Rising cost of living and lifestyle changes among key factors, says academic
PETALING JAYA: Malaysia’s declining birth rate is increasingly shaped by economic pressures and changing social norms, with more women postponing motherhood, a trend experts say reflects a deeper structural shift rather than a short-term response.
Putra Business School economist Assoc Prof Dr Ida Md Yasin said while no single national survey pinpoints the exact causes, existing data and independent studies highlight rising living costs and lifestyle changes as key factors.
“There is no doubt that the rising cost of living has an impact, but lifestyle changes are also equally important.”
Citing 2025 data from the Statistics Department, she explained that women aged 30 to 39 now account for about 53% of births, compared to 40% among those aged 20 to 29.
“This shows many women are delaying childbirth, which naturally leads to smaller families due to biological and time constraints.”
She said the financial realities of raising children vary widely, adding that dual-income households may afford childcare services, while single-income families often rely on stay-at home mothers or relatives.
She also said with women’s workforce participation at about 55%, childcare access has become a growing concern.
“When both parents are working, families often depend on childcare centres, which could be costly and not always accessible.”
Ida said urban families in particular face higher expenses due to reliance on private childcare and preschools.
She emphasised that Malaysia’s fertility trend mirrors patterns in developed nations, pointing to a broader demographic transition.
“This is not just happening in Malaysia. As countries move towards developed status, declining birth rates are common.
It is a long term structural shift.” She added that indicators include the rising age of first-time mothers, with delayed parenthood reducing family size and reflecting priorities such as career growth and financial stability.
On government measures, Ida said more targeted support is needed, especially in early childhood care.
“Malaysia has done well in providing free education at primary and secondary levels, but support for children below seven remains limited.”
She said government-subsidised preschool programmes such as Kemas offer affordable early education but are not widely accessible in urban centres, forcing many parents to turn to costly private options.
“There needs to be greater emphasis on childcare and early education,” Ida pointed to international examples in which childcare support is central to family policies, suggesting Malaysia could adopt similar approaches to ease burdens on parents.
Malaysia’s birth rate has now dropped to a record low, with 93,500 babies born in the first quarter of 2025 – an 11.5% year-on-year decline, according to official statistics.
That translates to one baby every minute, or about 1,039 daily. Fertility has fallen across all major ethnic groups, with Malays at replacement level (2.1 children per woman), while the Chinese community recorded the lowest at 0.8. The population stands at 34.2 million, growing at a slower pace of 0.9%.
