Chief statistician Uzir Mahidin said although the population will grow steadily from 2020 to 2059, the growth rate will drop sharply from 1.7% in 2020 to just 0.1% by 2060, Bernama reported.

Uzir said the population in Kelantan, Pahang, Perak, Terengganu and Putrajaya is projected to increase continuously up to 2060.

Selangor is expected to remain the most populous state with 8.10 million residents by 2060, followed by Johor (4.99 million) and Sabah (4.89 million).

The statistics department published the population projections, covering the period from 2020 to 2060, today in conjunction with World Population Day 2025, in a report that presents detailed demographic changes using 2020 as the baseline.

Uzir said nine states are projected to reach their population peaks before the national peak in 2059 – Kuala Lumpur in 2031, Penang in 2040, Labuan in 2041, Selangor in 2049, Johor and Kedah in 2052, Negeri Sembilan in 2054, and Perlis and Sarawak in 2055.

Ethnic composition is also expected to shift, with the Bumiputera population increasing from 69.4% in 2020 to 79.4% in 2060.

The Chinese and Indian populations are projected to decline to 14.8% (from 23.2% in 2020) and 4.7% (from 6.7%), respectively.

Both male and female populations are projected to grow steadily, with males consistently outnumbering females.

The gender ratio is expected to rise from 110 males per 100 females in 2020 to 114 males per 100 females by 2060, Uzir said.