Convert a multidimensional array to a single dimension by using values ​​from child arrays

I have the following PHP/MYSQL query:

$sql = SELECT type, count(*) AS total FROM stats GROUP BY type
$this->sql = $sql;

function numObjects() {

        $stats = $this->conn->query($this->sql);
        while($stat_type = $stats->fetch_assoc()){
            $category[] = $stat_type;
        }
        return $category;
    }

It's a simple query, but I just can't figure out how to retrieve the data the way I want since it is returning a multidimensional array.

array(2) {
  [0]=> array(2) {
    ["type"]=> string(4) "page"
    ["total"]=> string(1) "1"
   }
  [1]=> array(2) {
    ["type"]=> string(8) "category"
    ["total"]=> string(1) "1"
   }
}

What I'm looking to do is convert the values from each array, into key => value pairs. Like this:

["page"]=> "1"
["category"]=> "1"

I've been able to convert it into a single dimensional array, but not in the correct format.

---

try this:

$new_array = array();
foreach ($old_array as $elem) {
    $new_array[$elem["type"]] = $elem["total"];
}

var_dump($new_array); //for print the array