Poverty and living standards in Labuan, Malaysia: official figures
The absolute poverty rate in Labuan was 2.0% of households in 2024 (households with income below the national poverty line), 5th lowest among the 16 areas.
Has poverty in Labuan gone down?
Poverty in Labuan fell between the 2022 and 2024 household surveys: 2.5% of households were below the poverty line in 2022 and 2.0% in 2024, a change of -0.5 percentage points.
Source: Department of Statistics Malaysia (DOSM) · saved copyHow unequal is income in Labuan?
Income inequality in Labuan, measured by the Gini coefficient of household income, was 0.327 in 2024 (0 is perfect equality, 1 is maximum inequality), 6th most equal among the 16 areas.
Source: Department of Statistics Malaysia (DOSM) · saved copyIs income inequality in Labuan getting better or worse?
The Gini coefficient of household income in Labuan rose from 0.300 in 2022 to 0.327 in 2024, so income inequality widened.
Source: Department of Statistics Malaysia (DOSM) · saved copyHow much of their income do households in Labuan spend?
Households in Labuan spent on average 53% of their income in 2024 (RM4,497 out of RM8,555 a month), a share that ranks the lowest among the 16 areas.
Source: Department of Statistics Malaysia (DOSM) · saved copyWhy is average income higher than median income in Labuan?
The mean household income in Labuan is 16% higher than the median (RM8,555 against RM7,383 a month in 2024); the gap ranks 2nd narrowest among the 16 areas.
Source: Department of Statistics Malaysia (DOSM) · saved copyHow Labuan compares with other federal territories
Absolute poverty rate, 2024 (% of households) (2024)
Labuan ranks 12 of 16, highest first. Share of households with income below the national poverty line.
| Rank | Region | Absolute poverty rate, 2024 (% of households) |
|---|---|---|
| 9 | Perlis | 3.6% |
| 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% |
Income inequality (Gini coefficient), 2024 (2024)
Labuan ranks 11 of 16, highest first. Gini coefficient of household income: 0 is perfect equality, 1 is maximum inequality.
| Rank | Region | Income inequality (Gini coefficient), 2024 |
|---|---|---|
| 8 | Kedah | 0.334 |
| 9 | Perlis | 0.334 |
| 10 | Selangor | 0.332 |
| 11 | Labuan | 0.327 |
| 12 | Putrajaya | 0.324 |
| 13 | Pahang | 0.319 |
| 14 | Penang | 0.311 |
More on Labuan: 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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