Spatial Divergence in Ageing and Dependency Burden Across Administrative Districts in Sarawak (2010–2020)

The demographic megatrend of population ageing presents profound challenges for Malaysia’s development agenda, particularly in East Malaysian states like Sarawak, where the pace of demographic transition is regionally uneven. While national-level projections forecast Malaysia becoming an aged nation...

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Main Authors: Asykal Syakinah, Mohd Ali, Tarmiji, Masron, Mohammad Razi, Sitam, Azizul, Ahmad, Yoshinari, Kimura
Format: Proceeding
Language:en
Published: 2025
Subjects:
Online Access:http://ir.unimas.my/id/eprint/51249/2/Spatial.pdf
http://ir.unimas.my/id/eprint/51249/
https://submit.confbay.com/conf/perkks25
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author Asykal Syakinah, Mohd Ali
Tarmiji, Masron
Mohammad Razi, Sitam
Azizul, Ahmad
Yoshinari, Kimura
author_facet Asykal Syakinah, Mohd Ali
Tarmiji, Masron
Mohammad Razi, Sitam
Azizul, Ahmad
Yoshinari, Kimura
author_sort Asykal Syakinah, Mohd Ali
building Centre for Academic Information Services (CAIS)
collection Institutional Repository
content_provider Universiti Malaysia Sarawak
content_source UNIMAS Institutional Repository
continent Asia
country Malaysia
description The demographic megatrend of population ageing presents profound challenges for Malaysia’s development agenda, particularly in East Malaysian states like Sarawak, where the pace of demographic transition is regionally uneven. While national-level projections forecast Malaysia becoming an aged nation by 2030, subnational disparities in ageing patterns and dependency burden are rarely analysed in spatially explicit terms. This gap limits the ability of local policymakers to plan for age-related pressures on social infrastructure, healthcare, and economic productivity. This study aims to examine the spatial divergence of ageing and dependency burden across administrative districts in Sarawak between 2010 and 2020. Using demographic data from the Department of Statistics Malaysia, the study calculates two key indicators: the Old-Age Dependency Ratio (OADR) and the Total Dependency Ratio (TDR). To identify spatial clusters of significant demographic burden, Hotspot Analysis (Getis-Ord Gi*) was applied to 2020 data. Additionally, K-means Cluster Analysis was employed to classify districts into distinct ageing profiles based on their demographic transition rates and elderly population growth. The findingsreveal growing spatial inequality in ageing and dependency trends across the state. Several central and interior districts emerged as ageing hotspots with significantly higher OADR values. The cluster analysis identified five distinct district typologies (Clusters A–E), highlighting regions with rapid demographic ageing and those with persistently youthful structures. These insights demonstrate the heterogeneous nature of demographic ageing and challenge the applicability of one-size-fits-all policies. The study underscores the value of spatial analytical methods for informing decentralised policy design. By pinpointing regional disparities, the results support more targeted and equitable distribution of social services, healthcare infrastructure, and ageing related interventions, critical for achieving inclusive and resilient demographic outcomes in line with national family and population development goals.
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spelling my.unimas.ir-512492026-01-19T00:37:51Z http://ir.unimas.my/id/eprint/51249/ Spatial Divergence in Ageing and Dependency Burden Across Administrative Districts in Sarawak (2010–2020) Asykal Syakinah, Mohd Ali Tarmiji, Masron Mohammad Razi, Sitam Azizul, Ahmad Yoshinari, Kimura G Geography (General) GA Mathematical geography. Cartography H Social Sciences (General) HA Statistics The demographic megatrend of population ageing presents profound challenges for Malaysia’s development agenda, particularly in East Malaysian states like Sarawak, where the pace of demographic transition is regionally uneven. While national-level projections forecast Malaysia becoming an aged nation by 2030, subnational disparities in ageing patterns and dependency burden are rarely analysed in spatially explicit terms. This gap limits the ability of local policymakers to plan for age-related pressures on social infrastructure, healthcare, and economic productivity. This study aims to examine the spatial divergence of ageing and dependency burden across administrative districts in Sarawak between 2010 and 2020. Using demographic data from the Department of Statistics Malaysia, the study calculates two key indicators: the Old-Age Dependency Ratio (OADR) and the Total Dependency Ratio (TDR). To identify spatial clusters of significant demographic burden, Hotspot Analysis (Getis-Ord Gi*) was applied to 2020 data. Additionally, K-means Cluster Analysis was employed to classify districts into distinct ageing profiles based on their demographic transition rates and elderly population growth. The findingsreveal growing spatial inequality in ageing and dependency trends across the state. Several central and interior districts emerged as ageing hotspots with significantly higher OADR values. The cluster analysis identified five distinct district typologies (Clusters A–E), highlighting regions with rapid demographic ageing and those with persistently youthful structures. These insights demonstrate the heterogeneous nature of demographic ageing and challenge the applicability of one-size-fits-all policies. The study underscores the value of spatial analytical methods for informing decentralised policy design. By pinpointing regional disparities, the results support more targeted and equitable distribution of social services, healthcare infrastructure, and ageing related interventions, critical for achieving inclusive and resilient demographic outcomes in line with national family and population development goals. 2025-11-19 Proceeding PeerReviewed text en http://ir.unimas.my/id/eprint/51249/2/Spatial.pdf Asykal Syakinah, Mohd Ali and Tarmiji, Masron and Mohammad Razi, Sitam and Azizul, Ahmad and Yoshinari, Kimura (2025) Spatial Divergence in Ageing and Dependency Burden Across Administrative Districts in Sarawak (2010–2020). In: PROSIDING PERSIDANGAN KEPENDUDUKAN KEBANGSAAN 2025 (PERKKS25) (PROCEEDINGS NATIONAL POPULATION CONFERENCE 2025), 19-21 November 2025, Eastin Hotel, Petaling Jaya, Selangor. https://submit.confbay.com/conf/perkks25
spellingShingle G Geography (General)
GA Mathematical geography. Cartography
H Social Sciences (General)
HA Statistics
Asykal Syakinah, Mohd Ali
Tarmiji, Masron
Mohammad Razi, Sitam
Azizul, Ahmad
Yoshinari, Kimura
Spatial Divergence in Ageing and Dependency Burden Across Administrative Districts in Sarawak (2010–2020)
title Spatial Divergence in Ageing and Dependency Burden Across Administrative Districts in Sarawak (2010–2020)
title_full Spatial Divergence in Ageing and Dependency Burden Across Administrative Districts in Sarawak (2010–2020)
title_fullStr Spatial Divergence in Ageing and Dependency Burden Across Administrative Districts in Sarawak (2010–2020)
title_full_unstemmed Spatial Divergence in Ageing and Dependency Burden Across Administrative Districts in Sarawak (2010–2020)
title_short Spatial Divergence in Ageing and Dependency Burden Across Administrative Districts in Sarawak (2010–2020)
title_sort spatial divergence in ageing and dependency burden across administrative districts in sarawak (2010–2020)
topic G Geography (General)
GA Mathematical geography. Cartography
H Social Sciences (General)
HA Statistics
url http://ir.unimas.my/id/eprint/51249/2/Spatial.pdf
http://ir.unimas.my/id/eprint/51249/
https://submit.confbay.com/conf/perkks25
url_provider http://ir.unimas.my/