A World of 8 Billion: Towards a Resilient Future, Harnessing Opportunities and Ensuring Rights and Choices for All

The world’s population is expected to reach 8 billion in November this year, another incredible milestone worth celebration in the long history of human civilization. Accordingly, the world’s today has succeeded in reducing the amount of poverty thanks to a remarkable progress in health care services around the globe. In Malaysia, healthcare advancement has resulted the infant mortality and the maternal mortality rate to decreased dramatically. Hence, prolong population life expectancy with more people equally have chance to live longer and healthier.

MALAYSIA DEMOGRAPHIC RESILIENT

Malaysia has a population of 32.4 million in 2020,  moving up from 27.5 million in 2010. Despite the  increase, the country recorded a slower average  annual population growth of 1.7 percent during  2010-2020, lower than 2.1 percent recorded  between 2000-2010. While the population of the  country increasing each year, there is a grave  concern that the world is in the midst of cascading

and multiplying crises post COVID-19 pandemic.  Slower economic recovery, rising cost-of-living,  food security crises caused by Russia”Ukraine  conflict, increasing inflationary pressure and  disastrous climate distress are a clear sign of  warning of darkening global outlook the world is  facing. This momentous challenges of global  magnitude amid rapid demographic changes  require Malaysia to take e ective holistic measures  and responses to build demographic resilience.

HARNESSING THE DEMOGRAPHIC DIVIDEND 

Currently, Malaysia has the most important potential  to be utilized in driving the country’s forward, the  productive age group. According to the 2020  Malaysian Population and Housing Census, the  current age structure of the country’s population  has recorded an increase in the “working population”  age group (15-64 years) with 69.3 percent in 2020,  compared to 67.3 percent in 2010. In addition to  that, 2020 Census also found that the total  dependent ratio has decreased from 48.5 in 2010 to  44.3 in 2020. The increase in “economically active”  age group alongside declining in dependency ratio  has o ers a “window of opportunity” for the country  to seize.

The government hence should reap this momentary  opportunity by increasing the per capita income of  the population through the provision of job  opportunities characterized by an efficient matching  and comprehensive labour market condition. As  people realise they will live longer, today’s working  population will certainly accumulate greater savings  in order to secure a sound financial security for their  old age and become self-reliant from government  assistance.

ENSURING RIGHTS AND CHOICES FOR ALL

The COVID-19 pandemic further exposed the  importance of awareness about the health and  rights of woman. In this context, making people  aware of the importance of family planning,  maternal healthcare, and human rights is an  important step.

Therefore, to ensure demographic resilience,  Malaysia through Ministry of Health provides  comprehensive health care services for all age  groups and gender, including the provision of  contraceptive and sexual reproductive health which  are accessible in the primary health-care facilities  nationwide. The advancement of infertility  treatment has long been an achievement as every  human being has a right to enjoy the highest  attainable state of health. Addressing infertility is  therefore an important part of realizing the right of  individuals and couples to found a family.