Economy, jobs and prices in Melaka, Malaysia: official figures
The average household in Melaka had an income of RM8,686 a month in 2024 (ringgit, Household Income and Expenditure Survey), 6th highest among the 16 areas. It was RM8,057 in 2022, a rise of 7.8%, which ranks 4th fastest for growth among the 16 areas.
What is the median household income in Melaka?
The median household in Melaka earned RM6,891 a month in 2024, so half of households had less than that. The median was RM6,210 in 2022; it is 7th highest among the 16 areas.
Source: Department of Statistics Malaysia (DOSM) · saved copyHow much do households spend in Melaka?
Households in Melaka spent RM6,212 a month on average in 2024, up from RM5,707 in 2022 (8.8% more), which is 4th highest among the 16 areas.
Source: Department of Statistics Malaysia (DOSM) · saved copyWhat is the unemployment rate in Melaka?
The unemployment rate in Melaka was 1.6% in 2025 (Labour Force Survey), 2nd lowest among the 16 areas; the figure for Malaysia as a whole was 3.0%. In 2024 it was 1.6%.
Source: Department of Statistics Malaysia (DOSM) · saved copyHow many people are employed in Melaka?
About 521,200 people in Melaka were in work in 2025, out of a labour force of 529,500 (employed plus unemployed). That is 3.1% of all employed people in Malaysia; in 2019 the number was 428,300 (+21.7%).
Source: Department of Statistics Malaysia (DOSM) · saved copyWhat is the labour force participation rate in Melaka?
70.7% of people aged 15 to 64 in Melaka were in the labour force (working or looking for work) in 2025, 6th highest among the 16 areas; it was 67.6% in 2019. For every 100 people of working age, 69.6 were in work (the employment-to-population ratio).
Source: Department of Statistics Malaysia (DOSM) · saved copyHow many women work in Melaka?
In Melaka in 2025, 58.3% of women were in the labour force against 81.2% of men, and the unemployment rate was 1.0% for women and 1.9% for men. Female participation is joint 4th highest among the 16 areas.
Source: Department of Statistics Malaysia (DOSM) · saved copyHas unemployment in Melaka gone up or down?
Unemployment in Melaka rose from 1.1% in 2019 to 1.6% in 2025; the 2020 pandemic year saw 2.4%.
Source: Department of Statistics Malaysia (DOSM) · saved copyHow big is the economy of Melaka?
The economy of Melaka produced RM50,286 million of output in 2025, measured as GDP at constant 2015 prices (inflation removed). That is 2.9% of Malaysia's GDP and 6th smallest of the 16 areas.
Source: Department of Statistics Malaysia (DOSM) · saved copyHow fast is the economy of Melaka growing?
Real GDP in Melaka grew 3.0% in 2025 against 5.2% for Malaysia as a whole, which is 5th slowest among the 16 areas. Since 2023 the economy has grown 7% in real terms (Malaysia 11%).
Source: Department of Statistics Malaysia (DOSM) · saved copyWhat is GDP per person in Melaka?
GDP per resident in Melaka was about RM47,800 in 2025 (GDP at constant 2015 prices divided by the mid-year population), 7th 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 Melaka?
The largest sector of the economy of Melaka is services, at 52.6% of GDP before import duties in 2025. The rest: agriculture 9.3%, mining and quarrying 0.1%, manufacturing 35.4%, construction 2.5%.
Source: Department of Statistics Malaysia (DOSM) · saved copyHow important is manufacturing in Melaka?
Manufacturing contributed 35.4% of GDP in Melaka in 2025 (RM17,777 million at 2015 prices), a share that ranks 4th highest among the 16 areas; real manufacturing output grew 1.1% in the year.
Source: Department of Statistics Malaysia (DOSM) · saved copyHow big is the services sector in Melaka?
Services (trade, transport, finance, government and similar) made up 52.6% of GDP in Melaka in 2025, a share that ranks 4th lowest among the 16 areas, and grew 4.8% in real terms in the year.
