| Item type |
Conference or Workshop Item |
| Subjects |
100 Philosophy & psychology > 107 Education, research & related topics |
| Division/Agency |
LPPKN - National Population and Family Development Board, Malaysia: Population and Family Research Division |
| Keywords |
Fertility, Total Fertility Rate (TFR), Childless, Childfree |
| Additional Information |
This slide has been online presented by Mr. Ahmad Rasyidee Abdul Razak at The 22nd Putrajaya International Conference on Children, Women, Elderly and Persons with Disabilities 2026, May 16, 2026 at Putrajaya, Malaysia. |
| Abstract |
In Malaysia, the Total Fertility Rate (TFR) has declined to 1.6 births per woman (2024), which is below the replacement level of 2.1. Over the past decade, the world has experienced significant demographic and cultural changes, particularly in family structures, including declining fertility rates and shifting norms around marriage. Globally, there is a growing trend of individuals choosing not to have children – not due to infertility or delayed marriage, but based on personal choice. This study aims to explore the contribution of childfree and childless women to fertility decline in Malaysia. The findings show that childfree and childless women experience non-motherhood differently, with childfree women often associating it with autonomy and emotional fulfilment, while childless women experience greater emotional vulnerability and social pressure. |
