Mortality rates by specific age group and gender in Malaysia: Trend of 16 years, 1995 – 2010

Abstract

Mortality trends discussed widely in most countries were on infants and age under five. This paper presented trend of mortality rates in six important age groups (infants, under 5, adolescents, adults, middle age and elderly), using national deaths records for a 16-year period (1995 – 2010). We found decreasing trend in all age groups except for infants and age under 5. Although the mortality rates for both groups are slowly increasing, the rates are satisfactory and better compared to that in most developing countries. Mortality rate among male is high in all age groups. The highest difference is among the adult groups, in which, the average ratio in 16 years between male and female is 2.75, followed by adolescent group, 2.12 and middle age group, 1.65. This trend can become a reference for comparing that from other developed and developing countries. It can also become an indicator for a country’s health status and population growth. Due to the decreasing trend of mortality rates, the government needs to plan for health program to support more elderly people in the coming years.