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

The average household in Pahang had an income of RM6,066 a month in 2024 (ringgit, Household Income and Expenditure Survey), 4th lowest among the 16 areas. It was RM5,777 in 2022, a rise of 5.0%, which ranks 5th slowest for growth among the 16 areas.

Mean household income

RM6,066 a month

2024

Unemployment rate

1.8%

2025

GDP (constant 2015 prices)

RM70,962 million

2025

What is the median household income in Pahang?

The median household in Pahang earned RM4,975 a month in 2024, so half of households had less than that. The median was RM4,753 in 2022; it is 6th lowest among the 16 areas.

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

How much do households spend in Pahang?

Households in Pahang spent RM4,368 a month on average in 2024, up from RM4,107 in 2022 (6.4% more), which is 7th lowest among the 16 areas.

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

What is the unemployment rate in Pahang?

The unemployment rate in Pahang was 1.8% in 2025 (Labour Force Survey), 3rd lowest among the 16 areas; the figure for Malaysia as a whole was 3.0%. In 2024 it was 2.0%.

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

How many people are employed in Pahang?

About 751,500 people in Pahang were in work in 2025, out of a labour force of 765,200 (employed plus unemployed). That is 4.5% of all employed people in Malaysia; in 2019 the number was 719,500 (+4.4%).

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

What is the labour force participation rate in Pahang?

65.4% of people aged 15 to 64 in Pahang were in the labour force (working or looking for work) in 2025, 4th lowest among the 16 areas; it was 66.4% in 2019. For every 100 people of working age, 64.2 were in work (the employment-to-population ratio).

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

How many women work in Pahang?

In Pahang in 2025, 47.8% of women were in the labour force against 80.2% of men, and the unemployment rate was 2.0% for women and 1.7% for men. Female participation is 3rd lowest among the 16 areas.

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

Has unemployment in Pahang gone up or down?

Unemployment in Pahang fell from 2.9% in 2019 to 1.8% in 2025; the 2020 pandemic year saw 3.2%.

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

How big is the economy of Pahang?

The economy of Pahang produced RM70,962 million of output in 2025, measured as GDP at constant 2015 prices (inflation removed). That is 4.1% of Malaysia's GDP and 8th largest of the 16 areas.

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

How fast is the economy of Pahang growing?

Real GDP in Pahang grew 3.2% in 2025 against 5.2% for Malaysia as a whole, which is 6th slowest among the 16 areas. Since 2023 the economy has grown 9% in real terms (Malaysia 11%).

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

What is GDP per person in Pahang?

GDP per resident in Pahang was about RM42,320 in 2025 (GDP at constant 2015 prices divided by the mid-year population), 8th lowest 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 Pahang?

The largest sector of the economy of Pahang is services, at 52.7% of GDP before import duties in 2025. The rest: agriculture 22.4%, mining and quarrying 0.8%, manufacturing 20.8%, construction 3.3%.

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

How important is manufacturing in Pahang?

Manufacturing contributed 20.8% of GDP in Pahang in 2025 (RM14,727 million at 2015 prices), a share that ranks 7th lowest among the 16 areas; real manufacturing output grew 1.4% in the year.

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

How big is the services sector in Pahang?

Services (trade, transport, finance, government and similar) made up 52.7% of GDP in Pahang in 2025, a share that ranks 5th lowest among the 16 areas, and grew 5.0% in real terms in the year.

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

How important is agriculture in Pahang?

Agriculture accounted for 22.4% of GDP in Pahang in 2025 (RM15,878 million at 2015 prices), a share that ranks the highest among the 16 areas.

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

How important is mining and oil and gas in Pahang?

Mining and quarrying (including oil and gas) accounted for 0.8% of GDP in Pahang in 2025.

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

How Pahang compares with other states

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

Pahang ranks 13 of 16, highest first. Household Income and Expenditure Survey 2024; ringgit (RM) per household per month.

Rank	Region	Mean monthly household income, 2024 (ringgit)
10	Sarawak	RM6,947
11	Sabah	RM6,498
12	Perak	RM6,173
13	Pahang	RM6,066
14	Perlis	RM5,996
15	Kedah	RM5,793
16	Kelantan	RM5,265

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

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

Pahang ranks 11 of 16, highest first. Half of households earn less than this.

Rank	Region	Median monthly household income, 2024 (ringgit)
8	Terengganu	RM6,627
9	Negeri Sembilan	RM5,591
10	Sarawak	RM5,504
11	Pahang	RM4,975
12	Perlis	RM4,950
13	Kedah	RM4,895
14	Sabah	RM4,890

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

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

Pahang ranks 10 of 16, highest first. Household expenditure, ringgit per household per month.

Rank	Region	Mean monthly household spending, 2024 (ringgit)
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
13	Perlis	RM4,084

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

Unemployment rate, 2025 (%) (2025)

Pahang ranks 14 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%

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

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

Pahang ranks 13 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 (%)
10	Perak	67.0%
11	Negeri Sembilan	66.4%
12	Kedah	66.0%
13	Pahang	65.4%
14	Perlis	62.3%
15	Terengganu	60.8%
16	Kelantan	58.1%

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

Employed people, 2025 (thousands) (2025)

Pahang ranks 9 of 16, highest first. Labour Force Survey annual average.

Rank	Region	Employed people, 2025 (thousands)
6	Perak	1,151,400
7	Kedah	961,800
8	Penang	935,900
9	Pahang	751,500
10	Kelantan	695,800
11	Negeri Sembilan	552,500
12	Melaka	521,200

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

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

Pahang ranks 14 of 16, highest first.

Rank	Region	Female labour force participation rate, 2025 (%)
10	Perak	50.9%
11	Kedah	50.1%
12	Labuan	49.9%
13	Perlis	47.9%
14	Pahang	47.8%
15	Kelantan	43.8%
16	Terengganu	42.7%

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

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

Pahang ranks 8 of 16, highest first. Real GDP at constant 2015 prices (so inflation is removed).

Rank	Region	GDP, 2025 (RM million, constant 2015 prices)
5	Penang	RM130,283 million
6	Perak	RM91,529 million
7	Sabah	RM88,774 million
8	Pahang	RM70,962 million
9	Kedah	RM56,303 million
10	Negeri Sembilan	RM55,767 million
11	Melaka	RM50,286 million

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

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

Pahang ranks 11 of 16, highest first.

Rank	Region	Real GDP growth, 2025 (% over 2024)
8	Kelantan	4.1%
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%

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

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

Pahang ranks 9 of 16, highest first. GDP divided by the mid-year 2025 population estimate.

Rank	Region	GDP per resident, 2025 (RM, constant 2015 prices)
6	Sarawak	RM60,703
7	Melaka	RM47,800
8	Negeri Sembilan	RM44,833
9	Pahang	RM42,320
10	Johor	RM40,662
11	Perak	RM35,562
12	Terengganu	RM32,587

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

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

Pahang ranks 10 of 16, highest first. Share of GDP before import duties.

Rank	Region	Manufacturing share of GDP, 2025 (%)
7	Johor	28.4%
8	Sarawak	25.0%
9	Perak	21.2%
10	Pahang	20.8%
11	Labuan	15.9%
12	Perlis	7.8%
13	Sabah	7.3%

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

More on Pahang: 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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