This article is about the process and history of counting Malaysia's population. For information on current and historical census and other data, see Demographics of Malaysia.
The census in Malaysia, or officially, the Population and Housing Census, is a descriptive count of everyone who is in Malaysia on the Census Day, and of their dwellings. The decennial Malaysian census has been conducted six times, As of 2010. It has been conducted every 10 years, beginning in 1960.
The decennial publication provides users with the final Malaysian Census population figures for basic demographic characteristics such as gender, age distribution, ethnic group, citizenship, religion and marital status at the state and the administrative district levels. Some of the tables also provide a breakdown by urban and rural areas.
Malaysia consists of thirteen states and three federal territories. Each state is divided into several administrative districts. In Kelantan, the administrative district is known as "Jajahan". Each state is also stratified into urban and rural areas. Urban and rural areas are not legally defined administrative areas but are statistically defined to distinguish areas with certain socio-economic characteristics.
Data source
The data in the decennial publication represent final Malaysian Census population figures for respective decades. As in censuses in most other countries, the information obtained during enumeration is subject to coverage and content errors. In term of coverage errors, part of living quarters, households or population maybe left out, erroneously included or duplicated. Content errors in particular were based on erroneous responses on gender, age, ethnic group, citizenship, religion and marital status. As a result, the figures were "adjusted" based on the estimates of under-enumeration derived from the Census Coverage Evaluation Survey.
Census approach
As of Census 2010, a multi-modal data collection data method was used as follows:
Face to face interview
The enumerator will visit every living quarters to interview and obtain the individual's information.
Self enumeration
Drop-off and pick-up (DOPU)
The enumerator will drop-off the Census Kit containing a questionnaire and related documents. The questionnaire should be completed by the respondent and the enumerator will pick-up the duly completed questionnaire upon on agreed date and time.
e-Census
The respondent will complete the questionnaire online via the website www.statistic.com.my. The identification particulars are provided in the Census Kit to enable respondent to access e-Census.
Two types of census questionnaires were used. The first questionnaire for persons living in private living quarters, whilst the second questionnaire was for persons living in collective living quarters such as college or university hostels, charitable or social welfare institutions, prisons and homeless persons.
As of Census 2010, it covered all persons including non-citizens who had stayed or intended to stay in Malaysia for more than six months in the year 2010. This includes:
Persons commuting across the Malaysian border (e.g. Singapore, Thailand, Brunei, Indonesia) for work or study but maintaining usual residence within Malaysia;
Malaysians who were overseas as tourists, on short term study or attending conference, seminar or on business;
Expatriates and other foreign workers as well as their family members;
Foreign visitors and students;
Foreign military, naval and diplomatic personnel and their families staying in the country except for those who have diplomatic immunity and wished to be excluded;
Person living in the college or university hostels;
Person living in the charitable or social welfare institutions;
The following categories were excluded from the census count on the basis that they were staying in the country for less than six months in the year 2010:
Malaysian citizens and permanent residents who were away or intended to be away from the country for more than six months in the year 2010 because of work, studies, etc.;
Military, naval and diplomatic personnel and their families who were staying outside Malaysia; and
Foreigners such as tourists, businessmen and the like who were in Malaysia for less than six months.
Topics covered in the censuses
Topics Covered in the Population and Housing Censuses of Four Pan-Malaysia Censuses, 1970–2000
Urban areas adopted by the previous censuses refer to gazetted local council areas with a specified population threshold. The urban areas in Census 1980 refers to a gazetted area with population of 10,000 persons or more.
Urban areas in Census 1991 and 2000, were defined as gazetted areas with their adjoining built-up areas which had a combined population of 10,000 or more. Built-up areas were defined as areas contiguous to a gazetted area and had at least 60 per cent of their population (aged 10 and above) engaged in non-agricultural activities as well as having modern toilet facilities in their housing units. The definition of urban areas for Census 2000 also takes into account the special development area namely development area which is not gazetted and can be identified and separated from the gazetted area or built-up area of more than 5km and a population of at least 10,000 with 60 per cent of their population (aged 10 and above) engaged in non-agricultural activities as well as having modern toilet facilities in their housing units.
Meanwhile, urban areas in Census 2010, were defined as:
Gazetted areas with their adjoining built-up areas which had a combined population of 10,000 or more. Built-up areas were defined as areas contiguous to a gazetted areas and had at least 60 per cent of their population (aged 15 years and above) engaged in non-agricultural activities. The definition of urban areas also takes into account the special development area namely development area which is not gazetted and can be identified and separated from the gazetted area or built-up area of more than 5 km and a population of at least 10,000 with 60 per cent of their population (aged 15 and above) engaged in non-agricultural activities as well as having modern toilet facilities in their housing units.
Urbanisation is a dynamic process and keeps changing with development and growth. Thus, the urban areas for 1980, 1991, 2000 and 2010 Censuses do not necessarily refer to the same areas, as areas fulfilling the above criteria of urban continue to expand and grow.
