Sex ratio by age in Malaysia
Malaysia: Sex ratio by age was 40.32 males per 100 females in 2023. ◆ Volatile
Latest (2023)
40.32 males per 100 females
Change on year
up 2.4%
World rank
37th
of 212 countries
All-time high
100 males per 100 females
in 1956
All-time low
24.72 males per 100 females
in 1996
Years of data
74
1950–2023
Sex ratio by age in Malaysia, 1950–2023
Source: UN, World Population Prospects (2024) – processed by Our World in Data. Measured in males per 100 females.
Analysis
In 2023, sex ratio by age in Malaysia stood at 40.32 males per 100 females.
The figure is up 2.4% on the previous year and up 23.0% over ten years.
Over the whole period, sex ratio by age in Malaysia peaked at 100 males per 100 females in 1956 and was at its lowest, 24.72 males per 100 females, in 1996.
Malaysia ranks 37th of 212 countries on this measure, in the top quarter.
The series is highly variable year to year, so single readings are best treated with caution.
Sex ratio by age in Malaysia, year by year
| Year | males per 100 females | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1950 | 74.07 males per 100 females | — |
| 1951 | 78.95 males per 100 females | +6.6% |
| 1952 | 76.92 males per 100 females | -2.6% |
| 1953 | 77.78 males per 100 females | +1.1% |
| 1954 | 83.33 males per 100 females | +7.1% |
| 1955 | 75 males per 100 females | -10.0% |
| 1956 | 100 males per 100 females | +33.3% |
| 1957 | 100 males per 100 females | +0.0% |
| 1958 | 100 males per 100 females | +0.0% |
| 1959 | 50 males per 100 females | -50.0% |
| 1960 | 100 males per 100 females | +100.0% |
| 1961 | 100 males per 100 females | +0.0% |
| 1962 | 100 males per 100 females | +0.0% |
| 1963 | 100 males per 100 females | +0.0% |
| 1964 | 100 males per 100 females | +0.0% |
| 1965 | 100 males per 100 females | +0.0% |
| 1966 | 100 males per 100 females | +0.0% |
| 1967 | 100 males per 100 females | +0.0% |
| 1968 | 100 males per 100 females | +0.0% |
| 1969 | 50 males per 100 females | -50.0% |
| 1970 | 100 males per 100 females | +100.0% |
| 1971 | 66.67 males per 100 females | -33.3% |
| 1972 | 66.67 males per 100 females | +0.0% |
| 1973 | 75 males per 100 females | +12.5% |
| 1974 | 60 males per 100 females | -20.0% |
| 1975 | 66.67 males per 100 females | +11.1% |
| 1976 | 57.14 males per 100 females | -14.3% |
| 1977 | 62.5 males per 100 females | +9.4% |
| 1978 | 66.67 males per 100 females | +6.7% |
| 1979 | 54.55 males per 100 females | -18.2% |
| 1980 | 50 males per 100 females | -8.3% |
| 1981 | 53.85 males per 100 females | +7.7% |
| 1982 | 53.33 males per 100 females | -1.0% |
| 1983 | 50 males per 100 females | -6.2% |
| 1984 | 47.37 males per 100 females | -5.3% |
| 1985 | 45.83 males per 100 females | -3.2% |
| 1986 | 41.38 males per 100 females | -9.7% |
| 1987 | 37.14 males per 100 females | -10.2% |
| 1988 | 35.71 males per 100 females | -3.8% |
| 1989 | 30.61 males per 100 females | -14.3% |
| 1990 | 30.19 males per 100 females | -1.4% |
| 1991 | 31.58 males per 100 females | +4.6% |
| 1992 | 30 males per 100 females | -5.0% |
| 1993 | 28.12 males per 100 females | -6.2% |
| 1994 | 27.14 males per 100 females | -3.5% |
| 1995 | 25.64 males per 100 females | -5.5% |
| 1996 | 24.72 males per 100 females | -3.6% |
| 1997 | 25 males per 100 females | +1.1% |
| 1998 | 25.41 males per 100 females | +1.6% |
| 1999 | 26.09 males per 100 females | +2.7% |
| 2000 | 25.49 males per 100 females | -2.3% |
| 2001 | 25.9 males per 100 females | +1.6% |
| 2002 | 26.4 males per 100 females | +1.9% |
| 2003 | 26.67 males per 100 females | +1.0% |
| 2004 | 27.35 males per 100 females | +2.6% |
| 2005 | 27.82 males per 100 females | +1.7% |
| 2006 | 27.41 males per 100 females | -1.5% |
| 2007 | 27.66 males per 100 females | +0.9% |
| 2008 | 28.09 males per 100 females | +1.6% |
| 2009 | 28.55 males per 100 females | +1.6% |
| 2010 | 29.48 males per 100 females | +3.3% |
| 2011 | 30.41 males per 100 females | +3.1% |
| 2012 | 31.59 males per 100 females | +3.9% |
| 2013 | 32.79 males per 100 females | +3.8% |
| 2014 | 33.94 males per 100 females | +3.5% |
| 2015 | 34.67 males per 100 females | +2.2% |
| 2016 | 35.36 males per 100 females | +2.0% |
