Economy, jobs and prices in Penang, Malaysia: official figures
The average household in Penang had an income of RM9,152 a month in 2024 (ringgit, Household Income and Expenditure Survey), 5th highest among the 16 areas. It was RM8,267 in 2022, a rise of 10.7%, which ranks 2nd fastest for growth among the 16 areas.
What is the median household income in Penang?
The median household in Penang earned RM7,386 a month in 2024, so half of households had less than that. The median was RM6,502 in 2022; it is 5th highest among the 16 areas.
Source: Department of Statistics Malaysia (DOSM) · saved copyHow much do households spend in Penang?
Households in Penang spent RM5,850 a month on average in 2024, up from RM5,322 in 2022 (9.9% more), which is 6th highest among the 16 areas.
Source: Department of Statistics Malaysia (DOSM) · saved copyWhat is the unemployment rate in Penang?
The unemployment rate in Penang was 1.9% in 2025 (Labour Force Survey), 4th 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 copyHow many people are employed in Penang?
About 935,900 people in Penang were in work in 2025, out of a labour force of 954,000 (employed plus unemployed). That is 5.6% of all employed people in Malaysia; in 2019 the number was 835,600 (+12.0%).
Source: Department of Statistics Malaysia (DOSM) · saved copyWhat is the labour force participation rate in Penang?
72.2% of people aged 15 to 64 in Penang were in the labour force (working or looking for work) in 2025, 4th highest among the 16 areas; it was 67.3% in 2019. For every 100 people of working age, 70.8 were in work (the employment-to-population ratio).
Source: Department of Statistics Malaysia (DOSM) · saved copyHow many women work in Penang?
In Penang in 2025, 58.3% of women were in the labour force against 85.3% of men, and the unemployment rate was 2.2% for women and 1.7% for men. Female participation is joint 4th highest among the 16 areas.
Source: Department of Statistics Malaysia (DOSM) · saved copyHas unemployment in Penang gone up or down?
Unemployment in Penang fell from 2.0% in 2019 to 1.9% in 2025; the 2020 pandemic year saw 3.6%.
Source: Department of Statistics Malaysia (DOSM) · saved copyHow big is the economy of Penang?
The economy of Penang produced RM130,283 million of output in 2025, measured as GDP at constant 2015 prices (inflation removed). That is 7.5% of Malaysia's GDP and 5th largest of the 16 areas.
Source: Department of Statistics Malaysia (DOSM) · saved copyHow fast is the economy of Penang growing?
Real GDP in Penang grew 7.3% in 2025 against 5.2% for Malaysia as a whole, which is 2nd fastest among the 16 areas. Since 2023 the economy has grown 12% in real terms (Malaysia 11%).
Source: Department of Statistics Malaysia (DOSM) · saved copyWhat is GDP per person in Penang?
GDP per resident in Penang was about RM72,207 in 2025 (GDP at constant 2015 prices divided by the mid-year population), 4th 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 Penang?
The largest sector of the economy of Penang is manufacturing, at 47.7% of GDP before import duties in 2025. The rest: agriculture 1.7%, mining and quarrying 0.1%, construction 3.3%, services 47.1%.
Source: Department of Statistics Malaysia (DOSM) · saved copyHow important is manufacturing in Penang?
Manufacturing contributed 47.7% of GDP in Penang in 2025 (RM61,659 million at 2015 prices), a share that ranks the highest among the 16 areas; real manufacturing output grew 10.0% in the year.
Source: Department of Statistics Malaysia (DOSM) · saved copyHow big is the services sector in Penang?
Services (trade, transport, finance, government and similar) made up 47.1% of GDP in Penang in 2025, a share that ranks 2nd lowest among the 16 areas, and grew 4.1% in real terms in the year.
Source: Department of Statistics Malaysia (DOSM) · saved copyHow important is agriculture in Penang?
Agriculture accounted for 1.7% of GDP in Penang in 2025 (RM2,241 million at 2015 prices), a share that ranks 5th lowest among the 16 areas.
