INTERACTIVE: Why fewer Malaysians are saying ‘I do’

PETALING JAYA: A steady drop in the number of marriages is something Malaysia may need to get used to.

Figures from the Statistics Department show that the number of couples who tied the knot has gradually fallen from 207,882 in 2016 to 188,100 last year.

An exception was during the post-Covid-19 lockdown year of 2021 when 215,973 marriages were recorded.

Population expert Chai Sen Tyng from Universiti Putra Malaysia (UPM) said the trend signals a demographic shift in the country.

Other options

He said the shift is not about rejecting marriage – rather, it is about exploring different life options as women gain more independence through education.

“Marriage or childbearing are major milestones, but not everyone feels that it is the only journey in life,” said Chai, who is senior research officer at UPM’s Malaysian Research Institute on Ageing.

“If we look at other neighbouring countries, especially East Asian societies and patrilocal cultures, women are reacting by reasserting and making their choices.

“So, falling marriage and fertility rates are a wakeup call for men as well, in general,” he said.

Cost of living a major issue

Tey Nai Peng from Universiti Malaya (UM) said economic pressures are a primary factor behind declining marriage rates in Malaysia.

“Rising costs of living, housing, weddings, and child-rearing are significant barriers,” said Tey, Associate Professor at UM’s Department of Applied Statistics, Faculty of Economics and Administration.

He noted that weddings in Malaysia often cost upwards of RM14,000, exceeding the financial capacity of many singles.

“Inflation and the slow economic recovery post Covid-19 further exacerbate these challenges.”

He said a single person requires RM2,500 to RM3,500 monthly for a comfortable lifestyle.

However, the average salary for those aged 25–29 in 2019 was RM2,315 (mean) and RM1,858 (median).

“For married couples in the Klang Valley, the estimated monthly expenses increase from RM4,630 to RM5,980 once they have a child, leaving little room for savings.”

Tey said those earning less than RM2,500 were less likely to save enough to marry and raise a family after paying for life commitments such as rent and car instalments.

Life goals

Another factor, he said, was the pursuit of education and career advancement among women, which complicates their pursuit of a life partner with similar life goals.

“Between 2000 and 2016, the proportion of women aged 30-34 who had never married increased significantly in various countries: from 29.4% to 38% in Australia, from 1.4% to 7.3% in China, and from 6.1% to 8.3% in Egypt.

“Women now comprise over 60% of higher education graduates in Malaysia and are increasingly achieving economic independence.

“The female labour force participation rate rose from 47% in 1990-2000 to 55% in 2020," he said.

He said that attitudes toward marriage were also evolving, with a growing emphasis on individualism and self-fulfilment over traditional milestones.

“Many Malaysians now prioritise career stability and financial security before considering family formation,” he added.

Impact of declining marriages

Tey said the rising age at marriage and increasing non-marriage rates have driven Malaysia's total fertility rate to fall to 1.6 in 2022, far below the replacement level.

The population replacement level refers to the rate at which a population replaces itself from one generation to the next.

It is generally defined as a rate of 2.1 children per woman.

Tey said the government has to play a pivotal role in reversing these trends through targeted interventions.

These could include reducing the cost of marriages, strengthening family life education, financial incentives, as well as support for childcare and childrearing.

Prof Rumaya Juhari from UPM said the trend of singlehood or delaying marriage could affect the housing market due to the potential drop in household sizes.

“We could expect that in the future, we would go back to only needing two- or one-bedroom houses, and with ageing care, there would be higher household expenditures.

“If people postpone marriage and parenthood, they might become parents at a much later age while also needing to take care of their parents.

“This would make it worse for the sandwich generation,” said Prof Rumaya, who is with UPM’s Department of Human Development and Family Studies.

The sandwich generation refers to individuals, typically in their 30s or 40s, responsible both for bringing up their own children and for the care of their ageing parents.

Prof Rumaya said while the government could give monetary incentives to encourage marriage, it would not guarantee that couples will have children.

She said Malaysia needs good policies that can take into account the potential impacts and how to manage them.