Malaysians more optimistic than others about old age
Survey finds 58% of Malaysians have positive outlook towards ageing thanks to cultural respect for elders, strong family and community support networks
KUALA LUMPUR, Malaysia (MNTV) – Malaysians are more optimistic than the global average about entering their later years, with almost six in ten saying they look forward to old age, according to a new Ipsos survey, reports Malay Mail.
In its Malaysian Attitudes Towards Ageing 2025 survey, Ipsos found that 58% of Malaysians had a positive outlook towards ageing. That was well above the global average of 38% and in line with other Southeast Asian nations.
“In developed countries, a longer life expectancy and a higher threshold for what is considered ‘old age’ do not translate into positive sentiment,” Ipsos noted.
It added that enthusiasm rises with income, education, and perceived distance from old age.
Ipsos suggested Malaysia’s upbeat view of ageing is likely tied to cultural respect for elders and strong family and community support networks.
Optimism is even higher in neighbouring Indonesia at 89 per cent and the Philippines at 74 per cent, while Thailand stands at 58 per cent and Singapore at 46 per cent.
In contrast, only 30 per cent of Japanese respondents and 10 per cent of French respondents said they look forward to old age.
Malaysia now places the threshold at 60, compared to 56 in 2018. Indonesia puts the mark at 59, the Philippines at 60, Singapore at 62, and Thailand at 65.
Malaysians believe they will live to an average of 74 years, slightly under the actual life expectancy of 75.2 years. This gap is narrower than in countries like Japan, where people expect to live to 80 years despite a life expectancy of 83.5 years. Indonesia’s life expectancy is 72.5 years and the Philippines’ is 71.8 years.
Ipsos warned that with Malaysia projected to become an “aged nation” by 2043 — when 14% of the population will be aged 65 and above — and the average Malaysian expected to spend 15 years in old age, greater investment in healthcare and social protection will be crucial to ensuring later years are lived with health, dignity and fulfilment.
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