Overview
LIVE BIRTHS
Live births and crude birth rate declined in 2018
The number of live births was 501,945 in 2018, a decrease of 1.3 per cent as compared to 508,685 in 2017. The crude birth rate (CBR) declined from 15.9 (2017) to 15.5 (2018) per 1,000 population.
More male newborn than female
Out of 501,945 newborn in 2018, 259,582 (51.7%) were males. The CBR for both sexes declined from 15.9 per 1,000 population in 2017 to 15.5 in 2018.
Pulau Pinang continued to record the lowest CBR
CBR for all states declined in 2018, except for Negeri Sembilan and Sabah which remained at 16.2 and 13.6 per 1,000 population, respectively. Pulau Pinang continued to record the lowest rate at 11.7 per 1,000 population. On the other hand, W.P. Putrajaya registered the highest rate of 24.7.
Chart 1: Crude birth rate by state, Malaysia, 2017 and 2018
Kuala Terengganu district recorded the highest CBR
The district of Kuala Terengganu recorded the highest CBR in 2018 with 30.5 per 1,000 population, followed by Marang, Terengganu (25.8) and Besut, Terengganu (24.7). Meanwhile, Bagan Datuk, Perak recorded the lowest CBR of 2.9 per 1,000 population, followed by Kinabatangan, Sabah (3.8) and Putatan, Sabah (6.7).
FERTILITY
Total fertility rate (TFR) has been declining over the three decades
The TFR per woman aged 15–49 years has been declining from 4.9 babies in 1970 to 1.8 babies in 2018.
Since 2013, the national TFR recorded below replacement level of 2.1 which indicates that the average number of babies born per woman throughout her reproductive life has been insufficient to replace herself and her partner.
DEATHS
The number of deaths increased
There were 172,031 deaths recorded in 2018, an increase of 2.3 per cent as compared to 168,168 in 2017. The crude death rate (CDR) remained at 5.3 per 1,000 population in 2017 and 2018.
W.P. Putrajaya and Melaka recorded a decrease in CDR
W.P. Putrajaya and Melaka recorded a decrease in CDR for 2018 as compared to 2017. Meanwhile, seven states recorded an increase and others remained unchanged.
Perlis recorded the highest CDR of 8.1 per 1,000 population whilst W.P. Putrajaya recorded the lowest rate of 2.2 in 2018.
Chart 2: Crude death rate by state, Malaysia, 2017 and 2018
Sabak Bernam, Selangor recorded the highest CDR in 2018
Sabak Bernam, Selangor recorded the highest CDR in 2018 with 8.4 per 1,000 population, followed by Pendang, Kedah (8.3) and Kuala Pilah and Rembau, Negeri Sembilan (8.2). Meanwhile, the Kinabatangan district in Sabah recorded the lowest CDR with 0.7 per 1,000 population, followed by Kunak, Sabah (2.1) and Belaga, Sarawak (2.2).
NATURAL INCREASE
The rate of natural increase declined
Natural increase for 2018 was 329,914. The crude rate of natural increase (CRNI) declined from 10.6 (2017) to 10.2 (2018) per 1,000 population.
STILLBIRTHS
Terengganu recorded the lowest SBR
The number of stillbirths in 2018 decrease as compared to 2017 i.e. from 2,769 to 2,755 while stillbirth rate (SBR) increased from 5.4 (2017) to 5.5 (2018) per 1,000 births. Sabah recorded the highest SBR of 8.1 per 1,000 births whilst Terengganu recorded the lowest rate of 4.3 in 2018.
Released By:
DATO' SRI DR. MOHD UZIR MAHIDIN
CHIEF STATISTICIAN MALAYSIA
DEPARTMENT OF STATISTICS, MALAYSIA
DrUzir_Mahidin 
Dr_Uzir
24 October 2019
Contact person:
Rohaida binti Mohamad
Public Relation Officer
Strategic Communication and International Division
Department of Statistics, Malaysia
Tel : +603-8885 7942
Fax : +603-8888 9248
Email : rohaida.mohamad[at]dosm.gov.my
