Poverty and living standards in D.B. Kota Kinabalu, Malaysia: official figures
The 2024 Household Income and Expenditure Survey puts the poverty rate in Kota Kinabalu at 12.0% of households, meaning households with monthly income below the national Poverty Line Income. That is 12th highest of 37 among the 37 city and district council areas on this site that have district statistics.
Has poverty fallen in Kota Kinabalu?
In Kota Kinabalu the share of households below the poverty line was 10.3% in 2022 and 12.0% in 2024.
Source: Department of Statistics Malaysia (OpenDOSM) · saved copyHow unequal is income in Kota Kinabalu?
The Gini coefficient of household income in Kota Kinabalu was 0.426 in 2024; 0 means perfect equality and 1 means one household has all income. That is the most unequal of 37 among the 37 city and district council areas on this site that have district statistics.
Source: Department of Statistics Malaysia (OpenDOSM) · saved copyIs inequality rising in Kota Kinabalu?
The Gini coefficient in Kota Kinabalu was 0.431 in 2022 and 0.426 in 2024.
Source: Department of Statistics Malaysia (OpenDOSM) · saved copyMore figures
- Poverty in Kota Kinabalu rose by 1.7 percentage points between the 2022 and 2024 surveys. Source: Department of Statistics Malaysia (OpenDOSM) · saved copy
How D.B. Kota Kinabalu compares with other cities in Malaysia
Households below the poverty line (2024)
D.B. Kota Kinabalu ranks 12 of 37, highest first.
| Rank | City | Households below the poverty line |
|---|---|---|
| 9 | M.D. Besut | 13.1% |
| 10 | M.D. Keningau | 12.8% |
| 11 | M.D. Tumpat | 12.7% |
| 12 | D.B. Kota Kinabalu | 12.0% |
| 13 | M.D. Bachok | 11.3% |
| 14 | M.D. Pasir Puteh | 11.1% |
| 15 | M.D. Pekan | 10.9% |
Gini coefficient of household income (2024)
D.B. Kota Kinabalu ranks 1 of 37, highest first.
| Rank | City | Gini coefficient of household income |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | D.B. Kota Kinabalu | 0.426 |
| 2 | M.D. Semporna | 0.411 |
| 3 | M.B. Seremban | 0.368 |
| 4 | M.D. Pasir Mas | 0.365 |
| 5 | M.D. Tanah Merah | 0.363 |
| 6 | M.D. Kota Belud | 0.361 |
| 7 | M.P. Sandakan | 0.355 |
More on D.B. Kota Kinabalu: overview · economy and jobs · health · education and schools · all cities in Malaysia
Sources
- Department of Statistics Malaysia (OpenDOSM): Household Income and Expenditure: Administrative Districts (Household Income and Expenditure Survey 2022 and 2024), read 28 October 2026 · saved copy (SHA-256 7a2a6ec4cc0f…)
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