Lahad Datu (229,138) and MD Tumpat (179,944).

The average number of private household size in Malaysia declined from 4.2 to 3.8 persons in a decade. The MyCensus 2020 findings showed that 95 (61%) local authorities recorded household size above the national average. Three local authorities in Kelantan and six in Sabah recorded private household size more than five persons.

The full publication can be downloaded through eStatistik portal.

 

Released by:

THE OFFICE OF CHIEF STATISTICIAN MALAYSIA
DEPARTMENT OF STATISTICS, MALAYSIA

29 May 2022

 

Contact person:

Mohd Yusrizal Ab Razak 
Public Relation Officer
Strategic Communication and International Division
Department of Statistics, Malaysia
Tel : +603-8885 7942
Fax : +603-8888 9248
Email : yusrizal.razak[at]dosm.gov.my