What share of people in Besut have a job?

In Besut, 57.8% of the working-age population was in employment in 2024 (employment-to-population ratio). That is 9th lowest of 37 among the 37 city and district council areas on this site that have district statistics.

Economy, jobs and prices in M.D. Besut, Malaysia: official figures

Households in Besut had a mean gross monthly income of RM6,747 in 2024 (Household Income and Expenditure Survey, Ringgit Malaysia). That is 16th highest of 37 among the 37 city and district council areas on this site that have district statistics.

What is the median household income in Besut?

The median gross monthly household income in Besut was RM5,820 in 2024: half of households earned less and half more. That is 14th highest of 37 among the 37 city and district council areas on this site that have district statistics.

Source: Department of Statistics Malaysia (OpenDOSM) · saved copy

How much do households in Besut spend each month?

Households in Besut spent a mean of RM4,339 a month in 2024. That is 18th highest of 37 among the 37 city and district council areas on this site that have district statistics.

Source: Department of Statistics Malaysia (OpenDOSM) · saved copy

How fast has household income grown in Besut?

Mean monthly household income in Besut was RM6,285 in 2022 and RM6,747 in 2024, a change of +7.4% over the two survey years.

Source: Department of Statistics Malaysia (OpenDOSM) · saved copy

What is the unemployment rate in Besut?

The unemployment rate in Besut was 3.5% in 2024 (Labour Force Survey). That is 13th highest of 37 among the 37 city and district council areas on this site that have district statistics.

Source: Department of Statistics Malaysia (OpenDOSM) · saved copy

How many people are employed in Besut?

About 61,800 people in Besut were in work in 2024, out of a labour force of 64,100. That is 13th lowest of 37 among the 37 city and district council areas on this site that have district statistics.

Source: Department of Statistics Malaysia (OpenDOSM) · saved copy

What is the labour force participation rate in Besut?

The labour force participation rate in Besut was 59.9% in 2024: the share of people aged 15 to 64 who were working or looking for work. That is 9th lowest of 37 among the 37 city and district council areas on this site that have district statistics.

Source: Department of Statistics Malaysia (OpenDOSM) · saved copy

Is unemployment rising in Besut?

Unemployment in Besut was 3.8% in 2023 and 3.5% in 2024.

Source: Department of Statistics Malaysia (OpenDOSM) · saved copy

More figures

Median monthly household income in Besut moved from RM4,743 in 2022 to RM5,820 in 2024 (+22.7%). Source: Department of Statistics Malaysia (OpenDOSM) · saved copy

How M.D. Besut compares with other cities in Malaysia

Mean gross monthly household income (RM) (2024)

M.D. Besut ranks 16 of 37, highest first.

Rank	City	Mean gross monthly household income (RM)
13	M.P. Pontian	RM7,011
14	M.B. Kuantan	RM7,008
15	M.D. Marang	RM6,807
16	M.D. Besut	RM6,747
17	M.P. Sandakan	RM6,648
18	M.P. Manjung	RM6,612
19	M.D. Lahad Datu	RM6,557

Source: Department of Statistics Malaysia (OpenDOSM) · saved copy

Median gross monthly household income (RM) (2024)

M.D. Besut ranks 14 of 37, highest first.

Rank	City	Median gross monthly household income (RM)
11	M.D. Marang	RM6,246
12	M.D. Penampang	RM6,090
13	D.B. Kota Kinabalu	RM5,896
14	M.D. Besut	RM5,820
15	M.P. Pontian	RM5,685
16	M.D. Lahad Datu	RM5,526
17	M.B. Kuantan	RM5,520

Source: Department of Statistics Malaysia (OpenDOSM) · saved copy

Unemployment rate (2024)

M.D. Besut ranks 13 of 37, highest first.

Rank	City	Unemployment rate
10	M.D. Machang	4.9%
11	M.D. Kerian	4.2%
12	M.D. Pasir Mas	3.8%
13	M.D. Besut	3.5%
14	M.D. Bachok	3.2%
15	M.P. Manjung	3.1%
16	M.P. Dungun	3.1%

Source: Department of Statistics Malaysia (OpenDOSM) · saved copy

Labour force participation rate (2024)

M.D. Besut ranks 29 of 37, highest first.

Rank	City	Labour force participation rate
26	M.D. Kota Belud	64.5%
27	M.D. Tuaran	63.5%
28	M.P. Temerloh	62.6%
29	M.D. Besut	59.9%
30	M.P. Dungun	58.0%
31	M.D. Marang	58.0%
32	M.D. Pasir Puteh	57.7%

Source: Department of Statistics Malaysia (OpenDOSM) · saved copy

More on M.D. Besut: overview · health · education and schools · poverty and living standards · 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…)
Department of Statistics Malaysia (OpenDOSM): Annual Principal Labour Force Statistics by District (Labour Force Survey), read 28 October 2026 · saved copy (SHA-256 a29fb0bc348f…)

Each saved copy is the file exactly as downloaded, kept so the figures can be checked even if the source changes. Report an error.