Malaysia’s senior care industry, particularly in Johor, could receive a significant boost from Singapore’s rapidly ageing population, with direct care revenue from Singaporean residents potentially reaching as much as RM697 million annually by 2030, according to a new report by Juwai IQI.
The property technology group said Singapore’s transition into a “super-aged” society is expected to create growing cross-border demand for assisted living, nursing homes and independent senior living facilities in Malaysia.
Juwai IQI co-founder and group chief executive officer Kashif Ansari said Singapore reached super-aged status in 2026, with more than one in five citizens aged 65 and above. By 2030, the proportion is projected to rise to 23.9%, equivalent to roughly one in four citizens.
The report estimates that about 770,000 Singaporean citizens are currently aged 65 and above, while around 83,000 could require assistance with at least one daily activity by 2030.
Ansari said this group represents a significant potential market for senior living facilities, particularly in neighbouring Johor, where care costs are lower while geographic proximity allows families to remain connected.
Juwai IQI expects the upcoming Johor Bahru-Singapore Rapid Transit System (RTS) Link to further accelerate demand by making cross-border travel faster and more predictable, giving Singaporean families greater confidence in placing elderly relatives in Malaysian facilities.
“The RTS will turbo charge demand from Singaporean families,” Ansari said, noting that the transport link is also expected to increase wider Singaporean spending in Johor Bahru.
Johor Premium Senior-Care Beds Could Rise To 3,500
Juwai IQI estimates that Johor currently has about 1,500 to 2,000 beds in middle- to premium-range senior living facilities offering services such as private-room nursing care, assisted living and independent living.
Under its central scenario, supply in this segment could rise by about 65% to 75% to approximately 3,500 beds by 2030, with faster expansion potentially taking capacity to around 4,000 beds.
The report said a growing number of Johor operators already serve Singaporean families, reflecting longstanding cross-border demand for aged-care services.
Higher occupancy and capacity could translate into RM174 million to RM697 million in annual direct care revenue, according to Juwai IQI’s estimates.
The calculation excludes spending on medical and specialist services, food and beverage, retail and expenditure by visiting family members, meaning the broader economic contribution to Johor and Malaysia could be substantially higher.
Juwai IQI noted that Malaysia’s overall senior living industry has been estimated to reach RM1 billion to RM1.3 billion by 2030, suggesting Singaporean demand could become an increasingly important source of growth.
Affordability is expected to remain one of Malaysia’s strongest advantages.
According to the report, a private single room in a Malaysian nursing home can cost around RM4,500 to RM8,000 per month, compared with the equivalent of approximately RM17,500 to RM25,500 in Singapore.
Juwai IQI estimates that a family could therefore save around RM13,000 a month by choosing a comparable private-room nursing arrangement in Malaysia.
Ansari said some middle-income Singaporean families find themselves caught between eligibility limits for subsidised care and the high cost or limited availability of premium facilities domestically.
He said Malaysia’s combination of lower costs, proximity and improving senior-care options could therefore attract a larger share of Singapore’s ageing population over the remainder of the decade.
The report added that this demand forms part of a much broader regional trend, with the Asia-Pacific “silver economy” estimated at US$4.6 trillion in 2025 and more than 600 million people across the region aged above 60.
