The process of demographic aging in Peninsular Malaysia is examined for the period 1957 to 1970. The data are from official sources, primarily the 1970 census. The analysis is presented at the state level, and attention is paid to differences in aging patterns among the Malay, Chinese, and Indian populations. Information is included on the proportions of elderly persons in the population, spatial variations in the distribution of the elderly, and the dependency burden. The study indicates an increase in the proportion of elderly persons throughout Peninsular Malaysia between 1957 and 1970, although the population as a whole has grown younger. The reasons for this apparent contradiction are discussed.