M'sia to hit 41.5 mil people in 2040, challenges on food security, climate change, ageing society

SHAH ALAM – Malaysia’s population is projected to reach 41.5 million people by 2040, with challenges to balance food security, limited agricultural land and the impact of climate change, said the Statistics department.

Chief Statistician Datuk Seri Dr Mohd Uzir Mahidin said Malaysia’s population at present stands at 32.4 million with an annual growth of about 500,000 people.

“Malaysia has a population density of 98 people per square kilometre. Kuala Lumpur and Putrajaya has the highest population density with 8,157 and 2,215 person per square kilometre, respectively.

“Meanwhile, based on the Population Projection 2010 – 2040, Malaysia is expected to experience an ageing population in 2030," he said in a statement in conjunction with World Population Day, with 7.8 billion people population worldwide.

Four states that have reached the status of ageing in 2020 are Perak (8.9%), Kedah (7.9%), Perlis (7.9%) and Sarawak (7.5%), he said.

He added the population in Malaysia is growing at a slower pace with an annual growth of 1.7 per cent in 2020 as compared to 3.6 per cent in 1970.

Uzir added it was due to the main factors such as fertility rates, life expectancy, age structure, and migration.

“The Total Fertility Rate (TFR) of women reproductive age in Malaysia declined to 1.7 babies in 2020 as compared to 4.9 babies in 1970. This was the lowest TFR in five decades,

“A baby born in 2021 on average is expected to live 75.6 years or about 12 years longer than five decades ago, 63.6 years in 1970,” he added.

This indicates Malaysia will experience an ageing population in 2030, where the percentage of the population aged 60 years and above would be at 15.3 per cent of the total population.

The ageing population would not only affect the economy but also individuals and urged for better health provisions and sufficient funds to avoid difficulties after retirement.