Economy, jobs and prices in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia: official figures
The average household in Kuala Lumpur had an income of RM13,985 a month in 2024 (ringgit, Household Income and Expenditure Survey), the highest among the 16 areas. It was RM13,325 in 2022, a rise of 5.0%, which ranks 4th slowest for growth among the 16 areas.
What is the median household income in Kuala Lumpur?
The median household in Kuala Lumpur earned RM10,802 a month in 2024, so half of households had less than that. The median was RM10,234 in 2022; it is the highest among the 16 areas.
Source: Department of Statistics Malaysia (DOSM) · saved copyHow much do households spend in Kuala Lumpur?
Households in Kuala Lumpur spent RM8,178 a month on average in 2024, up from RM7,823 in 2022 (4.5% more), which is 2nd highest among the 16 areas.
Source: Department of Statistics Malaysia (DOSM) · saved copyWhat is the unemployment rate in Kuala Lumpur?
The unemployment rate in Kuala Lumpur was 2.6% in 2025 (Labour Force Survey), 8th lowest among the 16 areas; the figure for Malaysia as a whole was 3.0%. In 2024 it was 2.6%.
Source: Department of Statistics Malaysia (DOSM) · saved copyHow many people are employed in Kuala Lumpur?
About 1,166,400 people in Kuala Lumpur were in work in 2025, out of a labour force of 1,198,000 (employed plus unemployed). That is 7.0% of all employed people in Malaysia; in 2019 the number was 841,000 (+38.7%).
Source: Department of Statistics Malaysia (DOSM) · saved copyWhat is the labour force participation rate in Kuala Lumpur?
75.8% of people aged 15 to 64 in Kuala Lumpur were in the labour force (working or looking for work) in 2025, 3rd highest among the 16 areas; it was 70.0% in 2019. For every 100 people of working age, 73.8 were in work (the employment-to-population ratio).
Source: Department of Statistics Malaysia (DOSM) · saved copyHow many women work in Kuala Lumpur?
In Kuala Lumpur in 2025, 66.9% of women were in the labour force against 83.2% of men, and the unemployment rate was 1.9% for women and 3.1% for men. Female participation is 3rd highest among the 16 areas.
Source: Department of Statistics Malaysia (DOSM) · saved copyHas unemployment in Kuala Lumpur gone up or down?
Unemployment in Kuala Lumpur was unchanged from 2.6% in 2019 to 2.6% in 2025; the 2020 pandemic year saw 4.1%.
Source: Department of Statistics Malaysia (DOSM) · saved copyHow big is the economy of Kuala Lumpur?
The economy of Kuala Lumpur produced RM265,104 million of output in 2025, measured as GDP at constant 2015 prices (inflation removed). That is 15.3% of Malaysia's GDP and 2nd largest of the 16 areas.
Source: Department of Statistics Malaysia (DOSM) · saved copyHow fast is the economy of Kuala Lumpur growing?
Real GDP in Kuala Lumpur grew 5.2% in 2025 against 5.2% for Malaysia as a whole, which is 5th fastest among the 16 areas. Since 2023 the economy has grown 12% in real terms (Malaysia 11%).
Source: Department of Statistics Malaysia (DOSM) · saved copyWhat is GDP per person in Kuala Lumpur?
GDP per resident in Kuala Lumpur was about RM127,749 in 2025 (GDP at constant 2015 prices divided by the mid-year population), the highest among the 16 areas; the average across Malaysia was RM50,758.
Source: Department of Statistics Malaysia (DOSM) · saved copyWhat are the main industries in Kuala Lumpur?
The largest sector of the economy of Kuala Lumpur is services, at 92.2% of GDP before import duties in 2025. The rest: mining and quarrying 0.1%, manufacturing 2.6%, construction 5.1%.
Source: Department of Statistics Malaysia (DOSM) · saved copyHow important is manufacturing in Kuala Lumpur?
Manufacturing contributed 2.6% of GDP in Kuala Lumpur in 2025 (RM6,889 million at 2015 prices), a share that ranks 2nd lowest among the 16 areas; real manufacturing output grew 3.0% in the year.
Source: Department of Statistics Malaysia (DOSM) · saved copyHow big is the services sector in Kuala Lumpur?
Services (trade, transport, finance, government and similar) made up 92.2% of GDP in Kuala Lumpur in 2025, a share that ranks 2nd highest among the 16 areas, and grew 5.2% in real terms in the year.
