Sabah Demographics 2026 — Age Structure & Household Size

The young state

Sabah is one of Malaysia\u2019s youngest populations by median age. At 27.2 years, it is three years younger than the national median of 30.3 years. This reflects two key demographics: historically high birth rates among Sabahan families, and the large presence of young foreign workers (especially in construction, plantation, and domestic work). The result is a population structure that is heavily skewed toward the working and child-bearing years — a demographic advantage for economic growth, but also a fiscal and social challenge because of high demand for schools, housing, and first-time employment.

Only 5.8% of Sabahans are 65 or older, compared to 8% nationally. This low elderly share means Sabah faces less immediate pressure from pension and healthcare costs for the aged, but also that the state is not as far along the ageing curve as Peninsular Malaysia. As fertility rates decline (already down from 4.5 children per woman in 1990 to around 2.2 today), Sabah\u2019s age structure will gradually shift, and the elderly population will grow.

Household structure

The average Sabahan household has 4.2 persons — the highest household size in Malaysia. Only 8% of households have a single person, and 27% have six or more people. This reflects strong extended-family living patterns and is typical of communities with higher fertility rates. Multi-generational homes are common, with grandparents, parents, and children sharing one roof for economic and social reasons.

Urban vs rural divide

Sabah is less urbanised than Malaysia as a whole. Only 54.7% of the population lives in urban areas (2020), compared to 77% nationally. But this masks an extreme geographic concentration: almost all urban growth is on the west coast around Kota Kinabalu. The interior — vast tracts of forest and highland — is sparsely populated. The east coast has secondary urban centres at Sandakan, Tawau, and Lahad Datu, but large areas of the east remain rural.

The urbanisation paradox

Despite Sabah\u2019s lower urbanisation rate, the absolute number of people moving to cities is accelerating. Greater Kota Kinabalu (including Penampang and Putatan) grew by 2\u20133% per year in the 2010s, driven by young people seeking education and jobs. Interior districts like Tongod, Nabawan, and Pensiangan are losing population as young adults migrate out. This creates a demographic imbalance: ageing rural communities with fewer schools and job opportunities, and burgeoning urban sprawl on the coast.

Gender balance and the sex ratio

Sabah has a sex ratio of 103.2 males per 100 females — slightly skewed toward men. This is higher than Malaysia\u2019s national ratio of ~101 males per 100 females, and reflects the large number of male migrant workers in construction, plantation, and domestic service. Many are single or separated from their families; others bring spouses but remain registered as temporary residents, not citizens.

This sex ratio imbalance has social consequences. In rural areas with high male out-migration, women dominate household structures and make more agricultural and financial decisions. In urban areas with high male in-migration, competition for housing and services intensifies, and gender-based violence and trafficking risks increase.

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