PUTRAJAYA - The number of live births recorded a decline of 11.5 per cent to 93,500 in the first quarter of this year (Q1 2025) compared to 105,613 in Q1 2024, according to the Department of Statistics Malaysia (DOSM) in its Demographic Statistics report.
Chief Statistician Datuk Seri Dr Mohd Uzir Mahidin said male births outnumbered female births, with 48,124 boys compared to 45,376 girls, bringing the sex ratio at birth to 106 males for every 100 females.
"On average, one baby was born every minute, 43 babies per hour, and 1,039 babies daily during the first quarter of 2025,” he said in a statement today.
Selangor recorded the highest number of live births at 18,254, while the Federal Territory of Labuan registered the lowest at 278.
Mohd Uzir added that Malay births accounted for 68.8 per cent or 64,326 of the total live births during Q1 2025, up from 67.5 per cent in Q1 2024.
Live births among the Chinese and Indian communities declined to 8.6 per cent and 3.8 per cent respectively, compared to 9.6 per cent and 4.2 per cent in Q1 2024.
Mohd Uzir said in line with the drop in births during Q1 this year, Malaysia’s population was estimated at 34.2 million, compared to 33.9 million in the same period last year, with a slower growth rate of 0.9 per cent compared to 2.0 per cent in Q1 2024.
A total of 48,130 deaths were recorded in Q1 2025 - a 2.0 per cent decrease from 49,117 deaths during Q1 2024.
Selangor recorded the highest number of deaths at 7,710, while the Federal Territory of Putrajaya registered the lowest at 84.
On Malaysia’s ASEAN Chairmanship this year, Mohd Uzir said DOSM would chair the 15th ASEAN Community Statistical System Committee (ACSS15), aimed at strengthening statistical cooperation towards sustainable regional development. - BERNAMA