Source: Department of Statistics Malaysia (DOSM) · saved copyHow Kuala Lumpur compares with other federal territories
Mean monthly household income, 2024 (ringgit) (2024)
Kuala Lumpur ranks 1 of 16, highest first. Household Income and Expenditure Survey 2024; ringgit (RM) per household per month.
| Rank | Region | Mean monthly household income, 2024 (ringgit) |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Kuala Lumpur | RM13,985 |
| 2 | Putrajaya | RM13,846 |
| 3 | Selangor | RM13,296 |
| 4 | Johor | RM9,484 |
| 5 | Penang | RM9,152 |
| 6 | Melaka | RM8,686 |
| 7 | Labuan | RM8,555 |
Median monthly household income, 2024 (ringgit) (2024)
Kuala Lumpur ranks 1 of 16, highest first. Half of households earn less than this.
| Rank | Region | Median monthly household income, 2024 (ringgit) |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Kuala Lumpur | RM10,802 |
| 2 | Putrajaya | RM10,769 |
| 3 | Selangor | RM10,726 |
| 4 | Johor | RM7,712 |
| 5 | Penang | RM7,386 |
| 6 | Labuan | RM7,383 |
| 7 | Melaka | RM6,891 |
Mean monthly household spending, 2024 (ringgit) (2024)
Kuala Lumpur ranks 2 of 16, highest first. Household expenditure, ringgit per household per month.
| Rank | Region | Mean monthly household spending, 2024 (ringgit) |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Putrajaya | RM9,186 |
| 2 | Kuala Lumpur | RM8,178 |
| 3 | Selangor | RM7,266 |
| 4 | Melaka | RM6,212 |
| 5 | Johor | RM5,927 |
| 6 | Penang | RM5,850 |
| 7 | Terengganu | RM5,219 |
Unemployment rate, 2025 (%) (2025)
Kuala Lumpur ranks 9 of 16, highest first. Labour Force Survey annual average; share of the labour force without work.
| Rank | Region | Unemployment rate, 2025 (%) |
|---|---|---|
| 6 | Sarawak | 3.2% |
| 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% |
Labour force participation rate, 2025 (%) (2025)
Kuala Lumpur ranks 3 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 (%) |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Putrajaya | 79.0% |
| 2 | Selangor | 78.4% |
| 3 | Kuala Lumpur | 75.8% |
| 4 | Penang | 72.2% |
| 5 | Johor | 72.0% |
| 6 | Melaka | 70.7% |
| 7 | Sabah | 70.3% |
Employed people, 2025 (thousands) (2025)
Kuala Lumpur ranks 5 of 16, highest first. Labour Force Survey annual average.
| Rank | Region | Employed people, 2025 (thousands) |
|---|---|---|
| 2 | Johor | 2,124,300 |
| 3 | Sabah | 1,731,300 |
| 4 | Sarawak | 1,218,100 |
| 5 | Kuala Lumpur | 1,166,400 |
| 6 | Perak | 1,151,400 |
| 7 | Kedah | 961,800 |
| 8 | Penang | 935,900 |
Female labour force participation rate, 2025 (%) (2025)
Kuala Lumpur ranks 3 of 16, highest first.
| Rank | Region | Female labour force participation rate, 2025 (%) |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Putrajaya | 79.7% |
| 2 | Selangor | 70.7% |
| 3 | Kuala Lumpur | 66.9% |
| 4 | Melaka | 58.3% |
| 5 | Penang | 58.3% |
| 6 | Sabah | 55.2% |
| 7 | Sarawak | 52.6% |
GDP, 2025 (RM million, constant 2015 prices) (2025)
Kuala Lumpur ranks 2 of 16, highest first. Real GDP at constant 2015 prices (so inflation is removed).
| Rank | Region | GDP, 2025 (RM million, constant 2015 prices) |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Selangor | RM460,114 million |
| 2 | Kuala Lumpur | RM265,104 million |
| 3 | Johor | RM170,947 million |
| 4 | Sarawak | RM153,511 million |
| 5 | Penang | RM130,283 million |
| 6 | Perak | RM91,529 million |
| 7 | Sabah | RM88,774 million |
Real GDP growth, 2025 (% over 2024) (2025)
Kuala Lumpur ranks 5 of 16, highest first.
| Rank | Region | Real GDP growth, 2025 (% over 2024) |
|---|---|---|
| 2 | Penang | 7.3% |
| 3 | Selangor | 6.3% |
| 4 | Perak | 5.7% |
| 5 | Kuala Lumpur | 5.2% |
| 6 | Sabah | 5.1% |
| 7 | Putrajaya | 4.8% |
| 8 | Kelantan | 4.1% |
GDP per resident, 2025 (RM, constant 2015 prices) (2025)
Kuala Lumpur ranks 1 of 16, highest first. GDP divided by the mid-year 2025 population estimate.
| Rank | Region | GDP per resident, 2025 (RM, constant 2015 prices) |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Kuala Lumpur | RM127,749 |
| 2 | Putrajaya | RM119,022 |
| 3 | Labuan | RM86,226 |
| 4 | Penang | RM72,207 |
| 5 | Selangor | RM62,105 |
| 6 | Sarawak | RM60,703 |
| 7 | Melaka | RM47,800 |
Manufacturing share of GDP, 2025 (%) (2025)
Kuala Lumpur ranks 15 of 16, highest first. Share of GDP before import duties.
| Rank | Region | Manufacturing share of GDP, 2025 (%) |
|---|---|---|
| 10 | Pahang | 20.8% |
| 11 | Labuan | 15.9% |
| 12 | Perlis | 7.8% |
| 13 | Sabah | 7.3% |
| 14 | Kelantan | 4.7% |
| 15 | Kuala Lumpur | 2.6% |
| 16 | Putrajaya | 0.0% |
More on Kuala Lumpur: 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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