PUTRAJAYA, April 20 — Only 14.7 per cent of Malaysians aged 60 and above are living well, the latest National Health and Morbidity Survey showed, a finding the Ministry of Health today described as “a call to action” amid concerns about the country’s care system.

Health Minister Datuk Seri Dzulkefly Ahmad when launching the summary of the findings said while several indicators did show improvement since 2018, progress is still far from satisfactory.

“As a minister I am not happy with our progress so far,”said at a press conference held after the launch of the report.

A person is considered to be ageing well if they have high social support, not cognitively impaired, not depressed, able to perform daily activities independently and the absence of chronic diseases.

Ageing well typically declines with age but even under the 60-69 years old category, only 18 per cent are found to had achieved all five criteria. For those aged 70 to 79, just 10 per cent met all criteria while the percentage dropped by another half for those aged 80 and older.

Under the mental health domain, the prevalence of depression were found to have dropped to 8 per cent compared to 11.2 per cent in 2018, while severe depression declined to 2.2 per cent from 5.3 per cent.

Still, cases of dementia among persons 60 older were found to have increased, from 8.5 per cent in 2018 to 9.8 per cent, or nearly one out of ten.

For diseases, the number of diabetics among that age population is worryingly high, at 39 per cent. Hypertension is also at a staggering 73.1 per cent while those reported with high bad cholestrol, 76 per cent.

Frailty and sarcopenia, the progressive, age-related loss of skeletal muscle mass, strength, and function, is also a cause for concern. Up to 45 per cent of respondents were found to have sarcopenia while 11 per cent are living with frailty. 

Combating the two conditions would require persons above 60 to remain physically active. MoH have long suggested activities like brisk walking, cycling or tai chi, for at least 150 minutes a week, but the NHMS found that three in 10 older persons are not physically active, whine one in ten admit to high sedentary behaviour.  

The NHMS was first conducted in 1986. The 2025 study polled 7,528 respondents and it was the second time Malaysians aged 60 and older became the focus, the first being 2018.

Field data collection, including through in-person interviews and clinical assessments, took place between July to September 2025, with a response rate of 72.5 per cent.

The Ministry of Health said the findings help inform policy-decisions based on the daily live experiences of older persons, particularly the challenges they face.

There were some 4.1 million people aged 60 above in 2025, official estimates showed. Malaysia could be an aged nation by 2036.

Dzulkefly said the detailed report will be ready in three months.