PUTRAJAYA, May 14 — Malaysia’s population stood at an estimated 34.4 million in the first quarter of this year (Q1), compared with the 34.2 million recorded in Q1 last year, with a slower growth rate of 0.5 per cent, showed the Demographic Statistics for Q1 2026 released by the Statistics Department (DOSM) today.
Chief statistician Datuk Seri Mohd Uzir Mahidin said the male population increased to 18 million from 17.9 million on-year, and the female population rose to 16.3 million from 16.2 million.
“The sex ratio was 110 males for every 100 females, while the sex ratio for citizens was 102 (males to every 100 females). The composition of the aged population (65 years and over) increased from 7.9 per cent to 8 per cent in Q1.
“Meanwhile, the young age population (0 to 14 years) recorded a decrease from 21.8 per cent to 21.6 per cent. The working age population (15 to 64 years) increased from 70.3 per cent to 70.4 per cent in the same period,” he said in a statement today.
By ethnicity, Malays made up 58.3 per cent of the population in Q1, compared with the 58.2 per cent in Q1 last year.
The proportion of Sabah Bumiputeras, Sarawak Bumiputeras, other Peninsular Malaysia Bumiputeras (Other Bumiputeras), and Indians remained unchanged at 12.3 per cent and 6.5 per cent, respectively, while the Chinese group decreased to 22.1 per cent in Q1 from 22.2 per cent in Q1 last year.
Sabah Bumiputera made up 55.3 per cent of the Other Bumiputeras, which comprise Kadazan/Dusun (31.7 per cent), Bajau (26.5 per cent), Murut (5.1 per cent), and other Sabah Bumiputera (36.7 per cent).
Meanwhile, Sarawak Bumiputera, which made up 32.3 per cent, comprised Iban (59.1 per cent), Bidayuh (17.1 per cent), Melanau (10.6 per cent), and other Sarawak Bumiputera (13.2 per cent).
Uzir noted that the number of live births declined to 94,807 births from 97,843 births in Q1 last year, with male babies outnumbering female babies 49,137 to 45,670.
“Selangor recorded the highest live births with 17,990 births, while Labuan recorded the lowest with 294 births,” he said.
Uzir added that 49,139 deaths were recorded in Q1, a decrease of 1.5 per cent from 49,863 deaths in Q1 last year, with Selangor having the highest number at 8,042 deaths, while Putrajaya recorded the lowest with 81 deaths.
The population aged 60 years and above accounted for the most deaths at 35,130 (71.5 per cent), followed by the group aged 41 to 59 (19.9 per cent), 15 to 40 (6.8 per cent), and 0 to 14 (1.8 per cent).
