Sabah's fertility rate drops below national replacement level
Published on: Thu, Jul 31, 2025
By: Sisca Humphrey Text Size: For illustrative purposes only. - Getty Images KOTA KINABALU: Sabah's fertility rate has fallen to 1.5 children per woman, which is below the national replacement level. Assistant Community Development and People's Well-being Minister Datuk Flovia Ng said the trend, coupled with early marriages and unplanned teenage pregnancies, continues to affect family stability, especially in rural areas. She shared the observation during the State Population Seminar 2025 held in conjunction with World Population Day at the Federal Government Administration Complex on Thursday. Flovia noted that more than 1,000 individuals have participated in awareness programmes since 2023 aimed at reducing early marriages. She urged greater inter-agency collaboration to strengthen family support and ensure Sabah's demographic future remains stable and inclusive. * Follow us on our official WhatsApp channel and Telegram for breaking news alerts and key updates! * Do you have access to the Daily Express e-paper and online exclusive news? Check out subscription plans available.
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