Poverty and living standards in Pahang, Malaysia: official figures
The absolute poverty rate in Pahang was 5.9% of households in 2024 (households with income below the national poverty line), 6th highest among the 16 areas.
Has poverty in Pahang gone down?
Poverty in Pahang fell between the 2022 and 2024 household surveys: 6.3% of households were below the poverty line in 2022 and 5.9% in 2024, a change of -0.4 percentage points.
Source: Department of Statistics Malaysia (DOSM) · saved copyHow unequal is income in Pahang?
Income inequality in Pahang, measured by the Gini coefficient of household income, was 0.319 in 2024 (0 is perfect equality, 1 is maximum inequality), 4th most equal among the 16 areas.
Source: Department of Statistics Malaysia (DOSM) · saved copyIs income inequality in Pahang getting better or worse?
The Gini coefficient of household income in Pahang rose from 0.308 in 2022 to 0.319 in 2024, so income inequality widened.
Source: Department of Statistics Malaysia (DOSM) · saved copyHow much of their income do households in Pahang spend?
Households in Pahang spent on average 72% of their income in 2024 (RM4,368 out of RM6,066 a month), a share that ranks 2nd highest among the 16 areas.
Source: Department of Statistics Malaysia (DOSM) · saved copyWhy is average income higher than median income in Pahang?
The mean household income in Pahang is 22% higher than the median (RM6,066 against RM4,975 a month in 2024); the gap ranks 5th narrowest among the 16 areas.
Source: Department of Statistics Malaysia (DOSM) · saved copyHow Pahang compares with other states
Absolute poverty rate, 2024 (% of households) (2024)
Pahang ranks 6 of 16, highest first. Share of households with income below the national poverty line.
| Rank | Region | Absolute poverty rate, 2024 (% of households) |
|---|---|---|
| 3 | Kedah | 8.4% |
| 4 | Sarawak | 8.4% |
| 5 | Perak | 6.9% |
| 6 | Pahang | 5.9% |
| 7 | Terengganu | 5.8% |
| 8 | Negeri Sembilan | 4.0% |
| 9 | Perlis | 3.6% |
Income inequality (Gini coefficient), 2024 (2024)
Pahang ranks 13 of 16, highest first. Gini coefficient of household income: 0 is perfect equality, 1 is maximum inequality.
| Rank | Region | Income inequality (Gini coefficient), 2024 |
|---|---|---|
| 10 | Selangor | 0.332 |
| 11 | Labuan | 0.327 |
| 12 | Putrajaya | 0.324 |
| 13 | Pahang | 0.319 |
| 14 | Penang | 0.311 |
| 15 | Perak | 0.298 |
| 16 | Terengganu | 0.263 |
More on Pahang: 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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