Malaysia life expectancy projected to reach 75.5 years by 2026

According to the Department of Statistics Malaysia (DOSM) ‘Abridged Life Tables, Malaysia 2024-2026’ report, the national life expectancy at birth for a baby born in 2026 is projected to be 75.5 years. This represents a 1.5-year increase from 2023, a recovery attributed to a decrease in deaths compared to the 2020-2022 period, which saw excess mortality due to the Covid-19 pandemic.

Gender disparities remain notable, with female infants expected to live an average of 78.1 years, which is 4.9 years longer than the projected 73.2 years for male infants.

Regional data shows significant variation across the country. Selangor recorded the highest life expectancy at 78.2 years, followed by Kuala Lumpur at 77.3 years and Labuan at 77.0 years. Terengganu recorded the lowest life expectancy among states. At the district level, Samarahan in Sarawak reported the highest life expectancy at 80.9 years, while Kecil Lojing in Kelantan recorded the lowest at 65.8 years.