Health in Penang, Malaysia: official figures
Penang had 2,129 beds in public (government) hospitals in 2024, according to the Ministry of Health, which is 4.1% of the 52,048 public beds in Malaysia (5.3% of the population). Private hospitals are not included.
How many hospital beds per 1,000 people are there in Penang?
There were 1.18 public hospital beds for every 1,000 residents of Penang in 2024, 2nd lowest among the 16 areas; the figure for Malaysia was 1.53.
Source: Ministry of Health Malaysia · saved copyAre there more hospital beds in Penang than before?
Public hospital beds in Penang rose from 2,046 in 2015 to 2,129 in 2024 (+4.1%, 3rd smallest rise among the 16 areas). Per 1,000 residents that is 1.20 in 2015 and 1.18 in 2024.
Source: Ministry of Health Malaysia · saved copyWho runs the hospitals in Penang?
All 2,129 public hospital beds in Penang were in hospitals run by the Ministry of Health in 2024.
Source: Ministry of Health Malaysia · saved copyDoes Penang have enough hospital beds?
Penang holds 4.1% of Malaysia's public hospital beds against 5.3% of its people (2024), so it has fewer beds per resident than the national average of 1.53 per 1,000.
Source: Ministry of Health Malaysia · saved copyWhich district of Penang has the most hospital beds?
Within Penang, the district with the most public hospital beds in 2024 was Timur Laut (Georgetown) with 1,163 beds (55% of the 2,129 in the state); the state is split into 5 districts in the Ministry of Health data.
Source: Ministry of Health Malaysia · saved copyHow Penang compares with other states
Public hospital beds per 1,000 residents, 2024 (2024)
Penang ranks 15 of 16, highest first. Beds in government hospitals (Ministry of Health, special institutions and other agencies' hospitals); private hospitals are not counted. Divided by the 2024 mid-year population estimate.
| Rank | Region | Public hospital beds per 1,000 residents, 2024 |
|---|---|---|
| 10 | Sabah | 1.36 |
| 11 | Kedah | 1.32 |
| 12 | Johor | 1.30 |
| 13 | Melaka | 1.29 |
| 14 | Labuan | 1.21 |
| 15 | Penang | 1.18 |
| 16 | Selangor | 1.13 |
Public hospital beds, 2024 (2024)
Penang ranks 10 of 16, highest first. Beds in government hospitals at the end of 2024.
| Rank | Region | Public hospital beds, 2024 |
|---|---|---|
| 7 | Kelantan | 2,987 |
| 8 | Kedah | 2,919 |
| 9 | Pahang | 2,646 |
| 10 | Penang | 2,129 |
| 11 | Negeri Sembilan | 1,977 |
| 12 | Terengganu | 1,971 |
| 13 | Melaka | 1,349 |
Change in public hospital beds, 2015 to 2024 (%) (2024)
Penang ranks 14 of 16, highest first.
| Rank | Region | Change in public hospital beds, 2015 to 2024 (%) |
|---|---|---|
| 10 | Sabah | +9.1% |
| 11 | Negeri Sembilan | +8.3% |
| 12 | Sarawak | +6.2% |
| 13 | Perak | +4.5% |
| 14 | Penang | +4.1% |
| 15 | Labuan | +0.0% |
| 16 | Melaka | -2.9% |
More on Penang: overview · economy and jobs · education and schools · poverty and living standards · Malaysia
Sources
- Ministry of Health Malaysia: Hospital Beds by State and Hospital Type: public sector hospital beds, 2015-2024 (Health Informatics Centre records), read 23 October 2026 · saved copy (SHA-256 97cb4cd999b5…)
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