Marriage on hold for young Malaysians due to rising living costs, financial insecurity

Most single Malaysians still aspire to marry and start families, but escalating living costs, job insecurity, and financial instability are making these dreams increasingly unattainable. A recent survey by the National Population and Family Development Board revealed that 90.9% of single respondents aged 18 and above intend to marry, and 91.1% hope to have children.

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Young people are taking longer to secure stable employment, housing and financial independence before forming families.

These findings underscore that young Malaysians have not abandoned their desires for marriage and parenthood. However, they require substantial economic and social support to realize these aspirations. "Young people are taking longer to secure stable employment, housing and financial independence before forming families," stated board chairman Rohani Abdul Karim. She emphasized that "unlocking the full potential of younger generations requires massive investment in inclusive quality education and training."

Concerns about the rising cost of weddings, the financial burden of raising children, and the need for childcare when both parents work are significant. "They told us that even getting married has become expensive. The cost of wedding ceremonies, preparations and everything else can be overwhelming," Rohani added. The survey also indicated that 17.6% of married respondents could not have their desired number of children due to insufficient income, high living costs, demanding work schedules, fertility issues, or health concerns.

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unlocking the full potential of younger generations requires massive investment in inclusive quality education and training.

These sentiments echo findings from the United Nations Population Fund's 2026 Demographic Futures Survey. That report noted that while most young people desire marriage and parenthood, economic realities are causing delays. The UNPA survey, covering over 100,000 adults across 73 countries, found that more than two-thirds hoped to marry or live with a partner, and about 90% wanted at least one child. The UNPA urges countries to remove barriers preventing young people from building the families they desire through investments in education, decent work, housing, healthcare, social protection, and flexible working arrangements. Malaysia is addressing these issues through its National Family Love Policy and National Family Action Plan 2026-2030.

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They told us that even getting married has become expensive. The cost of wedding ceremonies, preparations and everything else can be overwhelming.