Delayed marriage, rising costs among factors driving Malaysia's fertility decline

KOTA BARU: A combination of factors, including delayed marriage, rising living costs, and postponed pregnancies, are contributing to Malaysia's declining fertility rate, according to Datuk Abdul Shukur Abdullah, director-general of the National Population and Family Development Board. The total fertility rate, which measures the average number of children a woman will have in her lifetime, has decreased from 2.1 in 2010 to 1.6 in 2022.

The trend is linked to a societal shift where individuals are delaying marriage and childbirth. Women are now typically married around the age of 27, up from 24 in the previous two decades, and men around 30, compared to the earlier average of 24. In terms of fertility, women's reproductive years typically span from 15 to 49, but fertility begins to decline after the age of 35.

Speaking after the launch of the Kelantan-level World Population Day Celebration 2026 at the Panji Farmers Management Institute in Kota Baru, Abdullah highlighted that Malaysia is expected to reach aged-nation status by 2036. This projection necessitates a robust support system to facilitate healthy ageing and the development of strong familial bonds.

Kelantan, with a population of approximately 1.91 million in 2025, comprises 11.5 per cent of its residents aged 60 and above, and 30.6 per cent are youths aged 15 to 30. This demographic shift underscores the necessity for Kelantan to ensure the well-being of senior citizens, while also creating an environment conducive to youths establishing their lives and families.