Malaysia has just 27 years to ready itself for aged-nation status by 2048

During a parliamentary Q&A, Economy Minister Akmal Nasrullah Mohd Nasir highlighted that Malaysia has roughly 27 years to gear up for aged-nation status, projected for 2048, and will become a super-aged nation by 2060. He contrasted this rapid timeline with the longer periods experienced by France, Australia and the United States, stressing that Malaysia’s lower income level adds difficulty. The minister said the National Ageing Blueprint 2025-2045 is in its final review stage, with a White Paper on preparation to be presented this session.

He responded to a query about a district-level rejuvenation pilot in the Sekijang constituency, where a notable share of residents are over 60, and expressed willingness to consider it. Akmal also pointed to the “silver economy” as a source of new jobs for youth in sectors such as elder care, health technology and digital services, and noted that the Economy Ministry, together with the Department of Statistics Malaysia and other agencies, is developing metrics to gauge its contribution to GDP.