Ethnic groups and citizenship
Classification of 2010 Census ethnic group is as set by Inter-Agency Technical Committee (IATC) in Appendix 1. IATC is a committee formed to co-ordinate and monitor the implementation and use of standardised codes, classifications and definitions used by the Department of Statistics, Malaysia and other government agencies. For the purpose of tabulation and analysis, as well as taking into account the diverse ethnic group in Peninsular Malaysia, Sabah, Federal Territory of Labuan and Sarawak, major ethnic groups according to region as follows:
Information collected in the census including ethnic group and citizenship was based on respondent's answer and did not refer to any official document.
Information on citizenship should be used with caution as it is subject to content and coverage errors especially for non-citizens as in censuses in most countries.
Average annual population growth rate
The average annual growth rate was calculated as where is the average annual population growth rate, is the exact number of years between is the population tally in the initial and in the th year.
Population density
The density of persons per square kilometre is the ratio of the population of a given geographic area to the number of square kilometres in the same area.
Median age
The median age is the age that divides the distribution of the population into two, such that half the population is below the age and half is above it.
Dependency ratio
Dependency ratio refers to the ratio of the number of persons below the age of 15 years and the number of persons aged 65 years and over to the number of persons aged 15–64 years; multiplied by 100.
Sex ratio
The sex ratio is the number of males per 100 females.
Marital status
Never married
Refers to persons who were never married
Married
Refers to persons who were currently married at the time of enumeration. The term 'married', includes those married by law or by religious rites or were living together by mutual agreement.
Widowed
Refers to those whose marriages were terminated through death of their spouses and were not remarried at the time of enumeration.
Divorced / permanently separated
Refers to those whose marriages were terminated through divorce by law or religion agreement or separated for a long duration without any possibility of reconciliation.
Mean age at first marriage
The mean age at first marriage refers to the singulate mean age at marriage which is an indicate measure of the mean age at first marriage among those who would ever marry. It is derived from the proportions never married at different age groups.
Religion
Refers to the identification or relationship of an individual to a system of beliefs and the practice of these beliefs. For the purpose of tabulation and analysis, the classification for religion is as follows:
After the year 2000, there were several new areas created or boundary changes that were gazetted by the relevant authority for federal territory and administrative districts. The new federal territory created was Putrajaya. Meanwhile, the new administrative districts such as Ledang and Kulaijaya in Johor; Pokok Sena in Kedah; Kampar in Perak; Putatan in Sabah; and Pakan and Selangau in Sarawak.
Statistics Canada conducts a country-wide census that collects demographic data every five years on the first and sixth year of each decade. The 2021 Canadian census enumerated a total population of 36,991,981, an increase of around 5.2 percent over the 2016 figure, Between 1990 and 2008, the population increased by 5.6 million, equivalent to 20.4 percent overall growth. The main driver of population growth is immigration. Between 2011 and May 2016, Canada's population grew by 1.7 million people, with immigrants accounting for two-thirds of the increase.
In the United States census, the U.S. Census Bureau and the Office of Management and Budget define a set of self-identified categories of race and ethnicity chosen by residents, with which they most closely identify. Residents can indicate their origins alongside their race, and are asked specifically whether they are of Hispanic or Latino origin in a separate question.
The 2000 United States census, conducted by the Census Bureau, determined the resident population of the United States on April 1, 2000, to be 281,421,906, an increase of 13.2 percent over the 248,709,873 people enumerated during the 1990 census. This was the twenty-second federal census and was at the time the largest civilly administered peacetime effort in the United States.
A nationwide census, known as Census 2001, was conducted in the United Kingdom on Sunday, 29 April 2001. This was the 20th UK census and recorded a resident population of 58,789,194.
According to the 2021 Canadian census, over 450 "ethnic or cultural origins" were self-reported by Canadians. The major panethnic origin groups in Canada are: European (52.5%), North American (22.9%), Asian (19.3%), North American Indigenous (6.1%), African (3.8%), Latin, Central and South American (2.5%), Caribbean (2.1%), Oceanian (0.3%), and Other (6%). Statistics Canada reports that 35.5% of the population reported multiple ethnic origins, thus the overall total is greater than 100%.
The city of Paris had a population of 2,165,423 people within its administrative city limits as of January 1, 2019. It is surrounded by the Paris unité urbaine, or urban area, the most populous urban area in the European Union. In 2018 the unité urbaine had a population of 10,816,803 in 2,854 km2 (1,102 sq mi). The Paris Region, or Île-de-France, covers 12,012 km2 (4,638 sq mi), and has its own regional council and president. It has a population of 12,213,447 as of January 2018, or 18.3 percent of the population of France. The metropolitan or functional area of Paris covers 18,941 km2 (7,313 sq mi) and has 13,064,617 inhabitants (2018).
