Ageing in Malaysia: Elderly Population & Care Statistics
How many Malaysians are 65 or older, which states are ageing fastest, when Malaysia becomes an aged nation, and how many registered care centres serve them. Every figure links to its official source.
Key Statistics: Ageing in Malaysia
The headline figures from the Department of Statistics Malaysia (DOSM) and the government.
of Malaysians are aged 65 and over in 2026, up from 8.0%
Malaysians aged 65 and over, about 1 in 12
of Malaysia’s states are now ageing states
of Perak’s population is 65 or older, the highest share
the year Malaysia is projected to become an aged nation
years, Malaysia’s median age in 2026
registered senior care centres in Malaysia (May 2026)
unregistered elderly care centres acted against since 2023
How Many Elderly People Are There in Malaysia?
8.4% of Malaysia’s population was aged 65 and over in 2026, up from 8.0% in 2025. With a population of 34.4 million, that is about 2.9 million people, or about 1 in 12 Malaysians (DOSM, Current Population Estimates 2026).
At the other end, children aged 0 to 14 fell from 21.6% to 21.2% of the population, while working-age adults (15 to 64) held steady at 70.4%. Malaysia’s median age rose from 31.3 to 31.7 years.
Which State in Malaysia Has the Most Elderly People?
Perak has the oldest population in Malaysia, with 10.8% of residents aged 65 and over in 2026. Kedah and Sarawak follow at 9.7% each. In all, 12 states are now classified as ageing states, meaning more than 7.0% of their population is 65 or older (DOSM).
| State | Status | Aged 65 and over |
|---|---|---|
| Perak | Ageing state | 10.8% |
| Kedah | Ageing state | 9.7% |
| Sarawak | Ageing state | 9.7% |
| Perlis | Ageing state | 8.8% |
| Pulau Pinang | Ageing state | 8.8% |
| Selangor | Ageing state | 8.7% |
| Negeri Sembilan | Ageing state | 8.6% |
| Johor | Ageing state | 8.1% |
| Kelantan | Ageing state | 7.8% |
| Melaka | Ageing state | 7.6% |
| Pahang | Ageing state | 7.5% |
| W.P. Kuala Lumpur | Ageing state | 7.4% |
| Terengganu | Not yet | 6.7% |
| Sabah | Not yet | 6.5% |
| W.P. Labuan | Not yet | 6.0% |
| W.P. Putrajaya | Not yet | 2.2% |
Source: Department of Statistics Malaysia, Current Population Estimates, Malaysia, 2026, released 31 July 2026 (DOSM). An ageing state has more than 7.0% of its population aged 65 and over.
When Will Malaysia Become an Aged Nation?
Malaysia is projected to become an aged nation in 2048, when people aged 65 and over reach 14% of the population. It became an ageing nation in 2021, when that share passed 7%. The government links the shift to longer lives and falling births: the fertility rate was 1.67 children per woman in 2025, below the replacement level of 2.1 since 2013 (Ministry of Finance).
The government’s response is the National Ageing Blueprint 2025-2045, covering long-term care, the labour market and retirement savings.
| Milestone | Definition | Year |
|---|---|---|
| Ageing nation | 65 and over reach 7% of the population | 2021 |
| 2026 estimate | 65 and over at 8.4% | 2026 |
| Aged nation (projected) | 65 and over reach 14% of the population | 2048 |
Sources: Ministry of Finance (press citation, Bernama); DOSM for 2026 (DOSM).
How Many People Does Each Worker Support?
Malaysia’s old-age dependency ratio rose from 11.4 in 2025 to 11.9 in 2026, meaning there are now about 12 people aged 65 and over for every 100 people of working age. The young-age ratio is falling at the same time, which is why the total dependency ratio barely moves (DOSM).
How Many Elderly Care Centres Are There in Malaysia?
There were 529 senior care centres registered with the Social Welfare Department (JKM) as at 10 May 2026, according to a count of JKM’s registry compiled by Senior Living Malaysia. Perak has the most with 134, about 25% of the national total, followed by Selangor (97) and Johor (92) (Senior Living Malaysia, from JKM data).
Not every centre is registered. Since 2023, a JKM task force has acted against 328 unregistered elderly care centres (JKM via The Star). Checking a centre’s JKM registration is one of the first steps when choosing care for a parent.
Planning Care for an Ageing Parent
Most families face the same decision: care at home, or a care centre. Both have a place, and the right answer depends on how much help a parent needs each day and who in the family can give it.
Perak, the state with the oldest population, is also where Service Pro’s verified elderly care partner is based.
Sources and How to Cite This Page
Population figures come from the Department of Statistics Malaysia’s Current Population Estimates, Malaysia, 2026. The aged-nation projection comes from the Ministry of Finance. The registered care centre count is Senior Living Malaysia’s compilation of the JKM registry, and enforcement figures come from JKM. The number of people aged 65 and over and Perak’s share of care centres are calculated by Service Pro from those figures.
Cite this page: Service Pro, “Ageing in Malaysia: Elderly Population & Care Statistics”, https://servicepro.my/healthcare-insights/ageing-malaysia-elderly-care-statistics/. Journalists and bloggers are welcome to use these figures, tables and charts with a link to this page.
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