Financial Strain Pushes Marriage Age Higher in Malaysia Amid Rising Costs

A stark financial reality faces many young Malaysians aspiring to marry, with a 34-year-old man with a secondary education estimating a RM20,000 wedding cost against his meager RM3,000 savings. This situation, highlighted by a study from the National Population and Family Development Board (LPPKN), illustrates a significant gap between financial capabilities and the expenses associated with starting married life.

Despite 90.9% of single individuals expressing a desire to marry, financial pressures and the high cost of living are forcing many to postpone their plans. Data from the Department of Statistics Malaysia (DOSM) shows an increasing median age for first marriages, reaching 29 for men and 27 for women over the past six years. This trend is a key factor contributing to the nation's declining fertility rate, which stands at 1.6 children per woman, below the replacement level of 2.1.

Bank Negara Malaysia's 2025 Annual Report further underscores these financial challenges. While overall inflation has moderated, many households continue to struggle with the high cost of daily necessities like food, transportation, and housing. The report notes that the perception of living costs doesn't always align with official inflation rates.

This aligns with findings from the Khazanah Research Institute (KRI) on housing affordability, which indicate that house prices have outpaced household income growth. Malaysia is categorized as having a 'serious unaffordability' housing market, compelling many young people to delay homeownership and, consequently, family formation. The State of Households report reveals that low- and middle-income households are particularly strained by essential living costs, leaving little room for savings or long-term commitments like marriage.

“

Many young people today don't not want to get married, but they feel they need to achieve a more stable financial level first. With the cost of living increasing, high housing prices, and incomes not growing in line with the cost of living, many choose to postpone marriage until they are truly ready.