Live Long And Prosper: Malaysia's Life Expectancy At Birth, 1957-2024

KUALA LUMPUR, Sept 2 (Bernama) -- When Malaysia gained independence in 1957, a newborn boy could expect to live about 55.8 years, while a newborn girl about 58.2 years.This was the mortality rate of that time.

By 2024, those figures had risen significantly: a newborn boy could expect to live about 73 years, and a newborn girl about 77.8 years, according to data from the Department of Statistics Malaysia.

The gap between male and female life expectancy has remained consistent, with women living several years longer on average.

(Life expectancy at birth is the average number of years a newborn is expected to live if today’s death rates at each age stay the same.)

The sharp improvement seen in the first few decades after independence was not only rapid but also historically significant.

A 1984 paper in the Journal of Public Health Policy noted that from 1957 to 1976, overall life expectancy in Malaysia increased from 57 to 69 years. Malaysia achieved this progress in just 20 years, compared with the United States, which took 27 years (from 1915 to 1941) to reach a similar improvement.

Better healthcare services, vaccination programmes, improved nutrition, and public health measures all contributed to the longer lifespans Malaysians continue to benefit from today.

However, this extra longevity has not always translated into healthier lives.

A 2024 study found that while Malaysians are living almost 20 years beyond 60, the proportion of those years spent in good health has barely shifted. Non-communicable diseases now account for 72 percent of premature deaths, reflecting new challenges that come with ageing.

Yet Malaysia’s health journey since Merdeka also shows what is possible when the nation comes together. In just one generation, it transformed life expectancy from barely above 55 years to well into the seventies – a leap that once seemed out of reach.

As the country moves beyond its 68th National Day, the next milestone is clear: to add not only years to life, but life to years. Just as independence opened the door to progress, today’s Malaysia has the chance to define its future by ensuring that its people can age with vitality, dignity, and hope.

-- BERNAMA