Overview
LIVE BIRTHS
Live births in 2019 was the lowest in a decade
The number of live births was 487,957 in 2019, a decrease of 2.8 per cent as compared to 501,945 in 2018. The Crude Birth Rate (CBR) declined from 15.5 (2018) to 15.0 (2019) births per thousand population.
CBR of female dropped significantly
Out of 487,957 newborn in 2019, 252,490 (51.7%) were males. The CBR for both sexes declined but CBR of female dropped significantly from 15.5 per thousand population in 2018 to 14.9 births in 2019.
Pulau Pinang continued to record the lowest CBR
CBR for all states dropped in 2019 as compared to 2018, except for W.P. Kuala Lumpur which increased from 13.5 births per thousand population in 2018 to 15.2 births in 2019. Pulau Pinang continued to record the lowest rate at 11.4 births per thousand population. On the contrary, W.P. Putrajaya registered the highest rate of 22.3 births per thousand population.
Exhibit 1: Crude Birth Rate by state, Malaysia, 2018 and 2019
Kuala Terengganu district recorded the highest CBR
The district of Kuala Terengganu recorded the highest CBR in 2019 with 26.6 births per thousand population. This was followed by Marang, Terengganu (24.7) and Pitas, Sabah (23.1). Meanwhile, the lowest CBR were record in Kinabatangan, Sabah at 3.5 births per thousand population, followed by Bagan Datuk, Perak (6.0) and Putatan, Sabah (6.8).
FERTILITY
Total Fertility Rate (TFR) continue to decline over three decades
Over the last three decades in Malaysia, fertility measured by TFR declined dramatically from 4.9 children per woman of childbearing age in 1970 to 1.8 in 2019.
Since 2013, the national TFR was well below the 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
The number of deaths in 2019 was 173,746, increased 1.0 per cent to as compared to 172,031 deaths in 2018. The Crude Death Rate (CDR) remained at 5.3 deaths per thousand population in 2019.
Perlis recorded the highest CDR whilst W.P. Putrajaya the lowest
Seven states recorded a decrease in CDR for 2019 as compared to 2018. Meanwhile, eight states recorded an increase and one state remained unchanged.
Perlis recorded the highest CDR of 7.8 deaths per thousand population whilst W.P. Putrajaya recorded the lowest rate of 2.0 in 2019.
Exhibit 2: Crude Death Rate by state, Malaysia, 2018 and 2019
Kanowit, Sarawak recorded the highest CDR in 2019
Kanowit, Sarawak recorded the highest CDR in 2019 with 8.9 deaths per thousand population, followed by Kuala Pilah, Negeri Sembilan (8.6) and Kuala Penyu, Sabah (8.4). Meanwhile, the Kinabatangan district in Sabah recorded the lowest CDR with 0.9 deaths per thousand population, followed by Lahad Datu, Sabah (2.2) and Belaga, Sarawak (2.3).
STILLBIRTHS
W.P. Labuan recorded the lowest SBR
The number of stillbirths and Stillbirth Rate (SBR) in 2019 declined as compared to 2018 i.e. from 2,755 to 2,626 and from 5.5 to 5.4 per thousand births respectively. Perlis recorded the highest SBR of 7.1 per thousand births while W.P. Labuan recorded the lowest rate of 2.4 in 2019.
Released By:
DATO' SRI DR. MOHD UZIR MAHIDIN
CHIEF STATISTICIAN MALAYSIA
DEPARTMENT OF STATISTICS, MALAYSIA
DrUzir_Mahidin 
Dr_Uzir
19 November 2020
Contact person:
Mohd Yusrizal Ab Razak
Public Relation Officer
Strategic Communication and International Division
Department of Statistics, Malaysia
Tel : +603-8885 7942
Fax : +603-8888 9248
Email : yusrizal.razak[at]dosm.gov.my
