Overview

LIVE BIRTHS

Live births refers to births with signs of life during delivery although for a very short period and Crude Birth Rate (CBR) is the number of live births per thousand population.

Live births in 2020 was the lowest in a decade

The number of live births was 470,195 in 2020, a decrease of 3.6 per cent as compared to 487,957 in 2019. The CBR declined from 15.0 (2019) to 14.4 (2020) per thousand population.

Chart 1: Live births and Crude Birth Rate, Malaysia, 2010-2020

More males newborn than females, CBR for both sexes declined

The number of male babies in 2020 was 243,617 which is 51.8 per cent of the 470,195 total live births. Meanwhile, the birth of female babies was 226,578 (48.2 per cent). The CBR for both sexes declined from 15.1 (male) and 14.9 (female) in 2019 to 14.5 (male) and 14.3 (female) births per thousand population in 2020.

Pulau Pinang continued to record the lowest CBR

CBR for all states dropped in 2020 as compared to 2019, except for W.P. Labuan and Perlis. W.P. Putrajaya recorded the highest decline from 22.3 (2019) births per thousand population to 19.5 (2020).

Pulau Pinang continued to record the lowest rate at 11.1 birth per thousand population. On the contrary, Terengganu registered the highest rate of 21.6 birth per thousand population.

Four administrative districts in Terengganu recorded the highest CBR

The administrative districts of Kuala Terengganu recorded the highest CBR in 2020 with 26.9 birth per thousand population. This was followed by three districts in Terengganu which is Marang (25.0), Setiu (22.7) and Besut (22.7). Meanwhile, the lowest CBR were recorded by Kinabatangan, Sabah at 3.7 births per thousand population, followed by Timur Laut, Pulau Pinang (6.9) and Putatan, Sabah (7.3).

FERTILITY

Total Fertility Rate (TFR) continue to decline over three decades

The TFR is a standard demographic indicator used to estimate the average of children that a woman would have over her childbearing years (i.e. Age 15–49 years). Over the last four decades in Malaysia, fertility measured by TFR declined dramatically from 4.9 children per woman of childbearing age in 1970 to 1.7 in 2020.

Since 1970 up to 2012, the national TFR was still above the replacement level1 of 2.1 which indicates that the average number of babies born per woman throughout her reproductive life has been sufficient to replace herself and her partner. However, the TFR started to decline below the replacement level in 2013 onwards.

Chart 2: Total Fertility Rate, Malaysia, 1970-2020

DEATHS

The number of deaths decreased

The number of deaths in 2020 was 166,507, decreased 4.2 per cent as compared to 173,746 deaths in 2019. The Crude Death Rate (CDR) also recorded a decrease from 5.3 (2019) to 5.1(2020) deaths per thousand population.

Chart 3: Deaths and Crude Death Rate, Malaysia, 2010-2020

Male deaths higher than female, CDR for both sexes declined

The number of male deaths in 2020 was 96,322 or 57.8 per cent of the 166,507 total deaths. Meanwhile, female deaths were 70,185 (42.2%). The CDR for both sexes declined from 5.9 (male) and 4.7 (female) in 2019 to 5.7 (male) and 4.4 (female) deaths per thousand population in 2020.

Perlis recorded the highest CDR whilst W.P. Putrajaya the lowest

CDR for all states declined in 2020 as compared to 2019, except for Sabah and W.P. Labuan while Sarawak remained unchanged. Terengganu recorded the highest decline from 5.9 (2019) deaths per thousand population to 5.3 (2020).

Perlis recorded the highest CDR of 7.7 deaths per thousand population whilst W.P. Putrajaya recorded the lowest rate of 1.9 in 2020.

Administrative district of Kanowit, Sarawak recorded the highest CDR

Kanowit, Sarawak recorded the highest CDR in 2020 with 8.5 deaths per thousand population, followed by Kampar, Perak (8.3) and Dalat, Sarawak (8.2). Meanwhile, the Kinabatangan district in Sabah recorded the lowest CDR with 0.9 deaths per thousand population, followed by Kunak, Sabah (2.4) and Belaga, Sarawak (2.6).

STILLBIRTHS

The number of stillbirths decreased

The number of stillbirths in 2020 was 2,413, decreased 8.1 per cent as compared to 2,626 deaths in 2019. The Stillbirth Rate (SBR) also recorded a decrease from 5.4 (2019) to 5.1 (2020) per thousand births.

Chart 4: Stillbirths and Stillbirths Rate, Malaysia, 2010-2020

Released By:

DATO' SRI DR. MOHD UZIR MAHIDIN
CHIEF STATISTICIAN MALAYSIA
DEPARTMENT OF STATISTICS, MALAYSIA
 DrUzir_Mahidin    Dr_Uzir

14 October 2021

Contact person:

Mohd Yusrizal Ab Razak 
Public Relation Officer
Strategic Communication and International Division
Department of Statistics, Malaysia
Tel : +603-8885 7942
Fax : +603-8888 9248
Email : yusrizal.razak[at]dosm.gov.my

For interviews, press statement and clarification to the media, contact:

Baharudin Mohamad

Public Relation Officer

Email: baharudin[at]dosm.gov.my

Phone: 03 8885 7942

Not found what you looking for? Request data from us, through

Go to eStatistik

email to data[at]dosm.gov.my

call 03 8885 7128 (data request)