PUTRAJAYA: Ten districts have been newly classified as ageing, with residents aged 65 and above reaching seven per cent in 2025, according to the Current Population Estimates, Administrative District, 2025, released by the Department of Statistics on Thursday (Oct 2).
The districts are Seremban (Negri Sembilan), Jerantut and Kuantan (Pahang), Kluang and Pontian (Johor), Alor Gajah (Melaka), Bachok (Kelantan), Seberang Perai Selatan (Penang), Subis (Sarawak) and Keningau (Sabah).
"Thus, all districts in northern Malaysia are now classified as ageing districts,” Chief Statistician Datuk Seri Dr Mohd Uzir Mahidin said in a statement today.
The United Nations has defined three categories of ageing, namely ageing society, aged society and super-aged society, which refer to populations aged 65 years and over reaching seven per cent, 14 per cent and 20 per cent, respectively.
Meanwhile, the National Senior Citizens Policy (DWEN) states that ageing is when those aged 60 years old and over make up 15 per cent of the population.
Mohd Uzir also noted that the Petaling district in Selangor had the highest population in 2025 at 2.4 million, followed by Johor Bahru, Johor (1.8 million) and Ulu Langat, Selangor (1.5 million).
"Kecil Lojing, Kelantan recorded the highest growth rate at 3.6 per cent, followed by Marang, Terengganu (1.6 per cent) and Kemaman, Terengganu (1.4 per cent), while Bukit Mabong, Sarawak recorded the lowest population at 10,700, followed by Song, Sarawak (10,400) and Tanjung Manis, Sarawak (7,900).
"Three districts in Kelantan recorded the highest share of young population aged 0 to 14 years in 2025, with Gua Musang (32.4 per cent), Kecil Lojing (31.9 per cent) and Tumpat (31.6 per cent),” he said.
For the working-age group (15-64 years), Sebauh, Sarawak led with 80 per cent, followed by Belaga, Sarawak (78.8 per cent) and Kinabatangan, Sabah (78.4 per cent). Lubok Antu, Sarawak, registered the highest percentage of old age population aged 65 years and over at 15.7 per cent.
On ethnic composition, Mohd Uzir said that Setiu, Terengganu recorded the highest composition of Bumiputera at 99.8 per cent, followed by Nabawan, Sabah (99.6 per cent) and Hulu Terengganu, Terengganu (99.4 per cent).
The highest composition of Chinese is recorded in Timur Laut, Penang with 63.5 per cent, followed by Sibu, Sarawak (48 per cent) and Kampar, Perak (47.7 per cent).
As for Indians, the highest composition is recorded in Bagan Datuk, Perak (23.1 per cent), followed by Klang, Selangor (18.6 per cent) and Port Dickson, Negeri Sembilan (18.2 per cent). - Bernama
