KUCHING: A baby born this year is expected to live an average of 74.9 years.
Today the Department of Statistics, Malaysia (DOSM) released the Abridged Life Tables, Malaysia, 2018-2020 publication.
It contained life tables by age, ethnic group and sex in Malaysia and Sarawak for the 2018-2020.
Chief Statistician of Malaysia Datuk Seri Dr Mohd Uzir Mahidin said a baby born this year was expected to live until the age of 74.9 – which is almost five months longer than 2014 (74.5 years old).
“As such, on average, a baby girl in 2020 is expected to live until the age of 77.6 – five years longer than a baby boy, 72.6 years old.
“Not only that, in 2020, males and females who reach the age of 15 are expected to live another 58.4 and 63.2 years respectively,” he said, elaborating on the Life Table.
He also informed that life expectancy had increased – males who reach the age of 60 are expected to live a further 18.4 years, and 21.2 years for females.
“This situation is supported by the increasing number of the population aged 60 and above from year to year. Based on the population estimates for 2020, the population aged 60 and above increased to 3.5 million (10.7 percent) compared to 3.4 million (10.3 percent) in 2019.
“The life expectancy of the female population is higher than male, especially in developing countries – according to Knodel dan Ofstedal (2003) – this situation also occurs in other countries like Japan (87.3 years), Singapore (85.4 years) and European countries; such as United Kingdom (83.1 years) and Netherlands (83.6 years),” he continued.
As for the Chinese, they continued to register the highest life expectancy for this year at 77.6 years, followed by Bumiputera at 73.7 and Indians at 72.1.
“This situation is related to the change in the total fertility rate for the Chinese – 1.1 babies per woman aged between 15 and 49 years old.
“Based on Vital Statistics, in 2019, the total fertility rate for women aged between 15 and 49 years for all major ethnic groups has shown a declining trend,” he said.
In addition, Mohd Uzir also revealed that three states with the highest life expectancy for males were Sarawak (74.6 years), Wilayah Persekutuan Kuala Lumpur (74.5) and Selangor (73.8).
Meanwhile, three states with the highest life expectancy for females were Wilayah Persekutuan Kuala Lumpur (79.4), Pulau Pinang (78.9) and Sarawak (78.4).
Additionally, Mohd Uzir, who is also the 2020 Census Commissioner, said the Malaysia Population and Housing Census 2020 (Census 2020) was being implemented in two phases, with the theme “Data Anda Masa Depan Kita” (Your Data is Our Future).
The first phase is carried out online (e-Census) between July 7 and Sept 30, while the second phase between Oct 7 and 24 through face-to-face interviews.
An estimated nine million residences will be covered during the census, involving 32.7 million people. The data collected will benefit all walks of life as it is used by the government to make plans and policies.
“The commitment and support from all parties are very much needed for the census to be implemented successfully.
“Statistics and information generated are a valuable national asset and will certainly be used by the government and all parties,” Mohd Uzir concluded.
Further information on Census 2020 can be obtained at www.mycensus.gov.my