Source: Department of Statistics Malaysia (DOSM) · saved copyHow Penang compares with other states
Mean monthly household income, 2024 (ringgit) (2024)
Penang ranks 5 of 16, highest first. Household Income and Expenditure Survey 2024; ringgit (RM) per household per month.
| Rank | Region | Mean monthly household income, 2024 (ringgit) |
|---|---|---|
| 2 | Putrajaya | RM13,846 |
| 3 | Selangor | RM13,296 |
| 4 | Johor | RM9,484 |
| 5 | Penang | RM9,152 |
| 6 | Melaka | RM8,686 |
| 7 | Labuan | RM8,555 |
| 8 | Terengganu | RM7,627 |
Median monthly household income, 2024 (ringgit) (2024)
Penang ranks 5 of 16, highest first. Half of households earn less than this.
| Rank | Region | Median monthly household income, 2024 (ringgit) |
|---|---|---|
| 2 | Putrajaya | RM10,769 |
| 3 | Selangor | RM10,726 |
| 4 | Johor | RM7,712 |
| 5 | Penang | RM7,386 |
| 6 | Labuan | RM7,383 |
| 7 | Melaka | RM6,891 |
| 8 | Terengganu | RM6,627 |
Mean monthly household spending, 2024 (ringgit) (2024)
Penang ranks 6 of 16, highest first. Household expenditure, ringgit per household per month.
| Rank | Region | Mean monthly household spending, 2024 (ringgit) |
|---|---|---|
| 3 | Selangor | RM7,266 |
| 4 | Melaka | RM6,212 |
| 5 | Johor | RM5,927 |
| 6 | Penang | RM5,850 |
| 7 | Terengganu | RM5,219 |
| 8 | Negeri Sembilan | RM5,115 |
| 9 | Labuan | RM4,497 |
Unemployment rate, 2025 (%) (2025)
Penang ranks 13 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)
Penang ranks 4 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 (%) |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Putrajaya | 79.0% |
| 2 | Selangor | 78.4% |
| 3 | Kuala Lumpur | 75.8% |
| 4 | Penang | 72.2% |
| 5 | Johor | 72.0% |
| 6 | Melaka | 70.7% |
| 7 | Sabah | 70.3% |
Employed people, 2025 (thousands) (2025)
Penang ranks 8 of 16, highest first. Labour Force Survey annual average.
| Rank | Region | Employed people, 2025 (thousands) |
|---|---|---|
| 5 | Kuala Lumpur | 1,166,400 |
| 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 |
Female labour force participation rate, 2025 (%) (2025)
Penang ranks 5 of 16, highest first.
| Rank | Region | Female labour force participation rate, 2025 (%) |
|---|---|---|
| 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% |
| 8 | Johor | 51.1% |
GDP, 2025 (RM million, constant 2015 prices) (2025)
Penang ranks 5 of 16, highest first. Real GDP at constant 2015 prices (so inflation is removed).
| Rank | Region | GDP, 2025 (RM million, constant 2015 prices) |
|---|---|---|
| 2 | Kuala Lumpur | RM265,104 million |
| 3 | Johor | RM170,947 million |
| 4 | Sarawak | RM153,511 million |
| 5 | Penang | RM130,283 million |
| 6 | Perak | RM91,529 million |
| 7 | Sabah | RM88,774 million |
| 8 | Pahang | RM70,962 million |
Real GDP growth, 2025 (% over 2024) (2025)
Penang ranks 2 of 16, highest first.
| Rank | Region | Real GDP growth, 2025 (% over 2024) |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Johor | 8.0% |
| 2 | Penang | 7.3% |
| 3 | Selangor | 6.3% |
| 4 | Perak | 5.7% |
| 5 | Kuala Lumpur | 5.2% |
| 6 | Sabah | 5.1% |
| 7 | Putrajaya | 4.8% |
GDP per resident, 2025 (RM, constant 2015 prices) (2025)
Penang ranks 4 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 |
Manufacturing share of GDP, 2025 (%) (2025)
Penang ranks 1 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 Penang: 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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