POPULATION SIZE AND ANNUAL POPULATION GROWTH RATE

Citizens growth rate remained stable at 1.0%

Malaysia's population in 2021 is estimated at 32.7 million as compared to 32.6 million in 2020 with an annual growth rate of 0.2 per cent. The declined in the percentage of population growth rate was due to the lower number of Non-citizens from 3.0 million (2020) to 2.7 million (2021) .

This was in line with the closure of national borders and the return of foreigners to their respective countries during the Movement Control Order (MCO) following the spread of the COVID-19 pandemic worldwide. The growth rate of Citizens remained stable at 1.0 per cent with population increased from 29.7 million in 2020 to 30.0 million in 2021.

POPULATION BY SEX

Males outnumbered females

In 2021, the male population outnumbered the female with 16.8 million and 15.9 million respectively. The sex ratio is 106 males for every 100 females. For the period 2020-2021, the sex ratio for Citizens and Non-citizens remained at 102 and 156 males per 100 females respectively.

AGE STRUCTURE

The Older age population in Malaysia is increasing every year

The percentage of the population aged 0-14 years (young age) in 2021 decreased to 23.0 per cent compared to 23.3 per cent in 2020. Meanwhile, the percentage of the population aged 15-64 years (working age) also decreased from 69.7 per cent in 2020 to 69.6 per cent in 2021. This is due to the decline in the Non-citizens population which was mostly comprised of foreign workers. The percentage of the population aged 65 and over (old age) increased from 7.0 per cent to 7.4 per cent for the same period. The median age also increased from 29.3 years in 2020 to 29.6 years in 2021.

MAJOR ETHNIC GROUP COMPOSITION

Indians and Others composition remained at 6.8% and 1.0%

Out of 30.0 million Citizens population, the Bumiputera composition increased 0.2 percentage points to 69.8 per cent in 2021 as compared to 69.6 per cent in 2020. However, the Chinese population composition declined to 22.4 per cent (2020: 22.6%) while Indians and Others remained at 6.8 per cent and 1.0 per cent respectively.

POPULATION BY STATE

Selangor recorded the most populous state

The three states with the highest population composition in 2021 were Selangor (20.1%) followed by Sabah (11.7%) and Johor (11.6%). On the contrary, W.P. Labuan and W.P. Putrajaya recorded the lowest population composition at 0.3 per cent and 0.4 per cent respectively. However, W.P. Putrajaya recorded the highest annual population growth rate for the period 2020–2021 at 5.4 per cent.

Overall, in 2021 all states in Malaysia maintained to record more males over females except Perlis and W.P. Putrajaya. Pahang recorded  the highest sex ratio  with 111 males per 100 females followed by Johor (109) and  Sabah (108) in 2021.

Population density varies greatly across Malaysia. On average, Malaysia has a population density of 99 people per one square kilometre. W.P. Kuala Lumpur had the highest population density with 7,188 people per square kilometre, followed by W.P. Putrajaya (2,354 people) and Pulau Pinang (1,691 people) per square kilometre. Sarawak has the lowest population density with (23 people), followed by Pahang (47 people) and Sabah (52 people) per square kilometre.

*Notes:

e Estimates

The added total may differ due to rounding

The full publication of the Current Population Estimates, Malaysia, 2021 can be downloaded through eStatistik Portal.

Released By:

DATO' SRI DR. MOHD UZIR MAHIDIN
CHIEF STATISTICIAN MALAYSIA
DEPARTMENT OF STATISTICS, MALAYSIA
 DrUzir_Mahidin    Dr_Uzir

15 July 2021

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