PUTRAJAYA: Malaysia's population grew at a rate of 1.6% in the third quarter of 2024, slower than the 2.1% rate over the same period in 2023.
The estimated population for Q3 2024 is 34.1 million, compared to 33.6 million for Q3 2023.
Chief Statistician Datuk Seri Dr Mohd Uzir Mahidin said the lower population growth rare could be attributed to the decline of childbirths.
He said the total population comprises 90% citizens (30.7 million) and 10% non-citizens (3.4 million).
He noted that the male population increased to 17.9 million (up from 17.6 million in Q3 2023) while the female population rose to 16.2 million (up from 16 million).
"The overall ratio is 111 males to 100 females while ratio for citizens is 103 males to 100 females," he said.
Mohd Uzir said the young age population (0-14 years old) was unchanged at 7.6 million (22.2% of the total population) while the working age population (15-64 years) and older population (65 years and over) increased from 23.5 million (70%) and 2.5 million (7.5%) to 23.9 million (70.2%) and 2.6 million (7.7%), respectively.
He added Malays accounted for 58.1% of the population (57.9% in Q3 2023) while the Chinese and Indian population decreased respectively to 22.4% and 6.5% (compared to 22.5% and 6.6% for Q3 2023), while other bumiputras remained unchanged at 12.3%.
Mohd Uzir also said that the number of live births recorded a decrease of 12.3% with 100,645 births as compared to 113,764 births in Q3 2023.
Selangor recorded the highest live births of 19,458 (19.3%) while Federal Territory of Labuan recorded the lowest at 327 births (0.3%).
Most of 50.3% of Malaysia's live births are mothers aged 30-39 years followed by 20-29 years (42.6%), 40 years and over (5.0%) and below 20 years (2.1%).
"On average, one baby was born per minute, 46 babies per hour and 1,094 babies per day in the third quarter of 2024," Mohd Uzir said.
He added a total of 48,317 deaths were recorded, an increase of 1.9% compared to 47,438 deaths recorded in Q3 2023.
The 60 years and above age group recorded the highest number of deaths at 33,995 (70.4%), followed by 41-59 years (20.0%), 15-40 years (7.5%) and 0-14 years (2.2%).
"On average, one death was recorded every two minutes, 22 deaths per hour and 525 deaths per day in the third quarter 2024," Mohd Uzir said. – Bernama
