PETALING JAYA: The district of Petaling, Selangor has the highest population in 2023 at 2.3 million, says Chief Statistician Malaysia Datuk Seri Dr. Mohd Uzir Mahidin.
He added that eight districts nationwide emerged as ageing districts this year, saying that such areas are districts where7.0% population is aged 65 and over.
Julau in Sarawak topped the three districts in Sarawak recording the highest citizen population in 2023 at 99.9% while Muallim, Perak topped the thirteen districts where females outnumbered males with a sex ratio of 92 males for every 100 females.
Setiu, Terengganu had the highest composition of bumiputera in 2023 with 99.7% and the highest composition of Chinese was recorded in Timur Laut, Pulau Pinang with 63.9%.
Bagan Datuk, Perak recorded the highest composition of Indians, with Klang, Selangor coming in close.
Mohd Uzir said all this in a media statement on Tuesday (Aug 29) when he released the statistics on the current population estimates in administrative districts nationwide for 2023.
"The district of Petaling, Selangor registered the highest population in 2023 at 2.3 million, followed by Johor Bahru, Johor (1.8 million) and Ulu Langat, Selangor (1.5 million). Meanwhile, Kalabakan, Sabah recorded the highest growth rate at 13.4%, followed by Semporna, Sabah (11.7%) and Kunak, Sabah (11.5%). Bukit Mabong, Sarawak records the lowest population with 10.4 thousand followed by Song, Sarawak (10.0 thousand) and Tanjung Manis, Sarawak (7.9 thousand).
"Three districts in Sarawak recorded the highest Citizens population in 2023 which is Julau (99.9%), followed by Song (99.7%) and Pakan (99.7%). Meanwhile, Sabah has the largest percentage of Non-citizens which is in Kinabatangan (70.6%), followed by Kalabakan (66.5%) and Kunak (53.2%).
"Females outnumbered males in thirteen districts; Muallim, Perak with a sex ratio of 92 males for every 100 females, followed by Samarahan, Sarawak (94); Bachok, Kelantan (94); Song, Sarawak (95); Saratok, Sarawak (97); Kubang Pasu, Kedah (97); Julau, Sarawak (98); Tumpat, Kelantan (98); Pasir Puteh, Kelantan (98); Kuala Nerus, Terengganu (99); Kanowit, Sarawak (99); Machang, Kelantan (99) and Kota Setar, Kedah (99). Bukit Mabong, Sarawak recorded the highest sex ratio in 2023 with 157 males per 100 females followed by Cameron Highlands, Pahang (137) and Belaga, Sarawak (134)," said Mohd Uzir.
He pointed out that Setiu, Terengganu had the highest composition of Bumiputera in 2023 with 99.7% followed by Nabawan, Sabah (99.6%) and Hulu Terengganu, Terengganu (99.4%).
Meanwhile, the highest composition of Chinese was recorded in Timur Laut, Pulau Pinang with 63.9%, followed by Kampar, Perak (48.3%) and Sibu, Sarawak (48.2%). As for Indians, the highest composition is recorded in Bagan Datuk, Perak, followed by Klang, Selangor and Port Dickson, Negeri Sembilan with a composition of 23.2%, 18.8% and 18.4% respectively.
The highest composition of the population aged 0-14 years (young age) in 2023 is recorded in Kecil Lojing, Kelantan with 35.3%, followed by Gua Musang, Kelantan (34.7%) and Tumpat, Kelantan (33.0%).
Meanwhile Sebauh, Sarawak recorded the highest percentage of the population aged 15-64 years (working age) with 80.2%, followed by Kinabatangan, Sabah (78.6%) and Belaga, Sarawak (78.3%).
The United Nations has defined three categories of ageing, namely an ageing society, an aged society and a super-aged society which refers to a population aged 65 years and over reaching 7%, 14% and 20% respectively.
Meanwhile, the National Senior Citizens Policy (DWEN) states that “ageing” is when the population of 60 years old and over comprised 15% of the total population.
Datuk Sri Dr. Mohd Uzir Mahidin also said, "Eight districts emerged as ageing districts (population aged 65 years and over reached 7.0%) in 2023, namely Johor Bahru, Johor; Kota Bharu, Kelantan; Kuala Krai, Kelantan; Seberang Perai Utara, Pulau Pinang; Barat Daya, Pulau Pinang; Kota Kinabalu, Sabah; Miri, Sarawak and Ulu Selangor, Selangor.
"Lubok Antu, Sarawak has the highest elderly population (65 years and over) with 14.4%, followed by Sri Aman, Sarawak (12.8%) and Song, Sarawak (11.9%). Lubok Antu, Sarawak remains having the highest elderly population (60 years and over) with 20.6%, followed by Kampar, Perak (18.1%) and Song, Sarawak (18.0%).
"Lubok Antu, Sarawak, records the highest median age of 38.4 years in 2023, followed by Saratok, Sarawak (37.6 years) and Kabong, Sarawak (35.9 years). Meanwhile, the lowest median age is recorded in three districts in Kelantan namely Machang (23.6 years), followed by Pasir Puteh (23.5 years) and Kecil Lojing (21.6 years)," said Mohd Uzir.
Tumpat, Kelantan had the highest total dependency ratio of 66.5 while Gua Musang, Kelantan had the highest young age dependency ratio which is 57.3.
On the contrary, the old-age dependency ratio was highest in Lubok Antu, Sarawak (21.2).
Petaling, Selangor had the highest population density with 4,783 persons per square kilometre, followed by Timur Laut, Pulau Pinang (4,710 persons) and Seberang Perai Tengah, Pulau Pinang (1,845 persons).
Mohd Uzir said that the report presents the population estimates at states and administrative district level for 2022 and 2023.
"The annual current population estimates are based on the Population and Housing Census Malaysia 2020 and it uses cohort-component methods which comprise of births, deaths, internal migration and international migration," said Mohd Uzir.
