SIZE OF POPULATION

The population grew at a slower rate

Malaysia's population is projected to increase from 28.6 million (2010) to 41.5 million (2040). Nevertheless, the population increase is slow with the annual population growth rate decreasing from 1.8 per cent (2010) to 0.8 per cent (2040). The average population growth rate decreases by 0.05 per cent per year.

ETHNIC COMPOSITION

Bumiputera recorded  the highest percentage i.e. 4.8%

Among the main ethnic groups, Bumiputera showed the highest percentage increase of 4.8 percentage points, from 67.3 per cent (2010) to 72.1 per cent (2040).

SEX RATIO

 Male more than female

The sex ratio in 2010 was 106 males for every 100 females and will increase to 108 in 2020 and shall remain unchanged until 2040. The sex ratio is 103 by citizen and will be sustained over the a period of 30 years. On the other hand, the sex ratio of non-citizens is higher, namely 156 in 2010 and is expected to increase to 169 in 2040.

AGE STRUCTURE

The age structure of the population can be categorised into three main groups, the younger age group (0-14 years), the working age group (15-64 years) and old age (65 years and over).

The impact of changes in the age structure

•  The median age is increasing

The median age in 2010 was 26.3 years and will rise to 38.3 years (2040), an increase of 12 years over the period of 30 years.

• The dependency ratio is increasing

The increase in the total dependency ratio from 47.8 (2010) to 49.5 (2040) is due to an increase in the old age dependency ratio, almost a three-fold increase from 7.4 (2010) to 21.7 (2040).

• Ageing Population

Malaysia is expected to experience the population ageing in 2020, when the percentage of the population aged 65 years and over reaches 7.2 per cent.

Released By:

THE OFFICE OF CHIEF STATISTICIAN MALAYSIA
DEPARTMENT OF STATISTICS, MALAYSIA
4 November 2016

Contact person:
Ho Mei Kei
Public Relation Officer
Corporate and User Services Division
Department of Statistics, Malaysia
Tel : +603-8885 7942
Fax : +603-8888 9248
Email : mkho[at]stats.gov.my