3. ACHIEVEMENTS IN HOUSING DEVELOPMENT

3. ACHIEVEMENTS IN HOUSING
DEVELOPMENT

HOUSING units in the country increased at an average annual growth rate of 4.9 per cent in the period between 1991-2000 while population grew at 2.7 per cent per annum. In 1991, there were 4.09 million living quarters, of which 99.2 per cent or 4.06 million were housing units, which increased to 5.6 million or 99.6 per cent per cent in 2000.

Average number of persons per housing unit

The average number of persons per occupied housing unit has declined from 5.0 in 1991 to 4.7 in 2000, indicating the trend of having a smaller household size. The states, which had more obvious declines in their household size were Pulau
Pinang (5.2 to 4.5), Wilayah Persekutuan Kuala Lumpur (4.8 to 4.3), Johor (5.0 to 4.6), Melaka (4.9 to 4.5) and Selangor (5.0 to 4.6).

Construction material of outer walls

Housing units using bricks as construction material of outer walls increased from 40.1 per cent in 1991 to 59.5 per cent in 2000 whereas housing units with their outer walls built from planks declined from 42.3 per cent to 24.7 per cent. The type of construction material used for the outer wall of housing units reflects strength and durability of the housing unit.
The states with the highest proportion using bricks as material of outer walls were Wilayah Persekutuan Kuala Lumpur (86.3 per cent), Selangor (80.9 per cent) and Pulau Pinang (76.0 per cent).

Amenities

Housing units with treated piped water increased from 85.7 per cent in 1991 to 88.9 per cent in 2000. Electricity supply to housing units increased from 90.5 per cent in 1991 to 95.1 per cent in 2000 whereas the availability of flush toilets and garbage collection services increased to 61.2 per cent and 64.6 per cent in 2000, respectively.