Malaysia: Malaysia is projected to attain 'aged nation' status by 2048, while it has officially been classified as an 'ageing nation' since 2021, with people aged 65 and above accounting for seven percent of the country's total population. At the same time, the country has recorded a sustained decline in its live birth rate over the past decade since 2015, interrupted only by a slight uptick in 2023. Data from the Department of Statistics Malaysia (DOSM) shows that the birth rate fell from 16.7 births per 1,000 population in 2015 to just 12.2 in 2024.
According to BERNAMA News Agency, Malaysia also recorded its lowest number of live births in 2024, with only 414,918 births - the lowest annual figure in 44 years since 1980. The latest data shows that live births in the first quarter of 2026 declined by 3.1 percent to 94,807, compared with 97,843 during the same period in 2025. DOSM attributes the country's declining birth rate to changing lifestyles, rising living costs, delayed marriages, and a falling total fertility rate (TFR), which is now below the replacement level at 1.6, compared with the ideal rate of 2.1.
Commenting on the declining birth rate, Universiti Sains Malaysia School of Distance Education deputy dean (Academic, Career and International) Dr. Nik Norliati Fitri Md Nor said many working women are facing a dilemma. 'The challenges women face after childbirth are not merely personal or family issues. They are closely linked to women's participation in the labour force and their family well-being, which, in the long term, could influence the country's fertility trends,' she said.
Elaborating on this, Nik Norliati said women returning to work after childbirth often struggle to balance their careers with family responsibilities as caring for a newborn significantly increases the demands on their time and energy. At the same time, leaving the workforce to focus entirely on raising a family is not a realistic option for many young couples, given the rising cost of living, which requires both the husband and wife to contribute to the household income.
As a result, some couples choose to plan the number of children they have or space out pregnancies to better balance their parenting responsibilities with their financial capacity, career commitments, and overall family well-being. Further compounding the challenges faced by women are postpartum mental health issues. Some mothers experience emotional distress, anxiety, or postpartum depression, which can affect not only their own well-being and that of their families but also their work performance, productivity, and ability to readjust upon returning to the workforce.
Commenting on the implications of Malaysia's declining birth rate, Nik Norliati said if the trend continues, the country will face significant long-term consequences, particularly in terms of population size. 'A low birth rate does not produce immediate effects, but over the next 20 to 30 years, Malaysia will have a much smaller pool of new entrants into the workforce. This could hamper economic growth as labour is a key driver of productivity and national development. As the workforce shrinks, certain industries, especially those that need a large workforce, may face increasing labour shortages,' she said.
The post-maternity leave allowance was announced by Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim during his address at the 2026 National Labour Day celebration in May. The initiative aims to support women's participation in the workforce and reduce the pressures faced by mothers after childbirth. Administered by the Social Security Organisation (SOCSO), the allowance - comprising 80 percent of the employee's assumed monthly wage - is a one-off payment for mothers who take an additional 30 days of maternity leave after completing 98 days of fully paid maternity leave.
According to Nik Norliati, the additional 30 days of leave would provide mothers more time to adjust before fully returning to the workforce. 'International studies have shown that adequate support during the postpartum period can help reduce stress arising from work-family conflicts, while supporting mothers' mental well-being and children's early development,' she said.
Describing the post-maternity leave allowance as a positive first step towards creating a more family-friendly ecosystem, Nik Norliati said the policy would be more effective if supported by other measures, including quality and affordable childcare facilities, flexible working arrangements, breastfeeding support at workplaces, and greater involvement of fathers in childcare. She said while financial support could ease some of the immediate burden, it might not be sufficient to address the long-term concerns faced by young families.
'Many other countries' experiences show that effective family policies usually involve a combination of various forms of support, such as adequate parental leave, quality and affordable childcare facilities, flexible working arrangements, employment protection after childbirth, and continuous support for working parents. When these elements are present simultaneously, couples will have greater confidence in planning their family life without viewing having children as a risk to their financial stability or career development. In the Malaysian context, the post-maternity leave allowance can be seen as a progressive step as it reflects the government's commitment to supporting working mothers during the critical period after childbirth,' she said.
Nik Norliati said several countries have successfully increased women's workforce participation while also encouraging fertility rates through various forms of family support. She said Malaysia could look to countries such as Sweden, France, Germany, and South Korea, which provide extensive support for parents, including paid parental leave, family allowances, childcare subsidies, and employment protection after childbirth.
'The experience of these countries shows that continuous support for families can help women remain in the workforce even after having children. Western European countries, for example, have focused on reducing the cost of raising children through the provision of childcare subsidies, early childhood education facilities, and employment protection during the parenting period. South Korea, meanwhile, has strengthened employment protection and introduced various incentives to encourage women to return to work after childbirth. Although each country has different social and economic contexts, one clear similarity is that they do not rely solely on financial assistance. Instead, they have developed ecosystems that enable parents to balance family responsibilities and careers,' she said.