Babies Born in 2026 Expected to Live Until 75.5 Years on Average, Says DOSM

PUTRAJAYA, Sept 30 – A baby born in Malaysia in 2026 is expected to live to an average age of 75.5 years, according to the Department of Statistics Malaysia (DOSM).

Releasing its Abridged Life Tables, Malaysia 2024–2026 report on Wednesday, September 30, DOSM highlighted that female newborns continue to have a higher life expectancy than males. A baby girl born in 2026 is expected to live up to 78.1 years—4.9 years longer than a baby boy, whose life expectancy stands at 73.2 years.

Regional Differences and State Highlights

Geographically, Selangor recorded the highest life expectancy at birth for both males and females between 2024 and 2026, whereas Terengganu recorded the lowest across the country.

Only three administrative territories surpassed the national average life expectancy benchmark of 75.5 years in 2026:

• Selangor: 78.2 years
• W.P. Kuala Lumpur: 77.3 years
• W.P. Labuan: 77.0 years

Post-Pandemic Recovery and Demographic Trends

DOSM noted that national life expectancy has rebounded following earlier declines experienced during the pandemic era.

While life expectancy initially dropped by 0.9 years in 2022 due to excess mortality associated with the COVID-19 pandemic between 2020 and 2022, overall life expectancy at birth in 2026 has increased by 1.5 years compared to 2023 figures as overall mortality rates normalized.

Expected Lifespan for Older Demographics

The statistics department also detailed projected remaining lifespans for males and females at ages 15 and 60 in 2026:

• Males aged 15: Expected to live an additional 59.0 years, reaching a total age of 74.0 years.
• Females aged 15: Expected to live an additional 63.7 years, reaching a total age of 78.7 years.
• Males aged 60: Expected to live an additional 18.9 years, reaching a total age of 78.9 years.
• Females aged 60: Expected to live an additional 21.7 years, reaching a total age of 81.7 years.

–NMT