The increasing life expectancy at birth and decreasing TFR speeds up the process of ageing for any country, assuming that natural increase is still the main driver of population growth, and public policy remains neutral on using inward migration as a leverage for population growth. This is the case of Malaysia. Progressing at the current trend (latest published forecasted data: November 2016), Malaysia is expected to achieve ageing nation status within 12 years, i.e. by 2029. This is 6 years earlier than previously predicted.
Figure 3.7: Proportionate size of population age group (% of total population), Malaysia (2010 – 2040)
In terms of Malaysia’s population size within ASEAN, the nation is currently ranked 6th behind Indonesia (258 million people), Philippines (101 million people), Vietnam (93 million people), Thailand (68 million people), and Myanmar (54 million people) in 2015. Malaysia’s percentage contribution to the total ASEAN population of more than 600 million is approximately 5%. However, in terms of population growth rate, Malaysia ranks 5th behind Singapore (2.0%), Laos (1.7%), Philippines (1.6%), and Cambodia (1.6%) in 2015, and is ahead of the ASEAN average of 1.2%.
Figure 3.8: Population breakdown of ASEAN countries (`000), 2015
