Country's birth rate slips to a decade low

 

Malaysia's live birth rate has slipped to a decade low with Penang recording the lowest fertility rate in the country.

According to the Department of Statistics, Malaysia's live births were at 487,957 in 2019, down 2.8 percent compared to the previous year.

Live births in 2019 were 0.6 percent lower than what was recorded in 2010.

Crude birth rates (number of live births per thousand) had reduced from a decade high of 17.8 in 2012 to 15 in 2019.

The average age a mother gives birth for the first time in 2019 was 27.9 years, up from 27.8 years in 2018.

"In general, an increase in the average age of mothers at first birth gives an indication of the shorter reproductive period of women," said the department.

The national fertility rate remained unchanged at 1.8 babies. The only states where the fertility was above replacement levels (2.1) were Johor, Kelantan, and Kedah.

Fertility rates for other states and territories were as follows:

• Perlis - 2.0
  
  
• Negeri Sembilan - 2.0
  
  
• Pahang - 2.0
  
  
• Malacca - 1.8
  
  
• Perak - 1.8
  
  
• Labuan - 1.8

• Kuala Lumpur - 1.7

• Selangor - 1.6
  
  
• Sarawak - 1.6

• Sabah - 1.4
  
  
• Penang - 1.3

- Mkini