THE MALAYSIAN CENSUS 2000: CHARACTERISTICS AND CRITICAL ISSUES

This article discusses the results of the 2000 Census in Malaysia. The study shows that Malaysia's population had soared from 10,439,430 in 1970 to 23,274,690 million in 2000 and that it now has a larger proportion of young people. In 2000, about 33.3 per cent of the total population was under 15 years of age and only 3.8 per cent was aged 65 and above. The literacy rate was 91.0 per cent compared with 58.0 per cent in 1970. Age at first marriage for both males and females in 2000 was 28.6 and 25.1 years respectively. The pace of urbanization was rapid with 62.0 per cent of the total population in Malaysia living in urban areas. But the level of mortality, especially infant mortality, has declined rapidly. These findings will affect the demands of citizens for quality education and training, health, and employment schemes for the nation.