Source: Department of Statistics Malaysia (DOSM) · saved copyHow important is agriculture in Melaka?
Agriculture accounted for 9.3% of GDP in Melaka in 2025 (RM4,686 million at 2015 prices), a share that ranks 8th lowest among the 16 areas.
Source: Department of Statistics Malaysia (DOSM) · saved copyHow Melaka compares with other states
Mean monthly household income, 2024 (ringgit) (2024)
Melaka ranks 6 of 16, highest first. Household Income and Expenditure Survey 2024; ringgit (RM) per household per month.
| Rank | Region | Mean monthly household income, 2024 (ringgit) |
|---|---|---|
| 3 | Selangor | RM13,296 |
| 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 |
Median monthly household income, 2024 (ringgit) (2024)
Melaka ranks 7 of 16, highest first. Half of households earn less than this.
| Rank | Region | Median monthly household income, 2024 (ringgit) |
|---|---|---|
| 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 |
| 10 | Sarawak | RM5,504 |
Mean monthly household spending, 2024 (ringgit) (2024)
Melaka ranks 4 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)
Melaka ranks 15 of 16, highest first. Labour Force Survey annual average; share of the labour force without work.
| Rank | Region | Unemployment rate, 2025 (%) |
|---|---|---|
| 10 | Kedah | 2.5% |
| 11 | Johor | 2.3% |
| 12 | Selangor | 2.0% |
| 13 | Penang | 1.9% |
| 14 | Pahang | 1.8% |
| 15 | Melaka | 1.6% |
| 16 | Putrajaya | 1.1% |
Labour force participation rate, 2025 (%) (2025)
Melaka ranks 6 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 (%) |
|---|---|---|
| 3 | Kuala Lumpur | 75.8% |
| 4 | Penang | 72.2% |
| 5 | Johor | 72.0% |
| 6 | Melaka | 70.7% |
| 7 | Sabah | 70.3% |
| 8 | Sarawak | 69.8% |
| 9 | Labuan | 67.9% |
Employed people, 2025 (thousands) (2025)
Melaka ranks 12 of 16, highest first. Labour Force Survey annual average.
| Rank | Region | Employed people, 2025 (thousands) |
|---|---|---|
| 9 | Pahang | 751,500 |
| 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 |
Female labour force participation rate, 2025 (%) (2025)
Melaka ranks 4 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)
Melaka ranks 11 of 16, highest first. Real GDP at constant 2015 prices (so inflation is removed).
| Rank | Region | GDP, 2025 (RM million, constant 2015 prices) |
|---|---|---|
| 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 |
| 13 | Kelantan | RM29,776 million |
| 14 | Putrajaya | RM14,366 million |
Real GDP growth, 2025 (% over 2024) (2025)
Melaka ranks 12 of 16, highest first.
| Rank | Region | Real GDP growth, 2025 (% over 2024) |
|---|---|---|
| 9 | Kedah | 4.1% |
| 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% |
GDP per resident, 2025 (RM, constant 2015 prices) (2025)
Melaka ranks 7 of 16, highest first. GDP divided by the mid-year 2025 population estimate.
| Rank | Region | GDP per resident, 2025 (RM, constant 2015 prices) |
|---|---|---|
| 4 | Penang | RM72,207 |
| 5 | Selangor | RM62,105 |
| 6 | Sarawak | RM60,703 |
| 7 | Melaka | RM47,800 |
| 8 | Negeri Sembilan | RM44,833 |
| 9 | Pahang | RM42,320 |
| 10 | Johor | RM40,662 |
Manufacturing share of GDP, 2025 (%) (2025)
Melaka ranks 4 of 16, highest first. Share of GDP before import duties.
| Rank | Region | Manufacturing share of GDP, 2025 (%) |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Penang | 47.7% |
| 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% |
More on Melaka: 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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