Cost Of Living Main Reason Youths Delay Starting Families - Deputy Minister

KUALA LUMPUR, July 21 (Bernama) -- The pressure of the rising cost of living is the main factor why many youths choose to delay marriage and start a family, even though the desire remains, said Deputy Women, Family and Community Development Minister Datuk Seri Dr Noraini Ahmad.

According to a report by the United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA), she said nearly one in five adults across 14 countries acknowledged that they may not be able to have the number of children they desire.

“Of this group, 39 per cent cited financial constraints as the main barrier, including the cost of living, childcare, housing, and job insecurity. This is where our responsibility lies, to listen, understand, and act,” she said in her speech at the 2025 World Population Day celebration here today.

She said the government has implemented various initiatives to help young couples build families in a more stable and structured environment, including providing maternity and paternity leave, childcare subsidies, financial assistance for low-income families, as well as organising awareness programmes on reproductive and family health.

Commenting on Malaysia’s declining fertility rate, currently at 1.7 children per woman, which is below the population replacement level of 2.1, Noraini said the government is implementing the Fertility Treatment Aid and Infertility Advocacy Programme (BuAI), targeting 30,000 couples by 2025.

 “In just the first quarter of 2025, only 93,500 births were recorded, a drop of more than 11 per cent compared to the previous year. These numbers are not just statistics; they represent a growing urgency for effective policies, support systems, and public awareness,” she said.

In addition, she said family and reproductive health education programmes such as PEKERTI, SMARTSTART, and Kafe@TEEN are also being implemented on an ongoing basis.

“These efforts are part of a holistic, inclusive and youth-friendly approach. We want young people to start their families in a stable environment, supported by relevant policies and surrounded by hope, not worry,” she added. 

Meanwhile, Noraini said this year’s World Population Day celebration has been expanded to the state level with various programmes involving more than 5,000 participants throughout July and August.

The event also saw the launch of the UNFPA’s State of World Population 2025 report titled ‘The Real Fertility Crisis: The Pursuit of Reproductive Agency in a Changing World’, which highlights global challenges and opportunities in the context of fertility, reproductive choices, and intergenerational justice.

The launch of the report in Malaysia reflects international recognition of the country’s commitment to addressing population issues comprehensively and through evidence-based policies.

-- BERNAMA