| 2017 | 35.89 males per 100 females | +1.5% |
| 2018 | 36.09 males per 100 females | +0.5% |
| 2019 | 36.08 males per 100 females | -0.0% |
| 2020 | 36.16 males per 100 females | +0.2% |
| 2021 | 37.43 males per 100 females | +3.5% |
| 2022 | 39.37 males per 100 females | +5.2% |
| 2023 | 40.32 males per 100 females | +2.4% |
Malaysia compared with similar countries
- Malaysia's 40.32 males per 100 females is above the median for upper middle income countries, which is 22.73 males per 100 females, 1.8× the median. (55 countries reporting)
- Malaysia's 40.32 males per 100 females is above the median for East Asia & Pacific, which is 21.92 males per 100 females, 1.8× the median. (28 countries reporting)
Biggest year-on-year movements
Years where Sex ratio by age in Malaysia changed far more than this series normally does. A large move can be a real event or a change in how the figure was measured — the source note below says who published it.
| Year | Change | From | To |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1960 | +100.0% | 50 males per 100 females | 100 males per 100 females |
| 1970 | +100.0% | 50 males per 100 females | 100 males per 100 females |
| 1959 | -50.0% | 100 males per 100 females | 50 males per 100 females |
| 1969 | -50.0% | 100 males per 100 females | 50 males per 100 females |
| 1956 | +33.3% | 75 males per 100 females | 100 males per 100 females |
| 1971 | -33.3% | 100 males per 100 females | 66.67 males per 100 females |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1950s | 81.61 males per 100 females | 50 males per 100 females | 100 males per 100 females | 10 |
| 1960s | 95 males per 100 females | 50 males per 100 females | 100 males per 100 females | 10 |
| 1970s | 67.59 males per 100 females | 54.55 males per 100 females | 100 males per 100 females | 10 |
| 1980s | 44.52 males per 100 females | 30.61 males per 100 females | 53.85 males per 100 females | 10 |
| 1990s | 27.39 males per 100 females | 24.72 males per 100 females | 31.58 males per 100 females | 10 |
| 2000s | 27.13 males per 100 females | 25.49 males per 100 females | 28.55 males per 100 females | 10 |
| 2010s | 33.63 males per 100 females | 29.48 males per 100 females | 36.09 males per 100 females | 10 |
| 2020s | 38.32 males per 100 females | 36.16 males per 100 females | 40.32 males per 100 females | 4 |
Countries ranked near Malaysia
More gender data for Malaysia
- Child population (UN estimates and projections) 7,206 (2030)
- Child population (UN estimates and projections) (0-14), annual growth -1.39 % change on previous year (2030)
- Population 30,756 (2030)
- Working-age population (UN estimates and projections) 30,756 (2030)
- Population (UN estimates and projections), annual growth rate 1.62 % change on previous year (2030)
- Age population, age 00, female, interpolated 214,187 (2025)
- Age population, age 00, male, interpolated 227,793 (2025)
- Age population, age 01, female, interpolated 214,543 (2025)
- Age population, age 01, male, interpolated 228,149 (2025)
- Age population, age 02, female, interpolated 213,108 (2025)
Frequently asked questions
- What is sex ratio by age in Malaysia?
- Sex ratio by age in Malaysia was 40.32 males per 100 females in 2023, according to UN, World Population Prospects (2024) – processed by Our World in Data.
- What is the highest sex ratio by age recorded in Malaysia?
- The highest recorded value was 100 males per 100 females in 1956.
- What is the lowest sex ratio by age recorded in Malaysia?
- The lowest recorded value was 24.72 males per 100 females in 1996.
- How does Malaysia rank for sex ratio by age?
- Malaysia ranks 37th out of 212 countries with data for 2023.
- Is sex ratio by age rising or falling in Malaysia?
- Over the last ten years it is up 23.0%. The long-run trend across the full record is volatile.
- Where does this Malaysia data come from?
- The figures come from UN, World Population Prospects (2024) – processed by Our World in Data, published as part of Sex ratio by age. Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
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About this data
Number of males per 100 females at age 100+.