Chinese Women Have The Highest Life Expectancy In Malaysia

PUTRAJAYA, Dec 22 (Bernama) -- Chinese women live the longest in the country, with an average life expectancy of 79.8 years said the Department of Statistics Malaysia, based on its 2010 records. Minister in the Prime Minister's Department Nor Mohamed Yakcop said Indian women are in second place with (76.2 years), Malay women (75.3 years), Chinese men (74.4 years), Malay men (70.5 years) and Indian men rank the lowest at 68 years. According to the 2010 statistics, in general, women in the country had a higher life expectancy at 77 years compared with men at 71.9 years and that was an improvement from the 74.7 years for women and 70 for men in 2000, he told reporters when announcing the population distribution according to local councils and districts for 2010. Nor Mohamed said the fertility rate among women however, registered a drop from 3.0 in 2000 to 2.2 in 2010. "Malaysia is expected to reach a maximum population of 57 million by 2090. Such statistics are important because it is related to domestic needs that remains an important aspect in ensuring the economy of the country," he said. He said 475,816 births were registered in 2010, excluding still born babies while 129,327 deaths, resulting in an addition of 346,489 people to the population. Nor Mohamed also denied that Malaysia was an aging society because 67.5 percent of the population are in the 15-64 years bracket. The statistics also revealed that 71 percent of the 28.3 million population in the country, lived in urban areas and only 29 percent remained in rural areas. -- BERNAMA