Economy, jobs and prices in Kedah, Malaysia: official figures

The average household in Kedah had an income of RM5,793 a month in 2024 (ringgit, Household Income and Expenditure Survey), 2nd lowest among the 16 areas. It was RM5,550 in 2022, a rise of 4.4%, which ranks 3rd slowest for growth among the 16 areas.

Mean household income

RM5,793 a month

2024

Unemployment rate

2.5%

2025

GDP (constant 2015 prices)

RM56,303 million

2025

What is the median household income in Kedah?

The median household in Kedah earned RM4,895 a month in 2024, so half of households had less than that. The median was RM4,402 in 2022; it is 4th lowest among the 16 areas.

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

How much do households spend in Kedah?

Households in Kedah spent RM4,028 a month on average in 2024, up from RM3,765 in 2022 (7.0% more), which is 3rd lowest among the 16 areas.

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

What is the unemployment rate in Kedah?

The unemployment rate in Kedah was 2.5% in 2025 (Labour Force Survey), 7th lowest among the 16 areas; the figure for Malaysia as a whole was 3.0%. In 2024 it was 2.5%.

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

How many people are employed in Kedah?

About 961,800 people in Kedah were in work in 2025, out of a labour force of 986,500 (employed plus unemployed). That is 5.8% of all employed people in Malaysia; in 2019 the number was 923,600 (+4.1%).

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

What is the labour force participation rate in Kedah?

66.0% of people aged 15 to 64 in Kedah were in the labour force (working or looking for work) in 2025, 5th lowest among the 16 areas; it was 63.3% in 2019. For every 100 people of working age, 64.4 were in work (the employment-to-population ratio).

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

How many women work in Kedah?

In Kedah in 2025, 50.1% of women were in the labour force against 81.1% of men, and the unemployment rate was 3.7% for women and 1.8% for men. Female participation is 6th lowest among the 16 areas.

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

Has unemployment in Kedah gone up or down?

Unemployment in Kedah fell from 2.8% in 2019 to 2.5% in 2025; the 2020 pandemic year saw 4.2%.

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

How big is the economy of Kedah?

The economy of Kedah produced RM56,303 million of output in 2025, measured as GDP at constant 2015 prices (inflation removed). That is 3.2% of Malaysia's GDP and 8th smallest of the 16 areas.

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

How fast is the economy of Kedah growing?

Real GDP in Kedah grew 4.1% in 2025 against 5.2% for Malaysia as a whole, which is 8th slowest among the 16 areas. Since 2023 the economy has grown 8% in real terms (Malaysia 11%).

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

What is GDP per person in Kedah?

GDP per resident in Kedah was about RM25,281 in 2025 (GDP at constant 2015 prices divided by the mid-year population), 4th lowest among the 16 areas; the average across Malaysia was RM50,758.

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

What are the main industries in Kedah?

The largest sector of the economy of Kedah is services, at 56.4% of GDP before import duties in 2025. The rest: agriculture 10.6%, mining and quarrying 0.2%, manufacturing 30.3%, construction 2.5%.

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

How important is manufacturing in Kedah?

Manufacturing contributed 30.3% of GDP in Kedah in 2025 (RM16,945 million at 2015 prices), a share that ranks 5th highest among the 16 areas; real manufacturing output grew 5.0% in the year.

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

How big is the services sector in Kedah?

Services (trade, transport, finance, government and similar) made up 56.4% of GDP in Kedah in 2025, a share that ranks 8th highest among the 16 areas, and grew 3.9% in real terms in the year.

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

How important is agriculture in Kedah?

Agriculture accounted for 10.6% of GDP in Kedah in 2025 (RM5,909 million at 2015 prices), a share that ranks 7th highest among the 16 areas.

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

How Kedah compares with other states

Mean monthly household income, 2024 (ringgit) (2024)

Kedah ranks 15 of 16, highest first. Household Income and Expenditure Survey 2024; ringgit (RM) per household per month.

Rank	Region	Mean monthly household income, 2024 (ringgit)
10	Sarawak	RM6,947
11	Sabah	RM6,498
12	Perak	RM6,173
13	Pahang	RM6,066
14	Perlis	RM5,996
15	Kedah	RM5,793
16	Kelantan	RM5,265

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

Median monthly household income, 2024 (ringgit) (2024)

Kedah ranks 13 of 16, highest first. Half of households earn less than this.

Rank	Region	Median monthly household income, 2024 (ringgit)
10	Sarawak	RM5,504
11	Pahang	RM4,975
12	Perlis	RM4,950
13	Kedah	RM4,895
14	Sabah	RM4,890
15	Perak	RM4,687
16	Kelantan	RM4,083

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

Mean monthly household spending, 2024 (ringgit) (2024)

Kedah ranks 14 of 16, highest first. Household expenditure, ringgit per household per month.

