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

The average household in Labuan had an income of RM8,555 a month in 2024 (ringgit, Household Income and Expenditure Survey), 7th highest among the 16 areas. It was RM8,250 in 2022, a rise of 3.7%, which ranks 2nd slowest for growth among the 16 areas.

Mean household income

RM8,555 a month

2024

Unemployment rate

6.3%

2025

GDP (constant 2015 prices)

RM8,700 million

2025

What is the median household income in Labuan?

The median household in Labuan earned RM7,383 a month in 2024, so half of households had less than that. The median was RM6,904 in 2022; it is 6th highest among the 16 areas.

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

How much do households spend in Labuan?

Households in Labuan spent RM4,497 a month on average in 2024, up from RM4,176 in 2022 (7.7% more), which is 8th lowest among the 16 areas.

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

What is the unemployment rate in Labuan?

The unemployment rate in Labuan was 6.3% in 2025 (Labour Force Survey), 2nd highest among the 16 areas; the figure for Malaysia as a whole was 3.0%. In 2024 it was 6.5%.

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

How many people are employed in Labuan?

About 44,400 people in Labuan were in work in 2025, out of a labour force of 47,400 (employed plus unemployed). That is 0.3% of all employed people in Malaysia; in 2019 the number was 40,300 (+10.2%).

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

What is the labour force participation rate in Labuan?

67.9% of people aged 15 to 64 in Labuan were in the labour force (working or looking for work) in 2025, 8th lowest among the 16 areas; it was 62.2% in 2019. For every 100 people of working age, 63.6 were in work (the employment-to-population ratio).

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

How many women work in Labuan?

In Labuan in 2025, 49.9% of women were in the labour force against 85.7% of men, and the unemployment rate was 5.8% for women and 6.6% for men. Female participation is 5th lowest among the 16 areas.

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

Has unemployment in Labuan gone up or down?

Unemployment in Labuan fell from 6.9% in 2019 to 6.3% in 2025; the 2020 pandemic year saw 7.3%.

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

How big is the economy of Labuan?

The economy of Labuan produced RM8,700 million of output in 2025, measured as GDP at constant 2015 prices (inflation removed). That is 0.5% of Malaysia's GDP and 2nd smallest of the 16 areas.

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

How fast is the economy of Labuan growing?

Real GDP in Labuan grew 1.7% in 2025 against 5.2% for Malaysia as a whole, which is 2nd slowest among the 16 areas. Since 2023 the economy has grown 7% in real terms (Malaysia 11%).

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

What is GDP per person in Labuan?

GDP per resident in Labuan was about RM86,226 in 2025 (GDP at constant 2015 prices divided by the mid-year population), 3rd highest 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 Labuan?

The largest sector of the economy of Labuan is services, at 80.8% of GDP before import duties in 2025. The rest: agriculture 1.5%, manufacturing 15.9%, construction 1.8%.

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

How important is manufacturing in Labuan?

Manufacturing contributed 15.9% of GDP in Labuan in 2025 (RM1,374 million at 2015 prices), a share that ranks 6th lowest among the 16 areas; real manufacturing output grew 0.1% in the year.

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

How big is the services sector in Labuan?

Services (trade, transport, finance, government and similar) made up 80.8% of GDP in Labuan in 2025, a share that ranks 3rd highest among the 16 areas, and grew 2.1% in real terms in the year.

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

How important is agriculture in Labuan?

Agriculture accounted for 1.5% of GDP in Labuan in 2025 (RM128 million at 2015 prices), a share that ranks 4th lowest among the 16 areas.

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

How Labuan compares with other federal territories

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

Labuan ranks 7 of 16, highest first. Household Income and Expenditure Survey 2024; ringgit (RM) per household per month.

Rank	Region	Mean monthly household income, 2024 (ringgit)
4	Johor	RM9,484
5	Penang	RM9,152
6	Melaka	RM8,686
7	Labuan	RM8,555
8	Terengganu	RM7,627
9	Negeri Sembilan	RM7,305
10	Sarawak	RM6,947

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

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

Labuan ranks 6 of 16, highest first. Half of households earn less than this.

Rank	Region	Median monthly household income, 2024 (ringgit)
3	Selangor	RM10,726
4	Johor	RM7,712
5	Penang	RM7,386
6	Labuan	RM7,383
7	Melaka	RM6,891
8	Terengganu	RM6,627
9	Negeri Sembilan	RM5,591

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

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

Labuan ranks 9 of 16, highest first. Household expenditure, ringgit per household per month.

Rank	Region	Mean monthly household spending, 2024 (ringgit)
6	Penang	RM5,850
7	Terengganu	RM5,219
8	Negeri Sembilan	RM5,115
9	Labuan	RM4,497
10	Pahang	RM4,368
11	Sarawak	RM4,281
12	Perak	RM4,232

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

Unemployment rate, 2025 (%) (2025)

Labuan ranks 2 of 16, highest first. Labour Force Survey annual average; share of the labour force without work.

Rank	Region	Unemployment rate, 2025 (%)
1	Sabah	7.2%
2	Labuan	6.3%
3	Perlis	3.9%
4	Kelantan	3.5%
5	Perak	3.5%
6	Sarawak	3.2%
7	Negeri Sembilan	2.8%

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

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

Labuan ranks 9 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 (%)
6	Melaka	70.7%
7	Sabah	70.3%
8	Sarawak	69.8%
9	Labuan	67.9%
10	Perak	67.0%
11	Negeri Sembilan	66.4%
12	Kedah	66.0%

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

Employed people, 2025 (thousands) (2025)

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

Rank	Region	Employed people, 2025 (thousands)
10	Kelantan	695,800
11	Negeri Sembilan	552,500
12	Melaka	521,200
13	Terengganu	487,800
14	Perlis	128,900
15	Putrajaya	61,300
16	Labuan	44,400

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

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

Labuan ranks 12 of 16, highest first.

Rank	Region	Female labour force participation rate, 2025 (%)
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%
15	Kelantan	43.8%

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

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

Labuan ranks 15 of 16, highest first. Real GDP at constant 2015 prices (so inflation is removed).

Rank	Region	GDP, 2025 (RM million, constant 2015 prices)
10	Negeri Sembilan	RM55,767 million
11	Melaka	RM50,286 million
12	Terengganu	RM40,597 million
13	Kelantan	RM29,776 million
14	Putrajaya	RM14,366 million
15	Labuan	RM8,700 million
16	Perlis	RM6,676 million

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

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

Labuan ranks 15 of 16, highest first.

Rank	Region	Real GDP growth, 2025 (% over 2024)
10	Sarawak	3.6%
11	Pahang	3.2%
12	Melaka	3.0%
13	Negeri Sembilan	2.6%
14	Perlis	2.0%
15	Labuan	1.7%
16	Terengganu	1.6%

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

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

Labuan ranks 3 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

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

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

Labuan ranks 11 of 16, highest first. Share of GDP before import duties.

Rank	Region	Manufacturing share of GDP, 2025 (%)
8	Sarawak	25.0%
9	Perak	21.2%
10	Pahang	20.8%
11	Labuan	15.9%
12	Perlis	7.8%
13	Sabah	7.3%
14	Kelantan	4.7%

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

More on Labuan: 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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