Dr Mahathir warns against delayed marriage, small families as Malaysia ages
Dr Mahathir observed that today’s youth increasingly delay marriage and may choose not to have children, often citing the demands and responsibilities of parenthood as a major deterrent.
SHAH ALAM – Former Prime Minister Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad has highlighted a growing trend among young Malaysians to marry later, with some even choosing not to have children.
He warned that this pattern is accelerating the country’s shift toward an ageing society and stressed the importance of encouraging earlier marriages and larger families to ensure generational continuity.
Reflecting on his own life, he emphasised his family's strong tradition of lifelong marriage and commitment.
“After I got married, I held on to my family’s long-standing belief that marriage is for life. Divorce is rare in my family and I follow that tradition by choosing to commit to one partner without seeking another.
“I do not want to hurt anyone’s feelings, especially my wife’s and my children’s. Remarrying would place unnecessary emotional pressure on them and that is something I wish to avoid,” he added.
The shift in family trends
Dr Mahathir observed that today’s youth increasingly delay marriage and may choose not to have children, often citing the demands and responsibilities of parenthood as a major deterrent.
“At the same time, I have noticed that many young people these days tend to marry later and even when they do, some prefer not to have children.
“They feel that raising children is demanding and requires more attention and responsibility than they are willing to take on,” he said.
He linked this personal choice to a national demographic issue: “This trend has contributed to Malaysia’s ageing population, where the number of elderly people is rising while the younger generation is too small to replace them.”
A call for generational continuity
Dr Mahathir stressed the societal importance of promoting earlier marriages and larger families, drawing on his own family’s historical context.
He recalled that his late mother had six children (seven including one who passed away) and mentioned that, in the past, it was common for families to have 10 or 12 children.
From his perspective, encouraging earlier marriages and larger families is crucial for society’s health.
“Today, most households have only one or two children and some choose not to have any at all. Without enough children to succeed the older generation, the country naturally shifts into becoming an ageing society,” he added.
According to Finance Minister II Datuk Seri Amir Hamzah, Malaysia is projected to become an ‘aged nation’ by 2048, when the proportion of citizens aged 65 and above reaches 14 per cent of the total population.
He said this projection is based on the latest statistics from the Department of Statistics Malaysia (DOSM) as of July this year.
He said Malaysia officially became an ageing nation in 2021, when the proportion of those aged 65 and above reached seven per cent of the total population.
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