Overview

• Malaysia’s total population was estimated at 34.4 million in the first quarter 2026 as compared to 34.2 million in the first quarter 2025 with a slower growth of 0.5 per cent as compared to 0.9 per cent (Q1 2025). The composition of Citizens and Non-citizens in the first quarter 2026 remained unchanged at 90.1 per cent and 9.9 per cent, respectively. Males population increased to 18.0 million from 17.9 million in the first quarter 2026 and females rise to 16.3 million from 16.2 million in the same period. The sex ratio was 110 males for every 100 females while sex ratio for Citizens was 102. The composition of old age population (65 years and over) increased from 7.9 per cent to 8.0 per cent in the first quarter 2026. Meanwhile, young age population (0-14 years) recorded a decrease from 21.8 per cent to 21.6 per cent. The working age population (15-64 years) increased from 70.3 per cent to 70.4 per cent during the same period.
• Malay accounted 58.3 per cent of the population in the first quarter 2026 as compared to 58.2 per cent in the first quarter 2025. The proportion of Other Bumiputera and Indians remained unchanged at 12.3 per cent and 6.5 per cent, respectively. Meanwhile, Chinese decreased to 22.1 per cent in the first quarter 2026 from 22.2 per cent in the corresponding quarter of 2025. Other Bumiputera consists of Sabah Bumiputera, Sarawak Bumiputera and other Bumiputera Peninsular Malaysia. Sabah Bumiputera contributed 55.3 per cent of Other Bumiputera which comprised Kadazan/ Dusun (31.7%), Bajau (26.5%), Murut (5.1%) and other Sabah Bumiputera (36.7%). Meanwhile, Sarawak Bumiputera, which made up 32.3 per cent, consisted of Iban (59.1%), Bidayuh (17.1%), Melanau (10.6%) and other Sarawak Bumiputera (13.2%).
• The number of live births continued to decline, at 3.1 per cent to 94,807 births as compared to 97,843 births in the first quarter 2026. Male babies outnumbered female babies with 49,137 births as compared to 45,670 births. Sex ratio at birth was 108 males for every 100 females. Selangor recorded the highest live births with 17,990 births (19.0%) while Wilayah Persekutuan Labuan recorded the lowest with 294 births (0.3%). Mothers aged 30-39 years recorded the highest live births with 50,917 births (53.7%), followed by mothers aged 20-29 years (38.4%), 40 years and over (6.4%) and less than 20 years (1.4%).
• Malay accounted for 69.5 per cent (65,927 births) of all live births in the first quarter 2026 (Q1 2025: 65,931 births, 67.4%). Meanwhile, Chinese and Indians decreased to 7.4 per cent and 3.8 per cent as compared to 9.1 per cent and 4.3 per cent in the first quarter 2026, respectively. Live births for Other Bumiputera increased to 12.6 per cent as compared to 12.4 per cent in the same period. Sabah Bumiputera contributed 62.5 per cent of Other Bumiputera which comprised Kadazan/ Dusun (32.9%), Bajau (30.8%), Murut (7.1%) and other Sabah Bumiputera (29.2%). Meanwhile, Sarawak Bumiputera recorded 31.6 per cent which comprised Iban (58.5%), Bidayuh (16.4%), Melanau (13.0%) and other Sarawak Bumiputera (12.1%).
• A total of 49,139 deaths were recorded in the first quarter 2026, decreased 1.5 per cent as compared to the first quarter 2025 (49,863 deaths). The number of deaths recorded for males were 28,162 while 20,977 deaths for females. Mortality sex ratio was 134 males for every 100 females. Selangor recorded the highest number of deaths with 8,042 deaths (16.4%), while Wilayah Persekutuan Putrajaya recorded the lowest with 81 deaths (0.2%). Population aged 60 years and over recorded the highest number of deaths with 35,130 deaths (71.5%), followed by 41-59 years (19.9%), 15-40 years (6.8%) and 0-14 years (1.8%).
• Malay registered 52.1 per cent (25,592 deaths) of total number of deaths (Q1 2025: 25,608 deaths, 51.4%). Meanwhile, Chinese and Indians decreased to 26.0 per cent and 8.3 per cent as compared to 26.6 per cent and 8.5 per cent in the first quarter 2026, respectively. Deaths for Other Bumiputera also decreased to 10.9 per cent as compared to 11.0 per cent in the first quarter 2026. Sabah Bumiputera contributed 53.1 per cent of Other Bumiputera which comprised Kadazan/ Dusun (40.1%), Bajau (27.0%), Murut (6.2%) and other Sabah Bumiputera (26.7%). Meanwhile, Sarawak Bumiputera recorded 40.8 per cent which comprised Iban (60.5%), Bidayuh (17.1%), Melanau (12.0%) and other Sarawak Bumiputera (10.4%).

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