Children make up just over a quarter of Malaysia’s population, with 9.03 million aged below 18 according to the Children Statistics, Malaysia 2025 report released by the Department of Statistics Malaysia (DOSM). The figure represents 26.4% of the country’s total population of 34.23 million.

Chief Statistician Malaysia, Dato’ Sri Dr Mohd Uzir Mahidin, said the publication presents key indicators on the well-being of children nationwide, covering population demographics, health, education, child protection, and crime. The findings are aligned with the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) and guidelines set by the United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF).

Population Distribution And Demographics

W.P. Putrajaya recorded the highest proportion of children under 18, at 39.9%, followed by Kelantan at 33.5% and Terengganu at 32.9%. Selangor had the largest number of children, with 1.81 million, while W.P. Labuan recorded the smallest, at around 30,000 children.

These demographic patterns provide valuable insight into Malaysia’s social development landscape and support policymaking efforts to improve access to education, healthcare, and welfare services for children across all states.

Health Indicators Show Mixed Trends

The report found that infant immunisation coverage declined in 2024 across all five major vaccines. Coverage for Polio, DTP, HIB, and Hepatitis B each dropped by 6.1 percentage points, while BCG coverage declined slightly by 0.3 percentage points.

According to DOSM, the decline highlights the need for continued efforts to strengthen vaccination outreach and health awareness, particularly among families in rural and underserved areas.

Education And Early Childhood Care

The number of registered child care centres (TASKA) increased by 1.4% in 2024 to 3,198 centres nationwide. Johor recorded the highest growth in registered centres at 29.4%, while W.P. Putrajaya experienced the largest decrease at 21%.

Enrolment in government and government-aided schools fell slightly by 0.2%, driven mainly by a 3% drop at the upper secondary level. Private school enrolment also decreased by 0.3%, following a 3.4% decline in kindergarten enrolment.

These shifts point to changing trends in early education participation and underline the importance of maintaining quality and accessibility across both public and private education systems.

More Children In Need Of Care And Protection

The number of children requiring care and protection rose by 12.7% to 9,624 cases in 2024. Girls accounted for 6,031 cases, while boys recorded a sharper increase of 15.2%, compared with an 11.3% rise among girls.

In contrast, the number of children involved in crime declined by 4.2% to 2,627 cases. Bumiputera children made up the majority at 82.2%, followed by Chinese (9%), Indians (4.9%), and Others (4.1%).

These findings provide critical data for agencies and policymakers working to strengthen child protection systems and social welfare programmes nationwide.

Children In Focus Amid An Ageing Population

The release of the Children Statistics, Malaysia 2025 also comes as Malaysia prepares to face a long-term demographic shift towards an ageing population. According to DOSM projections, Malaysia is expected to reach aged nation status by 2048, when 14% of the population will be aged 65 and above. The country entered the ageing nation category in 2021, when citizens aged 65 and above made up 7% of the total population.

This demographic transition is driven by longer life expectancy and declining fertility rates, which have remained below the replacement level of 2.1 children per woman since 2013. As the proportion of elderly citizens grows, the share of younger Malaysians continues to shrink. This trend underscores the importance of sustained investment in both youth development and long-term care planning.

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