The 2001 Canadian census was a detailed enumeration of the Canadian population. Census day was May 15, 2001. On that day, Statistics Canada attempted to count every person in Canada. The total population count of Canada was 30,007,094. This was a 4% increase over 1996 census of 28,846,761. In contrast, the official Statistics Canada population estimate for 2001 was 31,021,300. This is considered a more accurate population number than the actual count.
The 2006 Canadian census was a detailed enumeration of the Canadian population. Census day was May 16, 2006. The following census was the 2011 census. Canada's total population enumerated by the 2006 census was 31,612,897. This count was lower than the official July 1, 2006 population estimate of 32,623,490 people. The previous census was the 2001 census and the following census was in 2011 census.
The 1870 United States census was the ninth United States census. It was conducted by the Census Office from June 1, 1870, to August 23, 1871. The 1870 census was the first census to provide detailed information on the African American population, only five years after the culmination of the Civil War when slaves were granted freedom. The total population was 38,925,598 with a resident population of 38,558,371 individuals, a 22.6% increase from 1860.
Statistics Canada conducts a national census of population and census of agriculture every five years and releases the data with a two-year lag.
The 2000 Zambian census was conducted in Zambia in 2000 by DRS under approval of the Government of Zambia, which recorded demographic data from 13 million people and 4 million households. Planning for the project commenced in 1998. In October 2000 the census started, with more than 30,000 workers across Zambia completing the 17 million double-sided A4 forms. The census was completed in May 2001. The scanning was undertaken in collaboration with the Examinations Council of Zambia (ECZ) and published by the Central Statistical Office. The census was noted by the Milton Keynes & North Bucks Chamber of Commerce and the DRS received a special commendation for its census work in Africa.
White Irish is an ethnicity classification used in the 2011 United Kingdom Census. In the 2011 census, the White Irish population was 585,177 or 1% of Great Britain's total population.
A census of the population of the United Kingdom is taken every ten years. The 2011 census was held in all counties of the UK on 27 March 2011. It was the first UK census which could be completed online via the Internet. The Office for National Statistics (ONS) is responsible for the census in England and Wales, the General Register Office for Scotland (GROS) is responsible for the census in Scotland, and the Northern Ireland Statistics and Research Agency (NISRA) is responsible for the census in Northern Ireland.
The South African National Census of 2011 is the 3rd comprehensive census performed by Statistics South Africa.
Registrar General and Census Commissioner of India, founded in 1961 by the Government of India Ministry of Home Affairs, for arranging, conducting and analysing the results of the demographic surveys of India including Census of India and Linguistic Survey of India. The position of Registrar is usually held by a civil servant holding the rank of Joint Secretary.
Many countries and national censuses currently enumerate or have previously enumerated their populations by race, ethnicity, nationality, or a combination of these characteristics. Different countries have different classifications and census options for race and ethnicity/nationality which are not comparable with data from other countries. In addition, many of the race and ethnicity concepts that appear on national censuses worldwide have their origins in Europe or in the views of Europeans, rather than in the views of the locals of these countries.
Census in British India refers to the census of India prior to independence which was conducted periodically from 1865 to 1941. The censuses were primarily concerned with administration and faced numerous problems in their design and conduct ranging from the absence of house numbering in hamlets to cultural objections on various grounds to dangers posed by wild animals to census personnel. The sociologist Michael Mann called the census exercise "more telling of the administrative needs of the British than of the social reality for the people of British India". The differences in the nature of Indian society during the British Raj from the value system and the societies of the West were highlighted by the inclusion of "caste", "religion", "profession" and "age" in the data to be collected, as the collection and analysis of that information had a considerable impact on the structure and politics of Indian society.
Malaysians are citizens who are identified with the country of Malaysia. Although citizens make up the majority of Malaysians, non-citizen residents and overseas Malaysians may also claim a Malaysian identity.
The 2010 Zambian census was conducted in Zambia in 2010 under the approval of the Government of Zambia, which recorded demographic data from 13 million people and 3.2 million households. The 2010 Census of Population and Housing was conducted between 16 October and 15 November 2010, with all parts of the country covered by 30 November 2010. It was the fifth national population census exercise of Zambia since its independence in 1964, with the previous censuses conducted in 1969, 1980, 1990 and 2000. A total of 3.2 million questionnaires were used for data collection and the processing started in April 2011 by the Central Statistical Office. Optical Mark Reading (OMR) and Intelligent Character Recognition (ICR) technology were used for data capture. The census was funded by United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA), the United Kingdom AID, the United States Agency for International Development (USAID) and the African Development Bank (AfDB), who contributed close to 60 per cent of the total expenditure and rest contributed by the Ministry of Finance of the Government of Zambia.
The 2021 Canadian census was a detailed enumeration of the Canadian population with a reference date of May 11, 2021. It follows the 2016 Canadian census, which recorded a population of 35,151,728. The overall response rate was 98%, which is slightly lower than the response rate for the 2016 census. It recorded a population of 36,991,981, a 5.2% increase from 2016. It will be succeeded by Canada's 2026 census.
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