Malaysia's Population Reaches 34.4 Million, 12 States Designated as Ageing

Malaysia's total population was estimated at 34.4 million in 2026, a modest rise from 34.2 million the previous year, reflecting a 0.5% growth rate. Citizens number about 31 million (90.1% of the total), while the non‑citizen population declined by 0.2%.

Twelve states and the federal territory of Kuala Lumpur are now classified as ageing, meaning more than 7% of their residents are aged 65 or older. Perak has the highest proportion of elderly residents at 10.8%, followed by Sarawak and Kedah (9.7% each) and Penang (8.8%). The national median age is projected to reach 31.7 years by 2026.

Selangor remains the most populous state, accounting for 21.7% of the national total, with Johor (12.3%) and Sabah (11.0%) trailing. The fastest population growth occurs in Terengganu (1.2% annual) and Kelantan (1.0%). Labuan and Putrajaya have the smallest population shares at 0.3% and 0.4% respectively. The sex ratio stays at 110 males per 100 females, with Kuala Lumpur showing the highest ratio at 117 males per 100 females.