Malaysia Facing Ageing Population As Fertility Rate Declines – LPPKN

ARAU, Aug 11 (Bernama) -- Malaysia’s Total Fertility Rate (TFR) dropped sharply to 1.7 children per woman in 2023, down from 4.0 in 1980, signalling a demographic shift toward an ageing population, the National Population and Family Development Board (LPPKN) said.

LPPKN director-general Datuk Abdul Shukur Abdullah attributed the decline to lifestyle changes, rising living costs, delayed marriages and a growing preference for smaller families.

“Increased participation of women in higher education and the workforce also influences family planning decisions. At the same time, financial pressures, career priorities, reproductive health issues and infertility are key factors that must be addressed holistically,” he said.

His speech was delivered by LPPKN Research, Population and Family Division director Adzmel Mahmod at the Perlis Population Seminar 2025, held in conjunction with World Population Day here today.

Themed ‘Perlis Population: Small State, Big Aspirations’, the seminar was officiated by Perlis Women, Family and Community Development, Unity and Environment Committee chairman Wan Badariah Wan Saad.

To combat the fertility decline, Abdul Shukur said the government has implemented the Fertility Treatment Assistance and Infertility Advocacy (BuAI) initiative, which includes assistance such as Intrauterine Insemination (IUI), to increase birth rates and improve public awareness on fertility issues.

He added that Perlis recorded a TFR of 1.7 in 2023 and has also seen a decrease in live births, from 4,392 in 2016 to 3,878 last year.

“This seminar is timely to explore policies and strategies to slow the fertility decline and prepare Perlis for fast-moving demographic changes through programmes focused on three pillars, namely population, family development and human reproduction,” he said.

-- BERNAMA