Malaysia’s population is ageing faster than its birth rate can keep pace, with 4.2 million residents, or 12.3% of the population, now aged 60 and above, according to the Department of Statistics Malaysia’s (DOSM) Current Population Estimates [PDF] 2026 report. That share is projected to cross 15% by 2036, the threshold at which Malaysia would officially become an aged nation.
Malaysia’s total population was estimated at 34.4 million in 2026, up from 34.2 million in 2025, comprising 31.0 million citizens (90.2%) and 3.4 million non-citizens (9.8%).
Every 100 Workers Now Support 12 Elderly
For every 100 working-age Malaysians, about 12 are now supporting an elderly parent or relative aged 65 and above, up from about 11 a year ago. This group of elderly Malaysians grew to 2.9 million people, making up 8.4% of the population, compared to 8.0% in 2025.
At the same time, fewer children are being born. So the total number of dependants Malaysians support has remained relatively stable.
Median Age Rises To 31.7 Years
Malaysia’s median age increased from 31.3 years in 2025 to 31.7 years in 2026. The working-age population, aged 15 to 64, held steady at 70.4% of the total, or 24.2 million people.
For many households, this shift is already being felt through the pressures of caring for both ageing parents and children at the same time, which can make it harder to prioritise personal retirement savings.
As fewer working-age Malaysians support a growing number of retirees, personal retirement savings become increasingly important on top of EPF contributions.
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