Malaysia's average household size fell over the past decade as first marriages occurred at older ages, even as most unmarried people continued to consider marriage, a national survey found.
The Straits Times reported that Women, Family and Community Development Minister Nancy Shukri presented findings from the Sixth Malaysian Population and Family Survey on Tuesday. The National Population and Family Development Board (LPPKN) conducts the national study every 10 years to guide family policy.
Shukri said more than 80% of unmarried respondents expressed an intention to marry. Among reasons for remaining unmarried, 50.6% cited the absence of a suitable partner and 47.2% pointed to financial factors.
The survey put average household size at 3.8 people in 2024, down from 4.0 in 2014. It also recorded average first-marriage ages of 27.1 for men and 24 for women. Both measures compare changes across the same decade.
Wedding expenses have also risen. Shukri said average minimum wedding expenditure reached RM27,332, compared with RM20,047 a decade earlier; the report gave the newer figure as S$8,577.
Shukri said the survey found grandparents cared for 25.3% of children aged six and younger, while 17.5% attended child care centers. She linked the findings to the need for support for married couples managing work and caregiving responsibilities.
The report launch coincided with a two-day forum where Shukri said stakeholders should discuss practical policy and program options to address the issues raised by the survey.
