Malaysia’s Population Reaches 34.4 Million Amid Slower Growth Rate - DOSM

PUTRAJAYA, May 14 (Bernama) -- Malaysia’s total population was estimated at 34.4 million in the first quarter of this year (1Q26) as compared with the 34.2 million recorded in the same period last year, with a slower growth of 0.5 per cent, according to the Demographic Statistics for 1Q 2026 released by the Department of Statistics Malaysia (DOSM) today.

Chief Statistician Datuk Seri Dr Mohd Uzir Mahidin said the male population increased to 18.0 million from 17.9 million in 1Q26, and the female population rose to 16.3 million from 16.2 million in the same period a year ago.

“The sex ratio was 110 males for every 100 females, while the sex ratio for citizens was 102. The composition of the old age population (65 years and over) increased from 7.9 per cent to 8.0 per cent in the 1Q26.

“Meanwhile, the young age population (0-14 years) recorded a decrease from 21.8 per cent to 21.6 per cent. The working age population (15-64 years) increased from 70.3 per cent to 70.4 per cent during the same period,” he said in a statement today.

By ethnicity, Malay accounted for 58.3 per cent of the population in the 1Q26 as compared with the 58.2 per cent recorded in 1Q25.

The proportion of Other Bumiputera (Sabah Bumiputera, Sarawak Bumiputera and other Bumiputera Peninsular Malaysia) and Indians remained unchanged at 12.3 per cent and 6.5 per cent respectively, while Chinese decreased to 22.1 per cent in the 1Q26 from 22.2 per cent in the corresponding quarter of 2025.

Sabah Bumiputera contributed 55.3 per cent of Other Bumiputera, which comprised Kadazan/Dusun (31.7 per cent), Bajau (26.5 per cent), Murut (5.1 per cent) and other Sabah Bumiputera (36.7 per cent).

Meanwhile, Sarawak Bumiputera, which made up 32.3 per cent, consisted of Iban (59.1 per cent), Bidayuh (17.1 per cent), Melanau (10.6 per cent) and other Sarawak Bumiputera (13.2 per cent).

Mohd Uzir noted that the number of live births continued to decline to 94,807 births as compared to 97,843 births in the 1Q25, with male babies outnumbering female babies with 49,137 births as compared to 45,670 births.

“Selangor recorded the highest live births with 17,990 births while Labuan recorded the lowest with 294 births,” he said.

He added that 49,139 deaths were recorded in 1Q26, a decrease of 1.5 per cent from 49,863 deaths in 1Q25, with Selangor having the highest number at 8,042 deaths, while Putrajaya recorded the lowest with 81 deaths.

Population aged 60 years and over recorded the highest number of deaths with 35,130 deaths (71.5 per cent), followed by 41-59 years (19.9 per cent), 15-40 years (6.8 per cent) and 0-14 years (1.8 per cent).

-- BERNAMA