Ayer keroh: The rising cost of living is one of the main challenges for young people to realise their desire to get married and have children, said National Population and Family Development Board (LPPKN) chairman Datuk Seri Rohani Abdul Karim. She highlighted that although many young individuals still aspire to form families, economic constraints often prevent them from achieving their ideal family size.
According to BERNAMA News Agency, a World Population Day 2025 Survey conducted by LPPKN revealed that while young people generally wish to marry and have at least three children, economic factors have led many to settle for fewer. Rohani shared these insights during an event at the Youth and Sports Complex (KOMBES) in Ayer Keroh, where she officiated the Melaka State Level World Population Day 2026 Celebration. The event, themed 'Realising the Hopes and Aspirations of the Young People: Today and the Future,' was also attended by LPPKN director-general Datuk Abdul Shukur Abdullah.
Rohani emphasized the importance of supporting young people's aspirations to start families, as this is crucial for maintaining a sustainable population structure in Malaysia, which is currently facing demographic shifts. These include declining birth rates, an increase in the age of marriage, changes in family structures, higher living costs, labor migration, and an aging population.
The survey, which included 3,625 respondents, found that 90.9 per cent of single individuals still wish to marry, and 91.1 per cent hope to have children. Among married respondents, a third expressed a desire for more children. In Melaka specifically, 86.5 per cent of single respondents intend to marry and have children, while 93.0 per cent of married respondents desire an average of 2.9 children.
Rohani identified fertility issues, high living costs, and health problems as significant barriers to achieving desired family sizes. To support couples facing these challenges, she encouraged them to seek help from LPPKN's Fertility Treatment Assistance and Infertility Advocacy (BuAI) Programme, which offers advisory and treatment services.
To further aid young people and families, LPPKN offers various programs, including SMARTSTART pre-marital education, family and parenting education, marriage and family counseling, reproductive and social health education, Nur Sejahtera Clinic services, and subfertility screening and treatment.