Malaysia’s total population in 1997 was 21.6 million people with a
projected annual growth rate of 2.3 percent. In that year, only 3.7 percent of
the population were 65 years of age or above. Therefore, Malaysia’s current population
is not predominantly elderly. Recently, the number of elderly people in
Malaysia has increased. It is estimated that the population aged 65 and above
will rise to 2.7 million by the year 2025. Older persons aged 75 years and over
are expected to reach the number 833,000 in that same year. Hence, it is
expected that simultaneously the demand for services for the elderly will rise
as reported in the National Plan of Action for the Older Persons. In 2000, 6.2
% (1.452 million) people were 60 years old or above. By the year 2020, a total
of 9.5 % of the population will be at an age of more than 60 years old. This
means in another 10 to 15 years from now, Malaysia’s population will reach the
“ageing level”. (A population is defined as ageing when a minimum 10% of its
total population are at the age of 60 or above).
As a developing country, Malaysia has experienced escalations in the level of health and life expectancy, as well as declining mortality and fertility rates. These changes have altered the national population’s demographic profile, especially with regards to age. From the period 1970 to 2000, the ratio of young people (ages 15 years and below) declined, while the ratio of older people increased. The median age was 17.4 years in the year 1970, and it rose to 21.9 years in the year 1991. Furthermore, it increased to 23.6 years in the year 2000 and is expected to increase to 27.1 years in the year 2020. In the thirty-year period from 1991 to 2020, the median age is expected to increase an average of 1.7 years per decade. Finally, by the year 2020 Malaysia will become an ageing society with 9.5 percent of its population aged 60 year or more.
The demographic changes that happened in Malaysia are similar to trends that happened in European countries, for example, Germany. Comparably, over the last two decades people aged 65 and above have doubled in number in the general population. In the year 1986, the very elderly (aged 75 or more) were 35% of the population and that number is estimated to rise to 41% by the year 2020. In Singapore, the population of older persons is projected to rise from 8.8% in 1991 to 15% by the year 2010, and further to 26% in the year 2030. Though the growing rate of the ageing population in Malaysia is slower than for example in Germany and Singapore, the increasing presence of this group makes it impossible for the government to disregard the social and economic impacts of an ageing population. In response, the government has come up with the National Policy for Older Persons and in accordance with that policy, the National Advisory and Consultative Council for Older Persons was established. Meanwhile, a Plan of Action for the Older Persons was created.
Source:As a developing country, Malaysia has experienced escalations in the level of health and life expectancy, as well as declining mortality and fertility rates. These changes have altered the national population’s demographic profile, especially with regards to age. From the period 1970 to 2000, the ratio of young people (ages 15 years and below) declined, while the ratio of older people increased. The median age was 17.4 years in the year 1970, and it rose to 21.9 years in the year 1991. Furthermore, it increased to 23.6 years in the year 2000 and is expected to increase to 27.1 years in the year 2020. In the thirty-year period from 1991 to 2020, the median age is expected to increase an average of 1.7 years per decade. Finally, by the year 2020 Malaysia will become an ageing society with 9.5 percent of its population aged 60 year or more.
The demographic changes that happened in Malaysia are similar to trends that happened in European countries, for example, Germany. Comparably, over the last two decades people aged 65 and above have doubled in number in the general population. In the year 1986, the very elderly (aged 75 or more) were 35% of the population and that number is estimated to rise to 41% by the year 2020. In Singapore, the population of older persons is projected to rise from 8.8% in 1991 to 15% by the year 2010, and further to 26% in the year 2030. Though the growing rate of the ageing population in Malaysia is slower than for example in Germany and Singapore, the increasing presence of this group makes it impossible for the government to disregard the social and economic impacts of an ageing population. In response, the government has come up with the National Policy for Older Persons and in accordance with that policy, the National Advisory and Consultative Council for Older Persons was established. Meanwhile, a Plan of Action for the Older Persons was created.
http://www.asianinfo.org/asianinfo/malaysia/pro-people.htm
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