Poverty and living standards in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia: official figures
The absolute poverty rate in Kuala Lumpur was 1.0% of households in 2024 (households with income below the national poverty line), 3rd lowest among the 16 areas.
Has poverty in Kuala Lumpur gone down?
Poverty in Kuala Lumpur fell between the 2022 and 2024 household surveys: 1.4% of households were below the poverty line in 2022 and 1.0% in 2024, a change of -0.4 percentage points.
Source: Department of Statistics Malaysia (DOSM) · saved copyHow unequal is income in Kuala Lumpur?
Income inequality in Kuala Lumpur, measured by the Gini coefficient of household income, was 0.375 in 2024 (0 is perfect equality, 1 is maximum inequality), 2nd most unequal among the 16 areas.
Source: Department of Statistics Malaysia (DOSM) · saved copyIs income inequality in Kuala Lumpur getting better or worse?
The Gini coefficient of household income in Kuala Lumpur fell from 0.380 in 2022 to 0.375 in 2024, so income inequality narrowed.
Source: Department of Statistics Malaysia (DOSM) · saved copyHow much of their income do households in Kuala Lumpur spend?
Households in Kuala Lumpur spent on average 58% of their income in 2024 (RM8,178 out of RM13,985 a month), a share that ranks 4th lowest among the 16 areas.
Source: Department of Statistics Malaysia (DOSM) · saved copyWhy is average income higher than median income in Kuala Lumpur?
The mean household income in Kuala Lumpur is 29% higher than the median (RM13,985 against RM10,802 a month in 2024); the gap ranks 4th widest among the 16 areas.
Source: Department of Statistics Malaysia (DOSM) · saved copyHow Kuala Lumpur compares with other federal territories
Absolute poverty rate, 2024 (% of households) (2024)
Kuala Lumpur ranks 14 of 16, highest first. Share of households with income below the national poverty line.
| Rank | Region | Absolute poverty rate, 2024 (% of households) |
|---|---|---|
| 10 | Melaka | 3.0% |
| 11 | Johor | 2.5% |
| 12 | Labuan | 2.0% |
| 13 | Penang | 1.9% |
| 14 | Kuala Lumpur | 1.0% |
| 15 | Selangor | 0.9% |
| 16 | Putrajaya | 0.2% |
Income inequality (Gini coefficient), 2024 (2024)
Kuala Lumpur ranks 2 of 16, highest first. Gini coefficient of household income: 0 is perfect equality, 1 is maximum inequality.
| Rank | Region | Income inequality (Gini coefficient), 2024 |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Sabah | 0.405 |
| 2 | Kuala Lumpur | 0.375 |
| 3 | Sarawak | 0.361 |
| 4 | Kelantan | 0.356 |
| 5 | Johor | 0.348 |
| 6 | Negeri Sembilan | 0.343 |
| 7 | Melaka | 0.337 |
More on Kuala Lumpur: overview · economy and jobs · health · education and schools · Malaysia
Sources
- 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…)
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