Rank	Region	Mean monthly household spending, 2024 (ringgit)
10	Pahang	RM4,368
11	Sarawak	RM4,281
12	Perak	RM4,232
13	Perlis	RM4,084
14	Kedah	RM4,028
15	Kelantan	RM3,825
16	Sabah	RM3,547

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

Unemployment rate, 2025 (%) (2025)

Kedah ranks 10 of 16, highest first. Labour Force Survey annual average; share of the labour force without work.

Rank	Region	Unemployment rate, 2025 (%)
7	Negeri Sembilan	2.8%
8	Terengganu	2.8%
9	Kuala Lumpur	2.6%
10	Kedah	2.5%
11	Johor	2.3%
12	Selangor	2.0%
13	Penang	1.9%

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

Labour force participation rate, 2025 (%) (2025)

Kedah ranks 12 of 16, highest first. Share of people aged 15 to 64 in the labour force (employed or looking for work), per the Labour Force Survey.

Rank	Region	Labour force participation rate, 2025 (%)
9	Labuan	67.9%
10	Perak	67.0%
11	Negeri Sembilan	66.4%
12	Kedah	66.0%
13	Pahang	65.4%
14	Perlis	62.3%
15	Terengganu	60.8%

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

Employed people, 2025 (thousands) (2025)

Kedah ranks 7 of 16, highest first. Labour Force Survey annual average.

Rank	Region	Employed people, 2025 (thousands)
4	Sarawak	1,218,100
5	Kuala Lumpur	1,166,400
6	Perak	1,151,400
7	Kedah	961,800
8	Penang	935,900
9	Pahang	751,500
10	Kelantan	695,800

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

Female labour force participation rate, 2025 (%) (2025)

Kedah ranks 11 of 16, highest first.

Rank	Region	Female labour force participation rate, 2025 (%)
8	Johor	51.1%
9	Negeri Sembilan	51.1%
10	Perak	50.9%
11	Kedah	50.1%
12	Labuan	49.9%
13	Perlis	47.9%
14	Pahang	47.8%

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

GDP, 2025 (RM million, constant 2015 prices) (2025)

Kedah ranks 9 of 16, highest first. Real GDP at constant 2015 prices (so inflation is removed).

Rank	Region	GDP, 2025 (RM million, constant 2015 prices)
6	Perak	RM91,529 million
7	Sabah	RM88,774 million
8	Pahang	RM70,962 million
9	Kedah	RM56,303 million
10	Negeri Sembilan	RM55,767 million
11	Melaka	RM50,286 million
12	Terengganu	RM40,597 million

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

Real GDP growth, 2025 (% over 2024) (2025)

Kedah ranks 9 of 16, highest first.

Rank	Region	Real GDP growth, 2025 (% over 2024)
6	Sabah	5.1%
7	Putrajaya	4.8%
8	Kelantan	4.1%
9	Kedah	4.1%
10	Sarawak	3.6%
11	Pahang	3.2%
12	Melaka	3.0%

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

GDP per resident, 2025 (RM, constant 2015 prices) (2025)

Kedah ranks 13 of 16, highest first. GDP divided by the mid-year 2025 population estimate.

Rank	Region	GDP per resident, 2025 (RM, constant 2015 prices)
10	Johor	RM40,662
11	Perak	RM35,562
12	Terengganu	RM32,587
13	Kedah	RM25,281
14	Sabah	RM23,645
15	Perlis	RM22,477
16	Kelantan	RM15,615

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

Manufacturing share of GDP, 2025 (%) (2025)

Kedah ranks 5 of 16, highest first. Share of GDP before import duties.

Rank	Region	Manufacturing share of GDP, 2025 (%)
2	Negeri Sembilan	37.4%
3	Terengganu	35.7%
4	Melaka	35.4%
5	Kedah	30.3%
6	Selangor	29.5%
7	Johor	28.4%
8	Sarawak	25.0%

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

More on Kedah: overview · health · education and schools · poverty and living standards · Malaysia

Sources

Department of Statistics Malaysia (DOSM): GDP by state, supply side, at constant 2015 prices (RM million) by sector, 2015-2025, read 23 October 2026 · saved copy (SHA-256 0478e221408f…)
Department of Statistics Malaysia (DOSM): Household Income and Expenditure Survey by state, 2022 and 2024: mean and median household income, mean household expenditure, Gini coefficient, absolute poverty rate, read 23 October 2026 · saved copy (SHA-256 2006002bbfb2…)
Department of Statistics Malaysia (DOSM): Labour Force Survey by state and sex, annual: labour force, employed, unemployed, participation and unemployment rates, read 23 October 2026 · saved copy (SHA-256 9c83959fa3e0…)

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