Malaysia’s total population was estimated at 34.4 million in the first quarter of 2026 (Q1 2026), up from 34.2 million in the same period last year, though the growth rate slowed to 0.5 per cent, according to the Demographic Statistics Q1 2026 report released by the Department of Statistics Malaysia (DOSM) yesterday.
Chief statistician Mohd Uzir Mahidin said the male population rose to 18.0 million from 17.9 million, while the female population increased to 16.3 million from 16.2 million over the same period.
He noted that the sex ratio stood at 110 males for every 100 females, while the ratio among citizens was 102.
Ageing population on the rise
The share of the elderly population aged 65 and over increased from 7.9 per cent to 8.0 per cent in Q1 2026, while the proportion of young people aged 0 to 14 years dipped from 21.8 per cent to 21.6 per cent.
The working-age population, covering those aged 15 to 64 years, edged up slightly from 70.3 per cent to 70.4 per cent during the same period.
By ethnicity, Malays made up 58.3 per cent of the population in Q1 2026, a marginal increase from 58.2 per cent in Q1 2025. The proportion of other Bumiputera and Indians remained unchanged at 12.3 per cent and 6.5 per cent respectively, while the Chinese share declined slightly to 22.1 per cent from 22.2 per cent.
Among other Bumiputera, Sabah Bumiputera accounted for 55.3 per cent, comprising Kadazan/Dusun (31.7 per cent), Bajau (26.5 per cent), Murut (5.1 per cent) and other Sabah Bumiputera (36.7 per cent). Sarawak Bumiputera made up 32.3 per cent, led by Iban (59.1 per cent), Bidayuh (17.1 per cent), Melanau (10.6 per cent) and other Sarawak Bumiputera (13.2 per cent).
Live births continue to fall
The number of live births declined to 94,807 in Q1 2026, down from 97,843 in Q1 2025. Male births outnumbered female births, with 49,137 compared to 45,670.
Selangor recorded the highest number of live births at 17,990, while Labuan had the lowest with just 294.
Deaths decrease, elderly account for majority
A total of 49,139 deaths were recorded in Q1 2026, reflecting a decrease of 1.5 per cent from the 49,863 deaths logged in Q1 2025. Selangor again recorded the highest number at 8,042 deaths, while Putrajaya had the lowest with 81.
Those aged 60 and above accounted for the largest share of deaths at 71.5 per cent, or 35,130 cases, followed by the 41 to 59 age group at 19.9 per cent, the 15 to 40 group at 6.8 per cent, and those aged 14 and below at 1.8 per cent.
