Petaling district logs highest population, density in 2023

The Petaling district in Selangor has the highest population this year with 2.3 million, according to the Current Population Estimates, Administrative Districts released by the Department of Statistics Malaysia (DOSM) yesterday.

This is followed by Johor Bahru in Johor (1.8 million) and Ulu Langat in Selangor (1.5 million), DOSM said in a statement.

The Petaling district also has the highest population density with 4,783 persons per sq km, followed by Timur Laut, Penang (4,710) and Seberang Perai Tengah, Penang (1,845).

DOSM said eight districts were categorised as ageing districts as more than 7% of their population are aged 65 and above this year.

The eight districts are Johor Bahru, Johor; Kota Bharu and Kuala Krai in Kelantan; Seberang Perai Utara and Barat Daya in Penang; Kota Kinabalu in Sabah; Miri in Sarawak; and Ulu Selangor in Selangor.

The findings also show that Lubok Antu, Sarawak has the highest elderly population (65 years and over) at 14.4%, followed by Sri Aman, Sarawak (12.8%) and Song, Sarawak (11.9%).
 
The United Nations has set three categories of ageing, namely an ageing society, an aged society and a super-aged society which refers to the population aged 65 years and over reaching 7%, 14% and 20% respectively.

The National Senior Citizens Policy meanwhile states that ageing takes place when the population of 60 years old and over comprises 15% of the total population.

According to DOSM, Kalabakan, Sabah recorded the highest growth rate at 13.4%, followed by Semporna, Sabah (11.7%) and Kunak, Sabah (11.5%).

Meanwhile, Bukit Mabong, Sarawak recorded the lowest population with 10,400 followed by Song, Sarawak (10,000) and Tanjung Manis, Sarawak (7,900).
 
Three districts in Sarawak recorded the highest citizens population in 2023 – Julau (99.9%), and Song and Pakan (both 99.7%) – while Sabah had the largest percentage of non-citizens, in Kinabatangan (70.6%), followed by Kalabakan (66.5%) and Kunak (53.2%).

DOSM said the findings also show that females outnumber males in 13 districts – Muallim, Perak with a sex ratio of 92 males for every 100 females, followed by Samarahan, Sarawak (94); Bachok, Kelantan (94); Song, (95); Saratok, Sarawak (97); Kubang Pasu, Kedah (97); Julau, Sarawak (98); Tumpat and Pasir Puteh, Kelantan (both 98); Kuala Nerus, Terengganu (99); Kanowit, Sarawak (99); Machang, Kelantan (99); and Kota Setar, Kedah (99).

It said Setiu district in Terengganu has the highest composition of Bumiputeras in 2023 at 99.7% followed by Nabawan, Sabah (99.6%) and Hulu Terengganu, Terengganu (99.4%).

Meanwhile, the highest composition of Chinese is recorded in Timur Laut, Penang at 63.9%, followed by Kampar, Perak (48.3%) and Sibu, Sarawak (48.2%).

As for Indians, the highest composition is recorded in Bagan Datuk, Perak, followed by Klang, Selangor and Port Dickson, Negeri Sembilan with a composition of 23.2%, 18.8% and 18.4% respectively.

DOSM said the highest composition of the population aged 0-14 years in 2023 is recorded in Kecil Lojing, Kelantan at 35.3%, followed by Gua Musang, Kelantan (34.7%) and Tumpat, Kelantan (33.0%).

Meanwhile, Sebauh, Sarawak recorded the highest percentage of the population aged 15-64 years (working age) at 80.2%, followed by Kinabatangan, Sabah (78.6%) and Belaga, Sarawak (78.3%).