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Malaysia’s share of children shrinks as population ages faster

In 2026, children aged 14 and below fell to 21.2% of Malaysia’s population, while the 65-plus group rose to 8.4%.

Reported · Written up by our desk · Emerging Markets

Malaysia’s demographic shift toward an older society is accelerating, with official data showing fewer children and a growing elderly population, according to figures released by Malaysia’s Department of Statistics (DOSM) on Friday, as summarized by SCMP Economy.

Children aged 14 and below accounted for 21.2% of the population in 2026, down from 21.6% a year earlier, while the share of people aged 65 and above increased from 8.0% to 8.4%.

The working-age population, covering those aged 15 to 64, stayed at 70.4%. SCMP Economy reports that the changes are unfolding even as Malaysia’s total population is estimated to have grown to 34.4 million this year from 34.2 million in 2025.

Annual growth remained at 0.5%, highlighting the pressure on policymakers as they plan for an older society with a smaller pool of future workers and higher demands on healthcare and retirement systems, SCMP Economy said.

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