For the ninth year running, the RinggitPlus Malaysian Financial Literacy Survey (RMFLS) 2026 asks: how are Malaysians really managing their money?
The 2026 survey found that money plays a part in how Malaysians approach family and the years ahead, while the gap in savings widened between those with a personal income under RM2,000 and those with higher incomes, compared with the adjusted 2025 sample.
Key Summary Findings
Here’s a quick look at what Malaysians told us this year:
- Marriage and children: Money is cited in decisions about marriage, a wedding, and a first child. These are three different decisions: whether and when to get married, whether to go ahead with a wedding that is already being planned, and whether and when to start having children. About 1 in 4 Malaysians aged 25 to 44 surveyed say money led them to delay or decide against marriage, a wedding, or a first child in the past five years (24.3%).
- Supporting parents: Giving money to parents is widespread. About 6 in 10 Malaysians surveyed give money to their parents or parents-in-law (63.0%): 32.0% do so every month and 30.9% do so occasionally.
- Retirement: Working past retirement age is a common expectation. More than 4 in 10 Malaysians surveyed say they expect to keep working past retirement age, part-time or by never fully retiring (45.6%).
- Scams: Many Malaysians have lost money to scams, small amounts included. 1 in 4 Malaysians surveyed say they lost money to a scam in the past 12 months, including small losses (25.3%).
In-Depth Analysis
The survey was conducted online in English, Bahasa Malaysia, and Chinese, inviting Malaysians from the Central, Southern, Northern, East Coast, and East Malaysian regions. The data reported is based on 3,005 Malaysians aged 18 and above who were surveyed online.
Money Is Cited in Decisions About Marriage and Children
24.3% of the 1,454 Malaysians aged 25 to 44 surveyed say money led them to delay or decide against marriage, a wedding, or a first child. Money is cited more often by Malaysians aged 25 to 34 (28.9%) than by those aged 35 to 44 (19.1%). Across all 3,005 Malaysians surveyed, the most common changes were deciding against having any more children (10%) and delaying having another child (9%), while 62% say none of these apply to them.
Survey question: In the past five years, has money caused you to do any of the following? Sample size = 3,005
| Options | Percentage of Malaysians |
| Decided against having any more children | 10% |
| Delayed having another child | 9% |
| Delayed getting married | 8% |
| Decided not to get married | 8% |
| Decided not to have children | 6% |
| Delayed having your first child | 4% |
| Delayed or cancelled a planned wedding | 3% |
| None of these apply to me | 62% |
| Prefer not to say | 5% |
Malaysians could choose more than one answer, so the percentages add up to more than 100%.
Giving Money to Parents Is Widespread
About 6 in 10 Malaysians surveyed give money to their parents or parents-in-law (63.0% of 3,005), with 32.0% doing so every month and 30.9% occasionally. Those with a personal income below RM2,000 give money to parents too, though fewer do so every month: 51.4% of the 1,061 Malaysians in this group give to a parent or parent-in-law, and 18.5% do so every month. More than half of Malaysians surveyed (55%) also give money to a child they support.
Survey question: Do you currently give money to any of the following? Sample size = 3,005
| Options | A parent or parent-in-law | A child you support |
| Gives money (every month or occasionally) | 63% | 55% |
| Yes, every month | 32% | 41% |
| Yes, occasionally | 31% | 13% |
| No | 34% | 43% |
| Prefer not to say | 3% | 2% |
Many Expect to Keep Working Past Retirement Age
More than 4 in 10 Malaysians surveyed say they expect to keep working past retirement age, part-time, or by never fully retiring (45.6% of 3,005). Part-time work after retirement age is the more common route (38.7%), while 12.9% say they have accepted they will never fully retire, and 6.0% chose both routes. EPF is the source Malaysians most expect to rely on in retirement (48%), ahead of their own investments or savings outside EPF (44%).
Survey question: Which of these do you expect you will actually do to fund your retirement? Sample size = 3,005
| Options | Percentage of Malaysians |
| Keep working part-time or never fully retire | 46% |
| Rely on my EPF savings | 48% |
| Rely on my own investments or savings outside EPF | 44% |
| Keep working part-time after retirement age | 39% |
| Rely on rental or property income | 18% |
| Rely on a government pension | 18% |
| Rely on financial support from my children | 14% |
| I have accepted I will never fully retire | 13% |
| Sell or downsize my home | 9% |
| I don't know | 6% |
Malaysians could choose more than one answer, so the percentages add up to more than 100%.
Many Malaysians Have Lost Money to Scams
1 in 4 Malaysians surveyed say they lost money to a scam in the past 12 months, including small losses (25.3%), and 19% of them told no one. Separately, 1 in 5 Malaysians surveyed say they came across a scam this year that they believed used AI or a deepfake to impersonate someone they trust (21.0%).
Survey question: This survey is anonymous. In the past 12 months, have you lost money to a scam or fraud? If yes, please also tell us who you told. Sample size = 3,005 (761 lost money)
| Options | Percentage of Malaysians |
| Lost money to a scam or fraud | 25% |
| No, I have not lost money to a scam or fraud | 71% |
| Prefer not to say | 3% |
| Among Malaysians who lost money to a scam | Percentage of Malaysians |
| Yes, I told my bank or e-wallet provider | 39% |
| Yes, I told family or friends | 33% |
| Yes, I told no one | 19% |
Selected answers shown. Malaysians could choose more than one answer, so the percentages add up to more than 100%.
Download the RMFLS 2026 Report
For a deeper understanding of the findings, methodology, and expert analysis, download the full RMFLS 2026 Report (PDF).
Final Thoughts and Past Reports
Family and the years ahead feature strongly in this year's findings. About 6 in 10 Malaysians surveyed give money to their parents or parents-in-law, and more than 4 in 10 expect to keep working past retirement age. At the same time, the gap in savings widened between those with a personal income under RM2,000 and those with higher incomes.
Two priorities stand out for the year ahead: helping Malaysians with a personal income under RM2,000 build savings and a cash buffer, and making financial education practical enough to shape everyday money decisions.
Want to see how Malaysians' financial habits have changed over the years? Explore the past reports:
- Read the RMFLS 2025 Report
- Read the RMFLS 2024 Report
- Read the RMFLS 2023 Report
- Read the RMFLS 2022 Report
- Read the RMFLS 2021 Report
- Read the RMFLS 2020 Report
2026 Official Partner
GXBank (Banking Partner)